Deep inside [Nanbaka Fanfiction]

The secret

Darkness. That's all there is, all there ever was. This opacity, the opaque gloom. Just dark... Dark... Dark...

...Dark...

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Hajime's Pov

Why do I always have to work with this guy? I thought to myself angrily as I walked alongside the dog with my hands showed in my trousers pockets and a cigarette in my mouth.

We were assigned an inspection in the building 5, more precisely it's underground old cells. Nothing unusual, nothing to write in the report.

Sigh* what am I to write about? Warden's too scary to not write it at all.

"I too am not thrilled to work with you, but the wardens orders are orders I will complete... If only to make her proud~" Kenshirou reacted to my scowling with his own grumble. Particularly whispering the last part, of course he had to start blabbering about the warden. I rolled my eyes and breathed out the smoke.

As I looked around I saw a turn at the far end from the main hall.
Hm? I don't remember this hallway...
"Hey dog, is this where we entered?" To my question Kenshirou looked around, the hallway was long with no cells, right nor left. Dark and old, there was mold and wet spots on the walls. Must be a part of the old building before reconstruction. How else would the water get here?

"How is this still here?" "I do not know, let's go back the way we came. The warden must be waiting already." I followed Kenshirou's words, rather hesitantly but i turned to leave.

"It's so dark... dark... dark....."
Muttering echoed down the hall, quiet, raspy and breathless.

"What was that!?" Kenshirou turned around in alert. His pretty pink eye scanned the dark interior. "I don't know but it's coming from there" I pointed at the end of the hallway, into the glooms. "Enki?" "Can't be, he's on the other side." I shook my head, turning to look over my shoulder. "Let's check it out." I grumbled taking the first brave step. Nothing in there should be alive, let alone in a shape to defy.

The gloom swallowed us, thick like milk. I took out my lighter, flicking it on to be able to see at least past my nose. But once I did my cigarette fell to the floor with a light tap.

There at the end of the hallway was a cell, the bars already lost their shine and color. Nothing but rust holding them together. Within the cell was a figure... A man, all chained up. Blindfolded with a dog muzzle over his mouth. Its straps tightened into a knot at the back of his neck. He was sitting on his knees with his head held down. Chains wrapping around him like climbing plants would. Around his arms, tying them to his torso. Digging with their rusty loops into his skin and muscle. Attached to the celling, walls and floor. Preventing him to move... At all.

How long has he been here? Is he.. even still alive?

The lighter fell from my hand as I struggled to even breathe properly. As it hit the floor with a loud jingle he flinched. Both me and Kenshirou took a step back, but immediately stopped. The sliding sounds of our boots seemed too loud in the silence. The chains made sounds as he moved. Rolling his knees a bit as I straightened. Tilting his head to the side, turning his ear towards us, as if trying to listen. A few seconds passed in silence our breathing stuck in our throats. After a while he sighed pulling on the chains. Kenshirou locked eyes with me. His eye reflected multiple feelings at once. Confusion, alert and even fright. Without thinking my eyes mentioned for him to go. He took a step back, then another, then turned around and ran.