Chapter 53: Ch 53 – New Day

“Hey Anna, you wanna taste?” The boy outside the window asked. He gestured to his crotch, “I hear you’ve sucked half the school by now. Except maybe the freshmen.” He snorted before laughing to himself.

I barely even considered before replying with a flat, “Pass.” That done I pulled the window closed and stepped away from it. He wasn’t half bad looking as far as idiots went, but the attitude was a clear turn-off. Besides what idiot asks for a blow job in this situation? I was busy working. Besides that, I didn’t even recognize him, so it probably didn’t matter much. Sometimes I did regret how things turned out.

I wandered back to where a greasy pile of dishes was left for me, and started passing them through the large metal machine that was oozing hot steam and water. Sometimes I’d need to repeat a dish, but it generally got the job done.

After a few minutes, someone walked over to me, “Did I seriously hear what I thought I heard?” A boy said to me, he was wearing a black apron. We both seemed to be wearing the same uniform. Just a white shirt and black pants.

“What did you hear?” I said with an informative smile.

“My god our school is full of idiots.” He said shaking his head. He glanced up at the clock which glared back at us with a bright red eleven, fifty-nine. “Just about closing time. I’m gonna go out for a quick smoke. We should be good to step out as long as you have the headset. Want to join me?” He asked.

I shrugged and followed, we said much the same to a woman in the front who was poking and prodding at the tilted tablet in front of her. She nodded and we pushed past the door stepping outside. The low hum of rumbling was evidently coming from the big machine sitting just past the sidewalk. We sat down just outside the door after the thing pulled past us and headed off into the darkness, the only sign of its passing was the lights that blinked and changed as it drove away.

“You still going along with your dad’s plan after this?” He asked.

I glanced back at him and sighed, “I guess so. I mean I’ve lived with her for nineteen years so far, I’ll manage a few more.”

I glanced over at him and he shrugged, “Yeah but you seriously don’t get along.”

“Most of the time it's fine.” I pointed out.

He puffed on his freshly lit cigarette, “If I recall you correctly, you said ‘but sometimes she's an insufferable bitch.’” He said chuckling to himself. He held out his cigarette towards me and I waved him off.

“That one time was enough for me to decide that you’re an idiot. One thing I definitely should have listened to my dad on.” I pointed out.

He laughed, and just shook his head staring up at the sky, “Can’t believe you’re going to be going to college.”

“It's not much of a surprise considering that everyone's been pushing me in that direction for years.” I noted.

“I guess… But there's plenty of shit you could do around here..."

"Maybe..." I said vaguely, it was a conversation we had before. It wasn't going to change anything now.

"You gonna keep this look?” He said gesturing at me.

“What? Got an issue?” I asked.

“Not really, I’ve been your friend since elementary school, not an easy task mind you.” He pointed out.

“Yeah, I remember when you got into that fight in high school. You got detention for a week.”

“Two weeks.” He corrected.

“I’m still kind of surprised by how that turned out.” I admitted leaning against the glass. It was crazy thinking this part of our lives was almost over.

“Does my self-control astound you?” He asked.

“More like I think you're into flat chicks." I pointed out.

“What makes you say that?” he asked looking a bit unsure.

“Your track record?” I pointed out. “Jess, Mary, Ellie” I counted off on my fingers.

“Hmm… You forgot about Amber. He said waving that off. But seriously, it's a chance to start over, to stop comparing yourself to Bella. Reinvent yourself or whatever shit they always say.”

“I’m fine with dying my hair and keeping it shorter. If my sister wants to take the girl next door look then she can, at least this way I don’t get mistaken for her.” I pointed out.

A head leaned out of the door, “That was the last car, closing time. Let's get… this… over… with…”

I opened my eyes and was suddenly overcome with a distinct sense of nausea. I began to flail as my entire world shifted back and forth and around. I wasn’t sure if I was falling, or something else. I just flailed, and I tried to close my eyes, but it didn’t help it was like I couldn’t shut them. Then only after all of that did someone grab me and pull me against him.

Devin’s voice spoke, “Anna? What's wrong? Are you alright?” He asked. This was Devin? Devin, held me tight so I would stop moving.

Even as everything moved and shifted around me being restrained helped my mind catch back up to what was actually happening, and what I was experiencing. I calmed considerably as my memories asserted themselves and the strange experience that was me and Naan sharing the same senses started to make sense again.

“Sorry…” I said after a few breaths. I consciously tried to ignore Naan’s strange senses and focus on my own. That all done I started to feel a little bit better. Part of the real problem however was that the room I was inside was pitch black. So even if I wanted to focus on what I saw, Naan’s vision felt so much more prevalent. Since it seemed to be unhindered by such simple requirements for light.

“Naan?” I asked.

“Yes…” the voice in my head replied.

“Was some of that you? Your vision was going bonkers a moment ago.” I said trying to articulate why that had been so sudden, and so terrible all at once.

“Yes… I’ve… Never slept before.”

Well, that answered a question I had really wanted to know. On the upside, I supposed that meant that our minds were limited by our body's limitations. I supposed that meant Naan would get tired like me as well… in a sense.

Still, if we could trust each other the other way would probably be so much more useful. Though I suppose for the moment we could at least be confident in watching every little thing each other did.

Devin gently pulled back from me, “You’re alright now?” he asked.

I nodded though he probably couldn't see me, “We’re still trying to figure this out…”

Devin shifted to the side. I could see the after images of sparks flickering in my vision. But it was clear Devin was having some trouble lighting the candle in the darkness.

“Naan can you just light the candle for him?”

“Yes…” Naan replied though it was clearly a touch hesitant.

I could feel something in us shift as a small space around us was claimed, and Naan did as it had done many times for me back in our first cave. With it, I could practically feel something in the small dungeon body drift over towards the candle, collecting and focusing above it.

Devin who was leaning over with what looked like a metal ring and a rock blinked in surprise. The tiny flame on the wax gently swayed back and forth on its wick. It didn’t seem to have much life left in it either considering that not much of the candle was left, most of it had burned off.

“Did you do that?” Devin said setting down the tools.

“No, that was Naan.” I answered.

“Right…” He said considering me in the soft candlelight.

I smiled at him, “What?”

“Well you at least seem a little better, you are not quite as pale as last night.” He offered.

“I do feel a little better. I think this is going to just take some getting used to.” I explained.

“Okay.” he said going quiet for a moment. His eyes traced over me, not in a lewd or suggestive way. Rather I could see the concern in his features, he wasn't sure how to ask the questions that were forming in his mind.

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“Is something wrong?” I asked him. “You look like you want to ask something.” I added.

“Anna, It is you in there right?”

I put my hand to his cheek, “Of course it is silly. You think that some moldy old rock could be this charming?”

I could practically feel Naan's rumbling about being called "moldy."

He couldn’t help but smile a little, but he continued, “You’re sure?” Though he seemed a little relieved at least.

I pouted up at him, even sitting he seemed so tall next to me, “Why?”

“Because you haven't done a single inappropriate thing yet and you’ve been awake for at least a few minutes.” He said grinning.

I couldn’t help but laugh and leaned in, kissing him gently. The kiss lingered and I pressed in further, leaning into him. In fact if nothing else my attention on his tongue, and my attempts at pulling it into my mouth were at least giving me something to focus on specifically. I wasted several minutes just enjoying the moment as I shifted him backward and ended up laying on top of him.

After far too long for a single kiss, I was forced to break it and pulled back just enough to smile down at him, “Actually maybe this can w-” I started before I was interrupted by a more distant voice.

“-ello? Anyone down there?”

I could only frown as Devin shouted back, “Yeah?”

“I’m heading out to the fields, you joining or not?”

Devin gave me a disappointed frown but gently pulled himself to a seating position, “Be right up!” he called back.

I couldn’t help but be disappointed, he’d gone and said those things, and then I’d done all that… He pulled me in, and we shared a soft but warm kiss before he leaned back. “That's my fault. I sort of forgot about that when all that happened.”

I nodded, “Me too… I guess I’ll see you afterward for lunch?” I said.

He nodded standing up, “Oh, and probably snuff that candle out as soon as you can. I’ll be paying for them with whatever they decide to pay me today.” Devin noted.

“Right… I’ll try and be productive too.” I said.

“Don’t overdo it, and be careful. These people seem alright, but we have no idea how they will react to the truth.” He said whispering the last sentence.

Then he was gone and I was…. Well, I wasn't alone was I? That was a strange thought to consider. Still, Devin was right best to not waste the candle. I blew it out, and awkwardly. Fumbled to the far side.

“Naan… did you not want to claim the rest?” I asked.

“I…”

I leaned against the wooden frame set into the stone. “What's wrong?” I asked.

“This is strange... I don’t know what to do.” The once dungeon core replied.

“Me either…” I replied.

There was nothing else, no sudden surge of dungeon claiming, no thoughts. Just… nothing. I decided to leave Naan to its thoughts. Which just left me with my own.

I considered just going back to bed, I was still tired, exhausted maybe. I had no idea when I had finally gone to sleep, yesterday had just been ridiculous all the way up until the end. Just thinking about waking up alone and panicking again sort of ruined sleep for me for the moment.

With nothing else in mind, I made my way down into the deeper passageway.

Inside, the goblins were all snoring in an awkward pile. At least besides Kosue. I didn’t see her.

I was honestly a little worried, but I didn’t want to wake the others just yet, so using the wall to keep my balance lest I lose it I made my way down towards the underground river.

I was glad I hadn’t made a raucous because I found Kosue sitting with several pelts on the ground, she was using her bone needle to stitch them into what looked like another poncho.

She was next to the mushroom ink vial using it for a light source. I wasn’t sure why she had opted to work down here instead of up top.

Gerl however was quietly watching her from the other side of the passageway. He hadn’t so much as moved from where I’d last seen him. Though his feet were now tied again. He was sitting with them extended in front of him, with his tied wrists in his lap.

“Morning.” I said to both of them.

Kosue waved her tiny four-fingered hand at me.

Gerl glanced over at me and I could see him try to smile. Maybe he was genuinely happy to see me?

“Have either of you eaten yet?” I asked.

Kosue shook her head, “No cook in cave.” She said returning the advice I’d once given her.

I nodded, “Actually we could probably do it in here. There's a constant breeze.”

“Hmm?” She asked.

I nodded, “I think so at least.” Not that I really knew. Maybe it would be better to build it outside anyway? I couldn’t exactly have Kosue outside with me. So this was either me cooking everything up top, or us cooking down here. I guess we’d just have to risk it. I did think the breeze would help though, it was constant, and cool so it would help move the smoke and heat away.

“We should get started. Are you making ponchos for the other goblins?” I asked.

Kosue nodded, “Impressed them.” She said grinning.

I thought back to when they had arrived, and I could see why. “When we are done cooking should I help?” I asked.

She nodded, “Would like!”

“You really do get along with them don’t you…” Gerl said watching us.

“Sure.” I replied, “They aren't that different from us.”

He nodded, “I guess not… I’ve always heard bad things about them. I wonder how much is true.” He mused.

I considered, “Probably all of it.” I replied.

He could only frown at my response, “But…”

I smiled at him, “You know how bad people can be right?”

He nodded seeming to understand my point.

“I’ll go fetch some sticks and stuff if you want to get us some knives and the food they caught.” I told Kosue. After that, we got started. As it turned out it was actually pretty early. Far earlier than I’d woken the day prior. I didn’t mind the distractions, whether it was cooking, or helping Kosue. Gerl mostly just watched and thought. I left him to consider this choice without bothering him. After some familiar work with Kosue I left her to continue her work of cleaning and preparing the new fur that we produced this morning.

As much as I didn’t mind helping her, I really needed some air and sunshine. Or maybe it would be better to say that I needed some time to actually think about the situation I found myself in. The distractions were nice, but they were just that, distractions.

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