On The Run ( Safe and Sound Trilogy: Book 1 )

Chapter 15: Violet_And So We Start

"So, where are they?" I asked curiously.

The man took a swig of beer that he was drinking and set his mug back on the counter.

"Planet Five. I know how to get there, too." He told us.

We waited for him to tell us how to get to Planet Five, but he kind of just... Sat there.

"So.. How?" I asked him.

He took another sip of his drink.

"An ancient ring." he said. "That's on this planet though. This crappy little-"

"Alright we get it." I said before he said something we didn't want to hear. "Where is the ring?"

He looked at us.

"You're screwed." he told me.

"What..?" I asked confused. "How?"

"You need to get past a lot of monsters and riddles in an ancient cave. Plus, you'll need to walk for three days through extreme weather conditions just to get there. Not to mention you'll run into more animals on the way..." He said.

There was silence.

"We're screwed." Kris said.

"We are not screwed." I said.

'Yeah. We're dead.' nagged a voice in the back of my head.

"I'll come with you." he said, standing, with a bit of a stagger.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course he's not," Kris flipped his hair. "he's probably drunk..."

"I am not drunk, kid." The man rejected.

"Whatever you say," Kris rolled his eyes.

It took all I had not to face-palm.

"So, sir, what should we call you?" I asked.

He paused.

"Duke." He said. "Now let's get some sleep before we set off tomorrow."

"Okay." I agreed.

Kris and I walked to the stairs to go to our room upstairs. Kris went first, and I turned around to make sure 'Duke' was following us. Well, turns out, he wasn't.

"Come on guys," Kris said, then he realized that he wasn't following.

We both stared at Duke, who had sat in a chair in the corner and closed his eyes to fall asleep.

"Duke?" I asked.

"What." he groaned.

"Why are you...?"

"I don't got the money, kid." he said. "Go to sleep."

I sighed.

"Come on Violet," Kris tugged at my arm. "he's right."

I tore my gaze away from Duke and followed Kris up the stairs. I felt bad for the guy. A couple hours after Kris fell asleep, I was still wide awake, staring out the window. I looked over at my bed.I got up and took the small blanket in my hands.

I went downstairs and saw Duke in the same position as we left him. I smiled and walked over to him. I laid the blanket over his body, went back upstairs, and finally fell asleep.

Coldly.

* * * * *

"Wake up, doofus," I shook Kris awake.

"Stop-stop!" Kris said. "You're messing up my hair!"

He sat up and tried combing it out with his fingers.

"UGH!" he groaned.

"Get up. We're going." I ordered.

"Going where?" he yawned sleepily, stretching his arms.

"To the cave." I said.

"... Tell me you did not just say we're going with that psycho path to find some 'anicent ring'-" he did air quotes. "-that may not actually be there."

"Too bad. It's our only chance, Kris." I said.

"Chance for what?" he questioned irritadedly. "Did you hear how dangerous this quest is?"

I turned to look at him.

"It's our only chance to figure out who we are." I said.