“We can’t keep chasing this kid through all these insane worlds!” Adal shouted, his chest swelling with each breath. “I don’t give a fuck what you think’s right!” He crossed his arms over his chest as he stood in front of the portal.
Adal couldn’t read the plaque that told him where the swirling aura of light led. Several deep scratches gouged out the letters and it wasn’t giving him any fuzzy feelings.
Adal brought his eyes up to meet Arija’s. She clearly wasn’t having any of his shit. “Seriously? We’re going to let someone drag him away and not go after him? How is this even a discussion?” she shot back, one hand propped on her hip.
“Hey, he made the choice-” Adal began.
“Look, he’s acting out because his mother died. He needs us to give him some structure, some guidance and let him know we won’t abandon him. And you being an asshole every time he lashes out isn’t helping! The kid just needs love,” Arija spat. “Now, someone has taken him and we have to get him back!”
“He’s not a toddler, Arija, he’s a teenager. Stop coddling him.” Normally, Adal found her attitude sexy. Not now. His patience had worn thin. Kip had been jumping through portals left and right since Avani died and it exhausted Adal every time he had to bail him out.
Sometimes Adal wished Webley had never shown them the Hall of Doors, the room in the World Machine that housed all of the portals that led to hundreds of different worlds. “We don’t even know someone took him! His workshop is always a mess. He probably just ran away. We both know he’s always getting into trouble. It’s what Kip does.”
Adal realized it was bullshit as soon as he said it, but he couldn’t leave Webley again. The war between Webley and those that wanted to take over the World Machine was his fault. Ever since he and Arija found that elevator in the woods that took them down into the city of iron and bronze that thrived in the center of the Earth, things had been spiraling out of control and if he didn’t help Webley fix it, Earth would be in serious trouble.
Arija glared at him, her deep brown eyes drilling a hole in his head. “Then stay! I’ll go by myself!”
Adal fell silent. They hadn’t split up since they’d arrived in the World Machine. He didn’t like letting her go to another world without him, but he’d promised Webley they'd help restore order. Besides, if he went with her, that would mean she won the argument and his pride wouldn’t let him relent.
“Fine! Go! You’re a big girl, you can handle yourself. You don’t need me along for the ride!” Adal taunted, throwing his hands in the air.
Arija glared at him. “You're an ass, Adal!” she jabbed, turning on her heels and walking to the swirling portal in the center of the room. Without a second glance at her boyfriend, she jumped into the light.
The Hall of Doors fell silent except for the static hum of the machinery. Adal bit his lower lip, every muscle in his body tensing in frustration. “Dammit, Arija.”
Brooding, Adal paced the large, circular room and drew his eyes over the various pieces of machinery that lined the walls. He paused at the control panel that powered the whole thing. All the switches indicating countless worlds Webley had linked stared back at him, urging him to make the right choice.
Adal wondered what creatures inhabited this new place Arija and Kip now explored. Then his thoughts turned to the deal he’d made with Webley. He’d promised the giant alien leader of the World Machine that they’d use the Hall of Doors to explore and chart the connected worlds, but maybe it was a stupid idea. Why even bother?
Adal looked once more at the destroyed bronze label. He should have gone with Arija. He tried to convince himself that Kip had made a childish choice and run to another world to explore. It wasn't as if he hadn’t done it before, but the knots in Adal’s gut told him that was wrong.
Pushing away from the controller, Adal grunted. This shit wasn’t his problem. Kip was fine when they found him in Taraveil, the last world he’d jumped to. He was running deep with the rebellion, being hunted by law enforcement and could have gotten himself killed, but everything turned out all right.
Arija was a bad bitch. She could handle herself. She kicked more ass than any other girl Adal had ever met and was the brains of their operation. She usually ended up saving him; she wouldn’t get herself into trouble. That wasn’t her style.
Once out of the Hall and back into the open expanse of the girders and gargantuan gears that made up the World Machine, Adal took a deep breath. The steam from the machines and the mechanical music this world created soothed him.
Within an hour, he'd be back at Webley’s house, or in the capital city of Aparat having coffee and waiting for Arija to return with Kip in tow. He shrugged and walked across the platform to the mobile clinic that Kip had designed, which had become their standard mode of transportation.
He managed only the first step onto the ramp when he froze. He couldn’t shake the thought that something bad would happen. His stomach twisted and turned, acid rising up his throat as if in warning. A sign he needed to go back. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” he whispered. “Get your black ass back in there and help your girl. When did you become such a damn coward?” Adal pursed his lips in anger and disgust. What the hell was he running from? He needed to turn around and back his girlfriend’s play.
“Let’s go save the fucking day… again,” he growled, storming into the Hall of Doors.
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