No big deal. It happens all the time, right?
Right?
Week 1
Terror is its own thing. It’s not an emotion or a feeling. It can’t be explained or shared or understood. Terror is a state of being. Something the body becomes for a moment in time.
I’d experienced terror once before. This time was different yet the same. We’d just sat down to eat when the world dropped out from under us. I hit the ground hard, my tray of food splattering down beside me. I scream.
A cacophony of sounds and smells. Screaming, shouting, crying, grunting and a deafening
Terror ends with a touch. Saki takes my arm and helps me sit up. I know her by smell - like starlight on an open book. Also blood and fear. Her fingers chattering on my wrist so fast I can’t catch what she’s saying. Terror recedes as I realize that I’m not alone in my darkness.
My brain catches up to the moment. I fully realize that Saki is afraid.
Saki. Afraid. My brain lags again as it tries to process the impossible.
She feeds me a tater tot and the spell is broken. While I'm chewing, I hear Kari's voice on my other side. She gives me a hug, holding me for a moment. Cayenne pepper and leather. Kari's so small. It's a bit like being hugged by a teddy bear. Soothing.
Kari has a soft low voice. She’s also very brave. Her words help me make sense of what's going on around me. Not that what’s happening makes any sense. Kari doesn't smell like fear. She never does. Why am I the only one who lives in fear?
Saki is no longer here. People around us are running and shouting. The smell of blood is strong: now accompanied by the smell of burnt flesh and voided bowels.
I hear Rio now. He was with Addie when it happened. Addie is so fragile. Even a short fall from her chair can hurt her. Forget about explosions and frantic people. I'm glad she's okay. Saki found them and brought them to us.
And with that, our little group is together. Saki, Rio, Kari, Addie, and myself, Nix. The other students call us the broken ones behind our backs. But that's okay, we understand our limitations and our strengths.
We’re all afraid (except Kari). Addie suggests that we get up and move away from where everyone is milling around. We find a spot against a wall behind a pillar. Rio takes my arm to lead me there. I can tell from the way he's walking that the pain is in his chest today.
I fall on my ass. It hurts. A lot. How the hell? We're somehow in a different place, but the chairs we were sitting in didn't move with us. Neither did the tables, though the trays of food on them did. Odd. Anyone who wasn't standing got dumped right on their butt. Myself included. Only for me it's prob'ly worse, 'cause when I sit in a chair, my feet are hanging in the air. Ha ha! I’m a poet!
There's a fizzling noise, and suddenly bright arcs of light pop off around me. Like being inside a Tesla coil. Three of them: exploding - left, right, left again. People blown off their feet. Something hard is thrown into me and I tumble across the floor.
Chaos rules. We're in a large room; much bigger than the cafeteria we’d been in. Students lie on the floor in shock. Run around in circles shouting. Stand in a daze. Sit there crying. Shout at the strangers among us.
Yeah, strangers. Men with swords at their hips. Weirdos with shaved heads. Several guys laying on the floor - dazed, unconscious, or dead, I can't tell. There's blood. Lots of blood.
I’d been sitting at a table with Nix and Saki. Now Saki's sitting on the floor with her arm around Nix, trying to comfort him as he cries. Nix is a bit of a scaredy-cat, which I can't really blame him since he can’t see. He's majorly confused and frightened. Saki picks a tater tot off the floor (!) and stuffs it in his mouth. Pro’bly trying to comfort him. What about the three second rule, Saki? Pretty sure it's past that by now.
Saki's bleeding. A cut on her leg. Nix looks battered and bruised. Blood mats his hair. I crawl over to them. Nix needs an explanation and Saki can't give it to him. I take his other arm and start telling him what's happening. Soft and soothing as best I can manage. Nix calms down a bit.
The floor under my butt has strange markings on it. Chalk lines scuffed up by everybody rolling around on ‘em. There's a strange pyramidal stone next to me. About 4 inches high with soot on it like it's been in a fire. It has runes (runes?!?) carved into each of its four sides. I reach out and touch it. Hot hot! Part of a set of six. Why do I think that? I collect interesting things (aka junk!) and this seems interesting. I wanna collect 'em all! I stuff it in my bag. Why am I messing around with this right now?!? Focus, Kari...
Saki signs to me that she’s going to look for the others, then gets up and darts off into the crowd. Returns a minute later with Rio pushing Addie. Huh. Wonder why her chair came with her when none of ours did. Maybe because her chair is more a part of her? Like our clothes that (thankfully!) came with us?
There's one old geezer with a long gray beard, wearing a robe. (Seriously, a robe!?!) He's shouting, trying to get everyone's attention. Having about as much success as you would imagine with this many frightened 16-year-olds. We decide to move out of the chaos into a corner. Emotionally exhausted, we sit down on the floor and await our fate.
I owe Saki a great deal, I think to myself as she leads me and Rio through the chaos. She came to get us. Gave us a focus outside of our fear and confusion. Rio also. He shielded me from all of the people and flying junk that were thrown around by the explosions.
Saki takes us to where Nix and Kari sit on the floor. Nix’s head is bleeding and he’s holding one of his arms close to his body in pain. Saki’s bleeding too. A cut on her leg. Kari’s bouncing around like a demented kangaroo. Our whole world has gone crazy and I'm at my wit's end. I hate not being in control. Saki puts her arms around me and I lean into her embrace, hoping to find strength.
There are a number of injured people scattered across the floor. Some aren't moving. There's a lot of blood. People burned and broken. The scene is horrific, like seeing the aftermath of a train crash on tv, but live. One person walks around covered in blood holding their head, another sits hunched over broken ribs. Frantic people run around giving first aid. I feel hungry.
There's a man who's been trying to get everyone's attention. Meeting with no success, he tries a different approach. Has his helpers cut out groups of five or six people at a time and take them out of the room. Our group, already formed and quiet, quickly gets singled out and led to a smaller room by two of the strangers.
A woman in a maid uniform waits for us there. Rio gets a clean cloth and some water from her, going on his knees next to Saki's chair to clean up the blood on her injured leg. Kari does the same for Nix’s head. Just shallow cuts, thank God. The smell of blood is maddening.
The maid brings us tea and cookies. The first sane, normal thing that's happened in a long while. Well, except for the maid part. Where are we?
The tea's good. Surprisingly good! Funny how I never before thought of tea as having much flavor. And even better, it's brought in on a tea tray by an honest-to-goodness maid in an honest-to-goodness maid uniform. How cool is that?!? Rio keeps staring at her. He's such a horn dog!
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Saki has her injured leg stretched out under the table. Drawing vigorously in her sketchbook. Full color pencils for the maid! The guys who're talkin' at us only get black and white. Poor fellas don't rate, I guess.
The explanation of our situation is pretty silly. Like he's reading straight off a light novel template fer Pete's sake! We've been summoned as Heroes to a world in trouble. There's a Demon Lord threatening to invade and wreak havoc. It will be a scene of untold carnage and woe. Only Heroes summoned from another world can beat the Demon Lord. They'll be eternally grateful if we agree to take on this quest. And blah and blah and blah.
The only variation on the theme is the number of Heroes who've been summoned. They expected at most a double handful of people. Not eighty-three. They figured it was the energy surge and backlash from such a large summoning that caused the enchantments (enchantments?) to overload and discharge like they did.
Currently they're feeling a bit overwhelmed. Our sympathy for them is lacking.
In fact, we doubt their sanity. I mean, honestly, who would choose to bring in a bunch of teenagers to save the universe? I mean, think about it, it's a task that requires tenacity, hard work, patience, commitment, and mental fortitude. I mean, does that sound like it fits the general teenage population to you? I mean, ... ok, you get the idea.
The only bit of humor comes when they ask why a grade-schooler is mixed in with all the high-schoolers: referring to me, of course. Ha. Ha. Screw you, buddy! Shocked him when he learned I was 16.
Strike a pose! I'm tiny but ferocious!
My niece and I walk briskly through the hallway to the administrative offices of Walthers & Co. Temporary Help Agency. We’ve been working for them for almost eight months now without having any of our postings turn into full-time employment. Needless to say, we’ve been very disappointed. But that’s the way it works when village girls come to the big city to find employment. Not too many people are willing to take a chance on people like us.
Something strange is happening, though. The office, which is normally deserted, is crowded right now. We take a seat and wait.
Soon, Mr. Walthers himself comes into the room. A rotund, bald man who usually looks jovial and relaxed, today he looks frantic and has a sheen of sweat showing through the few hairs on the top of his head. “Ladies! Ladies!” he shouts. “Please take a seat and listen. We don’t have much time.”
The room quietens and he continues. “The Palace has a sudden need for a large number of maids. Over a hundred. The assignment is longer than normal; at least six months. The pay is half again what you normally make but you need to be prepared to live at the Palace for an extended period of time. Meals also will be provided.”
The ladies start murmuring to each other again. Some look eager, some look dubious, and some look like they want to get up and leave.
“I know that not all of you can do this,” Mr. Walthers continued. “If you aren’t interested or aren’t able to take this contract, we understand. You can leave now. We’ll give you a bronze for taking the time to come down here. However, those of you who are able to accept the contract will receive a substantial bonus when the contract is completed.”
About half of the ladies get up and leave; thirty of us are still in the room. Mr. Walthers’ admin assistant comes in with a stack of forms. “Those of you who want to apply for the contract and know the specific details, please come pick up a form and fill in your information. We’ll review each of them as quickly as we can. The Palace needs you today, so be ready to get up there as soon as we approve the contracts.”
Tara and I exchange glances, then get to our feet and move forward. This is a better deal than we’d been getting and maybe, just maybe, it will turn out to be interesting.
I'm feeling quite pathetically weak. That’s nothing new, but after all that's happened I'm completely drained of energy. Even the maid has noticed; she brings me a plate of tiny cookies. I smile and thank her. She gives me a curtsy. Awesome!
At one point, a shaven-headed man in a robe comes in and heals Saki's cut. Using magic! We're all shocked. Then excited. Magic!!! Saki's eyes light up like they're on fire! It's rare to see her visibly express emotion. She starts talking so fast that her fingers get tangled together.
He does the same for all of us. We’ve all got cuts and bruises. Except me. Rio did a good job of protecting me during the chaos. He’d be the perfect knight if he wasn’t such a horn-dog. And a dork. But we’re all dorks so maybe that doesn’t count against him?
We finally reach the point where Sir Aldo (he's the man giving us the explanation) ends his talk and asks if we have any questions. The others all swivel their heads to look at me.
I'm the only extrovert in this group of dedicated introverts. Except for Kari of course, but she’s easily distracted. When it comes to conversation, I'll be the one put forward. Talking's pretty much the one thing I'm good at.
Saki is primed and ready. She immediately hands me a note with a list of questions. I read through the list:
- What happens to the people who are not heroes?
- Are there tater tots?
- Where's the bathroom?
- Can we go home again?
Seriously?!? I give her an exasperated look. She finger flicks the note in my hand as if to say, 'yes, tater tots are that important!' For someone who doesn't speak she's very expressive.
Well, I'm sure that each of us wants to know the answers to at least two of the questions so I fire away. Short answer for the first one: they don’t know. Got the impression he wasn't expecting that question. Maybe in the past all the abductees signed on for the death march?
Second question: this world does not have tater tots. Saki appears devastated by this answer. The man looks confused. When I ask for clarification, I'm able to determine that they at least have potatoes. She perks up a little bit.
Third question, it's just down the hallway around the corner. The maid can show you where it is.
Fourth question, sorry but there's no way to send you home. People can be summoned but they cannot be sent back.
That puts a damper on further discussion.
A deep sadness builds up in my heart. We all sit in stunned silence for a few minutes. Not being able to go home again is a bitter pill to swallow. I put my forehead down on the table, my hair hiding my face from the others.
Rio strokes my back silently. Saki reaches out to take my hand. Letting me know that I’m not alone. They’re good friends.
Some servers arrive with a meal. A rare roast beef with vegetables. The smell perks me right up. I can hardly hold myself back while I wait for everyone to receive a portion.
I usually like my meat well done, but today I'm drawn to the rarest pieces first, blood pooling on the surface of the meat. I devour it like a hungry wolf and then go on to eat Kari's because she only ate the burnt portions around the edge. Weirdo. She's so tiny that a big meal for her is just a snack for us. Once my hunger's sated, I start feeling better. In fact, I feel stronger than I have in quite some time.
The room is quiet. We’re all struggling to come to grips with the fact that we can never see our home again. Never see those we love.
Not that I love anybody.
Lunch arrives to save Sir Aldo and the other man from our awkward silence. They leave the room. No doubt there’s a lot for them to do considering all the problems on the day. They say they’ll meet with us the next morning after breakfast to discuss the next steps forward.
Maids bustle around serving us the meal. I find them to be a welcome distraction. They’re honest-to-goodness maids in honest-to-goodness maid uniforms. Not the sexy outfits like in the maid cafes but more like in a 19th century period drama. One of them is about our age and pretty cute. I mention this for the sake of giving a complete and accurate report, not because I'm a complete and total horn dog (Talking to you, Kari!).
Excerpt from Saki's Journal
After all the excitement of the day, we spent the evening in boredom. First they brought us supper, something chicken-like with thyme. Then the maid led us all to the baths. It was much like a Japanese public bath with a men's and women's side [See illustration 1f]. We saw most of our other classmates coming and going while we were there getting clean and trying to relax. Thank God this place has relatively modern indoor plumbing! Although, sadly, they don't have tater tots. [A moment of silence please…]
When we were finished, a maid named Tara [Illustration 1h] took us to our rooms [Illustration 1i]. Rio and Nix share one room and Addie, Kari and I share another.
They had clothes there for us, two sets for each of us in the local style [Illustration 1j]. Plus a set of pajamas with slippers. The maids took our school uniforms to be cleaned.
Sir Aldo's assistant came back one last time. That's when we learned that some of their colleagues died in the explosions. I felt bad. I'm angry about being ripped away from my life and thrown into a strange and dangerous place, but at least I'm alive.
There was nothing I could do about it so I took my frustrations out by starting this journal and doing a dozen and a half sketches. One weird thing happened, though. In one of my sketches, I tried to recreate a symbol I'd seen engraved on the armor of one of the knights [Illustration 1r]. As I finished off the sketch, the symbol started glowing and then, with a puff of smoke, the ink caught on fire leaving the symbol etched into the paper like a brand. I had a feeling this would be the first of many weird occurrences.
For instance, why are none of us concerned about the fact that we can understand and speak the language here? It’s definitely not English. That’s beyond odd. Unusual, even.
And why aren’t we more afraid? Is something suppressing our emotions?
As I was falling asleep, a tear escaped the corner of my right eye. How am I going to survive without tater tots?