Niko leads me into the cave. I watch him walk into the main part of the cave, but I stay behind, not really wanting Kyler to know I've come back quite yet. And Niko doesn't seem to care that he's left me in the hallway.
"Ky!" I hear Niko say happily.
"What do you want, Niko?" I hear Ky ask back, sounding more upset than happy to see his brother.
"I just wanted to check on you. Have you made any progress?" Niko asks curiously, making me wonder what's going on. Kyler doesn't sound happy that Niko is here, and Niko is prying about progress?
"Who did you bring with you?" I hear Kyler ask.
"Your pet. Chasing her away, I see." I hear Niko say. I peer around the corner. They both look at me, so I decide to come into the room with them.
"You came back," Ky says, unconcerned with my presence.
"Do you not want her?" I hear Niko ask. I look up at him, confused. Want me?
I look back at Ky who has a disappointed and frustrated look on his face, as if upset with the question. "You already know my answer." He turns and starts in the direction of the dark hallway-that holds I don't know what.
"Then I'll take her."
Niko's words startle me. I look up at him, "Excuse me?" I ask.
"No, you may not," I see Ky turn around and look at Niko.
What did I just get myself into.
"Then make a decision. If you keep chasing her out then I'll take her myself." Niko says before stomping out of the cave.
I watch Niko leave then I look at Ky, wide-eyed.
Ky frowns, "You're more trouble than you're worth, you should have disappeared the first time."
"What just happened?" I ask. I watch Ky sigh then walk over to the cell in the corner, he opens the door. "My brother just threatened you. So I guess you're staying here until I can get you home."
"What does that mean?" I ask.
He takes a deep breath, "It's too much to explain right now. But it's getting dark, and you need someplace safe to sleep," he gestures to the cell.
I shake my head, "No way."
He frowns, "Believe me, you want to stay in the cage, tonight."
I continue shaking my head, "Absolutely not, I'd rather leave!" I say sternly and turn to head down the hall.
I don't know how the guy moves so fast, but before I have time to react, I've been grabbed. Ky's arms wrap around me from behind and he pulls me across the room, pushing me into the cell then closes the door behind me. I watch him lock it. "I'll give you the key, but you have to promise to stay in here." He says, holding the key between his thumb and index finger where I can see it.
"Why?" I ask.
"Those Shadows, outside," he gestures to the hall that leads to the forest, "Niko and I are Hybrids of those."
"W-What do you mean? Niko told me-"
"That he wasn't?" Ky interrupts. "My brother is a liar. He doesn't care about anyone but himself, and he only wants you because you haven't been turned into one yet."
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"You're immune."
"Immune? Are you saying it's like an infection or something?" I ask, curious as to what the Shadows are.
He nods, "A virus. The fog is a virus. Niko made it when we were younger. He came here to make as many Shadow Creatures as he can." He sighs, "And somehow he finds someone who's immune. And he takes them."
"So aren't you part of it too? Are you causing the Shadows?" I ask, now worried that I'm being held by someone who is using a virus to harm people.
He shakes his head, "I'm trying to make a cure. I don't want my brother to win. Maybe he's giving me a fighting chance by giving me someone who has an immunity, I may be able to use you to save your people. But I didn't want anyone caught up in the mix of this."
"Of what? Why did he make this virus and why release it here? Does he work for the government or something?" I ask.
He throws the key at me. "If I come out in the middle of the night, don't let me into the cell or get too close to you. When in Shadow form I'm dangerous and will try to kill you. If Niko comes then stay hidden. He'll try to take you." He says then leaves down the hallway.
What? "W-Wait, I still have so many questions!" I yell down the hall at him. "Why do you turn into a Shadow at night? And what do you mean try and take me? Can he break into the cell? Hide? How do I hide in a barred room? I put my head between two of the bars. It doesn't seem overly safe to me. I feel like this is dangerous. I wish I'd never left my home.
But then again. I most likely would have died if I'd have stayed.
I sit down on the cold rock bed that has been carved out of the wall. I curl up, wrapping my arms around my knees. I can't believe this is happening. I must be dreaming, right? Or these guys are delusional. But then, I did see Drew and what had happened to him. So maybe I really did stumble upon something real. Something scary.
But I don't think I'm ready to face anything like that quite yet.