Wild

Chapter 4

I didn't know where I could hide, so I just ran away from the strange sounds following me. As I ran, I sensed a lot of people chasing after me. I didn't know what they wanted, but I felt a murderous intent.

I turned quickly at a corner of the temple, but I didn't notice the worn out hole in the ground so I fell into a dark hallway.

"Kya!!" I yelped in surprise as I fell, but thanks to Ralph's training, I landed on my feet without hurting myself.

Ralph...

My heart pained at the thought of him, and my eyes started watering.

I heard my pursuers shout something in a different language from above. My heartbeat quickened, than I wiped my tears and ran down the dark hall. I heard the people jump down into the hall and continue to chase after me, but I didn't dare look back. As I ran in the darkness, I sensed old traps in the ground. I quickly avoided the triggers and continued to run. After a minute or so, the pursuers stopped chasing me. I sighed in exhaustion and relief, then I stopped running.

It was pitch black. I couldn't see anything, and I didn't know where I was.

Am I going to die here...?

My eyes teared up again.

Why did this happen to me? ... Ralph too... he...

I tried to hold back a sob, but it was too much. My cries echoed in the hallway, but I couldn't control it. He was more than my friend, he was my brother. He deserved to die peacefully, but instead; he had to die like... that.

...If he died like that... then how is the village...?

No, I didn't want to think about it. I need to stop. I can never be independent like this. I need to grow up.

I forced my tears to stop. I wiped all my tears away.

I need to tell the village about Ralph's death before I can mourn over him.

But... what if the village is all gone?

I shook my head, throwing out all the bad thoughts. I can't think so negatively.

Determined, I started making my way deeper into the passage. I decided not to go back to the entrance, because those people may still be there.

I walked along the walls, keeping my senses alert. My footsteps echoed i the hallway.

I don't know how far I walked, but after a long moment, I saw a glowing light.

Light?

I rubbed my eyes and squinted. No... It was a ghost of a... rabbit?

The rabbit ghost blinked and stared at me. Slowly, I walked over to the ghost rabbit. When I was a few feet away from it, it hopped a few steps away from me. Then it turned back and stared at me again.

Does it want me to follow it...?

I decided to follow the rabbit since I didn't have another choice anyways. Twisting, turning, and avoiding traps through the hallway, I finally reached a lit hallway.

Because there was light now, the rabbit ghost disappeared. Without the rabbit, I felt lonely and unsafe, even in the light. I walked slowly, trying to sense for any traps in the ground.

Step, step, step.

My heartbeat quickened as I heard the footsteps echoed in the hallway. I hurriedly flattened myself to the wall as quickly as I could, trying not to make too much noise.

"Gosh, checking the hallway is so boring~" A male voice echoed throughout the walls.

"Yeah, but almost no one makes it here anyways~ Everyone dies by the traps." 

"There is still a chance." 

"Well even if they do make it here, they can't get in-- pffttt" The voice was cut off by a smack. 

"What was that for?!" 

"I smell someone..." 

My heartbeat quickened.

Was I found out?!

I wanted to run, but I was afraid. My legs were shaking tremendously. Then I thought about the people in my village. I need to survive to save them.

Using all my willpower, I willed myself to run away from the people.

Hearing my steps, one of the people started chasing after me. I quickly turned at a corner of the hallway, but suddenly I slammed into a masked person.

He grabbed me firmly by the shoulders as two other masked people came up to me with weapons...

No... I can't give up...

The last thing I saw before fainting was the masked people getting thrown back and glowing....

.......................................................

...Am I dead?

Ester.

...Who...

Ester... your struggle begins here. We all believe you can do this.

Do... what...?

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in the dark prison cell.

What??

I quickly tried to rush to the door, but I couldn't even reach it. My hands were handcuffed and connected with a chain to the wall.

...What... is this?