INTO

CHAPTER TEN

They later got home to meet Bernard, Lucy and dinner. All exhausted, they slumped on the sofa on getting home.

"How was your first day at school?" Bernard asked them all, his gaze on Adam.

"Tiring."

"Long."

"I honestly can't believe it has been just a day."

"Oh," Bernard sat next to his son. "Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

"So so."

"How about you guys?" he redirected his question. "Is that supposed to be a positive response?"

"Twas okay," Gwen said, remembering the day's event. "Okay."

"I just want to go back home," Miranda groaned in response. "That's all."

"Miranda-"

"I know, I know," she cut Bernard, shaking her head. "Don't bother saying anything."

He still said it regardless. "Miranda, I think you should really focus on trying to adapt here. It would be the best for you."

"And you just had to say it," she said then got up to leave the living room. "Enjoy your dinner. I'll be in the room."

They all watched Miranda leave the living room in silence, all unsure of what to say. As soon as her figure was out of sight, Gwen spoke up. "Bernard, is there really no way we can get out of here?"

"Not that I know of," he replied, avoiding her eyes. "Why are you guys so bothered with trying to go back home?"

"Not even anyone you can ask or something like that?" she continued, pretending she didn't hear his final words. "Something we can try?"

"No," he said in a final tone. "Just stay safe for now. That's what most important right now."

"Oh, okay," Gwen nodded. "Um, I'll be inside too. I need to go wash my face."

Without waiting for a reply or glancing at anyone, she walked inside. She wasn't going to wash her face. She was going to meet Miranda. She was going to talk to her.

"Hey," she said on getting to the room. Miranda was laying on the bed already, her face facing the opposite side.

She turned on hearing Gwen's voice. "What?"

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Yeah, what?" her voice was cold as she returned to her original position. "Whatever is it you want to say, just say it."

"Do you want to go back home?"

"Guys, guys!" Miranda yelled on getting to the living room. She was panting heavily, trying to catch her breath. "I've figured out a way for us to get back!"

A pan dropped from Bernard's hands as he turned to Miranda. "What?"

"Yes," she continued, excitedly. "You guys remember what those kids at school said? About how we can open the portal? Gwen and I just thought about it and it seems like it'll really work!"

"No!" Bernard's voice was unstable. "No, I mean, are you sure? What kids? Why were you even talking to kids at school about opening the portal? Are you sure though? I don't think so. I don't think it'll work. It was probably a prank. I don't think you can or should try to open the portal. You all should just stay safe here. You should-"

"Dad," Adam cut him off. "Stop."

"Oh, Adam?" he called out on noticing him. "Where were you? When did you leave?"

Adam stared at his dad from the entrance of the living room.

They were right.

Miranda and Gwen exchanged glances, Miranda giving Gwen a 'i told you so' look. She then shook her head and walked towards Bernard.

"No, uncle," she said to him. "There are no kids at school. There's no way we can open the portal. I lied."

He heaved a deep sigh of relief, confirming the trio's suspicion. "Oh, that's a relief. Not that I don't want you to go back or anything it's just that I don't want you trusting any kid at school so easily."

"Yeah, sure," Miranda nodded then turned to leave. "Of course."

Gwen looked at Bernard, then Adam and then turned to follow Miranda. Tina who had been quiet all along seemed to understand the situation as she got up to follow Gwen and Miranda, leaving Adam with his dad.

"Dad, do you know how we can go back home?"

"No, I don't," his reply was quick. "Why would you think I would know that?"

"I don't know," Adam replied him. "It suddenly seemed like it."

Bernard was silent.

"Or," Adam continued. "Let me rephrase. Dad, do you not want us to leave?"

Bernard looked up, his eyes meeting his son's. They stared at each other for a while before he broke the eye contact.

"Adam," Bernard took his son's hands. "Don't misunderstand. It's not that I do not want you to leave-"

"Then what?"

"Fine, I admit," he heaved a sigh. "I just wanted you to stay a little longer."

Adam was silent for a while before speaking up. "That's very selfish of you, you know? How about Gwen? Tina and Miranda?"

"Miranda shouldn't have a problem staying here-"

"That's not up to you to decide!" he raised his voice at his father. "That's totally not up to you to decide. Let her decide that herself, okay? And let's leave Miranda out of this for a while. Gwen and Tina do not belong here. The longer they stay here the longer their lives would be in danger. Did you not think about that at all?"

"I know and I'm sorry for only thinking about myself," he tried to hold on to Adam's hand again but he yanked it off. "But I couldn't help myself. I haven't seen you in such a long time, son. I just wanted to spend time with you before letting you go again. Try to understand me. I wasn't trying to be selfish or trying to put their lives in danger."

Adam calmed down a bit, truly trying to understand his dad. "I'm sorry."

"No, no," Bernard walked towards his son. "No, you don't have to be. I deserve all of that."

Adam shook his head. "It must have been so hard for you."

"Not as hard as it must have been for you guys."

"So do you really know how we can go back?"

"That I truthfully do not know," Bernard replied, Adam's face falling. "But I do know someone we could ask. The portal was opened once so it definitely can be opened again."

"I don't know how, but there just has to be a way."