Magics: Escape (Book 2)

Chapter Thirteen

Kai woke the next morning immediately ready to leave. He sat up off the mattress, turned to grab his back, and froze. His eyes locked on the empty bed that was a few feet away from him and sadness tugged at his heart. His fingers clutched his backpack's strap as he tried and failed to tear his eyes away. What if their plan didn't work? What if it was too late by the time they got to Shintaro? What would they do after that?

Upset and angry, Kai ripped his eyes away and looked down at his luggage. He couldn't bear to think about that anymore. They would get Shintaro back. Alive. He would be alright. Kai wouldn't accept the fact that something could happen to Shintaro during the time that he was with Moon. 

Chase groaned quietly in his sleep, signaling that Kai should wake him up. The dark haired boy got to his feet and walked over to the bed, stepping halfway up the ladder and studying his best friend before he woke him up. Chase was lying on his stomach, his arms serving as another pillow under his head. The blankets were stretched halfway over him, and he was frowning. 

Kai sighed and touched Chase's shoulder, but got no reaction. He leaned forward and gently shook Chase's arm this time. The older boy groaned again and rolled onto his side, his back facing Kai.

"Come on, Chase," Kai tried. "You have to get up. We're leaving now." He touched his friend's shoulder again.

Chase stuffed his face into the pillow and sighed into it. "Fine," he mumbled afterward, then raised his head and sat up. He rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and sat up, stretching. 

Kai smiled and stepped down the ladder, turning around to grab his backpack. He again found himself staring longingly at Shintaro's bed and shook his head. Enough wallowing in grief, he told himself and slung his bag over his shoulder. 

He and Chase walked out of the room together, and the two boys found everyone else already up. Linda was adjusted the backpack that was on her back, Falte was putting the food in his backpack, Abby was struggling to put her bag on, and Nanami was sitting on the couch with her small pack at her feet. 

Kai rushed over to his girlfriend and helped her straighten her bag. She smiled gratefully at him, and he hugged her from behind, somehow fitting his arms around her large backpack.

"At least it won't be like last time," she said with a small laugh. "Last time we were in the woods, we had nothing to help us out." She took Kai's arm and brought his hand up, then pecked it lightly. He resisted the urge to pull back and felt a smile creep onto his lips, but it was immediately replaced by slight jealousy and confusion.

How could Abby be so happy in such a situation? Her father was captured by a crazy woman with some insane motive, and here she was, cheerily going around and kissing her boyfriend's hand? 

I guess she knows that she'll get her father back, Kai told himself firmly. You should know it, too. Kai sighed and adjusted the heavy bag that was weighing him down slightly. He let go of Abby, let his fingers trail through her hair as he walked away, and met his father by the table.

"Need help with anything?" he asked Falte kindly.

"Nah," his father replied, running one of his hands through his hair. "I should be alright. I just have to ... walk carefully, since I have the food. I wish we could have taken a car," he added with a sigh, "but we're going to be going through a woods, so I guess that wouldn't work." 

Kai nodded. "I can carry some of the stuff if you need me to," he offered. He leaned down to grab a couple bags of stuff, but Falte stopped him.

"I can carry it, Kai," he protested. 

Kai raised his eyebrows at Falte, but shook his head, defeated. "If you need anything -" 

"I'll let you know," finished Falte, putting a hand on Kai's shoulder. "Don't worry, I don't think I'll need anything. You have your own stuff to carry. Thank you for the offer though." He smiled and Kai turned around to check on his other friends. 

Linda didn't look like she was regretting her decision at all. She was standing by the couch, helping Nanami put on the right shoes. Chase was on one knee, strapping something to his backpack. Abby was tying her shoes, occasionally looking up at her brother with a slightly sad look. Kai was about to look around for Shintaro, but with a short inhale that he let out as a sigh,  he stopped himself. He shook his head and adjusted a strap on his backpack.

As soon as Nanami had the shoes on correctly, Linda spoke over the small conversation that Abby and Chase were holding. "Gabriel should be waiting for us at the entrance to town. He has some of the things we'll need, such as a fire-starter and more waters. Is everyone ready to go?"

Abby looked slightly unsure of herself, but she nodded after Chase took her hand with a small smile. Kai was probably next to Linda in the "most ready" category. He crossed his arms and stared at Linda, hoping to seem more confident than he felt.

Falte pulled his backpack on and jumped slightly to right it. He gave a small nod to Linda, and once Nanami had her pack on, Linda turned around and opened the door. Kai was right behind her, Abby was right beside Kai, Chase was right behind her, and Falte and Nanami were in the back. 

Abby reached out and took Kai's hand, her blue eyes full of uncertainty. Kai squeezed her tiny hand, giving her as much reassurance as he could. She met his eyes and smiled, and he returned it. 

Behind her, Chase took a deep breath. He sounded ready. Ready to get his father back. 

Kai was ready, too. He was ready to right the wrong he caused. He was ready to get back at Moon for what she did. He was ready to defeat her and finally have a normal life. He was ready.

Ready for anything.

~

Sorry this is such a short chapter, but HEY! I updated it! I feel like I haven't updated this book in so long! (Dang you, sickness!) Well, I'm glad it's finally out! 

I think I'm going to do a Winter X Moon fan fiction, just because of how PASSIONATE I am about WinterWatcher. WinterWatcher deserves to be a thing, and I'm really hoping Tui will take such a plot twist. 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Qibli. He's the funny sweetheart. 

But he's not right for Moon!

Winter is a warrior, a hero, and a prince. He brags about it a bit too much, sure, but he's such a sweetheart underneath all that grump! He loves Moon for who she is, and though he can be mean to her, he loves her with all his heart. So much so that he denies himself for it! Come on, isn't that true love? 

WinterWatcher was even building up to become a thing! I mean, think about it! Winter has liked Moon ever since book 6. Qibli suddenly likes her in book 10. Moon at first was afraid of him, but she likes him a lot now, and she gave him Skyfire to protect his mind. Isn't that nice, when she could have just figured out the truth about him her own way? And she was really worried for him when Peril accidentally hurt him. Come on, piece it together! Qibli had to suddenly come out of nowhere in the 10th book, when Winter has liked Moon since the beginning of the "new series"! WinterWatcher was BUILDING UP, AND MOONBLI WAS NOT. 

This is how passionate I am about this. 

Well, until the next chapter! :3

Peace!~~