Star Crossed In Time - Chapter 183

I slowly stand up and turn to find Ted sleeping on a small cot. My smile grows as I walk over and poke his forehead. He frowns and mumbles something but his appearance has me freezing. He was so much thinner… and why did he look older? He even had a thick beard!

I reach out and gently shake him as I say “Ted? Are you okay? Wake up, Ted.” He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me before giving me a sad smile while saying “I’m having another good dream. Will you stay with me a little longer this time?”

Worry eats away at me as I say “This isn’t a dream, Ted. Wake up.” He blinks his eyes twice before I see clarity slowly seeping in. He suddenly jerks up and grabs me by my arms. I flinch at his grip but I don’t say anything or pull away from him.

He looks me over in shock as I do the same with him. He looks older and so rough… “You’re alive… you’re really alive!” He says as he pulls me into a crushing hug. I do my best to pat his back as he breaks down crying.

“It’s okay, I didn’t die. I’m sorry I scared you… to be honest, I thought I died but everything fine, see? Why are you so thin and… why do you look older?” I say trying to pull away. He finally pulls me back but he doesn’t release my arms as he says “It’s been ten years!! Ten years, Nova!! I thought… I was sure you… died.” His voice breaks at the end as his tears begin to fall again.

Shock eats away at me as his words slowly sink in. Ten years!! I was gone for ten years!?! I reach up and wipe his tears as I try to focus on the situation at hand. “Ted, where is this? Why are you locked up in here?”

Ted finally releases me as he says “Eli… he found out about everything and took the cube. He locked me up so that I could work the machine for him and his people. He’s been gone for ten years now, his employees take care of me by sending me meals and new clothes from time to time but it’s been five days since anyone has given me any food. I drink the water out of the sink but I figured it was only a matter of time before I died…”

My heart breaks as I look around the dimly lit cell. It was cold and slightly wet but all he had was a small cot and a thin blanket. With just a thought, a large peach appears in my hand. I give the peach to him and say “For now, eat this. We’re getting out of here.”

He takes the peach with trembling hands and bites into it. Silent tears fall down his hollow cheeks making me tear up. After a few bites, he says “We can’t. The power to the cube is cut off. They only allowed it to be on when they were here.”

I look over to the cell’s bars and say “Where’s the power switch?” He points to a wall by the door on the other side of the bars and says “It’s that box there.” I nod and walk over to the bars with a frown.

Metal… it still comes from the earth right? I place my hands on them and strain to pull them apart. At first, nothing happens but then the bars give with a loud whine. Ted’s mouth falls open as he struggles to ask “H.. how strong are you!?”

“It may have looked like I pulled those suckers apart but I used my powers to bend the metal,” I say as I run over to the box on the wall. I flip the switch and smile with relief when the cube comes to life. I run over to the cube and begin punching in the correct codes as I ask “Do you want to stay here or do you want to come back with me?”

His eyes heat up as he asks “Can I become stronger in that world?” My heart aches again as I slightly nod my head and say “You can, but it won’t be easy but I promise to help you.” He clenches his fists as he stands up and says “I want to become stronger and kill that bastard, Eli. He’s still in that world you know.”

An old dark fear threatens to crawl up the back of my throat but I push it down and ignore it as I nod and say “Let’s go.” We both walk into the cube but before I hit the button, I turn to look at him as I say “We may not be able to come back… are you sure about this?”

He grits his teeth in determination as he says “I’m positive.” I give him a smirk and hit the button. Instantly, we’re falling. I look around at the land below us with a frown. Why was everything so… bare? Where were all the green trees??

And it’s hot!! I look over to see Ted looking around with confusion as well. What has happened while I was gone?? As I get closer and closer, I notice a growing crowd of people pointing up at us. This can’t be good…

Right before I land, a bright burst of silver light is released as I slowly land on my feet. Ted lands beside me and quickly moves to my side as we look at the crowd of people staring at us with large hopeful eyes.

“Is it her?”

“I thought she died?”

“Did she come back to life? She is a star after all, not human.”

“Does this mean we’re saved?”

I look around the growing crowed with unease and say “Excuse us, please let us through.” A middle-aged man steps forward and asks “Was it you that killed the Under Realm’s King?” Slightly surprised, I slowly nod my head and say “He deserved it.”

The crowd becomes excited as they begin moving closer. I back up and bump into Ted as I say “Please move away!” The crowd doesn’t seem to be listening or they just don’t care because they start reaching out to me while saying “Please touch us. Just touch my hand and bless us, please!”

Shock, fear, and confusion pull at me as I release a large gust of wind. The large crowd is pushed back several feet as I keep the air circling Ted and I in a protective manner. I look at all the people and their outfits with confusion.

They looked just as bad as Ted, if not worse. “That’s enough! Everyone back away from the Lady Star.” A booming voice says making all the people stop. I frown at the “Lady Star” comment and look over to find on an older man walking over with a wooden walking stick. I immediately release the wind and turn to face the man.

“Forgive us, My Lady. They are only excited to know that you’ve returned. Please allow us to help you in any way needed.” The old man says with a kind smile. Still confused, I ask “How long was I gone for?” The man seems surprised but he kindly answers “You’ve been gone for ten years. Please, allow me to invite you and your escort in for some food and refreshments.”

I don’t feel any ill intent from the old man so I slightly nod and follow after him. Ted follows behind me as he looks around in confusion. The old man leads us to a table and says “Please sit. My name is Old man Ling. I am the head of this town. Would you two like something to eat?” Ling? I’ve heard that name before but it is a common name.

I sit down at the table and look to Ted before saying “Uh, yes, please. Thank you. I was wondering if you could tell me why they’re all acting like that and why the land looks so much different than the last time I was here?”

Two bowls of what looks like a stew of some kind are placed before us as the old man says “Of course my dear. Sigh… it’s been ten years but when you died, the deity cursed the lands. His love for you is so deep, he still continues to mourn your death.” I try to keep my face blank but… deity?

Who’s a deity? Who is he talking about? He continues to tell us about the rain and now the drought but when he tells me about the statues, I have a hard time not laughing. There’s been a HUGE misunderstanding but I don’t say anything. When Ted finishes his bowl, I push mine over to him.

He gives me a grateful smile before eating it as well but when old man Ling tells us about the wells that had started popping up around the statues, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something. “Thank you for your kindness, I won’t forget it but I have another favor to ask,” I say with a small smile.

Old man Ling nods and says “If it’s within my power, I will do it.” I give him a kind smile as I say “Do you happen to have any spare clothes for us? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.” Old man Ling slaps his knee as he says “I’ve got just the thing. Follow me.”