After she fell

20|Tiny flickers

The Nomes who had helped capture the paper bag were thanked profusely, Mono explained that his thin paper mask offers some respite, helping him forget that the world outside hates him, and wants him to fail - but he can't stay hidden forever. With that last line, Mono lifts up the edge of his paper bag. Six watches with shining eyes, her anger at Alice set aside for the moment. This moment. His hand trembled violently just as the hat crept up to the bridge of his nose, and then his courage failed. Six looked disappointed but still looked at Mono with unusual warmth in her eyes. Or was the warmth in the air coming from somewhere else? A Nome tugged on RK's sleeve, beckoning him over to a mining cart, RK pulled Alice along with him, Six saw them leaving and, eyes narrowed, followed them. She dragged Mono along with her. In this fashion, the group made their way through the obstacles and into a hidden Nometopia. The only surviving remnant of the once grand: CITY OF METRONOME!

RK took in a deep breath, and a smile lit up his face. Alice, who had been watching him with curiosity, was satisfied and as a result, let down her guard. Nomes were buzzing around the place, loading coal after coal into the furnace. A flash of burning, white light accompanied each piece like lightning striking through a sky full of stars. Whatever it was, the furnace made the room nice and toasty. Mono extracted a packet of cards from his pocket and straightaway, Six started dealing in a hand of 'Up to Six and back again.' They enjoyed that so much, that next, they played 'Go Nome'. A wave of exhaustion overcame Alice and Mono during their third round of memory. Six was awful at this, so focused on the game with a feverish intensity that would have been impressive if it wasn't so scary. First Mono yawned- so you could say that he started it- then Alice, her eyelids drooping. Mono started to lie down, light headed, and snoozy. Alice curled up into a ball and fell fast asleep.

Six had finally won a game of memory, and half-turned to where she thought Mono was to celebrate, when she noticed the others were sleeping.

RK had also noticed that fact but chose to focus on the game. Six got up and went over to where Mono was sleeping, and tenderly removed his paper bag to gaze upon him, replacing it and lying down herself to go to sleep. RK told himself that he had duties to attend to, such as reciting the nightly bedtime story to the Nomes. But eventually the other side of him won out. Sleep overtook all sensible thought process. He took Alice's hand and squeezed it. In the dark, although it was hard to make out,

He swore that she gave him a sleepy smile before resting her head on his shoulder. So all were peacefully asleep. While the Maw tossed and turned upon stormy waves, the group were plagued by not a single nightmare. Not even a little one.