The next day arrive, beautiful and sunny, not a cloud in sight. The light reflecting off of the waterfalls was shining through the trees and bushes. We felt rejuvenated and ready to continue our mission. Sio and Thomas headed the group, while Ario and I hung behind a few paces. We stayed quiet, with only the sounds of the forest breaking the silence.

We reached the blue canyon, and everyone else continued on unfazed. For me, however, the canyon was something incredible. The crystals had an alluring blue hue, and almost seemed to glow from within. The flowers were bright and vibrant and just the landscape was breathtaking. My eyes couldn't stop admiring the amazing view, but we had to press on.

Sio pointed towards an old mine jutting out from the ground.

-There! We can use the elevator in this mine to get down to the canyon. - Sio said.

- Is it still woking? The mine is rather is old... - Ario said with some doubts.

- It is. The group always used it to get down. - She leaned towards Ario. - Don't be scared...

We are here! - She smiled and pet him like a little kid, making Ario very upset.

- Alright! Let's keep going! - Sio shouted.

We entered the old elevator and I noticed that Ario was shaking.

- Hey... are you ok? - I asked him.

He looked at me for a moment and then lowered his eyes, his silence betraying the answer.

- Don't bother, Joker! He is scared of elevators! - Thomas said with laughter. - Ha! And it's because he got stuck once in one when he was a kid!

I could see how embarrassed that made Ario, but still he remained quiet.

- It's alright to be scared of something like that. - I said to Ario with a smile.

-Oh yeah? Are you scared of something like that? - He bit back angrily.

- Well... I'm scared of hospitals. - I said, a twing of anxiety in my voice. - And um... My brother is scared of wells. He fell in one and broke his leg when he was a kid.

- Really? - Thomas asked, curious.

- Yeah. It was raining heavily that day, and the well was filling up fast. I managed to get him out in time before he drowned, but the fear stays with him.

- Damn... I guess all of us have fear of something weird, haha! - Thomas said, again with laughter.

I turned again to Ario and could see he stopped shaking. I guess I was able to cheer him up enough. Sio was finally able to turn on the elevator and in a moment we were decending down into the mine.

When the elevator stopped and we all filed out, the air hit us like a shovel. It was heavy and dirty, making it hard to breath even with my mask on. We began investigating our immediate surroundings, everything was old and seemed to be long abandoned. There was an odd silence permeating everything around us, even the air. We moved slowly and carefully deeper into the mine, taking note of the changing terrain. Our flashlights didn't help us much because of the thick dust in the air, almost like a blanket of fog, impairing our vision.

- Where was the last signal, exactly? - Thomas asked Sio.

- Not too far from here... We should be getting closer to an open, larger area within.

- I hope the air will be better there... - Ario said while coughing. - This dust is killing me...

With our slow progress, it took us a while, but we finally reached the center of the mine. There was water running through it, and there were bridges constructed to connect other corridors. The place appeared to have seven or more floors of mines, it was very impressive. The air was cleaner as well, so I took off my mask for a moment to take a breath.

Sio looked around, worried.

- The signal ends here... but I don't see anyone.

- I guess we need to look around... they could still be close. - Thomas said trying to cheer her up.

-Yes, you are right. It's better if we will split up to cover more ground.

- Great! Just like in horror movies! - Ario said, joking around. No one laughed.

Thomas and Ario went to the first floor because the mines there were bigger, Sio left to check out the second floor and I went to search the third floor. I didn't like the idea of splitting up, I didn't know the hunter group and they didn't know me. I was afraid of what might happen if I stumbled across them.

I moved slowly through the mine with my hand close to my knife. I felt like someone was watching me, but I managed to convince myself it was just bats hanging from the ceiling. Suddenly, I heard music coming from farther in the dark of the tunnel. I could tell it was from a radio from the static behind the notes. The music was familiar to me but at the same time I couldn't place it. I followed the music through the tunnel, and I felt a cold breeze pass by me.

- It IS just like a horror movie... What the hell am I doing? - I thought.

The sound of the music grew, and the illuminated end of the tunnel entered my vision. I knew I was right on top of the source. I entered a small room with candles lighting one of the corners. Just by the candles I spotted a small music player. Not quite the radio I was expecting, but at least I knew where it was coming from. I approached the player and inspected it closer, and when I did I took a step back in shock. It belonged to my brother! On the back of the device was scratched the initials "S.K", and I remembered how I gave it to Shaun for his birthday.

- He is here...- This small discovery made me happy, it was a proof that Shaun is indeed in this world somewhere...

I was happy, knowing that this was solid proof that my brother was indeed somewhere out here in this world... I stopped the music and was placing the music player in my pocket when I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around I saw a familiar face. It was the man I had met at the grave.

- It's you again?! - He said angrily, raising a gun at me. - Why are you here? First robbing the grave and now robbing what little is left in these mines?

- I didn't rob anything... - I said, trying to calm him down.

- Oh really? You didn't take anything from that grave? And you didn't take anything just now?

- I... - I tried to think what I should say. He had still his gun trained on me so I had to be careful. - I'm sorry.. I did take something from the grave.

- Ah, so you are a thief! What did you take, thief?

- It was a letter and a photo.. nothing else.

- And what did you take right now? - He tried to get a closer look at my pocket.

- It's a music player... - I put my hand into my pocket and slowly took the player out to show him. - It belonged to my brother.

- HAHA! To your "lost" brother eh? That's a really bad lie, little man. - He started laughing at me. - Alright... and now give it to me. - He reached one hand out for it, still holding his gun in the other.

- I'm sorry, but I won't... - I slid it back into my pocket, discretely looking around for a way out.

- Come on... don't be stupid. I want it and if you won't give it to me then I won't hesitate to shoot you. - The old man leered.

I tried to think of what to do. I couldn't give him my brother's player, I had only just found it.

- Listen... I don't want to hurt you... just let me go. - I said finally.

- Hurt me? I'm the one with the gun! - He said, still making fun of me. - You know what? You don't want to give it to me? Then I will take it by myself... I'm done playing with you...

I tried to teleport to get behind him, but I was too slow. He aimed and fired at me, or more specifically... at my head.

Some time later I woke up, my head spinning and hurting so much that it took me longer to stand up without just falling again. I knew I wasn't dead, it wasn't the first time a bullet had gone through my head, but it was still painful and it was all because of my own stupidity. Trusting people to do what's right wasn't a good idea anymore.

Once I was finally able to stand up, I felt my face was covered in my own blood and my head was still heavy. I checked my pocket and of course it was empty. I was angry, annoyed... mad. I started to walk out of the tunnel.

- He should be still here... I need to find him.

When I managed to reach the center of the mine again, I was somehow on the second floor. I suddenly heard screaming below me, so I went to investigate, being careful to stay on the second floor and remain concealed. When I was in position, I looked down and I saw the same group of people from the grave and the man who had shot me. Thomas and Ario had been captured by them. One of the men had grabbed Thomas and had broken his leg with a hard stomp. Thomas was screaming from the pain, Ario tried to help him but was pulled away.

- I need to help them. - I thought to myself, my hands tightly gripped in anger. I heard someone sneaking behind me, and when I turned around and I saw Sio.

- Joker? Are you okay? - She whispered, trying to remain hidden as well. She then stopped moving, and a look of terror washed over her face. - Joker... your face is covered in blood and... your eyes. Why they are glowing green like that?

I had forgotten that whenever I got angry or mad... my eyes would start glowing green. Light told me it was a side effect of the stone, and I wouldn't be able to control it.

- Don't worry about it. - I said calmly. I didn't wanted to tell her about the stone... and about who I really was, at least not yet. - We need to help them.

Sio tried to ignore my eyes, and focused on the situation.

- If... If you could distract them, then I could help Thomas and Ario... - She said hesitantly.

- Alright... I will use my arrows for that, and when I do grab them and run.

- What? What do you mean run? What about you?

- Don't worry about me... Just run. - I didn't even look at her.

I could tell she wasn't happy with it, but she made herself ready regardless and waited for my signal. I notched an arrow and drew back, aiming for one of the men.

- Are you ready? - I asked Sio.

- Yes...

- Go!

Sio started running and I shot my first arrow, straight into the head of one of them. He immediately collapsed to the ground, drawing the attention of the whole group. They started shooting at me, completely forgetting about Thomas and Ario. I took cover while preparing my next few arrows. I looked for Sio, she was already heading away with Thomas and Ario.

- Good... - I said to myself. I waited till they were out of the area completely and safe from harm. The men stopped shooting and looked around them, apparently one of them had noticed their prisoners were gone.

- Hey! Where did those two go?! - One of them shouted.

That was my window. Using my "ghost powers", I drew back an energy arrow and let it loose with deadly accuracy. The ground beneath the men exploded, throwing them about while the smoke it threw up provided the perfect cover. As they attempted to stand again I teleported into the fray and quickly finished them off with my knife. I was moving fast, from one to another, hidden by the thick smoke. I was covered in blood now, not my own but that of my enemies. When I was done with them I looked for the old man, whom I had left for last. I heard him crawling away just beyond the smoke. Like some sort of possessed demon rising through the veil, I emerged from the smoke in front of him. Once he saw me, he began frantically screaming.

- HOW?! How are you alive?! I shot you! You should be dead! - He kept screaming. - WHAT ARE YOU?!

I stood over him, my eyes intense with rage.

- You took something from me... - I said, the anger seething from me.

- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! - He took out the music player from his pocket and he put it on the ground. - Please! Don't kill me! - He begged.

- I told you.. I didn't want to hurt you.

- I know! I'm sorry! - He was still begging for mercy.

I crouched closer, my voice as quiet as a whisper. - I'm done playing with you..

- NO! Don't-

His voice was cut short as I pressed the knife inbetween his ribs. His life ebbed painfully from him, and I watched him die with a slight smile upon my lips.

As the smoke cleared, I saw the full extent of what I had done. It was a massacre. I took a long, deep breath to calm myself down. I felt odd, like when I had first touched the stone and attacked Shaun. I had lost control of myself again, and that worried me.

I retrieved the music player from the ground, returning it to my pocket and started walking to the exit. I felt heavy as time began to catch up to me. I wasn't happy with what I had done, but I told myself I had no choice. After what seemed like forever I reached the outside, and the sudden bright light blinded me. The fresh air made me feel better and more like myself.

- Joker! Over here! -Sio was a short distance from the mine, waving me over.

I walked over to them as Sio tried to help Thomas with his broken leg. Ario came to me and unexpectedly he gave me a hug. I was confused and I didn't know what to say in response. He let me go again, and then started giving me a weird look.

- Joker... Are you ok? You're covered in blood! Are you hurt? - He was clearly worried about me. Sio stopped helping Thomas for a moment, and just stared at me, waiting for the answer.

- I'm... I'm fine don't worry. I'm not hurt. - I replied.

- What about those men? - Sio asked.

- They won't be a problem anymore... - I still wasn't sure how I felt about it. Sio didn't say anything in response, and just went back to Thomas.

I tried to wash up the blood a bit in a stream running by the canyon, but it was clear I was going to need a change of clothes. We decided to move to other side of the blue canyon, and if we still couldn't find the group, we would have to head back. I carried Thomas because he was too weak to walk with his broken leg. He was heavy, but I was still able to carry him.

- Well, this is embarrassing... - he said. - But... Thanks Joker. - He smiled at me, and I smiled back.

Sio walked in front, still quiet, not saying a word. She shouldn't have had to see me in that state, and I wondered what she thought of me now, after the mine...