Victor and the Seven Circles of Darkness

Chapter 12 - In the Dungeon

"We killed the man!" blurted Victor, somewhat delayed in his reaction after realizing the violent effect of entering the tunnel late.

"There's nothing we can do, Victor," said Master Tyrus. His disposition was firm, with a timber of authority, of no regret, of someone who was used of seeing people killed or executed. "None of us knew the consequence of escaping the circle until it happened today. I think that man hasn't learned the lesson this circle is trying to imply at him."

"I am very aware of that, Master Tyrus. My concern is ... what if we'll get punished because of that? "

"I'll take responsibility. I'm your guardian in this quest, and I'm the one who initiated the rescue. It should be me, not any of you."

"I won't allow you either, Master Tyrus. We're all in this together. We came here together, we go home together. No one will be punished in this circle."

"This is not the proper time to be so sentimental, Victor. Let's face the consequence of our action when the situation calls us to do so. But right now, we're still here on the loose, so let's focus on the goal—we have a man to rescue down there."

"Oh c'mon! What's the big deal anyway?" Trobit interrupted. "That big man is already dead, so how could we kill him again?" He leaned hard against the stone wall and a secret door sprang open. He's outbalanced and tumbled down. The door closed and he's out of sight. It happened so fast that neither Master Tyrus nor Victor could react to it.

"A secret passage to the circle," said Master Tyrus while he examined the wall. "We need to follow Trobit. We can't leave him alone down there." He stood exactly where Trobit positioned earlier. "Stand behind me, Victor, and you Bogle, prepare to fly in once the door opens. At the count of three, I'll push the door and we jump. Get ready with your things and Trobit's, and so with the rooster."

Victor nodded and positioned to jump.

Master Tyrus pushed the wall hard and the secret door flapped open. He threw the backpacks and the rooster cage inside and jumped in. Victor followed fast behind him and slid down into a sloppy, dark hole.

Victor thought they might end up in this place where people go after the sound of the gong called them . He just hoped it won't be inside the circle itself. He heard Master Tyrus thudding ahead of him and the rooster's shrill cry. The banging sound of the iron cage worried him, it might disturb the people resting underground and create chaos. 

It's not dark below as there were torchlights on the walls. It appeared that they're in a dungeon. Trobit was already up to his feet and searching the area, following the aligned torchlight leading to another dungeon. Master Tyrus was lying a meter away from him and covered with cobwebs and dust.  

"So, what have you found here," Victor asked Trobit while shaking off the dust on his head and shoulders.

"Nothing except that I hear sounds ... like people moaning, but I don't know where this sound come from," answered Trobit. There's no manifestation of fear on his face while being alone in the area.

"I hear it, too," said Bogle.

"We might be near to where the people are resting," said Master Tyrus, conveying precaution in his voice. He came near the stone wall and listened. "This way. Follow me."

The sound got even clearer and louder as they moved forward. He signaled them to stop. "They shouldn't see us here. We don't know how these people would react if they see us. They might ambush us alive. Bogle, go and check what these people are doing. We'll wait for you here. Don't get caught."

Bogle followed the moaning sound until he reached a huge dungeon, far long that he couldn't see the end of it. He entered by foot so as not attract attention. He thought they could spot him easily in the air.

It's the sleeping place of the people punished in the circle of superbia. Everyone occupied a wooden bed to rest. No more strength left for these people to wipe their own sweat and blood. Bogle observed quietly in a corner until everyone fell asleep. He flew back to the companions.

"So?" Victor asked, very curious.

"The people are asleep. It's safe to go there now. I think they will only wake up on the upcoming sound of the gong."

"All right, let's go. Mind your steps and avoid making unnecessary sound," said Master Tyrus.

The moaning sound of pain and exhaustion eventually became exorbitant snoring and squawking. The dungeon stretched long and wide and thousands of wooden beds aligned parallel to each other. The air was warm and soothing, which was mixed with the smell of sweat and bodies denied of daily bath.

Victor's mind stirred up with questions as these people were already dead.  They're supposed to be just spirits or souls, but how come they still possess the same flesh and blood as when they're alive? They're breathing and bleeding, hurt and tired. Was this an extension of their earthly lives to compensate with the bad morals and unacceptable actions and behavior they've done in their own lives and in the lives of their fellow humans?

He approached a bed occupied by an old woman. He examined her from head to toe and he noticed that the body began recuperating. The wounds on her knees slowly disappearing. He checked the others and the same thing happened to their wounded bodies.  

"It's like the wooden beds have healing powers," he whispered. "These people don't eat and drink, but through rest and sleep on the wooden beds, they regain strength and get cured." He thought it's nonsense that these people were punished during the day and were healed during the night.

"I think it will take us centuries before we find Rower here," whispered Trobit. "So many of them to search for one. They'll see us here when the gong strikes in the morning."

"Bogle could do it faster," said Master Tyrus. He signaled Bogle to come closer to him and instructed him to do the search. It's really a smart choice for Victor to have a bird with them.

Bogle's eyes focused on peoples' feet. As most of them had shoes on, it's easier for him to spot someone without one. A few minutes later, he spotted a look-alike description of Rower. He called his companions to come over. He had flown too far and it took a little while for them to catch up.

Victor examined the man carefully. His white tee-shirt had turned gray and his brown cotton pants still folded up to his knees. His skin shining with grease and apparently had lost weight as his cheekbones were more prominent than before. "It's Rower—I think," he said, his face though showed some expressions of doubt still.

"Try to wake him up. Let's see if he knows you," said Trobit.

"Don't. It's a bad idea," said Master Tyrus.

"Why not?"

"See, through this wooden bed, his body recuperates. If we wake him up now, he'll never get healed completely and he'll be very tired, weak, and in pain."

"So, what's your suggestion now, Master Tyrus?" said Victor.

"Let him sleep until the gong wakes him up. Meanwhile, we'll go somewhere to rest where people won't see us when they wake up. We need to sleep, too, and you Bogle, you stay here and keep an eye on Rower."

"What if Rower burn to ashes if he refused to return to the circle?"

"He would feel it himself and he knows what to do," said Master Tyrus. "If that will happen, we have no choice but wait and find other ways to pull him out of here. Now let's go back to where we started and rest there. Bogle, you know where to find us, show Rower the way when he wakes up."

"Yes, sir."

And so, time went by quietly and everyone got a good night sleep.