Palette's POV

"Careful Palette, hold onto the wall. Your legs are shaky."Slate tells me

"I know! I am avoiding the Forbidden Hall!"I say, switching to another wall

The Forbidden Hall is what Slate calls the hall that leads to the worst experiment chambers and cruelest prisoners we're stuck with. Which includes a bunch of alternate versions of Goth.

He nods.

"How is your head? It's so cracked and doesn't seem to heal regardless of how much magic is used."He asks curiously

"It doesn't hurt anymore so that's good at least."I reply

"That's good."He says

I walk ahead of him along the wall, glancing back at him and knowing the way like the back of my hand by now. I smile at him.

"Why exactly are we not trying to get out of here again?"I ask

"It's too risky for you in your condition. And I am not escaping without you, Palette."He says

"Right...."I say, then hear footsteps coming closer

Slate suddenly grabs me and pulls me closer to him.

"Slate? Is everythi-Mh!?"I begin

He stops me with a kiss.

Huh! What is he doing? What's gotten into him?

My face burns and my soul beats faster. He ends the kiss and promptly holds me against his chest before I can say anything. I just feel a hand grip onto my arm while his arms hug me close. The footsteps stop right behind me. There is a tense silence for a good few moments. It allows me to recollect myself from the shock and form my thoughts.

"Get your hand off of him unless you want trouble. I've seen your kind and you're not allowed near him. Not over my dead body. He's been through enough."Slate says

He only gets silence in return. I feel a tug on my arm.

"You hurt him, I'll have your head. Let go."He growls

Again, nothing but silence.

I try to turn around but his grip tightens, preventing me.

"Slate? Who is there? Are they coming out already?"I ask

He knows who I meant by they.

"Hey, Palette. I've been searching for you."A familiar voice says

Goth?

I turn my head but couldn't see who was grabbing my arm. Slate loosens his grip so I can steady myself and straighten up again. I turn around and see Goth standing there, gripping my arm. His jaw drops and his gaze trembles when he sees the condition of my skull. I smile for a moment, then see how different he looks. He has a long green night-gown like robe that goes down to his feet. Long sleeves and something glowing on the back of his neck that glows in the dark hall.

Is he just another prisoner here? Why'd I get so hopeful? I know the versions of Goth here sound like him, duh! Uggh, stupid thoughts to have.

I frown and step behind Slate as he was pulling me back. I pull my arm free from Goth.

"Palette....? What happened to you?"He says, sounding hurt when I tore away as he still reaches to me

I glance at his hand, seeing that he is the only one here without a hole in his hand. I glance back at him.

"You must be new here. Well we don't trust your kind. Get lost."Slate says

"What do you mean, my kind?"He asks

"The last time Palette was left with one of you, he was left to die."Slate snaps

Goth's eye went as small as a sunflower seed.

"Where....are they?"He asks

His voice is different.....More threatening.

"The Forbidden Hallway."He says, pointing away

Goth marches out of our sight into the dark hallway, an emerald gem fused into his neck and glowing. A few minutes later there were screams and when he comes back, he has a bright smile as he dusts himself off.

"That's better. Now, Palette, will you come here? I just want to help you."He says

I glance at Slate and back at Goth.

"What did you do?"Slate asks

"Handled the problems with my kind."He says

I never heard his voice take that tone before. It unsettles me. He seems to notice this and smiles.

"Palette, I just want to bring you home."He says with the sweet voice I usually hear

I hesitantly step forward. He took that eagerly by getting right in front of me within seconds, gently brushing his hand along my skull.

"Your head....So many cracks....Why did you ever think to jump in the way? This isn't worth that risk."He says, staring me dead in the eye with deep love and concern

It clicks in my head that this is the Goth I know.

"Goth? How? I thought-"I begin

"Palette, I've been looking for you everywhere. I want to bring you home. I'm sure Pakeekee is worried."He says, taking out his list

I smile at him.

"Your gem suits you..."He says, gently feeling my gem

"Yours does too now that I think about it....What happened to you?"I ask

"Don't worry about it."He says

I check his gem to make sure it hasn't cracked. He pulls me close, hugging me.

"I'm so glad that my best friend is okay!"He says, emphasizing those three words

He glances at me with a smile.

"You know I love you, right?"He asks

Now he's saying it? So it is a normal phrase....It doesn't have to go unsaid.

"I l-"I begin

"Okay, that's enough! Palette, let's get back to our room before we attract attention!"Slate says, coming between us

Goth grabs my hand firmly.

"I'm taking you home, Palette."He says

"Then I'm coming with him."Slate says

"I only can transport the innocent on this list."He says, pulling me toward him

He scoops me up, holding me close to his chest. He holds my head against his shoulder under his chin.

What is he...? Goth...? Slate....?

"Check for my name then."Slate says

I see them glare at each other but don't understand why. Goth has the list hover in front of him as he searches for the name. His gem glows and two beautiful wings grow from it, flapping. He wraps his wings to hide me behind them. I glance at him and he sighs, hiding the list.

"You're on it. Come along."He says, turning his back to Slate

"Goth...? Can you put me down?"I ask

He puts me down but hugs me close with an arm and wing. He holds Slate's arm and summons a scythe. It swings with a nod of his head, making a portal that we go through.

"Palette!"Pakeekee cheers, landing on my shoulder

My soul beats faster than ever, feeling all three of them focus on me. Goth holds me closer, kissing me on the head. Pakeekee nuzzles his head against mine and Slate pulls me toward him to kiss me on the head as well.

"Let's get you to a doctor."He says, picking me up with his back to Goth

He snaps his fingers and a strange vehicle appears. It looks like a bike attached to a wagon with a hood over it. The kind of wagon that humans traveled on the Oregon Trail in. Except there weren't any wheels, it just floats there above the ground. He gently lays me in the wagon and glances back at Goth.

"Thanks for getting us out of there but I can take it from here. How about you go home and fix whatever was done to you?"He says

My phone springs to life now that we're out of the dungeon, ringing wildly. I check the ID and see that it's Raven calling. I let it ring until he had to leave a voicemail.

"Goth, your family is definitely worried. You should let them know you're back safely."I say

"But I just got you back! I'm not losing you again!"He says

"Give him space to heal and you won't lose him. That said, we're going. Cya."Slate says, getting into the bike seat

With one touch to the handles, it starts zipping away. I gaze behind us, seeing Goth stand there watching us go.

"Get some rest, Palette. It's going to be a bit of a ride."Slate says

"O-ok."I say, closing my eye

I had no idea how much Slate would change things.

TBC