Will turned toward Raine, a barely-there smirk playing on his lips. His head tilted back, obscuring the expression from my view. “Whatever you say, dude,” he fake-yawned. Clearly, Raine’s antics were a regular occurrence.

Suddenly, a flying figure—a boy, perhaps—wearing a white tunic materialized and landed on Will’s shoulder. The newcomer regarded me with curiosity. Will exchanged a quick smile with his diminutive companion, and in that instant, all eyes were on me.

Introducing myself to two imposing guys and two enigmatic creatures wasn’t exactly my idea of a great time. I weighed my options. Should I play the vulnerable lost soul seeking help, or should I channel my inner tough survivor girl, capable of biting through steel for breakfast?

The tiny, winged figure zipped towards me, a blur of curiosity in my peripheral vision. But before I could fully turn my attention to this fascinating development, the possum hissed. Its beady black eyes, fixed on me with unwavering intensity, sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't ignore the primal threat in that unwavering stare. It scrutinized me, as though deciding whether I was worth nibbling on for a snack. I held its gaze. “Do you like what you smell, little guy?” I asked, maintaining a steely smile. “It’s called essence de malvaos.” Cooperation from these two boys was crucial. Okay, scratch the damsel-in-distress routine. Let’s go for sweet instead. “Do I smell delicious to you, possum?” I continued, keeping up my sugary approach. Turning to Raine, who seemed more approachable, I complimented him. “Hey, that was really cool. Gnarly, even. I’ve been a big fan since your epic battle with the orc. You were a total hero!” I mimicked swinging a make-believe mace over my head, just like he did during the fight. Raine grinned and rubbed his head, while his buddy emitted a snort. Words threatened to escape me, and I stared at them as if my marbles had rolled away. I needed their help with the prison situation, but why would they care? The smiles on our faces felt increasingly forced, and I sensed Raine felt it too. Time ticked away, so I decided to spill the beans. "So, you guys are like big-time heroes, and I guess your buddy there too." I pointed my chin at Raine's friend.

"I'm Saya, and I could really use the help of some strong guys like you to bust some old folks out of prison." Not being great at buttering people up or asking for favors, I fidgeted in the awkward silence and blurted out, "I'm new in town, originally from here, and ended up in the slammer with everyone else. I'm kinda new, but also old, if that makes any sense..." Their eyes bore into me, like I had sprouted horns or something.

"Alright, listen up!" I blurted, my voice shaky with desperation. "You guys are supposed to be the muscle with a heart, right? Here's the thing – I need some serious help. We're talking busting some old folks outta jail! Can you dig it?" Ugh, real smooth.

The plea tumbled out in a rush, and I realized how unconvincing I sounded. On top of that, "big"? I kept calling them big. They weren't giants, just taller than me. But those weapons with the glowing purple gems – those definitely screamed power. Maybe Raine could supercharge them with his powers or something. At least, that's what I hoped.

Will's head swiveled like a confused owl, his bushy eyebrows practically climbing his forehead. Then, in a move that made me blink hard, his gaze snapped from me to the opossum perched on a nearby crate. It was so freaky.

Raine's eyes darted to my gaping mouth and wide eyes. "Uh, yeah," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "See, Peter talks... well, in our heads, since we're linked. I've been trying to teach him how to speak out loud." He gestured toward the hissing possum, its fur bristling and tiny claws bared. “Say hello to the gorgeous Saya, Peter.”

Suddenly, the possum shimmered and glowed, its form warping and twisting before my eyes. In a blink, the aggressive creature was replaced by a tiny winged human, his face pinched in a grumpy frown.

"Hi Saya," Peter grumbled a low tone.

Gorgeous? Was he attempting to sweet-talk me? My instincts screamed not to trust him. Something about Raine set off alarm bells deep within me—a primal warning.

Tiny Peter, despite his newfound human form, still managed to pout. He fluttered closer, almost nose-to-nose with me. "Raine mean human!" he declared in a tiny voice. "No human should ever force a fairy to speak. It feels like a twisted mouth."

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I regarded the "fairy" and marveled at the surreal turn my day had taken. And to think, it conversed!

The fairy, still radiating a bit of leftover possum aggression, zigzagged through the air. He then drew closer to my ear, his voice like a thousand tiny bells. "Raine's thoughts are impure," he confided. "He fixates on your lips. Yucky kissy kissy, he imagines." His giggle resonated right next to my ear. Abruptly, he spun around, panic etching his tiny features. "I in trouble! Must leaving now!" With nervous laughter, he darted toward the basketball hoop.

I shot Raine a quizzical look, while his friend Will doubled over, laughing his guts out.

"Ha ha ha," Raine echoed, then gestured dismissively. "Peter's always a handful—mischievous most of the time, a perpetual goofball. Believe it or not, he spins tales constantly. Once, he convinced the locals that I consumed orc meat for special powers." Raine swallowed. "Took me an entire week to set the record straight."

I couldn't help but join in with Will’s laughter. Orcs—those foul-smelling, ooze-covered creatures—were as far from appetizing as one could get. The idea of eating their meat was downright absurd.

Raine babbled like a broken water fountain. He kept spilling out words about everything Peter supposedly said, trying way too hard to prove it wasn't a lie. The more he talked, the funnier it got for Will.

Will watched his friend squirm, barely able to breathe through his laughter. Finally, with a strangled snort, he managed to stop.

Raine, red-faced, gave him a playful punch on the arm.

Just then, Will's expression switched from intense scrutiny to a grin. It was so unexpected, it almost looked...innocent. His dark eyes, which were usually narrowed like a detective's, crinkled at the corners in a crescent moon shape. I could trust maybe trust those eyes...maybe. Will chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye. "Raine could talk about Peter all day long," he said, "until the cows come home, if you don't shut him up!"

“Does he normally flatter all girls?” I ask.

Will chuckled. "Nah, not really. In fact, this might be the first time he's actually serious. You must've made quite an impression."

My cheeks flushed a little as I met Raine's gaze directly. "Funny," I said, trying to sound casual. "You happen to be the first person to ever call me gorgeous."

Instead of the playful response I expected, Raine's expression turned serious. He took a step closer, but seeing me tense up, he stopped short. "There's something you should know," he began, his voice low. "We're not exactly free to come and go as we please. We're stuck here, just like the folks down in the mines."

Intrigued, I leaned in to hear him better. He pointed towards the tiny fairy now clinging to Will's arm. "If we ever try to leave the designated area," Raine explained, "these little guys can telepathically contact the elves."

My breath hitched. "Elves? What happens if they find out?" I whispered.

Raine sighed, a dark shadow clouding his features. "They'll hunt us down. Just like the orcs, but worse. Much, much worse."

Just then, Will strolled over, his curiosity piqued by our hushed conversation. "So, where are we going on this little trip?" he asked, a playful glint in his eye.

Raine shot him a pointed look. "Out of town," he said curtly.

Will whistled. "That's a tough one. Almost impossible, actually."

"Almost?" I echoed, a spark of hope igniting in my chest. Could there really be a way out of this place?

"Well, there are the dungeons," Raine blurted, his voice dropping to a secretive whisper. Will's eyes widened like saucers. "Dude! Those are top secret!" he hissed, shooting a panicked glance around.

"Okay, now I really want to know all about those dungeons," I blurted out.

Will explained cautiously, "Even if you were allowed in, it's very dangerous."

"I need to know to decide for myself," I sighed. "The entrance is in the mine, right?"

"Yes, and supposedly they are all connected," Raine added. "We worked the mines in Monte Cristo. We were so close to LA, and they wouldn't even let us sightsee."

"How do you know they're all connected?" I asked.

"The older folks who worked the mine told us that since the holes in the fields appeared, something happened to the mines. Holes in the earth connected them," Raine explained.

"It looks like we have to help you sort this out," Will conceded. "Thanks to the ever-smart and creative Raine."

I couldn't help but smile. "Now what?" I asked.

"Now we take a walk," Raine said, and Will nodded in agreement.