And now, a story from Toby’s past…

 

The lights suddenly vanished. Toby froze in complete terror. He’d had premonitions about this for a long time. BIJO 1’s power was down! He remained motionless, waiting for the backup power to return light to the room, but it didn’t come. Toby felt his breathing constrict. What do I do?!

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He had been heading to the cafeteria when the lights cut. Now he was deep within a pitch-black hallway. Fear like nothing he’d felt before strangled his throat. He felt his balance go and stumbled into a wall. BIJO 1 shook as great, angry waves crashed into the artificial island. Hateful sheets of rain slashed at the structure causing it to moan in pain. The storm must have wrecked the power…

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Toby braced against the wall, breathing heavily. His hands groped for the Goddess charm that hung around his neck. He relaxed a bit as he found it. Oh, great Ceres save me! He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for something to happen, but still darkness clung to him like a wet cloak.

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“Hello! Is anyone there?” No answer came. I hate this! Why did it have to happen to me? This kind of stuff always make me feel sick—

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A sudden scream broke through the darkness. It was shrill and brief. Other noises followed, but Toby blocked them out. It had been Shellyna’s voice! Fear raked gnarled fingernails across Toby’s back. The sound came from up the hall.

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Before he could think, he sprinted up the black hallway. His chest was pained with anxiety as he ran. What had happened? Was Shellyna hurt? Anything could have happened in the darkness. The path suddenly ended as the hall turned to the left. Toby couldn’t see and plowed straight into the wall. The collision sent him to the ground in a heap.

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Even in his dazed state, he could still hear Shellyna’s voice. She was fighting with someone! Toby pulled himself from the ground and raced forward. As he did, the voices grew louder. Smack! Toby slammed into someone. They were big. Toby fell to the ground again.

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“Something hit me!” a voice yelled.

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“Good I hope they knock your teeth out!” Shellyna hissed.

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Toby felt strong arms grab him. “Alright who are you?!”

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Relief flooded into Toby’s soul. “Jarl?”

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The arms loosened, “Oh, Toby you scared me. I was just looking for the emergency light switch.”

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“You were not! I should report you for harassment!” Shellyna spat.

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“That was an accident!”

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“You grabbed my butt! The light switch is much higher on the wall! You did it on purpose!”

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“Hey, it must be a reflex or something… butt magnetism?”

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“A reflex!! Brody you—”

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“Oh, I found it!”

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Emergency lighting suddenly lit the room. Toby sighed in relief, but quickly burst out laughing. Jarl hadn’t found the switch, he’d found Shellyna’s nose! The Escaanor was frozen in shock and indignation as Jarl stood there pinching her nose.

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Toby quickly left the scene thankful the backup power had finally kicked in. As he ran, he could hear Shellyna tearing into Jarl. “Brody! Let go of my nose! Why aren’t you letting go?!”

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“Reflex?”

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“You are the worst!”

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-End