Contrary to my thoughts at that time, we did not end up running to the hotel to confront the "master" I had fabricated. Instead, Ittisk and Thrack had simply led me back towards the rundown living quarters that they somehow owned.
"We're back." Ittisk had calmed down significantly since our small debate at the mine, but he still had some suspicions that were directed towards me. "I suppose you can sleep on the couch for tonight." I approached the couch that was closest to me, but Ittisk raised his voice again. "No, not that one. You'll rest on the other couch."
My eyes darted until I saw this other couch. The condition it was in was terrible: a whole cushion was missing, which exploded some of the wire springs beneath it. Everything else seemed to be extremely worn, too. I assumed that Ittisk and Thrack either retrieved it from the dumpster or had used it for a very long time.
Daylight was fading, leading the dim, almost burnt out lightbulb to take over illuminating the room. This was only to aid us in settling on the couches for the night, however. Thrack took the sofa that was on the opposite side of the room, most likely to keep an eye on me.
Slowly, I adjusted myself until I found myself in a position that was just comfortable enough to fall asleep in. It took a long time to finally drift off, however. Just as I was on the brink of collapsing I would either jerk myself awake or have the thought to check whether Thrack was staring at me or not.
It was because of this that I couldn't start dreaming. Instead, I woke up the next day without a visit to the labyrinth.
"Rise and shine," a gravely voice greeted. Opening my eyes, I saw Thrack looking over me. "It's time for you to start your first day on the job."
Pain suddenly shot through my limbs the instant I attempted to rise from the couch. I had worried about soreness setting in the previous night, but I hadn't a clue that it would be this intense. "Yeah..."
Thrack turned away and entered another room, where I heard sounds of rummaging. A few seconds later he returned with a box of cereal. "Breakfast."
Nodding, I slowly rose to my feet. "Thank you." I only now realized just how hungry I was, especially after the long run the three of us did without any dinner to finish it.
Ittisk came out of yet another room as Thrack crouched next to the coffee table. He shook the box, causing small bits of granola-like bits to spill out into three carefully measured piles. The two aliens kneeled and began to eat with their hands. I sighed and slowly joined them. After all, of course they would reduce their cost of living by eliminating everything that wasn't the bare essentials.
"It's your first day," Ittisk muttered between bites. "I can tell that you're going to be a great employee."
I had only scooped up three handfuls of cereal while Ittisk and Thrack we're almost done their ration of food. I couldn't bring myself to eat the cereal, but I knew that it would most likely be my only meal for a while. It was stale and from the looks, I couldn't detect many proper nutrients. "Thanks. For everything."
"Don't mention it." The two waited for me to finish before stretching once more. "So are you ready?"
"Yes. Sure." I could sense that my body would not like the idea of running all the way back to my workplace, but again I knew it was all necessary. I sighed and quickly stretched with them. "Let's go."