After a minute,my hilarity subsided into chuckles and the occasional snort.I brushed my hands off ,rose and dusted my very bruised rump,then turned and took stock of the new terrain.We seemed to be on a slightly weed choked gravel pathway at the foot of a small hill.A small burgundy hill with green foliage.To my credit I snapped my mouth shut before I started to attract flies.A soft breeze brought with it the smell of the sea and I surmised that the ocean was on the other side.I lifted my face to the sky and was almost disappointed to see mundane blue and white with the blinding golden circle that was the sun. Ulrik was a couple steps ahead of me and I ran my hands over the plants and bushes that were all in various shades of green as I caught up.I couldn't wrap my mind around magenta looking dirt and green flowers."This is so freaky."Ulrik followed the meandering path and ignored me."Where are

The enchanting lights of the crystals blurred together into a muddy brown before my eyes as Ulrik sped through the thickening crimson haze.I desperately wanted to crane my neck and try to figure out what was chasing us but aside from my dangling legs, I was completely immobile. Apparently Keanu's brain hadn't quite arrived at the same conclusion mine had as I could feel the reverberations from his pointless thrashing through Ulrik's bark-like skin."What is wrong with you bro? Put me down! Are you insane? Do I look like a helpless little female?" A quick pause as he reassesses,then "No offence,Jude"I'd shrug if I could."None taken."I'm usually all bark and no bite.Ulrik powers on relentlessly and my hair comes completely undone from the bun I'd fashioned on the hill."Hey! What is WITH you bro? What are you running from? Where are you taking us? Hey!HEY!" His voice is thick with insult and outrag

The darkness is all encompassing and infinite,a vast and eternal thing that swallows us whole.We dangle in it's midst for a fraction of a second before we descend into free fall.As before,I can see myself and those around me clearly,despite being enclosed in inky blackness.We're falling through time and space,with no end or destination in sight.We're in The Deep again."Aaaaahhhhh!!" A scream pierces the dark and echoes thinly,then is absorbed by the void.Keanu is to my left,clutching at the air,kicking his feet and looking around wildly.His wail peters out then starts up again,even louder than before.Ulrik is to my right,glowing contentedly purple with his arms and legs folded in the lotus position.He gives Keanu an indolent glance then faces forward and closes his eyes,as if entering a deep meditation,utterly unaffected by my best friend's obvious terror.Jerk."Keen,chill," I

"Your fellow Globites,now sit," Glob said,his tone commanding and final, before they could answer.Keanu and I looked at eachother again and he nudged me forward.I pulled out the second gilded chair beside the woman,leaving an empty seat between us.Stranger danger right? I descended into butt heaven.My bruised and weary backside sank into plush cushiony goodness and I let out a little thankful sigh.I wasn't as quiet as I thought because the red head beside me smiled knowingly then raised her eyes to watch Keanu take the seat next to me."Hi,I'm Logan," she said with a faint Irish twang and a crooked smile,extending her hand.She was pale in a way that made me seem tan,with fine bones and pixie features in a heart shaped face.Her fiery red hair was barely held back by an elastic band that struggled to contain her riotous corkscrew curls.Green eyes smiled into mine and I shook her hand,ignoring the spark of fema

I all but melted into the fragrant,warm water.I went completely under and stayed for a full minute before I broke the surface,wiping wet hair and water from my face.I had a moment to wish I had conjured a loofah or a washcloth but I let the errant thought slide away, taking pleasure in lathering myself with my fingers.I worked through my hair,detangling and scrubbing until I was satisfied,and ducked my head to rinse it.I grabbed the coconut and vanilla body wash I used at home and was overcome with a wave of homesickness.I thought of my parents and lecturers and smiled as I imagined the opposite reactions they'd each have to me being missing.My parents would call the national guard and offer a reward for my safe return and my college instructors would throw a party in honor of my absence.I wasn't exactly the best student.I did love my mom and dad though.Oh how I wish I'd had the presence of mind to grab my phone.I guess I can cut myself some slack since I went from bei