When Aly heard the door upstairs slam, she quietly sobbed to herself, before sending a text to someone.

Within about a minute, while Eke was still up in his room, he heard a voice coming from his window... which was odd, seeing as he WAS up another story.

"Yo." Ryker said, hands crossed over his chest as he seemed to hover right close to the window.

"Looks like there's some trouble in paradise." he commented.

"Care to share?"

"..." Ryker was silent for a moment.

"It's... well... actually it's what you're BOTH doing wrong." he told him.

"It's clear that some serious shit is happening in your life, and it's something that seems to be unique to you. I think she senses you're still keeping things from us, and that worries her." he continued.

"However, YOU need to tell her that, while there are things you're not telling us, she needs to learn that everyone has their secrets, and that she and I don't deserve to know EVERY SINGLE thing that goes on in your brain." he went on.

"She's worried about you, and it's making her emotional. You need to let her know that it's okay to be emotional, but she doesn't need to coddle you like I used to do." he then said further.

"I know you. When you want our help, you'll ask for it. But you need to let HER know that. And you need to let her know that her being there is a help to you as well." he told Eke.

"At least, I assume it still it." he then added with a shrug.

"TELL her that." Ryker responded.

"I'm serious. Sit her down, look her in the eyes, and TELL her that, in those words." he said.

"I'm starting to learn that you need to be your own person, and you're stronger than we give you credit for." he told him. "We might not be related, but we ARE brothers, and part of my being your younger brother is learning that sometimes you need to do things on your own, for better or for worse." he continued.

"So... I think that if you tell her what you just told me, she'll understand." he went on.

"You just need to make sure she knows that. And she knows that you will always care for her and love her." he continued.

"That's all. Just be open and frank, and give as many details as you are comfortable giving. And tell her not to try and pry for information like her and I have been doing recently." he added.

"All right?"

"Eke!" Ryker called out.

"....damn you, Eke." he growled.

"I give you the answer, and you throw it back at me." he said.

"But fine. Whatever. It's your decision to make." he then mumbled to himself, before rising back onto the roof, on a pair of demonic-like ethereal wings that had formed behind him.

He then sat down on the roof, and continued to meditate.

He needed to prepare his body.

Through some absolute miracle, Eke's cell still had service... but if he were to look at the bars he had for signal strength, he would see that he was practically running on empty.

Thankfully, Ryker DID pick up the phone.

"Yo." he answered.

"Sup with the spelunking?" he asked.

"Find anything neat?" he asked further, before pausing and hearing Eke's laboured breathing.

"....you... okay?" he then asked, concern in his tone now.

Ryker had a large number of emotions and feelings running through him.

But he did his best to keep it all in check.

Instead, he took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and exhaled.

"All right..." he muttered.

"What the hell did you call me for, then?" he asked.

"Do you want help?" he asked him. "And if so, how can I do that?"

"........." Ryker was silent, before sighing.

"I'm on my way." he told Eke.

"I will get in there, and I will get you out of there." he promised.

"Just stay alive." he continued.

"Stay alive, and I'll get you out of there." he vowed.

"...where is this cave? Which one did you go to, exactly?"

"DAMN IT!" Ryker cursed, as the connection was lost.

"Guess I gotta rely on instinct." he muttered, shaking his head and racing off towards the direction of a cave he knew.

"...it's probably huge." he told himself.

"Like... really big." he went on, narrowing down the search in his mind.

'I need to check the biggest ones first, and hope I get lucky.' he then thought.

"...and hope I make it in time."

Ryker arrived at the mouth of a large cave, bit his lip slightly, and entered.

'Great.' he thought.

'No idea what's gonna happen in here, but I need to find SOME evidence of Eke.' he thought further.

He then closed his eyes and sighed quietly as he moved. Using his sense of touch to move about, he tried to listen for something.

Anything.

If he heard movement in the cave, he'd go for it.

All he could hear was his own panting...

...until he heard footsteps.

Slow, deliberate footsteps.

Someone else was here, and it wasn't the undead dragon. The steps were too careful. They weren't as heavy. Someone else was definitely in this cave.

And they seemed to be making their way... somewhat closer.

But it seemed like they were also unsure of as to where to go.