“I’m sorry…” The 'child' eventually spoke.

“Be more careful next time.” Sobue responded. “Ok?”

“Ok…”

“Promise?”

“I pwomise…”

As I watched the situation unfold, I looked down at the necklace, which was still standing on the netting.

“Hey, you. Down there.” I called out to the necklace.

“Who, me?” It responded.

“Yes, you. Can you get the guy you just dropped?”

“Why should I?”

“Well, it's your fault he’s stuck down there in the first place.”

“So, why should I care?”

I wasn’t making any progress. I wasn’t sure what to do, but then the ‘old woman’ began to speak.

“Hmmm…” The ‘old woman’ said. “What would happen if we woke her up?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Little one, why don’t you say hello to the—”

“Fine! I’ll do it! Where is he?”

The necklace lowered its chain.

“Oh, I think I see it! There you go; that should do it. And… and… out you go!” The rock was tossed back onto the netting. “Are you happy now?”

“Now place it up to her arm.”

“Do I have to do everything?”

“Little one?” The ‘old woman’ began to say, “Do you—”

“Fine! I’ll do it. Sheesh!”

The necklace placed the rock next to the arm.

“Huhuh…huhu…huhu…” The rock made a sound resembling frantic breathing. “Wha–what is wrong with you, you bastard?”

“A thank you would be nice.”

“Thank you, my ass! Now, can anyone explain to me what the hell was down there?”

“You know as much as we do.” I answered. “Now get up here, both of you. There are still several others in the bag.”

“Fine!” Both of them grumbled as they began to climb up.

I looked at the ‘old woman’.

“Why did you—?”

“You looked like you were having some trouble,” she said. “And I didn’t become a grandmother by being soft.”

After the two arrived, I gave everyone instructions.

“Ok, everyone take something out of the bag.”

“Who went and made you the leader?” the necklace asked.

“Who saved your lives?”

“Point taken,” he grumbled.

There were still three items left inside the bag—two stray necklaces and one full set. And because of the help I now had, we were able to quickly move each of them up to the arm. When we were all done, the group had expanded to nine. This meant that only the bag remained.

“I think I need all your help for this one.”

“Ok.” Sobue responded. “Every rock underneath the bag!”

“Yeah, what he said.”

We all got under the bag, except for the 'child', who stayed with the ‘older woman’. We then oriented it towards the girl.

“Ok.” I announced. “On the count of three, roll forward, and toss the bag to the girl’s arm.”

“One… Two… Three… And roll!”

We all rolled forward at the same time, pushing the bag closer to the ledge.

“Now, when you reach the edge of the slope, stay still.” I explained. “We will catch up in the back.”

Sobue and I kept rolling until we reached the other two rocks. And when this happened, the bag fell down the slope, barely grazing the girl’s hand.

“Freedom!” The bag shouted, using his opening as a giant mouth.

“Shhhh.”

“Sorry…”

But it was too late. The girl began to groan and started to roll, after which the netting quickly began to move.

“Get out,” I said to the bag. “Quick!”

“I know.”

I watched the bag begin to squirm its way towards us as the hole in the ground began to move with the girl’s arm.

“Gotta get out, gotta get out, gotta get out!” I heard the bag repeat.

The bag began climbing up the slope, using its front to get a grip on the earth. But in the light, I noticed its grip was fraying. There was little time to spare, so I quickly stood on top of it. “What are you doing?” The bag shouted.

“Making sure you don’t lose your grip.”

“Ok then… thank you.”

After the bag got closer, I let go, allowing it to make the jump.

And just as the girl rolled over, the ground closed back. The bag escaped, for the most part. As a small piece of it that got stuck in the ground below.

“Darn it. Hmmm… The bag grunted and groaned, and a tearing sound followed.

“Yes! I’m out!”

I looked at the bag and noticed a new hole where it had been torn.
“Are you ok?” I asked.

“I’m fine; I don’t feel a thing,” he said. “But I don’t think I can hold anything inside me anymore.”

“Will that cause any problems for you?”

“I doubt it,” the bag said.

“Well, I guess that’s good to hear.”

I looked around me. Because the girl had moved, we were no longer in the light, and I could not see anyone.

“And is there anything still inside you?”

“I don’t feel anything, so I guess not.”

“Alright then,” I said. “I think that means we’re finished for the night.”

Knowing that they were all now free was elating. Perhaps this could be the start of something greater, but I suppose only time will tell.

“So, what do we do now?” I heard someone ask.

I thought to myself. I wanted to see if there was anyone else that I could try to save, but unfortunately, it was currently too dark to see anything.

“Enjoy yourselves, I guess.” I responded. “Still, it would be a good idea to do so at a safer distance, just in case.”

“But where?”

“Follow my voice,” someone said.

“Yeah, that works,” I said.

We moved a few meters or so until we reached a spot that was hopefully out of the girl’s earshot. For the rest of the night, the group conversed with each other in the darkness. And as I listened to the symphony of voices, I began to wonder if, maybe, if I had done things differently, I could have been friends with people like them back on earth…

“Is something wrong?” someone asked, shaking me out of my thoughts.

“No,” I replied. “I was just thinking about some things.”

“Well, the others were wondering if you wanted to join in and tell a story or two about your old life.”

“I don’t think I have anything interesting to tell.”

“Oh, come on!” He exclaimed. “Everyone has a story to tell, and I’m sure they would love to hear yours.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Absolutely. Plus, we still have plenty of time before morning.”

“Well, if you insist, then I guess I could give it a try.”

“That’s the spirit!” He exclaimed. “Don’t worry, I can catch you up on anything you missed.”

“Ok…”

We made our way over to the rest of the group. Though I couldn’t see a thing, I knew I was completely surrounded. And for the remainder of the night, the only sounds that filled the air were the conversations we had and the stories we told.