“I have so many curious things to show you my dear—” It began when suddenly the creature let out a petrifying scream. It backed off of me and screamed again. Firm arms helped me up. Once I was out of the fog, I could see my rescuer’s face.
“Chase, thank God!”
He helped pull the webbing off of me, slashing it with his knife. “What are you doing here?”
I took in a few deep breaths, still frightened about the spider. “I came looking for you.”
“How could you be so stupid to separate from the others?” He exclaimed, serious fear in his eyes. Had he really been that worried about me?
I frowned, mad at the attitude he was giving me after I came to help him. “I could ask the same about you.”
“But I have lived in these woods before, you have not. I know what to look out for.” He pointed into the fog. “Like those spiders.”
I shivered at the thought of that spider. “Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m just glad you are all right, otherwise I probably would have been blamed.” He sat up on the table. “Just like with everything else.”
I sat next to him. “It’s not your fault.”
“Malcolm sure thinks so, and Davis and Melvin probably agree. I screwed up. I shouldn’t have told you about us going to the Circus.”
I placed my hand on his back. “It’s all right, you knew I had the right to know. It was my choice, I should have been smarter and not followed you. Or stronger and not let Morpheus get in my head.”
He shook his head. “No, there was no way you were prepared for that. We should have known.”
We were quiet for a moment, the croak of frogs echoing around us.
“How did you, well, you know, not let him into your mind?” I asked.
Chase looked up, as if he was staring at the sky except all there was were trees. “I’m not afraid of anything, I guess. I have always been alone, going from place to place. I guess he just didn’t have anything to confront me on.”
“You aren’t afraid of being alone?”
He shook his head. “Not really. You get used to it, after a while. It has been a long time since I had any real friends or anything. But it has taught me how to live for myself, do the things I want to do.”
“Well, I know I couldn’t be okay with being alone. I hate it, actually, it feels like no one will be there to catch me when I fall.”
“That is why you learn to land on your own feet. You can’t only rely on others so much, and while it is great to have people around you to support you, it is up to you to make the final effort to stand tall. That is what I have learned and what I live by.”
I stared at him for a moment, trying to take in what he said. I understood, in a way, where he was coming from. It was important to be able to stand up for one’s self, but it was also important to surround yourself with those who will make you stronger. It was all about balance. “You’re lucky, not to have any fears.”
He shrugged. “It’s not that hard, really. Just don’t let anything bother you. Know what’s supposed to happen is going to happen and just wish for the best.”
“If only life were really that simple.”
“You make life what you want it.” He turned to face me. “And I know what I want.”
There was a long pause where neither of us said a word. I finally turned away and looked down at my hands. It seemed like the only thing to do, especially since I could feel my cheeks starting to turn red.
“There you two are,” a voice called at us. I looked up to find Malcolm and the others walking towards us. “I was beginning to worry.”
Chase looked like he wanted to say something else to me, but only stood back up and held out his hand to help me. I dusted off the moss from my clothes.
“What is this place?” I asked Malcolm, hoping he would answer truthfully. I mean, it was obvious this was the infamous tea party from the books.
Malcolm stared at the table for a moment, as if he was somewhere else. After a few moments, he blinked. “Beats me.”
I knew he was lying, I could see it in his eyes. I glanced over at Melvin and Kenny, who just stared at Malcolm. They knew the truth but no one was going to spoil any secrets. It wasn’t fair, I hated being left out of the conservation.
“Now, let’s go. We need to find somewhere we can stay before it gets dark.” Malcolm started for the way he came.
“This isn’t dark?” I questioned as I hurried to his side, glancing all around.
“If you think this is dark, just wait until night comes.”
I looked up at the trees. I didn’t want to know what kind of creatures would come out then.
CHAPTER 24
After what felt like an hour of walking, Malcolm stopped in front of a boulder that was at least the size of him, if not taller.
“Kenny and Melvin, give me a hand,” Malcolm started pushing the boulder aside. I couldn’t believe they would be able to move something so large. After their help, it started to budge and I gasped. Was it just lighter weight than ones in my world, or were they really that strong? As it moved, it revealed a dark cave. How the hell he knew it was there, I had no idea. He must have come across it before. Malcolm looked
