The Masked Hero (Beta story/ Director's Cut)

Chapter 10: Cave of Secrets

    Entering into the dark and damp mouth of the Cave of Secrets, Trey and Kuro start to feel the cold winds of the lower regions seep up into their bodies. They knew by the looks of the dishevelled and eroded walls and pits of the cavern that it would not be an easy trip through. But after leaving the Dark Forests' maze, the Holo-map was restored, and started to work again. Why they did not go around was because it would take two days to get around the cave, while it would take a minimum of half a day to go through the cave.

    Following the maps directions, the started to walk into the depths of the cave,but stopped after they realized they were incapable of seeing. Trey tried to create a flame in his hand, but due to the moisture and lack of oxygen in the room, he couldn't even make much more than a spark.

Trey: Crap, can't make a flame. What do we do?

Kuro: Hmm....... what if we used my electricity? I could shock the rocks and make the place light up.

    The rocks in the cave were known for their odd magnetic charge, and could store electric charges of all sort.

Trey: Well, why not try it?

Kuro: Alright then.

    Stepping forward, Kuro stared into the dense darkness of the inner cavern.Then, he tensed up his body, creating shocks of electricity around his body. After charging enough energy, he shot it out at a group of nearby rocks. In an instantaneous motion, the shot ricochet across the the walls, ceiling, and floor, hitting rocks in the process. It kept bouncing around, striking more surfaces each time it moved.Eventually, it was absorbed into a large rock, stopping it from going everywhere.

    The whole cave lit up like a lantern at midnight. The stones glowed a relaxing gold color, and the shocking electric charge made the reflection on the cave walls shift about, looking like a flame bouncing in the wind. The water on the ground increased the reflection, making the whole place light up brightly, and with the connection to the ground, the rocks transferred the light to other rocks, making a chain reaction.

Trey: Nice job! Now we just have to follow the map, and we'll be out of here in no time.

Kuro: You're saying that awfully confident-like.

Trey: I'm just getting more and more excited the closer we get to the castle.

Kuro: Well then, there's no time to waste! Let's go!

Trey: Right. Lead the way, O' Light one.

    They continued deeper into the catacomb-like form of the cave, the walls showing to have more form from erosion as they got deeper. The water levels also got higher as they progressed. But this did not bother Trey. No, what bothered him was the sound of something, someone,laughing. At first, it was almost unrecognizable, then it started to sound like water dropping from stalagmites, but now, it was incredibly audible, and was getting louder and louder by the minute.

Trey: Kuro, do you hear that?

Kuro: What?

Trey: That...... laughing.... do you hear it?

Kuro:.......... sounds like water to me. You sure your not just imagining things?

Trey: S-sorry. Your right. I think it's just the lack of oxygen getting to me. I'm fine.

    They continued to move forward, the laughing still audible to Trey, yet not to Kuro. But as they kept moving forward, Trey started to slowdown. Kuro started to take notice when he heard less and less walking coming from behind him.

Kuro: Hey, Trey. What's the matter?

Trey: Oh... nothing.... Just a bit.... tired.... is all....

Kuro: You sure? We can take a break if you want.

Trey: No, no..... really... I'm...... I'm fi...... fine.....

    Suddenly, Trey collapsed onto the ground, blacking out from the cave conditions. The last thing he heard before he blacked out completely was Kuro, shouting his name, and the calm, relaxing sound of dripping water.