BLIND WORLD COLLAB 2024

BLIND WORLDS | TEAM 16

Blind World Collab by @jamriot

concepts by 

@norbuxisdead @armadill0h @cappycatii

written by 

@norbuxisdead @armadill0h @cappycatii

storyboarded by 

@cappycatii

drawings by 

@norbuxisdead @armadill0h @cappycatii

Heavenly Waters

CHAPTER 1 | DEATH IN THE SONORA

The wastes were a dangerous place. For the past 200 years humanity lived in this dried out world, the planet becoming a hellscape of heat and sand. The people of this new natural order split roughly into two groups. 

Scavengers - those who wished to hide and survive best they could, taking only when they needed it.

And Raiders. Those who used force to take from the scavengers, opting to use strength and violence to meet their needs.

Vito Delgado had trekked the lands he knew since he was a child, wandering from place to place for survival. He had no one else - no one to look after, and no one to look after him. He was alone.

Searching around he’d find bits of food in unopened cans, tools and scrap he’d use for trade and repair, the rare odds and ends, and general knicks knacks he’d get some entertainment out of. 

Tonight he was out later than usual, his luck uncharacteristically good. The sun had begun to set over the towering mesas and rich brown sand dunes, but the salvage he had acquired was priceless.”

“A 50 ounce can of baked beans. Insane. How much were they eating back then.“ He laughed to himself, storing it away in his oversized satchel. “And the perfect thing to eat it with.” He continued, the only audience himself. 

“A swiss-army-knife. It has it all.” He said, pulling out the multi-tool, and finding the sharpest edge. “Tonight’s gonna be a feast.”

“Is it now?” Whipping his head around, he noticed three men decked out in armor. Raiders. One with a spiked bat, the other two looking just as menacing.

“Damn it.” He whispered under his breath. It had been a while since he had to deal with these thugs. Usually, they’d just take everything and go. 

Usually.

“Alright, it’s all yours. Whatever you want.” Vito said, dropping his satchel to the ground. “I’ll start walking away backwards, yeah?” 

He knew the drill.

“What? That’s it? No screaming, no cursing, no fight?” One said, his deep raspy voice grating on the ears. 

“Kinda’ takes the fun out of it doesn’t it?” The other spoke.

“Fellas. We can see clearly here’s a guy who’s given up. Won’t fight for himself, or his shit. Barely even a will to live!” Their leader spoke up.

“Hah-ha, imagine being that pathetic!”

“Poor thing, he‘s sufferin’.”

“And you know what we do to suffering animals, it’s just a mercy.”

“No, NO!” Vito said, pleading with them. But it was all too late, they had made up their mind. “Please, just, no I’ll fight, I’ll, I’ll-”

Whack!

With a hit to the head, Vito’s body fell to the ground, knocking over his hard earned salvage. His vision blurred as he stared up into the dusky desert sky.

“Damn, it’s just a bunch of crap!” One spoke.

“He’s still up, you’d think one hit like that would take care of a wimp like him.” The other said.

“Should I stomp him out? Poor thing, haha!” The rough voiced raider spoke again.

“Screw it, just leave him. Let the vultures have a snack.” Their leader replied. 

And like that - another victim fell to the brutal wastes.

“No no, please, wait!” Vito cried out. But as his eyes opened and again adjusted to the light, he realized he wasn’t staring at the faces of his attackers, but a blue sky above him. The ground gently swayed, and looking around he realized he wasn’t in the desert anymore.

Surrounding him was a vast endless ocean. A heavenly sight, spanning across the horizon. But he didn’t have much time to focus on it - his aching body only had room for one thought. 

Water. 

He reached down, putting himself over the side and scooped water into his mouth - taking in as much as he could in a giant gulp.

But to his surprise, it was disgusting, undrinkable. “Pleh, what kind of water is this?”, he gagged. To his right, a soothing voice. “Well never seen someone so eager to drink salt water? Why don’t you slow down there, I got plenty of drinkable stuff in the cabin…”

To his disbelief, it was a massive bearded dragon. Or perhaps an old woman that heavily resembled one? She seemed to be both, standing upright like a person, though her features were that of a desert dwelling lizard.

“W-what? Did you bring me here? I was just in the desert and- and…!” Vito stammered.

The lizard woman chuckled. Her petrichorical, soothing tone calmed him down - just a bit. “Slow your roll darling, this is something you’re going to have to adjust to, and it’ll be a shock at first no doubt, but…” 

“What do you mean? What even- who even are you?” He replied, still stunned.

“Polite of you to finally ask! I’m Joanne, but you can call me Aunt Jo darling… As for where you are. Mate, I’m afraid you’re dead.” 

CHAPTER 2 | THE BLESSED OCEAN

Vito’s eyes widened. His breath quickened as he looked down. In disbelief, he could see his hands and feet, he was still standing. So why was he dead exactly? He looked up at her.

“No.” he replied to her, unable to process the information.

Joanne closed her eyes and smiled patiently. Sighing, she scratched a scale on her cheek. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first one here. Vito, ain’t it?”

Vito’s lips shook, “Take me back.”

“Well I-”

“Take me back now!” He said. “I don’t belong here! I don’t know how or why, but I need to get back to my stuff, there’s still a chance that I might…”

Suddenly, Vito’s eyes were hit by the light as he side-eyed Jo, he shaded his eyes from the glare. As he covered it, he saw a lighthouse, as tall as the heavens. The light it imbued danced in his eyes in many colours, hues of life, serenity and peace. Suddenly he felt better, much better. In a state of calm. Peace.

It was here he realized it was true. He was far, far from the Sonora - with no way back.

Jo waited patiently for a bit, before Vito turned back to her. 

“Take me back… Please…” He pleaded.

It was her role as a Fisherman to find lost souls residing within the Blessed Ocean, taking them on a journey to their rightful place. Vito was not her first and he would not be her last. But she had a gentle hand with them, making sure they feel comfortable.

She believed it was their right to go at their own pace, give them the freedom they deserved in this confusing transition from life to death. She’d guide Vito just the same as she had with her others.

She gleamed, “Alrighty! Let’s see your Memoir then!”

Vito lifted a finger t before he felt something in his hand. Strangely, he was holding a tattered leather journal, bounded together by strings. It seemed flimsy and delicate, but there was a strong essence in it.

“What’s inside?”, he asked. 

“All the moments. The moments you laughed, the ones you cried and where you saw a rainbow after a huge thunderstorm. One day, you wrote all that down into one single book….”

Vito’s mind raced as to what happened before he woke up here. What… did happen anyways? He closed his eyes, searching for memories of his past life. Nothing. As if trying to remember a distant dream, the memories of his life began to dissipate… 

“… A Memoir of your life”.

VIto shuddered at the thought of the contents inside. Despite not remembering the majority of his past life, he already felt a life of hardship and pain scrawled into that book. One of arid sands and unbearable heat. He gripped it, not daring to open the leather bound journal.

Why was it fair he died? Out in the sand, no-one to remember? It was meaningless, barely getting a chance to live. Anger fired up in him.

Vito threw the book into the blue. It was a fair distance, and made an impact on the water. After a few moments, his face paled and collapsed onto the ground. Everything became a blur, hearing a faint splash as everything broke down into shapes.

Vito regained his senses after a loud thump on the ground. He got back onto his feet.

“Whew!”, Jo exclaimed, “That was close then!”. There was a tinge of relief in her voice. “Don’t you dare try and let go of this then! If it’s gone, you’re gone - hear me?”

Vito regained his senses and wanted to try again, but stopped himself. Instead throwing it onto the ground. 

“Hey… Calm down sprout!”, Jo tried to comfort him. She saw in his eyes he was panicking. This was all too much.

“Here, I know what’ll cheer you up!”, she chuckled - heading into a door. 

With Jo leaving him on his own, Vito looked into the distance, this time spotting an island. It is lucious and beautiful, a waterfall singing in crystal tones. He gazes at it with intrigue, almost hypnotized.

“Hey, lady-” He spoke, but as he turned his head he found Jo pointing a blunderbuss right at him.

Vito freaked out, shivering at the sight. Expecting shrapnels of metal, it instead fired out… bubbles. 

“Gotcha!”, she chuckles. After a few moments, Jo realizes her mistake, scratching the scale on her cheek.

“Ah… that uh…”, she seethed through her teeth. “...Nevermind”.

“If that was supposed to be a joke it wasn’t very funny”, he replied sternly. He hadn’t remembered it, but it wasn't the first gun that was shoved in his face. 

 “Look, what is that place over there?” he asked.

Jo followed his direction, pointing to an island with its soft sands and a tall waterfall cascading down into a sparse forest of palm trees.

“That place? Couldn’t tell ya deary. I’ve been traveling these oceans for decades now, and it still has its way of surprising me.” She said with a smile. “But it’d be a waste of time if I’m honest. Most of these islands got nothin’ on ‘em really.”

But something in him felt drawn to the falls. Somehow it called to him.

“Is there a way… Out of this ocean? I mean. If I got here, there’s a way back right..”

He didn’t understand exactly why he wanted to go back. He had a feeling in his Memoir was a harrowing story of hardship, pain, and an unending effort to survive. 

But isn’t life - no matter what - preferable over death? If there were some way to live again, wouldn’t it only make sense to try? He thought to himself. This new world was unrecognizable to him, to the vast unending ocean to the unfamiliar denizens. Why should this be the place where it ends? There must have been a way to return - a way to restart. He could do it better this time. 

“Don’t think that’s how it works, deary…” Jo said, scratching the scale under her chin. “Um, it's a pretty permanent sorta’ thing…” There was never a case of someone escaping death. She’d never heard of such a thing, and she had a feeling she never would. 

“Tell you what, we can start going through that journal a’ yours and we’ll have a welcoming barbie, eh?”

Vito stared at the book and shuddered again, his face hot with shame and embarrassment. How could someone come face to face with every action of their life? 

Every act of cowardice, every unfaced challenge, every opportunity passed up on. Flashes of his life passed though his mind, no solid memories, just vague feelings. Enough that he already knew what was in that book was nothing he’d ever want to relive.

“No, not this book. I’ll carry it if I need to, but I’m not opening it. Not reading a single page…”

Jo’s smile tightened a bit. Already he was a tough nut to crack. Her goal was always to ease them throughout, with comfort, grace, and dignity. 

But an idea formed. If she played along, he’d come to the realization that there was only one way out - and that was accepting the fact. Surely, if she were agreeable and let him take the lead, they’d end up exactly where Jo would want them. 

“D’ohh of course… I s’pose we can stop by! Not like we’re wastin’ any time here, we got all the time in the world eh?”

Vito smiled in relief. “Thank you, Jo.”

“No worries! I don’t think there’ll be much, but hey we’ll get a pretty sight I’m sure!” She sighs with pride. “She’s got all sorta’ sights.”

The wind blew the salty air past Vito’s head, with a cool breeze against his face. With each splash, he intently looked at the island.

CHAPTER 3 | WATERFALL ISLAND

The ship landed on the soft shores, easing onto the beach. Vito knelt down and felt the smooth sand, taking into his new environment. As they stepped foot on the island - Vito took in the sight of the place.

A forest of palm trees carried the mountain - a waterfall louder than the crashing waves of the ocean itself. Vito became awestruck.

Among the exotic shrubberies, little critters the size of footstools curiously came closer to the visitors. A blue hedgehog took the lead, followed by a short man wobbling with a red hat and overalls.

“Well, Here we are! Nothin’ much there if I’m honest, unless you like these adorable looking fella’s.”, she looked curiously at them. “Well aren’t you a sweet bunch.” The little hedgehog looked up at her with a dough-eyed smile.

“We haven’t even started Jo. We gotta make up there, at least. Right?” Vito said, ignoring the little inhabitants as he started walking.

“I suppose.” Jo said, sighing as she began to step down onto the beach from the small gangplank.

Something about the waterfall had called to Vito - as if it had some sort of secret hidden behind the rush of cascading water.

“I think there’s a cave in there, behind the falls - see the shadow? Do you know if anyone has ever been here before?”

Jo sighed. “If they did, they never came back to speak about it. There ain’t no trace of this place on any map I’ve seen.”

“Then that must mean something good, right? Like if they don’t get off the island, they must be going somewhere else. I’m already dead, so it’s not like it gets much worse than that.”

Jo held her tongue. “I s’pose.” But she knew there could be worse things, the Ocean still had its predators.

Vito continued on deeper into the island. It wasn’t very large, though big enough one could find themselves lost if they wandered too far off. To Vito’s delight, there was a lightly carved trail in the sand - with rocks pushed away and plants trampled - leading deeper into the island. They started off into the shaded brush of the island.

“What did I tell you?” Vito said, as he went in deeper. “This place is something.”

“Yeah… Deary, doesn’t it sound nicer to relax on the beach and start reading a few pages? I know I can soak in some sunlight right about now, need a bit of a tan hehe!”

Vito couldn’t pay much mind to her comments. “I know I’ve taken in enough sun for one lifetime already.”

“What’s good a use for a lifetime more?”, Jo quietly commented. “I mean- if you want to! Hey! The shade under a tree’s a good place to sit down and read anyway hehe!” 

Vito stopped for a moment. “Look lady, I appreciate your effort, but… I can’t stop here.. I know I died for nothing. With nothing, surrounded by nobody… and that’s it. I don’t get a second chance? Why is that fair, Jo?”

Jo looked at him empathetically. “Sometimes it’s not fair. Sometimes you’re just one of the unlucky ones. But what happens, happens. And you need to move on from it.”

Despite her helpful comment, it didn’t budge Vito’s volition.

Jo frowned. This wasn’t going the way she had hoped.

“Can we keep going? Please?”

With a sigh, Jo nodded. He’ll see. At the peak of the waterfall, there’d be nothing. He’d face the facts, sooner or later.

CHAPTER 4 | DON GULLO

Daylight still illuminated the island, the lighthouse shining on vigilantly. Through known eons this magnificent goliath gave the ocean hope, bringing life to wherever it shined the most. It gave structure with the days and nights. Depending how far one was, days lasted for more than one could count, and vice versa. During the night, beautiful auroras appear as they culminate towards the lighthouse. If one was lucky, they’d be able to view the most beautiful creatures one could ever see.

The path Vito and Jo had taken were slowly leading them up the mountain in which the waterfall originated. Jo however had found problems with this trail they had been following. There were no signs of life, things that indicated some sort of life… 

Another concern was the amount of critters that had begun to follow them. More had appeared, seemingly following their trail. A pink hedgehog, a red echidna, a little yellow fox with two tails. The guys had shown up as well, a guy in a green hat, one in yellow, a princess in a pink dress.

“They’re really intent on following us, ‘eh?” Jo spoke, turning her head to see the crowd that had followed them.

“Maybe they want out too.” Vito said, still marching along, deep in his resolve.

“Oh bugger… Deary, that was long trek, let’s stop and have a rest.”

“Okay Jo, just follow the trail when you’re ready to catch up.”

“Y’ain’t waiting for me?” Jo said, almost offended. But it was too late, she was already sat on a rock and her knees were not willing to get back up. Her ripe age of 200 years is getting to her. 

“I don’t have time to waste, I hope you understand.” Vito said, turning to look at Jo with somber eyes. Yet with a deep breath he continued forward. “You’ll catch up. If not, I'm sure you’ll find someone else to guide soon enough!”

Deep down Vito cared about Jo. He understood she wanted what was best for him - but something inside drove him away from her. A deep fear of what would be beyond life itself. The unknown.

Jo kept solid on her stump, unable to get up, her weary bones concrete in their sitting position. Then something on the ground had caught her eye…A leather bound book, along with pages ripped straight from its binding. 

WITNESS DON GULLO - KING OF THE OCEAN! GAZE UPON GULLO’S WORDS YE MIGHTY AND DESPAIR, FOR DON GULLO SHALL TURN THE WATERS TO MILK AND SLURP IT ALL UP!

This strange island interested Gullo, unmarked on any map Gullo came across. 

But look - the creatures that inhabit this place are quiet queer, are they not?

But for now this trail entices Gullo! Forsooth Gullo shall venture forth into its mouth and find its treasure to make Don Gullo’s dream come true!

“Well what’s this then? Was the boy onto something? Where did ya’ go, mista’ Gullo?” Jo said, picking up the note. 

“Huh.” She pondered. Reading it over, again and again.

Don Gullo cannot be sure as to why until Gullo treks up there myself of course! Don Gullo shall be the one to mark this island as his own - and carve the first trail through this virgin land! An honest to ocean trail blazer! Hahah!

“Now why would you go and write out a laugh. Goodness.” Jo scoffed as she read on.

As Gullo said earlier. A trail has been made straight towards the easiest path up towards this waterfall. Whatever may lay inside it’s caves, it will likely make Don Gullo a true King. Perhaps deeper, a myth, a legend! The only one who ever made it explore this unmarked island - the greatest pioneer of the Blessed Ocean! 

“Oh calm yerself,” Jo again commented to no one at all. Yet she continued to read.

The trek has been dubious - a craggily, stubborn, rough trek up to this waterfall, but at last Gullo conquered the challenge. This map with Gullo’s own handicraft shall be shared in the history books, dubbed “The First Sketch Of The Mystery Island, by the legendary explorer/King/DEITY, DON GULLO”

 Hoho, what a thought! Yet first, Don Gullo shall see what lies behind this crystal curtain, and cement Don Gullo into the world of most important Caitains!

“What a whackjob,” Jo snorted. Deciding she had enough of his ramblings, she picked herself up off the stoop. Reading Gullo’s messages had got her worried there was some lunatic running around the place. He could hurt Vito - or worse, convince him there was actually something worthwhile on this place. That’ll hurt her reputation as a Fisherman, even as a Laighairn - the reptile people.

Across the small stream, there was a shining glimmer by a rock that caught her eye. A small plastic crown, with some dents on it. 

“Property of the Don eh?” Jo said, walking towards the crown. “Must’a dropped it on his way ‘round.” But as she took a step closer, she noticed a figure half cast in deep shadow under the overhang of the mountain. 

“Someone there then?” She asked, a shiver running up her spine, the figure ominously. She gulped, “Gullo? S’at you?”

With a closer step she realized what she was looking at, the corpse of Gullo sitting in the depths of the shadow, his body had washed away down the waterfall onto a shallow in the river that flowed from it… His final notebook entry read.

It seems Don Gullo has made it to the cave hidden within the waterfall. A wondrous sight indeed! Surely this is as sweet as the siren song that had called to the sailors of myth - and here was Don Gullo following the same tune.

Yet this time it’s no farce! Perhaps the most glorious thing Don Gullo had ever laid my eyes on, and it’s all in the hands of DON GULLO! 

Don Gullo shall enter a commoner, and whence Don Gullo returns, a legend!

“Oceans below.” Jo wavered. 

CHAPTER 5 | INTO THE WATERFALL

Without Jo, Vito felt like he was making it up the mountain much faster. The path in the sands had slowly transformed into a path through rocky terrain, getting steeper and steeper as he made his way up. Step by step, he inched his way further up the island, the roaring of the waterfall always in ear shot. The little critters had followed him since the beach, all of them trailing behind him idly.

“Alright fellas.” He said, eyeing them strangely. “You can go now.” 

They didn’t budge. He sighed, continuing on his way.

Staring directly at him curiously. It was a group of three. They were holding dangerous weapons but didn’t seem interested in using them on her. Their eyes were incredibly big and wide while their bodies were small and tiny. They were of no words however. As he got wrapped in his thoughts, they still refused to look away. 

He wondered how his new life would be. If he’d get to restart from his prior ‘progress’, make up for things he didn’t have the guts to do. He grit his teeth, thinking about how he’d give those Raiders a fistful. 

If not that though, perhaps he’d restart anew, reborn entirely, a new Vito. Finally get to be someone worthwhile. Someone better than he was before. Someone who didn’t need to be afraid of losing everything at a moment's notice, someone strong.

Then he thought of Jo - he thought of this place. Stopping for a moment he looked out into the horizon, seeing the vast endless ocean of the afterlife. The massive lighthouse that loomed over no matter where you looked, that overtook the skyline with its presence. A chill ran over him, then that peace again. Maybe he should have just listened.

He thought about Jo, how kind she had been to him - despite the scare. How she guided him though this place, even through his attitude with her. He sighed. She hadn’t deserved to be left behind like that, not with the way she had tried to acclimate him to this place…

“I’ll be better next time.” He said, lifting his hand up to climb up a rocky cliff face. His resolve would not be broken.

Just as he wrapped her thoughts together, three girls, the size of a mere book, played a game of shenanigans to communicate they wanted to play a game of catch. The previous group catches the eye of the girls and gets angry. All of a sudden the boys draw their weapons ready to attack and seek blood. The girls were prepared for this, ready to fight back.

“Bloody hell was I not built for all this climbin’!” Jo hissed, doing her best to trail behind Vito. He was agile, in better shape. But through her huffing she continued her way up the cliff. “That… boy… better ‘appreciate… when I save his arse! I was built… for the sea….!”

Pushing through past one final brush of trees, Vito was greeted with the ray of the light from the lighthouse, like the sun shining. Next to where he had entered from was a small rock trail carved into the mountain, leading to a cave that was perfectly hidden right behind the waterfall. A chill ran down his spine. That was it - that was his way out of here.

The inhabitants of the island began to go wild. Sonic, tails, Yoshi, and Luigi, the pacifists of this big group of critters They pulled at Vito’s pants, trying to slow his way towards the cave, whatever was in it, they did not want him near it. Yet the draw was so… enticing.

He took a cautious step forward… Closer - closer - closer. Until he had reached the entrance. Inside, an unbelievable sight. He took a step inside.

Jo finally made it to the top of the cliff face. Catching her breath, she yelled, “Vito you get your arse out of that cave this instant!”

Vito was entranced, like all everything around him had disappeared. It was just him and the void.

“Jo.” He said silently, devoured by the rush of the waterfall.

“Vito! Stop!”, she ran after him. The 4 characters begin to moan and groan fearing for the safety of Jo 

One step further in, and he was surrounded in the darkness of the cave. It wasn’t too long for Vito’s eyes to adjust, a trait he had that helped him in desperate needs. Further he traveled in, and saw a beautiful miniature lagoon. Lights danced around the clear waters like fireflies, illuminating the ruby leaves and glistening flowers. In the center, an alter with a glowing multi-coloured crystal, with a giant red flower providing the base. It was almost organic, but Vito didn’t care.

It was the answer, he felt that this would get him out of this world, an ocean with undrinkable water. He is finally escaping hell. Slowly Vito’s hand reached out towards it, fingers shaking in anticipation and fear. Jaw dropped with his hypnotized pupils gazing at its gorgeous lights, in a smile pulled in a manic state. He didn’t see the petals underneath rising up, he didn’t hear his name being called back, but he felt a large scaly arm yanking him back.

Vito came to his senses. He felt angry that he didn’t get what he wanted, he wanted to hit at whoever stopped him- 

“Jo?” He saw her face fuming in anger, neck bulging in rage. 

“WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL WERE YOU THINKING? WALKING STRAIGHT INTO THAT TRAP LIKE A BASTARD TOAD IN A-”

Suddenly a shriek pierced their heads like a needle jamming in. From the small lagoon, the flower broke off, rising above the ground in a hideous formation. Vines grabbing onto the surroundings as it pushed its roots off, revealing a pulsating fruit of dripping flesh. A drooling mouth opened up revealing skewers and shards of teeth, making an unnatural sound.

Vito heart skipped beats, eyes widening to glare at this abomination. His feet shaking, urging him to escape. 

The six that were fighting earlier bust out of nowhere. Knuckles, cocky as ever rushing to go kill the monster thinking he’s tough enough. As everyone else rushes to stop him. Eventually he gets to a point of no return. The beast is 10 times as big as them. If anyone came closer, it would have been wraps for them as much as Knuckles. The beast screamed and yelled, looking for another victim. Knuckles wasn’t scared looking for the perfect time to start punching. The monster leaned in to grab him, Knuckles evading and throwing a punch. That was a mistake. 

Knuckles’ hand was submerged in goo. It wasn’t clear to anybody at the time, but the monster was both solid and liquid. Knuckles’ started flailing, trying his best to get unstuck but it was just no use. The monster grabbed him. Ready to swallow him, for his new life of purgatory. Just as…

“Alright, enough's enough” Jo said, pulling out her trusted blunderbuss from her pouch.

She brushed the leaves off the barrel and shoved her whole arm inside it. Out of her pouch she pulled a handful of glowing pellets, doing the same. Into the ear of the frizzen, she whispered “olldóiteán”, to which it sprung up. She squeezed the trigger.

A massive wave of fire erupted from the tip, engulfing the monster in a wave of radiating flame. The blast was so strong it took both Knuckles and the monster. The blast so strong ,the flame continued, bouncing back towards them.

“Vee!” Joanne cried out, pulling him by his shirt as she carried him out of the cave. They ran, and faltered, tripping off the cliff face as a massive ball of fire spat out from the entrance. The waterfall evaporated into mist, the cave coughing out a massive ball of smoke and steam.

Joanne and Vito both tumbled down off the cliff, plummeting into the river below. 

SPLASH!

CHAPTER 6 | The End

Vito had hit the river hard, his body going limp, lungs taking in water. He floated for a moment, his body not responding. He was too exhausted, too tired to go on. His last hope to ever live again had been a lie. His last thoughts were wondering if he could die twice in one day. His vision began to fade to black.

A hand reached out and gripped his shirt, pulling him out of the water. Jo, with her firm grip on his shirt, ripped him from the roaring river. His vision was blurry, his lungs full of water as he coughed out what he could, falling to his hands and knees to spit it all out. Finally he took a deep breath of fresh air.

“An ‘ere I thought you’d gotten us both killed.” Joanne said, sitting on the small river shore, soaking wet and exhausted. “...didn’t find what you were looking for up there, did you?” She said, a frown on her face.

“Can we leave this place… Please..?” Vito said, shaking. 

“Crikey, now that’s a thought,” Joanne said exhausted. 

As they made their way back to the beach, the light had begun to dim. Dark heavy clouds rolled along the skyline past the ocean’s horizon.

“Best be off before it gets too dark. We’re chasin’ the light after all.”

Vito sat on the beach sands to give himself a rest from the trek. To his right were the critters, still very much energized. They had built a little fire and seemed to be celebrating. Their little friend, in his bravery, had helped defeat the evil that had lurked on their island. They would remember him.

“Think you did them a favor, blasting that thing up there.” Vito said quietly.

“Think so!” Jo replied, a smile on her face. “So not all harm done, I s’pose.”

“Guess that means this is it.” Vito said.

“Nah, there’s still plenty to explore out on the ocean. Who knows what’s out there.”

“Not for me, I don’t think.” He replied. “I think this is it, Joanne.”

“Y’mean…” She started.

“I lived a worthless life. I died for nothing. And now it all goes away.” Vito spoke, his voice wavering. “A life of nothing, and now it’s over. No second chances. What was the point of it all?” 

Joanne stood quiet for a moment. Sitting next to him, she wrapped her arms around him. Vito, taken aback by this at first, later welcomed her warmth. Under her big scaly arms, he sobbed.

“It’s not fair. I know. Some things just aren’t. Some things can never be. But you were someone, eh it’s true. You were someone then, and you’re someone now, here with me. Someone with resolve, who dared to try. Maybe it didn’t end up so good. But that’s life, ain’t it love?” Jo’s reassurance calmed Vito, his face was red from all the tears. “And it’s all in that little book of yours, you’ll see it. You’ll know.”

They both got up, and headed to the vessel. Vito pulled out the leather notebook from his pocket. It was completely waterlogged.

“Guess we’ll let it dry first?” he said, a small smile on his face.

EPILOGUE

With the weeks passing, Vito had found some comfort in the sea. What once carried a sway that would leave him sick to his stomach, had taught his feet to keep steady on Joanne’s boat. The ocean that carried on forever became a beautiful sight. It reminded him of the open desert, with its vast and endless opportunities. 

“Looking to eat or what? Fish is all nice and grilled, Veet.” Joanne called out from the inside of the cabin of the boat.

“Sounds good, but I think I need to get something done first.” He replied back to her.

Joanne stopped what she was doing in her kitchenette, walking outside the cabin.

“Mate, you don’t mean…?”

“I think it’s time, right?” Vito said, gripping the leather bound in his hands.

“If you think so deary, but…” Joanne said. She knew it was her job to get him ready for this moment, and she had done it well. But this. It was always hard. “Maybe if you’re sure…”

“I am, Jo.” He said with a smile.

“Oceans below… Then I guess it’s time.” She said, brushing a tear from her eye. “Oh I don’t need you to see me like this.”

“Come, let’s read it together.” Vito said. 

She walked up next to him, as Vito opened the book for the very first time.

The ocean swayed the boat gently as he began to read aloud. “Chapter One.”