This one's short, so I'll be posting Chapter 12 soon as well.
Joel pushed open the door at the end of the hallway and stepped into the dark room. The only light in the room came from a candle burning in the corner. Below it, Mike was slumped on the floor.
"Mike?" Joel walked towards Mike when he received no response. He knelt down next to Mike and put an arm around him.
"I understand how you feel. I've gone through the same thing. I have nobody to turn to now. There's nobody I can confide in, or whom I can trust." Joel placed his other hand on Mike's shoulder. "Except for you."
"Me?" Mike repeated. He raised his head and gazed into Joel's eyes.
"I never would have made it this far if it wasn't for you. And I doubt I can even find Chekov and beat Pearl without you." Joel squeezed Mike's shoulder. "Come with me."
"What could I do?" Mike objected. "I'd just be a burden. Look at me." He ran a hand across his face, which was drenched with tears.
"Have you forgotten who saved my life at Zenan Bridge? Besides, if you backed out now, what would your parents think? Unless you do something about Pearl, they died in vain."
Mike paused for a moment. "Do you honestly think I can help you?"
"You've already helped me, in more ways than one. I don't think I'd be able to succeed without you. Whether or not you go along with Schala's plan is entirely up to you. I have my reasons for wanting you to go, but I don't think--"
Mike interrupted Joel before he could finish. "I do understand. I've come to rely on you too. I know that I couldn't go by myself, and I'm sure we have the same reasons for not wanting to go alone. I'll go with you to find Chekov."
Joel's jaw dropped. "Are you sure? You were so adamant about--"
"What if something happens to you? I would never be able to forgive myself." Mike wiped his face with his arm. "Come on. Let's go."
***
"Are you two familiar with Guardia Kingdom?" Schala inquired. "I believe Chekov is in the immediate area."
"I've been living there for a little while," Joel said. "I know the area pretty well."
"I think we can use the End of Time to head there," Mike said. "Besides, we'd better check on the `bots. They're probably running that old man ragged."
Joel laughed. "Maybe we should send them off to live with Lucca. She didn't seem to mind them."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
The three turned to see a man standing in the doorway. He was clad in a black Druid robe that covered everything except his face. His narrow blue eyes glared at them.
"As long as I am working for Pearl, I can't let you do anything unwarranted."
"Let them go!" Schala pleaded.
"You seem to have quite a problem with authority. What would Katarina say?"
"How dare you speak my mother's name! You may be a Prophet, but I still have the power to get rid of you!"
The Prophet scoffed. "I don't believe you. You have neither the self- assurance nor the audacity to use it." Before Schala could object, the Prophet spoke again. "Fine, I'll spare them. But, in return, you WILL cooperate with me."
"What do you want me to do?" Schala asked.
"I'm going to send them to the End of Time. After that, I want you to seal the portal I create shut."
"But--"
"Obey me!" the Prophet cried. "Their lives are at stake!"
It didn't take long for Schala to give up. "A...all right." She hung her head, as if she was asking the Prophet for forgiveness.
The Prophet reached into his robe and produced a small key. A small piece of the Mammon Machine's red rock was embedded in the handle. When the rock began to shimmer, a blue portal materialized in front of the group. An unknown force sucked Joel and Mike in.
The Prophet glared at Schala. "Now."
Schala's pendant shone as she cast the spell that closed the portal. The Prophet nodded in approval and left the room. Schala fell to her knees.
"Both of you, please forgive me..."