He woke up because he felt something itch behind his ear. In a reflex he launched himself away from it and turned around, only to see Ellen laughing in the tub.

"That's what you get for falling asleep on guard duty Alex! Serves you right!" Ellen said, barely having the breath to talk. Alex made a grumpy snorting sound of disagreement, knowing he shouldn't have fallen asleep.

Still a bit laughing, Ellen told him he only fell asleep after he woke her up.

"I just couldn't let this chance slip... You've been sleeping for less than half an hour, but you know you would have done the same."

Alex grinned as he knew he would do something similar, without question.

"What time is it Ellen? and it seems like my hunch was a fake... nothing happened tonight"

"You seem to be disappointed Alex, did you wanted something horrible to happen? and to answer your question, it's around a quarter before eight."

"Okay thanks, and it's more that I'm disappointed in my feelings. It would be really convenient if we could rely on it as an extra sense. If it a situations would feel bad, we could prepare ourselves for what might come or even just be in an alerted state. It could save our lives you know?"

"Okay I see your point, let's not cry about lost chances. I saved you some food" Ellen said while she threw him some slices of bacon.

"Ey Ellen, I've been thinking and..."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Ellen replied already. "You are kidding me right, you? thinking? It is a miracle! What kind of stupid plan did you come up with this time dear?"

He didn't even blink as he replied drop dead serious.

"I thought it would be nice if we kept a dairy or something you know?"

"Did you fall on your head or something? Why would we even do such a thing? It's freaking useless man, I tell you, freaking useless."

"come on man, you don't have to critize it now already! What if I would call it an encyclopaedic for people we met? A drawing of them, their names, what kind of person they are, what they do currently, if they can be trusted and so on. We could also do it about them if you like that more? or why not both... ? One book should be enough, since when would we split up? You can draw, I can write, we can both decide what and who to put in there."

"I still don't see the use of it Alex, sorry... It's fun, but it doesn't have a use."

"Does everything need to have a use? Can I at least do it?"

Ellen sighed before she nodded.

"Thanks, it'll keep me busy, I still expect you to draw in it though... my drawing skills are even worse than your face looks like, which is already way out of control."

"Just shut up idiot and let's get going, because you overslept, we're already running late."

Alex nodded as he got up, acknowledging that he was the reason for their delay. They started by packing the few used items on their bikes again, after which they dragged them down the stairs, which was one hell of a job. After all, bikes and stairs do not really go well together. Afterwards, they cleaned up their mess, which mostly was stuffing all useless things in the bathtub. They stepped on their bikes and went on their way, without saying anything. It was a quiet and slightly foggy, but the sky was clear so the fog would clear up soon as well.

"yo meatbrain, are you sure we're heading in the right direction?" Alex asked after a couple hours

"nope, not at all. After all, I'm only a local. How is a mere local to know if we're going in the right direction?"

"Chillax, just wondering since we haven't seen a single thing worth mentioning."

"Yeah yeah, I know, I just haven't picked one of the better known castles, after all, lots of people will know the existence of those and head to those. Would you want to share a castle with hundreds of others?"

Alex shook his head as he replied "no, I pass, I find you alone already bothersome enough, I don't need more." He grinned.

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"Same over here, they probably don't want you around anyway, you stink way too much."

Continuing their insults they left the main road and went down a smaller one. The quality of the road decreased even further since it was easier for the nature to reclaim it. It was still acceptable, but pleasant was different.  After a couple more hours, they started to distinguish what could be a castle, or something similar.

"Are you gonna put that castle in your little notebook as well?"

"if that's what the lady wants, it'll be done"

"That's actually the first time you recognised me as female... are you sick"

"Sorry, sir, it won't happen again sir. I apologize sir!" Alex shouted while saluting.

"fucktard, you're a real dick you know that?"

Alex grinned as he nodded, "and proud of it" he added.

Ellen's corresponding, well argumented reply was a punch in his general direction. It only grazed his arm but a hit was a hit, was what she thought. They both hurried their way to the castle, since the dusk was setting in. It didn't take them unnecessarily long, but as winter came closer, the dark set in earlier as well. They weren't too worried about the night itself, but they wanted to do some recon before they actually decided were in the castle they would spent at least the first night. Having to make a forced decision wouldn't be good and they could only scout while it was light outside. Batteries were too precious to be wasted for looking for the best possible place to stay, not when they could do that the day after as well while still being safe for the night. They drove up the inner place of the castle, since the gates were no more. Since there were some traces of a recent gate, it was probably removed or had rotten away as soon as the castle lost its purpose.  They parked the bikes in the main hall, of which the doors were still intact, probably because the castle had served as a touristic attraction so the smaller, wooden doors were rebuilt. The iron doors were a bit rusted but still there. They decided to take resort into one of the towers, which looked out over the main place. The door of the tower entrance was made of wood, but reinforced with iron plates and the room at the top had a door of iron. There was one other room in the tower, about halfway of the tower. They took the bikes out of their temporary stalling in the main hall and left them with most equipment down at the bottom of the tower, but behind the closed door. It would be too much effort to bring the bikes and equipment up after they just arrived.

"I'm glad we got here, it looks pretty decent you know? and by the looks of it, we're the first ones to arrive here. With a bit of luck, we'll find even some useful stuff"

"Don't push our luck jackass, just help me to get this bed ready" Ellen said to Alex.

The matras of the "bed" existed out of the carpet laying on the floor and the sheets they brought along. Alex had to help to fold the carpet so it they would have a thicker layer to lay on. It wasn't the best option as a bed for a longer time, since the carpet would help in isolating the room, but for one night it was the best option. They already had planned to explore the rest of the castle the next day and scavenge whatever they might need. The window in the wall which gave them a view of the main place wasn't isolated either, and neither could it be covered with curtains or anything. That made them decide to not make a fire, even though there was a fireplace in the room. In a world without street lighting, a light at night would attract unwanted visitors, from all sorts. The smoke wouldn't be really much of a problem in the middle of the night, since only the moonlight could show the smoke and it had gotten cloudy again.