Crumbled

Tunnel Vision

The pair stood above a hole in the forest floor.

       "I know where we are, Br-" Bramstone silenced Walz.

       "Do you want to get us caught?" Walz shook his head.

       "Didn't think so," Bram replied. He peered into the hole.

       "You do know how to close this thing back up, right?" Walz nodded. Bramstone slid his backpack off, and handed it to Walz.

       "Then you go last," he jumped into the crater, and was swallowed by the darkness. Walz swallowed harshly, staring at the darkness. It was all to similar to the hazy grey-black walls of the dungeon.

       With a final veiw of the forest, he leapt into the hole, and pulled the cover on behind him.

       The earthen walls dripped with condensation. The hall was filled with an eerie silence. The overbearing quiet was only broken when Bram would hit his head on the low ceiling, and consequently curse.

       Walz was having a difficult time containing his panic. The walls seemed to creep closer to him, the sounds in the hall reverberated behind his eyes. Walz paused, taking his water bottle from his bag, and sipping from it. The action did nothing for his fried nerves.

       Taking a deep breath, Walz paused, and put a hand against a wall to steady himself. Bad idea.

       "Hands on the wall, now!" Kei yelled, slamming the door to Walz's cell. Walz complied, placing his palms into the metal cuffs nailed to the wall. Kei locked them into place.

     "What information did you find about Tisha?" Kei growled, sliding a whip off of his belt. Walz flinched when the whip struck the floor.

       "I'm not asking again Walz." The tiniest sliver of resolve flared inside Walz's chest.

       "I don't know anything, just the basics, same as everyone else," Walz replied. It the same phrase he'd told Kei each time. It was also a complete lie.

       "I'll let you go if you just tell me what you know. Walz, now's not the time to be a hero," Kei countered, sliding the whip between his hands. Walz said nothing.

       "I didn't want to have to do this Walz,"

       "I told you already, I don't know anything!" He gasped. Kei sighed, like Walz had disappointed him. Before Walz could say anything else, fire began to flood his vision. It wasn't long before he blacked out.

       Walz say upright, his breath ragged. He focused on his surroundings. It appeared that he was back at his old hideout.

       But that couldn't be right, he was supposed to be in the tunnel with Bramstone. And if he was here, Bramstone would probably think him unworthy to continue the mission.

       Walz jumped up, eyes scanning the room. At first glance the room seemed completely deserted. At least, it felt that until Walz heard the voices.

       "-freezing up. Something from when he was with Kei. 'S why I had to drag him in here. Collapsed in the corridor," echoed Bram's voice. Another followed, this one distinctly female.

       "Damned boy. When I get my hands on that rat, he'll have hell to pay! Who does he think he is, taking over the Harrowers like that." Walz let out a breath. When the woman had started talking, Walz had thought she was talking about him.

       "Kei surely is a tyrant. But, his father lead the force before, and as the traditon goes 'father to son, all family run', a bunch of chickenshit in my opinion," Bramstone said hotly.

       "I can see why your father put you out for a Quest. What a kingdom it'd be under your reign!" The woman crowed. Walz could practically feel Bram's scowl.

       "Walz, you blasted idiot, come out here. There's a war council waiting for you," The woman demanded. A chorus of voices announced their agreement.

     Walz trudged across the earthen floors, unsure of what awaited him in the next room.