As they set up a camp for the night, Jonas couldn't help but think about what had been said about what Kim had figured out about traveling between worlds. Part of him wondered if it might have listed what he'd mentioned earlier about the possibility of them being actual siblings might have been from a version of their worlds that was a few degrees off rather than both of them being siblings from the same world.
While he wouldn't mind Kim as a sister, he couldn't say how it would work out if they got sent to other worlds if Kim wasn't able to work out how to travel between them. He wasn't sure what might happen if they won the competition, but if he recalled correctly, he, Kim, Elin, and Elmo were in the lead in regards to completed challenges. That if they gave this last challenge to Stanley and his group, that they'd still win.
Which, if he recalled that correctly, then he had a feeling that Stanley also was aware of that and might not be willing to let that happen. Which was another reason he felt uneasy about Stanley and those with him.
Jonas couldn't say if they were the kind to 'win at all costs' or if they were just wanting to return to their homes, but he suspected that they hadn't seen the last of them. That this last challenge wasn't going to be as easy as he'd prefer.
Jonas wanted to see if others shared similar concerns, but at the same time, he couldn't help but worry that asking about that would somehow make it actually happen. Like jinx or something. Something that while more of a superstition than anything else, still felt real when it did happen after the conditions were met.
Yet at the same time it was driving him crazy to not be able to talk about it with someone. Even Elin and Elmo seemed to be able to talk about things together. Although, he did note that when they'd come back from gathering firewood, Elin seemed rather annoyed and Elmo seemed a little troubled about something. He didn't care to pry, but he could tell that something either hadn't gone well or had a less than desirable result. Not that he had any notions about what it could have been off the top of his head.
"Not getting any sleep huh?" Owen asked, nearly making Jonas jump.
Last Jonas knew, Owen had been on the other side of the campfire, but now was almost right next to him. Either he'd fallen asleep a little or he'd been so focused that he hadn't even noticed Owen even moving. Which for Jonas was a troubling possibility. Especially with how he knew that in the life he'd lived so far, doing that could be a way to end up seriously hurt, or worse.
However, he hoped he was able to conceal his surprise, though he couldn't help but wonder how much he could do that against a person who could read his thoughts. After all, it wasn't like he knew when Owen was peering into his thoughts or not.
"Actually, sometimes I don't have to, Owen said, letting Jonas know this was one of those times. "Sometimes, like a minute ago, your thoughts were screaming. Where I had to listen to them whether I wanted to or not."
Jonas wasn't sure he really understood all of what Owen said, but it wasn't like it really mattered. If he understood Owen's ability, he might as well have listened in on whatever his tutorial told him about the ability.
Besides, how could his thoughts 'scream' or whatever?
"I'm not sure I understand myself," Owen replied as if Jonas had asked that out loud.
Although as Jonas thought about it, he realized that Owen sounded rather tired. As if he really didn't want to be here, but had to anyway. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but it could relate to whatever it was that Owen had mentioned about his thoughts 'screaming.'
"Exactly," Owen continued, like they were actually having a conversation. "Your thoughts about whether you and Kim are siblings or if its from a world that's so many degrees or something off from the ones where both of you are actually from or whatever, were essentially screaming for those, like me, who can hear them."
"You might as well explain what you mean by 'screaming' thoughts," Jonas sighed, not sure he'd get any peace until he was able to get Owen to explain that part. "I'm a little lost as to what that means."
Owen sighed as he looked around. Jonas did the same, not sure if he was looking to see who else might be up and able to hear what he was about to say. As his gaze swept their surroundings, the only other person that appeared to be up at this time was Heather as it was her watch. Which also mean that Sonya might also be up, but at the moment, Heather seemed more interested in examining her new dagger than anything else. Also, Blot could be awake, but Jonas doubted that the book would be that interested in what Owen was about to say.
Although, a stray thought occurred to Jonas about Blot. Something he hadn't thought of until this moment, even though he'd had plenty of opportunities to see it since they'd been travelling with that talking book.
"Have you noticed how Blot seems to be less and less active the longer we're away from the library?" he asked, not sure if there was anything they could do to help if there was a problem.
Owen shook his head. "Not really, but in response to your question, your thoughts were so full of emotion for you that it felt like they were screaming. I'm not sure what it is about having a sister, or maybe just sibling for you, that would elicit such a strong emotional response, but it did make your thoughts loud and clear for me to listen to, whether I wanted to hear them or not. So, I thought I'd talk with you to see if it was possible to calm you down so I could get some sleep," Owen explained, though Jonas felt like it'd take a few minutes to fully absorb all that information Owen had just said.
Jonas sighed. He certainly didn't need anyone being his minder or babysitter at this point. Although, he could understand that Owen was likely looking out for himself more than Jonas at this point. As it was certainly causing an inconvenience for Owen. Even though Jonas clearly wasn't doing it on purpose.
"I'll just think about something else, okay?" Jonas offered, doubting it'd be that easy.
Owen shook his head, confirming Jonas' fears. "Yeah, all it'd take is for the though to pop in your head again and it'd start getting loud again."
Jonas sighed. What was there for him to do to get Owen to leave him alone? He'd go to sleep himself if that'd help, especially since he was already rather tired at the moment anyway.
"So, what do you have in mind?" Jonas asked, feeling like the best, and fastest, way through this was to let Owen have his way at this point. As it certainly would help get this over with faster than he'd otherwise be able to do by trying to push Owen away on the mater.
"Well, I was wondering what you really thought about Kim being your sister," Owen said. His words making Jonas want to strangle Owen.
It would at least help his current situation out, as it would have Owen no longer pestering him about this subject, but at the same time, he had a feeling that it'd be hard to explain it to everyone else. Especially since Owen wasn't really threatening him or being a threat in any manner. It was merely him trying to get it so that he could get to sleep himself, and likely stay asleep.
"I've already discussed this with Kim, and as you know by looking at my thoughts, I'm not sure if we both were from the same world or if our worlds are close enough that our DNA and all that would be close enough for a sibling match rather than both of us being from the same world. I'm not sure what else there is to discuss on the matter. It's not like we can get any evidence one way or another for it,"
"At least not here," Owen added thoughtfully. "Yeah, I see the problem on that. I'm just wanting to get a little peace and quiet so I can get to sleep."
"I accept that," Jonas replied, hoping being conciliatory might help his situation out. Even if it was just a little.
"How about this," Owen suddenly offered, catching Jonas off guard. "Why not talk to Kim about what you'd like in a sibling. Maybe you could break the ice that way."
Jonas looked at Owen, not sure if he was actually serious. "You realize that's one of the worst ways I could approach the matter? Kim would literally kill me if I said something as inane as that to her."
Owen merely shrugged. "Why not try something at least? Maybe that'll help get your thoughts quieter whenever you think about it?"
"Yeah, you realize I'm not going to wake up Kim for any reason outside of an attack by something, don't you?" Jonas asked, feeling like Owen really didn't know Kim as well as he might think he did right then.
Owen sighed. "Then what is there for me to do so I can sleep?"
"How about this, you leave me alone, I'll settle down to sleep and then once I'm asleep, you can fall asleep. How's that sound?"