First World(27)

There had to be a town nearby. How else would he get supplies?

He raised his eyebrows. “No, you didn’t make it to ... Which town were you heading to?”

I shrugged my answer.

He continued anyways. “You’re at the eastern castle outpost. I’m Deralick Langsworth, custodian.” He glanced between us. “Where are you from? I don’t recognize your accent.”

Lucy dropped her now empty bowl back onto the tray. I’d just shoved the last of my soaked bread into my mouth, so she answered for me.

“We live really far in the north, but we aren’t welcome back there. Nothing too crazy: just problems with our parentals.”

I don’t know why we hadn’t practiced a cover story before we found ourselves in this position.

Deralick looked dubious. “You don’t look much like sisters.”

I swallowed my bread. My throat felt irritated from being scraped. “Different fathers,” I rasped out.

He looked confused.

Come on, what planet was so perfect that there was no divorce or death? That was a family staple on Earth.

“I’m sorry to hear of this break in your family unit.” He smiled sadly. “But that doesn’t explain why you’ve ended up here. Since the Emperor’s illness, the three sides of the surrounding forest have guarded fields. It was announced via satellite uplink that anyone guilty of unauthorized trespassing could face the maximum penalty.”

I guessed we didn’t want to know what the maximum penalty was. Thanks, Quarn – straight into the fiery pit. Although, having been on Earth for seventeen years, he probably didn’t know about these new ‘laws’.

I looked at Lucy. She shrugged. She’s always so helpful.

Well, we needed information; time to play dumb.

“Honestly, we had no idea we were even in the royal forest. I don’t know where we went wrong.”

I should have left the dumb-blonde routine to Lucy. She played it perfectly. Hair curling and everything. Although, in its current disarray ...

Sighing, I continued. “We, like, don’t even know where we are right now.”

He raised his eyebrows, expression suspicious. Pushing the feeling of dread away, I wondered how much more trouble we could get into. We were already facing this unknown ‘maximum penalty’.

“You’re in the land of the Emperor and council of world rulers. The Isle of Itowa, part of the Jana province.”

The world rulers ... uh ... what?

He continued, adding to my confusion. “The council’s in session at the moment. Hence the extra patrols. Grandier’s security is top rate.”

“Grandier?” Lucy questioned.

His face was expressionless as he stared at her. “That’s the name of the planet.” He shook his head, muttering quickly, “Field addled their brains.” He smiled without much emotion and spoke. “I’m sure you just use ‘First World’. I know everyone under the age of a hundred and fifty prefers Grandier’s decidedly unoriginal nickname.”

I looked at Lucy. She had the same ‘oh shit’ expression as I had. Longevity of inhabitants – unknown. But one thing confirmed. Despite my feeling, I knew for certain we were no longer on Earth. Dreamland was Grandier, with the apparent nickname of First World.

Deralick straightened, his features creased in worry.

I distracted him with a subject change. “I’m Abby and this is Lucy.”

Lucy waved, her blond hair sticking out in all directions, some type of dirt caked along her forehead, along with a light scrape on her right cheek. But she still had that sweet trusting face. Her deceptive looks were handy.

I shoved the tray back to the end of the bed. As I rubbed the bridge of my nose to release some sinus pressure, I realized the pounding head pain was back again.

Attempting to gather my woolly thoughts, I spoke without thinking. “I’m here to find dreamland. And my mother.”

Did I just say dreamland? I shook my head in an attempt to clear it.

Deralick stood and retrieved the tray from where it was haphazardly flung at the end of the bed.

I sank back into the pillows.

“Something is happening – ” Lucy words were slightly slurred, then without warning she collapsed into the pillow.

He stopped in the doorway. “I hope you can understand. I have a job and I take it seriously. Whether I believe you or not, I have no choice but to report all intruders for assessment.”

I waited for panic – or any emotion – but nothing.

“You’ll be interrogated by the royal council. If they find you innocent, you’ll be free to go.”

I was slipping further into unconsciousness.

With my last functioning neurons came a flash of realization: the stew had been drugged. Well, that was rude – if you can’t trust strangers bearing food, who can you trust?