Forever or Never

Forever or Never: 37

The descent down into the world below the basement was truly something of a sudden transformation. The world above was always so busy, full of light, bustling with people; stalls would be set up, markets would be full, carriages would trundle the cobbled streets. Everyone had something to do, somewhere to go, yet down below. Down below there was nothing.

The light died with the shutting of the door which got battered open with the ice pick. It was claustrophobic in the dark, stale, dank, awful air was the only thing which could be breathed; and even then it caused them to cough. Considering what was lurking down here, the air wasn't exactly safe to breathe.

Yet with shielding their mouths and noses, the three of them darted along the narrow path way which was on either side of the long stretching tunnel. To the side in between the two paths was the flowing, sloshing gross and contaminated water of the sewer.

Mercy presumed Victor knew where he was going, he seemed like he knew as he carefully sprinted down the path, turning corners when they appeared, he looked this way and that before ushering them on.

She could hear Igor behind her, his pace was cautious yet he didn't let up following her. The darkness down here wasn't so absolute that they couldn't see each other's shadows. If the darkness was so heavy, they'd have been split up moments ago.

Almost bumping into Victor when he stopped he looked at them before pointing to a ladder which was attached to the brick wall before them. He seemed to lean back and look the way they had come, yet there was no sounds of footsteps. To be honest, even if anyone had managed to get into the house by now, they'd surely be too distracted by the stuck inspector to come after them straight away.

Honestly, Mercy's stomach churned at the idea – and the remembrance – of his hand being chewed up and churned about in the moving gears which were still functioning; they were probably still functioning now, even after chewing off the poor man's fingers.

Feeling a little queasy at the idea of that, she quickly grasped onto the ladder and steadied herself. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she looked to Igor, Victor had already scampered up and light had come flooding down from the small opening. "Are you okay?"

"No." Mercy replied while putting her foot on the bottom wrung. "I'm not well...I don't think." She said while pulling herself. It took quite a bit of effort really. Everything was slowly catching up with her, and being in the stale darkness with very little air was doing her very little good.

She needed air, if she didn't soon get air she was sure she was going to just keel over and faint. That was honestly the last thing anyone wanted, her more so. Escaping was hard enough as it was, let alone with her dead weight. But then, she couldn't help but muse, would they even continue to find a way to leave and escape the authorities with her? How'd they even do that?

"Come on," Mercy looked up at the hand which was offered to her, she had spaced out so much she hadn't realised she had got to the end of the ladder. She reached up and clasped onto Victor's hand, he pulled her up and out and placed his other hand on her shoulder to steady her. He frowned, she looked worse than she did earlier. Looking over the road, he could vaguely see his home still being battered against. They had come out in a nearby alley, not so near that if one of the police looked over they'd be able to see them, but near enough that they could spy what was happening.

He looked down as Igor pulled himself up, making sure Mercy was stable he nodded forwards and they started off again; Mercy a little slower than them thanks to the fact that she had to hold her skirt up to actually run...that and she still looked fit to falling over somewhere.

They didn't have to run for very long though before a black carriage appeared in their path, the door was already open and Victor was the first to leap into the plush red upholstered mode of transport. Mercy skipped up the steps and landed in the seat beside him as she reach forwards and pulled Igor in as he slammed the door behind himself.