Almost the Chosen One

Season 2 - Episode 18: The Passage Home

All of us stared in silence at the two golden framed, full-length mirrors standing nearby. One of the mirrors displayed the library where Steve and I had come from. The other mirror displayed a sprawling farmland covered in thick grass. Horses roamed the area and a bright sunset framed a two story farmhouse in the distance.

Hailey gasped. “My house!”

“Yes,” Gravemont said.

“I’ve been gone so long,” she said. “They probably thought I was dead.”

“Very little time has passed in your world,” Gravemont said. “Barely a day has transpired.”

Hailey’s eyes widened. “A day? How can that be?”

Gravemont smiled. “The magic of this world isn’t bound by the time constraints of your world. Didn’t you think it was a bit strange that you haven’t aged since you’ve been here?”

Hailey shrugged. “I thought I just had good genes.”

“Well,” he said. “The good news is, you haven’t lost much time in your world. But I imagine you will return richer for your experience in ours.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Although, I’m not sure I’ll be able to talk to anyone about it. They’ll think I’m crazy.”

“I won’t,” I said. “When we get back, you can call me. Or even visit. Idaho’s not that far from Montana.”

Steve elbowed me. “Try not to sound too desperate.”

Hailey chuckled. “I don’t think it’s desperate at all. I can’t wait to get back and reconnect in our world.”

I smiled. “Great. It’s a date.”

Steve elbowed me again. “What’d I say? Too desperate.”

“It’s okay Steve,” Hailey said. “I like Carter’s honesty.” She turned to Gravemont. “So, I can go back home right now?”

Gravemont nodded. “Indeed. But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you how grateful our world is for your influence here. You’ve done great things and struck down quite a few villains that corrupted our land. It’s people like you that renew my hope. I remain optimistic that seekers from your world can turn the tide and redeem our land.”

She smiled and drew close to me, blanketing me in a hug. I held her for several moments, not wanting to ever let go.

Hailey drew back and gave me a quick kiss. “Call me when you get back.” She turned and marched toward her mirror.

“Wait,” I said. “I don’t know your number.”

She glanced back. “Hailey Granthome. I’m in Butte, Montana. You’re a resourceful guy. I know you’ll find me.”

Hailey winked and stepped through her mirror. The surface of the mirror rippled around her like a rock disrupting a placid lake. A second later she walked along the grassy prairie, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, heading for the farmhouse in the distance.

“Whoa,” Steve said. “Okay, that’s crazy.”

I looked at Steve. “Well, I guess this is it. We can actually go back home.”

“One sec.” Steve walked over to Tarialla and grabbed her hands. “Tarialla, my drop dead gorgeous elf maiden. I guess we just weren’t meant to be. You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met but you’re also the most deadly and, if I’m being honest, I’m a little freaked out. But maybe I can visit one day.”

Tarialla nodded. “I understand. My thoughts run along the same strands of destiny as yours. Truly, you have moments of courage and victory in battle but there are times when you have the speech of a child. My heart has been torn. The men from your world are quite a puzzle.”

Steve shrugged. “Women have said much worse things about me. I’m going to take this as a win.”

Tarialla drew close and kissed him. “Farewell Steve the axe wielder. I hope our paths cross again one day.”

“Me too.” Steve let go of her hands and turned to me. “You ready, bud?”

“Ready.” I turned to Gravemont. “Thanks for all your help, Gravemont. It’s been quite an experience.”

Gravemont gave a slight bow. “It’s been a pleasure. And although your time in our world was short, the two of you have accomplished great things.”

I smiled and strode toward the mirror. Steve matched my stride and soon we were standing directly before the mirror that led right back to the library where our whole adventure had begun.

I turned back to Gravemont. “Don’t take this the wrong way but in the future, no matter what ancient book we happen to find or what old script we read, please don’t bring us back here. It’s way too dangerous.”

Gravemont smiled. “A prudent thought. Farewell Carter the enchanter and Steve the axe wielder. May your journey through life be filled with good deeds.”

Steve took a deep breath and patted my shoulder. “Thanks for having my back out here. I don’t think I could’ve survived this place alone.”

I grabbed his shoulder. “That goes double for me. Glad we were able to do this together.”

Steve smiled and gave a crisp nod. “Alright, let’s do this.”

“On three,” I said. “One. Two. Three.”

Steve and I stepped through the mirror and back to our own world.

THE END