48 Chapter 48 Crystal People (1/2)

”Would you like to come with us?” asked Olivia.

Dustin looked at her surprised.They didn't know the first thing about this kid.For all he knew it was a trap and she was about to jump at their throats.Though, when he paused to think about it, she was a crystal person.The crystal prince had said he traveled to the bottom of the ocean to acquire his crystal skin.Could that have been a lie?Could this have been where he actually got it from?

The little girl shook her head, ”I can't leave!Everyone would die if I did.”

They both stared at her in confusion.

”What do you mean?” asked Dustin.

”I'll show you, if you promise not to hurt them,” she said, timidly.It was obvious she was dying to interact with someone.Maybe that was why she had been watching them.If everyone she knew had been killed by outsiders, that also explained why she had been so hesitant to get too close to them.But what did she mean by everyone would die?

They followed her as she danced ahead of them, so excited she couldn't be still.They avoided all of the monster traps as she pointed them out on the way.

There were giant ants the size of foxes, who laid traps along the way.If you kicked any of the rocks, it would alert them to your presence and they would swarm out to attack.

Strange gelatinous growths grew near steam vents.She told them if you got too close, they would reach out and tag you with a paralyzing poison.It even went through the crystals.

The further they went the less dangerous the creatures.There were glowing bugs that crawled over the walls, eating the moss-like growth around the vents.These things wouldn't bother you, unless you bothered them.Then they could get really hot and burn you.

When they finally reached their destination, Olivia and Dustin stopped short.In front of them, completely encased in stone, was a massive skeleton.The skull had its mouth open, with razor sharp teeth protruding from both the top and bottom.Six eye holes stared at them, daring them to step into its mouth.There was no nose hole, but a deep groove on the surface of the mouth could have served as one.

”Come, on.You can't see them if you don't come inside!”The little girl stepped through a gap in the teeth, made from two missing ones, and disappeared down a tunnel that looked suspiciously like a throat.

Dustin sighed.His stomach was full, he wanted to go back to the shuttle and get to work.But Olivia was already stepping into the mouth of the beast.

Making his way carefully, he saw that there were glowing plants or stones strategically placed along the way.Some were actually pretty detailed, with several different colored strains artistically twining around each other.Olivia paused several times to admire them, but Dustin could have cared less.

”This is the nursery,” the little girl beamed proudly.”As long as I can keep them safe, they will replace everyone I lost to the top-siders.”

In front of them, stretching for as far as they could see in all directions, were rows and rows of different crystals in the shapes of eggs.They were all different colors and patterns.The room was sweltering.The hottest they'd been since coming down into the caves.

”How long will that take?” asked Olivia, stunned by the sight.