Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Riddles of The Phoenixes Series

The Lost Soul

Chapter two: Riverside City

There was only one place that Tom knew of that wasn’t flooded with Phoenixes who knew him. Riverside City. A small ruined city that mostly all the old habitants of were dead. Because of him. Tom shook his head, clearing the gruesome thoughts from his head.

Walking. Always walking. He stopped. A taxi stood nearby. (In these days a “taxi” was a carriage that someone drove you where you wanted to go..) Tom pulled his hood over his face, keeping it slightly hidden. It was better for him anyway.

If was starting to rain and Tom hated getting wet. The carriage rider grinned at his customer. “Oy! Where you off to mate?” He asked. “Riverside city. It’s close to here, right?” Tom asked quietly.

The carriage rider grinned. “Of course. I can take you there in just one or two hours. Depend on how ‘ard this storm gets. That’ll be fifty doubloons.” His grin never wavered. It took all of Tom’s recourses not to reach out and smite the guy.

Personally Tom thought that was a little expensive for a leaky carriage ride but he didn’t complain.

“No need to cause a ruckus..” He muttered under his breath and handed the doubloons to the carriage rider. “Pleasure doin business with ya, good sir. The name’s Dante. Dante the daft, my mother called me. No idea why.” Tom climbed into the back of the carriage, nodding along like he was listening.

But he wasn’t. He leaned against the window, pulled his hood up further and closed his eyes…

~

“Are you okay?” James asked, hiding the new emotion from his eyes. Tom nodded weakly. “Yeah I think I’m okay. Just a big woozy. I couldn’t get out of his head. Now I’ve got a headache..” He rubbed his forehead, wishing that the aching pain would go away.

James nodded slowly. “Let’s wait until mom and Edmund go. Then we’ll head back to our room..” Tom gave him a thumbs up, too exhausted to nod. Finally their parents left, the plant keeper with them. James shot up to his feet and held out his hand to Tom.

Tom took it and James helped him to his feet. Tom shook slightly while standing. “You okay?” James asked. Tom could see small black clouds wandering into the corners of his vision. He tried to push them away.

“Yeah I’m f-” Tom stopped, feeling a terrible urge to vomit. He dove to the balcony railing and vomited over the side. James watched with wide eyes. After a lot of vomiting, Tom lifted his head and wiped his face on a tissue.

He was shaky and pale. James gave him a very worried look and grabbed Tom so that he(Tom) could have something to hold into for support.

“Come on. We need to get you to the room..”

~

Tom was shaken out of the daze of memories by the carriage rider’s annoying voice.

“Sir. Sir. We’re ‘ere.” He said. Tom shook his head and nodded his thanks, hopping out of the carriage. He started to walk away. “Wait! You never told me ya name, mate. I always make it a point to know my customers names sir.” Dante called.

Tom blinked slowly. “My name is…Thomas…” He said. Dante nodded. “Noice. Well..cheerio good sir! Hope you find whatever ya looking for!” Then he rode off.

Tom turned to face the city square, his breath suddenly caught in his chest. It was so different and yet…the same. Sure half the town had been ruined but it had been rebuilt. Most the original landmarks were still there. And so were the memories. The sun broke the clouds, shooting beams of light through the skies.

Tom stopped in the city square, closing his eyes. He could still just see them there. His beautiful wife, walking hand and hand with him through the decorated sky on their wedding day. His brother yelling at the top of his lungs to get Tom’s attention, even though he knew that yelling Tom’s name annoyed him.

Arianna arguing with James. Leah laughing. James. Leah. Arianna. James. Arianna. Leah. Leah. Leah.

“Sir. Are you okay?” A voice asked. Tom looked up, startled by the sudden person interrupting his old memories. It occurred to him that he probably looked strange, cloaked and standing listlessly in the middle of a small but busy city.

It was a young boy. A teenager. His eyes were bright with youth and inexperience. Tom swallowed and looked away. “Yes. I’m fine. Just…fine.”

-SunnyFox57