Chapter Twenty-five: Hope
Alex ran down the tunnel, climbed out the tunnel into the evening setting sun and pouring rain.
She ignored it as she ran, nearly tripping a couple of times, towards the lab.
She saw a tall satellite dish with a ladder and ran towards it.
She needed to be alone.
She knew she couldn't, no.
Wasn't allowed to leave until the others did.
She climbed up as high as it would let her and she sat down in the corner.
She heard lupis whining, unable to come up with her.
She ignored him and curled up and cried, her quiet cries mixing in with the pouring rain.
Jemma quickly headed after Dan.
As she caught up to him, she took his hand. "...Do you know what happened?" She asked quietly, concern for Alex lacing her voice.
Trayaurus decided to wait with the others for now.
Stampy and Sqaishey glanced at each uncertainly.
Dan stopped and turned to face her. "Yes...most of it." He replied, truthfully. "Melonie is or was Alex's friend, that she met at the orphanage...I don't why Notch didn't tell us sooner..."
Jemma frowned a little deeper at that. "That must be part of why she ran off..." she said softly. "We need to find her. I don't want her getting hurt or lost here."
Dan agreed. "She also can't leave the game until the others are gone." He explained.
Jemma nodded. "I'll go get the others back to the lab. Can you go find her?" She asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, I can go look for her."
Jemma nodded. "Alright. I'll meet you back at the lab. Be safe." She told him before heading back.
Dan then climbed out of tunnel and quickly searched around the lab until it led him outside into the pouring rain. "Alex...Alex!" He called out, looking around.
He heard Lupis whining and barking nearby.
Alex didn't hear him over the rain.
Dan ran over to Lupis and shield his eyes from the falling rain as he looked up the ladder. "Alex?"
Alex slightly glanced up at his voice. She hesitated on replying.
Lupis turned to him and barked then looked up the ladder.
Dan took a deep breath and climbed up the ladder. "...Alex?" He quietly called out as he reached the top.
She didn't move.
Just a small whimper came from her.
She was soaked and shaking as she cried.
Her head was against her knees and arms wrapped around her legs.
Her hair draped around her and clung to her.
He then climbed up and sat nearby Alex.
She didn't move but slightly relaxed as she cried.
Dan looked at her and sighed. "...Alex...we should go back."
"...why?" she mumbled from her lap.
It was quite for a moment, expect for the sound of the falling rain.
"... you know we are worried about you... also, you must be freezing." He replied, glancing towards the lab and back at her.
She didn't reply for a while.
She just sat and listened to the rain.
She slowly looked up and met his gaze.
Her face was pale and her forest green eyes were red from crying. They held fear, distraught, grief, and loss in them.
She slowly crawled a little closer to him, seeming almost hesitant like she wasn't sure if he would do something.
Almost like a frightened animal.
She stopped less than an arms distance away and looked down at the ground.
Seeing this, Dan cautiously moved a little closer. "...you know I'm not going to force you come back down with me. Just know I'm not going to leave you alone." He told her as calmly as he could.
She slowly nodded. She sat next to him quietly. "...I... I can't believe he got to Mel..." she whispered quietly chocking a little on her words.
Dan looked at her with concerned. "I know." He replied, quietly. " I can't believe it too..."
She closed her eyes. "I... I wish I knew. Maybe I could have done something..."
"Maybe...maybe there is something you can still do." He said.
She looked at him. "You think so?" She asked softly, slight hope in her eyes.
Dan give her a small smile. " I'm sure of it."
She smiled a little. "I hope so. I owe her that much."
He nodded. " ...do you want to come back to the lab now?"
She nodded. "Okay." She agreed and carefully got up.
Dan offered Alex a hand to help her down the ladder, since the rain was still falling.
She took it and climbed down.
Lupis watched them.
He then climbed down and joined the two at the bottom. "Come on, let's go before the mobs start coming."
She nodded. "Right." She quickly headed off with Lupis following her.
Dan quickly followed them back into the lab.