The other side of beyond, p.27
The Other Side of Beyond, page 27
part #2 of Mitch Mythic Series
“This is turning into a fine holiday,” Drak said.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to tell everybody what I did for my summer vacation,” Mitch said as he reached for the ladder leading to the upper bunk. “I got top.”
“You’re too fast,” Drak said with a grin.
“When it comes to bunks, I’m always on top,” Mitch said as he stretched himself out.
Drak climbed into the bed below him and exhaled.
“Do you think we’ll find a way out of here?” Mitch asked.
“I think so, but where it goes, I don’t know,” Drak replied.
Mitch closed his eyes and he saw the face in the stars again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
HE LAY AT the edge of an ocean on a bleak, grey day. Cold wind blew across the surface, white caps breaking over murky water. Pink fleshed eels broke through the waves and swam horizontal to him. Long teeth hung from gaping mouths as he watched their serpentine forms rise up and down along the breakers. He lay in the surf as it washed over the sand and he found himself amongst a flock of pink fleshed featherless birds. They flopped and flailed in the surf around him, squawking and flapping their fleshy limbs. Spotting him, they closed in, an easy snack on the shore. Yellow beaks opened and snapped shut as they attempted to take a chunk of his flesh. He scrambled backwards, digging his feet into the sand. The traction was difficult and he slipped as he fought to escape. Clawed feet scampered closer to him and he pushed himself up to get to his feet, but he was surrounded by a wall of beaks and unable to break free. He felt his flesh being torn from his bones as was dragged back down to the sand.
Mitch opened his eyes and wiped the sweat away from his soaking scalp. His pillow was a mushy mess and his sweat had soaked into the blanket he had thrown over himself. Tossing the wet cover aside, he sat up and winced in pain as his head hit the low ceiling above him. The room was dark, but a faint light came in through the arched doorway to the left of the bunk. He felt the urge to drink water. His mouth was a dry desert. Lowering himself off of the bunk, he saw Drak’s sleeping face against the pillow, breathing softly, a grin across his lips.
He padded across the open space towards the suite’s peculiar bathroom. Across the back wall of the room lay several low walls standing over a long trough. The Jarkadians, it seemed, didn’t have much need for privacy even in such an elaborate suite.
He stood over the trough and felt a sensation of relief as his piss fell away flowed down the steep slope. Looking down into the depths, he could only make out a smiling blackness. He finished quickly and turned towards the fountain at the center of the room where he washed his hands and face. Some kind of linen had been placed on a shelf nearby. He grabbed one of the folded cloths and wiped himself off.
As he strode out of the washroom he saw an open door on the far side of the room. A wind blew through the entrance rustling the heavy curtain hangin over the opening. Mitch walked carefully towards the rounded doorway and peeled back the curtain . Gasping as his eyes attempted to comprehend what he saw, he peered out through the door.
In the predawn light a jagged landscape stood in silhouette, stretched across a vast distance. Fallen structures lay jumbled upon each other as steel beams burst forth from stone columns, clawing towards the sky like a beast in its death throes.
Mitch stepped through the door way and walked across the stone floor and rested his hands upon a thick wall which lined a walkway ringing the building. Peering over the edge, he felt vertigo overtake him as his brain tried to assess the sheer drop below him. A deep mist hung at the base of the tower. Mitch could only imagine just how far down the wall went, disappearing into the chasm below. Turning around, he was somewhat near the apex of the tower. He could make out a large rampart composing the outer edge of a platform making up the topmost section of the tower, but what lay beyond the wall remained a mystery, for the angle was to severe and he was to far away.
He returned his attention to the spectacular view that had captivated him earlier. The details of the fallen structures were difficult to make out in the dark, but Mitch could tell just by looking they must have been an impressive sight to behold before they were ruined. The details of Mother’s tale flashed in his mind and he began to understand what he was looking at. An entire civilization destroyed by the ambition of one man. What kind of monster would do such a thing, he wondered to himself. Robert Chapman’s sneering face flashed in his mind and he didn’t need to ponder the question much further.
Mitch looked to his right and saw the stone walkway and accompanying bulwark led around the tower and he decided to follow the path to see if he could get a better vantage point. Rounding the tower, he came across a staircase which led to a larger platform jutting out from the wall.
Mitch mounted the stairs and climbed up two at a time until he came to a wide terrace surrounded by a thick wall. A flash of panic shot up his spine as he saw someone sitting on a break in the rock. His fear subsided when he recognized the face. SoHee had settled herself in comfortably and she seemed to be sleeping as her eyes were closed.
Mitch took a few cautious steps forward and SoHee’s eyes opened as he approached.
“You’re up early,”She said as she stretched herself out.
“Not as early as you,” he said, taking a few more steps forward. “Did you sleep on the rocks? What are you doing out her?”
“Oh, it’s cute when you worry about me,” SoHee said as she pulled herself out of her nook. A pale light had begun to crest on the horizon and the structures in the distant began to reveal their gory details. Horrific monuments to destruction long since passed.
“Its beautiful isn’t it?” SoHee asked as she and Mitch leaned against the fortification.
“Its incredible, but its also kind of frightening,” Mitch said.
“You said it,” SoHee replied. “Its all kind of hard to believe.”
“Kind of?” Mitch said as he looked at her again. “This is absolutely insane, but why should I be surprised. How could we possibly think that our lives could go back to normal after everything that has happened? Like I told you before, insanity is the new normal for us. So that’s why I’m not surprised I guess.”
“You should hear yourself right now,” SoHee said as she laughed out loud. “Do you really think this all some kind of fate playing out just to torment you. There are larger things at work here none of us can control.”
“I get that, but I don’t really see why I have to give in to these forces willingly,” He said as he looked back out at the horizon. The light had grown stronger and it seemed ready to break over the peaks in the far distance.
“Maybe you’re right. It’s our duty, to fight against those forces that would do us harm,” SoHee replied.
“That kind of seems like an over simplificatyion, but it makes sense. No matter what, I’m just fighting to stay alive is all. The last few days have been terrifying to say the least and I don’t know what to expect next,” Mitch said. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you standing there on that platform, but, once again, I wasn’t surprised.”
“Ha, did you have a premonition?” SoHee asked. “Or maybe it was destiny?”
“Why do you always have to act like that?” Mitch asked. “I say something sincere and you cut it up and make a joke of it.”
“I guess its just a force of habit, a defense mechanism,” SoHee said and she looked out over the wall. “I’ve seen things you know. Terrible things. Something bad is going to happen and I’m not sure what I can do about it.”
“You don’t have to bear it alone,” Mitch said as he turned to look at her again. “I don’t know how to explain it, but we’ve found each other on the side of the universe. Whatever that is, its something right? If it’s fate or whatever then that’s what it is.”
“I’m not sure if I like it when you talk like this, Mitch,” SoHee said as she turned away. “The truth is I’m scared. As much as I hate to admit it.”
“Don’t worry I’m scared too,” Mitch replied. “But we’ve been through something similar to this before and I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to pull through. Let’s just stick together and not panic.”
“You’ve changed so much,” SoHee said as she looked at him again. “You hardly seem like that nervous kid I met a year ago.”
“I was a mess when I met you a year ago,” Mitch said. “I was going through hell and that whole conference was the last thing I wanted to do, but I guess it was the one thing I needed most. Besides, I made some great friends and I saved the world. What more could a guy ask for.”
“You still think it was you that saved the world?” SoHee said.
“Well, I had some help” Mitch said.
“Some help, ha,” SoHee said.
“Look, I want to ask you something,” Mitch said and he took a breath.
“Anything,” SoHee said.
“Yesterday, when you did that thing, that transformation. I saw a face looking at me, looking right into me. These powers you have are stronger than you think, right?” Mitch asked.
“That’s the thing that scares me,” SoHee said as she looked away. “This power, this stuff, its almost beyond my ability to understand. Sometimes I’m not even sure if I’m in control at all.”
“I know how that feels, being out of control,” Mitch said.
“I can just feel it growing stronger and I can feel other things now, other energy clawing at me, trying to get a piece, you know. It’s a difficult burden to bear. And I feel the weight of it all the time. It’s hanging around my neck right now,” She said as she looked down at the necklace below her chin.
“I know what you mean by burden as well. I carried that hacked phone around in my pocket for a month thinking the entire time I was going to get arrested. And when it finally happened, when they finally called me out on it. I’d never felt more alone than that time in the dome with Robert Chapman.” Mitch said. “They had me corned, surrounded and that phone was sitting in my pocket. But then you burst in and were all like ‘Bring it on.’ I don’t think I’d ever seen anything more incredible in my entire life.”
“Well, you sure know how to hand out a compliment, Mitch Mythic,” SoHee said trying not to blush.
“What I’m trying to say is don’t worry. You’re not alone. I understand what you’re going through. I may be the only person in the whole universe that understands,” Mitch said. He shocked himself by what he said and he felt a sense of shame creeping up his spine. SoHee didn’t speak for a long time and Mitch could sense a strange tension between the two of the them. The sun burst over the horizon lightning up the valley and she turned towards him and threw her arms around him as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Just be there for me when I need you, ok,” SoHee said as she choked back her tears.
“I’ll take on the entire universe if that’s what it takes, but I’ll be there,” He said as he returned her embrace. The warm light of Jarkadu’s sun washed over them and Mitch felt a sensation of peace deep inside his being. All of the stress and horror that he had endured over the past few days washed away as he held SoHee in his arms. Closing his eyes, he saw the face from his dream again and the universe melted away. He could feel her tears soaking through the suit she had made for him using her powers. Pulling away from his chest, SoHee looked him in the eyes again. He gazed back at her and waves of confusion passed over him. Waiting for her to say something, he expected a sarcastic remark or a reproach. But only a smile broke across her lips as she wiped her tears away. Mitch couldn’t help but smile back and his arms pulled against the small of her back. He realized in that moment how beautiful she was.
So much had happened between the two of them in such a short while and so many changes had occurred in them both. He tried to find ways to put his feelings into words, but his mind went blank as he stared into his eyes. For a long moment they held each other in silence and finally Mitch looked at her and was about to speak, but a tremendous explosion occurred in the distance and they both looked to the horizon to see a spire of smoke and lava rising into the sky.
SoHee broke free from his embrace and they both watched the smoke billowing upward while bright red molten rock poured out of a gaping fissure in the earth.
“That can’t be good,” Mitch said as he looked at SoHee again.
“You think,” SoHee replied. The tenderness in her face had all but vanished. “It looks like things are escalating here. I wonder how much time we have left before the planet completely destabilizes?”
“That’s a good question, but I’m gonna say it’s gonna happen sooner than later,” Mitch replied. He opened his mouth to speak again, but he was rocked off of his feet as a tremor shook the earth surrounding the tower.
“That’s not good either,” Mitch said again.
“Would you stop pointing out the obvious,” SoHee snapped. Another tremor shook the ground beneath them and they both watched as the sheer cliff opposite the tower crumbled before their eyes. Giant boulders tumbled to the base of the canyon and several cracks appeared in the walls. They heard a rumbling in the distance and a scent of sulfur washed over them. Turning towards the direction of the sound, they saw a river of molten lava flowing through the deep canyon below the base of the tower. The dust had settled on the opposite side revealing more cracks and fissures in the wall. Mitch could see an ominous red glow deep in the cracks. More tremors shook the tower and lava explode forth from the wall in several places creating a cascade of molten rock pouring into the river of magma below them.
The tower shook again and Mitch looked down to see cracks forming under their feet.
“I think we better get out of here,” Mitch said.
“I think you’re right,” SoHee said. She had to step back quickly as a large crack split between her feet.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Mitch said as he took her hand and let her away. She squeezed his hand as they made their way down the stairs. The violent shaking continued all around them as they made their way down the steps. Stepping out onto the walkway which led back to their quarters, several large cracks appeared on its surface.
“That’s not looking good,” Mitch said.
“Well, it’s a good thing that we have super powers, right?” SoHee said as she shot him a look.
“Oh right,” Mitch said as he looked down. Another tremor shook the ground they stood upon. Several sections of the walkway broke away from the tower wall and fell towards the base of the canyon.
“I think we better use those powers now,” Mitch said.
“Once again with the obvious, Mitch,” SoHee said. “It’s the same as your old powers, I made sure of it. Just cross your arms over your chest and you’ll activate it.”
“Ahh, all right, it’s just coming back to me,” Mitch said.
“Well, don’t take too long getting yourself re-acquainted. Time isn’t on our side if you haven’t noticed,” SoHee said as her orb began to unpack itself from its containment cube around her neck.
“Hang on,” he said as he adjusted himself and took a big breath. He reached his arms out in front of him and was about to cross his arms when he felt the ground beneath him crumble. He spun backwards to see SoHee looking at him in horror as he fell away. Diving after after him as he fell towards the canyon floor, she was quickly enshrouded in a green glow. Mitch felt his guts in his chest as he dropped. Looking around in disbelief for a moment, he heard SoHee scream.
“Cross your arms, you idiot,” she screeched as she reached out towards him. He brought his arms to his chest and he was instantly engulfed in a blue glow. He exhaled and pushed his hands and legs down before he came to sudden halt. An intense heat poured over him and he looked down to see he was only a few feet above the flowing river of lava. He looked up to see SoHee rocketing towards him.
“Look out,” She screeched again. Mitch looked over to his left and saw a shower of lava heading straight for him he ducked to avoid the molten rain. SoHee reached out with her orb and formed a canopy over him as the lava broke against her shield.
“What the hell were you thinking,” she shouted.
“Sorry, I took me a second to remember,” Mitch said.
“Well, that second almost killed you,” she snapped. “Let’s get out of here before we get roasted.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Mitch said as he shoved off alongside her. More lava fell from above as they shot back up towards the top the tower. The river began to surge forward and the heat of the magma ate at the side of the canyon causing more stone to crumble from the edge.
They arrived together at the open doorway to the shock and awe of their companions. Everybody had been roused from sleep by the tremors and a wave of relief seemed to wash over the room as SoHee and Mitch returned.
“We thought we lost you both,” Gerald said, trying to sound as if he were in control of the situation.
“Well, you haven’t got rid of us yet,” SoHee replied. “But we may all be done for in a moment. It looks like this whole place is going down.”
“I’m not really in the mood to stick around and find out how it all goes down,” Gerald said as walked to the open door and peered out. “How fast do you think we can get out of here?”
“There’s no telling,” SoHee replied. “Like I said earlier, my powers are limited in that respect. I can’t just whip up a wormhole. I need a source to create the right combination of dark energy. Without that we’re essentially stuck. I’ve only actually done it a couple of times, so I’m not exactly sure how it works.”
“So we just sit and wait then,” Babcock said jumping into the conversation.
“Not quite,” Mitch said. “Mother said she would deliver the prophecy after sun rise and that seems to be right about now. Let’s go to her and see about getting out of here. She’s the one that summoned you all here in the first place. She aught to have the answers we need.”
“Can’t disagree with that line of thinking,” Gerald replied. “Let’s see if we can find a way out of here and up to the top the tower.”
