Lost World Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Secret of Thomas White.

I felt like flying for every foot steps I take to reach Dr. Harton who was standing just a few yards away from me. He was standing turned on his back. As I reach to his shoulders I recognized that he was discussing something with Thomas White. When my hands touched him, he turned around and began to transform into a monster growing faster until it became a gigantic dragon. I was horrified; before I tried to run away I felt that dark burnt hand had clenched me lifting higher and higher.

It made a loud atrocious screech in a hoarse voice and said “Va tahsha la hoksh shee molah”

I was shuddered in horror by the sight of those evil eyes staring at me closer. It squealed angrily, hot blood began drooling on its fang I screamed in dismay, it all disappeared. I didn’t understand what happened then, I saw Julia holding my hands and looking into my eyes. I was quite surprised to see her being so close, since we had never been in love before. She took my hands and tears rolled down her cheeks. I heard her saying “Please don’t leave me.”

I woke up feeling the warmth of bedspread and pillows around me, a soft stroke of morning breeze chilled my body, which in turn yearned for a stiff embrace of a plump pillow. My eye lids slowly opened denying the comfort and failed by heavily closing, it parted me from the splendid morning view through the window. I realized that I have been dreaming. My body felt so weak then I remembered of those words I heard from that creature- Hollacoh. It was so real that I strongly believed to assume it as a message from the lost world. I instantly reached for my writing pad to write that statement. It was so foreign that I couldn’t figure out a tiny part of the meaning for those words. Artificial assumption of the implication will ruin the truth, therefore consulting professor Harton appeared to be a good thought. I got prepared to meet professor Harton.

Busy people were strolling along Holywell St, I heard a newspaper man selling papers yelling “Sapphire ship found wrecked.” A picture of a huge burgundy ship in a demolished state most likely by a storm, captured the headlines of ‘The Times’ newspaper. I quickly grabbed a paper and paid, the main article stated that the ship was severely demolished due to unknown causes; it contained a few passengers, possibly murdered couple of months ago in a brutal manner. Police force was particularly tracing for the captain of the Ship, Mr. Thomas White who was gone astray from the panorama mysteriously. They suspected the murder of the passengers encompasses a connection with the Captain of the Ship who might have escaped.

I slowly became clarified with all my qualms over Thomas. He was truly a mysterious person. His round face and sharp eyes holding a surreptitious matter of life and death, the urge he had to meet professor Harton, all of it tied my mind causing headache. I walked into the deserted lecture hall where professor Harton was writing something.

“Professor, I’m extremely sorry for disturbing you. I need to talk to you” I declared in an official pitch.

“Good morning Gabriel, good to see you, well we have a main discussion today” he said in a firm voice.

“Before we converse about our research- I want to know about Thomas White. Who is he?” I asked with hesitation.

“Does this matter related to your research Gabriel? I hope you are not inquisitive as I think”

“No Professor Harton, I’m sorry but you should read this before you make your mind about me” I demonstrated The Times newspaper headlines and the article in front of him.

He looked at the paper and I didn’t see any lines of reaction on his face. He stated in a calm voice “I read the paper two hours ago, what do you want Gabriel?”

“Professor don’t you understand the fact that Thomas White is a criminal waiting to be caught by the police. What kind of help you could offer him at this state? Even if he hasn’t killed those passengers he should be able to give an appropriate justification regarding the source of devastation for his ship and murdered passengers. I hope you understand my point of view” I said furiously.

“Gabriel, you know you are more than a student for me. However, you ought to remember that you have no consent to arbitrate into my personal affairs. Thomas is not a murderer as everyone believes; he had encountered the mysterious lost world along the journey and has survived alone. In fact our research expedition will not be possible without him; he is going to be the chief person for our voyage. But his personal life shouldn’t be taken into account”

“What do you mean Professor? How can we trust this person with our lives during the journey?” I said in a surprised tone.

“No Gabriel, believe me. He has been with me in the past to complete my mission of lost world and he is the one and only person who knew the path to the lost world. I can give you my word. What you read in this paper is a whole different story from what actually happened. It is based on substantiation while we are dealing with supernatural beings”

“I cannot believe this, professor, I thought only two of us know about this lost world”

“No Gabriel, there are people who knew this even before centuries but they cannot enter the world without Hollacoh’s sanction, it is only for the manifested souls”

“Sign of Hollacoh?” I asked in slight fear.

“Yes Gabriel” Professor Harton said seriously.

“Professor, do you know what this language is?” I took out my writing pad and placed it for display. I saw a sudden stimulation in professor’s eyes, his face grew pale and he opened his mouth.

“What is it professor? I had a dream last night and I heard Hollacoh saying these words to me. I don’t understand what does it mean?”

“Gabriel, for all the fears to come alive in this world it means…..I’m waiting for your arrival eagerly” he uttered in terror.

“What?” I was shocked in dread.

“So the time has come to commence our voyage Gabriel. You shouldn’t doubt on improbability” Professor said in a very unusual tone which made my guts turn to water. I saw a shadow in eavesdrop on our discussion and I slowly walked towards the window. When I looked through it to take hold of the person, for my astonishment, I saw Julia standing behind the door prying my private conversation with professor. It was unbelievable to see her performing such a delinquency.