Andrew took the torch that he had left right beside him and shook it vigorously, managing to generate just enough light to see more than two feet in front of him. He had to admit, he hadn't chosen the most convenient or comfortable sleeping arrangements for himself. He didn't have much down here - a portable generator provided him with all the basics, from the minifridge that had fresh fruit and beef jerky stored, to the small TV and DVD player that he occasionally watched action movies on. Other than that, there was nothing else down here. Just his and his thoughts, alone at the bottom of a dark, sweltering pit.
Like always, he barely wore anything other than a single pair of tighty-wightys; the heat would have just about killed him if he dared to wear anything more than that. Even then, they were absolutely drenched, serving as little more than a damp wet rag against the fountain of pure, salty liquid that his body had become, mixed with all the other bodily fluids that his new home was secreting at a constant pace. The smell didn't help matters either - the odors were almost noxious in how sweltering they were, and at times he swore he'd almost chocked on the moisture that his sibling's body generated.
In sum, Andrew had not chosen the best spot for himself. But it was the only way that he could be anywhere near his little sib. He had to make sure that they stayed safe somehow.
Slowly, he made his way to the boundaries of the navel and inched his way up the vast vertical shaft out the deep pit. He was measured and methodical in his approach taking advantage of whatever footholds he could find on the bulbous, wrinkled flesh. It was a long and tedious process, and more than once he had slipped on a wet crease and fallen all the way down to the bottom with a soft thud, forcing him to start all over.
Maybe he should have considered having some stairs installed down here. There was clearly more than enough room to spare. Plus, there was just enough space down this dark, fathomless naval to build a house or two. Maybe he could convince some daredevil to come build something down here so that he had more to entertain himself with than just repeats of Die Hard. Unfortunately, the ground was far to veiny and uneven for such an idea to be anything more than a wild fantasy. Andrew would just have to live with his terrible choices on his own terms.
It wasn't entirely bad, though. He was getting a lot of exercise having to contently climb up and down the naval like he was in a rock-climbing gym. His biceps and deltoids had developed at a respectable pace, to the point where he looked a bit like
a teenage bodybuilder. If he wanted to, he could easily crush it in the school's wrestling club.
Regardless, this was the price he had to pay for choosing to live with his mile-tall sibling. All of these inconveniences and setbacks were to be expected, especially considering this was...