Elizebeth's eyes widen as she notices a small cabin filled with vines, but manageable. She tugged at Alex's shirt and pointed to the cabin, Alex's eyes sparkled in delight and smiled at Elizebeth "Great job Lizzy!" He said and ruffled her hair before walking over to it with Elizebeth walking close behind. Alex tries to turn the knob, but it wouldn't work, after a few more tries he turns to Elizebeth "Back up Lizzy, I'm gonna kick the door down." She did as she was told and backed up. Alex also backs up a tiny step back and takes a deep breath before raising his leg up and kicking the door down. He nodded at the door and walked in confidently but suspiciously. After a few minutes he walked back out and told Lizzy it was ok to come in. After they both set their supplies down, they looked at each other and sat at a weathered down wooden table filled with dust and cracks. Alex grabs his bag and pulls out a small loaf of bread and breaks it in half and hands a piece to Elizebeth and they both eat in semi-comfortable silence. Elizabeth Looks up at Alex and finally breaks the silence "Why are you here Alex...-? I know I told you why I was here..but why are you...-?" It was true, Elizebeth did say she was here because she made a deal with the devil, which I know is surprising for someone who is literally 8 but it was her parents. They owed him and they couldn't pay, so he took the thing they valued most, their daughter. "I...." Alex began to speak. He didn't know how to dive into this topic, especially with an 11-year-old. "My mother and sister died from my abusive father and I barely made it out alive when I was 13…ever since I've been on my own trying to find them so that's how I am here now….I don't know how I got to this realm so don't ask." There was a bit of bitterness in his last few words and Elizebeth felt guilty for just asking a question. She simply nodded, turned, and walked out of the shack and sat on a mossy log. She let her hair dance in the cold wind as she tried to think of her family.. Her father's hands were rough like sandpaper but gentle like she was made of glass. Her mother's eyes golden like an Egyptian Crown, shining in the warm sunlight, or her long hair: soft and long like silk but curly like waves in the ocean splashing the surface. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and flinched. She looked up and saw Alex standing above her with a look of adoration and worry. "Are you alright Lizzy?" His voice was soft and mixed with honey and affection through the threads of his vocal cords. She nodded and looked back at the ground and stood up, her back facing Alex. "Are we back on the trail tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked, Alex made a "mh-mm" and she sighed. "I'm heading to bed." And with that, she walked into the falling-apart-shack they found. Alex sat on the ground, crossed his legs, and took in a breath of the dark, cold, moisty air of this dark realm. Elizebeth shouldn't be in this world. He shouldn't be in this world. He was only 16. "I can't keep Lizzy with me..she's going to get hurt.. I can't let her get hurt..but what would happen when I'm gone?" He thought. His thoughts racing. He didn't know what to do, what could he do? He played a little with his fingers, kinda fidgeting and biting his nails anxiously. He made up his mind and stood up abruptly. He quietly walked into the shack and saw Elizebeth sleeping in the corner with a small blanket Alex brought with him from home years ago. He walked over to her making sure not to make a noise. The silence was so loud, Alex could hear his heartbeat running through his ears. He didn't want to leave her, would that make him as bad as his father? No, he made up his mind. He needs to leave. "It's for her safety" Alex kept saying to himself. He grabbed his bag and his sword. Alex turned and started walking for the door, he took one last look at Elizebeth from over his shoulder and sighed deeply before leaving. It was like time was reversed back to before he met Lizzy. Walking, walking silently while overly observant and not merciful. He walked through the woods and hummed the soft tune his sister would sing to him when their mother and father fought. Alex blinked away tears and put his hood up. He hated every second of being here but it was too late, he went too far. There was no going back. Suddenly he got a burst of adrenaline and started running, just like his mind. Running from his thoughts, emotions, and feelings. He couldn't change how he felt no matter how hard he tried. After a few minutes of running he started to slow down. The adrenaline rush was wearing off and he was out of breath. He sat under a willow tree and grabbed a bottle of water he packed before leaving. After taking a sip, he breathed in a sigh. He broke out in a laugh for no real reason and looked up to see he was under…a willow tree…his mother's favorite. He chuckled softly "Is this a sign mother? Are you and Sister looking down at me from above?" Alex asked and as if on cue, a small breeze brushed against his dirty skin. He couldn't help but smile softly. He sighed once again and leaned against the tree. "I'll find you mother, just stay by my side. That I swear." Was his last thought before drifting off into a deep slumber.