My Zombie Family (MZF) BL

'Beautiful Gems'

The cave grew dimmer and damper the further Noelle ventured in. It was a stark contrast compared to the entrance, which had been dry and full of light. Noelle's hands fidgeted nervously as she walked deeper, clutching her handbag as if afraid the darkness beyond could swallow it away. She needed to protect what she'd save for the others. Her experiences and items...The dark was never one to scare Noelle before, but this time, an unfamiliar unease crept in—she felt alone without her friends.

Flickering torches dwindled to a few as they wavered resolutely in their purpose. Every sound—the creak of stone, the shuffle of her feet, the occasional clatter of pebbles—echoed sharply, reverberating through the cavern as though achieving a hidden isolation. The space itself felt disordered, forgotten, and left to rot. Cracks ran along the walls while bits of debris littered the floor, with, the occasional, web decorations. Abandoned carts and unfinished rails ran endlessly throughout the cave. Some Paths that led wouldn't lead at all, and it all became more doomed when the once open space began to feel 'tight' to Noelle.

Unbeknownst to Noelle's rising panic, her companion strolled beside her, carefree. The older girl's gaze flicked toward Noelle now and then, curiosity sparking in her eyes. The mysterious girl began to wonder...

'There'd never really been a visitor this deep below. Is she here for brother? I know about the other one...apple head right? Oh wait-pepper head! A steaming hot pepper, but who are you? I've never seen you before..."

"What is this place?" Noelle asked, hoping to distract herself from the fear. She never realized how fearful she was of the underground. "......." Expecting her question to be answered, Noelle looked at the mysterious girl who only looked distracted by her inner world even to notice the question. Rather curious, the girl's expression lacked any ounce of fear. Noelle looked around and then beyond the vast darkness, wondering, if she echoed loud enough, she would wake whatever slumbered beyond. As if knowing what Noelle was thinking, the girl approached quietly and smiled shyly, saying, "You won't wake anything. It's just an endless tunnel, you know..."

"Oh." Noelle blurted, embarrassed of her childishness. Once they approach the entrance of another tunnel within the cave, the mysterious girl grabs one of the torches alongside the walls and gestures for Noelle to approach. Noelle felt nervous but something about the older girl; her calm demeanor relaxed her. In truth Noelle couldn't tell what the girl was thinking, her gaze was rather blissfully empty. She carried a smile as if happy to meet her, and she knew the way around the cave so it was a must to follow her.

The duo thus walk deeper into the darkness. The girl notices Noell's fear and attempts to make small talk to lighten the mood. A hard thing to do for a shy girl, but a positive thing to consider. "You're pretty far from the village, um...H-how did you get here?" Asks the girl. Noelle humphs! And puffs out, "I fell. From up there..." Noelle looks back and points upward, finding it rather ridiculous to explain, as the hole isn't even there anymore. They're too deep within the cave.

"That's right! You didn't answer my question. What is this place!?" Asks Noelle instantly remembering her previous concerns. Fear had consumed much of her mind; She initially forgot to consider the important things. Realizing her mistake the girl almost drops the torch in embarrassment. A deep shade of pink forms across her face making her feel even more shy and awkward. "Oh! Yeah! Sorry!! I forgot!!! Not many visitors come around here haha..." The girl quietly twirls a hair strand as she faces away in embarrassment. Noelle only looks on in indifference.

"Is this a bad place?" Noelle asks, wanting answers. Snapping out of her flustered state the girl then answers optimistically.

"Well, no. To be honest I'm not sure. When I got here, all there was, was just a tunnel. Oh! But it's fun! I collect cool rocks and minerals! Thinking of rocks, there's this cool ore, wanna see it?" Asks the girl excited about her find. Her excitement then turns to depression as she sulks, "Oh but that'll take a longer detour... and well,"