Mina sat straight as a pillar in her seat, sweaty hands clasped on her lap, and her eyes darted back and forth as she watched her surroundings.
"You okay, Mina?" Annie asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Y-yes, I'm quite alright," Mina said. Her breath was coming in short bursts through her nose, but she battled back against her fear.
Fear of the unknown.
I do hope I've made the right decision. I'd no notion it would be…
Her thoughts again turned back to an earlier time as she wondered whether she'd made a terrible mistake.
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"I know everything," Annie said softly, holding Mina's head to her chest as she embraced the trembling girl. "You're such a brave girl, Mina. So brave."
Mina shook, unable to stop crying even though she had no understanding of what was causing it. She felt lips press to the top of her head, and the arms around her tightened further, enclosing her in a sense of safety she'd never felt even when Carl had given her his great big hugs.
"You're so brave, but you can't be brave by yourself anymore," Annie said. "You're not gonna be alone anymore, okay, Mina? You're never going to be alone again. How does that sound?"
Mina sniffled and nodded against the other woman's shirt, unable to speak with her throat constricting. She didn't know what she was feeling at this moment, but she felt…
Somehow she felt that she was home.
"She's coming with me," Annie said more loudly. Defiantly. "You can do that, can't you?"
"It is her choice to pass through the gate or not," Ir'alith said.
"Hold your hammers, you can't just drag her off to another world," Valgud protested.
"Your shitty world's no place for a girl like her. She's been through enough," Annie said, stroking her hand through Mina's hair. Her voice quietened and grew gentle again. "What do you think, Mina? Do you wanna come back and live in my world? A better world? You'll have a real family that loves you, with a mother, and a father, and two little sisters who I'm sure would love to have you around and would never, ever be mean like…"
The embrace loosened, and Mina was pushed backwards a step, Annie's hands resting on her shoulders. She looked up at the woman she'd spent so much time trying to rescue, her lips trembling and eyes still burning.
Annie's face mirrored hers, and tears were running down her face. Her hand came up to cup Mina's face and stroked slowly back through her hair once more. Her eyes showed nothing but compassion and sincerity, and she…
Mina sniffled. "T-truly?" she whispered, unable to speak another word or raise her voice.
Annie nodded, her thumb wiping a tear from the girl's cheek. "I promise," she said, her voice cracking slightly.
"And… And I'd live…with you? And Carl?" Mina shook now, but for a different reason. She'd long dreamt of waking one day to discover that she'd only imagined the worse events that had happened to her, that they'd been a lengthy nightmare which had passed.
It had only been a silly dream, however.
An idle fantasy.
Annie nodded again, more vigorously this time. "I know he already cares about you. I'm sure he'll be glad to know that you're safe."
Mina's dream was coming true, or so she believed. There was perhaps a slight possibility of it. The tiniest chance. Perhaps, just perhaps this was genuinely happening. She wavered, uncertain whether to say yes and reveal it as the fantasy it must be or to decline and enjoy that she'd had such a remarkably lifelike dream. She recalled something, and with increasingly frantic hands dug into her shirt where she'd…
"Yes," Mina said, fumbling with the paper Carl had given to her as she held it out to Annie in her trembling grasp. "Please, yes. Please, can I? I'd like that so very much! Please!" She fell against the woman's chest again with the paper held over her head, pleading for the dream not to end.
"What… What's this?" Annie said as she took the paper. Her arms came down around Mina's shoulders, holding her close while she looked. "Can't really see it with this light… Thanks, Ir'alith."
"It was nothing."
"Why do you have my cell number?" Annie asked, now sounding bewildered. "And my email?"
"Carl gave it to me," Mina whispered, feeling her dream start to slip away as it always did. "He'd said I should speak with you. That you'd listen with sincerity. That you were the best."
Annie sighed, and her arms came down to wrap around the girl again, holding her tightly. "That's my Carl," she said softly. "You're going to love my world, Mina."
Mina sniffled and nodded against her, hoping that perhaps it would be true.
Just this once.
"Any objections?" Annie said more loudly, her tone harsh.
"If she wants it, I'm not about to tell her which way to comb her beard."
"Are friends supposed to object to this type of thing?"
"I do not object."
"Jungrathol and I are of like mind."
"Alright then. Mina, do you wanna introduce me to your friends before we go home?"
Mina didn't wish to do anything at the moment other than feel the warmth of the other woman's embrace.
Of home.
Annie slid the girl to the side and tucked her under one arm, continuing to hug her close as she turned her around. "Okay, let's go left to right. You're Valgud. I want to thank you for helping to rescue me and for being a good teacher to Mina. You inspired her to keep going when she might not have otherwise. You helped make her great, just like a teacher should."
Mina looked at Valgud through watery eyes and nodded along, feeling her throat once more constrict to steal her voice.
Valgud looked down and prodded lightly at a small rock near his boot. "Yep, that's what I tried to do," he said, his boisterous voice unusually quiet. He reached up and drew an arm across his face roughly but didn't look back up.
"Vol, I still don't really know who you are, but thanks for all you've done," Annie said next. "You gave her someone to look up to when she was younger, and you challenged her over the past week and helped her overcome her fears. You've been a good friend."
"Yeah. Yeah! I have, haven't I," Vol said, sounding pleased with herself.
Mina nodded, still finding it terribly difficult to speak.
"Jungrathol, wow, it feels weirder to say it than to hear it," Annie muttered to herself.
"I am Jungrathol," said Jungrathol, showing a mouth full of horrifying black teeth.
"Erm, yeah," Annie continued. "Thanks for being here to help. And for making Mina laugh. I'm…sure you're a great father."
"No, I am just a father," Jungrathol said. "My son does not yet have a child of his own. He is too young."
Mina smiled at Jungrathol's too-literal joke, and his grin widened even as Ir'alith swatted his foot with her tail.
"Ir'alith…" Annie said. "Thanks. For everything. And I'm sorry for how I acted before. I'll… I'll think about what you asked?" she said as though questioning her words.
"No, it was my foolishness which resulted in your capture," Ir'alith said, shaking her head. "You have no obligation to me."
Annie moved her arm away and stepped forward towards the much taller woman, beckoning for her to lean down, then whispered something into her ear.
"Truly?" Ir'alith said, seeming surprised. "But—"
"I need to," Annie said, coming back to take Mina under her arm again.
"I will consider your request," Ir'alith said after a moment while her tail tapped the ground beside her.
"Vol, why do you stare at the Protector's tail?" Jungrathol asked.
Vol looked up and turned her head back and forth, seeming momentarily panicked. "What? I wasn't… I, uh…"
"If you are prepared, I will create the gate," Ir'alith said, whacking Jungrathol again with her tail.
"I think we're ready," Annie said, giving Mina a little squeeze. "You ready, Mina?"
"I… I believe I am?" Mina said.
Ir'alith smiled. "I will give each of you a parting gift before you depart. For Annie…"
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Mina again thought over the language spell that Ir'alith had shared through their briefly-sustained mind link, verifying that she still recalled it. Without this, I'd be entirely unable to speak with anyone. The terror that such a scenario evoked, of being stranded in a world where perhaps she might not understand a single person was—
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Annie reached over and squeezed her hands with one of hers. "It's okay, Mina. You're safe. We're almost there." She brought her hand back to the steering wheel of her car in time to pull on a lever behind the wheel that caused the car to once more begin emitting a ticking sound.
They'd stepped through the portal that Ir'alith had created and arrived into a brightly-lit room with desks, and books, and notebooks spread everywhere. The mere state of being in a world different from her past caused Mina to feel as though she had somehow become lighter. Annie grabbed a bag from nearby and began placing items into it, and a man had entered the room shortly after.
Once Annie had given a hastily-spoken excuse regarding family issues, Mina had been pulled by the hand through corridors within a strangely-constructed building of the like she'd never imagined. The floor was a sort of smooth, perfectly uniform tile that fit together without the slightest of imperfections, and the ceiling was some manner of similar appearance but with tiny holes at regular, frequent intervals.
According to Annie, this was a school—similar to the public academies organized by the Church of Dawn, but without religious affiliation—and it was the place where she worked, teaching her pupils various aspects of literature.
They'd passed through a series of doors, and then they were outside. Mina had gawked as she continued to be pulled along. There were roads crafted with the same material as in Onyxfell, but with spaces for walking—as they'd been doing at the time—nearby, clearly separated by thick borders of the same black material and raised up to prevent vehicles from driving into those who walked upon it.
How sensible!
There were a few trees and shrubberies scattered about, but the most notable difference to her eyes was that there appeared to be only a single sun. Or perhaps the other suns were following separate paths? The sky had an odd haze to it that altered the familiar blue with a slightly brownish tint.
Annie fumbled with a small collection of keys, the like of which were at least known conceptually to Mina if not by their exact form, and they reached a car which was powered not by steam, but by electricity. They'd gotten aboard, and she'd finally seen precisely what Carl had been referencing when he'd spoken of seatbelts so long ago. They weren't quite as comfortable, or as durable, or as safe as the ones she'd devised, but she could see how they might still be effective even despite their failings and lack of comfort.
Then they'd begun to drive.
To home, as Annie had said.
Mina watched with mixed feelings of fear and fascination as the electricitycar sped along roads with clear markings to direct and inform drivers of every matter that might concern them.
"I know you're nervous, but it's okay now," Annie said in a soothing tone. "You're safe. Nobody is ever going to hurt you like that again."
Mina frowned as her mind began traveling along a different track. "You've spoken as though you know what I've endured."
"I… I saw it," Annie said quietly. "I saw everything. The dungeon cores showed me. They showed me about your family. Your awful sister, Emma. They showed me about that bastard who did so many awful things to you. I… I watched it all."
Mina turned to the woman, her eyes widening. She… She's seen everything? All of… She clasped her hands together tightly.
Annie turned the wheel, and the electricitycar turned onto a smaller road which led to a giant, strangely designed house. "We're home," she said as she reached up and pressed something on the ceiling of the car. A large door near the side of the house began to lift upwards, and she eased the car inside, coming to a stop right before a wall. She pressed something next to the steering wheel, then turned to Mina. "This is going to be your home now, Mina," she said, showing an earnest smile. "Come on, honey, let's go in, and I'll show you around."
Mina stared down at her legs. "If… If you know of my past, then surely… There's no… You've children of your own. I'd simply contaminate them with—"
Annie pulled her to the side, pressing the girl's head against her chest and started rubbing her back. "Don't say that," she said gently. "Don't ever think like that, Mina. You're a strong, brilliant girl with a bright future ahead of you. All that's in the past now. It's in another world. If you ever want to talk about any of it, Carl and I will be here for you. If you don't, you can just enjoy your new life, okay?"
Mina hesitated for a moment, then tentatively wrapped her arms around the other woman. The hug somehow grew warmer and more comforting, and she sighed. "Alright," she murmured.
Annie tightened her arms around her for a moment, then pulled away. "Let's get inside." She pulled on a small handle on the side of her door and pushed it open before stepping out, then looked back in. "Do you know how to…"
Mina mimicked the woman's actions and disembarked from the electricitycar, showing her nervousness on her face over its top. Annie pushed her door shut with an encouraging smile, and waved her towards a nearby door. She copied the motion, shutting her own door and walking along the strange, smooth floor. The comfort of her boots reassured her slightly with each step, providing some small manner of familiarity.
"This is the garage," Annie said, gesturing to the dim, cluttered area in which she'd stored her electricitycar. "We keep some of our stuff out here, but mostly it's just for the cars." She pressed on a rectangular panel next to the door.
Mina flinched back as a loud mechanical noise sounded out, reverberating through the enclosed space. She searched about, finding that the larger door was now lowering behind the car.
Trapping her.
"That's the garage door," Annie said. "Little loud, isn't it?"
"It's quite loud," Mina said, relaxing slightly at the woman's continued calmness.
Annie pulled open the door and moved up the steps onto another floor consisting of matching tiles, save for where they were cut to fit the walls. "This is our house. Your house too now," she called back as she moved farther in.
I'm simply expected to… Mina took a breath and followed after her.
"Close the door behind you, please," Annie said.
Mina pulled the door shut behind her, finding that it shut with a satisfying amount of precision against the wall.
"Shoes and boots off when you're in the house," Annie said next, reaching down to unlace her own shoes. She set them on a nearby tray formed from an unknown material that was filled with an assortment of other shoes.
Mina reached down and unlaced her boots, finding a small area free on the edge of the tray to set them, and then showing another nervous smile.
Annie reached over and pulled her into another hug. "It's okay, you'll get the hang of it. You're going to have a lot to learn, but I know you can do it, Mina."
The girl let out a shuddering breath and returned the embrace, feeling some of the tension flow out of her at the continued tenderness she was being shown. "Thank you so much, Annie," she whispered.
"Around here, kids call me Mom. You can too. If you want."
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"The shower head—that's the part that sprays the water—is detachable," Annie called. "You can pick it up and move it around if you want."
Mina blinked under the hot spray, nudging the knob which somehow controlled the temperature of the water slightly and reveling as it reached the perfect level of heat. She tried lifting the shower head, discovering to her delight that she could spray the water in any direction she chose from any angle. She spent a few seconds dousing the small bench in the rear of the shower with a widening grin on her face. How can such a thing even function? Surely there's no magic at work. The water is… She shivered a little from the absence of heat and returned the shower head to its original position. Can I truly enjoy this manner of luxury from now on?
"Alright, I think I found a couple things that'll fit," Annie called, her distorted form visible through the odd, partially see-through glass. "I'll order you some underwear right away, but you'll have to tough it out for a couple hours with this corset thing you were wearing until then if you want support. Sorry, Mina."
"That's… That's quite alright?" Mina said. I'd not considered clothing, and she's already making expenditures on my behalf? I've yet to see the manner in which others dress. Perhaps… Perhaps they prefer to wear high-necked dresses, as I do? Or perhaps it's even fashionable for ladies to wear trousers as it is in Onyxfell?
"Don't stay in too long or you'll turn into a prune," Annie called as she walked away. "I'll wait out here." The door to the bathroom's exit shut, and the only sound that persisted was the rush of water.
The excitement and giddiness that had been slowly building up within Mina grew more intense now that her fear was beginning to subside, and she closed her eyes as she tipped her head forward into the relaxing spray of the water.
She smiled.
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"It's very generous of you to provide me with clothing," Mina said. She tugged at the shirt once more. "Um, perhaps—"
"Oh, okay," Annie said, seeming to grasp the situation immediately. "Thought that would fit a little better. Sorry, Mina." She frowned. "Um, alright. I'll get you one of Carl's t-shirts for now and order some more stuff to last you until we can get out to a store to do things right. We're gonna have to do a lot of shopping together." She brightened. "It'll be fun. We can take Sammy, and you can get to know each other a bit more. She loves shopping for clothes."
"Do you truly think… Are you certain I won't be a bother?" Mina asked. "Carl's spoken to me of your daughters, and I'd never wish—"
Annie stepped forward and hugged her again. "Don't you worry about that, honey. My girls are the best. They're the nicest, sweetest girls you've ever met. They'll love having a smart big sister like you."
"What if they despise my intrusion upon… What if they don't?" Mina asked. "I… If you truly know of my past, then you know I've never been capable of being on friendly terms with my own sisters, not to—"
"Bobby and Sammy can be your sisters now," Annie said firmly, hugging her more tightly to match. "Forget about those awful, awful girls. What was it you said to Emma? She had more in common with shit than family? They'll never hurt you again, Mina. And by the end of tonight, Bobby and Sammy are both gonna come give you big hugs and ask you to stay. You'll see."
Mina's lips trembled. "Truly?"
"I promise."
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"Carl should be home soon," Annie said, carrying over a cup made of glass which was filled with water.
Mina accepted it gingerly. I've still no concept of the value of things. Is glass highly valued here? Are they perhaps members of the aristocracy?
Annie took a gulp from her own cup and sat next to her on the couch. "What do you think so far?"
"It's…wonderful," Mina said softly. Or so it seems with only the two of us present. Carl was certainly not depicting Annie with sufficient accuracy. I'd never imagined a woman so kindhearted as her could exist. They're a matched pair, of that that I'm certain.
A faint mechanical noise sounded, which she recognized as likely belonging to a garage door.
"That's Carl," Annie said, an excited smile breaking out on her face.
Mina looked at her again, noticing something different now that her mind was somewhat more relaxed. Has she… Perhaps my memory isn't accurate, but I'd thought she looked older when I first saw her. I'd not thought to ask for her age. Or Carl's, now that I consider it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Annie squeezing her knee. "You wait here a minute, I'll be right back."
"Hey, I'm back," Carl called.
Mina felt a sudden warmth suffuse her chest, and she fought back the urge to cry once more. No, I mustn't… No! She forced herself to think about imagined methods by which water might be carried and heated through some manner of pipes, perhaps even from a boiler as her steamcar had, though surely it would be difficult to sufficiently heat something large enough to store so much hot water…
Carl stood in the doorway of the room, staring at her with an increasingly confused expression.
"Hello, Carl," she said, giving him a small wave in an attempt to offset her nervousness. Is it truly okay that I'm…
Carl turned to Annie behind him, and they began to whisper quickly.
Mina grasped the fabric of the soft new trousers—sweat pants—she was wearing. As I'd thought, it's not the same when we're in his world. He'd simply—
"You really think it'll work?" Carl asked in a slightly louder voice.
"Carl, it has to," Annie said, rubbing his arm.
He scratched his beard, just as he always did when he was considering some matter or another, beginning to nod. A smile spread across his face. "You really are the best," he said.
Annie tilted her head up and stood on her toes, receiving a quick kiss. She smiled up at him. "You are too."
Carl turned to Mina, continuing to smile. "Hey, sweetie. Welcome home."
Mina's lips began to quiver as he walked over, and she sniffled as he sat down beside her.
Annie followed him over and sat on her other side.
"You're safe now," Carl said, leaning in to hug her from his side.
"You're home now," Annie whispered, hugging her from the other side.
"Thank you so much," Mina said in a cracking voice as the first tear rolled down along her nose.