Arogen

Chapter XXXIV

I continued to sink until I was fully underground and out of reach. The dirt above me began filling up the hole I had sunk through. I looked around in the darkness underground to find nothing but Earth surrounding me as I was confined underground. Having nowhere to turn, I sat on the ground to catch my breath for a second before thinking of a new plan. I closed my eyes as my brain raced with ways to get out. If I was stuck in Edward's mind, I'd never be able to save him or anyone else for that matter. Finding no way to pull myself out, I opened my eyes to try another plan. I focused on my angel powers to cut a tunnel through the ground to create a path to leave. I focused on the wall of  soil in front of me and imagined creating a hole, spreading the soil to make a space for me to crawl through. The soil slowly began to move, creating a way for me to move. I focused on cutting the hole into the ground as I slowly crawled forward. After about 5 minutes, my body began to shake, overwhelmed from the task. My brain was on fire, threatening to explode from the strain of focusing on one thing for an extended period of time. I shook it off and kept going. I could feel the soil getting less thick as I neared the end of the dirt. I continued to crawl, my body wet with sweat. Suddenly, I saw it. Light began to peak through the soil. I was arriving at the edge. I gave my brain a rest, using my hands to dig myself out the rest of the way through. After a couple minutes, the hole was big enough for me to duck through. I edged myself forward, falling out onto the ground out of breath. 

I laid there for a brief second to catch my breath but before I knew it I could feel myself slipping into darkness.

"That's her. It's his daughter," I heard someone whisper as I came to. My eyes flew open and I jumped to my feet, fists up in defense. I felt much more refreshed now that I had some rest and was prepared to fight.

"Easy, child. We're not your enemy."

I cocked my head as I looked at the creatures before me. I had never seen creatures like them before. It was a gnome and an elf, both half my size and clearly not threats. The gnome was short, white-haired with kind eyes. The elf had black hair and looked no more than 7 years old with rosy, red cheeks and freckles covering him from head to toe.

"I'm Greb, this is my son Reaves," said the gnome. 

I looked at them both in confusion as I replied with a question. "Who are you?"

"That's not important child. All you need to know is we helped hide your father for a few months when the Five was after him."

"How are you here?"

The elf looked to his father in confusion before answering, "This is Edward's mind. Everyone who he has ever known is here. You're his daughter aren't you? "

Ignoring the question, I perked up before demanding, "Where is my mother? Is she here? Please tell me where she is."

The elf opened his mouth to answer me before the gnome shoved him aside, scolding him into silence before answering me.

"You need to leave. It's not safe with you in here."

"First, tell me where my mother is then I'll leave," I insisted.

"Saron. Your mother is gone. We are all just living in your father's imagination. You need to return before it's too late and you're stuck here," the gnome said, pulling away his son and running off into the opposite direction.

"HEY!" I yelled out before speeding after them. I landed in front of them within seconds, leaving them with no escape.

"What did you mean before it's too late? What happens?" I demanded.