Jack the Overlander

Five

When Jack woke, he found the lighting in his room had remained unchanged throughout the night. He had turned down the Underlanders on their offer to extinguish the light, since he didn't really want to be left in blackness in this place. But waking up and seeing the room totally unchanged, minus his covers, was a little creepy.

He made his way to the bathroom, and after a short internal debate, changed into the clothes the Underlanders had left there for him. They were surprisingly comfortable and light.

Jack began making his way to the High Hall again, as that was where he'd been told to go for breakfast. The Underland food last night had been delicious, so he found himself looking forward to the meal.

To his discomfort, Amber emerged from an adjacent room the instant he turned out into the hall. Typical. She, too, was dressed in clean Underland clothes, of a lighter tone which suited her dark hair. Jack hoped she might turn the other way so that he could wait and then proceed to breakfast a hallway or two behind her, unnoticed. But no such luck.

"Hi, Jack! Did you sleep well? My room was really comfortable. I wasn't sure what to expect. These clothes are really nice too," she greeted him. He was forced to fall into step beside her. His posture and height leapt into conscious thought. Amber, like the Queen, was very nearly as tall as he was. He wished he were taller.

"Good morning. Yeah, slept well."

"Do you remember the way to the High Hall? I know it wasn't very far but I'm really poor with directions."

"Yeah."

"Can you believe this place?? I never would've believed it if someone just told me about it. It's super lucky I saw that that rock had been moved in Central Park. The people here! Isn't their skin freaky?"

"Er... yeah, kind of."

"So did you come through Central Park, too? Was it you who'd moved the rock before me?"

"No — I came through an apartment laundry room."

"How'd that work?"

"There was a loose grate, and I was looking for a quarter that had rolled into it. Turned out to be a giant hole."

Jack noticed fleetingly that his answers kept getting longer, and resolved to remain entirely taciturn. Fortunately, they'd just reached the High Hall. The table in the center was loaded with fresh food. Unfortunately, it was empty of other guests.

Amber took a seat opposite him.

"So — really — what do you think about these people? All the crazy giant animals and stuff?"

Jack sighed, and gave up.

"I don't know... they're kind of weird. I don't really get why they're down here."

"Nike told me they've been down here for centuries — the humans. All the other species much longer."

"That's interesting," said Jack.

"Yeah — I'm eager to learn more. This whole thing has already been, like, the experience of a lifetime, and now we're gonna go see even more of the Underland — it's so exciting! I'm glad you're here though, too, Jack, cause I think it would be a lot scarier if I were completely alone down in this foreign place."

Amber paused for a bite of food. Right, Jack thought. Glad I'm here. He grunted in response.

"I mean, they haven't done anything to make me feel unsafe so far," Amber continued conversationally. "In fact, they've all been pretty nice. Nike didn't talk much at the table last night, but while we were flying, she was super nice!"