Diamond In The Rough

Chapter IV

Y/n inhaled sharply, suddenly aware of a person pressed up against her back. She turned as much as possible in the tight space to catch a glimpse of her rescuer.

"Please, do not apologize. It was not your f-." Y/n stopped short, recognizing the stranger immediately. Her hand went to her diamond.

"Wait! I- I know you!" Her gratitude suddenly turned to anger. "You tried to steal my necklace!"

"I saved your life!" He cried defensively, putting his hands up. "Plus, that was years ago. I'm surprised you still remember."

Y/n scoffed. "Of course I remember the man who tried to steal my most precious possession. If you were not so stupid you may have gotten away with it too."

"Stupid? Excuse me, I left the necklace on purpose."

"You wha-?" Y/n started, but was cut off by the thief.

"Oh look! Coast is clear! Now let please get out of here."

She couldn't argue with that. Y/n wanted the thief away from her and away from her heart.

She shuffled awkwardly out of the crevice and into the cool air. The beast had vanished, leaving behind only destruction. 

"No." Y/n began to sprint back to her town, hoping that there would be at least one survivor. Her wishes were all for naught when she arrived. Everything was a dust brown, completely demolished, except for the outline of frozen people. They stuck out like a sore thumb.

"No no no no..." Muttering, she stepped over a pile of splintered wood, subconsciously making her way back to the center of town. There, she saw Lilian again, her eyes wide in terror. That look would be on her face for the rest of eternity until she crumpled to the ground like an old well.

"What this..."

"Yes, my cousin." Y/n sighed, grieving silently. Then a pang if annoyance shot through her. She turned to face the thief. 

"Why did you follow me?!" She growled, wishing he would vanish like he did that one day. Then, another question popped into her mind. She spoke again, more softly. "Why did you save me?"

The thief rubbed the back of his neck, kicking at fallen debris. "Well... this is gonna sound strange..." Y/n silently noticed how his speech was slightly different from her own. "I- I kinda need you for..." He trailed off, mumbling at the ground.

"Need me for what exactly." Y/n crossed her arms, irritated.

"A quest, okay!? I hate to admit it, but I need you help." He sighed, clearly frustrated. "I had a dream that the only way I would succeed is if I had you with me. Something about your vengeance and heart of whatever."

Y/n stopped cold. Gingerly, she stepped toward the thief. "Vengeance?" She echoed and now she understood. She wanted to avenge her town, her cousin, but it would be costly.

"I'll help you, thief, but you have to promise me that you will not take my diamond." She held her hand out to shake.

"Alright then." He took her hand and the deal was sealed. "Oh and for the record..." the thief looked Y/n in the eye. "... the names Pike."

"Y/n." She nodded back. "I would not say it is a pleasure to meet you." 

An amused look sparkled in his blue eyes. "The feeling's mutual. Now let's get outta here."

"Agreed." Y/n couldn't stand another minuet in the scrap town. It was too painful. Pike must have noticed because he patted her shoulder. "Cheer up. We'll get some revenge on the way. Maybe even find a way to get your people back."

She blinked, surprised. "You will help me?" That did not seem like something a thief would do. They were ruthless and uncaring... but maybe...

"Yes I'll help you! You're helping me so it would just repay the favor. Plus, I know how to deal with this stuff. They don't call me the Silent Killer for nothing!"

No, there was no way he was different.

As they walked through the destruction, Y/n tried her best to ignore the horrific sights and the dread creeping up in her stomach.

"Uh... Pike." She glanced at the thief in front of her. "How are we going to get out of the town. I have no money for a caravan."

"Hah. Little scrapper, you've got a big surprise coming." Pike cracked his knuckles, a determined smile adorning his face. The had reached the base of one of the mountains. Y/n's eyes trailed to the peak warily. They would never get to the top.

"Hold on." Pike said suddenly, wrapping his arm around her waits. She squeaked in surprise, her arms wrapping around his neck. 

"What are you-." But she couldn't finish. One moment, they were at the base. the next moment, they had already climbed a hundred feet.

"How are you doing this." Y/n yelped as they appeared another hundred feet up. "Long story." Pike said, clearly struggling. Causing two people to vanish must take more energy that just himself.

About a varga later, they had scaled the entire mountain and gotten back down the other side. It took awhile to get used to the teleporting sensation, but once Y/n did, it was exhilarating.

As soon as they had finished the decent, Pike promptly collapsed on the ground. Y/n laughed lightly. "That was fun!"

The thief lifted his head from the ground for a tick. "Says you." 

"What? Are you too tired to stand, thief? How will you steal things now?" She teased, nudging him with her boot. Pike swiped at the air. "Shut up."

"How about no?" Y/n replied, getting impatient. "Come on. We don't have all quintant! Get up or I will drag you."

"Quiznak." He muttered. "Fine, I'm getting up."

Grudgingly, Y/n helped him to his feet. "Where are we going now?" She asked, looking at the zast expanse of forest that lay beyond them.

"You'll see." Was all the explanation Pike gave.

Okay.

I didn't know exactly how to write this chapter without it sounding a little.... wrong.

So Candle, if you're out there...