Chapter 7, Part 1. The Goosdra

 Lonely paced back and forth in his cell, waiting for Eos. He didn't know how long they had been apart already, and it felt weird not having her around, telling him to focus on finding a way out. She was his guide for these strange places. He wasn't sure how to act here, but he figured punching the king's ward was a big no-no. 

Lonely didn't like the bird dude that came up and started talking crap about Eos. It had felt good to punch him, to Lonely it felt like standing up to every single kid that bullied him for his name, for his clothes, or his dead mom and deadbeat dad. 

The jail door opened, and Eos was pushed into the small room. Lonely hurried over to her, trying to stop her from falling over. They had taken her crutch. If Lonely had ever been mad before, he sure was pissed now. 

"Who. Took. It?" Lonely asked, helping Eos move over to the small cot in the corner of the room. She sat down, her face twisted in pain from her leg, which seemed worse than before. She was staring at the wall across from her.

"Please, don't be mad about what I'm about to tell you." She muttered, combing her fingers through her hair worriedly. Lonely moved to crouch in front of her. 

"It honestly depends on the thing, but I need you to tell me what happened in there. Please." Lonely tried his best to speak calmly, but he'd never seen anyone act like this before. She seemed cold, distant...alone. Frustrated, he felt like punching the wall she was staring at.  

Eos took a deep breath in and let out a shaky sigh, "Eros took me to see the emperor, but when we stopped outside the main doors, they took my crutch, claiming that it could be a weapon and that I could have it back when the suns on Starlin stop shining."

"Those dumb sons of a-!"

"LONELY! FOCUS!" Eos snapped. 

"Sorry."

"Anyway... I went in and explained our journey so far. All of Whispwood and such. And then that numb skull, Eros, told the Emperor about our landing and how you punched him in the gut. So for hurting the Emperor's ward, you earned the punishment of fighting their worst monster in captivity, controlled by the greatest evil called foe, and if you defeat it, we get the passkey that they've hidden, but if we lose, we'll be fed to the beast." She groaned, lying down on the cot, staring at the ceiling now. 

"Okay, I...I can probably do that. It can't be any worse than Emily Grace - I mean, the ghost." 

"Well...uhm...please don't hate me or be mad at me. You're not fighting... I am." She rolled onto her side and looked him dead in the eye, waiting for him to say something. 

"What..? But your leg! You can't!" Lonely protested.

"Shut! Up! You saved my life back on Whispwood, my turn to try and save yours. I'VE had battle training. I know how to fight! You've got to let me do this!" 

"I can't in my right mind, let you do something so dumb!"

"WHY NOT!" Eos yelled. 

"BECAUSE I FINALLY MIGHT HAVE A FRIEND FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU, OKAY!" He snapped.

She stared at him blankly and whispered, "We're friends?" 

"I hoped so." He shrugged dejectedly and leaned against the wall, contemplating why in the world he would ever say that. She clearly didn't think they were friends; Eos hated Lonely. She opened her mouth to say something as the jail door swung open. Eros stood there with an evil grin plastered on his scarred face, 

"Time to die, princess.".