He didn’t look at me anymore. “Just another pair of eyes from Dax.”

“He probably can’t see us anyways.” I said. Why the heck did we have to hide on the bed? That was stupid!

“You think everyone has eyesight like you?”

When did he notice my eyesight? Compared to demons, my vision at night was poor as hell!

I couldn’t argue back, but not trying to give up easily, “He probably can see our shadows on the tent anyways, since the candle was lit.”

“My tent is thick enough to provide privacy, if so, I wouldn’t even light the candle in the first place.”

Yeah right, I felt very stupid suddenly.

I got off the bed and walked toward the curtains.

He grabbed onto my arm, “You can’t leave now.”

“Why?”

“They are suspicious of something happening over here, but aren’t sure yet. No way you can make it out smoothly tonight. Also, Bobbi is probably awake by now. You will have to wait for another day when things calm down, I can lead you out then.”

“Why are you helping me?”

He didn’t reply immediately, but finally said the same thing again.

“I don’t want to explain why you are here, just listen if you want to live.”

“But I need to go back because someone is waiting for me.” I promised Rene to make it back before dawn. If he didn’t see me there, he would be worried and disappointed. I didn’t want to disappoint that little boy.

“If you leave now, then he is really waiting for nothing.”

He lifted the lid of a gigantic treasure box, threw in a blanket, and used that pair of blue eyes to signal me to lie inside.

“Sleep here until dawn, just hide in there when I am not around. There are air holes hidden on the box, so no need to worry about suffocation. Although you can choose not to do so, I can’t guarantee if a new person will come in by accident. If you are discovered, no one can save you.”

I pouted and got inside the treasure box to lie down. This wooden box was huge, but still I couldn’t get my legs straightened out.

“Keep the lid open, for I will not sleep dead like someone.” He blew off the candle, and went to sleep on his comfy bed.

How could someone be so helpful and mean at the same time? Even though he was helping out, I couldn’t help but think he was a jerk. There was no gentleman in him at all.

I kept on turning and twisting in my “little coffin,” unable to find a comfortable position to sleep tight. The main reason was that I was worried about Rene. It was me who kept his hope up on living again. Although he had never admitted it, I knew how important it was for me to stay beside him. He was just a kid after all. As I was lying there and worrying, sleepiness soon took over. I was indeed very tired by now after walking so far and encountering all the hassles of losing my life.

I lost track of time.

When I finally woke up, the lid was closed. So this was what it felt like to be alive inside a coffin, except that I can still breathe? It must be blood curdling to be trapped inside a small dark place for a long period of time, knowing there was no way out. Good thing I didn’t have claustrophobia, otherwise this would freaking scare the crap out of me.

Stolen story; please report.

From time to time, I can vaguely hear someone shouting outside the tent. It must be quite busy during the day, since the gang needed to suck the blood out of the weak. A nice bed, a sturdy tent, and good food were probably enough to make them join the gang. Who wouldn’t want a better lifestyle?

Being heartless like Zen perhaps was not that bad after all…………..

But………….

I never imagined myself being one of them, while remembering those skeletal walking demons, sunken eye sockets, and Rene’s missing leg.

My stomach growled uncontrollably. I was so hungry that I could eat a cow. If someone walked inside the tent, he would surely hear my stomach growling. What a pity!

Then I heard a “meow” right above me.

The cat must have jumped and sat on top of the treasure box.

Shortly there was a familiar deep voice.

“Get down.”

“Meow…..” The cat seemed to understand the words, and jumped off the platform.

I knew that was Zen, therefore lifted up the lid and crawled out slowly.

My Goodness!

My whole body was more stiff than a sugar cane, and ached terribly on the back and legs. While I was stretching out my arms and back, the candles flickered with my movements.

“Is it still night time?” I was confused.

“You slept through the day.” Zen paid no attention to my “exercises.”

How in the world did I manage to sleep so soundly being squished up in a box? I must be super tired making the trip here, and plus there wasn’t anything else to do but sleep.

I walked toward the curtains gently, and peeked out carefully. It looked like the sun had just gone down, and quite dark too.

“I should go in a bit.” I backed away the curtains.

Zen put down some food on the tiny table, “It’s still too early, wait for midnight and I will get you out of here.”

He tore a piece of drumstick meat and threw it in the air, and the cat caught it in no time and walked out of the tent.

I blinked.

Then BLINKED AGAIN.

Did I just see meat, right in the cat’s mouth and on the table!?

I thought I was dreaming, therefore got closer and took a deep look at those drumsticks wrapped in soft paper, and a few buns too. Those drumsticks were nicely barbecued and crispy to a golden sheen. They looked so unrealistic!

It was the first time ever since I came to this continent that I saw meat, right in front of my face!

I couldn’t help but mouth watering.

“Just eat up, stop staring at them like an idiot.”

I got really excited and started to reach out for the drumsticks, but then my hand froze midway in the air…………

Where did the meat come from?

It was all because the gang suppressed the weak for those extra coins, so they could enjoy this kind of luxurious life? No wonder Rene was so depressed after the mine collapse disaster. He must have been so used to a nice bed and yummy food until he lost his leg. He was a kid growing up on the street before coming to the Underground, so I could understand why he made this kind of decision.

But for Iceberg…………

He was a grown man, and seemed to be smart enough to figure this out. Still, he chose to be on the other side of justice. Perhaps I had too much trust in him that I felt a little disappointed.

Wait………..

Why should I trust him anyways!? It wasn’t like I knew him forever. I had no idea where he came from, his background, family, and even his whole name, other than the fact that I dragged him through a terrible blizzard and saved his life. He seemed to have countless secrets hidden inside, and wanted to share with no one.

“I am not hungry.” I pulled back my hand and put down the treasure box’s lid to sit on it.

There was no emotion in his cold eyes, as he picked up his sword and started to clean it with a piece of cloth.

Did he really freaking slit someone’s throat with that sword?

The thought of that gave me shivers, but soon I was back to my original self. After all I wasn’t that afraid of this guy anyways. Perhaps it was because I knew him from before, and that he never seemed to hurt me for real. If he really wanted to take my life, there was no reason to keep me here in the first place.

Zen wiped the sword like it was his priceless treasure, with so much gentleness that I found it unbelievable that it was a murdering weapon.

“A person can have empathy, but not let it kill you.” He finally talked, while wiping the sword lightly.

He knew exactly what was in my head.

I seemed to be annoyed, “It’s better than letting your guilt kill you.”