I waited for Dex. Finally, when I lost sight of him up the darkened tunnel, I sat down. I slumped against the ground. My eyes slipped closed, against my will, and I realized that I hadn't slept naturally for two full day-night cycles.

   My dreams were a mess. I kept seeing Dex. Dex fixing things. Dex sticking out his neck for me. Dex saving me. Dex helping me. My mind continually replaying the moment when I kissed him. I still couldn't believe I'd done that. It had just felt right. He had saved us. Even if it had only led us to another cell. And then he was in a tunnel, climbing far above my head, doing who knows what. Probably nothing safe.

   My dreams led me into a deep, deep sleep, and I didn't feel anything. I even managed not to feel all of the pain from the rock floor where I laid. Rather uncomfortable, might I add.

   I awoke to the sound of boots hitting the floor. My eyes cracked open, ever so slightly, and I saw Dex's shins. He spun around frantically. I made a groaning sound, and he looked down to me.

   "You had me worried for a second there," he said. I figured that he had not seen me on the ground.

   "Sorry." I tried to sit up. My back felt like it was breaking. My butt was numb. I longed for my extravagant, canopied bed, back at home, in my warm room.

   "That's fine. It's all clear up there."

   "I'm glad you didn't run into any trouble." My voice was hoarse, and crackly, though it wasn't as bad as it had been after I had woken up the first time.

   He laughed. "It's all clear now." My mind spiralled into worry. I scanned his body for any injuries. I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

   "Are you alright? Was there an attack?"

   "No, just one kid. He tried to attack me, but he was strangely weak. It was almost like he hadn't been taught by the Neverseen. Based on what Keefe told us, they are constantly training you for battle, with the Neverseen. He had trouble keeping himself steady while I fought him." My mind puzzled for a moment. He seemed to see my confusion, and explained. "We were levitating."

   "Oh. Why?"

   "The exit of the passageway is a human sewer. Be prepared for the smell." He grinned, and I found myself joining him.

   "So," I said, surveying the entrance to the hole in the roof, while I got to my feet. "Are you ready to go up again?"

   "I'm ready if you are." When I nodded, he lifted me by the waist, then lightly set me down, looking embarrassed. "Is this okay?" A little flush of red crept up his cheeks, and turned his ears a bright red colour.

   "I'm fine," I said, realizing he was embarrassed about holding me. This set off butterflies in my stomach. I nodded again, and he lifted me up. And directed me where to hold. While I hung, He slid into the narrow space. He supported me again, until I found a place for my foot. By the time I got to the regular hand and foot holds, it got easier. I climbed without assistance.

   Once, my foot slipped, and Dex caught me under the armpit, muscles flexing as he hauled me back up. I couldn't help but marvel over how muscular he was. I could barely see him in the dim light, but I could tell he was smiling. Then, it was my turn to flush. I silently thanked the darkness, and continued climbing.

   Eventually I saw the outline of a hatch above. Dex shoved it open, and led me out. I clung to the hand holds on the wall of the disgusting sewer, while he levitated over to a limp body, laying on the shore of the waste flow. Dex leaned down, and made sure that the person is breathing. Once he had checked on the boy, he came back over to me, and urged me on. Now that we were no longer climbing vertically, I could levitate, pulling myself along with the wall. It was much easier to move, and we made quick progress. We were heading in the opposite direction that the boy had supposedly come from. We hoped that we could find an exit from the sewer there. We hoped it would lead us out.