Dreams of Arcadia

52

Mingi PoV

"Stop complaining, just because there's no light here doesn't mean monsters won't appear to eat you." I heard Noona's voice in front of us. Jisung's hand was firmly in mine, gripping it so tightly that if we saw anything, it would certainly be white from the pressure. A moment ago he had screamed because he thought someone had touched him in the dark and I could have sworn I had heard someone giggling.

"But Sunmi Noona... someone touched me, I'm not stupid." he complained and I giggled despite my fear.

"Yes, you are," I said and I heard the soft laughter again, which certainly didn't come from Sunmi, it sounded too manly for that. Uncomfortable, I tried to look around, but I didn't recognize anyone in the darkness.

"Who's laughing?" Jisung asked in a panic.

"That was Mingi." Sunmi giggled in front of us.

"No, it wasn't just me." I felt tense, I felt like I was being followed and watched.

"I want to get out of here, I'm getting claustrophobic." Jisung's usually cheerful voice now sounded unsure and quiet and I could sympathize with him.

"Come on, it doesn't look like we're going to get through here very quickly, I can't see any light anywhere and I have to feel my way around. If we dawdle, it will only take longer." Sunmi now urged us on. We walked on quietly, carefully one step at a time, always with one hand on the wall, when after a few minutes I suddenly felt a finger gently brush the back of my hand.

"Mhhhwaaaaaa.... Eomma..." I cried quietly so as not to upset the others any more, but decided to bear it in silence, because panic would get us nowhere. But my heart was beating like crazy.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh..." suddenly Sunmi's shrill scream rang out, then we heard a full blob sound and shortly afterwards she audibly gasped for air.

"Noona, is everything fine... ahhhhh." Han shouted, then he pulled me behind him and we both fell, landing about a meter below in the middle of a viscous gooey mass.

"Hmm... Woodruff jelly." Sunmi realized, then we heard a muffled scream and someone else landed in the pudding next to us.

"I knew someone was there... If I catch you, I'll finish you off!" Jisung shouted, wading through the pudding towards the person who was giggling and trying to get away.

"Who's there? I'll dunk you in the jelly until it goes in your mouth and comes out your ears," I threatened, following the sounds as I heard it smacking next to us.

"Mmmmhhh... do you mur...i'm  eafing here" Sunmi mumbled with her mouth full.

"Don't move, you won't escape us after all." I heard and suddenly someone jumped on my back.

"Yah, Han Jisung... Get off me." I complained and shook him off.

"Sorry Mingi, I lost my bearings." he apologized and continued walking in a different direction. Again I heard that giggle that seemed strangely familiar, it was close, so I turned in that direction and actually got hold of an arm. He tried to pull away, but I was stronger and let myself fall on top of him, which sent us both into the jelly. We were submerged for a moment, then we came up snorting and the person brushed the pudding off my cheek, only to stick his finger in his mouth. My eyes widened when I was suddenly hugged.

"I'm so sorry, baby... You know it was too tempting, I couldn't resist messing with you." the voice, so gentle and at the same time full of humor that I hadn't heard since I died, brought tears to my eyes and immediately I forgot that I had just wanted to beat him up, instead I hugged him tightly and cried....