SAVE POINT 48

Rosabella

I’d run away last time—it was clear to me now. I'd tried to be the boss of everything and everyone and, instead of accomplishing that, I'd just pushed everyone away intentionally to...to just breathe for a minute... To just be allowed to be me. And I had to go back to face it now; it was time to go back to The Higher Place...maybe even take my place as Game Maker at The Higher Place?

Rule?

I’d never wanted it, but, maybe, I couldn't hide from who I was any longer. Maybe it was time to just do it—to step up and be the leader everyone wanted me to be. If I could be that strong...

I took a deep breath, looking out at the dark horizon, my fingers deep in Sheela's dark hair as I carefully formed it into a braid. The skyline was a deep, eggplant purple, severed by the black silhouettes of the trees all around us. Joy had rigged up a fire in the middle of the clearing, and shadows flickered and danced across faces zoning out as much as I was right now.

Braiding helped me collect my thoughts, and there was plenty to braid with the little girl's thick hair. I hummed to myself as I worked, crossing the strands over each other, so I didn't have to talk. Right now, I just wanted to collect some of the peace and quiet like I could bottle it up and keep it like the root powder in a jar, with the lid securely sealed, to sustain myself.

And, yet, I knew I couldn't.

I knew that this moment too would peter out like the sound of a dying engine, and I'd be left defenseless again. ...Except that, this time, maybe I'd be more prepared for that vulnerable test.

"I'm still hungry," Sheela whined, her enormous brown eyes darting beseechingly to mine.

I could only smile back as I felt the rumble in my own stomach; the sparse food the group had left was barely enough to call a meal.

"I know," I whispered, instead of a real answer, "When we get to The Higher Place, there'll be more food than your tummy can hold." I reached to tickle her, and she squealed. "They have a kitchen there that's filled from top to bottom with goodies," I continued, "Cakes, chocolate chip cookies—"

"Cookies?!" The little girl's face rippled with eagerness.

"The best," I told her, "All we have to do is get some good sleep, walk further tomorrow and we'll be there in no time."

It wasn’t too much of a lie, I figured. We had the dragons for protection. There wasn’t enough of them to fly us all, so we'd been walking, instead, with them scouting ahead. …And the ostriches had scattered—the pea brains. Come to think of it, maybe we should just eat one of the damn ostriches. The birds wandered around the camp, pecking at the dark grass and crooning to themselves in the hushed night—their cries mixing with the lull and squeak of nearby crickets. ...Then again, I wasn’t sure that it was a good idea to eat magic that’d been coerced from a dragon...

"Good night, Rosie," Sheela called softly.

I looked down with surprise to see her already nestled into a blanket, her eyes closing sleepily over two, pudgy cheeks.

Rosie.

She'd called me—

But, for some reason, I didn't mind the nickname coming from her lips.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"If I go to sleep faster, maybe we'll get there faster," the little girl whispered, her eyes still closed and her words blurred by the gaps in her teeth and drowsiness.

And that made me smile as I slipped down, adjusting my backpack as my pillow against the curve of my neck. "Good night, Sheela," I murmured back.

I worried about her as I gazed up into the violet sky stretching overhead. She’d seen her mother murdered in cold blood by the very woman we had tied up here in camp. I looked out over the numerous, restless nerds, prisoners and animals milling about, settling down for sleep. We were strong in numbers, but entirely different—people from The Game and the nerds from Earth. How could I hope to unite everyone even if I did decide to sit on the metaphorical throne?

Loading A Very Long Walk Later…

I saw it, rising up in the distance like a sun on the horizon—The Higher Place. The roofline glinted gold over Victorian detailing. The massive, ornate structure rose, white and gold, like an Olympian temple or a grand hotel with the sea in the background. Behind me, I heard Sheela gasp.

"Yep, that's her alright—and she's a beauty too, right?" I heard Dormouse verify when it appeared the little girl asked.

Honestly, I'd never been gladder to see anywhere. My back and feet ached, and I was getting tired of the stares of the group as we walked—like they had a million questions on their tongues that they thought I could answer. What they didn't know, was that I didn't want them to ask; I'd been sidestepping their attempts all day. ...Because I didn't think I had the answer. Not yet. I still wasn’t sure—even this close to the place. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to be their leader.

Joy, in particular, had been giving me major side-eye; she probably didn’t think I'd noticed, but I could almost see the wondering glint in her eyes. And I couldn't answer her. I really couldn't.

I pushed forward from the group, anxious to get inside. We were all hungry and thirsty, smelly and, honestly, rather grumpy. I was so ready for a shower and a hot meal, but not exactly ready for what happened next...

"Rosabella!"

I froze.

It was—

Sparo? I'd recognize that voice anywhere, and, I guessed, it helped that his human silhouette darkened the doorway inside. Elation and dismay jumped in me at the same time. Oh my God—it was him but...but I looked like a complete trainwreck—

Oofff.

Something hit me hard in the chest and—

It was him.

His arms surrounded me.

Encircled me.

And I melted. Into his embrace. Into his warmth and strength—God, if I could borrow some of that right now. I'd forgotten how he smelled. Mmmmh. Like a men's department store and wood mixed together. And, when he pulled me back from him to look at my probably dirt-smudged face and wrecked hair, I noticed tears pushing to the front of my eyes. Oh, shit, I couldn't cry now—

"You came back for your ole dragon, didn't you?" he jested. He lifted a brown finger, brushing away the tear I had hoped he didn't see.

And I smiled because I’d forgotten how he saw—me.

He grinned back.

"And you brought a party," he noted, his eyes skimming over the makeshift army behind me. We were all wandering in the grass, approaching the enormous facade of the Victorian building and looking up in awe. "They do not look like warriors," he whispered.

"It's 'cause they're not," I said, laughing a little, "They're nerds—fantasy nerds to be exact."

"Fantasy nerds," the guy repeated, turning the label over in his mouth, "Okay, I see you trying on something new."

And there was that grin again, flashing at me. And I, suddenly, wanted to go weak at the knees and just let him scoop me up—let someone finally take care of me for once.

"We're hungry and tired—" I started.

"Say no more," he interrupted me, "I'll get the chef and maids right on it. I might have promoted myself while you were away. Nothing huge, just—Chief of Staff." He brushed off his own shoulders, and I had to laugh again.

But his voice got heavy—serious—all of a sudden. "So, are you back? Are you...ready?"

My heart jumped and shuttered.

Ready?

I knew what he meant, but it was the question that I’d thought I'd avoided today; it was the one question I was more afraid of than I wanted to admit. Was I ready to be the Game Maker the Gamers needed? Was I ready to be a leader, a ruler? My breath caught in my throat.

"I—" I struggled to find the resolve and ducked my head before looking at the man directly.

But, in his deep eyes, I saw what I needed. I saw him not wanting to be pushy but...him waiting for me.

To jump.

To do the brave thing.

To step up.

Goddammit.

"Yes"—I whispered the word, hoarsely, but I’d finally said it. My feet crunched in the grass as they shifted nervously below me. "Yes," I said a little louder, "I think I am."