(TATB) Ch 5: The Beauty Beyond The Glass, Captured

(SKYLAR)

I held my breath, staring through the glass at what looked like dust particles. They were all different colors. Some were moving, but most were still.

I knew what I was looking at, even though it was hard to believe. I had never seen one before.

"Lilliputians," I whispered, leaning in closer, trying to see if I could make out any details—maybe catch a glimpse of a face—but no matter how close I got, I couldn't see any.

"So, how many are you going to get, ma'am?" the old man asked, breaking my focus.

I stood up straight and reached for my wallet. Places like this only dealt in cash, so I'd come prepared. Pulling out a small wad of bills, I smiled. "A thousand. That should get me thirty, right?"

The old man looked down at the money and smirked. That wasn't a good sign. "Ma'am, I'm afraid that's not enough."

"What? But those were the prices last month," I protested.

He shook his head, still smirking. "Yes, last month. But Lilliputian Distribution laws have tightened even more, making my humble work harder."

"Humble work, my ass," I thought, glancing down at the cash in my hand. "So, how much can I get with this?" I asked, trying to keep my frustration in check.

The old man eyed the money. "Maybe ten, at most."

Ten? For more than half my paycheck? I could feel my anger boiling, but I kept it in. "Fine, I'll take the ten," I said, shoving the money toward him.

"Excellent," he said, snatching the bills and counting them quickly before pocketing them. He turned to the glass container and pulled out a small key from his jacket. With a slow, deliberate motion, he unlocked a tiny latch, opening the glass tank.

"Please be careful," I warned, unsure how he was going to pull out the Lilliputians.

"No worries, ma'am. I'm a professional," the old man said with a grin, lifting his hand.

I stared, confused. "Huh?"

A bright light appeared in his palm, and as it faded, a small syringe appeared in his once-empty hand.

"That's a Soul Object," I muttered in disbelief.

"Oh, yes," the old man replied casually, looking down at his tool. "It's not the most powerful one, but it gets the job done."

My anger spiked. This man, this old man, had a Soul Object—something I'd wanted more than anything. A technique created by Lilliputians, now used by someone who didn't even appreciate their legacy. I clenched my fists, swallowing my frustration.

The man carefully lowered the syringe into the tank, focusing intently on his task. At least he was taking it seriously.

***

(Victor)

My heart raced as I stood still, staring up at her beyond the glass. I wasn't like the others—screaming, running in blind panic, desperate to hide. No, I was captivated by her. Her beauty was overwhelming. Her face alone took up my entire view, each detail magnified to a degree I never thought possible. Her skin was flawless.

I had never felt anything like this before. Not for anyone, and definitely not for a Brob. Yet, here I was, my heart pounding like it had never done before.

Her massive brown eyes scanned the entire tank, taking us all in as if she were inspecting an exhibit at a museum. Then, she leaned in closer, bringing her face even nearer. The closer she got, the more I could see every line, every curve of her expression, her shock evident. She had never seen a Lilliputian before. I was sure of it.

And then, just as quickly, she straightened up, her face disappearing from view as she stood to her full height. The towering presence of her loomed over us like a force of nature.

"I don't like the looks of this," Gabriel muttered behind his son Sydney, his voice low and cautious.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it," Meara said, her voice trying to maintain a calm front, though I knew better. Underneath, she was scared—same as everyone else. And why wouldn't she be? No one wants to stare their mortality in the face like this.

But me? I wasn't fazed. Not anymore. That numbness set in, the kind that comes after facing danger too many times. Maybe that's what made her so fascinating to me, this Brob girl. She was a different kind of danger, but in the end, I'd already faced my own mortality more times than I could count.

Suddenly, the glass wall began to slide open. The sound was jarring, and for a brief moment, the outside world was there—an open invitation to run. But not a single Lilliputian made a move toward freedom. In fact, most of them bolted in the opposite direction, deeper into the container, as if running could somehow save them.

"Why do they even try?" Holly asked, her eyes rolling in frustration as she watched the others scatter. "If that big bastard wants, he could grab any one of us without even trying."

"They still have hope," Meara replied, her voice soft, but resolute. "Hope that they can get back what they've lost."

I smiled bitterly, glancing down. "Yeah, but life's never going to be the same again."

Our small group stood together—me, Gabriel and Sydney, Meara, and her little entourage. None of us tried to run. We'd long accepted our reality, and maybe, just maybe, that made us stronger than the rest. As I watched the others flee in vain, I couldn't help but smile. It reminded me of another time, long ago, when I was surrounded by the people I trusted most.

But those days were gone, and now, we were all just waiting.

"Huh?" My eyes shot open, a strange chill racing up my spine. My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately looked up toward the entrance of the tank.

"What's wrong?" Sydney asked, his voice tight with fear. "I mean, other than the obvious?"

But I didn't respond. I couldn't. Something was entering our prison—a massive object, wide and circular, unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

"That's... a soul object," I muttered, my voice barely audible over the growing tension.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Gabriel shouted. His voice cracked with urgency, and before any of us could react, gravity seemed to vanish.

A sudden, violent gust of wind sucked us upward, pulling us into the sky with a force so strong it made my ears pop. The air roared past us as we were yanked off the ground like ragdolls.

I felt my body being lifted, helpless against the pull, and for a moment, the world was nothing but swirling chaos. The darkness above grew larger, swallowing the light as we hurtled toward it.

We had been chosen. We had been captured.