“Captain! I need your help!” A little girl's voice said. Her father’s old goggles cover her eyes, and she wears a cute little jumpsuit with flicks of paint all over it. Her hands hold tight to a cardboard wheel, turning it rapidly in her hands.

A boy just entering his teens jumps over to her, his long cape billowing out behind him. He grabs onto her shoulders. “Hold steady Cadet! We’re almost away from the evil Zogomorphs! Space command will be here any second with backup.”

“PEW PEW” The girl says, turning the cardboard steering wheel as hard as she can. “I’ve taken down one of their ships, Captain!”

“I’ll distract the rest with a sonar wave! Hold steady Cadet! I believe in you!” The boy lets go of his sister’s shoulders to run to the bed where playing cards have been set up on top of a mat. He spins one of the playing cards all the way around, then turns another one upside down. “I’ve set off the sonar wave! Our backup will be here in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” He throws the cards up in the air in excitement. “We did it!”

The little girl drops the steering wheel and runs at her brother, tackling him.

He laughs as she squeezes him.

“We did it Captain!”

***

I wake up on the floor of my room, my mask held in my right hand. I get up slowly, massaging my head as a pounding headache threatens to make me fall back to the floor.

Ibuprofen. There’s some in the bathroom.

I stagger over to my bathroom and quickly find a pill to take.

I down it with some water, then hover over the sink with my eyes closed. The throbbing slowly starts to fade.

I open my eyes, looking back into the mirror. My green eyes stare back at me as if they’re trying to tell me something. I tear my gaze away from my own eyes to fix my hair, messy from me being on the floor.

A knock on the door interrupts me just as I finish fixing my hair.

I walk over to the door, opening it to reveal my mother.

Her stern expression softens when she sees my face. “Hey sweetheart, are you alright?”

I shake my head. I walk over to her and hug her tight, sticking my head into her chest. “No Momma.”

She runs her hand through my hair, and I close my eyes as she holds me. “You know you can talk to me? You’ve been so distant lately.”

“I know. I will when I can.” I say softly

“Hmm.” She pats my head. “Well, there’s some lasagna downstairs, hopefully that’ll help.”

I release her from her hug and she smiles at me before walking back down.

I take a deep breath, then follow her down the stairs to dinner.

***

I stare up at the Sycamore tree, its branches waving in the light breeze.

“Back so soon?” Isis says from behind me.

I don’t turn around, instead keeping my gaze on the beautiful tree. “Don’t act surprised. You had Taylor direct me to you after all.”

“She truly could not answer the questions you had for her. It is only right that she sends you to someone that can.” Isis lays her hand on my shoulder

I bite at her finger, making her pull her hand back. “Careful. I bite.” I turn around and clack my teeth at her.

She covers a laugh with her hand, “So I see.”

“So?” I ask.

“So…? I cannot answer your questions unless you ask them.”

“Where is Anthony Londer?”

She looks at me with confusion, “You mean Andrew Londer?”

“Right. Angelo Londer.”

She squints at me, her confusion growing. “Mr. Londer is no longer in this world.”

My body loses energy and I nearly fall to the ground. “He’s dead?”

“Oh, no no no.” Isis shakes her head with every no. “I mean he’s literally not in your world anymore. Alpha tests are quite different from Beta tests. After we make sure that their system is functional in this world, we pull Alpha testers away from this world to see if their system still functions without the overarching guidance of the…” She pauses muttering to herself in a language I don’t understand. “mainframe? I suppose that is the best word for it. In other words, we test their system against another world’s broken system.”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“So where is Amsterdam Londer then?” I pause, holding up my hand to stop Isis’s response. “No, what I mean to ask is, how do I get to him?”

Isis purses her lips. “Mr. Londer’s test was a failure. His system broke down in the other world, combining with the already broken system in place. While the Beta system is improved, there is no guarantee that your system would survive the world as well.”

“Oh. Well now that you’ve told me. I’m gonna give up on finding my brother’s killer.” I give her the widest smile I can. My tone darkens as my psi rotates through all my chakras turning into a whirlpool of power that I know is mine, not the system’s. “I don’t care about your shitty system. I will find Andrew Londer.”

“And then what?” I pause at her question. “You’ll kill him?”

I take a deep breath. “Not unless he forces me to. I really just want answers.”

“Do you?” the words come out softly. I look into her eyes, and only see kindness.

I look away. “Maybe, I don’t know.”

Isis waves her hand and a bench appears. She sits down in it, humming softly. “I can get you to him. It’s getting back that will be the issue. If you give me a few days, I may….” She looks up at me. “You are aware that this does not come free.”

I sit down on the bench next to her, and cross my legs. “I’ll give you an apple. It’s fresh, delicious and perfectly crunchy.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Two apples?”

“I need you to get me something from that world, or rather, someone.”

“Who?”

Quest: Find A’isa

Quest Giver: Isis

You are being sent into a world with danger beyond your imagination. Isis has asked you to find a system heart known as A’isa and bring her back with you.

Rewards: World-Specific clothing upon entering the world.

Experience granted upon completion of the quest.

I accept the quest.

Isis’s eyes move in a way that tell me she’s reading something I can’t see. She nods once.

“Do you have any other questions for me?”

“Mmm. I don’t really feel like ruining the surprise of this mysterious world.” I say. I tap my finger against my lip in thought. “Do you think my sister has a boyfriend?”

“Yes, he’s a nice-”

“What’s his name?” I ask, my fist tightening as Psy moves through my power chakra.

“Oh-oh dear, it looks like we’re losing connection.” Isis puts her hand to her cheek in fake worry.

“What’s-”

“I’ll see you in a few days. Get ready.”

The world shifts around me, colors blending into each other as I return cross legged to my bed.

I lay back with a sigh. “She was messing with me, right?” My eyes narrow.

Operation catch boyfriend will have to wait for now, but it’s moving up the priority list.

I pull out my phone, moving to the group chat with Rose, Blake and Damien.

Elena: We have to meet up.

Blake: Whatsup?

Elena: I’m going on another adventure, and I have gifts for you and Damien.

Damien: Gifts?

Blake: That got your attention real fast.

Rose: I’m free tomorrow around noon.

Blake: Noon works for me.

Damien: Same here.

Elena: Let’s meet at my place

I put my phone down and stare at the ceiling.

“Elena?” A soft voice says from beside.

I turn over, unable to stop a smile when I see my little sister watching me nervously from the doorway. “Hey there sunshine. What’s up?”

She walks over to me and sits down on the edge of the bed. She bites her cheek cutely.

Unable to stop myself, I jump up from the bed and squeeze the girl to me, drawing her into the blankets.

She squeals in surprise, laughing as I completely trap her to me. “Elly! Let me go!”

“Never. You’ve been caught by the blanket monster! The blanket monster never lets little sisters go.” I squeeze her to me extra.

“Elly! I’m not a kid anymore!”

“I see! Then the power of tickles won’t affect you?” I grin evilly as Elizabeth freezes in my arms.

“No. Wait-” she starts.

“Too late. Mwahahahaha.” I give my best evil laugh as I tickle her with all might.

She giggles and squirms to escape my clutches, but I refuse to let her.

After a minute of being unable to escape the blanket monster, she calls out breathlessly, holding back more laughter, “I-I give! Time out.”

I stop, but don’t let her go, instead snuggling closer. “I missed you sunshine.” I kiss the top of her head.

She relaxes in my arms. “Me too.”

“Are you doing alright? Those girls aren’t still bothering you, are they?”

“N-no. Not really. Everyone has bigger problems now.” She turns around to face me, and I loosen my hold so that we have some space.

“Is it your new boyfriend?” I ask, my eyes narrowing.

“Who told you?” She asks, before freezing at my glare. “I mean, no! It’s just- I miss you. We used to spend every day together, and now…”

“I know.” I say, reaching down to pull out the phoenix necklace from where she’d tucked it in her shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m still thinking about you, I promise.

“Could we have a day together? Just the two of us?” She looks up at me with pleading eyes.

“Of course, Sunshine. How about tomorrow? I’m gonna meet some friends at noon, but after that, we can go to the park.”

Elizabeth nods, then snuggles into my chest. “I’d like that.”

I hold her there, and after a few minutes, realize that she’s asleep.

There’s something she’s not telling me, but that’s okay.

My eyes slowly start to drift close.

I’ll always be there for her.

I promise.