Release - Septiplier

Chapter Thirty

"Fuck, how do I get out of here?" I asked Chica, who just wagged her tail innocently. I sighed and looked at the lantern, wondering if I should turn it off. There was no telling if I'd get more oil nor did I know when they'd be back - unless they decided to leave me here and let me die. I couldn't give up though, I have to get back to Jack. He has no idea what's going on and I doubt I'd be as lucky as Felix was when he was in this situation.

I went over to the lantern and was about to turn it off, when I noticed a peculiar shape in the corner by the mattress. I instead picked up the lantern and went closer to it to get a better look, Chica following closely behind me. I moved the mattress and observed the crevasses on the wall that made out some rectangular shape that was covered in dirt that stuck to it. I noticed a rusty, spherical handle protruding out of it and realized it was a door. I ran my hand over the door, pushing some of the dirt and dust away from the edges of it, setting the lantern down next to me on the ground.

"Where the hell am I?" I asked myself, wondering what kind of dingy hole I was put in that would have a door like this. I twisted the handle and propped the door open, giving it a harsh yank to pop it further open as it was stuck between the dirt holding it in place. I peered in the pitch-black in front of me, picking the lantern up again and wondering if I should step inside. I decided to check it out and started to head in, Chica following me. "No, Chica. Stay. I'll be back."

She whined a bit in response, but sat down on the dirt floor. I turned my attention back to the mystery in front of me and stepped inside, wondering where it lead to and if this was safe. I couldn't die for Jack's sake, he needs me right now and the last thing I want to do is end up getting myself killed somehow. There's no telling what could be beyond this door and apart of me didn't want to find out, but I continued stepping through, the lantern showing me it seemed to be some sort of tunnel, dirt still surrounding me.

The air was getting warmer and harder to breath as I continued to stroll through, my lungs beginning to feel tight. I knew there wasn't much air traveling through here and guessed that meant the tunnel was long, but I continued to press forward, hoping Eli and Dark didn't show up and notice the door was wide open and I was missing. Chica would probably start barking if she heard someone approaching, so I wasn't entirely paranoid about them at the moment. I kept Jack in mind to help me continue through the tunnel, finding it more difficult to breath as I continued, but it seemed to be getting more consistent, which must be a good sign.

I felt claustrophobic and wanted to turn around, but this could be an escape. I wondered if Dark and Eli knew the door was there, if so, this could end very horribly for me. I walked a bit faster, wanting to get to the end of this and noticed a ray of light in the distance. I started to jog a bit towards it and my speed increased, my eyes not able to see where it was coming from until I was standing directly beneath it. It was a grate in the ceiling of the tunnel that went much further. I squinted my eyes, trying to make out what could be above me and heard a familiar voice in the near distance.

"Mark is still at the vet? Is Chica okay?" Jack's worried voice came to me and my heart thudded harshly. I wanted to reach out and tell him I've been abducted, but my words wouldn't come. I tried to speak, but only air came out of my mouth. Tears came into my eyes as I heard footsteps approaching, leaves crunching under them. I caught sight of Jack's green hair, but couldn't see any more of him. It seemed him, Eli, and Dark were out for a walk.

"I'm not sure," Eli sighed and I bit my bottom lip harshly, wanting to let out the anger that my vocals wouldn't allow me to spew. I didn't know why my voice wasn't working, but I couldn't say anything.

"I miss him," He admitted and Eli chuckled, my heart clenching.

"He hasn't been gone for that long," He reminded Jack, who giggled a bit.

"I know, but I'm not used to being away from him for this long. We haven't been apart for more than a few hours since we lived out here."

"Wasn't that how it was with us back in the day?" Eli chuckled and I felt myself growing jealous at the mention of their dead relationship. "We would spend as much time as possible together."

"But then you thought I was cheating on you because I wasn't spending that much time with you anymore," Jack recalled and I was grateful for his ability to push Eli away, while he was so clearly trying to rekindle something between them.

"How can you like him?" He suddenly asked, the footsteps stopping not too far away from the bars above me. If it was windy out, I was certain I'd be able to catch a whiff of Jack's scent.

"Who?"

"Mark!" Eli snapped a bit, then sighing. "I don't want to sound harsh, but he's a real asshole. He killed me for fucks sake! He buried your friend alive, tortured me, killed some of your other boyfriends, and practically cornered you into being with him. Do you have Stockholm Syndrome or something? I just don't understand how you could be with a monster like him."

"He's not a monster, Eli, he just had a monster in him who happens to now be in you," Jack reminded him, but I knew Eli wasn't going to give in that quickly. For a moment, I wondered why Dark hadn't said anything, but I realized they were trying to get to Jack, so that meant trying to charm him; Eli had a better chance at that than some almost-demon.

"What about before you knew about Dark? How did you love him then? It doesn't make any sense to me."

"Because I loved who Mark was before it was all happening. I figured something in his head must not be screwed on right anymore and that deep down, he was still the same goofball I've loved and admired for a long time," Jack admitted and paused for a moment. "I was right, you know. If I know anything about anyone, it's Mark. I don't know where he is right now, I don't know if you had anything to do with it, but I know this isn't like him. There's something you're hiding and I'm not that gullible, innocent child I used to be."

"I didn't do anything to him. Chica was hit by a car and Mark had to take her in-"

"He would've called me or told you to take her. I know him, he wouldn't want you to be with me alone. I'm going to figure out what you did, while trying not to freak out. Remember that he's the love of my life - he's my soulmate. I will never forgive you if you hurt him," Jack threatened. I had to admit, he was right. I wouldn't leave Jack alone with Eli or Dark, even for Chica, as horrible as that may sound. I'd find an alternative. "Mark's the only one I'll ever want or love-"

"Shut up!" Eli snapped and I heard something that seemed to be a slap and I held my breath, tears filling my eyes. "Just shut up."

"No! Because you're going to keep doing that shit! Get it through your head, Eli, you and I are not meant to-" He was interrupted with another smack and I wanted to break my way out and kill Eli all over again. He hit my Jack - again. "Stop hurting me!"

"Fuck," Eli cursed. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I'm going back to the cabin. You either get Mark and bring him back here or don't come back at all."

"I don't know where he is!" Eli swore, though I obviously knew that was a blatant lie.

"Prove he's at the vet then. Go there, take a picture, show me, and we'll talk," Jack said, a single pair of footsteps trotting away on the crunchy leaves.

"Fuck," Eli cursed again and started heading the opposite direction - where he was holding me.