The Albionic Chronicles Part 1 Chapter 3: A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark

Resting in the shelter of the cart, Bilo and Sylvester contemplated their escape options. After careful deliberation, they decided to embark on a risky route – the sewers. While the subterranean passage offered a potential escape from the city's watchful eyes, it also presented its own set of perils. Beneath the cobblestone streets lurked not only nightmarish creatures but also the formidable forces of the government's specialized soldiers known as "Rat Catchers," tasked with keeping the horrors of the sewers at bay.

Aware of the danger, the duo recognized the need for an expert guide to navigate the treacherous underworld. Determined, they sought out the nearest pub, a place where whispers of the underground echoed alongside the clink of tankards and the hum of conversation. The air in the pub crackled with anticipation as Bilo and Sylvester entered, their eyes scanning the dimly lit interior for someone with the knowledge and expertise to guide them safely through the shadowy labyrinth beneath the city. The fate of their escape now rested in the hands of this elusive guide, who could turn the tide in their favor or lead them further into the depths of danger.

The barkeep, ever vigilant to the hushed transactions occurring in the corners of the pub, discreetly pointed to a corner where an orc sat, a rifle casually strapped over his shoulder. Bilo and Sylvester, recognizing the potential guide they sought, approached the orc. With an air of cautious camaraderie, they inquired about his name.

The orc, with a strange foreign accent, responded, "Name's Jenkins." The trio engaged in conversation, and as trust began to build, Jenkins shared his unconventional life story. Born across the pond in Mississippi, orphaned, and adopted by a pair of human military veterans in the far north of Albion, Jenkins found himself drawn to London when war erupted. To avoid the looming draft that his adoptive parents feared, he discovered solace in the depths of the sewers. In the subterranean labyrinth, he navigated the twists and turns, finding refuge beneath the city streets when uncertainty reigned above.

As the trio delved into the specifics of payment, Jenkins, a man of integrity, vehemently refused any compensation. Bilo and Sylvester, however, insisted, and after a brief negotiation, they presented him with the exceptional shotgun acquired from the ambassador. Jenkins, a seasoned individual with an acute eye for weapons, immediately recognized the firearm's exceptional quality. Though reluctant, he accepted the gift, acknowledging the gravity of their endeavour.

With the ambassador, still unconscious in tow, the three adventurers ventured into the streets, guided by Jenkins towards a specific manhole cover. Their destination lay hidden beneath the surface, a threshold to the murky and malodorous realm of the sewers. Working in tandem, they lifted the heavy cover, revealing the entrance to the subterranean labyrinth that would serve as their conduit to escape.

In single file, the trio descended into the dark, damp, and repugnant depths of the sewers. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay, and the dim glow of lantern light painted eerie shadows on the tunnel walls. With Jenkins leading the way, the echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the passages as they embarked on a journey into the unknown, where the secrets of the underworld awaited, and the path to freedom lay concealed in the hidden recesses of London's underbelly

As Bilo and Sylvester descended into the depths of the sewers, an overpowering stench assaulted their senses, causing both to feel nauseous immediately. The putrid odor that permeated the labyrinthine tunnels was a stark reminder of the hidden perils that lurked in the subterranean world. Jenkins, being an old hand at navigating these foul corridors, remained stoically unaffected, his resilience born from years spent traversing the noxious depths.