by J. J. Egosi
“Amazing,” Julianna muttered with widened eyes.
Her eyes were taken to something more extraordinary; something resembling a much larger steamcraft with many compartments.
“What is that?”
“Is that what carriages look like in your dimension?” Isabella asked.
Alexa laughed. “That’s a locomotive.” The sounds of the conductor’s whistle had her heart fluttering with joy. “They’re quite common in the sixth dimension and one of my favorite modes of transport.”
“Yeah, the sixth dimension makes all the technology that helps you move from one dimension to another,” Ursula said.
“Yeah, even the really wealthy humans can do it,” Alexa added.
“I see.” Michael basked as zeppelins and hot-air balloons passed them by. The passengers seemed warm and friendly. “How much can you tell us about this quest? It must be a pretty spectacular place, where we’re going.”
“It’s a very good one, actually,” Alexa said. “There’s a massive bounty of two-hundred thousand gold pieces on a group of lizardmen that have been harming the wildlife there. The locals want them out.”
“Lizardmen? Sounds interesting,” Michael said. He then gasped at a realization. “Wait, did you say two-hundred thousand gold?!”
“That’s right,” Alexa said with a grin.
“That’s more money than I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know that much”—
“You’re cute.” Alexa smiled.
Julianna didn’t share in the excitement just yet. She needed to shake off the concern first. “Don’t you think the lizardmen could be pretty dangerous to have such a hefty bounty on their heads?”
“And for the other residents to go as far as to post a bounty for their blood?” Julianna added.
Realizing this, Michael nodded. Much of his enthusiasm deflated, giving way to worry.
“They’re not so bad. This should be easy money,” Alexa said.
Lizardmen? Michael thought. His attention then turned toward Ursula.
“Hey, Ursula. Isn’t this your home dimension?”
Ursula’s focus was still on the view outside the window. Of everyone on the ship, she didn’t seem in awe and excitement; she simply watched with a deadpan look on her face.
“Ursula?”
The continued lack of response worried Michael.
“Is she ok?” Isabella glanced over at Alexa.
“Don’t worry about her,” Alexa replied. “She has some bad memories of this place and hates to talk about it.”
“I see,” Isabella said.
“If you ever feel like opening up about it, we’re here for you.” Michael patted her shoulder before turning toward Alexa. “Do you think it’s a good idea to even go if she’s uncomfortable?”
“It’s fine,” Ursula said before Alexa could respond, surprising everyone. “I can take it.”
Michael gulped and nodded. The stoic look on her face was very much unlike her. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” Ursula said.
Her lips quivered as she spoke. She appeared to be on the verge of tears. Michael knew something was wrong, and his stomach quivered in worry about her.
“If you say so.”
Ursula took a deep, calming breath before responding to him.
“Sorry if I’m upsetting anyone. It’s just I hate animals. The ones there, anyway.”
Didn’t she say she owned a lizard farm? Michael thought. Lizardmen?
“The horror I went through as a sole demon in a world full of ferocious and unforgiving beasts… unforgiving in their brutality.” Ursula shook with malice. Her eyes blackened. “I swore I’d have my revenge by enslaving every last one of them!”
Alexa looked over at her, frightened. “Calm down! Not here.”
She patted her back. Ursula took a deep breath and calmed down. Michael mirrored the calming deep breath, but his mind continued racing.
I really don’t know a whole lot about Ursula, Michael thought. Knowing how rough being an outcast can be, I think I’d like to know more. Still, I’m afraid of what I might learn.
“Are you feeling better now?” Alexa asked.
“I am. Thanks.” Ursula smiled.
“Are you sure?” Isabella asked.
“Because if not, I take guests all the time and I can”—
“I’m sure,” Ursula said before Julianna could finish. “It’s really sweet that you’re all so worried about me, but I’ll be fine. I can’t run from my past forever, now, can I?”
Michael and the others looked back at one another. Michael was convinced this quest was a bad idea.
“Besides, I’m not alone anymore. I’ve got Alexa and all of you.” Ursula smiled.
Her smile did a lot to convince him. It was the same smile as his every time he looked around at his current company.
“That’s right,” he said with a smile, too. “You have all of us.”
Julianna and Isabella shared in the smiles, basking in the comfort of having everyone beside them as they approached an unfamiliar world. A fresh wave of confidence that they could approach whatever awaited together rose.
Alexa looked back toward them with a smile of a shared sentiment before nodding and turning back as something began to flicker in the distance—something resembling unfamiliar terrain.
“Get ready to land. We’re almost there.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing the place you call home,” Michael said with a hopeful smile. “If it turns out okay for you… maybe you could even take us on a tour.”
Ursula shook her head, smiling. “And I look forward to giving you that tour.”
They looked at one another and smiled, bound for an exciting quest, as they approached the end of the seemingly endless dimensional gap.
Chapter 2
Jurassic Excursion
A
warm and vibrant atmosphere welcomed the steamcraft as it made its way to the other end of the dimensional gap. Here it is. A whole new world, Michael thought as he admired the vast fields beating under the sun. Gentle waves traveled across the oceans, heading toward hills and a lone volcano in the tropical forest in the distance.
“Welcome to the first dimension.”
Alexa smiled proudly as she steered the steamcraft toward the jungle, searching for a clearance vast enough to land on.
Julianna and Isabella were in just as much awe, watching outside the window as the steamcraft flew over the thickets of palm trees and gigantic tropical creatures until they came to an open patch of land where the steamcraft descended. When it came to a safe stop, Michael, Julianna, and Isabella remained in their seats, silently waiting for someone to be brave enough to lead them out into the jungle.
Once Alexa took the lead, the group followed to better observe their surroundings. While Alexa and Ursula were accustomed to such a landscape, the immense humidity shocked Michael, Julianna, and Isabella as beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.
“This place is incredible,” said Isabella.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. The trees. The wildlife. It’s like something out of a fairytale,” Julianna said, surveying the area—from the leaves half the size of her and the ants larger than her head.
“This dimension existed long before all the others, and yours would look like this too if humans never existed: a world where oxygen levels and temperatures are at an all-time high, allowing seemingly simple creatures to flourish into the creatures you see here,” Alexa said, pointing out a dazzlingly colorful dragonfly the size of her arm.
“So, all this could still be around if humans weren’t around? I can see why Lucifer hates humanity so much. I’d hate to see any of these creatures lose out to such a malicious species,” Michael said.
“Well, demons probably aren’t helping, either,” Alexa said. “Where there’s a race seeking to build empires, there lays waste a forest or jungle in the relentless path new civilizations pave.”
Michael didn’t like
that he agreed with her, but it was true. “Well, I’m glad there’s still one place where the creatures can thrive.”
He noticed a sloth-like creature drifting through the jungle trees. It stood over a couple of feet tall, moving in search of food, without ever having to worry.
“It’s just a shame things ended up this way. Where animals have to lose their home.”
Ursula scowled, then looked away in disgust.
Michael realized he’d upset her. He gulped. “But, it all worked out in the end, I suppose. The animals have their place here and people have their civilizations.”
“Yeah, the animals got what they wanted,” Ursula muttered.
“Don’t forget a lot of this was your doing anyway, mister creator god,” she said sarcastically.
“Well, I feel better now,” Michael said, looking down in embarrassment.
“Strange. I was going for worse.” Alexa winked, then nudged him toward Ursula. “You should comfort her, though. I think she’s still a little nervous about being back here.”
“That makes sense. I doubt anyone knows these jungles as she does and what they’re capable of,” Michael said, looking over at her as she wandered from the group. “But, why me?”
Alexa sighed. “She clearly likes you—of course, all of us do. I’d say you’re her best friend aside from me.”
“Really?” Michael blushed at the idea.
“Yes, now move your ass,” Alexa said.
Michael reluctantly nodded. He walked up to Ursula, who was now huddling by a tree.
“Hey, are you alright? Do you want to talk or something?”
“I’ll be alright.”
“Are you sure? Because”—
“The monsters,” she snapped. Her voice carried a startling amount of brashness.
Memories of her past flashed through her mind. She remembered sprinting through the jungle as a small child. The pounding of footsteps and snapping of branches drew closer as the reptilians closed in on her. Her little legs fought to carry her as far to safety as possible, but the monsters were much faster. Her chest burned in desperation for air while tears streamed down her face. She knew she was helpless—a weak, lonely target with only makeshift blades for defense. While she hurdled and weaved around foliage, a root caught her and knocked her down face-first.
“They’re coming back.”
“The monsters?” Michael said.
“The monsters! They’re coming back!” Ursula said as she descended into a fit of panic. She clamped her hands over her ears, shaking.
The rest of the group, overhearing her screams, looked at one another with concern.
“What is she talking about? What monsters?” Isabella asked.
Alexa shushed her in response.
“Is she going to be alright?”
Alexa took a deep breath. “She’ll be fine so long as we pick up her slack from time to time.”
“Will that be enough?” Michael’s worry grew when he noticed her intense trembling.
“And as for monsters; she’s referring to are the lizardmen.”
“The same ones we’re after?” Isabella asked.
“What’s so monstrous about the lizardmen?” Julianna stepped in. “They don’t sound very intimidating.”
“Yeah, I thought you said they wouldn’t be a problem,” Isabella said, growing incredulous. It seemed to her as though there was something Alexa wasn’t telling them.
“They’re not if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, they’ll take advantage of weakness,” Alexa replied.
Julianna gulped. “And do you know how to maneuver these beasts?”
“Yeah, how are we supposed to beat these monsters when Ursula, a native here, can’t deal with them?” Isabella asked.
Alexa heard Ursula’s whimpering grown into an outcry. She assumed she was recalling something terrible. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Julianna asked. Alexa’s secretiveness brought an air of uneasiness.
“I’d rather not speak much of the subject. Let’s just capture them and be done with it,” Alexa insisted.
“But, how are we supposed to capture them without the right information?” Julianna pressed.
“Just drop it!” Alexa snapped.
Julianna sighed and looked at her in silence before nodding. Alexa then walked away to comfort Ursula.
“What’s the big deal, exactly, with Ursula? What happened to her?” Isabella whispered.
“I’m not certain. I have a feeling this job is going to be more challenging than we anticipated,” Julianna said.
“There are five of us, though. And we have the creator god with us. We’ll be collecting our gold in no time,” Isabella said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
“I doubt it’ll make up for the trauma of whatever she went through,” Julianna spoke in a dejected tone.
Isabella looked at her with worry written all over her face before nodding.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine as long as we stick together and build off each other’s strengths.”
“Staying optimistic, I see. I think we could all use that. Especially Ursula,” Julianna said.
“Agreed.” Isabella nodded.
The two of them walked over to Alexa and Ursula and took a seat beside Ursula, leaning against the tree.
“Ursula, I know this isn’t easy, but if you really want to become stronger, you have to try,” Alexa said with her arm wrapped around her.
“But, I’m scared,” Ursula said, struggling to hold back her tears.
“I know you are,” Alexa said, hugging her. The rare feeling of warmth from an often snappy Alexa made tears roll down her face. “It’s going to be alright. You’re not alone, remember?”
“Huh?” Ursula replied.
“You’ve got me, and you’ve got Michael.”
Ursula looked over at Michael’s warm smile as he approached the group. He waved at her as he took a seat with them.
“And for better or worse, you have Julianna and Isabella.”
“For better or worse,” they both said.
“You don’t have to tell me what happened to you here,” Alexa said, “but know you don’t have to face your past here alone. And we won’t let the past repeat itself. I swear it upon my empire, these lizardmen will be caught.”
Ursula looked at the smile she wore. She looked all around, remembering the joy she felt before being struck by the image of her past. She smiled.
“Thank you. I needed that.” She let herself sink into the comfort of Alexa’s embrace and held on tightly.
“My pleasure. Just be careful out here. You can be a bit clueless sometimes,” Alexa said, blending sternness with humor.
Ursula smiled, wiping the tears off her face. “I’ll do my best.” The rest of the group looked at her and smiled as they rose to their feet.
Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the jungle. The birds fled from the trees as wildlife in the surrounding quickly followed their path.
“What’s going on? Where are all these animals going?” Michael asked. A fresh wave of panic struck the group.
Alexa could hear a faint thud of footsteps—rough and bellowing. Ursula heard it, too. Ursula’s heart paced up as the memory flashed in her mind again.
“Away from whatever’s coming our way,” Alexa said.
“You mean”—Isabella began.
“Run. Now!” Ursula screamed.
“Oh, shit,” Michael exclaimed. He could hear the quaking steps, too, now.
The group scampered, desperate to put as much distance between themselves and whatever was following them as possible. Like the rest of the wildlife, they dove through the branches and over stones.
“Any idea what’s out there?” Isabella asked, panting.
“This is no time to talk. Just run,” Alexa said.
“But”—
“She’s right,” Julianna said, cutting her off. “Just fucking run!”
<
br /> The creature responsible for the sudden fleeing of wildlife now made its appearance as it trampled through the trees and bushes.
“Don’t look back!” Alexa said, fleeting a look at the beast as she ran.
“Why, what’s out there?”
Michael turned and found a giant reptilian beast, rabid and drooling. It had blue scales all over its body and stood over ten feet in height. It carried a massive curved blade and a gruesome expression of insatiable hunger on its face.
“What in fresh hell?” he said, running even faster.
“I told you not to fucking turn around, you dumbass!” Alexa said.
“Seems simple enough to defeat in combat,” Julianna said.
“Trust me when I say that won’t work,” Alexa argued.
“But, why?” Julianna glanced over at Alexa’s worried glare and noticed the same on Ursula’s face. The itch that something was being kept secret grew. “You’re not making any sense. You said you were equipped.”
“I lied,” Alexa said.
“You what?” Julianna exclaimed.
“You think I’d ever waste a second in this Jurassic-beast-filled pit? I just said that because I thought it’d be easy money. Rather, money that we really needed.”
“Damn it, Alexa!” Julianna and Isabella shouted.
“You brought us all to a place Ursula was traumatized by just for some money?” Michael sneered.
“I’m sorry.” Alexa panted. She struggled to keep her pace as more loose roots and branches appeared all around. “I just can’t stand not having money any longer. I let my frustration get the best of me. And now, all of us.”
Ursula tried to keep up with the rest of the group, but she was losing energy. All she could think of were the times she had been running from monsters in this jungle. She soon started to fall behind.
Alexa noticed Ursula falling back, and dread crept into her. “Hurry up or this creature will get you.”
Ursula gasped as she remembered falling under the mercy of that tree root long ago. She screamed out while she ran as quickly as she could, before feeling a familiar, mortifying sensation catching her foot. She looked down and realized she had been caught in a root. She believed fate was tormenting her now as she recalled falling the same way in the wetlands of Mgla.
