Chapter 21: So... You & I are Friends?

Before I entered the cave, I hid my phone in a safe place outside and set the timer. While I do, I can hear Malinda and the animals talking and laughing with each other. I'm probably disturbing something, and I hesitate. But as I adjust my shirt, tell myself 'fuck it' and enter.

"Now... I know I said that I'll be leaving right after I get my sketchpad yesterday, but I may have been interested in your curse story thing so I looked into it and I have a lot of questions." I finally enter inside and sit down on my usual spot, "And if you don't want to answer me, I bought you some chips and stuff. If that doesn't work, I obviously have the old sketchpa—" I was retrieving the things from my bag until I looked up to them and they were just staring at me, wordlessly, with a weird reaction. "What?"

The turtle yells, "He came back!" out of character then Malinda suddenly threw a rock near Tim which made him hide in his shell.

"What's happening?" I ask again.

Everyone giggles until Malinda shot them a look. Faye looks at her froggy hands then answers seriously, "Oh, nothing. It's really nothing important at all, don't worry."

"Okay? I heard you guys laughing before I came in here. What you guys up to?"

"We were playing Kiss, Marry and Kill with all the boys that went inside the cave before!" Grace answers while splashing some water.

"You mustn't mind us." Malinda disrupts her, "And you, Rhys Harrison, what brings you back to this cave? I clearly do not have your sketchpad."

"And I'm surprised. Sooo, you can have your flower crown back."

I toss it to her, and she catches it smoothly and eyes it strangely, "You came here to simply return my flower crown. Right."

"Actually, I do want to ask about all the guys that came inside this cave before, if that's okay with you"

"You mustn't mind that either. It doesn't have anything to do with you." Malinda answers straightforwardly.

"Come on, I don't need all the names! Maybe you could just tell me a couple, like the last person who came inside here, or maybe the guy before that or—"

"I told you that I won't. I don't understand why you would need such information."

"I seriously need it. One single person, that's it, then I won't—"

"I said no!"

Her 'no' echoed throughout the cave and we both stayed silent for a bit until I say, "Okay, fine. How about I ask you some other questions instead. It doesn't have to do anything about the guys."

"I will not permit that, either."

"Let's ask 10 questions to each other again, like yesterday!"

For a slight second, Malinda looked interested. Then she replies, "I don't have any questions for you."

"Then how about—" I cut my sentence because I remembered that one journal entry Jacob wrote. He and Malinda argued once because she wouldn't tell some information, so they didn't talk to each other for days. I don't want to leave with that kind of atmosphere. I continue my statement from a different approach, "How about we just hang out?"

"What?"

Tim squeals and Malinda throws another rock near him making him hide once again.

"Let's just talk about anything else besides your situation." I grab the chips and drinks again and bring it over to her, "See, I even bought you some food and drinks! I bet you haven't tried any of these since you've been here for centuries."

I was leaning close to her then she leans back and spoke, "I cannot eat anything. As I've mentioned, my physical body is outside this cave and I'm merely a soul wandering inside, so it's not a necessity. I appreciate your efforts, but I cannot accept."

"Wait, so, you're like a ghost?"

"Yes, that is Malinda's soul you're talking to." I hear a bold voice from above. Oh, right, there were four of them. And the last once happens to be a bat that has a voice which sounds like a murderous threat whatever he says. Bo replies, "Like she told you before, her soul is trapped inside this cave. You most likely have seen the statue of her outside, and her real human form is inside it."

"Oh, that explains it." I say. This is perfect. I can lure them into giving me some information while we're talking. It's even better because time doesn't exist in this cave, so I could practically talk to them forever. I grab the food back and go to my seat, "Not gonna lie, the statue looks fantastic. I wonder who made it."

"That's a fun story, actually! Ah, it's been so long but the person who made it was—"

Malinda cuts Grace off, "It's fantastic indeed. Nonetheless, what do you mean by this hanging out?"

I'm actually on the mission to find secrets about you from your friends, but since you're too persistent, I can't do anything!!! "Well, hanging out is just something that friends do. They just talk about anything, share a snack, play some games and give not a care about the world."

"So... you and I are friends?"

"Yep."

"And that means we are doing the 'hanging out' right now?"

"Yep."

Malinda looks down for a second, pondering to herself then she looks at me, "Okay, Rhys Harrison. Because I seem to not be busy at the moment, I will allow for us to hang out. For just this once."

"Well, I wasn't exactly asking permission, but cool." I open one chip bag and snack away, "So, what should our first hang-out objective be?"

"I'm not sure. What do friends usually do whenever they do the hanging out?"