Elmo was as ready as he would ever be. Whatever came around the turn in the hallway he would face, even though the echoes of the running made it sound like a whole army was running towards them, even though it could just be a handful of creatures. Not to mention that it could be someone else altogether. Especially since they didn't know what to really expect in this place.
Even the magic items Jonas found weren't expected. While they didn't really make them all that much stronger, every little bit helped. Although, as he glanced at Elin, he noticed her dress was a mint green. What that meant in regards to what she was feeling, he wasn't sure, but wondered if it was about fear or anything related to what they didn't know was running towards them.
Elmo quickly put that subject out of his mind. He didn't need anything else going through his mind at the moment. Just like with any tricky code he'd had to write out in the past, he knew that if he let his mind go where it wanted, he'd screw up the coding. So, until this was over, he needed to not let himself get distracted. Especially since Jonas said that he needed to repay Elmo for what he'd done the night before.
The mere thought of that made him shiver in anticipation. While he couldn't be sure if Jonas felt the same way towards him that he did for Jonas, Elmo couldn't help but imagine what that 'repayment' would look like in terms of if they were already in a relationship. Elmo couldn't help but love the ideas that came into his mind, especially with what he'd like to happen.
What pulled him out of his daydream this time, was the sight of something coming around the corner. If it had been right in front of them, they probably would have attacked without thinking, but since there was at least forty feet to that turn, they were able to identify that the ones running were other contestants. Three of them to be exact.
Which meant they weren't a threat. At least not right now and especially since they didn't seem to be paying much attention at what was in front of them. They looked like they were more concerned with whatever it was they were running from. The would have also collided with Elmo's group if the said group hadn't stepped to the side to let the other groups run by.
As they passed by, Elmo realized he recognized one of them. It was Stanley, the guy that Jonas had asked him to check his stats before they left. Not that Elmo was going to say anything to him about that.
"Boss, I those are other contestants," one of Stanley's companions said, slowling down.
"Don't slow down!" Stanley shrieked. "Who knows how far behind us they are!"
"I'm not sure how much farther I can run," the other companion gasped, clearly out of breath.
"Fine then," Stanley replied, sounding like he was granting a huge favor rather than a simple request. "We can rest here. For a minute."
Elmo glanced at Jonas and Kim to see them sharing an annoyed expression. He still heard sounds coming from where Stanley's group came from, but it wasn't growing louder as fast as Stanley's group had been, although it was still growing louder.
"I think something's coming from there, just not as fast," Elmo whispered to Jonas who nodded.
"I hear it too, but we can deal with these people first. We have enough time," Jonas replied.
Kim walked over to Stanley and got his attention. "What are you running from?" she asked, sounding like she might be worried about him, but given how she was around men, Elmo wondered if she was playing an act to get information.
"Goblins," Stanley gasped. "The portal opened and several came out and captured two of my team. Heather and Sonya. We tried to fight them off as they tore of the girl's clothing while holding them down. Eventually we had to fall back. There were just too many of them. I'm not sure how long before they decide to eat Heather and Sonya."
"How many do you remember seeing exactly?" Kim pressed, her expression telling Elmo she didn't believe most of what this guy was saying.
"I think maybe ten holding both of the girls down for whatever they were doing. Then there was this large one that came out right before we had to leave the room, and I think there were maybe around twenty others," Stanley said. "I know they're going to come for me. Who else would they be after?"
"Right, right," Kim said, as she started to move away, clearly done asking him questions.
As Kim made her way back to them, she asked Jonas. "Should we make our way towards them?" she asked. "Might be easier if we did that."
However Jonas was shaking his head. "I'm not sure about that. Even if the numbers are exactly as Stanley said, I don't think we can take half of that at once. I'm sure you have a feeling what the goblins want with Heather and Sonya, so I think they'll be relatively safe for the moment," Jonas replied.
"You call what's happening to them 'safe?!'" Kim snapped.
Jonas shook his head. "I didn't say that. I said 'relatively.' Meaning that they're not going to be killed outright. We still have a chance to save them, but if we run headfirst into there, I doubt we'll make it," Jonas said. Then after a moment, he added, "Lets see how many come down this hallway. If there's only a few, then we should be able to work at whittling their numbers down."
"Can't you scout ahead in the shadows like last night?" Elin asked.
Jonas shook his head. "I need MP for that, and I haven't gotten all of it back yet, so I wouldn't be able to take a look at them, assuming I'd be able to get there in the time I'd have with it," Jonas replied. "Not to mention the fact that I don't have any shadows at the moment that I can enter." Jonas paused suddenly before continuing at a faster pace. "Although, maybe I could use that to rescue both Heather and Sonya. Let me ask the tutorial if I can pull others in. If I can, then maybe once night comes and I have full MP, I can go in there and pull both of them into the shadows and get them out of there. Although, I think we would need to be much closer to that room for that to work."
"Tell me what to do and I'll help," Elin said, her face set in a determined expression, her dress now a bright purple.
"Ugh," Kim groaned. "That dress is going to give me a seizure or something."
"What?" Elin asked, looking confused.
"Your dress changes color to your moods," Elmo said, grinning. "I think she's not used to see such color changes as fast as that with clothing."
"Huh?" Elin said, looking down at the dress. "When did it turn purple?"
"A minute ago, my gem," Kim said, pulling Elin into a hug, making Elmo blush and Jonas to look away, with an annoyed expression.
"Why is it changing color again?" Elin asked, as it shifted to a pinkish purple color.
"Because it reflects your emotions," Elmo replied. "We don't know what each color means, but it is in regards to your emotions."
"Can you make it stop?" Elin asked. "It feels weird."
Elmo shook his head. "Sorry, but it's bonded to you, so even if you take it off, the colors will still change according to your feelings," Elmo answered.
Elin sighed. "Maybe I should wear my robe over it," Elin said, sounding dejected.
"You know, that makes me think about something else," Jonas said. "Stanley told us the goblins tore off Heather and Sonya's clothing, right?"
Kim nodded. "Yeah, what's your point?"
"When we save them, shouldn't we bring something to put them in?" Jonas asked. "I mean, like some kind of clothing? So if they're conscious enough they won't be traumatized more by having to remain naked."
"Might be a good idea," Kim said, then turned to Elin. "My gem, would it be alright if we borrowed your robe to let one of the other girls wear it when we save them?"
Elin looked like a child who's favorite tou was being taken away. "What?! Why?!" Elin cried.
"Think of it this way, Elin," Elmo said. "Would you want to be forced to remain naked if your clothing was torn off?"
Elin stared at Elmo in shock. "That's what happened to them?" she asked quietly, shocked.
"That's what Stanley said," Elmo replied. "So, if we save them, shouldn't we give them something to wear, eve if they're not aware of it?"
Elin looked down, clearly not happy about where this conversation was heading. "Yeah, we should," Elin replied grudgingly, her dress now a dark brown color.
"Well, lets see what comes around the corner then," Jonas said, turning back to the hallway.
"How many do you think you'll be able to take out?" Kim asked, an evil grin on her face.
"We'll have to see first how many there are, then what kind of armor they have. Otherwise I'm sure you'll definitely take out more than me," Jonas said, giving Kim his own evil grin.
"Fair enough."