The Rift Walker

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Dead

Chapter 3

Kaelyn awoke to a huge explosion and backed quickly into the corner of her cell, shielding her head with her arms. The front of her cell had exploded outwards, raining dust and sending the metal bars striking into the stone walls.

Much like the way the fire had exploded outwards through the trees. But that had been a dream. This was real.

She didn't feel groggy despite having been drugged earlier. On the contrary, she felt alert and ready. Now was her chance to leave this damn place.

She still felt shaky from the dream; she had momentarily forgotten that it was simply a dream until the moment she woke. At the same moment the fire exploded, so had the door to her cell, waking her and reminding her of where she truly was. But then again, she could be feeling shaky because she was suffering from withdrawal symptoms . . .

She hadn't bothered to check exactly how her cell had blown apart; she didn't care. She just had to escape this damn place so she ran out, turned right and followed the low tunnel until she reached a set of stairs. Here, she slowed, taking care to move silently. 

She didn't know where her captives were or rather what had happened to them before she collapsed. She just knew she had to be careful. Despite her weakness from the lack of food and imprisonment, all her senses were heightened, watching and listening intently for any indication that she was not alone. She crept up the stairs slowly.

Her heart was pounding a frantic rhythm. She was expecting someone to find her and throw her back into captivity. Her foot brushed against some shards of broken glass from an overhead bulb. Pausing, she tore a small strip of material from her shirt and bent to pick up the shard, wrapping the cloth around a section to make a makeshift hilt. It was a very crude weapon but she wouldn't allow herself to be imprisoned again without a fight. Maybe she would be able to give the Other another good haircut.

Grimly, she continued climbing the stairs until she reached a wooden door. She pulled the handle but it didn't budge. She tried again to no avail. She slammed a fist against it then, seething. Fuck! She fought the urge to scream in anger and slammed her body against it, again and again but it was no use. 

The door was light and not very sturdy, but Kaelyn was feeling weak and tired. And now her shoulder ached too. She paced in desperation thinking of what she could do. She couldn't break the hinges or the lock, not without a tool. But then she remembered. Of course she had tools! The broken metal of her cage. Perfect.

She ran back, her boots slapping against the stone of the floor. She returned to her cell panting slightly and picked up the nearest metal bar. It was even flattened slightly at the end. Even better.
She returned to the wooden door using the metal like a crowbar. Slotting it into the gap beside the handle, the pushed until she heard a splintering noise and the lock broke. 

She winced slightly at the noise but when she tested the handle again and the door swung towards her, she smiled in relief.

Carefully, she slotted her crude knife into the side of her boot and gripped the metal bar tightly; glass could shatter. Metal not so easily and she needed anything that she could find.
She followed the hallway and turned left. Her heart seemed to stop momentarily when she spotted another door, a big heavy monstrosity, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she pulled the handle and it swung open. She walked on.

And almost screamed when she saw what lay in front of her.

A long trail of blood swept the length of the hallway, from the door. At the end of the trail lay the Giant's mangled body, pooled in blood and his own intestines.
Kaelyn ran and retched into a corner, shaking violently.