Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - The Safe Room

The coin spun in the dark air. For a moment, it reflected no light at all. Zoe stared up at the invisible coin and hoped it landed tails. Even though it was wrong. It was easier. She wanted something easy. Wanted an excuse to do the wrong thing. Wanted a reason to excuse the sick feeling inside.

How could she have made it a coin toss? But isn’t fear the answer to so many of life’s questions?

The coin fell, out of potential, and into actuality. Anton let the coin hit the ground. He stared down with an indifferent expression. Zoe and Bella joined him on either side.

“It’s decided then,” Zoe said. “Grab anything if there’s anything to grab, then we go.”

“What’s there to do besides hydrate?” Anton said before taking a long drink of well water from the pail.

Bella glared as he gulped it down.

“You don’t have to be so smug.”

Zoe placed a hand on Bella’s shoulder.

“It’s for the best,” did she keep the relief from her face?

Bella shrugged her away.

“It’s still wrong.”

Zoe pursed her lips. The action stung her burns, but she pointed out into the dark with a steely finger.

“The gate’s that way. Let's move.”

She moved away, not looking back, but listening within her chest. The distance between Anton’s heart and her’s remained the same as he followed. For a moment, the distance between her and Bella grew, but then Bella hurried after.

Walking became jogging became a sprint. Blurring past headstones, leaping marble crosses, silent joy for their new explosive power. Heading toward the yawning gate in the wall, the three fled the campfire. Fled the church.

Fled the coin that came up tails.

###

Joel wandered through the graveyard. Whenever he heard a scampering, he ran ahead, calling out for Cassy, but she was always just out of sight. Sometimes she stopped moving, and he listened for the dripping of the black gunk from her eyes onto the surface of cool marble, or the softer, more inexplicable sound of a drop on a dusty blade of grass.

He wandered through the graveyard, growing tired, slowing his steps, leaning against the gravestones, and looking about as the sky lightened. It had been so long now, he couldn’t stop looking for her. Even after doubts entered his mind. Why didn’t she come when he called? Why was he so certain the others were wrong? Why did he think he could save her? The questions circled, pursued by guilt: if he had protected her, none of this would have happened.

Dawn rose, and he wandered on.

###

Zoe, Bella, and Anton found the tunnel beyond the gate to be a tight throat of darkness lined with jagged shards of mirror. They attempted to continue their pace. Outrunning what they left behind, but the blades in the dark staggered their progress.

Their only light source was Anton’s lighter, but after a few flickers to reveal their surroundings, they decided to save the fuel. Bella’s sword was useless. It radiated heat, but not light.

They were forced to rely upon the Mirror essence within Zoe and Anton to serve as guides. The essence would only react when close to the shards. An awkward task in the darkness. Zoe insisted on jogging. She led the charge, her hands outstretched hoping to feel the angled infinity of Mirror brushing Mirror. She frequently slowed too late to dodge completely. The blades were razor thin, and even her strengthened body suffered scores of cuts.

The uneven nature of the blades caused trouble. Some lengths were like daggers thrust out from the wall, while others ran across the entire length of the tunnel. They had to crawl under these to pass at all.

Progress slowed, and Zoe agonized over each minute as the clock in the back of her mind ticked down.

[Time to complete quest: 06:02:13:14]

[06:01:47:09]

[06:00:21:57]

At last, they turned a corner in the tunnel and found themselves in a grotto. Around the size of a small backyard, with the cave cut away by a river that flowed slowly into a tunnel. Phosphorescent weeds grew thick beneath the surface of the water. Their light rippled across a ceiling of knobbly stalactites.

Fruit trees with broad black leaves, and fat white fruit grew along the walls of the cave. Thick dust coated the ground. Free of fallen leaves in a way that left Zoe uncomfortably staged. By the river's edge, the smooth stone of the cave floor formed a natural jetty where a five-seater wooden boat bobbed in the water.

A System examination revealed the fruit was edible, and that it restored Skein. They soon gorged themselves on the milky flesh and sat among the roots, letting their heartbeats settle before they continued.

Anton let out a sigh of comfort as he pulled his shoes from his feet and let his toes dip in the water.

“This is great,” he wriggled his toes. “Better than a pedicure.”

[Phase 5 initiated.]

Their heartbeats spiked as one.

Anton kicked the water and stood.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” Zoe said with her face in her hands.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"Why would you say that?"

[Spawning items, chests, scrolls, and traps…]

They sighed.

###

Bella stared dully at the notification as it faded. Stared? Listened? The way the System interacted with her mind was unlike anything she could truly explain.

She took another bite of the white flesh, and pale juice dribbled from her chin. The flavor kept shifting on her tongue. Salty white chocolate, sweet chicken, and a watery milkshake. It should have been gross, but it was mild, and she was tired. Every bite filled her belly and restored her Skein. Over on the other side, Zoe devoured the fruit. How much Skein did she have now?

[Phase 5 complete.]

[Items, chests, scrolls, and traps spawned.]

Bella examined her sword. The runes were dull, hungry, and unresponsive as she traced them with her finger. Blood. The sword wanted blood. How long until it weakened her?

But more pressing, the System notification confused her. How did she have this sword at all? Certainly, it counted as an Item, but then how did she get it before Phase 5 was initiated?

[Yes, quite the question, isn’t it? I’m so glad you’re the curious kind. The alternative is excruciatingly dull. Consider the runeblade a little gift. A special favor from the patron of the store. And one favor deserves another, no? So, when you can, I would so appreciate a visit.]

[Quest received: Meet The Gambler.]

[Objective: Reach level 20.]

[Time to complete: Now that’s up to you, isn’t it?]

[Reward: Meeting me isn’t enough? Don’t worry, you’ll get something special…]

[Accept Quest?]

[Yes]/[No]

She blinked as the notification receded. The others were still eating, no indication that anything shockingly otherworldly resounded in their heads.

“Um,” Bella cleared her throat. “I just received a quest.”

“What quest?” Anton asked.

“It told me to reach level 20 so I could meet The Gambler. But I think the Gambler gave me the quest. It didn’t feel like the normal System voice.”

Zoe threw aside her fruit and came over.

“Do you have a deadline?” she asked.

“No. I can take as much time as I want.”

Zoe glowered, but her expression faded when she saw Bella watching.

“Sorry, it’s just,” she paused, clearly weighing her words. “I also want to reach level 20. But I want to reach it fast.”

Anton strolled over.

“How fast?”

“In the next five days.”

Anton whistled.

“You’re not worried we might die attempting something like that? Remember how the last fight went?”

“The one where I kicked Cassy so hard she ran away?”

“Well, okay, fine, but I was talking about --”

Bella stood between them.

“How can you two be so casual about what happened?” she said. “Cassy… We lost her. And we let Joel go to his death. Just so we could survive? Why are we so much better than them?” Tears washed away her vision. Choked her voice. “Why do we deserve to live?”

Anton grinned.

“Because we’re us?”

“You bastard!”

She rushed him. Swinging the blade and realizing she never put it down. It felt so light she often forgot she was holding it. The blade swung through the air. Was she chopping at Anton’s head? Or was the blade?

Cut him, the blade whispered. Feed me.

He ducked her swing with his hands in his pockets, but his grin vanished when Zoe booted him in the side. He flew off across the cave and smacked into a tree. His hands grabbed a tree branch. He raised an eyebrow as he swung himself down to the ground.

“Let her fight her own battles.”

“Shut up,” Zoe said. “We don’t fight among ourselves. We did what we could for Cassy, but we couldn’t do enough. Sometimes, that’s just the way it is. Joel made his choice. We could have gone after him, dragged him with us… Maybe we should have, but I doubt it. We’re alive now. Of everyone on that plane, we three are the ones who made it. Maybe it’s luck, but I think we made it because we could. Because we’re capable. Joel gave up on going on,” she paused and swallowed. “It was his choice. Not our fault. Now, I can’t choose for you, but I’m going to keep going. And I’d like you both to come with me.”

Bella met Zoe’s gaze. Who was this woman she met yesterday? How did she keep her head high and face this apocalyptic madness?

How could Bella borrow that strength? How could she help maintain it? Because she knew that without Zoe’s strength, they would all crumble.

She nodded at Zoe.

“I guess I’d rather do this with you than go alone, but,” she pointed at Anton. “He’s a wanker.”

Anton mimed the act.

“Well, you’re too soft.”

Zoe scowled at him.

“We all have our flaws, but we need to work together. What do you two say? Level 20 in five days? We’ll leave this dungeon able to take on anything.”

“It’ll be tough,” Bella said. “Probably life-threatening.”

“Seems everything is tough these days.”

Anton laughed.

“So what’s new?”

“Alright,” Zoe put her hand out palm down. “Level 20 on three?”

Anton placed his hand on hers.

“This is incredibly lame.”

Bella glowered at Anton, but placed her hand on top of his. They counted down together.

“Three, two, one… level 20!”

Their voices echoed through the grotto, and their laughter echoed after.

“So lame,” Anton sighed as he wiped away a mirthful tear. “Do you think we could sleep here, Boss? Before we move on with our quest?”

Zoe looked around. She no longer even seemed annoyed when they called her boss.

“Seems to be a safe place. I’ll keep watch for a few hours, then someone else takes over. Once we’re rested, I want to continue.”

Anton nodded and walked over to lie down under the branches of a tree. It was warm enough in the cave, and the dusty ground was soft enough, but they were so exhausted they could sleep anywhere. Anton was soon snoring.

Bella found herself a spot and closed her eyes. She was so tired, but her brain kept winding itself around and around and around, and… Footsteps approached, and she sat up as Zoe crouched beside her.

“I’m sorry about Joel,” Zoe said. “And Cassy… and on the plane… I’m--”

Bella reached out and took Zoe’s hand.

“I know you’re trying,” it was difficult to console Zoe while Bella disagreed with her decision. But then, she hadn’t stayed behind either…

“We made you the leader, and that wasn’t fair, but… You act like the leader, you know? I trust you to make the right decision, just…” She hated herself for the selfishness of her request. “Don’t abandon me like you did them.”

Zoe squeezed her hand so tight it hurt before she nodded and let go.

“I won’t,” she said with levity that felt forced. “Besides, I still owe you a round of bloody marys.”

Bella chuckled. Sobbed. Zoe hugged her, and they held each other, chuckling, crying, for a few minutes.

“I should let you sleep,” Zoe said.

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Let me try something.”

Zoe focused inward, the expression of focus on someone’s face as they accessed their Skein.

Bella felt a shiver inside her chest as though someone gently stroked her heart. She recognized the feeling from before, in the cemetery, when Zoe activated her new technique. Even as she thought this, she felt her pulse slow. Her body grew calm, and Zoe stood.

“Do you feel better?”

Bella nodded.

“That felt weird.”

“Goodnight, Bella.”

“G’night.”

But sleep dragged at her, and she closed her eyes as Zoe walked away. Before she fell asleep, she looked at the quest in her mind.

[Accept Quest?]

[Yes]/[No]

Yes.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

[Thank you for accepting my quest, and so quickly too! How about a little gift? I hope you like it, oh… you’re asleep?]

[Time until Gift arrives: 07:59:59]

[07:59:58]

[07:59:57]

[Sweet dreams, Bella.]

[07:58:55]