by G Sauvé
I can’t believe it. They’re alive. I don’t know how they survived, but at the moment, it matters little.
“You have to jump,” says Kara. She’s smiling, but I can tell she’s worried. Does she know I was planning on killing myself or is she merely worried the tower will collapse before we can escape?
“It’s too far,” I say.
“We’ll catch you,” insists Jonn. He kneels next to Kara and offers me a helping hand. It’s too far for me to grab, but it’s the gesture that counts.
“Okay,” I agree. I trust Kara and Jonn with my life. If they say I can make it, then I can.
Kara kneels next to her father and offers me a hand. I take a moment to visualize the jump, then I leap.
Surprisingly, but the scariest part isn’t sailing through the air. Nor is it when gravity grabs hold of me and yanks me downward. It’s when I realize I won’t make it.
My friends reach out to me, but they’re too far. Kara cries out in desperation. So do I. Only Jonn remains silent. Dropping to his stomach, he uses his lower centre of gravity to lean farther over the edge. Bracing himself against the wall with one hand, he uses the other to grab hold of me just as I’m about to go out of reach.
I can’t believe it. Jonn saved me. Again.
“Thanks,” I say as I hang there. The grey-haired soldier is the only thing standing between me and a plummet to certain death.
“You can thank me later,” he grunts. He may be strong, but even he can’t hold me forever. The trembling of his bulging muscles tells me he’s running out of strength. Luckily, Kara comes to his aid moments before his tired body gives out. Together, they manage to pull me onto what remains of the staircase.
We collapse into a heap of human limbs and count our blessings. But the reprieve is only momentary. The tower begins shaking mere seconds after I’m pulled to safety.
“We have to get out of here,” says Kara as she leaps to her feet. I’m weak and sore, but the adrenaline keeps me going. I even manage to help Jonn to his feet, which is a feat not easily accomplished. Together, we hurry down the stairs. More than once I lose my footing because of the tremors, but every time there’s someone there to offer me a helping hand. We keep going until, finally, we reach the bottom of the staircase.
The building collapses mere seconds after we emerge from it. The walls cave in and the entire structure vanishes into the volcano in a mess of dust and shattered stone. Soon, nothing remains of Avalon’s once great tower.
The first thing I notice upon recovering from my most recent brush with death is that Jonn and Kara aren’t the only ones who survived. Most of the lava korrigans, as well as quite a few arkanes, made it out alive.
“What happened?” I ask once my breath returns.
Jonn chuckles, which implies it will take quite a while to recount the exact details of the past few minutes. Luckily, I’m content with a mere summary of the events. At least, for now.
“The fighting stopped as soon as the Tyrannosaurus appeared,” recounts Kara. “Most of the korrigans left shortly after you did. The arkanes followed suit. Jonn and I remained to fight the T. rex.”
“How did you survive?” I ask.
“What?” asks Jonn, pretending to be offended. “You don’t think we can handle one little T. rex?”
“It wasn’t little,” says Kara, “and we didn’t exactly handle it ourselves.”
“He doesn’t need to know that,” argues Jonn. I can tell he’s kidding, but Kara throws him one of her world-famous disapproving glances.
“The floor caved in,” she explains, “and the Tyrannosaurus fell into the volcano. We managed to escape the tower, along with the few korrigans who had stayed behind to help us.”
A moment of silence follows Kara’s explanations.
“What happened to Avalon?” asks Jonn.
I’m in no mood to go into a detailed explanation, so I only tell them the outcome.
“She escaped,” I say. “And I lost my mother’s ring.”
Jonn doesn’t seem happy, but he doesn’t insult me, which is surprising. Then again, he’s no longer the same man I first met back on that subway station. Neither am I. Only Kara seems unchanged, but that’s a good thing.
“What now?” asks Jonn. I look at the sky. The tear is gone, leaving only the Chicxulub asteroid behind. It must have closed before the full asteroid could get through because a large chunk of it is missing. Still, it’s massive enough that it fills the entire sky, turning it from blue to red. I don’t know how long it will take before it makes contact with Earth, but we should be able to make it down the mountain before it hits. With any luck, we may even be able to escape the initial blast. Not that it will do us much good as the asteroid will release a plague that will exterminate nearly every living being on Earth. But we can worry about that later. For now, we need to get off this soon-to-be-active volcano.
“Any ideas on how to get off this drowned mountain?” asks Jonn. I guess I’m not the only one trying to come up with a plan. I’m about to suggest we start heading down and come up with a more detailed plan on the way when a powerful explosion shakes the mountain.
It takes a moment before I realize what’s happening.
The volcano is erupting.
Lava spews from the gaping hole where the tower used to be. Smoke and ash fill the sky, blotting out the Chicxulub asteroid. It may no longer be visible, yet there’s no denying its presence. But at the moment, there are far more pressing matters to attend to.
Lava now flows freely from the mouth of the volcano. The molten rock rolls down the hill toward us. It’s still far away, but it’s only a matter of time before it catches us. We could easily outrun it, but how long before we need to rest? We can’t outpace it forever. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks this because dozens of lava korrigans rush forward, shovels in hands.
“Stop!” I yell before they can reach the lava. They stop and turn to look at me. So does everyone else. I never pictured myself as a leader, but at the moment, I’m all they have.
“We can’t fight it,” I say. “We must flee, get as far away from here as possible.”
No one reacts for the longest time, then one of the arkanes runs off. His long legs allow him to travel at high speeds and he disappears after just a few seconds. The other arkanes hesitate for a moment, then hurry after him. Soon, only the lava korrigans and my companions remain.
“Korri,” I call out.
My friend emerges from the crowd. I’m relieved to see him in one piece, but the urgency of the situation keeps me from telling him.
“You must take charge,” I tell him. “Use your super speed and lead the korrigans down the mountain.”
“That won’t be necessary,” says Korri’s father as he steps away from mass of korrigans. His wife stands close behind him.
“You don’t understand,” I say. “There’s more to worry about than the lava. You must get as far away from here as possible before the asteroid hits.”
“No,” argues Korri’s father. “It’s you who doesn’t understand. Our hats are more than just fashion accessories. They’re designed to keep us safe, no matter the situation.”
“I don’t understand,” I admit. “How are hats going to—”
“Let me show you,” he says, removing the pointy red hat. Clutching it with both hands, he runs toward the nearby cliff—the same one I noticed on my first trip up the mountain—and leaps off.
I’m too stunned to speak. It’s not until Kara yells out in shock that I’m finally snapped out of it. I hurry to the cliff’s edge just in time to see the falling korrigan’s hat fill with air. Within seconds, it has grown to the size of a beach ball. Holding on to the hat, Korri’s father floats down lazily, guided by the air currents.
I can’t believe it, but the shock of seeing my friend’s father jump off a cliff pales in comparison to what happens next. One after the other, the lava korrigans jump off the overhang. Before long, over a hundred red balloons are floating dow
n toward the jungle that lies far below. It’s a beautiful sight, but one I don’t spend much time enjoying. The lava is approaching rapidly, and it’s only a matter of time before it reaches us.
“You should go,” I tell Korri. He’s the only one that remains.
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
I smile, touched by his bravery. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him risk his life out of loyalty to me.
“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for us, but now it’s time for you to go.”
“What about you?”
“We’ll be fine,” I say as I crouch down and hug him. “I have a plan.”
Korri hesitates but finally nods.
“All right. I’ll see you at the bottom of the mountain.”
I don’t respond. As much as I want to reassure him, I can’t bring myself to lie. Fortunately, Korri is nothing if not trusting, and he jumps off the cliff moments after waving goodbye to Jonn and Kara. I watch him float away for a moment before turning to my friends.
“I’m proud of you, Will,” says Kara. “Because of you, everyone is safe.”
“Everyone but us,” reminds Jonn. “So, what’s the plan?”
I hesitate for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t have one.”
Memory 99
W hat the drowned do you mean, you don’t have a plan?” demands Jonn.
I should probably feel embarrassed for imbuing him and Kara with a false sense hope, but it was unavoidable.
“I lied,” I admit.
“Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” asks Kara. “He did it to protect Korri.”
“It’s true,” I admit. “He never would have left if he knew we didn’t have a plan.”
“Oh,” is all Jonn can come up with. I can’t blame him. I would probably be at a loss for words if I were the one who just found out we were doomed. “So,” he adds after a while, “does anyone have a plan?”
Neither Kara nor I can come up with a course of action that’s likely to see us through the next few minutes. Of course, it doesn’t help that the lava has spread, cutting off our only possible retreat point. We’re now trapped between a growing river of molten rock and a cliff. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the giant asteroid that’s heading straight for us. Not that it matters. The lava will melt the flesh off our bones long before the asteroid is even remotely hazardous to our health.
This is the end. I should be sad, but the truth is I feel lucky. I got to do so many incredible things, to meet so many wonderful people. Sure, I would have liked to meet my parents, but we’ll be together again in the afterlife—if there is such a thing.
Jonn hugs Kara. The tightness with which he holds her tells me he’s well aware the end is near. Kara hugs her father with just as much ferocity. Tears roll down her cheeks, but she puts on a brave smile.
The hug finally ends, and Kara turns away. Jonn takes advantage of this to say farewell. Well, sort of.
“So,” he says, “I guess this is it.”
“I guess,” I agree. It’s an awkward moment until I remember I still possess something that isn’t mine.
“Here,” I say, retrieving the knife from my belt.
“Thanks,” says Jonn, taking the weapon. He stares at it for a moment, then slides it into its sheath.
“It’s been an honour to know you,” I tell him. “You’ve taught me a lot.”
Jonn doesn’t respond, but I can tell he’s grateful for the kind words.
“I was wrong about you, Will,” he finally admits. “You’re a good kid. A good man.”
It may not sound like much, but it means a lot coming from Jonn. So does the fact that he called me by my real name. But the true sign of respect comes in the form of him taking a few steps back to give Kara and me some much-needed privacy.
“Kara,” I whisper. She turns around. She may be filthy and dishevelled, but she looks more beautiful now than she ever has. So beautiful, in fact, that I do what I have up until now been too scared to even consider attempting.
I kiss her.
It’s a magical moment. It only lasts a few seconds, but it feels like a blissful eternity. By the time our lips part, my cheeks have turned a bright shade of red. Luckily, so have Kara’s. Even Jonn, who pretends as though he didn’t notice, seems a little on the red side.
The lava is almost upon us. Jonn takes advantage of the few moments that remain to open his locket and stare at the picture it contains. He seems sad yet relieved. I suspect it’s because, after a decade and a half of separation, he will finally be reunited with his beloved wife.
The lava is only a few metres away when a massive shape emerges from the cloud of ash and smoke. At first, I think it’s the Chicxulub asteroid, but then I remember it’s still far away. But then what is that massive black shape descending toward us? It’s not until the dragon lands before us that I recognize her.
It’s Korrigana.
Jonn and Kara seem worried, but I assure them they have nothing to fear.
“She’s a friend,” I say as I step forward. For a brief moment, I think she’s come to carry my friends and me to safety, but she shows no sign of wanting to let me mount her. It’s not until she bows her head and drops a small object into my hand that I comprehend her true motives.
My mother’s ring.
I stare at it, stunned. I assumed it was destroyed, but apparently, Korrigana rescued it before it was forever lost.
“Thank you, my friend,” I say as I place a hand on her snout. She snorts softly, which I take to mean she only did what was right. I helped free her children, and now she has given me the means to save both my friends and me.
The majestic dragon flaps her wings and rises into the air. With a final roar of farewell, she flies off, vanishing into the thick cloud that hovers above our heads. I watch the ash and smoke swirl about for a moment before turning to my friends.
“What was that about?” asks Jonn
“What did she give you?” wonders Kara.
I don’t answer. I merely uncurl my fingers, revealing my mother’s ring.
My friends gasp.
“Are you ready to go home?” I ask.
They nod, too stunned to speak. I slide the ring onto my finger and twist the first triangle. Closing my eyes, I focus on what little I know of Atlantis and turn the second triangle. When I open my eyes, a portal has appeared before me. Its centre is black as night, but its edges are a beautiful, vibrant shade of purple. Arcs of white light crackle along the entire perimeter of the temporal door. It’s the most beautiful sight I have ever beheld.
“What are you waiting for?” asks Jonn. “Let’s go.”
He steps into the portal and vanishes.
“See you soon,” says Kara. Moments later, she’s gone.
I’m about to follow my friends when I’m hit with a realization.
This is it. The moment I step through that portal, my adventure will officially be over. I’ll never see Korri again. Nor his parents. Or any of the other brave humanoids I have had the good fortune of getting to know during my travels. The fact that they are doomed to die as a result of the Chicxulub plague only makes the separation more painful.
I would probably stand here until the lava burns my feet off if not for the fact that something suddenly hits me. And I mean that literally. Something falls out of the sky and knocks me right in the head.
“Ow!” I groan. From the looks of it, the object that hit me is a small pebble. I pick it up and study it.
It’s a tiny rock fragment. The angle with which it hit me, combined with the crimson nature of the stone leaves little doubt in my mind as to where it came from. I look up and, to my utter surprise, I discover the cloud of ash and smoke has parted, once more revealing the Chicxulub asteroid. It’s still far, yet it’s obvious the pebble that struck me came through the temporal tear along with it. It seems almost impossible, yet at the same time, it’s undeniable.
I study the aste
roid for a moment. It’s terrifying, but also kind of beautiful. It’s hard to believe it will cause the extinction of more than seventy percent of Earth’s living organisms. But who am I to say what’s right and what’s not? I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to fate. With that in mind, I slip the pebble into my pocket and step through the portal.
Memory 100
I stroll through Atlantis without a care in the world. I can’t remember the last time I felt this good. It’s a nice change of pace from the misery of my recent past. It’s been a week since my friends and I escaped the Mesozoic era, but I have yet to grow accustomed to the beauty of my surroundings.
Atlantis is a marvel of modern engineering. The glass dome that towers high above me is all that stands between me and millions upon millions of tons of water, yet it’s merely one element among the many that make Atlantis the most perfect city I have ever beheld.
The buildings are tall and imposing, yet shiny and new. The houses are quaint and the vegetation plentiful. Parks and gardens are sprinkled throughout the city, ensuring the air is always fresh and pure. Fruit trees line the streets, allowing for quick snacks.
People are happy. They stroll down the streets, waving to one another. They sit on benches, reading e-books on their holographic tablets. They play with their children. They do what people from my time fail to do; they enjoy life. The more time I spend here, the simpler life seems. But not everything is perfect.
I glance over my shoulder. A dozen meters behind me stand two bulky men. They wear civilian clothes, but I can tell by their erect posture they’re military. They have been following me ever since I left Jonn and Kara’s house. According to Kara, the Atlantean Council—a group of elders who control nearly all aspects of life in Atlantis—wants to keep me safe, but I suspect the truth is far simpler.
They think I’m working with Avalon. I can’t blame them. Still, a little gratitude would be nice. After all, I risked my life trying to take her down.
I wave to the soldiers and continue my journey through the streets of Atlantis. As I walk, I notice a couple driving by in one of the city’s many public electric vehicles. The principle is similar to modern-day bike sharing services, only free. The last time I saw Jonn, he was struggling to cram his massive frame into one of the tiny vehicles.