Re: Alternative Volume one

Chapter 1 part three

"A rat? I will assume that is a kind of animal, I did not sense one but it might have been too insignificant. I will call a group of hunters to search this area to catch it for the food reserves later."

"You can't do anything about what you don't know." Dimitri exhaled as he managed to hide his jump response. However, the girl didn't look particularly convinced, turning around and continuing her walk.

You know the fact you are in my head now is pretty startling, you could at least announce you are there, not just suddenly speak up. Also don't poke around in my head too much, everything up there is organized...I think.

"Don't be such a Chat effrayé! Also don't worry about my existence here, All I can really do right now is see around you, I can not alter your memories or anything like that.

Joan replied with a light tone, sounding very matter-of-fact, as if she was trying to quickly brush him and his worries off, going silent after speaking her mind.

As Dimitri went on they passed through two pairs of metal doors that looked as old and dingy as his cell. He was dumbfounded by the hideous appearance of everything and he began wondering exactly what the state of the humans here were like. Eventually, they exited the final door and were greeted by a bright radiant light that stunned Dimitri causing Arnett to snap her fingers at him to continue following her.

"After being in the holding room for a time I will expect your eyes to need some time to adjust but unfortunately for you, your convenience is none of my concern. I expect you to follow me closely and not to wander off. You are currently in the center of our village so do not try to escape, we have guards posted who will not hesitate to subdue or if necessary kill you." Said the girl with an almost robot-like tone.

In response Dimitri simply continued walking without a word and as if taking his silence as affirmation, Arnett nodded her head, walking toward another large opening carved into what seemed to be a cave wall. Which was engraved with intricate markings and symbols.

As his eyes continued to adjust to the bright sunlight, Dimitri realized he was walking in what seemed to be a hollow point inside a mountain, the sun coming from the gap high up above a few hundred meters. Around him were small crudely made wood housings and what seemed like farms. The walls from the mountains themselves creating an area about the size of a football stadium, with multiple paths leading deeper into who knew where. Not a single person aside from himself and Arnett within view.

The soft pitter patter of what sounded like water echoed in the large area, the only sound aside from their footsteps on the floor which seemed to have been originally rock but was slowly being overtaken by a strange moss-like plant.

Without looking back again, Arnett continued to her destination and as Dimitri watched the sway of her hips as she walked, he thought about how Joan had yet to speak again, thinking about all the things he knew about her thus far and her intentions.

She had appeared out of nowhere, without warning, and even though she did not know him, aided him in an otherwise unfavorable situation. Then, after Dimitri had passed out, she made the effort to appear before him and hold a small conversation. Thinking back to his history lessons of France, he knew how terrible Joan's life was in its last moments. Death by fire didn't sound very merciful, which he confirmed as he experienced it in the visions. "An unjust death" wasn't going far enough. If anything, it was unnecessarily cruel, but he could only imagine the cultural differences between his time and hers.

Joan had every right to fear people after something like that, Dimitri affirmed to himself that he would hate all of humanity after an event like that but she hadn't complained even once, or shown any sort of fear when saving him, nor anger. To top it off, she didn't even look to be thanked.