Group One and Two
Harper turned a bright red, what was Jasper talking about? She sounded almost incoherent...was she drunk? The boy stared at the mushy, green, swamp sludge and scrunched up his nose in disdain. "We better be careful around the water." He wasn't even sure if water was the right word, it looked more like moldy pool of chewed up broccoli. Thankfully, it had started to rain and it helped get some of the sludge off their now tipsy friend. "What do you think is in the water?" He asked Ace as he kept one of Jasper's arms around his shoulder. He wondered if they should just go back and wait for the others but lightning tore though the sky and he decided it would be best if they took shelter in one of the caves for now.
"Watch your step," he commented as they clambered up rocks and headed towards the dark entrance of the cave. More than once he'd step on a rock and it'd roll down the hill and splash into the swamp. Their ascent was a noisy one, but it wasn't too bad and soon they were at the mouth of the cave. Inside looked dark, but there seemed to be a blue glow and the smell of water. Hopefully, drug free and clean water. Harper nodded at Ace and the trio, with Jasper between them entered, their footsteps echoing throughout the silent cave.
“Quiet,” the usually silent Sacha spoke and Luke cocked his head in the boy's direction.
"Mhm, what's happening?" He raised his eyebrows, a laid-back smile plastered to his face. Like ??? said this was all a sad game and they'd been playing it for so long--for far too long. Luke quieted down and listened. It was the sound of footsteps and a soft, tentative voice. "Ah, I see the others have made their appearance." He kept one hand on Leila's handcuffs and the other on his pipe. They were a large batch, and it made him rather happy.
??? Simply held on to her own pipe, her eyes flitting from Hakuren to the tunnel that led to cave's entrance. The footsteps grew louder.
"We had death as dinner guest once." She stated in a tone both informative and casual. It almost sounded as if she were talking to friends she had invited over for tea and not hostages she had hit on the head and thrown nets on. A small smile tugged on the corner's of her lips. "He was a dapper fellow, fanciful clothes, pipe and all, but he had an atrocious voice." She chuckled at the memory and wondered if she could invite the humans over for tea sometime. However, her odd train of thought was cut when a yell resounded through the cave.
"Guys?" Harper stood at the entrance with Jasper between him and Ace. "W-What's going on?" His eyebrows creased in concern before he stared at the four cloaked figures. "What are you doing?" He felt fear grab a hold of him but he stood his ground and tightened his jaw. Out of instinct, he balled his hands into fists and stared with wide, frightened eyes.
The girl in the hood stared blankly at him. "Good duskdawn," her eyes trailed to the list sticking out of his pocket. "So, I see you have it."
"Have what? Let them go!" Before Harper could say more, she walked towards him. Calm and cold, like ice. There wasn't a shift in her expression and she stared at him empty grey eyes. "We need the list. It's for the good of everyone." She held out her hand as if he were going to give it to her.
Harper looked at Ace then Jasper. He shook his head, firmly. "Sorry, I can't do that."
??? nodded her head and the next thing he felt was a fist to the face and the damp cave floor. Harper groaned, and the ceiling above him spun. The list, he had to protect the list! He scrambled to his feet and nearly fell into the lake. "Ace! Leila! Jasper! The net," he yelled, "Go for the net!" Despite it being nearly impossible to escape from the inside, anyone from the outside could easily lift the net off.
Harper held the list in cold, clammy hands. His knees were shaking and his heart was hammering inside his chest, but there was no time to give in to fear. At the moment, he could only act. He scrambled away from the pipe swinging girl, his back pressed against the wall. She was walking casually towards him with the pipe and a frown. Harper wanted to disappear but as soon as she raised her pipe to swing he ducked and scrambled out of the way. However he tripped and the living list fluttered towards the center of the room.
Harper gathered every ounce of courage in his body and as soon as ??? turned to towards the list, he did the most logical thing he could think of. "The nets, the list!" He screeched before he tackled her, and they fell into the glowing water, sinking.
