Chapter 18: The Warmth in Her Chest

                                    

                                          
Eden is still asleep when she feels something nudge her slightly. She grumbles and shifts, snuggling into something cool but soft and tries to go back to sleep. A sigh of content drifts from her and Eden begins to doze until something nudges her again. After an annoyed grunt, Eden cracks her eyes open.
                          
The black figure stands in front of her.
                          
It hovers and waves, seemingly waiting for Eden to notice it.
                          
Eden sits up and stares at it cautiously, wide awake now. Tense, gold eyes follow and watch closely, warily. Then, she turns to look at Jaren and Uriah.
                          
Uriah is gone, probably returned back into her at one point while she slept.
                          
Jaren sits beside her with his head leaned against the wall, asleep.
                          
A blush covers her entire face when Eden realizes that she must have fallen asleep on his shoulder. She was snuggling into him! Ignoring the burn on her face, Eden faces the figure again.
                          
Its form wavers before she hears it whisper, "Come. Platform will disappear soon."
                          
Hesitantly, Eden stands up but she stops to look at it.
                          
"Why? Why do you help me?"
                          
A low chuckle answers her.
                          
"Always wary. One day, I will tell. Not today. Platforms will change soon."
                          
Eden sighs but she figures it'll have to do. She goes and kneels beside Jaren. Her face heats up but she releases a breath and begins to shake his shoulder gently. Immediately, he startles awake, tense. 
                          
For a moment, he stares blankly past Eden as if she's not there but once he turns to look at her, Jaren relaxes and looks at her in concern.
                          
"We need to go. Now. The platform is gonna disappear any minute," Eden insists with a serious look about her.
                          
Confusion takes over his face and Lux appears beside him, glaring at her sharply.
                          
"No, it's not. The configuration still has another hour or so to go," It says, coolly.
                          
Eden stares at it, unable to believe that the Ghost doesn't believe her. Her mouth drops open and she owlishly blinks at the small, glowering Ghost. Moments later, Eden snaps her mouth shut and sends Lux a hard stare.
                          
"Look, believe me, or don't, this ledge is going to disappear. I don't know about you but I don't want to be here when it does."
                          
Lux flashes a bewildered glance, turning between Jaren and Eden. His Guardian stays quiet a moment before standing.
                          
"Well, I have no reason to believe she'd lie," Jaren speculates, nodding towards Eden.
                          
His Ghost eyes him in shock.
                          
"What? You're just going to believe her?!"
                          
Jaren glances at the Ghost, one eyebrow raised.
                          
"Well, would you rather take the risk of us staying and being completely wrong?"
                          
The Ghost shakes his shell sullenly.
                          
"Alright. Eden, if you would." Jaren gestures for her to lead the way.
                          
Eden gives a relieved smile and turns to look back at the figure.
                          
The black form disappears, hovering over on a ledge just above the one they're on. Eden motions for Jaren to follow and jumps, boosting herself up and on to the platform.
                          
She watches with a close eye as Jaren takes a couple of steps back and makes a running head start. Just as he gets ready to jump, the platform disappears from underneath his feet.