Black panther

Chapter 2

I froze in terror as I was plunged into darkness. "Hurry up!" The man called impatiently. The water seeped into my ragged trainers, soaking my feet.

The man pulled out a torch that illuminated every surface in the tunnel. Every brick gleamed with water and algae clung to the walls. In the middle of the tunnel, ran a stream of dirty water. I stood away from the edge of the water. "this way." He turned and walked along the side, away from the ladder. "Where are we going?"

"I can't answer that. Ask me something else."

I thought as I followed him. "What's your name?"

"Not going to do you any good but they call me slick jack."

It was a funny name. It sounded more like a nickname. "Are you going to kill me?"

He snorted. "What kind of question is that? And no I'm not going to kill you."

We reached a split in the path. He took the left turn. "A sensible question." I replied. "What do you want with me anyway."

"I don't want anything with you sweetheart. But black panther does." I froze. "Black panther. But I haven't done anything!" I declared.

He said nothing but turned to face a blocked off archway of brick. He pushed on one of the bricks, it scraped to the side to reveal a button. Jack pressed it then pulled his hand away. The brick slid back into place and the archway swung open on a door.

I expected to see more winding tunnels and wet walls. What I did not expect to see was a large room and when I say large I mean properly large and in the centre of the room hung a crystal chandelier. "Where did you get that?" I stared transfixed by the refracting light that glittered on the brick walls.

"Stole it." was jacks simple reply. I should of guessed.

The room was a lot different from the other tunnels. Unlike outside, the walls and floor were dry. Random objects clutters the room: arms chairs, sofas, chests of draws, boxes, fridges, bikes. Tables cluttered with watches, packs of cards, smaller boxes, ornaments. Practically everything: a rack of earrings, perfume bottles, sunglasses by the dozen. Everything under the sun, even a fully functional lava lamp, as well as a large pile of what appeared to be purses and wallets.

Among these items, people sat talking, playing, laughing. Their clothes were all dark: blues, purples, blacks and dark green. A few donned red but not many. None the less, all of their clothes looked clean and tidy.

As soon as we passed, heads turned to looks at us. People began to whisper an I suddenly felt very nervous. What was I doing? Some random man tells you to follow him into the sewers and you follow him? why on earth did you not run away.

Because he had a gun stupid. That's why and let's face it. If black panther wanted you to come into his lair, he would have taken you. Like he takes everything else.

A little voice in your head informed you.

Jack led us past the wallet pile, past a sofa full of people playing guitars and around a pile of wooden chairs. He stopped in front of a raised platform. On top of the platform there was a painted chair, with spiralling gold legs, plushy red velvet cushions and a long back. Almost like a throne. Sitting on top of the elaborate chair sat a man with a black suit, crimson tie, shiny shoes and slicked backed blonde hair. The most amazing thing about him were his eyes. Shock blue, they stared into my eyes with such intensity and he took I'm my figure coldly.

"Good luck!" jack shoved me forwards and I stumbled towards him.

"Err... hi?"

It was more of a question that a greeting.

"Do you know why you're here?" He asked.