The final bell rang, its sharp chime echoing through the halls. Robert and Freddie waited by the lockers, their bags slung over their shoulders. When Darian finally appeared, they fell into step beside him, their footsteps echoing in the now-quiet hallway.

  “Ready to head back to the refuge?” Robert asked, his tone casual but encouraging.

  Darian nodded, though his shoulders were tense. “Yeah. My parents will probably have a million questions and will be scared, so let me do the talking first. ”

  Freddie grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ll be at our best behavior. “ As they walked through the city, the towering skyscrapers casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun, Robert turned to Darian. “So, what part of Earth are from? What’s it like there?”

  Darian’s face lit up, a small smile tugging at his lips. “The city I’m from is called London. It’s… different. Really different. The buildings are older, for one thing. Lots of brick. And there’s this one bridge—the Tower Bridge—that’s iconic. It’s huge, with these two massive towers and a walkway in between. You can see it from miles away.”

  Freddie’s eyes widened. “Whoa. That sounds amazing. What about the food? Do you have, like, food cloning machines? or instant food cookers?”

  Darian laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Well, no, we haven’t figured out cloning that way. We have foods like Fish and chips, pies, tea—lots of tea. My mum makes the best scones. They’re these little baked things with jam and cream. You’d love them.”

  Robert smiled, his curiosity piqued. “What about the people? Are they friendly?”

  Darian shrugged. “Mostly. London’s a big city, so it’s busy. People are always rushing somewhere. But if you need help, someone will usually stop. And the pubs—they’re like these cozy places where everyone gathers to talk and relax. It’s… nice.”

  Freddie sighed dramatically. “Man, I want to go to London now. It sounds awesome.”

  Darian’s smile faded slightly, his gaze dropping to the ground. “It is. But it’s also… home. I miss it. The noise, the rain, even the crowded Tube stations.”

  Robert placed a hand on Darian’s shoulder, his tone gentle. “We’re going to get you back there. I promise.”

  Darian looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thanks, Robert. I… I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

  Freddie grinned, slinging an arm around Darian’s shoulders. “Hey, that’s what friends are for. Now come on, let’s get to the refuge before your parents start worrying.”

  As they arrive at the refuge, Darian led them inside, where the air was warm and filled with the faint scent of home-cooked food. His parents were in the living room, his dad pacing while his mom sat on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “Darian,” his dad Theo said sharply, stopping mid-pace.

  “Where have you been? And who are these boys?”

  Darian took a deep breath, stepping forward. “Dad, Mom, these are my friends, Robert and Freddie. They… they know about us. About where we’re from.”

  His dad’s face darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you mean, they know?”

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Robert stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. “Sir, we’re not here to cause trouble. We want to help you and your family get back to your world. We think we might be able to help.”

  Darian’s dad stared at him, his expression unreadable. “And who are you to make such promises?”

  Theo shut the bedroom door firmly, his back pressed against it as if to block out the world. Sadie stood in front of him, her arms crossed and her expression a mix of confusion and worry. “What’s wrong, honey?” she asked softly. “You’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Theo ran a hand through his hair, his voice trembling with barely contained emotion. “It’s them, Sadie. It’s them.”

  Sadie’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  “The boys,” Theo said, his voice low and urgent. “One of them is named Kirk. And I’m sure the other is…”

  Before he could finish, a soft knock interrupted them. The door creaked open, and Darian peeked inside, his green eyes filled with concern. “Everything alright?” he asked, his voice hesitant.

  Sadie forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yes, sweetie. We’re just talking. Go back to your friends. We’ll be out shortly.”

  Darian hesitated, his gaze flickering between his parents. “Okay,” he said finally, closing the door behind him.

  As soon as he was gone, Theo turned back to Sadie, his face pale and his voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t let him be near them. We have to get out of here. Now.”

  Sadie stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. Her touch was warm, grounding. “Theo,” she said softly, “we can’t shield him forever. We knew this was going to happen sooner or later.”

  Theo’s shoulders slumped, his voice thick with emotion. “I know. I just… I’m not ready.”

  Sadie’s eyes filled with tears, but she smiled through them, her voice steady. “I know, love. But it’s something we have to do. For Darian. For all of us.”

  Theo nodded, though his heart felt like it was breaking. He pulled Sadie into a tight embrace, his face buried in her shoulder. “I just don’t want to lose him,” he whispered.

  Sadie held him tightly, her voice a soft murmur. “You won’t. He’s stronger than you think.”

  Sadie and Theo walked back into the living room, their expressions a mix of resolve and lingering worry. Sadie offered a small, apologetic smile to the boys. “Apologies for that,” she said, her voice warm but tinged with tension. “We just needed a moment to discuss things.”

  Robert nodded, his tone polite but firm. “It’s alright. We understand.”

  Theo crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze sharp and probing. “So, how exactly do you plan to help us?”

  Robert and Freddie exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing on how much to share. Robert stepped forward, his voice steady. “My plan is to visit the Royal Family of Imperial City.

  Princess Kara is a friend, and she might be able to help us find a way to get you back to Earth.”

  Theo’s eyebrows shot up, and he let out a short, incredulous laugh. “The Royal Family? That sounds like a plan waiting to fail.”

  Robert met his gaze, his expression unwavering. “Trust me, it won’t. Princess Kara has helped me before. If anyone can figure this out, it’s her.”

  Theo looked at Sadie, his jaw tightening as he weighed his options. Sadie placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. “Theo,” she said softly, “we have to trust someone. We can’t do this alone.”

  Theo sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. He turned back to Robert, his voice low but resigned. “Fine. Darian can go with you. But if anything happens to him…”

  Robert stepped forward, his tone earnest and unwavering. “Nothing will happen to him. I promise.”

  Theo studied him for a long moment, his dark eyes searching for any hint of doubt. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained guarded. “You’d better keep that promise, Martinez.”

  Freddie grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, Mr. and Mrs.?”

  “Braxton”

  “We’ll take good care of him. He’s in good hands.”

  Sadie smiled, though her eyes still held a flicker of worry. “Thank you, boys. We appreciate what you’re doing.”

  As they left the refuge, the weight of Theo’s words lingered in the air. Robert glanced at Darian, who was walking quietly beside him. “We’ll figure this out,” he said, his voice firm. “I meant what I said. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

  Darian nodded, though his expression was still tinged with uncertainty. “I hope you’re right. Going to see the Royal Family sounds very risky”

  Robert slung an arm around Darian’s shoulders, his grin wide and reassuring. “I have all figured it out”.