Norbert looked as the train doors closed in front of his waving face. Watching as his family stood waving back at him on the platform. As the train started to move, Zoe ran out of her mother’s grip, chasing after the train, trying to wave as long as possible to Norbert.
Smiling at the display, Norbert just stood still, watching as Zoe suddenly stopped, reaching the end of the platform as the train continued to speed on through. Norbert put his face to the glass, taking one last glimpse as the train moved around the corner, losing them in the bend.
Turning around, Norbert found Luck staring at him, holding their bags with her. Walking forward, she wiped the tear forming at the corner of his eye, stopping it from trailing down his cheek. Taking him in his arms, Norbert started to weep into her shoulder. “Will that be the last time I ever see them?” Norbert asked.
Luck just shook her head. “You have me with you.” She said patting his head as she slowly moved the two of them to a seat, grabbing the bags and holding him to her and stopping the world from being able to see his face at the time.
Looking outside, she watched the landscape as it whizzed by. She hoped that the comforting words she said to him would hold Norbert would be lucky enough to survive the trials he had in front of himself. As she sat on the train, the strong individual she watched in the other world taking on task after task and accomplishing them splendidly, the tower had fallen and lay scattered across the ground.
Would it be up to her to pick the pieces up, like a child trying to stack them haphazardly until they stood tall again? Or would she fail the first time and hurt herself in the process? As Luck thought this through, she felt Norbert take a final shuddering breath as he calmly breathed out again. With a slight nod of his head and wiping his red puffy eyes, he looked out the window. “Thanks Luck, and may we have many more adventures together.”
Luck just nodded and started tapping her hand on the seat to the rhythm of a song about a lover’s tragedy and how, no matter what, fate always seems to have other plans for people.
***
The train came to a halt; Norbert looked up and saw it was their station. Quickly jumping up and grabbing their things, Norbert urged Luck off the train, the two of them just making it off as the trains closed behind them. Deep underground, he leads them to the elevator, not wanting to try the escalator with their bags.
Waiting in line Norbert and Luck were in silence as discussion surrounded them. Making their way, the two of them were forced together; Luck smashed into Norbert’s chest. Looking down, Norbert smiled at her, seeing her smile back in return and giggle slightly at the forced contact.
Hearing the ding of the elevator, everyone went out as Norbert took his phone out and texted Jack, letting him know they had arrived at the station and would be arriving at the apartment soon. Placing his phone back in his pocket, Norbert headed out of the station, walking along the streets, the sun setting in the sky Luck picked up.
“What was that box that took us upwards?” She asked
“That elevator uses weights to transport people and objects up and down. And I’m pretty sure I used one over in Masanu?” Norbert said, remembering back to his time in the temple.
“Haven’t seen one anywhere else, and what a rush it was?” Luck said
“I’ll see if we can get you on a rollercoaster that leaves the escalator for dead”, Norbert said, Luck just beaming as he showed her videos of what rollercoasters were.
Reaching the apartment, Norbert took out his keys and unlocked the door. “We’re back!” Norbert shouted into the empty apartment.
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Not seeing Jack on the couch or a reply from him, Norbert just shrugged, assuming he must be out somewhere. Walking in, he looked around, thankful it was mostly clean. Going down the corridor and into his room, Norbert put the bags inside, and Luck followed him in.
Looking around, she noticed the similarities between his bedroom at home and heard nearly the same setup, just with the two screens on the desk, compared to the empty one in his room at home.
She quipped, only seeing the single bed, thankful it was a double. “Guess we’ll be sharing a bed for the next couple of nights”, she said, playfully biting her finger at the corner of her mouth.
“Yeah, yeah, calm down. Only out of necessity in case we get transported over while sleeping, don’t want to leave you behind here.” Norbert said, shaking his head as he began to unpack the things from his luggage.
Luck sat on his chair and spun around while she stared at the ceiling. “Think I should get a phone?” she asked Norbert.
Just nodding in response while he packed the last things away, “It would probably be a good idea, and everyone else has one anyway. Would be less suspicious,” He finished.
Remembering his old phone, he kept taking it out; he plugged it in to charge and heard the vibrate a few seconds later, confirming it was turning on. Happy that it still turned on, he waited several moments until it had enough juice to be on the home screen.
Placing it on the bed, Norbert said, “You can use my spare while you’re here if Jack asks; just say your old one broke. We’ll go to the shops tomorrow and get you a sim”, he finished; Luck coming to sit near the bed as he showed her the features of the phone and the passcode, the very secure 1111.
His phone vibrating, Norbert pulled it out, looking at the text that he had received from Jack. “Back tomorrow, see you then”, he read it out loud to Luck. A picture popped up. Norbert looked at Jack, and he assumed Sarah was next to him on a black motorbike. Looking at Sarah, he thought she looked familiar.
Dismissing the thought with a wave, Norbert went into the kitchen, preparing to cook something. As he opened the fridge, Norbert thought of getting something special, his favourite food. Walking back to his room, sticking his head around the door, Norbert asked, “Want to go out and get some pizza from Bob’s?” Norbert asked, “The best pizza place in town?”
Luck looked up, eyes diverted from her phone. “And what is this pizza you speak of?” She asked
“Only the best food around. Haven’t seen anything like it over there, so come along for a walk around at night,” He said, already making his way over to the door, hearing rustling on the bed as Luck quickly got up and followed him out the door.
Locking the door as they left, Norbert looked up at the number seventeen, seeing it was the same as before. Walking out, Norbert saw the street lights on; focusing for a moment, Norbert saw as the colour around him slowly drained away, as he watched the details popping out, able to see as much as standard even in the half-light.
The street lamps turned into pillars of whiteness; Norbert just smiled as he led Luck to the pizza place, saying, “This is pretty cool.”
At Bob’s, the doorbell rang as they entered, the usual chime resounding out around him. As Norbert queued up in line, he bent down to Luck. “Cool if we get the meat lovers?” He asked. He only massive nod in response as she looked at the board and all of the es available to order.
Slowly making their way forward, Norbert stood in front of the register. “Usual?” Bob asked. Norbert just nodded as he tapped his card, hearing the confirmation beep.
“Have a nice night, the two of you”, Bob responded, taking the receipt and skewering it on the already growing pile, giving a wink to Norbert. Just shaking his head in return, sure the next time they arrived and it being less busy, he would get a grilling.
Standing off to the side, Bob shouted, “Meat lovers,” As he slid it across the glass top. Norbert taking it, smelled as usual, showing Luck the food they had ordered. Hearing the two of their stomachs grumbling in response to the food, Norbert waved his thanks as he left the dinner.
Walking back, Norbert made his way down the street, walking quicker and quicker the further they went, becoming increasingly impatient to wait. Luck grabbed his shoulders, hopped on his back, and laughed into the air, leaning backwards and allowing her hair to dangle behind her.
Norbert smiled, prepared, and sprinted down, careful not to disturb and ruin the pizza. In record time, the two of them returned to his apartment, sitting at the table returned instinctually, Norbert starting the pizza box before stopping and getting out two plates, thinking it would be rude. The two placing slid across the wooden table. Norbert took a slice, seeing the steam come off it.
Blowing on it, Norbert took a bite, groaning as the flavours flooded his mouth. Looking up, Norbert saw Luck taking a piece and biting into it. Nodding in response, the two finished the pizza; the only sound in the room was munching and moaning in satisfaction.