I have no idea what happened around me after I slipped back out of consciousness for the night, but when I woke up I hardly expected to find myself in a completely different and considerably less comfortable position than before. When I stirred, I found myself slung awkwardly into an enclosed space. My cheek was pressed against a slat of wood, and my arms were messily lying across my back, my knees against an opposite slat and my feet hovering near my . It was hot, pitch black and smelled centuries old. I jerked in panic, but I was stuck in my position and all I managed to do was hurt my neck. When I heard the muffled argument going on outside my little prison I calmed the comotion going on in my head for a moment to listen. It was a jumble of cursing and shouting when I first woke, but now I strained to listen, I could hear what was going on.

"Will you stop being such a drama queen? I don't see you for a couple of days, and you think I'm dead?"

I could hear Zelo being incredulous. Well, that was slightly encouraging. I wasn't in some container being handed over to the Authorities, and I certainly wasn't in a coffin six feet under. I'd think those are more comfortable than this anyway.

"You always come to see me! And I know what you're like- I thought something had finally happened to you."

His voice was deep and bellowing before, but his tone shifted from terrifying to hurt and upset.

"I was busy, okay?" Zelo snapped.

"Doing what? You never bail on me." The retort was quick and heated.

"Yongguk, just shut it!"

Silence.

I felt like wincing. Although I had yet to overhear a rational and quiet conversation in the household, and I am still wondering why I'm in some kind of box, Zelo's outburst was hurtful.

I heard a door slam and Zelo groan loudly. "Yonggie, wait..."

"Don't call me that!" Even though it sounded distant to me, I could tell it was a roar.

Zelo kicked what I assume was the door. I was expecting the drama to be over, but I was wrong; the door burst straight back open and I heard Zelo yelp and then an almighty thump. "Ugh..." He sounded winded. Everything was quiet for a moment, but as I frowned and tried to lean my ear against my wooden cocoon, I could hear soft whimpering.

"I was so worried," Yongguk's voice shook. "Before I came round to check on you, I could hardly breathe. You know yesterday when I started to get scared I came here, and you weren't in?" I'm pretty sure I'm behind all the aggro Zelo is having to put up with these last few days. I'm starting to feel quite guilty by now, but it was not my deception which has lead to this happening, which was only a slight ease on my conscience. At least I knew Yongguk was only concerned for his friend, and he wasn't here to rip him limb from limb, metaphorically or otherwise. Zelo's mother was good enough at that.

I could imagine Zelo pinned to the ground trying to comfort the giant on top of him; at least, I assume this guy is huge, by his unusually deep voice. "So much has happened over the last week. Even though that village was burned to the ground, people have been going missing." Interesting.

It took a while, and the crick in my neck wasn't getting any better, but Zelo finally managed to peel his friend from him, and calm him down from the gradual hysterics he had worked himself into. Things must be serious out there if Yongguk had honestly thought Zelo was lost to him. But from the sounds of it, Zelo must have done something stupid like this before. Perhaps not quite this stupid, but Yongguk doesn't seem to know about me. Yet.

"Look. Can you just give me a little time? I promise I'll come see you soon. Sorry for not letting you in straight away, incidentally. You caught me off guard."

Yongguk seemed to accept this, even though he gave a long hard pause to glare at Zelo skeptically before mumbling so. "You better. Or I might just tear up the village searching for you again."

"Don't worry, I'll come."

"Like last time?"

"Yong..."

"Okay, okay. I'll go now, I have stuff to do."

And with that, he left.

Maybe I can get out of here now?