It wasn’t long after Kate and Stephen escaped that Stephen’s very limited stamina got the best of him. Even if they were sharing the effort of carrying Augustina, the most Stephen exercised was running from the front door of his apartment to his bedroom to play games.

Stephen gasped and pulled towards a small grassy ditch, “I gotta stop for a minute.”

“Already?” Kate asked incredulously, “I can still hear the giant!”

The giant’s booming groans had turned to a distant thundering sound. Stephen imagined the giant would have leveled most of the city by now. For some reason, however, Stephen was more concerned if Sebastian was still alive. Somehow, that crazed wizard rubbed off on him.

Stephen collapsed onto his rear and sucked in a few deep breaths. Once his heart stopped pounding like a drum, he turned to Kate,

“Sorry – I’m just – not that much of an athlete…”

Kate rolled her eyes, “No kidding. And here I thought you’d suddenly turn heroic and take down the giant.”

Stephen shrugged, “Sorry to disappoint.”

Kate’s frowned, “No, I’m sorry. I turned silly and emotional back there.”

“I would too,” Stephen said reassuringly, “if I found my sister in a coma.”

Kate tilted her head, “Coma?”

“Oh, sorry, that’s something from my world. It means a deep sleep you can’t wake from.”

“Augustina is going to wake up,” Kate said darkly, “What are you saying?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Stephen realized his sympathetic joke had turned on him, “I wasn’t being serious.”

“You know, it seems to me you haven’t been taking any of this seriously,” Kate moved Augustina’s head onto her lap.

“What do you mean?” Stephen felt he wasn’t going to like where this is going.

Kate started brushing Augustina’s hair with her fingers slowly as if it was a precious moment that might escape her any second, “I’ve seen how you act, it’s like you’re stumbling around waiting for something to happen to you.”

Stephen pulled at some grass by his feet. He’d finally caught his breath. Stephen nodded slowly, understanding what Kate probably meant.

“It’s weird,” Stephen began, “because part of me is struggling, begging to go home. The other part, however, wants to believe in this world. Where I’m from, there is no magic, no crazy wizards, no nefarious plots unfolding.”

“Nefarious?” Kate said with a laugh, “Now that’s a strange word coming from your mouth.”

Stephen tried hard not to stare slack-jawed at the fact he just made Kate laugh, “Well, it’s true! There’s an ugly giant on the loose, the king nearly killed his daughter, and I’ve been sucked out of my old life and into some crazy prophecy.”

Kate nodded, “Perhaps you’re right then.”

Stephen watched as Kate picked up strands of Augustina’s hair and started braiding them together. He couldn’t believe it, but she was beginning to look like a normal younger sister. Perhaps even like an older sister.

There was a long pause before Kate spoke up again, “I missed this. It’s been several years since I could hold my sister like this, I only wish she was awake.”

A few tears rolled down Kate’s cheeks. Stephen held his hands together, unsure of what to do. This was usually the moment when the guy would hold out a handkerchief that he pulled out of nowhere, but Stephen didn’t carry those around on the daily.

Besides, Stephen considered as he began staring at the ground, this seemed to be a precious moment for Kate. He didn’t want to interrupt.

After a few minutes, Stephen cleared his throat, “So where’s this lake home Sebastian spoke about?”

Kate wiped her eyes, “Just a couple hours East of here. We haven’t used it in a long time, so it should be safe. We can figure out what to do next when we get there.”

Stephen nodded. In his stomach, he felt uneasy. It was beginning to look like he’d never get home. His one good lead had sacrificed himself, maybe even his life, to let the three of them escape. Augustina was able to use magic, so maybe she could help, but Stephen wasn’t too hopeful.

After Kate regained herself, she motioned to Stephen to help her get Augustina up. As the two moved her, Augustina began to stir and let out a groan.

“Augustina?” Kate exclaimed with a sob, “Augustina? Sister?”

“Kate?” Augustina said groggily, “Is that you? What’s wrong?”

Kate smiled tearfully, “You’ve been asleep, we’re outside the castle. Father’s not here, it’s okay.”

Augustina’s eyes shot open, “What happened? Where are we?”

Kate explained what’d happened to Augustina. When she was caught up to speed, she eyed Stephen warily,

“Thank you for helping me escape, and for helping my sister.”

Stephen nodded bashfully, he hadn’t done much except help carry Augustina, after all, “It was nothing.”

Augustina narrowed her eyes, but said nothing, “We should move, we don’t want to get caught mid-escape.”

“Can you walk?” Kate asked.

Augustina nodded, “But I would appreciate your help, sister.”

Kate supported Augustina’s shoulder and the three began moving once again.