"I think I am getting better at reading Pia's mind now. She was ahead of me, mostly thinking about the other two people. I do wonder what they like. I even wonder what her story is, but she got stuck here." James thought to himself Pia looked back at him. She said, "You need to walk fast, James."
He did so, walking next to her; he smiled at her. Pia smiled back. It felt odd as she turned away from him. It's been a week since the house incident. He was acting differently, "I wondered why he wanted to tell me what really happened?" She thought to herself, "I know it was something bad because he has been more cautious about everything. We don´t want to go to any villages. Which I don´t mind at all. And I know we haven't been sleeping well, his eyes are starting to get eye bags. Why was I so worried about him?" She looked up, seeing the clouds starting to cover the sky, then looked at James. "We'd better find somewhere before the storm." James liked the ideas as they were looking around. Nothing much around them but a large birch wood forest, and then a plain open field around them. "I see an open cave about 5 miles away," he said, looking at Pia, "We might not make it that far before the rain starts up." A rain drop fell upon her face, and then James' face next to his eyes glowed orange, saying, "Old house he could go to that one is about 1 mile maybe." Pia looked at him, "What do you mean maybe?" he looked at her, "My power needed to recharge." Pia let out a heavy sigh. "We are too?" He pointed in front of them. Pia smiled, most coming out of her hands, "Hold on to me!" He wrapped his hand around her wrist as she exploded off towards the house. The rain was now pouring down on the house.
Looked just like the horror movie they both used to watch as children. She busted down doors as they looked around, seeing pools of water and weeds growing out of the floorboards. It smelled like mildew, and there was old, growing on the wall. It was not black mold, James knew. The house was empty except for some framed pictures, a bed sheet on the ground, a suntan blue, and a table with a cereal bowl that no longer had food. She looked over towards James, "Is the house going to stand the storm?" He nodded his. "Hopefully," they put their stuff down near a fireplace as Pia started the fire. They looked into the flames he heard screaming at him, just shaking it off. He looked around and thought it was a rich family's house. There were some famous photos of them that he could find. It looked like it was abandoned for at least a couple of years. As James said, "Do you have anyone you want to go back to?" She looked at him then back, thinking to herself, "Yes." James looked at her back, saying, "If you don't mind me asking who?" She gave a heavy sigh. "Can I trust you?" He smiled, "Of course, what are friends for?" Pia looked down, saying, "My younger sister." James was surprised to get closer. "What about your parents?" PIa looked back at him, saying, "My mom divorced my dad a couple of months ago, before I got stuck with you. I never saw him after that, no call or text. She tried her best being a single mom taking care of my sister and me. But I could always tell she was mad at herself for what happened. Then one day she sent me away. We fought over it and before I could make it up I was here."
James looked at her, holding her hand, his smile was warm like the fire. "Am sorry about that," she moved her hand back slightly, looking down towards the gold ring. "What with the ring?" Pia asked as he looked at the ring, saying, "It was the last thing my lover gave to me. His name was Houston. It has been a while." A lightning strike somewhere behind them, they both looked over towards the sound before back at each other. Pia was surprised by what James said next, "Sorry I never told you I dated someone before," Pia said, "No worries it was no one my business anyway." They soon went to sleep, waking up the next morning, eating something, and drinking some water they had. The sun was now out, drying up the rain. James was nervous as they kept walking. He was looking down and then back up. He looked at Pia, reminding him of when she died. The kind voice boomed into his ear, "You will be me, James!" Looking away as he kept walking. Starting to remind his mother of her warm, glowing smile, then thinking of that cursed car ride. He smelled the burning of bodies, looking around in the crater, his ears were ringing. He was blinded by the smoke in his eyes and the pain that was deep in his body. He looked around, calling out different names, hoping to hear them calling back. The tripping for something looking down, seeing the warm, dull body of his mother, blood poured from her eyes and mouth. He cried out her name for her to wake up, and everything would be fine.
He felt being yanked hard enough to pull him away from his daydreaming. He looked over, seeing Pia looking at him, trying to speak out her words was lost. He looked back; she pointed. They both looked over, seeing two people across the overgrown grassy field. James' eyes looked wide as the other two people looked at them. Just staring at each other. James ' thought started to build in his mind from seeing this. Nolen was right about the other two people!?
Mason and Jeff ate by the fire. Jeff looked over at Mason, saying, "I'm getting tired of eating fish," Mason looked back, "Do you want to go find a cow or other animals and eat it instead?" Jeff replied with "No," Mason said, "Then eat the fish." Jeff threw sand towards Mason. "Hey stop that." He threw sand back, and they looked at each other, not making any more movement as they finished the food. Jeff walked off without saying anything. Mason put everything away and poured water over the fire. Getting inside the tent, looking at Jeff, he turned away from him. "What is wrong?" Jeff groaned, saying, "Nothing," Mason lay down next to him, "Is it because I made you eat fish again for dinner?" Jeff responded with "No," Mason looked at him, "Then what is it then?" He turned over, looking, "I'm unsure about the other people since we are so close to them at this point." Mason smiled, asking, "How do you know?" Jeff replied, trying not to say, not insane "I can sense it in me- know it sounds weird crazy even." Mason said back, "We are going to be fine if we stick together as you said," Jeff sighed, "I guess you are right but what will help me?" Mason said, "What?" Jeff leans towards his face. "Maybe a kiss on the cheek," Mason said, "Then close your eyes." Jeff got hit by a pillow in his eyes, then Mason reposed with "Go to sleep, weirdo." Jeff rolled over to his side. Mason replied, "I'm sorry." Jeff replied, "I'm not talking to you." Mason smirked across his face, "Okay goodnight." He soon closed his eyes as Jeff rolled over again, sleeping next to him. Mason whispered, "I knew you couldn't get enough of me." Mason tucked Jeff's hair behind his ear as Jeffy started to snore. Mason slowy touch shand. Waiting for Jeff to wake up and yell, be upset like him. He didn't. Mason's eyes slowly closed as he swore. Jeff grabbed Mason and brought him back to sleep.
Atlas smiled outside the tent, saying, "They are growing up so fast." Looking over towards Death, he smiled back, "Yes, they are my friends." They high five, Death smiled, saying, "What have you been up to Atlas?" Atlas looked at him, "Nothing much my friend, just trying to make sure this idiot didn't get himself killed." Death pushed him. "It looks like you are doing a pretty good job at it." Atlas looked around, saying, "Where is Life at?" Someone tapped their shoulder, and they looked at Life as they hugged her. "It's been a while since I saw you," Atlas said as she laughed, saying, "I miss you, Atlas." After some more talking between the group about mortals and how many of them die by their own stupidity. Death said, "You know the real reason we want to talk with you." Atlas looked at both of them, saying, "I knew the second I saw you both. You weren't here just to talk to this young man." They all now looked at the tent, and Life said: "You need to tell the boy-Jeffy." Atlas looked at both of them. "I know soon. He will soon get to know my friend." They hugged each other, then life said, "Gosh I missed hugging you." Death smacked his lips. "Hey, don't try to date my wife here again." They all laughed, looking into the sky, flying up into the sky. They all took a deep breath. Atlas says, "The king will die soon, and the god plan is coming quickly."
The next morning, Jeff woke up feeling Mason's hand on his leg, pulling away. unzipping the tent and packing up. About the time Mason woke up, he smelled food cooking. He went over to see a bowl of fish. Mason must have made a face. "You surprised me by making something other than fish?" Mason replied with "Yes, how did you do this?" Jeff moved towards the tent, pulling out the nails that were holding the tent down. Mason then helped him. "I used some of my powers to make the bowl. The rest were easy with the supplies we already have," Jeff said Mason said back, " Color me impressed." They packed up the tent, and Jeff put up the bag, and they were off. They spent a couple of days walking and a lot of talking to each other. Atlas, something popped into his head, talking with him. One night before bed, a conversation sparked, "Do you ever think about how much time passed in every universe?" Jeff said, "What are you talking about?" Mason said back with a now confused "Since we live in different time points that time passes differently in each universe?" Jeff said, looking at Mason, "I don't know how much time passed between, but I know I want to spend all of the time with you." Mason said they both blushed as they went in closer and closer. Then a boom ran in the sky as something went by. Mason got up and said, "I'm going to make sure there's no one that I need to take down." Jeff held his hand as Mason grabbed it, and they left. Jeff thought to himself then Atlas had to say something, "Hey, you did amazing, he likes you.." " What?" Jeff said, then he went quickly, thinking to himself, he looked into Mason's curly hair and his perfect smile. Ten down, feeling his warm hand on his saying in Atlas, "Maybe you are right."Another day had passed Jeff was once again stuck in his own heading thinking about everything.
What if they like me, or what if Mason doesn't even like me? What if? What if! What if?!
As he thought to himself, he was pulled out by Mason grabbing his hand. Jeff felt his rough hands look over to him, smiling, but before he could say anything. Mason pointed, looking over to see two people in the distance. Off in a field across the overgrown grassy field, Jeff heart plumbed, thinking to himself, " Remember what he seemed to dream in the forest "James LI?"
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