Chapter 6 – Farewell, My Love

Alex's POV

I woke up last. I could tell by Justin and Oakley's quiet voices talking on either side of me. I lay awake, but didn't open my eyes. I breathed slowly so that the two boys wouldn't know I was awake yet. I listened hard to hear what they were saying.

"Oakley, I'm sorry I wasn't very nice to you yesterday. I guess I didn't trust you because I thought you were like the rest of your people." Justin whispered.

"Thank you, but my people aren't as viscous and vile as thou think. They seem that way to you, for you are much different." Oakley said.

"Yeah, I'm different..." Justin said sarcastically.

"Stay silent, for Alex might have awoken." Oakley whispered suddenly. I blinked and opened my eyes slowly.

"Good morning." Justin and Oakley said together.

"We should get moving. These tunnels aren't safe for wanderers like you." Oakley said getting up.

"What, no breakfast?" I complained.

"There's no food in a mine, Alex." Justin said. "Obviously."

"Oh fine whatever, let's go then." I grumbled.

We walked for quite awhile until we reached a dead end. At the end of the tunnel was a large room that looked like it had yellow wall paper.

"You led us to a dead end? I knew this was a bad idea! He tricked us. Come one Alex, let's get out of here." Justin grabbed my arm.

"Hold it." I said. I pointed up and we saw a long tunnel going straight up, and hopefully, out.

"And how are we supposed to get up there, fly?" Justin smirked.

"Thou art in the presence of the sparkling den. We bring only guests to this place of magic." Oakley whispered. "Thy hole atop your head is not an exit. This is a place for stargazing. For when the stars are at their brightest, the light gathers at the centre of the woods."

"We're in the exact middle of the woods? I thought you were bringing us out, not farther in!" Justin exclaimed.

"The only way of exit is to centre." Oakley frowned. "Is that not your intention?"

"Justin, stop being so rude! He's trying to help!" I smacked his arm lightly.

"Okay, sorry. What is this place exactly?"

"As I said, we stand at the sparkling den, the one true place of magic. If there was ever a truer place to behold, it shall be here. Awaken, thy magic held, and stand before thy heaven's eye!" He raised his arms.

The stars above us grew bright and light spread through the room. I gawked at the walls when I realized that the "yellow wall paper" was actually a wall of gold, pure gold.

We were blinded by the light glittering off the shining jewels imbedded in the walls. The very centre of the room glowed brightest.

"Your home awaits you through these bright shining gates. I shall release you and bid you farewell." Oakley said taking my hand.

Justin looked back and forth between us and said, "Come one Alex, this is our one chance of getting out."

"Oakley, come with us. You would love it where we're from. No one gets hurt; there is more shelter and kinder people. I don't want to leave you." I said.

"Lovely Alex, I belong with my people, where I was born. You must go now and be with your family. I must return to my people. I wish not to part with you, but it is not my life you walk into, it is yours. Farewell my love." Oakley said before pressing his lips against mine. He kissed me quickly, but sweetly. Once we broke apart, he stepped outside the glittering room.

"Farewell, my love." He repeated. "Goodbye." I choked out. I was just starting to like him too...

"Come on, Alex, I hear people coming." He said anxiously. I heard them too. Loud footsteps were echoing down the long tunnel, getting closer and closer.

"Go now, friends, before the stars fade away!" Oakley shouted from where he stood.

Justin grabbed my hand and together we stepped into the bright circle. The light swirled around us and we couldn't see anything but pure light and energy. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched Justin's arm tightly as the magic filled us.

!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i

I opened my eyes when the light faded. I glanced around and figured out we were standing in the middle of the sub shop. I was wearing the green dress, which was the gift from the Indian people, and Justin was still covered in bruises and scratches. We were both really muddy and extremely tired. Our dad walked out of the kitchen and caught a glimpse of us.

"What's going on here? What happened?" He gasped. Only then did I realize that I was still squeezing the daylight out of Justin's arm and he still had his arms around me.

I jumped away from him and ran up the stairs. "I'm taking a shower!" I called down as I ran.

"Justin, tell me what happened." I heard my dad ask Justin, who was still standing downstairs. I skidded to a halt and waited to hear what Justin would say.

"I honestly don't think you would believe me if I told you." Justin said loudly. He knew I was listening.

"So? Tell me anyways." My father challenged.

"Let's put it this way. Alex found yet another guy, I almost got sacrificed, I slept on the ground for three days, I broke my wand, and Alex lost her wand." Justin said very quickly. Before our dad could figure out what he said, Justin bolted upstairs and grabbed my arm and we escaped into Justin's room with the locked the door. Seconds later we heard..."ALEX WHAT DID YOU DO THIS TIME?"

"Why does he always blame me?" I asked.

"Face it Alex, with you, don't assume anything." He said with a smile.

"I'm just happy we're home." I whispered.

"Me too, Alex. Me too." Justin said pulling me into a hug.