Chapter 12

TWELVE

Jackson stood tall in the chill of the dark and early morning. Colorado was colder than he"d ever imagined, but they couldn"t wait any longer.

Just as it had the last time, the beanstalk had grown in just a few minutes he would imagine - but they did need sleep so they hadn"t checked it until now.

"If you"re ever in need of anything, you"ll find a way to find me and I"ll gladly help." Thorne clapped Jackson on the back and gave him a solemn smile.

"I should"ve commissioned some horseshoes while I had the chance."

Thorne laughed and moved to the stalk, ready to be the first person to climb should there be any issues.

"You did right by us, and there"s nothing I could ever say or do to repay you." Lark lifted her arm up and Mardoc landed peacefully on the brown glove. "May we meet again."

"Climb safe."

Lark stepped off to the side so that Barrett could take the second position, protected by both, though he didn"t need it.

Jackson looked at Barrett, and all he could see were images from hours before. All he could do was twist his lips into a sad grimace.

"You"ll forever be with me." Barrett spoke softly.

"The ground and sky are meant to be separate." Jackson crossed his arms over his chest. "It was a wonderful adventure."

"Goodbye," Barrett paused for a moment and then turned away, walking to grab the stalk and leave forever.

Jackson let his eyes fix on the trio"s retreating forms until they vanished into the distance. The adrenaline that had fueled his escape from the giant"s clutches finally began to ebb, replaced by a weariness that settled in his bones. The harrowing events of the past few weeks—the miraculous beanstalk, the perilous journey through the castle, the intimate night spent with Barrett—all caught up with him at once.

With shaking hands, Jackson retrieved his ax from where it leaned against the stalk and turned sideways next to the miraculous beanstalk that had brought him to this point. Each swing of the ax reverberated through his aching muscles, but he persisted anyway. He knew the risks of leaving behind such a fantastical, otherworldly reminder of his brush with the giants and the Cloud Realm.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the beanstalk began to shrivel and vanish with each strike of Jackson"s ax, as if it were merely a figment of his overactive imagination. With a final stroke and a prayer that they"d gotten off, Jackson swung. The beanstalk completely vanished, leaving behind nothing but a patch of trampled field and the faintest of glowing embers.

Alone with his thoughts, Jackson couldn"t shake the bond he"d forged with Barrett.

He wondered if he"d ever see him again, if their paths would ever cross in the vast expanse of the realms.

Standing just a moment longer, Jackson sighed and closed his eyes, forcing back any further emotions. He trudged toward his battered truck, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his once-ordinary life would never be the same again. The impossible had revealed itself to him, and he could no longer unsee the wonders—and the dangers—that lurked just beyond the clouds.

"All that"s left to do is drive home and sell those crops." Though he spoke out loud, Jackson knew there wasn"t anyone to answer him.

With each passing day, Jackson felt the call of the Cloud Realm growing louder within him. The mundane routine of his life on the farm seemed dull and lifeless compared to the vibrant, enchanted world he"d glimpsed.

It didn"t matter that his farm had blossomed, and his aunt had finally accepted everything he"d said once she saw the crops. It should have felt amazing. It should have been everything he"d dreamed of.

Only now, the piercing gaze of a pair of cerulean eyes haunted his sleep, beckoning him into a realm of untold possibilities. As he drifted off, their electric hue gave way to new dreams that were both exhilarating and terrifying. How could something as simple as a pair of eyes hold such power over his mind? He felt himself drawn towards them, like a moth to a flame, unable to resist their enchanting pull. And in the darkness of his slumber, those blue orbs continued to haunt him, an alluring mystery that he couldn"t quite unravel.

One night, unable to stand it any longer, he took the final magical bean and tucked it into his pocket, determined to find a way back to Barrett and the life they might have together. He wasn't certain how they'd move between realms so neither had to give up anything, but that wasn't something he would worry about for now.

Jackson knew that this decision would change everything—and yet, he found himself unable to care. With a note to his aunt that he would return at some point, he packed a small bag, said goodbye to the animals who he would miss, and walked to the beat up truck.

As he made the long journey back to the Colorado mountains and the motel that had started it all, his heart pounded with equal parts anticipation and fear. There was always the chance Barrett could have easily moved on once back in his kingdom.

There was the fact that Barrett was a prince and while Jackson owned land, it wasn"t the same thing. Princesses often found themselves beneath their station in history, but princes never did.

As if sensing his approach, the motel seemed to awaken around him, its walls practically humming with energy. He killed the engine and grabbed the spade and the tiny leather pouch. Jackson"s boots echoed as he moved in the darkness toward the same spot that held the stalk weeks prior.

The memories of his time together with Barrett flooded his senses, and for a brief moment, he thought he could even catch a whiff of Barrett"s unique scent on the breeze.

Despite his mounting trepidation, Jackson dug into the frozen soil as best as he could with the small garden spade. Blowing on his hands to try to warm them, he reached inside the tiny sack, utterly unable to feel anything. It took tries before his numb hands found the seed.

Dropping the bean in the hole, Jackson shoved the frozen dirt back on top and allowed himself to do the one thing he hadn"t done in the weeks since Barrett left.

He cried, wetting the soil and following the actual instructions given to him that day in the farmer"s market.

Closing his eyes, Jackson took a deep breath and braced himself for whatever was to come.

The ground shook as the stalk grew, sending tremors through the earth. His eyes flew open with excitement and he watched as the stalk began to grow.

The giant vine snaked its way up towards the clouds, piercing through the night sky like a beacon of hope for all those below. It twisted and turned, its leaves rustling in the chilly wind as if alive with magic. A frosty mist began to rise. As he watched in awe, tiny sparks of light flickered at its base - stars dancing amidst the foggy darkness.

Jackson swallowed hard, wiping away tears from his cheeks before starting his climb. As if sensing his approach, the beanstalk twitched slightly, its leaves rustling like an old tapestry ruffled by a gentle breeze. Its towering trunk swayed slowly from side to side as if dancing gracefully with an unseen partner beneath its massive frame. Despite himself, Jackson couldn"t help but marvel at its sheer size.

"Time to climb again."

Pulling himself up with gritted teeth and calloused hands, each footstep creaking on the sturdy vine felt surreal against this unnatural backdrop. The cool air nipped at his skin, carrying an icy bite that forced him to clench his jaw against the cold. His breath streamed out in white puffs as he ascended higher into the heavens. Yet amidst this bitter atmosphere above Earth, there was something else - something subtle yet captivating. An ethereal scent of celestial flowers that reminded him of Barrett"s presence amidst these familiar heights.

Despite pulling himself up over knotted branches and thick leaves for the third time, his muscles protested as much as they had the first.

Jackson"s boots slipped against the crisp snow as he continued climbing up the beanstalk, feeling its frozen surface bite into his hands with each grip. He wasn"t certain how it froze in an instant, but it had.

Jackson"s heart raced in his chest as he ascended the seemingly endless stalk. The world below him became a speck, then smaller and smaller until it was just a memory.

The bitter wind whipped around him, carrying with it the scent of snow and sky, while soft flakes swirled around his face like a gentle caress

Clouds stretched out before him like a vast white sea, their swirling patterns almost hypnotic in their beauty. As he climbed higher, more details emerged. The snowfall turned into a frosty mist, and he found himself surrounded by an otherworldly serenity. The wind whistled past his ears, carrying with it a melody that seemed to come from distant lands and distant times. It was as if the very air had taken on a life of its own, singing an ancient song in praise of this monstrous plant creature that now served as their gatekeeper between worlds.

Jackson could only hope if people saw it, they ignored the urge to climb it or cut it down.

The sky was painted in shades of blue and purple, the sun setting in the background casting an ethereal glow on everything it touched. He could taste freedom in the icy air. It stung his tongue yet filled him with a sense of power he had never known before. He glanced down at his farm below, now just a speck in the distance amidst rolling hills and valleys painted white by winter"s icy touch. His farmhouse was but a dot amidst a world so small yet so precious to him. This adventure felt bigger than anything he could have imagined—like stepping into destiny itself.

Every step upward felt like an achievement, and with each one, he couldn"t help but think of Barrett—their connection growing stronger with each passing moment.

Up here, far from the ground and its harsh realities, there was an otherworldly peace that resonated within him. As he neared the top of the beanstalk, he could feel its power humming beneath his fingers; an almost palpable energy coursed through the vine and into his body. He paused for breath, leaning against its trunk as the wind rippled through his hair. Above him lay a kingdom of giants—a world of adventure and danger that beckoned him onward. His pulse quickened at the thought of what might await him in this magical place.

He tasted metal on his tongue from exhaustion, but adrenaline propelled him forward to reach for that kingdom that loomed so close yet so far away. His toes ached within his boots from gripping onto the vine so tightly with every step; however, he couldn"t bring himself to let go of this lifeline just yet. The world below him blurred into nothingness as snowflakes fell faster now, kissing Jackson"s skin like tender kisses from another realm—cool and delicate against him.

With a last burst of determination, Jackson hauled himself over the lip of the cloud canopy.

The world around him changed entirely. In place of green fields and towering trees were rolling hills covered in ruins, blackened stumps poking through charred earth like rotten teeth. The sky was filled with streaks of thick orange light from a setting sun that bled across the clouds like blood on snow, casting an eerie glow over the scarred land. The ground rumbled beneath him as giants paced through their territory, their hulking forms stirring up great clouds of gray smoke from trampled buildings and shattered stone. It was not the grand kingdom he had expected, but a world ravaged by war. Bodies were scattered everywhere, twisted metal, and broken dreams. The air smelled of ash and copper from spilled blood while magic danced around him in flickers of lightning, casting shadows that made even the most mundane objects seem sinister.

Slowly sitting up, Jackson scanned his new surroundings with wide eyes; torn between amazement and terror at this strange new reality. His heart thundered in his chest as if it wanted to burst free as he took stock of his situation—no longer just an adventurer seeking fortune but a human among giants who must forge alliances or perish. A whisper of wind brushed past his cheek like a lover"s touch before vanishing into the abyss between two crumbling towers where once there had been beauty.

The skyline was dominated by gaping wounds that looked like they had been made by some terrible weapon. Towering pillars of ice jutted out from the ground like frozen fingers reaching for the heavens themselves. Piles upon piles of rubble dotted what used to be towns and cities; only here and there did he catch glimpses of hope - small groups huddled together for warmth under makeshift shelters or running towards wherever safety might lie. It was clear this place had been through hell and back already, but it didn"t seem ready to let go anytime soon.

Clutching onto this vine like a lifeline, Jackson swung down towards one such cluster of survivors - a group huddled around a small fire, trying to stay warm amidst the chill seeping into their bones. They looked up at him warily but welcomed him with open arms when they saw his battered form. He let out a shaky breath once he felt safe enough before asking what had happened here.

"Giants," one woman said softly as she handed him hot stew, "but they"ve mostly left us alone now." Her eyes glinted with pain and fear as she gestured towards an endless expanse beneath them where giants still fought among themselves for territory or spoils from their conquests below.

He couldn"t see how humans fit into their twisted games yet but knew he must try if he wanted answers about what lay ahead.

"The prince," he asked around a mouthful of stew that held no flavor but offered warmth. "Was he here?"

"At one point, yes," a man around his age responded. But now? We have no way of knowing."

"Then I"ll find him," he set the bowl of warm stew down on the rock and moved out, determined to find the man who he came for.

Jackson looked around and saw that the sky was still filled with the sounds of chaos as if a storm had just passed or was about to strike. The clouds moved and whipped around him, occasionally blotting out the sunlight before revealing it again. He bent down and picked up a stick, using it to help him navigate through the shimmering landscape of the clouds.

He paused when he heard a soft song coming from somewhere above - birds flying towards him, perhaps? No - it was Lark dropping out of a burning tree.

"I can"t find Barrett," he replied grimly, scanning the area with fresh determination, "Have you seen him?"

She shook her head slowly. "No, but I haven"t searched far." With that, they set off once more, following any sign they could find—footprints or broken plants leading them deeper into this strange new world filled with wonder and peril.

Eventually, they were deep inside the destroyed town. Broken homes scattered around them like discarded toys while grotesque creatures lurked in shadows or flew overhead on majestic beasts that could only exist here within these clouds.

Jackson stumbled upon something shining among the rubble, a dagger half-buried in stone. Its hilt embedded deeply within cracks in a boulder nearby. Just inches away lay an injured form clad all in black leather armor with eyes as blue as the sky.

"Barrett!"

Gasping deeply for breath as if waking from slumber, his eyes locked onto Jackson"s face immediately.

Jackson scrambled to get to the man he"d searched for, desperate to know if he was bordering on life or death.