Wrong Itinerary

"Oh no… the blasted cat went with them!" the brothers heard Dorothy exclaim.

Red had been distracted and she failed to chant the spell in unison, which complicated the teleportation.

Blue lights enveloped the trio and one second they were all standing around piles of baggage and camping gears, the next moment they were gone. Including the cat.

Red couldn't remember what happened. She thought something grabbed her in all the blue haze but she couldn't point out if it was her imagination or if it was some otherworldly being of the in between.

The next thing she knew she was plummeting – free falling at constant gravity – towards an unknown island shaped like a crescent moon.

The skies were a beautiful bright summer blue and clouds formed lazily at the distance looking a lot like fluffy cotton candies. If it was any other day, she would have found the scenery refreshing. Too bad this day had to be one disastrous trip.

She was looking straight down but she knew that there was something – someone – who was holding her hand tightly as if afraid to let her go. Panic creeped into her and she realized, maybe it was her who was holding on for dear life, squeezing the big and callused hand she was gripping. She turned and saw emerald green eyes sparkling in the morning sun, raven hair whipping handsomely, and that signature smug smile. Archer looked at her and mouthed something. Red strained to hear what he was saying.

"What?" she yelled but her voice was muffled by the winds and her ears popped like it was New Year's Eve.

Archer pulled her closer and shouted in her ear, "Wrong itinerary future queen! Ari's missing too!"

Oh shit… now that she thought about it, the map Ari showed her displayed mountain ranges and rivers which didn't involve a vast expanse of crystal blue oceans. There could only be one explanation they ended up here.

Fucking Sir Arthur.

She craned her head to take a look at their surroundings. Their supplies were all scattered, suspended in mid-air, falling with them. No Arikyer, no Sir Arthur in sight. And then she realized they were undeniably getting closer to the ground. Panic would be an understatement if she were to describe what she felt at the time.

Terror and a dark fear of death.

That's what she was feeling as of the moment.

"What's the plan now Red?" she heard Archer shout through the roaring winds.

"Aren't you the one who is the almighty master of magic between the two of us? You do the planning!" she shouted back, her eyes stinging from the salty air. They were at earshot's distance now, almost hugging. Archer pulled her closer and circled his right arm around her waist like a child. She would have flailed from his grip any other day but thought better. If they were going to crash, might as well crash together.

"If I told you I wouldn't do anything, what you going to do about it?" he said tauntingly.

What the fuck? This is not the time for games! Red thought.

"C'mon Red, surely a future queen such as yourself can magic us a way through this predicament."

Closer and closer they fell and each second passed the island loomed closer as if welcoming them with open arms. Crystal clear and azure waters kissed the long stretch of powdery white sand beach in a steady rhythm, back and forth, slushing and churning tiny bubbles carrying occasional dead empty shells and driftwoods. Red's mind raced for what she could do to save their asses from crashing.

"I have to say it is a huge honor to die with you our future queen." Archer yelled then laughed as if he'd gone crazy.

"Fuck you Archer!" she shouted as loud as she could and put her palms forward. She had never done anything as dangerous and irrational as what she is planning to do now. But she'd rather try than die in vain in the arms of a giant man-child.

She concentrated on her desire to survive this mess they are in and disregarded her annoyance with Archer's attitude.

For the meantime.

If they survive this fall, she'll have to make sure he gets a piece of her mind. Whatever that piece may be.

Estimating the right altitude, Red waited until they were close enough before she discharged a huge blast of fire towards the sandy beach. The timing was carefully calculated, making the fire instantaneously expand and compress the air around the blast – much of which the idea came from propulsion engines but entirely for another purpose – and creating a wave of energy which was supposed to cushion them from the fall.

Of course, the attempt wasn't at all perfect as she had planned. She thought the energy wave would be strong enough to reduce their speed and make them suspended for a few seconds at a height for a bearable fall. Probably getting some sprains and bruises along the way but not much injury… hopefully. However, the wave came too strong that instead of lessening the impact of the fall, they were actually propelled farther away from the shores and into the crystal-clear waters.

Red was separated from Archer as his grip on her slipped after the blast. They ungracefully plopped at the blue waters which thankfully were deep enough and not too shallow which avoided further damages.

Red's vision began to blur and water entered her respiratory tract, making bubbles of precious air escape from her lungs. She tried to kick her feet to push herself up to the surface but her legs wouldn't cooperate. It's as if they were anchored by something heavy, the currents pulling her deeper into the sea.

She flailed helplessly, her screams for help silenced by the immense pressure of the ocean.