(35) Tugging

The emptiness swirled around me in a fog. What could I do? What could I say? What was going to happen?
My thoughts drifted along as gently as the balloon. I was too crushed to be passionate. Too beaten down to feel. Too introspective to notice the tugging on my heart and on the net of the balloon. I must be snagged on a tree, some part of my brain registered this information. I tucked it away in the corner of my mind that meant nothing. Nothing meant anything anymore. Not then, not ever.

I stared off at the three stars and felt a ringing in my ears. A panic attack was surging, I let it roll over me like the waves of the ocean. I couldn't even hear the wind over the ringing in my ears, but I didn't care.

I have no idea how long this went on, but I retreated into my mind. I imagined John was with me, alive. He was holding me close and stroking my hair while silent tears trickled down my cheeks. I clung to the vision that felt so real. So real I thought I would burst with longing. I wound my hands in his hair and pressed my face against his. This loss, this darkness, this delusion, I had to move on. But I felt dead inside. I pulled away. I shifted my weight back. I touched his cheek and whispered, "Goodbye...John."

A puzzled look crossed his face. He cocked his head to the side and said, "What are you talking about Elaine? We are safe..."

I stared at him...could he be real? Could he be alive? Confusion and ecstasy washed through me, I threw my arms around him and held him close! He was alive!! He had somehow survived!! The hole in my heart filled to the bursting point again and I drew back to stare into his lovely face.

"I love you, you big stupid head." I declared, choking back sobs.

He laughed as a tear trialed down his face, and replied, "And I love you, my darling princess."

(34) All Alone

As the missile exploded behind us, I clung to John with all my might. He straightened up and firmly steered the balloon away from the path of the rocket in case any more were waiting to strike. He was so brave and strong. I believed with all my heart that he could get us both out of this mess alive. The capital loomed close at hand and several Beasts leapt from the hole in the roof onto the dome itself. The vast majority of the army was entering the building. I prayed that John's device would work. As he steered us past the dome a Beast shot off a blaster gun and it grazed John's side. The detonator fell out of his pocket and through the net. With a hard glance at me John kissed me on the cheek and sprung from the balloon after it. I watched in horror as my hero gave up his life to save us all. The balloon sped away on a gust of wind and I heard the sound of an explosion going off underground.

He had done it. The blast erupted from the building and the force of it threw my balloon toward the western edge of the city. The capital fell into the ground and the entire army along with it. We had won, but I felt nothing. John had fallen, but I could not believe it. I couldn't even watch as he fell. My mind had gone blank. I was devastated and pissed off all at the same time. Shock waves lapped over me as I tried to conceive of a future without John. He had slipped away so quickly. Nothing but a kiss, I touched my cheek and felt tears there...I hadn't even realized I was crying. The balloon cleared the edge of the city limits, but I didn't want to bother with steering it. I just stared, unseeing, at the horizon, as dawn broke across the sky and the three morning stars shed their light on Terrafima.

I had nothing. I was empty. I had nothing. What was left for me to live for?
No father. No mother. No John.
I was all alone.

(33) Balloon Ride

My eyes locked on the body of my darling Elaine flying through the air. She must have put all she had into that single leap. Her hoovering ability carried her close to me, but it did not look like she was going to make it! My heart plummeted faster than she would if her reach was not far enough. I surged forward, upsetting the delicate balance of the balloon, and I reached my hand out. Elaine's fingers brushed mine....and she continued to fall!! I had failed. She was going to die. Suddenly, there was a sharp jerk on the bottom of the net I was in, she had latched on to the netting for dear life. I puller her up by her arm and cradled her shaking frame against my chest. My heart was pounding like I had run a freaking marathon!

"You are so stupid Elaine, so stupid", I panted as held her tighter. I never wanted to put her in danger, that was why I had sent her on that other balloon. I was doing something risky and stupid as heck, and now her fate rested with mine. For a moment, that didn't matter, as I squeezed her with all my might and buried my face in her hair.

She clung tighter to me as well and breathed,"We are doing this together, we are in all of this together, and we will see it through...together."

My breathing slowed and a fire lit within me. Something about Elaine inspired me, she was so....what's the word...fantastic. That one doesn't really begin to cover it, but it's a start. She gave me the courage I needed to be stupidly reckless, and yet, also gave me a reason to stay safe. She gave me conflicting emotions. I gave her one final squeeze then pulled back. She smiled at me with those big eyes surrounded by her mass of hair and I have never wanted to kiss a woman more in my life!!! But.....no. I restrained myself. Even with my emotions running wild, I loved her enough to wait.

We settled into the balloon and I pulled a device out of my pocket. Elaine cocked her head inquisitively and opened her mouth, but my crooked smile stopped her. She grinned expectantly at me.
"This is my Device of Destiny, patent pending." I stated.

She actually laughed and said, "Well, what does it do? Oh wise and sexy hero?" A wink left her gorgeous eye and I melted on the spot, play it cool John, play it cool.....

"Since you asked, it sends a signal to the massive network of explosives I created using guns that I took apart in the basement of the capital building."

"So the plan is...?" Elaine asked, looking down on the capital building a few hundred feet beneath us.

"To tempt the Beast army as close as possible before setting the explosion off...which is why I wanted you on the other balloon, you know, the one floating to safety. I am here to hug this building and tease them closer."

"But that plan might not have worked," Elaine quipped, "you are known for reckless and stupid things, if the Beasts see me, they might not see through your plan to the trap that it is."

Curses, she was right! What would I do without her...? Not much...ha.

As I steered the balloon back around to loop past the capital again I heard sounds coming out of Elaine's mouth that I had never expected to hear...

"HEY JOHN, WE ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!! WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN BY THE BEASTS IF WE GO NEAR THE CAPITAL AGAIN!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!"

My eyes were as wide as saucers...as I looked at Elaine, she gave me a sheepish smile and pointed. The entire Beast army was staring up at us, and running straight for the capital building!!

As the balloon came near the dome the first set of Beasts hit the building. We watched as the rest of the army pushed toward our location and Elaine and I grinned at each other.

Out of nowhere a missile sailed past my head and burst into flames right behind us!!
They had pulled out a freakin' bazooka!!!