Monday, June 11, 2012

World 101/Chapter 4 - Who Is That?

World 101
A Short Story By: Jennie Bean

-continued-
Chapter 4 - Who Is That?

Startled, I quickly turn around. "Help, help!" I hear.

"I'm coming! Where are you?!" I scream.  I run down the small passageway.  A few slabs of some kind of igneous rock are blocking the path, and I use my new iron axe to quickly clear them away.  I come to the end of the path, where there is a lighted torch above me.

"Hello?" I prompt in a low cautious voice.

"Hi!" he says as the loud response makes me tilt backward and drop my axe.

"Whoa, you are right behind these blocks.  Are you okay?" I ask nervously.

"I am stuck, but not hurt.  This andesite is trapping my leg and preventing me from reaching my axe," he says rather calmly.

I pick up my axe and smash the section of rock in front of me.  I spy a piece of green cloth coming out from the next block in. “Okay brace yourself,” I warn and strike the next portion of andesite.

The man in front of me is not what I expected to come out from this rubble.  He gets off his one leg with ease and gathers his fedora hat and shiny axe.  He is garbed in a green vest, white shirt, khaki pants and sandals.  I notice he has a similar watch with a blue arrow.  I look down at mine, and my spinning blue arrow has returned...Whew!  It was just the earthquake that hindered the signal.

He stands tall before me and glares down at me with his bright green eyes.  “Thank you,” he says with a slight side smile that makes me weak.  Oh dear.  I break my stare and timidly look down at my axe handle.

“What is your name?” he asks as he puts his hat on.

“I…I don’t know,” I stumble, “I don’t remember anything before I woke up in this world.”

“I guess this world really does suck you in…literally too,” he winks, “Call me Tuck.”

“Tuck…” I said, testing out his name, “Are you the survivor?”

He laughs and bends down to look at me closer, “You mean the one who placed all of the blue and yellow scrolls around here?”  I nod.  “No, I'm just an explorer here and a garment maker back home,” he looks off in deep thought.

“A garment maker?” I ask, surprised.

“I create 2-D and 3-D clothing models from a very high-tech computer application. I am exceptionally good at it,” he explains smugly.

“Neat,” I say, trying not to roll my eyes.

“Okay, Ruby, let’s find where this next arrow takes us,” Tuck says with a sigh.

“Ruby?” I ask, scrunching my forehead.

“A nickname for you,” he says confidently, eyeing me up and down.

I start to protest this harassment, but realize he is referring to my ruby red dress. Oh.

Tuck strikes the next few portions of rock material, and they disappear so quickly.  It must be the special shiny axe he has, though I wouldn't doubt his strength alone.  He continues the original path he created, and it aligns with where the arrow points.  I follow and knock some rocks down, but feel useless, as Tuck is so much faster.

"Where did you get that axe?" I ask out of curiousity.

"I made it with diamond and titanium that I found in a treasure chest.  It's pretty much invincible," Tuck smiles and continues.

"Wait, the arrow is now pointing straight down." I said, and I start building steps down off to one side.  The last rock breaks off, and there is now an opening that drops down.  "Fire!" I gasp.  There is a huge pool of hot lava partly below us, and I try not to slip off the last step.

"RRaaaarrrrroughgoughough!"  What in hell is that?

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Stay tuned for Chapter 5 - What's That Noise?

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Thank you to Total Miner for being the inspiration to my story.  Thank you to the bf and friends, who motivate me to actually do things.

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