A Lighter and a Flashlight

Rats in the Rafters

(See the bottom for information on updates (and an apology)) ~ <3

Seven's POV

Once we were safely out of the chefs reach, we took a breather - to the relaxing sound of a walking whale dying.

His screeching was unbearable, and as soon as we had caught our breath, we scrambled out of his sight; avoiding anymore ear-torture. We headed towards a small opening above some cages, that would hopefully allow us to sneakily find the key we needed for the door I had noticed.

From a higher angle, I could see that there was a locked door near the cabinet we had climbed. That was the door we needed to exit through.

We raced across the wooden beams, barely keeping our balance. On the other side of the rafters from us, there was a small loft, which held a bunch of cages full of - fish?

As we neared, rats that were eating the fish scrambled away, revealing rancid fish remains.

There were many fish, their heads poking through the bars of the cages they were in.

I could practically feel Six's grimace, it was disgusting; and incredibly unnecessary - I mean, how did these even get up here, the chefs couldn't possibly get their swollen bodies up here. So then why are there fish?

I sighed turning to Six, our eyes met, and with a sight, I boosted her up onto the top of a cage, following by climbing the disgusting, slimy grate. Needless to say, Six got off easy.

Of course, we ended up somewhere even more disgusting, the bathroom. It was all musty, and I avoided touching everything I could. The bathroom was large, but it starred the two twin toilets in the center, I was glad I couldn't see the seats.

They were conjoined, and larger than they should be, the bowls big enough to be a bathtub; not that anyone in their right mind would go in... The once-white porcelain was tainted a disgusting and indescribable color, the floor around the monstrosity shimmering suspiciously.

I steered Six clear of that.

I hurried us out of the bathroom, making sure the coast was clear outside of the putrid-smelling dungeon. We hurried down the hall in our usual, segmented fashion, taking cover under tables as we went; it wasn't much, but we had learned to take cover wherever we could.

As we passed, I noted the elevator shaft positioned in the middle of the passage, nodding to Six, she got on by back, our combined heights just enough to reach the lever. The door now open for a quick escape, we continued on our path to the other room.

The door creaked as we entered, painfully loud; the little light that had been let into the room revealing a low bed where we could take cover. We scrambled underneath, suppressing the sounds of our breathing.

I was pleasantly surprised, our escapade being met with silence.  Hearing a sigh, I turned my head, watching Six readjust her mask; she brought it down from her nose, I laughed as it wrinkled. She quickly pulled it back over the bridge of her nose, breathing a sigh of relief.

"It smells terrible out here, how can you stand it?!"

"I'm clearly tougher than you~" I smirked, she puffed out her cheeks in response, her eyes narrowing in frustration.

"I should've just eaten you when I had the chance."

CRACK!

Six gripped my jacket, clinging onto me for dear life, her fingers pulling the fabric tight.

We were startled my a large creak made by the bed, as if the frame was being crushed by a giant. We waited in silence, Six still maintaining her death-grip on me.