“Elder Todd, wake up! It’s been two hours!”

  I shook and glanced at my twenty dollar glow-in-the-dark watch, my eyes only seeing bleary numbers, in my exhaustion I had forgotten literally everything that had happened. And I panicked wondering where I was and why it was so dark, thinking I was going to be late to my next appointment, and then clarity hit me.

  No appointments due to circumstances, I thought, but looking at the time, It was about 5pm. And indeed, we slept for two hours.

  I rubbed my eyes and then took Elder Pachu’s hand as he helped me stand up.

  ”Do you hear that?” Elder Pachu spoke as he froze and listened to the air, like a rabbit in danger.

  “No, I don-“

  There was a voice. A quiet voice. I stiffened. It was getting closer.

  We both stood there like two deer waiting to be hit by an oncoming car wondering what it was that was approaching.

  Finally the sound was more distinct, and it sounded like a feminine voice.

  ”Wait!” I whispered, “That sounds like-“

  ”Sister Smithfield!” Elder Pachu finished my sentence, but much louder.

  When he made the exclamation, her voice stopped for a few seconds.

  After a tense pregnant pause, Her voice came again. “Hello?” That one word echoed down the long entrance with tense concern.

  ”Please Sister Smithfield, let's go back up! I don’t want to be down here!” Another but quieter voice pleaded in panic.

  ”Heeeey! It’s me! Elder Pachu!” He yelled without reservation.

  I too could hardly contain my excitement.

  Then Elder Pachu looked over at me, “Oh!” He quietly exclaimed, then in his loud voice shouted again, “And Elder Todd is here with me!”

  “Wait, how can they see?” I looked over with at Elder Pachu with some confusion evident in my voice.

  He shrugged, but it wasn’t long before I had my answer. Looking up along the dark tunnel, with the immediate surroundings that were barely lit up by our subtle glow, There was a bright glowing light descending slowly. With a little squinting, I could discern that It was Sister Smithfield, she shone with vibrance, lighting up all her surroundings, a far more practical glow than mine or Elder Pachu’s.

  ”Which way?” She and her companion were paused at the crossroads between the tunnels that lead to two doors, which she would quickly discover had she walked down one. Evidently, our glow was not enough for her to see us.

  Elder Pachu and I smiled at each other, we were no longer alone, and we started walking up towards the two sisters.

  Eventually, we met up, and Elder Pachu’s armor started reflecting her light all over the place, making things in the distance somehow even more visible.

  ”What are you guys doing down here? And that is some nice armor, Elder Pachu!” Sister Smithfield both asked and exclaimed.

  And then I swear I saw her glance at the stick I was carrying.

  ”Did you say guys? You meant, 'Elders' right?” I corrected with a half-tease in my voice, but immediately I felt sheepish that she had seen my measly branch.

  Elder Pachu bellowed a laugh, “We could ask you the same thing! Is it safe for you to be down here? There are-“ Elder Pachu cut off abruptly, then continued, in a serious tone. “Creatures. Dangerous ones.”

  The Sister next to Sister Smithfield widened her eyes, clenching her fists. Her whole face went pale.

  ”Well, with the chaos up there, and our district leader also in armor, fighting off whole groups of creatures, I don’t know if it’s exactly safe anywhere. As I watched the district leader fight to protect us, I was praying for his safety, direction and help, and then there, I saw this cave poking out of the hole. And I felt a strong urge to enter. As if the spirit was pulling me in.”

  Her companion did not hide her dismay, and she huffed. “Yeah, bringing me in here too, because we can’t ‘separate.’”

  Sister Smithfield grimaced and then turned to her “I’m sorry Sister Siqua, I don’t mean to drag you somewhere you don’t want to be, but I feel like staying together is also incredibly important especially right now.”

  Sister Siqua sighed, then quietly mumbled, “Well, at least we have Elder Pachu’s armor and sword to protect us.”

  Again, I felt embarrassed that I did not also have armor and a sword, I wanted the sisters to say that I would protect them.

  Looking at the two, I realized that Sister Siqua didn’t glow like Sister Smithfield, her glow was more muted like mine or Elder Pachu’s.

  “Why do you glow like that?” I asked Sister Smithfield when I finally had regained my thoughts.

  ”What? You mean this light?” She smiled and did a half twirl inspecting her dirty church-dress that went well past her knees. Despite the smudges of dirt on her face and all over her and her companion’s dresses, she shined like a beacon, almost appearing clean, but not so bright as to be blinding now that my eyes had adjusted to the light.

  ”Well, I tapped on that ‘Dungeon vision’ thing and I just lit up like a christmas tree!”

  ”It’s true.” Mumbled Sister Siqua. Who was now inspecting her arms.

  I thought I saw exactly the same feelings I felt about my branch, in Sister Siqua’s eyes. And then our eyes met and we quickly looked away.

  Elder Pachu, unable to contain his contagious smile, he asked the pressing question. “Elder Baker found his armor, But what about you?”

  Sister Smithfield looked intrigued, “He was kinda too busy fighting off the creatures that were trying to kidnap people, to talk. But where did you ‘Find’ your armor?” Sister Smithfield looked at him, almost with a hunger in her eyes. “I want to help! I want to do something! I don’t want to feel useless like I do!”

  I spoke up, “The button looks just like the dungeon vision, but it appeared only when we entered the dungeon door in the other tunnel.

  I said, pointing with the stone key that was in my hands.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Sister Smithfield’s missionary display had popped up and she was inspecting right next to the dungeon vision button. But clearly saw nothing new.

  Sister Smithfield then looked up and acknowledged the object in my hand for a second, but quickly tugged at her companion, come-on, let's go see if it appears for us too!

  Elder Pachu and I followed their excited pace quietly.

  We quickly arrived, to find Sister Smithfield frowning with her shoulders slumped, she was staring at her display again trying to read with her finger, while her other hand was still gently holding onto Sister Siqua’s arm with what seemed like an unconscious but soft grip.

  “Perhaps we need to go deeper?” She asked but without much hope in her voice.

  Elder Pachu broke the tragic silence with his hopeful optimism. ”We already cleaned this room out, perhaps there aren’t any creatures left to trigger it for you? Maybe if we use this key on the other door something will appear?”

  Sister Smithfield looked pleadingly at Elder Pachu. “I guess it’s worth a try.” But she clearly didn’t believe anything would happen.

  Since I was holding the key, It was me who inserted the stone key into the door. Weird feelings of exhilaration filled me, the last dungeon was scary, full of emotion, climbing down that spiral underground colosseum, but there was no boss. In here, there might be a boss.

  I quietly imagined myself slaying the boss, and the two sisters watching, impressed by my skill and strength, and I would do it, all with just a branch.

  The stone door made a *Chink!* sound, and then made a slow grinding sound when Elder Pachu pushed the door open.

  Immediately large dark hands with seemingly no source, shot out from the darkness behind the door, clawing, stretching, grabbing. I saw it all in slow motion, It seemed as if it was about to grip Elder Pachu’s entire body with those massive claw-like hands and pull him into the depths.

  I shouted, “No!” Reaching for Elder Pachu, but fearing I would get dragged in with him, I only placed my hand on his shoulder, with a loose grip.

  Suddenly the light emanating from Sister Smithfield brightened and brightened, becoming almost an tangible a pulse of the light, it pressed forward, and the wave of light seared the massive shadowy and clawed hands, steam quickly hissing and rising from them, there was a wail that sounded from deep within the dungeon, and the hands withdrew, vanishing into thin air.

  I was shaking. But as the intense situation had ended, I realized Sister Siqua was crying, now I remembered hearing a scream, but in the thick of it, I could only hear my own voice.

  Elder Pachu’s face was pale. He looked back at me, then nervously chuckled as he spoke, shifting his glance at Sister Smithfield. “I sure am glad you came.” And he continued to stare behind me, a little too long.

  I know she’s cute, but man, she’s looking right at you! Don’t gawk! I thought to myself, but couldn’t help but glance at her too, as she was now the center of attention.

  I think my jaw actually dropped, I don’t know. I can’t remember.

  But when I looked at her, she was covered in something deep piercing blue, a blue that rivaled her eyes, but what really made it standout was the glowing white chainmail lacing all around it.

  I will be honest, it looked entirely impractical. It was an armored dress.

  But despite our eyes glued to her, she was not staring back at us, she was also checking her new equipment out, staring through sleek blue visors in her new helmet.

  She twisted one way, letting her hips move with the rest of her, then she twisted the other way, swaying her arm, then she performed a lunge, “It feels so cozy! It doesn't restrict my movement at all!” She exclaimed, then she placed her hand on a scabbard at her hip, the casing also blue, but before she could pull it out and inspect it, she looked up at all three of us with wide excitement in her eyes. Until she realized we were all staring at her, and then she blushed.

  “Stop staring, Elders” She specifically stressed the word Elders, which felt like a retaliation to my earlier comment. It was definitely a tease.

  The unexpected tease made my heart stop for a moment. But it was also effective, as both Elder Pachu and I quickly looked away.

  Our eyes both slowly drifted to the dark dungeon. And the previous emotion of dread came creeping back.

  But an armored girl in blue marched right past us with a sword in her hand, her brightness illuminating and chasing away the thick darkness ahead.

  I glanced back to see her companion stand stiff for a solid second, then when she realized she was now standing in the darkness, she squeaked and rushed to catch-up with her companion, grabbing her arm for what I assumed was comfort.

  Elder Pachu and I both glanced at each other, but no words were forthcoming.

  Exploring down the stone-doored dungeon did not turn out the way I had previously imagined. Both Sister Smithfield and Elder Pachu had gravitated towards the front, as they had armor, and Sister Siqua followed closely behind her companion, leaving me walking behind them, gripping my branch hoping for some action.

  The floor below us had occasional mustard colored tiles embedded within the cave floor, It reflected Sister Smithfield’s light in an eerie way.

  Despite her enthusiasm, she pulled back as soon as the first creature showed up. She hesitated to swing at it.

  Elder Pachu chuckled, “It’s easy, just like chopping grass with a machete.” He swung and the charging little flaming gremlin was sliced in half.

  The sounds it made caused Sister Siqua to visibly tense up.

  But by now, I was used to them.

  Sister Smithfield, despite her girlish behavior, surprised me, when she swung deftly at the next creature that was charging down the hallway to us. She laughed and looked at Elder Pachu, squealing with joy, “That was fun, I thought it would feel a lot grosser!”

  I glumly watched them slice and dice the creatures that ran towards them.

  Where is the dungeon? Is this just a long hallway?

  But eventually the tiled floor grew thicker and thicker, almost like we were walking in a castle’s dungeon.

  I noticed that Sister Smithfield was getting really good at swinging her sword, she was probably better than Elder Pachu now.

  The group eventually came to an alternate path, “I think we should keep going forward, stick together. Elder Todd, watch our back and let me know if anything starts coming for us from that hallway.” Elder Pachu said, looking at me.

  I nodded. Faking a smile.

  Why do they get swords and I don’t? I questioned.

  Why do they get to have fun? I glanced at Elder Pachu and Sister Smithfield, who were talking about potential techniques, the best way to swing their sword, or the best angle to attack the gremlins at.

  There was nothing I could contribute to their conversation, even though I really wanted to.

  Yeah, swinging my branch really gets em. They get a concussion, then I shove em with my feet. I started going though all the potential things I could say in my head, but just felt like each one would make me look really dumb, like I was trying too hard.

  I stopped and glanced back at the hallway, the promise of adventure.

  And then I noticed it got darker as the other missionaries continued down without me, even Sister Siqua was laughing at Elder Pachu’s jokes.

  Elder Pachu looked back, “Elder, you okay?”

  The two sisters also looked back at his inquiry.

  I automatically smiled and waved, pretending nothing was wrong, “Yeah, I’m just diligently making sure nothing is following us!”

  My response came almost immediately, I had been prepared for his question, and besides, it wasn’t really a lie.

  My thoughts of being able to fight my own monster continued to play in my head, I remembered just how awesome I was, fighting off those shadowy creatures, something that hadn’t even shown up yet.

  Perhaps they were minibosses. I thought.

  I probably could have taken them if I had more time with them. I added in thought.

  As I was following the others, I stopped. And glanced behind me, I heard something. A thrill filled my throat.

  I’m going to do my part! I’m going to go clear that hallway just so that nothing comes from behind us! It would be really bad if we got ambushed during the boss fight!

  I won’t even tell the others that I did it. That I cleared it. Maybe finally my humility stat will increase.

  My decision was decided, I turned away from the other missionaries who were wholly occupied in their conversation and laughter, and I crept quietly towards the dark mysterious hallway, my promise of glory, my adventure.