Lexie went down several times to check up on her dad.

Luckily, he was out like a light and had a dreamless sleep through most of the night.

Meanwhile, Lexie couldn't sleep at all. Her father's words continued to echo in her brain and she couldn't forget them. Couldn't ignore them either.

Lara, I swear I'll come get you.

For hours, she fought with herself, trying to paint the words in the most charitable light she could, but there was no other way to take it. Lexie had to admit the truth that her father was most likely planning to somehow bring her mother back to life.

Which scared and worried Lexie immensely.

Sometime around midnight, she got out of bed and went over to his room. Aiden's room was only a little bigger than hers, and it didn't have the pink walls and floral theme. Instead, the decor was very much dark academia, with shelves stacked with books and scrolls, a clean desk with a stylistic gaslamp propped on it, and shoes organized at the corner of a dressed bed.

Lexie started at the shelf, thumbing through books looking for any clues as to what her father was up to, and how he planned on achieving it. She'd already guessed that Naem was involved somehow and they were attempting to break the Tilling bands but she didn't know how. Maybe if she could figure it out she would…

What?

Stop him?

There was no way for her to do that. He was a grown man, it wasn't like she could ground him or take away his toys. She also couldn't report him to the authorities either. Maybe she could tell Uncle Max? Or Emma?

In any case, she probably needed proof of what she was saying but she wasn't finding it here, amongst his various books. Neither did she find it in a cabinet full of vintage knick-knacks, nor any of his drawers.

Nothing in the room suggested that he was partaking in forbidden research.

Lexie kept looking. This time, she returned to the bookshelf and took it book by book, carefully leafing through each page. Something might be hidden there. Or maybe in his old friend's potion notes. She needed to keep searching until she found it.

Despite the guilt pounding through her, and the fact that she hated invading his privacy like this, she was more so motivated by fear and frustration.

Why?

Why was he going to do this again, knowing what would happen when they caught him?

Lara was dead. Even if she'd been alive at the time of Aiden's first rescue attempt, there was simply no way she had survived in a dungeon by herself all this time. So why would Aiden be willing to risk everything, his freedom, his job, his freaking daughter, just to get her back?

Or maybe he doesn't think she's dead. Maybe he's still deluding himself that she's somehow alive.

Could someone survive in a dungeon battling monstrous creatures for three almost four years and live?

No. There was no way. Lara was dead and it was time for her father to accept that.

Lexie's heart throbbed with anger and her very real fear that she would lose Aiden to his own delusions.

On some level, she could sympathize with him. He was still having nightmares about her mother, and they were tormenting him. And for some reason, her mind traveled to Naem. He was the Lord of Nightmares. Maybe he was behind this, torturing Aiden into making a mistake.

Unable to find any evidence for her suspicion, Lexie soon retired to her room.

But she still couldn't sleep. Every time she was about to drift off, she would have to think of her dad again and wake up strung tight with anxiety. The only thing that could her to ease up again, was this thought:

She would protect Aiden, even from himself.

In the morning, Lexie woke up early to make him breakfast. It wasn't a great one, toast and half-burned eggs, but it was what she could manage. She could hear him groaning on the couch as she plated the food and poured some freshly squeezed orange juice into a glass for him. Then, she put everything in a tray and carried it to find Aiden rubbing his eyes.

"Right on time," she said, forcing a smile as she put the food on the table beside him. "I made breakfast."

"What happened?" he groaned, his expression pinched. "My head feels like someone took a hammer to it."

"You got drunk."

His eyes shot open and he eyed her with a reddened face. "I did?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded. "But in your defense, it wasn't your fault. I'm pretty sure Frank drugged you."

Aiden's eyebrows furrowed. His lips pursed as he was trying to piece it together and the realization came to him in bits. "The tea."

"The tea," she concurred.

"That rat. I should have known. It tasted funny but he insisted the kick was from the oolong leaves, the sneak." Aiden made a face and Lexie had a feeling that Frank would be getting an earful later. "I'm so sorry you had to see me like that, honeybee."

"It was okay. It was kinda funny actually. You were singing this song about flowers and Nirvana..."

"A Grave of Roses. That was your mother's favorite song." He smiled wanly. That of course ruined any humor Lexie had about the situation.

"I'm sorry," Aiden repeated as he ran his hand over her head. "It won't happen again. Mostly because I'm not trying anything Frank and Merryweather give me again."

"Merryweather was there?"

"Yes, but I don't think he was in on it," he said, then he added. "Did I do or say anything else that was strange?"

Lexie debated whether or not to ask her Dad about her mother and whether he planned on opening another dungeon, but she decided against it. If he knew she'd figured him out, he might just get better at hiding it.

On the other hand, what if she truly was freaking out over nothing? What if Aiden had simply been having a bad dream and had said what he said with no intention of following through with it? What if it was all a big misunderstanding that could be cleared up with simple communication?

Lexie's lips pressed together as she stared into her father's hazel eyes. To trust or not to trust? That seemed to be the theme of her life lately.

She could figure it out when she got back from the dungeon. She would let him have his secret for now. After all, she was keeping a secret too. Lots of them.

"Nope," she said, straightening. "I'm going to train at the dojo today."

"I thought today was an off day."

"Yeah, but Conrad wants me to have to have extra sessions to improve my athleticism." That wasn't necessarily a lie. Conrad had been steadily increasing her workouts each week, making her run longer distances and lift heavier weights. But he didn't say anything about coming in more often.

She gestured to the tray with her chin. "The breakfast's probably not great. I can order something for you if you want."

"Oh no, I'm sure it's fantastic," he said and sliced the egg with the edge of his fork, scooping it into his mouth. He couldn't hide his visible wince as he chewed, nor his cough as he swallowed. "It's great. And you added sugar to the eggs. That's…new."

"Oops." Lexie giggled. "Sorry. I was distracted and probably thought it was salt."

Her father winked. "No, it's okay. I've always wanted to try sweet eggs. I'm sure it's a delicacy in some cultures."

Lexie shook her head while her father choked down her eggs. She left him to it and went upstairs to get ready.

At some point, he must have stopped trying to eat the eggs because by the time she got back, they were untouched on the plate and Aiden was in the kitchen cooking up something else.

He didn't look very hungover. Lexie guessed that hangovers didn't last as long as they did back on Earth 2 probably due to system healing. It was a wonder there weren't more alcoholics in this dimension.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

She called out, "I'm heading out now, Dad."

"Eat before you go."

"Nah, if I do, I'll throw up. I'll snack on the energy bar on the way, and I'll eat when I get back."

"Alright."

Lexie hesitated, but ultimately hugged him before she left.

When she was far enough away, she glanced around and made sure no one was around. Then, she materialized the teleportation orb Tate had given her.

He had a lot of them, and Lexie hadn't even bothered to ask how he got access to them. At their last meeting, he'd keyed this one to take her right to the portal's location.

She texted him first, asking, Are you there yet?

He texted back almost instantly. Yup. Just waiting for you.

She swallowed, and with a push of a button, she activated the orb.

Teleporting was weird. It happened in a second, but if she slowed it down, it was like she was instantly swallowed up by a transparent bubble that appeared around her, blocking out all sound, and making her feel like she was underwater. Her environment whizzed into a kaleidoscope of colors that made her dizzy.

By the time the world stabilized again, she was in the grassy field at the edge of a forest. About a quarter mile behind her, was a swirling portal that whooshed and tugged at her mana.

She spotted Tate standing a few feet away leaning against a tree. He saw her approaching and straightened.

"Ready?"

She nodded. He eyed her backpack.

"What's with the backpack?" he said.

"My uncle said when going to a dungeon it's good to go prepared for anything." She had a few things in her inventory, some weapons, food rations that could last for three weeks, clothes, water, a few items from home, a couple of health potions. She thought Tate probably had all those same things in that pouch of his, but it didn't hurt to have more of it.

"You can never be too prepared," she said.

"Nerd."

"Takes one to know one." She stared back at the swirling depths and hoped that she wasn't making a mistake here. She hoped she wouldn't be trapped in there forever, but anything could happen.

Hopefully, it wouldn't happen to her, but there was always a chance.

The perceived risk had her clenching her fists as she stared at it.

"I'll make sure nothing happens to you," Tate told her, clearly seeing the apprehension on her face. "You'll be fine. I can guarantee it. If I'm not back by the time the countdown is about to elapse just get out and use the other orb to go home. Okay?"

She nodded.

Then it was time.

They walked to the portal and it got windier the closer they got. Lexie felt increasingly jittery and unsteady. The mana in her body was skittering around haywire like it wasn't quite sure what to do. All the mana around her was also chaotic and she felt like she was truly staring into the abyss.

She was terrified.

"I don't know how people do this all the time," she murmured.

"You get used to it," Tate said. "The first time is genuinely the worst. After that, it eases up."

Lexie nodded but she wasn't too convinced. A hand grasped hers and she glanced down first and then up at Tate's face which was rapidly reddening.

He cleared his throat. "It's better if we're joined in some way going in. That way we don't get separated."

"That can happen?"

"Not often but it can."

She nodded. As they approached, she noticed his palm was sweaty too. He must have been more nervous than he was letting on. The wind swept their clothes and Lexie felt a supernatural chill down her spine as her right leg moved through the portal.

The portal was too cold and too warm at the same time. It pulled her, sucked her entire body into it, without her even having to move.

She materialized in darkness.

The supernatural kind, the kind that meant that there was not even a sliver of light in the atmosphere. Like one of Lexie's tiny black holes personified. Fear squeezed her chest and she ended up squeezing Tate's hand so tight that he gave a dry, "Ouch."

"Sorry," she said but she didn't let go. She didn't want to lose him. "It's just really dark."

"That's because the dungeon is 'dead' in quotes. It has been cleared already. But the hidden level is still alive and well."

"Right." They were interrupted by her stat screen popping open with the a bold:

YOU HAVE ENTERED A LEVEL 2 DUNGEON. TIME UNTIL RESOLUTION: 1 DAY 21 HOURS 15 MINUTES AND 6 SECONDS

The timer also marked itself at the corner of her vision, counting down even as she banished the rest of the screen with a wave of the hand.

"How do we find the secret level?" Lexie asked.

"By finding the thing that is easily dismissed," he said. "Usually a riddle. The Fae like to leave clues in the form of riddles somewhere around the dungeon entrance." With his free hand, he reached into his pouch and Lexie heard the sound of ruffling. She heard a click and suddenly a light flashed and lit up the darkness.

The light orb glowed in the center of his hand. Probably some kind of mana light. It illuminated enough of the space for Lexie to realize they were in some kind of cave with mining materials strewn about. Maybe the miners left them behind.

Tate didn't seem interested in them. He walked forward and Lexie followed him as he held the light up to the walls as though trying to read it. He kept walking along the side muttering to himself. She followed his gaze.

She had to squint to see and tilt her head like he was doing but noted symbols on the walls that she couldn't decipher. Tate seemed to know what they meant.

"You can read it?" she asked.

"Yes. It's an ancient, lost language once spoken by the Fae and the Eldritch."

"And you know it?"

"I mentioned that I've played the game before, didn't I?"

"Yes but not to the point where you learned a language from it."

He shrugged. "I'm thorough, apparently."

Lexie stared at it and wondered if any of her textbooks had mentioned the ancient Fae and Eldritch language. Her guess was no. She'd never even known the two species had a shared language. She'd assumed that the Eldritch had come from a different planet like many of the other Fae species and then proceeded to reside there.

"What does it say?" she asked.

"The Isle of Lost, the Depths of The Deep, The Story Begins With The Totem You Seek."

"Great." Lexie let the silence breathe for a few seconds. "So have you figured it out yet?"

"If I had, would we still be standing here?"

Fair point. Lexie let him keep thinking.

"The story begins with the totem you seek," he murmured. "Well, right now I seek a way out of here."

"Me too. So maybe we have to think of a way out of the cave?"

"Who says we're in a cave."

"Because those look like cave walls. And it says depths of the deep."

He made a thoughtful expression and flashed his light upwards. "We're in a cave, and we're trying to get on an island." He flashed the light at more corners and then hesitated when he saw something. At first, when the light skimmed over it, he didn't pay any attention. It looked like a rusty shovel, something a miner could have left behind. But it was farther in the back, a corner, and looked rustier than the other tools left there.

Tate's light lingered on the shovel. He walked there and picked it up.

He used it to hit the roof of the cave.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lexie asked alarmed.

"If we're in a cave, then the island is above us. And we'll have to dig into it."

"Wait what? How did you even figure that out? Also, you never said anything about digging."

"I'm sorry princess, are you worried about your nails?"

"You know, your snark gets real tiresome."

"My snark? Have you ever had a conversation with yourself?"

She ignored him as he continued to hit the ceiling over and over. For a few seconds, Lexie was worried he would dislodge something and bring the cave dungeon crumbling around all of them.

But after his twentieth hit, everything went topsy-turvy, and she was flipped over into another world. Her feet were buried in sand, the waves crashed around her ears, and the scent of salt stung the air. The sea breeze blew her hair into her face.

They were on an island.

"We just activated the secret level," Tate said, looking very smug and happy with himself. Lexie was happy too, mostly because she was out of the cave. No more darkness. Just a lot of wind.

She thought she heard voices in the wind but she couldn't be sure. There was also a mythical mist that surrounded them, seeming thicker in the distance. Tate followed her gaze and pointed.

"That's where I'm going," he said. "You stay here. Don't go anywhere, no matter what any of the voices tell you to do, alright?"

"Where are we?"

"If where I'm going is hell, this place is purgatory. And that is the exit back there." He pointed behind and Lexie turned her head. There was a door held by nothing floating in the middle of space. "This is a safe zone, so nothing should come for you here. But if anything does, then you run out through that. Also, once again, if the time is nearly elapsed, that's where you leave through. Should pop you right out of the portal."

Lexie nodded. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine. I've done this before." He searched for what else to tell her and decided he'd pretty much covered it. "Alright. I'm going now. Take care."

"You too."

After mirrored semi-awkward waves, Lexie watched Tate until he disappeared in the mist.

She glanced around the vast sea, the island, the forest. Something in her ached to explore it, told her there were treasures beyond her imagination here, but she wouldn't risk it.

To distract herself, she opened up her system screen and frowned.

Something strange was happening. None of the words were in any language she could understand. They were in Fae/Eldritch symbology and even though it appeared on the blue screen, the auto-translate didn't kick in so she couldn't understand it.

Maybe because it wasn't for humans. She technically wasn't in the human realm anymore. She was basically in a pocket dimension of the Fae world.

Or the Eldritch world depending on how she looked at it.

Clearly, that was making her system buggy.

She went through her inventory and found that a bunch of things were greyed out. It made her nervous because it meant she couldn't access them. She opened up her card inventory just to make sure that was accessible, and to her relief it was.

And that was when she realized it, freezing in steps as the thought slid into her mind.

Technically, if she was in the dungeon, then she wasn't on Earth anymore and was instead in an Eldritch pocket dimension.

The same type of Eldritch pocket dimension that Aiden used to create the <Out of Mind, Out Of Sight> card.

He'd said he was able to craft the cards in such a special way and bypass the rules because the pocket dimension meant he was in Eldritch territory. And now, so was Lexie.

So if she crafted a card here....could she bypass the System rules?

Her heart raced as she considered it, excitment spreading from her belly to the tips of her toes. Could she make cards that didn't require a deck and that weren't restricted in power?

Could she make a card the way she wanted to make it, without the bullshit restrictions put in place by the earth system? Could she make a truly powerful card?

Only one way to find out.

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