Allies of Plaxas

Chapter the Eighth: Opal

 "You are such a terrible influence on me," I mutter as I knot the sheets together.

Ruby looks at me with wide pleading eyes. "I need to talk to the elves. It's so important to me, Opal. You don't understand. I have this....connection with them. I can't explain it. But I need to see them."

Kaitlynn watches us from her bed with an amused expression as she does her homework. "It looks like you guys are making some progress. Good work."

I glare at her. "Don't encourage her."

"Okay, we're done. I mean, we're only on the second floor, so it doesn't have to be that long," says Ruby, holding up as much as she can of the makeshift rope.

I peer out of the window. "It looks pretty long to me,"

"Yeah, but that's because you're a wimp,"

I slap her with the hand that's not holding the rope and she jumps out of the way, sticking her tongue out at me.

Kaitlynn laughs and then sighs wistfully. "I wish I had a sibling,"

Ruby and I glance at each other. We still haven't told her our secret. Only one other person in this school knows....about us.

"Anyway. I'm leaving tonight, right? I mean, I'll come back, but like....yeah," says Ruby in an obvious attempt to change the subject.

I nod. "Yeah. But be safe. We're....we'll miss you if you, like, die," I mean much more than this, obviously, but it's hard to convey this feeling in words.

She nods and stashes the rope underneath the bunk bed. "Should we go down to dinner together?"

I'm not exactly in the mood for eating right now, but I follow my sister and my friend down to the dining hall.

The mood is pretty grim in the dining hall. The one remaining elf killed ten people in one blast of her magical weapons today. But Ruby still insists she means no harm and she's trying to make a peace treaty.

I can't wait for the night to be over. I get back to our room as soon as I can and pretend to sleep until it's time for Ruby to go, but I'm cold without my bedsheets. I wish we'd used something different to make the rope.

She planned her escape at two in the morning. Apparently that's when there's a least likely chance for there to be people in the castle.

We unfurl the rope out the window, tying it securely to the window ledge. Ruby quickly tests it and then slowly steps out the window, holding the rope like a lifeline. Which, I guess, it is.

She reaches the first floor on the rope without a problem, sliding down inch by inch. I grimace, because I'm sure she's going to have terrible rug burns, but she seems okay.

Then it happens. One moment she's clutching the rope and the next she's not. She slides the rest of the way down without clutching the rope, her mouth open wide but not a sound coming out.

I don't even see her hitting the ground because I'm already running for the stairs opposite from our room. Kaitlynn follows me almost subconsciously as we dash for the school's door.

Outside, the air is cool and I wish I'd brought my coat, but when did I have time for that? We hurry around the building, shivering in the cool air.

"Ruby?" I ask as I approach the spot where she fell. She doesn't seem to be there.

"Oh, there you are," she strolls out from behind the small shed next to the building. "I was wondering when you'd get here,"

"Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" I ask her, scanning her body, but she doesn't even look like she has a scratch on her.

"What that little fall? I did that for fun. I'm fine. It was nice of you to join me though,"

Kaitlynn's face turns red. "You mean you tricked us? That's so childish! You just didn't want to go to that elf's cave place alone! I'm going back inside!"

"You can't, sorry. The school's doors are locked on the outside in the nighttime," a small smile plays on Ruby's face. "You're just stuck with me and my adventure now,"