I saw Sophie collapse.

"SOPHIE! SOPHIE! Can you hear me? Are you hurt?" I asked hysterically, bombarding her with question after question.

It was no use, she was unconscious.

I ran an uneasy hand through my messy blonde hair, and hoisted her over my shoulder. We need to--

I dropped to my stomach again as a haywire ball of fire smashed through the tree I was standing in front of.

I checked to make sure Sophie was okay, and started sprinting; weaving in and out of the tree line as fire balls incinerated everything in its path. I kept running, past the people fighting, one actually tried to lunge for me but then some goblin stabbed him. I turned away so I wouldn't have to see the blood.

"It's okay Sophie. We're almost there, once we get past that clearing, I'll get us to a safe place," I said out loud, I didn't know if it was for her sake or for mine, but probably for mine.

I sprinted full out, we were about ten meters away from the clearing when I felt something slam into my shoulder. Sophie and I were launched onto the ground, arms and legs a bundle off messily arranged flowers.

I scrambled up onto my feet and saw a massive ogre looming over us.

I gulped, "H-Hey big guy."

The thing just growled. I glanced nervously at Sophie and at the Ogre.

"S-Sophie," I whispered through the side of my mouth.

The ogre curled up its fists.

"Now would be a good time to wake up and do that magic stuff that makes him unconscious," I said again through the side of my mouth.

Sophie didn't respond and the ogre charged. I let out a *tiny* squeal as I pulled Sophie on my back in a hurry, sprinting through the clearing.

Okay, Keefe, what would Sophie do if she was facing off a giant ogre? Well she'd blast him with her inflictor emotional harpoon stuff.

Okay, then what would a human do? Stop and take a selfie, not helpful.

UGH!

What would Keefe do? Run with a unconscious Sophie on his back into a clearing that would make a beautiful death scene.

Great.

If there really is an all powerful being out there, now would be a good time to help me out.

I felt the ogre bat at my feet with a fallen tree, he was fat so he wasn't as fast as I was, but he a had A WHOLE TREE to bat at me with like we were playing Bramble Ball!

I sprinted, until I saw the hatch, and I slid on the ground.

Quickly I opened the hatch, dropped Sophie down, and I fell through, closing the hatch as I plummeted into the darkness.

"Keefe? KEE-" I placed my hand on Sophie's mouth.

"Sophie, it's me. We were-are being chased by a giant Ogre. Right now we're hidi-"

I didn't get to finish the rest of my sentence, because the wooden hatch was ripped open by the Ogre. He was staring down at us, as light filled the little cave, with his giant beady eyes.

Sophie and I gulped.

"Um, now would be a good time to make him faint," I said quietly.

Sophie closed her eyes and the ogre fell backwards, I scrambled up the ladder and closed the hatch.

"Where are we?" Sophie whispered.

"You'll find out soon enough," I whispered sadly.

I grabbed her hand, "You want to duck."

I led her through the twist and turns I knew so well I could run around here in the dark, literally.

I reached up and flipped a switch, and the little mud dirt cave lit up. I remember taking these tiny little lights on a string from my mom's room, and stringing them around the room.

There was a tiny cot in the corner, a little icebox, and a lot of art equipment.

"Keefe, did you make this place?" Sophie asked in wonder as she walked slowly around the room.

I rubbed the back of my neck shyly, "Yeah."

"It's amazing!" She gushed looking back at me.

I felt my face get firey hot, so I looked away.

"How'd you find this place?" Sophie asked, still looking at the items.

"When I was younger, I ran out here and found a little wooden circle with two hinges on it. I ran back home and stole a shovel from the gnomes' tool shed. I started digging everyday until I made a humongous whole. Then I carved in this place. To make the hatch I had to ask Gregory, one of the gnomes, how to make a hatch. I made it sound like I idolized him and his handmade architecture. So I kept digging and adding stuff. It was supposed to be an escape from my parents when," I paused looking at the ground. Don't start crying.

I felt Sophie's hand on my shoulder.

"My parents used to argue a lot, and they forgot about me. I hated this place, and I hated my father. So I guess I'd run and stay here, pretending I was someone else, somewhere else. I was anyone, but the important part was I was away from here."