Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Arceus's Wish | (Rebooted on Youtube!)

E L E V E N

There was chanting. There were footsteps. There were  garbled cheers.

There were strange, indiscernible sounds that Kyle could, by no means, understand.

Yet he did not dare open his eyes: his head still hurt, and he feared what he might encounter should he decide to truly awaken.

Then, there was a voice. One that Kyle somehow recognized... 

"Buenas tardes. ¿Has dormido bien?"

Kyle said nothing, but was able to tell that whoever this was, they were speaking... Spanish. He decided he'd best not question it, for his own sake.

"No puedes engañarme, sé que estás despierto."

You can't fool me. I know you're awake, the voice chuckled, and Kyle's seemingly useless high school Spanish course suddenly served some purpose for the first time in his life.

The voice continued on in Spanish, "You can speak my language, correct? Or should I say, you can understand it. I speak this way so that you and only you may understand. They are listening to us, chico. And watching us."

Kyle gulped, not daring to ask who they were, where they were or who was watching them.

"Can you feel anything? Can you tell what's around you?"

Kyle decided to focus on the space around him, and although his sense of direction and position still felt wobbly, he was able to tell his ankles and wrists were tied up to something. He heard footsteps all around him... and eventually, finally felt his sagging ears and tail, and realized he was being carried upside-down.

He nodded slowly.

"Ah, good," the voice continued, still in Spanish, "I knew you were at least conscious. Now, I am the only one here whom you may trust. I know it might be hard to believe, what with me just telling you this the way I am, but trust me. Your friends aren't here for a good reason -- especially not you -- and I'm going to get you all safely out of here if you listen carefully to what I tell you."

Kyle obediently nodded once more. He had no choice.

"Good... Now, soon you will be put back down. I will have to go but will be back soon. Take some time to become more familiar with your surroundings... you are being carried into a Mystery Dungeon."

There was a thud, and Kyle felt himself being swayed. Startled, he opened his eyes and took in a mass of green. Then, he shut them again, in fear.

"Do you know what a Mystery Dungeon is, chico? These sorts of places exist all around. They are strange locations which, once entered, will change paths and rooms on its own. Only one central path remains constant... which is the only way to enter or exit a Dungeon."

Kyle gulped. He'd never heard of such an elusive kind of place before. What happens now? he thought. Am I going to be thrown into that place and never come out? How about my friends? And how is this... guy going to break us out?

"Ah, no tenemos tiempo. Do you think you can stay safe for a while without me? I must do something, and will be back as soon as I can, just find the uneven tile and good luck, chico. Don't try anything rash."

***

Minutes passed, and no sign of the Spanish-speaking stranger. Kyle had begun to worry: they were the only one he'd felt at least mildly safe around, the only one he'd even seen and yet felt he could -- or rather, had to --trust.