Chapter 19: Chapter 19

After the ecstasy that I felt during the dance, Sojin led us to a door. It was an immense door made of stones with intricate patterns. It has a shimmering crystal at the center.

As Sojin pressed the crystal button, the glow of the crystal flowed down to the patterns like a stream, but something colored it green. My eyes sparkled in amusement. The door creaked as it opened.

A cozy room welcomed us. It surprised me to see something normal in their place. The tile of the floor was radiant. They placed a king-size bed at the center, and a lampshade to the left side.

“Suit yourself. Tomorrow, you need to wake up early,” Sojin said.

“Wait. May I ask why you have this kind of room?” I asked.

“We built it especially for humans.”

I gaze from side to side to look for the three pirates.

“Where are the pirates?”

“They escaped.”

“What? I didn’t notice.”

“They brought some emerald stones with them, which we forbid here.”

I saw a hint of viciousness in his eyes.

“So they ran away. Did you chase them?”

“Our pets will take good care of that matter. It’s not alarming.”

“What if we can’t wake up early tomorrow?” Wagner said.

“You will, there’s a wake-up call,” Sojin smirked before leaving.

The door closed in a loud smash.

“Where should I take a shower?” Wagner said.

“Wow. We’ve been through a lot, and that’s what you’re thinking right now?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Of course. I am a hygienic person. Usually, I shower thrice a day especially if I’m not in a mission. I shower once, at least on a busy schedule before I go to bed.”

“You don’t need a shower. We swam under a dark tunnel, remember?”

He thought for a moment.

“Ugh… yeah, but the water is salty, so it’s no use. I still need to wash up and change our clothes.”

“This is not a hotel. If you’re so smart, know it by now.”

“We have to change our clothes, at least.”

I almost freak out when the door opened. Sojin stood outside with a pile of garments in his hands. Wagner walked toward him.

“Freshen up. These are wet garments, so you could wipe yourselves. These are dry shirts and shorts, wear it for the meantime.”

Sojin handed the fabrics to Wagner.

“You’re just right on time. Where did you get these tees? Is this from your previous human victims? Did you kill them?”

My mouth opened in shock. I was bug-eyed after hearing Wagner’s straightforward question. He couldn’t shut his darn mouth for a second. I want to sew it with my bare hands. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything, and it scares me.

Sojin’s alluring eyes gazed at him.

“We don’t kill humans, but you don’t have to believe anything I say. We don’t see humans as enemies, but as life. All life is sacred. We only kill those who need to be killed.”

“You kill humans. That’s the end. Thanks, though.”

Wagner faked a smile before shutting the door.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Which one?”

He threw the wet garment on my face.

“Stop provoking him.”

“Are you worried? Don’t be.”

He suddenly stripped in front of my eyes that made me turned my back in a hurry.

“Have you forgotten that this is your body? And you also have my body. How ironic. It’s too late to be ashamed.”

“W-well, it’s weird. We have to respect one’s privacy.”

I removed my shirt and wiped my body with a wet fabric.

“Privacy? There’s no such thing between us.”

He suddenly appeared before me that made me cover my chest.

“I’m telling you once again. Take good care of my body. My abs should remain intact, and my skin should not lose its smoothness.”

He stared at my figure that made me more uncomfortable.

“Are you crazy? You’re unbelievable.”

I rolled my eyes and wore the shirt.

“Don’t be delusional, kid. The only person I admire is myself.”

Even in times of danger and uncertainty, Wagner never changes. In whatever situation, he’s always full of pride. He’s competitive. But even though he’s smart, his fiery head can ruin his focus.

The footboard screeched as we threw ourselves on the bed. It was so soft, like my bed. We stared at the ceiling which was made of smoothening stalactites. For a moment, I rested my mind.

“What’s the plan, smart guy?” I asked.

He heaved a sigh.

“Osca said that we must be careful because those creatures crave their own. So what does he mean by that?”

“They crave their own? Are they cannibals?”

“They could be. But if they eat humans, they could’ve tied us or eat us alive. Why would they treat us nicely?”

“Maybe they’re not hungry?”

“No. While I look at Sojin’s eyes, I know he wasn’t staring at me like I’m food.”

I paused for a second and thought for a satisfying answer.

“Maybe they don’t eat humans because they are not humans, obviously. They eat their own kind.”

“That makes little sense. Why would they stick together if they’re going to eat one another? This is bothering me.”

“Don’t think too much about it.”

He squatted on the bed and looked at me. I sat and laid my back against the wall.

“If you are in a strange place, you must gather some details. Know your enemies so you’ll come up with a next move. Observe, Kylo,” he said.

His hands swished and swooshed while he explained to me the things that I should never forget. It was more of a discussion.

“But you were so impulsive earlier. You almost picked a fight with Sojin. What’s with the attitude?”

My eyebrows went higher.

“I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he looks at me and talk to me.”

He clenched his jaw with a long face.

“What? Why is that?”

“I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right about him.”

“Everything doesn’t feel right, Wagner.”

I sneered as an idea came across my mind.

“I think I know what’s wrong. He likes you.”

“What?”

His loud voice enveloped the room like a roaring tiger, and it almost cracks my eardrums. I laughed at his facial expression. He looked like he wanted to burn Sojin alive.

“Don’t make fun of me, Kylo.”

“I’m telling the truth. As a girl, I can sense it. The way he looked at you, there’s something different.”

I raised my brows up and down to tease him. He winced at me with knitted brows.

“That’s illogical. Don’t tell me he liked me at first sight? That’s cringe and cliché.”

“It’s possible. Just because you never experienced it, doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

He shook his head.

“I get it, Kylo. You learned to pull a trigger and killed some assassins, you saw a live-action of how I executed Captain Red Beard, you’re a shipwreck survivor, plus you encountered an unknown creature. Everything that we’ve been through, traumatize you, that’s why you kept on imagining things. I get it, so you better sleep well tonight.”

He swiped his right hand through thin air to erase the things that I said. He lay on the bed and covered his body with the blanket. I lay beside him, but we were a few centimeters apart.

“Wagner. Why are you upset that a man likes you? That’s what you want, right? For everybody to admire you.”

“Do you want to fight me?”

I chuckled.

“Correction, he likes you because this is your body, not mine. Geez.”

Sojin likes me? No way. I mean, it’s weird. No one has ever liked me before. Should I be glad that someone likes me, or not because he’s not a human being?

“What are you thinking? I bet you’re blushing.”

I kicked Wagner’s butt, and he fell on the floor.

“Aw! Women are indeed violent when caught in the act.”

He massaged his shoulders before going back to bed. I yawned as I closed my eyes. I don’t want to waste my time arguing with a childish grown up.

The night swiftly passed by. I have a good sleep. Though I am already conscious, I didn’t have the energy to stand up and move. My body was literally glued on the bed. The same goes with Wagner. His heavy legs were still on top of mine.

I wished it would be like that forever, but my dream faded when I felt the droplets of water on my cheeks. I wiped it away with my right hand. It didn’t bother me, but it continued to pour down to my neck.

My eyes flickered as I forced myself to wake up, but it was too heavy. I smelled a foul odor nearby.

“Wagner, your fart is the worst,” I uttered.

Wagner didn’t respond. I felt someone sniffing my face.

“What are you doing?”

I was so annoyed that I slapped what’s in front of me. But then my hand landed on something rough. I heard a strange sound that made me opened my eyes urgently.

My eyes and mouth opened wide in synchronization as I shouted with horror.

“Ah!”

“Shut the fuck up, Kylo.”

Wagner looked at me with a frown. He shifted his attention to the terrifying creature in front of us.

“Ah!”

The creature opened his enormous mouth and roared. It was a dinosaur, but it was not colossal, so maybe it was a baby. Still, it was horrifying to look at.

It was a bipedal dinosaur with sharp teeth and claws. Its eyes glared at me and attempted to smack me, but I avoided its attack and ran to the door. We ran as fast as we could and entered random paths. The cave was like a maze, that has a lot of tunnels.

“What is that thing doing here?” I asked.

The dinosaur chased us like a wild, hungry monster.

“I think it’s an Aerosteon. It’s an impressive meat-eating dinosaur. They have features that are also seen in birds, but they don’t fly. It’s a light, and quick killing machine.”

I ran out of air, so I stopped moving and panted.

“We have no time left. Sojin is an asshole. I told you, they’re going to kill us!”

Wagner grabbed my hand and forced me to run, but I couldn’t take it any longer. My feet were in pain.

“Go on. Leave me here. I can handle it,” I said.

“Cut the crap, Kylo. We are leaving this place together.”

His eyes were burning with anger, but I could see a hint of fear. It’s something that Wagner rarely shows.

“I’m not going anywhere without you.”

He looked around and plucked the emerald stones with sharp edges. It glows in the dark and it could also be a suitable weapon. He stood in the middle of the path and waited for the dinosaur. He raised his weapon and aimed for a strike.

In a few moments, we heard its sound. It’s coming. Wagner tightened his grip and exhaled.

“Come to me, baby,” he uttered.

I crossed my fingers and was about to close my eyes, but something unexpected happened. Someone came running behind his back and bumped into Wagner. It was Sojin. He fell on top of him in a blink of an eye.

My heart pounded in surprise. They looked at each other intently. I gulped as I diverted my sight at the dinosaur approaching us.

“Lava! Calm down…”

The dinosaur stopped after hearing Sojin’s command.

“Get out of my face or I’m going to break your bones,” Wagner said with greeted teeth.

Sojin smirked as he stared at him with a cunning smile.

“I told you, there’s a wake-up call.”