I woke up with a start, vaguely wondering if the sniffing I’d heard was real or from my dream. My entire body was stiff, and I felt more exhausted than I had last night. The incessant throb from my palms kept me from falling asleep again so, accepting my fate I pushed myself off the dirty floor. It took me a moment to remember there was no light for my eyes to adjust too. On my hands and knees, I felt around for the lamp knocking it over in the process. One click told me it had died sometime during the night; I must’ve fallen asleep with it on.

Groggily I began cranking it ignoring the growing pains in my hands. It was coming time to re-bandage them. My head rested back against the wall while I thought. I focused on visualizing my surroundings again, it came quicker than before and a pale blue outline formed to the room. James was sound asleep facing the wall, the pack was near his head, and I was sprawled out against wall opposite to the exit. One of the rocks from the rock wall I had built had toppled off sometime in the night and it looked like the whole thing had shifted. I wondered why my imagination visualized that, instead of how I’d seen it last night. Perhaps my intuition was better down here? Or, more likely when I turned on the light the wall would look normal and I was just seeing my subconscious fear; evidence that something had tried to break in.

I shook my head and focused on my hands again. Another form of witchcraft I used to practice was moving energy around my body. Gathering it up in my hands and then rushing it back to my legs or my back where I imagined I’d sprouted wings. The last bit was a bit silly, and I certainly had friends who thought the whole thing was dumb, but either way it didn’t stop me from practicing. I felt my energy move and the spells I cast did work. Just not like the classic way magic was depicted in movies; that idea of magic didn’t exist. I gathered energy in my hands, and in my mind’s eye they began to glow. The lamp, still being cranked between them, began to glow too as I passed the energy between my hands.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any way of knowing the time down here?” I yelped when James started speaking. “Did I startle you?” He sounded amused.

I had to take a deep breath before answering, “I thought you were still asleep. And uhh, no, without cell towers my phone won’t know how much times passed when I turn it on.”

He was quiet for a moment before joking, “I’ll just pretend I know what you mean.” Causing me to smile.

“How’s your leg today?” Sympathy coloured my voice and I could tell it irked him by his tone.

“Don’t worry about me. You wouldn’t be able to spare another of those… pain killers was it? It’s been just bearable since I’ve woken.” His chipper mood struck me as forced and I realized he was probably trying to appear strong for my benefit.

“Yeah, gimme a sec.” I thumbed the lamp to life and set it with what little charge it had aside. I procured four pills from the pouch and told him, “Don’t take these all at once. Should last you the day.” He gulped one before I’d finished talking. Grabbing the lamp I started turning it again while explaining, “I’m going to leave the lamp with you today, it only lasts four hours which incidentally is how long the pain killers work so when it dies take another pill and crank this for half an hour to charge it. This button,” I pointed at it, “Turns it on or off. Despite my best efforts you can see the light from outside so if you hear anything shut it off.”

James shifted, turning to look at me with weary eyes. He had a masterful poker face, so it was hard to read what he was thinking. “No. You need that lamp; you’ll die without it.”

“Nah, I’ve got a flashlight. besides the lights too dangerous to tote around so I’ve been walking blind most of the time anyways.” I thought for a moment before continuing, “Also, I’d rather not come back to someone who’s gone mad sitting in the dark. I’ve heard what cabin fever does to people and I’d rather not have to worry about you trying to kill me in my sleep because the voices told you to do it.”

He blinked, taken aback before laughing a little too loud, “I doubt I’ll be going mad sitting in the dark, but I’ll accept it so long as you have another source of light.” He grew somber, “You need to understand Jazz. Even if you do find a way out, I’m in no condition to make it. You need to take care of yourself above others in this world.”

I walked the lamp to him, setting it in reach beside him and crouched down, “You’re a good man James. Not what I expected from a Noble that’s for sure. I’m still not going to leave you behind though so don’t count on me cutting you a break.” Standing, I packed what I needed- taking care to dress extra warmly. Lastly, I moved the water jug and mug into James’ reach and topped up my own water bottle. “Aight, I’m off.” The last thing I needed today was my towel, I shifted James’ nearly dry pants in its place to act as a curtain. On my way out I noticed that the rock wall had in fact shifted in the night with a lone rock sitting exactly where I’d imagined it. I paused to re-arrange it back into place taking care to ensure it was sturdier this time before I squeezed myself out.

No noises greeted me, and I blinked several times trying to adjust to the little amount of light escaping the camp. I wanted to say by now I’d grown to like the dark, grown to stalk through it like I’d been born in it. Instead I reluctantly stood at its edge gripping the flashlight hard in my hands. I fought the urge to turn it on. My nerves were shot and the brave face I had for James was left behind with him and the lit camp. Everyone imagines they have some hidden bravery they could call on in a time like this, but bravery is simply moving forward despite your fear, not somehow beating it away. It was my pride and desperation that kept me moving. Pride that stopped me from curling into a ball and waiting for someone to rescue me, and desperation knowing that if I failed James and I would die.

I slid into the dark, following the now familiar path towards the flooded torture chamber. My constant practice of visualization was my only comfort and I attributed my frequent accuracy to the fact that I’d been forced to memorize this path given how important it was. Despite everything I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched and I had to breath around a lump of fear that settled in my throat like a fist. Threatening to choke me.

I paused at the fork buzzing with anticipation. Down there was where I’d first seen the werewolf and nearly died. I knew it was dumb to fear going down there, as if I’d find the werewolf was still down there this entire time, waiting to pounce me the moment I returned, but the anticipation still gave me pause. My flashlight flicked on and I flinched as the sudden beam of light flooded the room. A breath I didn’t know I was holding let out when I confirmed the werewolf was, in fact, not here. I scanned the room, my eyes automatically turning to the broken passage I originally escaped through… Or I should say the remains of the passage. The iron door had been fully removed from its frame and had been carried, then tossed aside midway down the long hallway. Rubble littered the floor and the ceiling had collapsed leaving a pile of stone and earth up to waist height. The larger stones that had made up the frame had been completely torn from their spots and one had been tossed all the way to the opposite side of the room. I shuddered seeing the power I had so narrowly escaped.

Here I’d been trumping through the dark, lights blazing, saving James. Never truly knowing just how much I was risking. My breath caught in my throat as I surveyed the destruction. I started to suck in air without getting enough oxygen. My eyes widened and I held my hand to my throat. I felt lightheaded and dizzy and my knees grew weak. It took me several moments, standing still with my eyes squeezed shut, before I regained control of my breathing.

My instincts warned me to run, Instead, against the screaming voice in my head I stripped to my undergarments, piling my clothes neatly near the middle of the room. If the beast came, I didn’t plan on grabbing them on my way out. This time, there wasn’t anything blocking its path to me, so I wasn’t going to waste my time dying over some clothes. I also wasn’t wasting what little time I had left losing my nerve. I am getting out.

I entered the water gasping as the cold shock hit me. My entire body tensed up but I managed to force myself to tread through the corpse infested dungeon water. My teeth chattered as I felt shivers rock through my whole body. The noise I was making, coupled with the fact that I had my light on and I was naked had me checking the entrances every few steps. Nothing.

The wall I’d spied before crumbled to the touch as I felt around looking for cracks or holes. The dark earth was in fact very soft, the parts close to the water line were waterlogged, yet the water wasn’t soaking far up the surface meaning… The water was draining through, but as I followed the water line, I found no cracks close to the surface. Regretting what I was about to do I bit my flashlight and dunked myself up too my neck feeling the wall all the way to the floor. My shoulders tensed and I gasped. I quickly checked behind me, but I was still alone. Instead of focusing on the cold, I continued feeling close to the bottom of the wall. That’s where I found it. Where the floor met the wall, a thin crack snaked along, my fingers could feel the water pulling through. It was a bittersweet find. There wasn’t going to be an easy way out… I’ll just have to dig, I guess.

I fetched my small spade and carefully set the flashlight down at the waters edge, casting light on the wall. The spade was meant to dig holes for when you were… Taking care of business let’s say. It was aluminum and compact, so great for its purpose, but definitely not for what I planned for it. After a moments consideration I dug the spade into the earth. It stuck fast and it took a couple yanks to pull it free. The cold water had soothed my burned hands, but this enflamed them even worse than before.

I pulled out a chunk of earth and thoughtlessly flung it behind me. A loud splash sounded and for a moment the edges of my vision blurred as panic screamed up my throat from the wave of fear that washed over me. I whipped around but I was still alone. It was just the sound of the dirt hitting the water. Taking a few deep breaths, I steadied myself and returned my attention to the wall. It took quite a few tries before I started properly moving things but eventually, I found my rhythm, taking care to expect the resulting splash. Due to the freezing cold my limbs began to grow heavy and my thoughts travelled like they were running through a peat bog. Even my palms felt numb.

I’d created a small dent in the earth by the time I realized I could no longer feel my limbs. I had stopped shivering as well. I stumbled through the water and bile rose in my mouth at the thought of me falling. I had trouble maneuvering the towel across my body, especially when I started shivering again. I felt eyes crawling over my skin.

I nearly leapt out of my skin when I heard something call to me in the dark. I whipped around, scanning my surroundings but there was no sign of life. It wasn’t the wolf, what ever I’d heard sounded like someone whispering, though I couldn’t quite make out what it was. My eyes misted. I quickly dried myself, whipping on my clothes as fast as I could. Stiffly I snuck to the collapsed tunnel. The entrance I’d entered through took me closer to the beasts’ lair than I wanted to risk, so I decided I should map out how to get back to camp this way.

I shut off my light, plunging myself once again into darkness. Unlike before, the outlines I imagined while visualizing my surroundings formed around me without me needing to focus on it. The level of detail I could see was uncanny now and I was struck with a moment of pride knowing the constant practice seemed to increase my abilities. It was a fleeting feeling though as what felt like something touching me caused me to jump. Feeling my shoulder, I realized it was wet and I cursed. I’d nearly leapt out of my skin over a drop hitting me.

After berating myself some more I continued down the hall. Along the walls were small openings to cells, though none of them had cell bars. Each had chains hanging from their ceiling, high enough that they probably had to hang prisoners from them. I clicked the light on confirming that there was in fact tiny cells here. Strange. Perhaps I’d noticed them subconsciously and that’s why I could visualize them. I shook my head clear before shutting off the light. Now wasn’t the time to wonder about it. With a click I was once again swallowed by darkness.

At the end of the hall I turned, retracing the path I’d originally taken on my first day here. I could tell just how wet the walls were from the glowing blue water streaming down the rock, pooling into puddles beneath my feet. I couldn’t lay down a chalk path because of it, so instead I focused on memorizing every turn I had to take. There were a couple times I had to double back, forcing me to pause to re-memorize which direction was the right one. The last thing I needed was to get lost.

Above the wet slaps of my footfalls I heard another whisper. I craned my neck inspecting every which way, but I couldn’t find the source. Light flooded the hall again, hovering over each cell entrance, but despite what I’d heard I was alone. I waited to see if I could hear it again, but deafening silence was my only company.

I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. The only thing I could think to do was check each cell with my flashlight until I was sure there was no one there but I couldn’t afford to waste my batteries over a bad feeling. I’m just creeped out in the dark, sneaking around making noise while I know there’s a man-eating beast down here. Get it together Jazz.

Back in the dark I continued until the walls were dry enough to leave a trail.

“Turn around, Witch.”

This time instead of trying to find the source of the whisper I broke into a run. My ears picked up more whispers chasing me from the halls I passed spurring me on like hell hounds snapping at my heels.

I dove into the camp, startling James as I leapt over the barrier, slamming my back to the opposite wall. I shut off the lamp plummeting us both into darkness and we waited in the tense dark for whatever ghosts were chasing me.

James was the first to break the silence, “I don’t think it followed you. I don’t hear anything.” He was whispering but I still winced when he started speaking fearing it was the strange whispers at first.

“Yeah. I don’t hear anything either.” He turned on the lamp startling me and prompting me to quickly shut it off. I heard him shift in the dark and a moment later it was back on, he had gotten out of the sleeping bag and was intently reading my face.

“What happened?” When I didn’t answer he didn’t press. “You were gone for a while. I was beginning to worry you wouldn’t get back…” He sounded genuine which at that moment was enough to open the dam. Tears began sliding down my cheek. He seemed to expect it and reached out indicating for me to join him sitting on the sleeping bag. I didn’t want to refuse.

“Gods you’re freezing.” He began rubbing warmth back into my arms and legs while I fumbled to remove soiled bandages on my hands. “You risked the water then.”

“I said I would.” My voice didn’t sound as strong as I meant it to, but it was a hard thing to accomplish given I’d just been chased out of the dark. He didn’t respond for some time. He was carefully choosing his words. Always the noble.

“Did you find the hole you predicted?” He spoke softly. He knew what I’d found.

“There may be a chamber… If I keep digging. Luckily the earth is soft… So its easy to move.” I had to keep taking a deep breath between words to keep myself from cracking. It was hard to remain hopeful in the face of such a hopeless situation. We could die and there was nothing he could do about it, yet everything I do could seal the deal for us. I could be digging just a foot in the wrong direction and I wouldn’t know it. A foot is all it would take. My decision to follow the water flow could very well be hopeless. There could be a chamber, sure, but the low flow of the water indicted otherwise.

James was quiet for a long time. While he tried to warm me, I focused on cleaning my burns again and bandaging them in fresh gauze. Heat gradually blossomed in my limbs and that odd burning sensation one got after being out in winter for too long followed it. I still had seven more days before the food ran out. That was plenty of time to dig and plenty of time for something to change. “Do you think I could convince the prisoners, if they’re lowered in any time soon, to help dig?”

“No.” James' response was quick, with a finality that begged no question. I gave him a questioning look anyways. “The prisoners sent to die here are murderers, deserters, and traitors to the crown. They’re told if they can slay the beast as the last man standing, they’ll be set free with all their debts and crimes forgiven. These aren’t men that can be reasoned with, especially not on some hope-" He caught himself before finishing his sentence, but I understood what he’d meant. Especially not on some fools hope that there may be a chamber on the other side.

My stomach growled, reminding us both of how hungry we were. Glad for any distraction I stood up and began preparing some freeze-dried beef stew. I pulled out my tiny Esbit stove and set it beside the lamp using a match to light the fuel tab I placed inside it. I began to boil water while James regarded the setup with wonder. Once it was good and hot, I poured the water up to the fill line into the bag and waited for it to reconstitute. The meal fed two but by the time James realized that I’d already reconstituted the whole package, plated it, and set his portion in-front of him. “Eat.” It was a command. I sat back beside him but didn’t eat, instead fishing out a pouch of spices and herbs.

James began to laugh, long and hard enough that I had to shush him, worried that the voices would find me. When he finally remembered himself, he wiped away tears while saying, “You have a lot of surprises, Jazz. Do all of your people carry personal packets of spices with them or am I in the presence of a lady?” He at least began to eat after dashing some pepper onto his meal. “And to make such a meal out of a tiny packet by just adding water. Surely your world must not have lost all its magic then.”

His cheerfulness felt out of place here with the atmosphere, but I realized he was probably forcing it for my benefit again. It felt awkward, but I rolled with his change of subject. “No. But that’s because most people don’t need to. All restaurants provide spices for free and everyone owns plenty at home.”

“Is that so? Here spices are a luxury and are expensive enough that most wouldn’t travel with them.” He seemed to genuinely enjoy the food, that or he was putting on a front to relax the atmosphere. Either way it worked, and I found the tightness in my throat begin to ebb.

“Really? It was like that in our past too, but I could never really imagine such a time. The idea of having to eat bland food is kinda too daunting for me, I think I’d go mad.” I laughed a little. Given what we were facing now my fears of having to eat bland porridge seemed so mundane that it was hilarious. “At least the rations I’ve brought all taste pretty good.”

“Why do you have so many supplies Jazz?” he spoke between bites. I ate as I explained.

“In my world we camp as a pastime. What I’m doing here with this giant bag is called backpacking, and that many people don’t do since it means you have to leave behind most modern luxuries like flushing toilets and showers.” As I began to relax, the knot in my stomach uncoiled and I found it easier to eat. The stew tasted really good, which came as another shock. I didn’t realize how much comfort one could gain from eating something that reminds them of home.

“When I saw that packet in your bag, I didn’t realize it was food, and it certainly didn’t cross my mind that it contained two full meals. How does it work?” He said inspecting a spoonful before eating it.

“Did you go rummaging through my pack James?” I feigned outrage.

He gave me a sheepish grin, “I wouldn’t call it rummaging. No, I was perusing through seeing if you had anything to pass the time away.” I rolled my eyes. He held up my pack of cards, “And I found this.”

Now he fished a genuine laugh from me. “Well, we have machines that are able to extract all of the water out of food. Without water the food is much lighter and doesn’t spoil. All you need to do to reconstitute it is pour the recommended amount of water back in and wait. You don’t even have to pour warm water for it either, I just prefer my food hot.”

We both finished with a deep drink of our water. I’d need to refill the jug again; five litres wasn’t going to last the two of us long. James followed my eyes and seemed to read what I was thinking. “Don’t push yourself Jazz. It can wait till tomorrow, plus you’re still freezing cold as well.” If I was feeling alright, I might’ve fought him on it, but he was right, and I was tired.

“How much time do you think’s gone by?”

“The lamp ran out of power twice, so at least eight hours since you left.” I nodded in response as I continued to rub warmth into my body. “Show me a card game from your world,” James said handing me the deck, “And I’ll show you one from mine.” I eyed the cards in his hand. I was tired enough to considering sleeping and I felt run down from all the effort I’d expended digging and running today.

Still. I needed to play, so I took the deck, “Have you heard of blackjack?” His smile reached his eyes for the first time since we’d met. After explaining the rules of the game, we began playing.

“James, I don’t think I ever asked you about your family. What are they like?” I dealt out cards.

“Hit,” luck wasn’t on his side and he went over 21. “My family? The relationship between a lord and his family is a rather… Difficult subject.” He continued speaking as we played, using hand signals to indicate a hit or hold. “I could never be close with my brother, or his son as well, given how easily power corrupts and just how much he could gain from my untimely death. It was the same for my cousins as well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He gave me a look that said, ‘any more of that sympathetic look and I’ll stop talking’. I grinned, “Are you married?”

He paused for a moments reflection, “As a matter of fact yes, I was. Her name was Lidiya. It was an arranged marriage that benefitted both houses quite well. We control some of the most fertile lands in our kingdom and with that we feed not only my people but the city, and much of the King’s forces. Lidiya’s family controls a fleet of merchant ships as well as most of the bridges in our kingdom. It was a natural match.”

“Did it bother you, knowing you’d have to marry someone you didn’t choose?” I drew my eyebrows into a frown. If it were me, I’d burn the tyrant who dared decide my future. I didn’t choose to live, but I was determined to choose how I did it.

“No. It was my duty, I understood that from the day I was born.” Seeing my frown James continued, “Everyone was born with their own set of blessings. I and my own children would never want for food or pleasure. I had power and the foundations of my life set for me at birth, but with these advantages came duty. Responsibility. Sacrifice. No one has a perfect life, but they make do with what’s allotted to them, and I’d be grossly wrong to complain about the hand dealt to me.” He sounded like a father lecturing his child for a moment.

I nodded, “Could always be worse I suppose.” He smiled. “Do you have kids?”

He looked down at the cards displayed for a moment and his normally neutral eyes betrayed the sadness he felt. “Kayleigh and Thomas. Kayleigh is my heir… But I fear what plans my cousin has now that he’s gained the kings favour and sent me here.” Silence fell over the room as I realized James had a lot more riding on his survival than I did. Neither of us seemed in the mood to play anymore. “Look at me, the man accused by his wife of never divulging my worries, now laying them down on a young lady I’ve just met. You’ve even seen me cry,” He laughed awkwardly, “I’ll hold.”

We continued playing, “Nah, don’t spare me the details. We’re trapped in a dungeon together with a man-eating wolf capable of smashing through this rock like a knife through cake. Puts the world into perspective you know? I’ll keep digging that hole James. We’ll save Kayleigh.”

Our eyes met, “Ever the optimist, aren’t you?” He lost again and I reshuffled. “Kayleigh would’ve travelled to Eden if she got the news in time. She and I were quite alike,” Pride filled his features and he sat up straighter, “She was actually instrumental in planning and implementing the abolishment of slavery in our lands.”

“She sounds like she was all set to be your heir. I’m surprised though, in our world most lands were patriarchal so if the firstborn is a girl the heir would be named the first-born son instead.” We switched roles with James as dealer.

“Is that so? That must’ve been a more recent development as our histories depict your world as matriarchal like ours.” My surprise caused him to continue, “Believe it or not there used to be a lot of trade between the two worlds, up until the migration of course, but until then your realm was governed in a similar fashion to ours.”

I sighed frustrated, “I really should’ve paid more attention to history honestly.”

“It is only through the study of history that we may learn to progress.” James remarked, once again sounding like a parent, “All this being said, my son would refuse to be heir if it were to fall to him.”

“Oh yeah?” I gave him a questioning look. “Blackjack.”

“Yes. He had a thirst for adventure that was unquenchable, even with the best tutors. He’s already left home with a few friends as an adventurer of sorts,” the sigh James let out hinted at years of frustration on the subject, “and likely won’t hear of my death until months from now.”

“You’re not dead yet,” I said dryly. “And stop talking as if you’ll never see them again. You’re giving me more chills than the wolf.” I joked.

“Well, with the luck I’m showing now I’m surprised I’ve not already met such a fate.”

I shrugged and attempted to sound as cocky as I could muster, “Don’t worry, I’ve got enough luck for the both of us.” Fishing yet another smile from him.

“Alright, I give up,” He threw his hands in the air, “tomorrow I’ll show you a real game. One that I can win without luck.” I laughed as packed up the cards.

“Alright. Tomorrow.” We both readied ourselves for bed.

“You should sleep in the sleeping bag. We can’t have you catching a chill, and with what you put yourself through today you’ll most certainly get it if you don’t.” James hadn’t left the sleeping bag since I’d helped him there yesterday and he struggled to crawl off it now.

“This place gets cold James and I have more layers than you do. Like…” I felt extremely awkward saying this, but survival wise it made sense, so I did it anyways, “Honestly. It would be best if we shared it…” I looked away. “But don’t get any ideas about that. It’s just logical.”

It was quiet a moment before James spoke. “I’m a gentleman Jazz, and likely more than twice your age, you have nothing to fear from me that way.” Because he didn’t want to vocalize it, he indicated for me to join him on the sleeping bag and we opened it up with both of us attempting to fit in it. It couldn’t zip but we managed. It was an incredibly awkward night of rest but by the next ‘morning’ I felt worlds better than before.

It was safer to eat first before dunking myself in freezing water; food would fuel my body and help me keep warm. James was slow to wake up this morning and he groggily greeted me. “You ok James?” I kept my voice as neutral as possible knowing how concern seemed to bother him.

“Yeah, just a hard morning.” He didn’t exit the sleeping bag though, instead laying still with his eyes closed. His eyes were sunken in and his skin was glassy and pale.

“We need to change your bandage.” After waiting a while for James to respond I reached out to touch his face with the back of my palm; like I’d observed, his skin was hot and clammy.

“Yes?” he raised his brow, despite everything there was still a stern spark in his eyes.

“Your leg. We need to change the bandage.” After a moment he obliged and shifted his leg out of the sleeping bag. I set about removing the bandages as painlessly for him as possible, but it was difficult, especially once I peeled the soiled cloth from his wound. He moaned but I barely heard it. Despite my best efforts his leg was infected. The stench alone told me just how badly. James hadn’t noticed it yet, still to busy squirming in pain to sit up and look. The gauze I used to clean it came back slick with rot and that knot of desperation returned in my stomach. If we didn’t get him proper care, he was going to die.

“Its festering, isn’t it.” It wasn’t a question. James had raised his arm, resting it across his face while he bore the pain.

I couldn’t find the words to respond.

“Your magic bag wouldn’t happen to have medicine to treat this, would it?” A joking tone just twisted the knot in my stomach more. My pack was prepared for a lot of things, but it didn’t have any antibiotics; just an ointment, and there was no way it would suffice to treat this.

“No... We’ll get out, we’ll find a healer before this takes you.” The certainty in my voice surprised even me. Lifting his arm James regarded me but once again his face was impassive. We sat in silence for a moment more before I resumed cleaning the wound.

We were running low on gauze now; I’d have to go without dressing my hands again if we were to have enough for James. I didn’t voice this though, I knew he’d insist I use it for myself and I didn’t have the energy to fight him, not on decisions like this.

Finished I used the last of the water to make breakfast, this time reconstituted cheese omelet. It was horrible, much like my mood. Silence dominated in the room.

“You would like Kayleigh. She was the best thing I’ve done with my life-”

“Don’t-” I warned.

“I did right by her. Wasn’t always the best man, in-fact I did horrific things for the ‘greater good’ but she had this optimism, she had a solution-”

“Stop-” My voice cracked.

“That led even me to believe it would all work out in the end, that what I’d done wasn’t for naught. She wanted a better future for our kingdom and came to a brilliant idea, something that could wash away the mistakes of our past and lead us into the light-”

“Stop talking like you’re going to die!” A sob escaped my mouth and I covered it with my hand. James locked eyes with me.

“Jazz, when you meet her you must tell her she was right and she must continue the plan, for the sake of the kingdom, for the sake of humanity. Forgive the king, forgive Estry, and persevere.”

I shook my head tears spilling down my cheeks, “Tell her yourself.”

A kindness shone in his eyes, “Promise you will.”

“No!” Grabbing my things, I fled the camp. I slipped into the dark, speeding through the halls blindly. I tried to control my emotions, but the knot twisted more, and I felt bile rise in my throat. My fears were too strong, and my only meal of the day splattered onto the dusty stone floor. I collapsed against the opposite wall with my head between my knees crying. James was resigned to die, accepting of it even, but I couldn’t bear to let him. I’d couldn’t survive alone down here. Cursing myself for thinking such a selfish thing I shook my head to dispel it. He was resigned to die; I was resigned to save him.

The halls were silent as I snuck through them but that didn’t stop me from scanning every corner. I’d grown accustomed to how accurate my visualization was, but it was foolish to think I’d be able to predict something hiding in the dark. Despite this I kept it up. I took the same passage I’d ran through yesterday, half to prove to myself that I had a hold of my own sanity and half because it kept me the furthest away from where I knew the wolf to sleep. I was more comfortable in the dark today and trudged on at a good pace only tripping on a few stones I didn’t notice in time. The whispers did start when I walked past all the tiny cells, but I pointedly ignored them, as if to prove they didn’t scare me. When I reached the torture room, I filled it with light. My anxiety flared as I waited for something to round the bend and kill me, but gloriously I was alone again.

I set about the same task and was deftly in the water chucking tiny shovel fills of dirt over my shoulder. That sensation of dread never left me and the fact that I was making only a small dent in the wall only added fuel to the knot. I found myself on the verge of another panic attack. To make matters worse not only did I feel eyes on me; in the corner of my vision I kept seeing the small figure of a person floating. Each time I whipped around to get a better look it was gone. Currently I was bathed in light and while that was a reckless thing given the wolf would easily spot me, I felt safe against whatever was whispering in the dark.

As if it were a form of meditation I dug and dug until I collapsed. The shock of the ice water rising to my neck made me sputter, and it took longer than it should have for me to get back up. I swayed and stumbled on my way to my clothes, dropping near them and struggling on my back to pull them on. In my stupor I had forgotten the towel and now shivered in my newly dampened clothes.

I teetered to my feet and plunged myself into darkness again, waiting for my visualization to kick in. Before I could go home I needed to fill the jug; this was just as dangerous as digging had been now that I knew how close it brought me to the wolfs lair, but James and I were already weak and couldn’t risk dysentery from drinking corpse water. It was a necessary risk.

As I moved to leave the room, I heard a whisper just behind my shoulder. In the corner of my eye it was that same wispy form that plagued me while I was digging. It was supposed to disappear, just like every other time I’d turned to confront it but this time there stood a slender form, pale blue with no face and tendrils where its hair would be. It spoke in a language I both recognized but had never heard. It felt like I could understand it, but I didn’t know what it said. My every instinct screamed in a way I’d never experienced before. It swallowed my scream before any sound reached my ears. Its tendrils snapped towards me, wrapping around my neck. The contact left me feeling drained of any warmth or energy. The edges of my vision grew dark, time slowed, and my mind began to blank. My spirit was being pulled from my body. Distantly, I felt my hand begin to lift on its own accord and I pushed what little energy I had left into the palm like I’d always done before. The familiar blue light grew brighter, until I let it go. It flung towards the… Apparition? The spirit shrieked as blue glowing cracks spread across its body and it stopped draining me, though its tendrils still trapped me in place restricting my breathing as well. Where I’d felt empty before anger erupted. I could still feel the blue light, now inside the creature and I wanted it to hurt the thing. I needed it to hurt the thing. The shrieking grew louder, and its tendrils tried to crush my neck in response causing me to drop to my knees in pain. I wouldn’t give up. I was only that blue light, and I was pain. The creature disappeared and, in a rush, I felt my energy and warmth return.

I knelt there for a while, staring blankly where the apparition had been. I’m insane. Repeated in my head over and over again.

- -

I stood up, horribly stiff but alive, and scanned the room around me. I didn’t realize I was in the dark for a moment because I could see so well now, and everything wasn’t outlined in tones of blue. I could see details in the stone and the water and the path beneath me. Gnawing hunger lurched me to my feet. I kept moving. Anxiety had me strung like a tight rope and I frequently checked what was lurking down every hallway I passed, despite being in the dark.

I was fighting with myself over whether I could see, and every so often I’d have a lucid moment where I realized I was in fact insane to believe I could somehow see in the pitch black. But then I’d cycle to the opposite argument, how eerily accurate my visualization had become, coupled with the fact that I was now ‘seeing’ soul sucking ghosts. And It felt real. Perhaps I was hallucinating because I was forcing myself to visualize my surroundings leading my imagination or subconscious to… I shook my head. I was highly stressed, trapped in the dark pretending to see while wandering through the halls avoiding detection from a beast. That was enough to cause anyone to lose it.

The constant trickling of the source gave me some relief from the knot in my stomach and I lapped it up realizing now just how thirsty I was. While I filled the jug, I stared down the hall leading towards the wolf and the Black Room. The jug was only half full when I heard scraping sounds coming from that direction. The sound of metal on stone. I deliberated on whether the sounds were just my insanity or if I’d just heard the wolf moving around. I didn’t stay to find out.

Yelling erupted coming from the direction I was heading, and I clamped my hands over my ears. They’re not real. They’re not real. Once I was in camp, I could make up with James and the voices would stop. Before I knew it, I was running towards camp. Where the hall met with the one leading towards the trap room a figure turned the corner. He also appeared human but unlike the first hallucination that could see me too, he acted as blind as a bat. He was using the wall as a guide while he stumbled forward and he jumped upon hearing some sound behind him, though I couldn’t hear it myself. Warily I decided to walk past him, as quietly as possible, if I didn’t the only other way back was through the torture room and the collapsed tunnel. I needed to overcome these hallucinations otherwise they’d lead me to my death.

As I got closer, I could see more detail. It was an older man, balding, and in threadbare rags. I hugged the opposite wall attempting to walk past him like he didn’t exist but this close he could hear my foot falls and reached out, “Who’s there!” He grabbed my arm before I could react and lunged onto me grappling for my throat all the while raving incoherently. I screamed. It was a mistake, but it was too late. The sound echoed through the whole dungeon and if there was something down here that hadn’t heard us begin fighting, they knew now. We struggled against each other, but he was stronger despite his destitute appearance. I realized too late the scraping in the dark was the sound of the Black Room door opening, the distant yelling were the prisoners being sent to hell; and I’d lead myself to my death.

More yelling answered us from all around. There were dozens of prisoners down here from the sounds of it, each told to kill everything else. Approaching footfalls sent me into a panic. The man seemed to realize they were coming too and pushed me to the ground letting go.

I stared in mute horror as a mass of fur and muscle slam into him from the direction I was originally headed in. The werewolf was huge, standing as tall as a small horse, with matted black fur, yellow eyes, and a massive jaw around the neck of the bald prisoner. A quick flick of its head broke the man’s neck with a chilling crunch. I fumbled my flashlight on blinding the wolf just as it turned for me and took that moment to leap to my feet, shut off the light, and dash behind it down the hall it had just come. As I rounded the corner, it dropped the limp body and turned in a circle, sniffing the air. Thankfully the yelling and running of all the other prisoners caught its attention and I was lost in the crowd of commotion.

There were prisoners already in the grand hall room where my camp was hidden; they were travelling in a group, probably betting on killing everyone else before it became every man for himself. I slowed my approach against my instinct to run and snuck around them holding my breath all the while. Fortunately, they were preoccupied by the sounds of men screaming, and dying, in the direction I had just come and were deliberating amongst themselves what to do. No one seemed to have weapons either. Just lambs to slaughter. Blessedly James had seemed to notice the commotion and had shut off the light, hiding the entrance in the pitch black.

Moving as quietly as possible I lay down and began to crawl through the entrance. Midway through I felt cool metal rest against my throat and my breath caught. “James?” Had they already captured our camp?

“Gods,” James cursed, “I heard you scream and thought the worst.” He removed the small hatchet he’d fished off the outside of my pack from my neck and quietly helped me crawl in. We sat crouched in the dark listening for the group of men outside, terrified they’d perhaps heard our exchange. They probably moved off.

“What happened? Are you hurt?” I felt James begin grabbing at my arms, checking my back and stomach looking for any wet spots. “Why are you damp? What happened?” I moved past him to the back corner of the camp hoping it would be harder to hear us talk from there. Distantly another wretched scream erupted out of the dark before being quickly silenced. The men were still outside our camp and very close, but the scream sent them running.

“Did you hear that? They were close James. You don’t think they found us, did they?” My voice was hoarse from being choked.

“If they did, they would’ve climbed in to hide instead of run, we’re still safe here,” He pulled me close and began rubbing warmth back into my limbs and I realized now I was shivering hard, “What happened out there?” He kept his voice so calm despite all the men likely dying and being eaten out there.

“I…” I didn’t want to tell him I was losing my mind. I was seeing things, or was I? I couldn’t tell anymore. “I ran into one of them, I didn’t realize he was there, and he grabbed me. I was so shocked I screamed, and the werewolf was suddenly on us then, I managed to blind it with my flashlight-” James shushed me, hysteria was entering my voice and I was raising it uncontrollably. “Sorry, I’m- I’m fine, yeah. I got away and made it here.” Another scream matched with a lot of yelling erupted further away in the dungeon and I tensed, “They’re dying out there, James. It snapped that man’s neck like… Like a twig, with just a flick.” I was shaking my head, the scene replaying again and again in my head to the soundtrack of the sickening crunch I’d heard.

“Shh, don’t think of it. They’re bad men Jazz-”

“No matter how bad, no one deserves this James.” I snapped back. He was silent for some time.

“You don’t think there could be any crime that could warrant deserving this?” There was an odd tone in his voice that I couldn’t understand but it made my hair stand on end.

“No. I don’t.” It brought up thoughts of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer though, “I mean. There are men out there who are sick in the mind, sure, they kill people because they cannot feel remorse like normal people do. That being said no one gets what they deserve, and no one can put a price of what equivalent exchange is when it comes to pain.” It was an odd subject to get on but talking to him about just about anything right now was helping me keep my mind off all the dying men out there.

“No one gets what they deserve,” He chuckled darkly, “you’re quite worldly given your age Jazz.” I wished the light was on so I could see his expression. I couldn’t trust what I was seeing in the dark. Back home I could read anyone I met like an open book, but not him. Must be his noble upbringing.

“Yeah…” Silence filled the dungeon, “You think it killed everyone?”

“No, I think it killed its fill and is leaving the rest for later.” We both stared at the entrance.

“How am I going to dig now?” He was right, there were likely still prisoners left and I had to assume they’d kill me first instead of help. The wolf would likely be hunting now that it knew prey was plenty and the amount of noise I was able to get away with would surely get me killed now.

“We’ll just wait them out. We have supplies, and if we don’t move, we can conserve energy while they get picked off. Likely the wolf would’ve eaten its fill and stop hunting like before.”

I nodded, then realized he couldn’t see me, “Yeah, I just…” What he was saying was reasonable, but it meant we’d just turn our heads to all the people getting brutally killed and eaten right outside.

“Its us or them Jazz. We don’t have the luxury of assuming the best in people or trying to save everyone we don’t know.”