Surface R: Reunion

Part 05.4

::SEAN::

My, my, our Surface guide is just a spring of comforts today, isn't he? He actually decided to go off and leave us defenseless. How irresponsible.

"Are you okay, Nina?" Thomas asked.

Nina nods, "I'll be fine," she whispers. "Thomas, how can people live here?"

"Hey," Thomas pats her shoulder gently. "it'll be okay. They survived, so we'll be able to, as well... Maybe."

I speak up. "You know," I begin. "we could be back at the entrance to the tunnels tomorrow,"

Both of them looked at me. "We're not going back."

I huffed. "Are you sure this is really what you want?" I asked them. "Whatever you believe about the Underground, can it really be worse than this?"

"We haven't seen all of up here yet," Thomas replied evenly, although I think he's struggling with his temper.

"How much more do you need to see?" I asked incredulously. "When our guide returns, if indeed he does, I suggest we demand to be taken back."

Nina frowned. "What do you mean if? Cody will return." She sounded upset. I think this is the first time I've seen her display that emotion. "Anyway, we can't demand anything from him now. Doctor Roland told me he only has a limited amount of time in which Lori can be cured. We're delaying him enough as it is."

"I didn't think of that," Thomas looked concerned. "we've got a lot to thank him for."

Thank him? I clenched my fists. "We are superior to the sub-human creature in every way—the fact that we have to demean ourselves by relying on him for help should alert you to the fact that we don't belong here and should return—"

"Enough." Thomas has not lost his temper enough to yell but the venomous tone of his whisper is worse. "I'm really getting sick of your attitude Sean. If you can't contribute anything positive to the conversation, then—"

Suddenly, we heard rustling. We stiffened.

"Shh," Thomas said, preparing the knife Cody has given him. Moving forward to some bushes so that Nina—and consequently, I'm—behind.

A second later, a boy lunges out and attacks. Thomas yelped and reacted fast enough to deflect the blade but he's still knocked down.

"Who are you? Speak up!" The boy demands.

Thomas gasped. "I... I..." He faltered.

"Wait!" Cody's voice is heard. I looked up and see him standing next to a young man with green hair, except for the blond coloring near the ends. "Ah! Jonah, stop!"

Another boy follows in agreement. "Johannes, stand down."

"Cody?" Our attacker blinked. He stands and goes to our guide. "Are you unharmed? I ask that you come to me for assistance instead of going alone the next time you try to do such a risky task."

Our guide blinked up at him. "You wouldn't mind leaving Leon? You rarely want to, you always say you'd miss his kis—"

The one called Jonah covered his mouth. "Cody," his face was red. "that is our secret, right?"

I am slightly intrigued, What was a secret?

"Oh yeah," Cody looked embarrassed. "Sorry."

Jonah patted his head before turning to us, "I apologize terribly for the assault, it was in bad form of me."

"Uh... It's fine?" Thomas blinked, confused.

"I'm Johannes, but to make it simpler, I allow everyone here to call me Jonah."