2191
Timid Affection 3
darkdladety
The next hours pass by in a flash. We dig paths around the whole cavern, placing TNT at key points near the ceiling. It takes a long time and turns into a chore, dig, dig, dig, place TNT, repeat. We meet back at the ladder. Teresa puts some dynamite together and rigs it to set off the other explosives when it explodes. We retreat as far up the stairs as we can while keeping the dynamite in sight. :: Teresa pulls out her bow and arms it. The final shot to end all their lives. She lets the arrow fly. It pierces the outer skin and enters the powder. A spark is made. Then everything goes to hell. :: Explosions fill my ears for what seems like minutes. Several times, just when I think that it's done, more TNT explodes. Like the last kennels in popcorn. At last, the explosions end and my ears ring for a bit more. That fades away and then I hear a sound that chills me to the bone. The distrubance of gravel. :: I glance at Teresa and see that she hears it too. I get on my belly and twist my neck to find the source of the sound. I see sand. This cavern was right under a beach. And on that beach were monsters. They are helping the others out of the gravel. I get up in a hurry and tug on Teresa's arm. :: " Let's go!" There is no place for secrecy here. They know our location. They are going to come after us. She bounds up the stairs and so do I. Arrows and groans follow us up. We make it out of the mines and into the house. It's night and we have only seconds to make a decision. Stay and protect the house with our lives or lose it forever. Winning isn't an option. Glancing at each other, we make eye contact. The decision is made. We leave just before they arrive. Windows are broken by the force of the explosion. The roof collapses. Hopefully, that'll delay them for a bit. :: The wind cuts into our cheeks and ears but we press on. Eventually, we run into a mountain face. A thought later and I'm digging into it with my pick. Teresa understands my plan and keeps the monsters at bay with her bow. I make a few steps up and then a tunnel to a small room. :: I I call Teresa and she runs past me. I fill the steps and the tunnel with cobblestone. We hear explosions as creepers try to reach us. They don't and every single monster makes a sound of anger. I make the room larger so that we have reasonable space to ourselves. The sounds outside slowly become quieter and then become silent. :: We sit there in silence and minutes, perhaps even hours pass with us just staring at the wall and the torches. :: Suddenly, Teresa takes a step over and collapses onto me, making a mix of sobbing and chocking sounds into my chest, shedding tears for the first time since we met. She hugs me like a pillow. After the initial surprise, I embrace her back. We sit there for what seems to be hours. :: Me, brushing her hair with my hand over and over. Her, sobbing into my chest and hugging me tightly. We share the grief over our house. It was like another friend. Now it lies dead in ruins from creeper explosions. Teresa manages to stop crying and looks up at me with red, puffy eyes. Our eyes meet and I see something new in her. Longing. For human warmth. So I hug her again. Maybe my eyes had the same look because she curls up next to me. A thought occurs to me and a sad smile makes its way onto my face. :: "And I thought that you loved me." She leans in and kisses me on the lips. It lasts only a second but gives me a tingling feeling. Like shivering... but being warm. " I do love you." I whisper into her ear. She sighs happily and rest her head on my shoulder. :: Gently, I get up. Teresa looks up suddenly with an expression of confusion and fear on her face. Fear of my rejection. Fear that this is just a dream. I reassure her by planting a kiss on her forehead. :: "Don't worry. We're going to see the sunrise together." I bring out my tools and start making stairs upward, further into the mountain. I break through the top within a few minutes. No monsters are in sight. I call Teresa to climb the stairs so that she can see the top. She appears and we exchange another kiss. It's passionate and starts a warm stirring in my chest. Longing for another kiss appears. And so the kiss continues with us both embracing the other. I give her a goofy smile and lead her to the perfect spot. We hold hands as the sun rises, brightening up the world with its light, signaling a new day. Whatever comes our way, we will overcome it together. Closer than ever.