Beyond the Rabbit Hole

Dreadknight Samael

The survivors returned to the first room of the cave, their heads hung low from the hopeless situation. Hungry and exhausted, they each found a place to lie down, but sleep eluded them. Barbarossa's muffled groans of pain echoed in the otherwise silent cave as Valentina struggled to stop the bleeding after severing his wounded ear. The few remaining mercenaries ignored the scene, their minds drowning in the ever-growing dread.

Morgyn sat by himself beside the cave entrance. We can't get past the cave-in, no matter what we do. Even if the mercenaries had the energy to dig out a path, they'd most likely starve to death long before they ever reached the other side. He tucked his head into his hands and sighed. We don't know how deep a path we would need to make, either. We'll have to take a different path. . . but is that practical? None of us knows of any other way to safely get out of the crater. And even if we did escape, we'd still have to cross the dreadbridge, which means running from hordes. Would these people survive that? His eyes narrowed. Perhaps. . . if Alyss were here, she'd be able to break through the cave-in quickly. Would that be safe? What if that caused another cave-in? Morgyn pressed his fingertips against his forehead and heaved another, deeper sigh. He remembered what Alyss told him the night he finally woke up after being eaten by the ghoul. If I am immortal like Alyss is, could I distract the zombies to help the others escape? If I can't die and they can, then shouldn't I-

The image of the ghoul's gaping maw flashed in Morgyn's head, and he heard the final crunch before he lost consciousness—the final sting of pain shot through his body again. His body shivered at the thought, a cold sweat sliding down his trembling face. His erratic breath caught in his throat, and he gripped his arms tightly. Get out of my head! I swore that I would stand beside her, that I would be there to protect her should the time come when she needs it. And yet. . . and yet! The image flashed again in his head. Every time I think about it, I can't get that monster out of my head.

Morgyn's eyes widened. A sudden chill caressed his spine. A wave of the undulating blackness outside the cavern flooded in through the crevice, and all the survivors turned in the same direction. A subtle vibration coursed through the air, and space itself seemed to tremble.

"Did you feel that?" Bjurrin slowly rose to his feet. Sweat fell from his brow, and his breath grew erratic.

The other mercenaries slowly reached for their weapons.

"Don't stop," Barbarossa grunted as Valentina's shaking hands disrupted her prayer.

"I'm s-sorry, but I. . . I. . ." Fear clouded the young lunasent maiden's voice. ". . . can't stop shaking."

"Please calm yourself," Serana assured. "You are safe here."

"What was that?" Benard's grip on the hilt of his sheathed sword tightened.

"What are you lot talking about?" Charles grumbled.

"You didn't feel that?" Eleanor muttered. Her voice cracked, trembling with anxiety.

"Feel what?" Charles shrugged.

"That. . . feeling just now," Eleanor's body shook as she brought her child close to her chest and held him tight. "It was in the air. I don't know how else to describe it." Her voice was quiet, softened by fear.

Halic swallowed the lump in his throat and stood up from the rocky cave floor. "Should we go check it out?"

"If you want to leave the safety of the cave, go right ahead!" Charles snapped. "But I'm staying right here until you all figure out how you're getting me and my family out of this mess you led us into!"