Chapter 3

Carmina heard clicking voices around her.She was awake but kept her eyes closed trying to trace where the noise was coming from.Sounded like someone was talking,but it was messed with another voice.Like someone shoeing a horse.She remembered her dad doing that quite often back at home,near the West Lands.She also remember the way he always smiled at her,took her to the most wonderful places,like showing the place where gnomes came out to gather food.How they lurked many times watching them,how they went and wandered in the forests for hours,just to see what traces winter had left.Then she remembered how one day some men came and tok her dad away and how mom was crushed.How she cried for days.Carmina had been afraid to ask where dad was gone,and even more afraid to ask why he never came back.Now her mother was gone too,and she was never able to get the answers she had been looking for,but so afraid of hearing them.

"Ouch!!!You idiot,watch what you're doing!You almost smashed my finger and I only got eight of them!"Carmina cautiosuly opened other eye trying to peer what was going on.

"Sorry..."She heard another voice mumble nearby "I didn't mean to.."

"Sure you didn't you idiot!I am going to smash your toes,and I didn't mean to"Other person said and smacked the other whom obviously was younger.

Carmina opened her eyes and sit up,looking around.She was laying in a soft bed,in a room with just one window and little door way.But the room was large,and on the centre of it,was a round table filled with all kind of funny looking stuff Carmina had no idea what they were.She rubbed her eyes and flinged her lges over the edge of bed.

"Hi guys!"She said friendly."Where am I?"Now she also fully saw the persons that she had heard arguing.They were short,but dressed in very nice looking clohes,tunics with detailed patterning and tight pants.Obviously they had forgot Carminas existense for good since they stared at her eyes and mouths wide open.Seemed more like their eyes were popping out of their heads.

Carmina stood up and walked to them,waves her hand in front of their eyes.(She also payed attention to their hands,they had ten fingers as she,but she thought they belong to the group that can't count) "Hello?Care to tell me whe I am?"

The other shaked head gathering himself together.

"You're in our secret hideout.You're safe here." He paused and pointed up "not safe there"

Carmina was confused "I am underground?You're hiding...Underground?"

Now the younger had also got through of the confusion and was nodding proudly "Yes yes,we live here.Our village.Me Silhouet and he Master Herzen.We study stones."Silhouet said obviously so proud of himself his heart wasn't able to bear it.Master Herzen nodded."You came from the Upperworld,seemed sick,and we called our healers to take care of you.Now you are fine.We're glad."

"Uhm..."Carmina was gathering thoughts."Is there a way to get back to the Upperworld?"

"Only Elder knows.You must speak to him.Now is not the time for that.We must study."After Master Herzen had said this,he gestured to Silhouette and they walked away from her to the table and started doing whatever they were doing,Carmina couldn't figure out.

She walked to the only window she saw and looked out.There was no sky,she just saw rock,there was a pond near by and hearing atleast some familiar voices she eased a little.But still she was in a complete new place.Alone.She saw fine built houses,and igured she was in a village.Some of the villagers passed by and greeted her.She saw kids playing at the pond,and heard their cheery laugh.Then she heard a explosion behind her and was sure was going to die this time for sure.She ran out of the house with Silhouette and Herzen whom where coughing and Master Herzen seemed a little angry and smacked Silhouette.

"You idiot!No blue to red!Blue and red,Ka-boom!"

Master Herzen waves,trying to clear the smoke,he coughed again.Then he screamed loud."My lab!My house!My work!My eguipment!All ruined!100 years work fr nothing,for you to destroy!"He ran inside,Silhouette after him pleeding forgiveness.

Wierdos carmina thought.They had it coming she was sure of.She just happened to hit the wrong place at the wrong time.Carmina sighed,and was absolutely sure that she was never gonna see her homeland again.

Chapter 4