Redstone: Sanctuaries
Chapter 19: Encounter

Another cold hand cupped Mary's lips, silencing her from behind. In her panic, Maria could hear the voice of someone whispering in her ear, "Sst, Miss! Don't noise! Don't move!"

Had the situation not been this confusing, Maria would have fought back. But he had just seen a strange creature, thrown into another world, chased by a dark shadow creeping in, then saw another strange bloated shadow. Maria knew that the wisest thing she could do now was to nod obediently and cooperate. After all, the one gripping him from behind was a human. He could feel his heartbeat. Although both of her hands were cold, Maria could feel a faint heat from the body behind her. That makes him relieved.

The two of them ducked down slowly, taking refuge behind the stacked wooden barrels.

The shadow was approaching, they could feel it. Maria even trembled from head to toe. The foreign man still silenced Mary's lips with his hand, preventing her clapping and steam from escaping. They bent deeper into the ground, curled up as much as possible when the shadow was right in front of them—behind the wooden barrels, likely feeling the air of their existence.

Maria closed her eyes tightly and held her breath. He held his breath until his lungs were hot, until his head hurt. The pain made him realize that he was not in a dream.

It´s real.

"Miss?" the voice whispered again, sounding somewhat anxious. His feet were out of Mary's face. "Miss? We've been safe ... for a while."

Mary breathed a lot of air. The smell was damp and musty, like breathing air in an attic full of tanned skin. His eyes water. He rubbed the corner of his eyes carefully, then raised his face, looking at his savior.

The man was thin, his face was friendly, his brown hair was cut short, still young, maybe early twenty. Maria thinks their age is not much different. Although the air was this cold, but the man only wore a shirt and thin cloth pants that were attached to his body. Maria realized she could not criticize other people's clothes because she herself also only wore a sleeping robe. His cheeks heated up as soon as he realized that. He was wearing his pajamas in front of a man other than Jose! The only thing she was grateful for was her husband leaving tonight, so she chose a thick, warm, full-length robe to sleep in, instead of a transparent gown that revealed her body shape.

"Who are you?" Maria sat hugging her knees, trying hard to shift her embarrassment by focusing on their main problem. "Where is this? It's .. It's not Redstone, is it?"

"No, I don't think so." The man shook his head. "I don't know myself. Suddenly I was here .. as I recall .. I was on my way home." He was silent for a moment, his forehead wrinkled like he had just remembered a terrible event. "It looks like Redstone, but it's not Redstone either. Are you alone, Miss? Why are you here? Who are you with?"

"Mrs," corrects Maria. "I'm Argent. Mary Argent. I'm alone."

"Sorry, ma'am." The man frowned. "Argent, eh? That's a market name, huh?"

Maria shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know why I'm here. But maybe .. maybe it's because of the ghost relics in my house. I'm going back there and—"

"Relik ghost?" The man interrupted. "You got any?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Umm .. is nothing. So you're just alone? I was so happy to see another human being. I thought I was crazy or I was dead." He's silent. His voice whirled, "we ... aren't dead yet, are we?"

"Of course not yet!" Mary insisted, all trying to convince herself. "I was sleeping at home, in my room, in my bed! Then know ..." he faltered. Breathing's tight. "Know I'm here. Maybe .. It's because I put ghost relics in a jar of salt. Maybe ... I don't know, maybe the ghost is angry ... or something like that."

"shouldn't. I know people who keep ghost relics carelessly, ghosts don't throw others into other realms."

All he got was one arm.

"I'm coming" said the man. Face brightens. "You don't mind, do you?"

Maria doesn't mind. He was glad to have a travel companion. The distance to his house is quite far. He had run to his doom and forced himself to walk far enough because of fear. "My house is a little far away" he whispered. "When I ran here, I didn't meet any strange creatures. But what was that thing that was expanding and walking just now?"

"Eitherway. I don't know either. But he always went around the street and stopped for a long time at each intersection. I'm sorry I always avoid it." The man raised his face. His eyes narrowed, looking into the distance. "We can get through the roof, faster, but ..." His eyes looked at Mary doubtfully. "Can you?"

"Jumping on the roof?" Maria smile. His first smile since being stranded in this place. The existence of another human being strengthened his heart. "That's easy. My childhood friend and I always do."

"Your friend sounds fun." The man got up first, one hand outstretched to Mary. "She's a pretty woman like you?"

"Thankfully not." Mary welcomed the helping hand and rose up gracefully. "Now he's my husband."

"Unfortunately," the man laughed softly, a type of laughter forced to help calm himself down. Mary knew what they were doing: trying hard to talk about things lightly so that their focus would be distracted, so that they would no longer think about the peculiarities in which they were at the moment.

"Where are we going?" Maria crossed her arms, repeatedly trying to make sure that all her clothes were tightly sealed.

"What street is your house on? Over where? By the way, I've never seen you in Redstone. If there's someone like you, I'll remember."

"I've only been here two months. Not been anywhere." Mary pointed towards her arrival. "My house is in the Redstone manor. You must know. The mansion belongs to Marquis Redstone."

His opponent was silent. His eyes looked at Maria straight. "You ... live there? Wait ... you .. are you Mrs Argent? Redstone Marchioness?"

Maria raised her next to her pointed eyebrows. "Yes. I told you that, right? I'm Maria Argent."

"I thought you meant the other Argent! Worth it! I wonder half-dead why a woman could be this calm despite being in such a strange place! To the extent that I thought you were a demon or something! But it's worth it! You're that guy's wife!"

Mary looked around anxiously. "Your voice is too loud!" hisses.

"Oh, oh, right! I'm sorry!" the man whispered back. His brown eyes glowed. "Well, if you say the relic will bring us back, I believe! I know the fastest way to your manor! Ah, you don't know my name yet? My name is Devon, Ma'am. It's good to see you!"

Maria's turn was shocked.

***