Masks Of Destiny: Lost and Found

Chapter 2: Mask of Shielding

Sounds of a collapsing ceiling grew louder as Toru fell from his stony ride. CRASH! Dust clouds formed around Toru as he hit the floor with a loud THUMP. Painfully climbing to his feet, Toru wiped the dust from his shoulders and legs.
"Today just isn't my day *cough*"
In front of him was nothing but pitch black and the echoes of his dramatic fall. As his eyes began to adjust to his surroundings, Toru noticed a shiny object in the ground.
"hm?"
Using only his hands, Toru began digging for the object. Eventually a dirt covered mask became visible. A suprised expression came on his face.
"A mask? Down here? It doesn't look that old...."
Pulling the mask out of the dirt, Toru carefully studied it. The mask had two curved eyeholes with several open gaps to the sides of it. Wiping some dirt off the mask, Toru could see his own reflection in it. He could also see a shadowy creature right behind him. Turning behind him, two large claws lashed at him, knocking Toru away.
The creature had the shape of a scorpion with neon orange parts.
"*cough cough* A scorpion!"
Scrambling to his feet, Toru picked up the mask and ran, with the giant scorpion in hot pursuit.
He didn't know where he was going and he didn't care, he just needed to run. Thwank! He had just ran into a wall. Struggling to stand up straight, Toru tried his best to lose the beast in the many dark tunnels but only could hear the arachnid getting closer and closer. Eventually, he was able to escape the maze of tunnels only to find himself near the end of a cliff. Tightening his grip on the mask, he frantically searched for an exit but only found another end of a cliff.
"It's too far away for me to jump..."
The sounds of the scorpion drew nearer. The only thing connecting the two cliffs was a stone wall. Seeing no other option, Toru took several steps back, tightening his grip on the mask once again, and charged towards the side of the wall. Each step he took on the wall was carefully timed and positioned. Time seemed to slow in this moment of adrenaline, as once he had pushed himself off the wall, he performed a roll that landed several feet away from where he stopped wall running! Taking a few quick glances from where he was and at the mask, Toru stood up and continued to run.