Smolder

Chapter 2

Vivi and Russell ducked as a soldier swung his blade over their heads. It must've caught someone. Droplets of blood splattered across them. They didn't stick around to hear the body hit the ground.

It was a massacre. Everybody ran around. The soldiers swung their blade at people. People who are there own fathers, mothers, siblings and children. The swung, and they pushed and they shoved. It seemed less for killing and more for herding.

A great flash of red illuminated the castle. Scarlet flames shot out of the crystalline dome of the Royal garden. The heat could be felt from down in the palace gates.

Everyone was running again. Russell never let go of Vivi's hand. He took chance of the confusion and pulled both of them to a side.

He spotted the blacksmith shop he worked in . It had an underground furnace. It should be cold now. They can hide there. And the situation didn't look like there is the slightest chance of the furnace being lit, which was a lengthy process to say the least.

Russell always Carries a set of the keys with himself. The owner, Gloir, had trusted him with them after two years of service. He adored Russell. No way he couldn't have. Few could run around with heavy iron tools like he did. He promised to let Russell make his first sword this week.

Did Gloir get away?

The lock opened in a single twist of the key. The door swang, making a little noise with the bell tied overhead. Russell got in first, pulled Vivi in and closed the door behind. He locked it from inside.

The room had two chimneys. One for the workshop, one for the furnace. The one for the workshop let a bit of sunlight into the room. It illuminated the dust hanging in the dry, smokey air. The red brick reflected the light and the room was washed a dull maroon. The knives and swords brilliantly reflected that little light and in the dark room; they looked smeared with blood. Metal clattered and struck outside.

The furnace was on the other side of the room. Russell walked to it and opened the door. Inside was pitch black. Not because it was deep, but because it was full of coal.

Russell jumped in feet first. The coal powdered under his feet, giving him a soft landing. He twisted and turned to get into a uncomfortable sitting position.

Vivi got a much softer landing. She landed shoulder-first on Russell's stomach . A Yelp escaped him.

"Sorry!" Vivi whispered.

"Yeah,yeah, just don't move," Russell adjusted his position to hold Vivi's weight.

All that movement caused quiet a dust cloud to form in the pit. In the workshop, or walking in the street, dust clouds are nothing other than a nuisance. But down here, they can suffocate you.

Also this pit has coal gas in it.

Russell figured they'd have a maximum till noon before they fell sick.

He was off by a huge margin.

The dizziness hit in a few moments, along with a slow and drunk kind of sleepiness. Russell tried to keep his head straight. Vivi's head was nodding vigorously. Apparently she felt it too. In a few moments the darkness in front of Russell's eyes was filled with stars and moons, the silence around him with loud ringing.

It was through that loud ringing that Russell heard the door up there slam open. Vivi tensed up in front him.

The sound of boots echoed through the empty shop like hammers on iron. They were cautious, often stopping, perhaps to check for people. The occasional clinking of metal indicated it was no half done search.