Fingertips

encountering the caespes

Maria came to the bottom of the staircase and found herself behind a door with metal bars on. She swung it open silently an crept out, raising her bow. The singing was getting louder and she could make out a song with strange word in another language. it was almost like a chant.

she crept along the corridor, keeping low until she reached a small cell with steel bars. A figure was huddled in the corner singing. she rapped on the bars and the singing ceased. The person rolled over into the light and Maria let out a gasp. It was Malaika in just his jogging bottoms, his perfect abs a canvas of blue and purple bruises, his face was a mask of pain.

"Maria?" he choked.

"Mal!" She whispered in a concerned voice, pulling at the bars. She collapsed onto her knees and began to cry. She'd come this far hoping, praying that they hadn't layed a finger on him and she had come to find a mangled wreck of a person staring her in the face.

She imagined herself shrinking untill she was as small as a mouse. Then she realised she was a mouse. She snuck through the bars and up to Malaika, curling into his body. He slipped a hand under her and brought her up to his face, cuddling her against his swollen cheek. He stroked her head right between her ears and she shuddered. Malaika giggled. He set her down on the ground again and she grew to human from.

"OK, stay calm and watch this. trust me," she said.

She extended her hand and placed it on Malaika's abs, tracing her hand over the hard contours of his fit muscular body. His bruises vanished just as he was about to protest and he sat agape as she continued to heal his gorgeous body. then her hand made its way up his chest to his cheek which, with every caress, returned to its former beautiful state.

Then Malaika put his hand on Maria's and held her hand on his cheek then, placing a hand either side of her face, leant in a kissed her. Maria ran her fingers through Malaika's hair and kissed him back. Pulling away, Malaika began to blush. Maria curled into him, resting her head on his chest and he cradled her in his arms. After a long pause, Maria spoke.

"I'm so sorry. We're trapped here now. I tried so hard..." Maria said, breaking down again.

Malaika held her tighter and stroked her hair.

"We'll get out of this, I'm sure."

That's when they heard it. their key to freedom and their impending doom.