It was actually the clang of metal that woke me but I got a good solid ten seconds of quiet before hearing the terrible clattering again. The dungeon walls were a rich brown with green slimy moss covering them which meant only one thing; we were in the castle and were locked in a cage. I turned my head only a little before the shooting pain that had momentarily ceased started up again and I cringed at the aching in my neck. Drew was sitting next to me with his hand chained against the stone wall of the dungeon but he had yet to see me awake. He was eagerly watching the others try their luck at breaking open the door and with each clang I could see him anxiously debate between reinforcement or instruction, “Just…did you try near the lock again?” he said pained as if expecting backlash.

Through a bark Jessica said, “Yes Drew. Can you not see us trying it again and again and again.”

He moved his head back as if dodging her wrath and after a moment said, “Sorry, I know, sorry…” and turned towards me, “h-hey! Guys, Lester’s up!” he said and in an instant I head the clattering of whatever they had been trying to bash the door with fall to the floor and a sea of hands touching me. Jessica leaned into my view and Kappa sort of nudged her out a bit in a way that seemed kind.

“Are you okay?” Kappa said, a genuine fear on her voice. I tried to sit up but felt dizzy and I could hear Killian remark.

“Nay, stay down laddie,” quietly as I decided to stay put for a moment.

“What happened?” I asked and I could feel the dried blood crack and flake around my mouth and nose as I spoke. I must’ve looked terrible and I could see the concern on their faces as Jessica spoke, “After you passed out we didn’t have much of a choice; we were short a man and they got the drop on us, besides…”

“We weren’t outnumbered!” Killian shouted in protest to an argument that must have been going on long before I woke, “One Dwarf counts for three men, I keep telling ye this…”

“Even one bound and gagged without his axe?” She said in exasperation.

He pursed his lips and after a moment said, “Fine, one dwarf counts for two men when bound, I’ll grant ya that.” She rolled her eyes and I eventually managed to sit up.

“They threw us in the cage and covered it, there must be a lift cause the next time they opened the gate and threw back the cover we were pressed against the open gate of the prison cell. Ergon held Drew as they locked him in place and they left us.” Jessica said.

“The men too?” She nodded yes and I looked to Killian. He was clearly ashamed that they didn’t make more of an effort to escape when they had the chance but I gave him a nod of appreciation.

The cage was large and built into the cavern wall. The thick wrought iron bars that held us in were draped in green slime and the floor was damp. The dim flickering torches that illuminated the area outside the cage offered little to no light and as I searched around I noticed someone was missing.

“Where’s Silas,” I said, a fear I was unable to hide rattling on my voice. Jessica and Kappa shared a look as Sarah who had been quietly sitting in the corner looking wholly disinterested towards the hallway beyond the gate piped up.

“Is that the little Goblin dude?” We all turned to her and after a second Killian said.

“Ye be still here?” Drew shared a look as if to say the same and I spoke up,

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“Yes, did you see what happened?”

“Ya while you guys were all whatever he slipped away I think.” Jessica stood up and walked over to her with an annoyed expression.

“Why didn’t you say that when I asked you earlier?” Sarah shrugged and looked back out the cage towards the hallway.

With confusion Kappa looked back at us and said, “Well at least he got away.” She sighed heavily and after a beat said, “Which way is out of here bud, we’re trying to get the door open and when we do we need to know the way out.”

“I don’t know.” I said and I could see the wave of concern wash over them.

“What do you mean you don’t know,” Drew said in a way that was more confused than upset.

“I mean I don’t know, Silas… Marcus… my brother was the one that built all these, honestly I just coded it but didn’t follow a lot of it.”

Drew sighed heavily and went to talk but before he could Sarah said, “The Goblin one, right?”

“Yes!” Jessica barked back without turning and looked towards Kappa with a frustrated look that said what is the deal with her.

I continued, “I also don’t think the door will open, they’re all magically locked.” I said flatly and for the first time I felt hopeless. I pushed myself against the wall next to Drew and threw my head back. Drew made a face that said hey, it’s okay buddy but as went to move his hand towards me to comfort the chain went taut and he stopped five inches from my face awkwardly.

Kappa paced back and forth and after a beat said, “It’ll be okay, Silas knows the way maybe he’ll come down and…”

“Even if that were the case and he wanted to do that Kappa, there are four stories between us and him. He’d need to sneak past the guards, past Hestle and Ergon and Millicent himself and somehow steal a spare key.” I sighed heavily in defeat as everyone in the group felt their lowest.

Everyone except Killian.

“Nonsense.” He said as he pushed himself up. We looked towards him and with a scrunched face he said, “I have taught ye all well, I’ve taught a great deal of skills to each of ya...” He said and we shared a confused look, “now let me tell ye something ya have taught me in return.”

He walked to the gate and pointed out, “That world out there is lovely but can be a lonely place.” He paused holing his finger for a moment, “I’ve seen ye each fight and care, kiss and scream…” he said and as he said kiss I saw Kappa’s face burn red for a second, “but ye always had each other. Even when ye separated and went yer own ways, it was clear that ye were going to stay by each other’s side in the end.”

With an impressed smile I looked to Kappa, then to Jessica who was also doing the same. Our eyes met for a second and in the dim light of the cave she smiled. Maybe it was seeing me passed out or the dire situation we were in but I knew in that moment that Jessica could one day forgive me and that our friendship wasn’t over, not yet at least.

“Me clan left me and ye took me in as one of yer own. There’s a word for what we’ve become here…” Killian said and after a beat I answered.

“Family.” I pushed myself up through the aching back and sore neck and stood looking at the others. After a beat Jessica, Kappa and I walked to Drew and hugged each other, Killian threw his arms on the outside of us and we held each other for a long beat before breaking the hug.

I breathed a long breath through my nose and after a beat Killian said, “Actually I was going ta say imprisoned, but yer one is good too.” He said and we all laughed warmly.

“Thank you Killian, I needed that.” I said.

With a nod of her head Kappa added, “I was wrong about you Dwarf, thank you.” I took a breath and turned to the cage as a thought ran through my head, “Now how long have you been hollering and such?”

Jessica shrugged and said, “Awhile, why?” I turned to the dim light of the cave and then back to the party.

“My parents aren’t down here,”

“What does that mean?” Drew said and after a beat I said,

“I don’t know but if Silas did try to follow us, he may be in need of help.”

“The little Goblin.” Sarah said.

I turned to her almost shouting and said, “YES Sarah Jesus, what are you not getting here?” The others joined me but Sarah just ignored my anger.

“No, I mean… the little goblin.” She said this time pointing out past the cage at the hallway outside. We turned to see Silas sneaking towards us, a key ring in his hands.