World Between: Chapter 7 part 2

“At this point I just want to get home, and this is the fastest way to do it,” Anna said, opening the cell doors. “If they’re asleep on the job, you can’t be that important.”

“Then you did learn something,” Aaron said. “What was it?”

“Now is really not the time, dude,” Cain replied, following Anna out of the building. 

“Weren’t you–” Jared began.

“I found her, okay?” Anna replied. “And we talked plenty, we know what we're doing. Now are you or are you not coming?”

“I don’t know. Where are we going?” Jared asked.

“Well, the Earth Gem is the closest.” Anna replied. “And we skipped over the Dark Gem, but you’re not gonna like who is in charge of it.”

“Now, wait a minute… where?... When did you?...” Cain stopped as he spoke.

“Cain?” Anna replied. “It’s a way home. You want to go home, right?”

“Honestly?” Cain began. Both Aaron and Jared looked at him. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?" Aaron asked. “After all-'' He paused as shaking lanterns echoed through the stone halls pushing the group to walk forward. “Maybe? After all this? We broke five of them, Cain.”

“We broke maybe two, and both of them were dumb luck,” Cain said. “Compared to Earth or… my Earth this place seems pretty stable.”

“Then why help break the gems?” Anna asked.

Cain shrugged. “Because, it’s too easy. Like it would’ve happened either way.”

“They keep this world stable,” Aaron said.

“Do they?” Cain asked. “They don’t act like it. Nothing here does.”

“What, pray tell, would they do then, Cain?” Anna asked.

“You totally know.” Cain replied. Anna giggled in response.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Anna said.

“Well, who is in charge of the Dark Gem?” Aaron said. “How did we miss it.”

It was an inaudible trip through the rest of the hallways. Quick tumble rolls passed lethargic guards, and tiptoed down the solid granite paths. They travel around the dwarves that stood on each other shoulders to grab what few gems remained in their carved-out caves. Anna led everyone to a camp just outside of town, and sat down on a log. “The Dark Gem is under the tavern.” She answered. “Where Sofia was working… because she is the one in charge of guarding it this cycle…” 

The nearby deer looked up and towards the camp before settling down to eat the grass again. Birds flew out of their trees in pitch black night, and only returned after the shouting finished its echoing. “And that was why I waited,” Anna said as Aaron and Jared panted.

“Not just a personal interest then,” Cain replied.

“It might have been,” Anna yawned, and curled up in her sleeping bag “I didn’t ask about the details.” She spoke with decreasing volume as she closed her eyes.

Khaldin softly poked one empty mug into another. “About time you get back to your post, lass.”

“Seriously?” Sofia yawned. “Would it kill them to slow down every once and a while?”

“Dwarves are the same,” Khaldig answered. “Just pass halfway home and they’ll mine without a wink.”

Sofia stood, mixing a sigh and a groan that were conquered by a yawn, and steadied herself against a rock. “Can’t leave it unattended forever. Cassius, tonight?” Khaldig nodded, and walked with her down the mountain. “Not long now,” she sighed. “About time I settled down anyways.”