Page 50 of Orange Lake
That earned another stare. I just stared back.
A few moments later, I felt triumphant when he looked away, placed his hands on the bar handles and off we go. He said something but it sounded gibberish. Probably a very local dialect in his home world. Or a spy word that only he knew.
We sped along the sand dunes. Finally, some chance to see the scenery. This is similar to when I traveled with Roqs. What is different though is the landscape. There are solar panels. I was shocked to see high-rise buildings made of glass that reflects the colors of sand dunes. There are some workers, probably, because some weird-looking vehicles are zipping from point A to point B. It looked separate from the forest where we came from but now I can see huge cables running from this desert back to the forest. By huge, it felt like a one-story high cable.
“Stop leaning to one side,” Coone chided.
“S-“
I stopped myself. This was Coone after all. I simply sat back and placed my hands on the handle again. A few moments later, he turned away from the fascinating solar buildings and more sand appeared as far as I can see. There are no surrounding mountains or forest.
Where is this guy taking me?
Zirc trusted him. But where could he be taking me? And he said shopping?
The town near the mansion was small back where we came from. Reminds me almost of medieval times but in some corners, there were strange looking and high tech equipment being sold. The market is alongside buildings which could be what I might call restaurants, bars, motels, and apartments. There was no tall building except for Crix’s mansion which has four floors. I did not see any elevators inside the building. I only reached the second floor. And the basement where it’s connected to a hot spring.
I noticed we are circling an area by the way my body is moving mostly on my right side. Then I noticed it when Coone slowed down a little. Just beyond, what I thought were more sand dunes, there’s a gaping black hole!
The vehicle stopped. I almost gripped Coone’s shoulder but I can’t prevent all 6’ tall of corded muscle from leaving. He simply slid away from the vehicle. The transparent shield is gone. He looked back at me and he smirked.
Yeah, so I’m afraid. Coone plus a gaping hole in the middle of nowhere equals danger. My self-preservation is screaming at me to get the hell out of here.
I took a quick look back and found more sand. Where is the civilization? Where will I go?
Coone snorted. “Get your ass down here,female.”
He pronounce the word female the same way as human.
But, I was rooted in my seat. I gripped hard on the handles when he came forward. No way is he dumping me here or in the middle of the hole! I struggled but he picked me up like a kitten.
When he got me off the vehicle, I struggled and kicked him. It earned a growl but more higher in note than Zirc’s growls. Or compared to other manasties.
“Quit fooling around human else I will really just push you off here!”
He unceremoniously dumped me on the edge of the hole! This looked very similar to Yemen’s sinkhole. Might even be a carbon copy, or an exact replica! He was gripping the back of my clothes to steady me while I stupidly looked down at the dark abyss. I bring forth all my will power so I don’t pee on the spot.
“This is so funny but I know those two will murder me,” he said, almost talking to himself.
“You are not dumping me here!” I declared and struggled to get out of his hold. He knew my moves from before and countered each with little effort on his part. I tried to swipe him but ended up in a sharp pain. My hand met a solid barrier to the wall.
He let go of me and messed something with a bracelet. I wanted to take a swipe at him but he sidestepped without looking at me, then I lost my footing. My eyes got big as I felt my body tumbling back to the sinkhole’s abyss. Coone’s eyes looked up but his eyes are amused like there’s an inside joke.
I screamed bloody murder! I felt weightless, my hands and legs struggling to catch anything that will stop my fall. To my death.
If I survive this, I will kill him!
I was still screaming at the top of my lungs when I felt something soft and solid at my back. A few seconds later, I heard a thud. I was suddenly on my right side, my elbows holding me up, my knees wobbly and felt twisted. Yet, I can still see the dark abyss below the soft solid thing holding me.
I looked upward and saw Coone’s boots. He looked smug. From his vantage point, he can probably see my mangled corpse! He is standing on the same solid shape that is holding me.
My heart is beating a million miles per hour. Coone tried to lend a hand to help me up but I swiped it away. He rolled his eyes, and simply pick me up. Good thing he is holding me up by my waist, otherwise, I will fall back on my face. Of course, I will not point this out to him.
“What do you know,” he chided. “I just found the best way to make you shut up.” I can see his eyes laughing at me. I can feel his right hand above my left breast. He wasn’t being lewd or it’s just my imagination if he’s feeling my heartbeat. I feel faint. This is not how I planned to spend myshoppingspree with this jerk.
“Take it easy, human. This area is safe. You’ll know when we reach the bottom.”
The bottom probably took minutes or an hour before we reached it. It was that deep. Or again, because it took me some time to get my bearing. Coone never let go of me until I saw the dirt at the bottom.
