[ForgottenCode]

Sarah absently bit her lip as she walked through the Spirit World. It was incredible how much had changed in her life these last few weeks. Before that, all she had to worry about was school, her Gifts, Dr. Zorbino’s class and what exactly was happening between Hawk and her.

Thinking of him, she felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t exactly been happy that she had to leave, especially since she couldn’t tell him where she was going, since although she knew the first destination, neither she nor anyone else with them knew of where this adventure would bring them in the end.

She didn’t know what to make of her personal life. Such a thing seemed so trivial given what she had agreed to do, but it was still important. However, all she could do is put thoughts of Hawk and their time in the sky and his kisses – she blushed slightly – into a corner of her mind and deal with it when she returned to the school and all this was done.

He’d either wait for her or he wouldn’t. If he didn’t, as much as it hurt to admit, well then he wasn’t right for her regardless. In any case, she hadn’t meant to think about that just now, when the events of earlier today should be dominating her thoughts.

That short time ago she was enjoying her life, thank you very much. She had learned how to fly, and even if how exactly that knowledge had come to her wasn’t exactly her finest moment, the end result was all that mattered. Flying through the air was a feeling unlike anything else she had yet experienced and every moment when she wasn’t up in the sky felt like a loss of what she could be otherwise doing.

She had a group of friends all to her own, and despite their reputations with the rest of the school, found that in general, they were all good people. Sure, some had more rough edges than others, but people were only perfect in stories, never in real life.

However, they weren’t her only friends. She’d also gotten to know a few people in each of her classes, and of course, she couldn’t forget Paul or Todd. Sure she didn’t see them as much as she used to, but they’d had their own groups of friends. Life had been good.

Now though – first it was revealed that Todd was having nightmares of the kind that she couldn’t even imagine, and wilfully subjecting himself to them to help the AVP and the others find out information. And then, just earlier today, Paul had risked his life to save that Lauren woman, when it had been her terrible decision to walk out into that axe’s path in the first place.

She still remembered the look of pure determination on her friend’s face, as he gritted his teeth and held on as the axe tried to push down through him to kill Lauren. She remembered the pain that had ripped through him and the sounds he had made, before his body could give no more and he’d lost consciousness.

This wasn’t a hero from a story. This was Paul! Quiet, shy Paul, who was the first person she’d met on her first day at the school. An unassuming boy who’d won his way into friendship with her before they’d added Todd to make it a trio.

Paul, who’d tried to keep that trio together, even when she was hanging with the Blackguard and Todd had joined the ranks of the Crusaders. Had any of the adults done what he’d done, she’d be surprised, but all the same, she’d have understood.

She picked at some of the nail polish that had evaded removal when she last cleaned her nails. Todd had his dreams and his ability to enter and scout around this place. Without him, this journey would have never taken place. Paul had now saved someone’s life and in actuality saved at least another’s mind.

Had his axe swung down unimpeded, Sarah wasn’t sure Andrew would have ever recovered, that was to say if he’d ever been able to break out of the rage he’d been trapped in. Who knows, maybe if he’d killed Lauren, it would have become impossible to free himself and he’d have slew them all before endless wandering the Spirit World until he collapsed from hunger.

Sarah shivered at that. It wasn’t something she even wanted to think about. In fact, there was no reason to, because Paul had saved the day. Even if he did nothing else to help the group from this moment on, his one act allowed for the journey to continue.

But her? Why was she here exactly? She could fly, sure, but not in this place. She’d tried once, after the battle, and while her wings formed properly, they were useless. There was no wind, or air at all in this place to generate and power her flight as any bird did. Sure, she had some other minor talents, but her main area of focus had been flight, and Prophecy had taken her to the one place where such an amazing ability was pointless.

This was only the first leg of the journey for sure. Maybe in the realm of the Jae she’d be able to fly, and maybe it would be necessary for her and Marcos to ferry the rest of the group across a ravine or something. She was here for a reason after all, she had to be. After all, she wasn’t important enough for the universe to be making a giant joke at her expense, if Prophecy could even do that.

As she kept going, she noticed the Advanced Reading Moderator had stopped up ahead and her group was slowly catching up. The AVP was standing upright again, and with a start, Sarah realized Paul was standing next to him, also seemingly fine.

As they approached, Sarah heard the giant of a man’s booming voice. “There you have it, Charles. Now you and Paul know what happened after you both fell unconscious.”

[linpixie]

Good chapter, FC.

I was hoping for "what happened after they passed out" but oh well.

[Prodigal7512]

Needs more me IMO.

[Queen of Hearts]

Yay! Sarah Chapter!

Beautifully written as always!

[ForgottenCode]

Good chapter, FC.

I was hoping for "what happened after they passed out" but oh well.

This way I can allude to it in upcoming Charles chapters.

[dreamchaser]

Hawk kisser.