He Found It

Their eyes met and remained still, Aldrich's pupils awaiting her response and Fiona's pupils thinking through her answer.

Silence was what was and an air of confusion, both were soon to be broken by the sound of leaves rustling from the sides.

Aldrich and Fiona jolted up, their hands already on their weapons and eyes on where the slightest sound of ruffling came from.

It sounded some more, like the sound of someone struggling to get through the thick bushes.

Aldrich signalled Fiona with eye movements before he took the lead forward to check it out.

He stood at arm's length, not willing to go any further unless he was ready to jeopardize his position as an archer.

From there, Fiona walked forward.

She lunged at Camelia with her leg as she walked past her, a gesture to get her to wake up and face the urgency.

Waking Trevor up served no purpose so he was left idly, to continue his nap.

It is advisable to wake him up if only to prepare him in incase if it is needed for them to run. But the thing is, if it calls for such a situation, they would be dead before they can go far with Trevor.

For now, they can only hope.

Their minds surged high and their sensitivity heightened only to be met with disappointment as a familiar figure roughed his way out of the bushes.

"Don't attack, it's me!".

The person warned, making his way out to show himself.

"Ian?!".

Out of the bushes, Ian clasped on the ground, exhaustedly.

"What the hell happened to you?!".

He looked all roughed up as though he had been in a battle for his life. Literally.

"I have found it guys... I have found the exit out of this wretched hole".

...

In the time Ian had left them, refusing to save Trevor while Aldrich and the two others decided to expend their time doing so, Ian had other intentions.

Not wanting to deal with a wounded burden contributes to a major part of why Ian ran off and left them behind, but another part is his thinking of a way to take advantage of the situation.

Some would call his actions selfish and some would applaud him for a job well done.

But the truth remains that selfish action of his is what turned out to be their shining light in the dark. It helped him find their way out of this.

"So you have found a way out?... Where is it!". Aldrich queried, starting to get impatient.

He wasn't precisely pissed that Ian had left them to their fate back then. After all, he understood that it was every man for himself and Ian was only prioritizing his wellbeing over those he doesn't know.

That was enough understanding from him. But there was still a part of him that just wasn't happy with what he did.

Call it a human's natural instinct /to be mad for being left to death by his fellow human.

One thing is for sure now, Ian isn't someone he would be comfortable relying on to watch his back when they are in dire situations.

"I have, but that's the problem".

"What is". Camelia cut him off, likewise impatient.

She evidently has a bone to pick with Ian for leaving them behind. Unlike Aldrich, she is emotionally attached to Trevor and doesn't appreciate Ian's opinion of him.

"The pharaoh queen's lair is where the exit is located".

Highly unexpected? Yes. But again, should it have been? The truth is it should and still is.

First is setting a species of Pharaoh's ant after them, next is neglecting a dying student, and now this?...

This whole trial stuff from the second-year students was beginning to stray out of their comfort zone even by Eldora standards.

"Why should we believe you? Why should we believe anything you have to say".

Camelia challenged Ian's competence out of the need to express her discourse toward him.

"I'm not asking you to believe me. I only told you what I saw, and it's up to you to take it for granted or to work on it".

True... Even if he left them behind, overall they were in the same position and he had no reason to lie to them.

"Then why are you here". Aldrich challenged next.

His tone wasn't with contempt like Camelia's.

While he held no grudge at Ian, he wasn't about to believe he came here to inform them out of the filial pity of abandoning them.

No. If he was one to be moved by pity, he would have at least looked back when he abandoned them, take a moment before doing it. 

But he showed no such emotions.

His being here right now can only mean he wants something of them.

"It is the lair of the Pharaoh's ant where the queen resides. I can't attempt to breach it alone".

His words say he can't, but the tattered state his clothing is in says he had attempted and failed. That is why he had to come back to inform them. Because he realizes it is not what he alone can overcome.

"Alright, we will help!".

"Not so fast".

Camelia voiced an opposition to Aldrich faster than he could count to three.

"He has betrayed us once, what's the assurance to say he is not lying and just trying to use us as bait for whatever this is".

True. You can never expect a straight path with someone that cold-heartedly betrayed you once.

"Because we are in the same shoes?... Oh and also because he will be taking the lead on this expenditure".

If there is anything to take note of concerning Ian as a character, it would be his judgmental mind.

While he does come across as self-centred and selfish to the core, he is not the type to make needless sacrifices.

That said, Aldrich does not intend to rely on his knowledge of the novel to lead him through. Not with the differences that have been noted so far.