Nero, Frides, and Elle hid out in the room until the sun started to set. Nero was passed out on one of the beds with Urs curled up next to him.
Frides and Elle were seated at the dining room table, watching the sun sink slowly towards the edge of the crater.
Elle looked over to Frides. "Can I trust Nero?" the question had taken Frides by surprise. "Never-mind."
Frides caught his voice. "No, It's just I've been asking myself the same thing.."
"And what do you think?"
"That's not a simple question."
"Do you think I can't handle a complex one?"
"No. I mean yes." Frides took a deep breath and Elle watched him closely. "I think you can handle a complex answer. What I mean is, Nero, is complicated and so is my impression."
"Which says more about whether I can trust him or not."
"Both really." Frides answered surprised by his own answer. "Nero has made mistakes and is stained by those mistakes. Separated from his obvious character flaws like his hot headed nature and inability to see anything outside of what he wants. Or see any kind of danger whatsoever. In exchange he's very capable and quick to apologize. He happens to be the luckiest guy in the world with people, things just seem to work out."
"Is that bad?"
"Not bad, its confusing. I admit, he makes me think he doesn't have a care in the world but then he makes me think otherwise."
"Do you trust him?"
Frides pondered the question. "I do trust him." He concluded. "He makes bad decisions sometimes or does a wrong thing with what it seems like are the right reasons. Maybe he has me fooled which isn't easy but I always accept all factors of an equation."
Elle shrugged in agreement. "I feel like you're describing me. I feel like I'm a few points away from all the answers that would make my life easier all of the time."
"That's exactly it. He's made mistakes and so have I. It seems like you want to fix some things you've done and not hurt the people closest to you, any more than you already have. There were some things that happened before I met Nero. Things I couldn't forgive myself for and still haven't. Nero takes these moments, forgives himself and learns from it, without ever washing the stain away. So that he never forgets how it felt."
"I don't think any of those things. I think he is self gratifying and overly optimistic. He pushed me into telling him about this place and about me. But I feel like he does care and he chose me specifically. He is annoying but considerate and rude at the same time. I needed to tell someone. It was going to burst open and then they would have killed me. It's like he saw that I had something to say."
"I think he wants to be your friend."
"Why me?"
"Because he feels he can trust you, so he does. He talks to you like he's known you his entire life. In the best and worst ways. Speaking of." Frides got up and walked over to where Nero was sleeping and lifted his foot up. "Get up! Get up! Get up!" Frides woke Nero up with a succession of kicks to his head.
Nero rolls over and fell on the floor making Urs pop her head up. After seeing Frides, she laid her head back down.
"What was that for!" Nero looked out the window and rubbed his hands together. "The sun is almost down I see."
Elle stood up and walked over. "People are setting up by the shores. Everyone is out so it should be easy for us to sneak up to the top."
"Okay lets go, Urs." Urs perked her ears and jumped up and ran to Nero.
"She's coming?" Elles asked condescendingly.
"She's a part of the team."
"If you say so?" Elle lead them out of the Suite. The other guests were sprawled out in beach chairs and parties were toasting at benches surrounded by attendants. Frides was following behind Elle and Nero was close behind him skipping and hopping.
"I'll be able to see the Glow Stone from the top!"
"Shhh!" Frides snapped back and glared at Nero.
"Yes. Secret operation." Nero mimed locking his mouth up.
Elle stopped then turned to them. "Something isn't right."
"Already?!" Nero teased.
"Whats wrong?" Frides asked.
"I don't know but you guys need to go the opposite way. I'll try to get up there as quickly as I can."
"Thank you mam, for guiding us and keeping us company." Frides turned around and grabbed Nero and shoved Urs back around with his foot.
"What's going on?" Nero asked while allowing himself to be dragged.
"I don't know. We have to hurry though."
"That's good." Nero freed his arm from Frides' grasp. "You can handle this, right?"
"Handle what? What are you going to do, Nero?"
"I'm going to see the Owner?"
"No, we said we would help her."
"Yeah and we will but we have to help every one."
"What?"
"It's not just Elle and Imani. Look around. Everybody with a number doesn't want to be here. We're going to free every one." Nero crouched down and talked to Urs. "Go with Frides okay. He's going to need your help."
Urs ran over to Frides. Frides looked down at Urs and palmed his face in frustration. "Alright, If things go sideways we'll meet at the split in the road."
"Got it." With that Nero turned and walked down towards the Glow Stone.
O BE CONTINUED...
Thanks for reading!