After a while of running, they finally reach the end of the caves. The lights from a distance blinds them a little but they just keep running until they're sure that the creatures are not following them.
Tia still can't believe that Chester is dead. He died there, alone. Tears stream down on her cheeks as she tries to wipe them with her hand. She needed to stay strong for Chester sake. Tia notice how her hands is trembling from earlier, she was terrified of it.
"We found it. The Ale Mermaid."
Red voice woke Tia from her sense as she gazes towards the distance Red is pointing out. Chester, we found it. Tia breathed as she smiles lightly. Sad that Chester wouldn't be able to see any of this. It's frustrating. Gally was still unconscious, and Tammy was fixing her up.
Aiden was breathless, he was tired from running and was low on energy. Everyone is.
Xian had a dark expression on his face. Enzo matched him very well. While Kyran, his eyes were puffy. He tried to hide it, but it didn't help at all.
"What happened now?"
Aiden spoke while trying hard to catch his breath. Flopping down on the ground with a thud.
"My legs is killing me."
He added as Red stare at him disapprovingly.
"I don't know, should we just go and ask it for direction? I'm not sure if it's safe..."
Red shrug as he sighs in dismay. Tia's too doesn't know if they should just come up to it, what if the Ale Mermaid is hostile? What if it might kill them instead?
"I don't think it's dangerous. Since Tia saw the thing helped up in getting to The Noble."
Enzo finally spoke after being silent for a while. He had a blank expression. Red was thinking as he stares at the mermaid.
"Okay, who's going then?"
He added as he glances at everyone. Nobody volunteers to go. Tia decided that it should be her since she the one who saw the vision. The least she could do now is meet The Ale Mermaid.
"No. You stay here. Don't move an inch. I'll go."
Xian spoke as he gave Tia a stern look. Tia flinched in surprised when Xian push her towards Enzo telling him to "stay close" with her. Tia didn't dare to utter a single word after that. "Is he angry? With me?" The only thing that's on her remind was this. Everyone stares at Xian back as he made his way towards the mermaid. He doesn't hesitate at all.
"Are you okay?"
Enzo spoke as Tia shuddered. She wondered why since it's not even cold. She told him she alright, and he just nodded in response still staring at Xian as he is now talking to The Ale Mermaid. They look like they're discussing something. Everyone waited for Xian as he finally come back to them.
"What does it say?"
Red ask as Xian gaze stopped at Gally.
"They will show us the way. But."
He stopped and everyone was confused.
"But Gally can't come."
Hearing that made Tia confused and angry.
"Why?"
She was desperate to know. She can't leave another friend of her alone. She doesn't want to do that anymore.
"She's not going to survive the journey. The Ale said that only us, who's conscious would be able to cross."
Xian mentioned as he sighs. No. It can't be. Tia was angry at herself for letting this happened.
"So, we just left her to die then?"
Red scoff as his eyes stares at Xian in disgust. Xian glared at him in response.
"What's wrong with that? You seem to be eager to left your comrade to die earlier? What's the difference now?"
Xian growls in anger as he took a step towards Red and push him making him tumble to the ground. Everyone was shocked to see him doing that. Tia stares at Xian in shock, does it mean he's going to leave Gally here? Red didn't reply to Xian remarks as he just stay silent and glared at Xian.
Who knows what will happen if he decides to talk back to Xian?
"Let's vote then. Raise your hand if you wish to leave her here."
Xian suggest as everyone was staring at him in confusion. Wait, they wouldn't leave Gally here alone, right?
To Tia surprise, Xian was raising his hand. Tia didn't raise her hand as she keep glaring at Xian. He doesn't even make an eye contact with her. Aiden too raised his hand and seeing that, his friends did the same.
Even Tammy, she feels guilty when she raised her hand as she keeps staring at Gally direction mouthing "I'm sorry." Tia was dumfounded. She couldn't believe this people. Enzo raised his hand too and was staring at Tia with no expression. Tia looks back at Kyran and he doesn't raise his hand. Tia feels relieved that he doesn’t. Seeing that most of them had agreed to leave Gally, it's decided then.
"It's time so leave now."
Xian spoke as he stared at Tia. Tia shuddered again. Confused with what's happening, she wondered why hearing Xian talk made her terrified.
"No. I'm not going to leave her."
Tia spoke and everyone head turns to her. She was afraid of their eyes as they seem to be angry hearing her say that.
"Why not? You left Chester without hesitation back there, why can't you now?"
Xian replied as he smiled. Tia was shocked to see that. What the heck is wrong with him? It was terrifying.
"It's going to be alright; she will die soon anyway."
Xian added as he said that in a sing song voice. Tia was scared of him. Why is he acting so differently? Soon, everyone was surrounding Tia and kept telling her to leave Gally. She was dumfounded with this. She covered both her ears and eyes to avoid their eye contacts, but their voices keep getting louder and making her scared.
"No. Get away from me! I won't leave her here!"
Tia shouted in reply as the voices started to disappear. What the heck just happened? Tia wondered when she doesn't hear any of her friends voices anymore.
When she opens her eyes, everyone was there, surprisingly their reaction mat he'd Tia's really well.
"What the heck just happened?"
Red spoke as everyone had a confused reaction. Huh? Tia was confused too.
"Congratulations, you all passed the test."
A voice approach them from behind. The Ale Mermaid was standing there with two of its ... Kind. Smiling genuinely at them.
"What do you mean?"
Tammy replied still, looking confused. The Ale Mermaid explained everything to them as everyone listened carefully.
For some reason, everyone had been in the same illusion. Where all of them decided to leave Gally. And what it meant by passing the test was to say no when the others say yes. Like Tia's did. Everyone did the same in their own illusion, nobody wanted to leave Gally here and that made everyone passed.
"That scared me to death, I was about to kick some butts earlier."
Red respond as he sighs in relief. Everyone did too. Tia felt relaxed now that everyone doesn't want to leave Gally. She still can't believe that they've been in an illusion.
Since when?
How?
She can't imagine what would happen if the illusion she sees is actually real.
"Now then, shall we go?"
The Ale Mermaid spoke as everyone exchange looks. Relief washed over their faces. The two Ale carried Gally in its arms as everyone else followed behind. Tia stared back at the cave one last time, saying goodbye to Chester in her head.
"Here's to a new beginning." She thought as she catches up to the others. Everyone looked exhausted but still continued to follow. Xian walk next to her as Tia give him a light smile.
Seeing him made Tia wonders, what would happened if he really decided to leave Gally.
What would happened then?
"All of you will need to cross this path here. But don't worry, you won't be able to breathe for a while. And might feel suffocated but it will not kill you. Just relax and it will be over soon. And before you know it, you'll arrive at The Noble."
The Ale Mermaid explained to everyone and hearing that they might suffocate terrifies Tia. How are they so sure that it will not kill them? Tia was having a second thoughts now.
What if this is a trap?
What if this will be the death of everyone?
"We'll be fine."
Xian held out his hand to reach Tia as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"I'll be next to you until we reached that place."
He added and that gave Tia a slight relief.
At least, if something did happened.
She's not alone.
"Thank you."
Tia squeezes their hands together as everyone made Their way towards the water. It seems ridiculous and stupid to other eyes, but it is the only way for them to The Noble. Well here goes nothing...
"I never thought that this would be the end for me."