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INTO THE NEW WORLD — CHAPTER 7
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A large group occupied a table in a restaurant. They met by coincidence getting food.
“Hey Jay, You know you are late.”
Jay looked up at Lynx. “Yeah I know, a simple mistake. Nothing much.”
Lynx raised his eyebrow. “Well, you’re here now. I suppose we should get on with it.”
Jay took a sip of his drink. He looked at his mates and spoke, “Well alright gang, This is Lynx’s group. May you guys introduce yourselves to them?”
Ashlyn stood up. “Hi! I’m Ashlyn. Hope to build good relationships between us.” she expressed.
Braylee was next. She stood up and bowed her arm to her torso. “Greetings, my name is Braylee, I wish you well.”
Geo was staring at Truro. Jay elbowed him. “Psst, introduce yourself.”
Geo ignored him.
“Well the sore midget over here is Geo, sorry for any inconvenience.”
“Don’t call me a midget Jay, and whoever that red hair is there,” He pointed to Truro. “I need an apology.”
“Hey! You bumped into me first!”
“shut up.” Lynx and Jay said in unison. They quieted down.
Lynx stood up. Alright, we need to get to business. We have close to a month until AirOut begins. We need to start planning. I’ll introduce my group first.”
Ulua stood up before Lynx’s gesture. “Hello, My name is Ulua. Blessings to you.” she brought out her hand. Ashlyn and Braylee both shook it.
Truro stood up next. “Okay, I’m Truro. I’m a cool person. I hope to have a good time with you people.” he put his hand out. Everyone but Geo shook it. Truro side-eyed him before sitting down.
“Alright, We know each other, tracking back to what I said we should plan for AirOut.” Lynx took a sip.
Jay spoke up. “Alright, Lynx and I have done AirOut before. Unfortunately, we lost. We decided to recruit you guys to do it with us.”
The rest looked a little confused and interested. Ashlyn spoke up. “Really? I mean I kind of figured this out but hearing it from you feels different.”
Braylee replied. “Yeah, It sounds a little weird. At least we have been together for a while.”
“Yeah,” Jay said. “It’s been a bit.”
Lynx looked at Jay. “It has been quite a bit. I’ve been saying we need to plan but I don’t even know where to start with Jay. I suppose I’ll ignore it and leave it for later.”
Jay looked at his cup. “I haven’t really thought of what to say to Lynx after we meet again. I suppose I’ll ignore it and leave it for later.”
“Anyways, Lynx can we leave the planning for later? Let’s get to know each other.” Ulua asked.
Ashlyn and Braylee perked up. “Yeah,” They both said.
Lynx looked at Ulua and smiled. “Yeah, we can spare some time I guess. I was struggling with where to start.”
The rest agreed. They all finished their food and got up to leave to go somewhere.
“Where should we go?” Lynx asked.
Truro spoke up. “I think we should go do something fun. Like bowling.”
“Alright, any objections?”
Nobody spoke out.
“Alright bowling it is.”
They all left the restaurant. “Alright, I’ll locate the nearest bowling area,” Truro spoke.
“Okay, you got that. I’ll get a ride.” Ulua spoke.
Jay walked up front. “Okay, Let's get to know each other a bit. Lynx and I have some catching up to do.”
Lynx was interested in why Jay did that. He decided to dismiss it. “Okay.”
Jay added, “Geo, now is the perfect time for you and Truro to make up.”
Geo snorted. No answer.
“Alright, I located the nearest bowling area.” truro.
“I got a ride,” Ulua said.
“That quick?” Ashlyn was surprised.
“Yeah, they were near us anyway. We have to walk there though.”
“Alright, Let’s get walking then,” Jay said.
They all started walking after Ulua. Ashlyn and Braylee went beside her to speak to each other. Geo and Truro refused to make up. Lynx and Jay walked next to each other, both thinking of what to say.
Jay spoke up first. “It has been a while huh?”
Lynx said. “Yeah, it has been a while.”
“So, Anything interesting?”
“Not much.”
Jay took it as Lynx didn't feel like speaking right now. He decided to stay silent. Lynx understood the mood too.
It was a long year for both of them.
Jay thought. “Should I ask him to tell me now? He said to leave it for later last time.”
“never mind. I’ll ask later.”
Jay simply was next to Lynx, who he hadn't seen in a year, with absolutely nothing to say.
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A year ago, 2054.
Lynx and Jay were sitting down on a bench. both silent.
“Oh, my gosh. She is such a B***h!” Jay cursed.
“Calm down Jay, not much we can do now. She betrayed us.”
Jay and Lynx were sitting outside the venue of AirOut. They lost the event.
“Why did she do that? What was the point? We were almost there.”
Lynx looked at the floor. “ I don’t know. Not one bit.”
They sat down silent for a long time.
The sun has set.
They are still sitting there.
Lynx got up. “Come on Jay. Let’s go back to our place. We can plan what to do later.”
Jay got up and followed Lynx back to their place.
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a few weeks later…
Lynx and Jay were in a bar. “This city seems to be packing up huh?” Jay said.
Lynx took a sip. “Yeah, we won’t be able to stay here for much longer.”
Jay looked at Lynx. “What are you going to do?”
Lynx turned his head and looked at Jay. He looked determined. “I’m planning for next year’s AirOut. I will win. I can’t stay here. I need to go.”
Jay was a little taken aback by his statement. He knew he had always wanted to go to the New World. He never really asked why. Not like he told Lynx why he wants to go either. Jay took a risk. “Why do you want to go to the New World, You can’t be going just for convenience.”
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Lynx chuckled. “Yeah, that is an interesting question. How about another time? I don’t feel like telling you now.”
Jay took a sip. “You’re leaving, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be better for you to tell me now?”
“I don’t feel like it. Sorry.” Lynx stared at his cup. Eyes driven with an unknown fire. Jay decided it wasn’t the time to ask him about it. Jay went into deep thought as well.
“Going to the New World is something I want to do. Is there a reason though?” Jay thought. “I just don’t feel like I belong here anymore.” He answered himself.
Interrupting Jay’s thought Lynx got up. “Hey Jay, do you want to do AirOut with me again?”
Jay hesitated due to surprise. “Uh, yeah sure. Got a plan?”
“We should split up for now. Find trustworthy people. capable ones too.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, I don't have anything else to say.”
Jay stared at his cup while Lynx stood behind him facing away. They both felt the slight tension in the air.
Lynx chuckled. “I feel the tension. I think we both need time. We are starting from square one after all.”
Jay stared at his reflection. He wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Lynx waited for a reply. realizing he won’t get any, he spoke. “Well, Hope you take my idea to heart mate.”
Jay finally brought his head up. He turned around to tell Lynx what he wanted to say.
It was too late. Lynx was gone.
Jay sat there at the bar. despite the loud noises around him, he couldn't hear a thing.
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3 months later…
Jay was in a restaurant waiting for someone. it was a rather empty restaurant. It was going to close soon anyway due to the lack of people that were staying in the city he was in.
His client arrived. Surprisingly they brought someone with them. They were both girls.
“Hello, You are Jay right?” They sat down.
“Yeah, that’s me. Did you get the message?”
“Yeah, I accept. It’s nice I suppose. We are doing the gadget competition in the next area right?”
“Yeah,” Jay replied.
Jay has met with a person to gather a group for an event. He advertised a meeting around and someone replied.
“Okay! My name is Braylee, and the person accompanying me is Ashlyn.”
“Hi!” Ashlyn greeted.
Jay observed them. He was going to test them on their capabilities at the gadget competition.
“Alright then, Let’s get planning.”
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The gadget competition ended. They sadly lost to another group and they placed second.
“Dang it! I thought we were actually going to win.” Ashlyn grumbled.
“It’s fine Ashlyn we did pretty well, we just got outplayed,” Braylee replied.
“Both of you guys are pretty good. congrats on winning the hide-and-seek again Ashlyn. Congrats on winning the extreme firearm archery match Braylee.”
“Thank you, Jay. You did well in the card game. you baited out 3 whole teams. That’s pretty insane.” Braylee said.
“Yeah don't mention it.” Jay chuckled. “You guys want to stick together? Maybe we can do another competition and hopefully win.”
Braylee thought it over.
“Hey Braylee, he was a good leader for this competition, we should join him! we could have a chance at entering The Dome for once!” Ashlyn spoke up.
Braylee decided to accede. “Yeah he did do well, Alright Jay, We’ll join you.”
Jay smiled. “Alright! I got a group! I suppose I'll be leading them. I won’t fail them.”
“Alright let us get a place to sleep. I assume we are all tired.” Jay said.
“Yeah,” They both said in unison.
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6 months later…
Jay and his group seemed to have accidentally kidnapped someone.
“Jay, seriously? You got a car with someone in the trunk.” Braylee said.
“I didn’t know a person was in there!” Jay complained.
The person was just looking at them.
Braylee and Jay kept arguing over what to do. Ashlyn walked up to the person and asked him, “What’s your name?”
The person hesitated. “Geo.”
“Geo? Alright, My name is Ashlyn. Those two in the back arguing at Braylee and Jay.”
Geo just looked at Ashlyn. “You look annoying.”
“Hey! Take that back!”
Geo remained silent. Ashlyn just walked back to her group. “Can we leave him? I don’t like him.”
“Jay said we’re going to take him in for a bit, Jay feels bad for him. He’s going to pay for everything.” Braylee said.
“Why would we?” Ashlyn asked.
“I don't know ask him.”
Ashlyn walked up to Jay. before she could open her mouth, Jay said, “I’ll take him in. I’ll take responsibility. It might seem like a crime but he looks like he needs help. I’ll be doing him a favor.”
Ashlyn was speechless.
Geo walked up to Jay, “Well, You’re taking me in right?”
“Right.”
“Am I going to have to be with those two as well?”
“Nah, You can stay with me at my place. We are a group though so you will have to see them.”
Geo thought over it. “Well, as long as I get to stay somewhere.”
Jay said, “I covered for you by the way taking responsibility, You better go through with your offer”
“yeah yeah, I hear you.”
“Don’t be rude.”
Geo snorted. Jay rolled his eyes figuring out he won’t listen. Jay packed the new car he got and called the others to get in. Geo sat in the front with him, while Braylee and Ashlyn sat in the back.
They drove off to their place.
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a few weeks later…
Ashlyn was wondering. “How is Geo still with us? I thought it was a simple stay and go.” She decided to ask Braylee that question.
“Well, It seems like Jay has taken a liking to him. He probably just wanted a male companion I guess.”
Ashlyn grumbled. She didn’t exactly like him too much and she thought he was rude.
Jay and Geo were talking to each other over at the car while Ashlyn and Braylee sat on a ledge.
“They seem like pretty good friends don’t they?” Braylee asked Ashlyn.
Ashlyn observed them. “Yeah, I suppose they do.”
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Present day..
The newly formed group of 7 arrived at the bowling area.
“Alright, I’ll cut a ticket for all of us,” Braylee said.
“Okay, We can look at shoe sizes then,” Ulua replied.
Jay looked at Lynx still wondering what to do. “When should I ask about his aspiration?”
Lynx felt Jay’s eyes on him. “I already know what he wants, He’s just waiting for the perfect time. praying I get out of this. I’m not ready to tell him yet.
Geo felt something. He looked behind him and saw a woman getting robbed quite a bit away from where they were.
Truro saw that too.
Truro ran towards them. “Hey, hands off.”
The group of people just looked at him.
“HAHAHAHA!”
“Ay, who’s mans is this?”
“Beat his ass and rob him as well.”
The group of four walked up to Truro ready to beat him.
“Hey leave him and the woman alone.”
“Pack it up.”
“Buncha worms.”
Lynx, Jay, and Geo arrived right next to Truro.
One of them spoke, “Ooh, He got his gang.”
“I’m up for a scrap.” another one spoke.
“hehe,” another chuckled.
“Just leave it alone, we don’t need any beef right now.” The biggest one spoke.
The others shut up quickly.
The biggest one spoke again. “come on, let’s get a drink. Leave the woman alone, we got caught anyway.”
They left quite easily.
Truro went to take care of the woman.
“Well, that was easy,” Jay said.
“I’ll stay with Truro. You guys can go inform the others.”
Geo and Jay went to inform the others.
“She okay?” Lynx asked.
“yeah, she's ok.”
“Thank you so much for saving me. My name is Trisa. Nice to meet you guys.”
“Name’s Truro.”
“Lynx, nice to meet you too.”
“Alright, I have to move sorry guys see you if we ever meet again.” She hurried out before Truro and Lynx could stop her.
“Should we get her?” Truro asked.
“I think she’s going to be fine. She is going into a populated area and she went the opposite direction of those people.” Lynx said. “In truth, I don’t really care that much.”
Lynx and Truro went back to the bowling area.
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