(TATB) Ch 27: The Place To Return!

(Skylar)

I paced back and forth across my bedroom, my heart hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat. My hands were clammy, my legs wouldn't stop moving, and no matter how much I tried to take deep breaths, nothing seemed to help.

"What was he thinking?" I muttered under my breath. My fingers tangled in my hair as I kept walking in frantic circles.

Victor left. Not just went for a stroll. Not just stepped away for fresh air. No—he was gone. Out there in a world that wasn't built for him. A world that could crush him in an instant.

I swallowed hard, my mind spiraling. What if he gets hurt? What if he gets lost? What if some careless Brob steps on him? My stomach twisted violently at the thought.

And then an even worse thought hit me.

"Oh god," I whispered, my eyes widening. "What if some evil Brob eats him!?"

"Skylar!"

Sydney's voice snapped me out of my panic, though it didn't do much to calm me down. I turned toward the small table where the village was, barely able to see the speck that was Sydney.

"Calm down!" he yelled. "You're shaking the whole place over here!"

I immediately froze, my eyes darting back to the village. Crap. I hadn't even thought about that. I was probably making their entire world shake like an earthquake.

Sydney let out a frustrated sigh. "Seriously, I almost fell over twice! And I'm pretty sure this is bad for the buildings!"

I winced, quickly dropping onto my bed and forcing myself to sit still. "Sorry," I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself. "I just—I can't sit still when I'm nervous."

Sydney let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I get it. I'm the same way."

I exhaled again, trying to make myself believe that everything would be fine. But I couldn't just sit here. I had to do something.

"I need to go find them," I said suddenly, leaning forward. "Victor, Vu, Nemu, Sawyer—I can't just sit here while they're out there! I have to bring them back, make sure they're safe."

Sydney sighed, and even though his voice was tiny compared to mine, there was something firm and steady about it that made me pause.

"Skylar, listen to me," he said. "I know you want to help, but you won't be able to find them."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He took a step forward, looking up at me. "Think about it. This land may have been taken over by Brobs, but it still belongs to Lilliputians. There are tunnels, passageways—entire underground networks that only we know about. If Victor doesn't want to be found, you won't find him."

I sat in silence, staring down at the table.

I hated this. I hated feeling so helpless.

"I'm just... I'm worried, Sydney," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Not just for Victor, but for Vu, Nemu, and Sawyer too. What if something happens to them? What if they didn't want to stay because... because they don't really trust me?"

Sydney immediately shook his head. "That's not true."

I felt something—barely even a tickle—against my finger. I glanced down and realized Sydney had stepped forward, pressing his tiny hand against the tip of my finger. He patted it lightly, and I forced myself to stay completely still so I wouldn't knock him over.

"They do trust you, Skylar," he said firmly. "We all do. Because of you, we finally have a place to live. A real home. You gave us a chance, and now Victor just wants to give that same chance to Vu, Nemu, and Sawyer. That's all."

I bit my lip, still anxious, but I couldn't deny that his words helped, even just a little.

"He'll be gone for a few days," Sydney said, "but he'll be back. I know he will."

I stayed quiet for a moment before nodding. "I really hope you're right."

"I know I'm right," Sydney said with confidence.

I took another deep breath, forcing myself to let the tension in my shoulders ease. I still didn't like it. I still wished Victor had stayed. But I trusted him. And if Sydney believed in him this much... then I had to as well.

"Thanks, Sydney," I said softly.

I'd wait for Victor to return.

***

(Nemu)

The damp air clung to my skin as I trudged behind Vu and Sawyer, my boots splashing in the occasional puddle of stagnant water. The tunnel stretched ahead, a seemingly endless path of darkness and decay, but that wasn't what bothered me.

I came to a sudden stop. "Hold up."

Vu and Sawyer halted, glancing back at me.

I crossed my arms. "Listen, I need you both to hear me out." I took a deep breath, straightening my back. "When we get to the colony, I'm going to do everything in my power to convince as many of our people as possible to come back with me to the village."

Silence.

Vu shifted his weight, his expression unreadable. Sawyer scratched the back of his head. Neither of them said a word.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Oh, come on. No dramatic gasps? No 'But Nemu, how could you suggest such a thing?!'" I threw up my hands. "Just blank stares? You two are killing me here."

Vu let out a small chuckle but quickly smothered it. "Nemu..." He hesitated, then sighed. "I get what you're saying, but you know this won't be easy."

I nodded. "Of course, I know that. I know the elders are stubborn. I know that the idiots who've been making our lives harder won't want to listen. But that's not going to stop me from trying."

Sawyer finally spoke up, rubbing his arm. "It's just... The colony is home, Nemu. For all its problems, it's still where we come from."

I clenched my jaw. "That doesn't mean it's the best place for us. In case you haven't noticed, colonies like ours have been getting discovered left and right by Brobs. And you know what happens then." I looked between them. "They get detained. Rounded up like we're nothing but pests and shipped off to who-knows-where."

Another long silence. This one felt heavier.

"Skylar's village is our best chance at a real future," I continued. "A safe future. A place where we don't have to spend every second of our lives worrying about when our time's up."

I squared my shoulders. "So, when we get there, I'm going to tell everyone the truth. And if they want to come with me, great. If they don't? That's their choice. But I won't be staying."

Vu's expression softened. He exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly. "I understand."

Sawyer looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn't. Instead, he just rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, "This is gonna be a mess..."

I smirked. "Well, yeah. But what else is new?"

With that, I strode past them, making my way down the tunnel. Let them process it however they wanted—I had made up my mind.

And nothing was going to change it.