“In the name of Christ is everybody alright?!” A voice shouted.

"Fuck am I tripping in class?!”

“What happened to my chair?”

“Why is it so dark all of a sudden?”

---

Everybody panicked. Just moments ago we were in class, learning our usual Monday Language & Literature. But now, everything was dark. Brandon tried to make sense of everything but found himself lost in a sea of questions.

The ominous echoes of the cave, the water dripping over his head, and the faint chittering of something small. Probably a rat or something. There’s no doubt about it. He's in a cave.

—But why the fuck was he in a cave?

Click!

“Oh, sorry there Hardey.” For a second there, the sun seemed to dawn on his face. That’s before he realized, it was actually Mr.Abe’s Iphone that dawned on his face.

"Mr.Abe! What happenning? Why is it so dark all of a sudden?" His friend, Garry was the first to ask.

"Frankly, I don't know any more than you do, Garry." Mr.Abe looked around, still bewildered.

"How could you not know?! Our parents paid you to take care of us." Cassimir ranted. But deep down, he probably already knew that his rants weren't going to get him anywhere.

"Well, I still don't know where we are, Cassimir." Mr.Abe said, trying to assess the situation. “Now, can we just do a little class count to see if everyone’s here?”

“One.”

“T—Two.”

“Three.”

“Four.”

---

As soon as the seventeenth student finished her count, Mr.Abe’s brows wrinkled. “Are we missing two students?” No one answered. “Did everyone count already?”

“Yes, Mr.Abe, everybody did their count.” Susan, the class president assured Mr.Abe. Even in the dark, she looked pretty.

“Then, we really are missing two people.” Mr.Abe paused before raising his flashlight to make sure.

“…”

“I think it’s Brian.” Someone from the back said.

“Ok, at least we know. What about the other one?” Again, no one answered.

Looking around, he couldn’t see the walls or even the ceiling. The only thing he could see was the mossy, overgrown floor. He also saw that he had stepped on something smelly.

“Eww, shit...” It looks like he stepped on shit. A big one too.

“I’m here, sir!” A high-pitched voice suddenly emerged from the back. Oh, it was Cindy. Damn, clutz. “Eighteen!”

Mr.Abe sighed, “That’s one out of the way.” 

Now that he thought about it since Mr.Abe had collected their phones earlier, none of them had anything close to a flashlight. That means, the only source of light they had was Mr.Abe's iPhone

Even with Mr.Abe’s flashlight— Wait, what the fuck is that?

“Uh Mr.Abe, what’s that behind you?” Brandon said.

“Huh?” Looking confused, he turned his head around.

CHOMP!

Something latched unto Mr.Abe’s face. It had pearly white eyes, and brown skin as dirty as the soil. It looked like a small midget but was far uglier to be called human. The creature’s yellow fangs sunk deeper into his skull— with a crunch— Its hands hugging Mr.Abe's face.

His blood began dripping all over his uniform and down to the mossy overgrowns. Ohm, I get it, we're in this TV show thing, right?

We could hear him scream— his muffled screams— but we did nothing. All of us were paralyzed in the moment, staring befuddled at what just happened.

And that’s when another one joined in… and another… and another…

All until what we saw of Mr.Abe, was practically hidden by the sheer number of those brown freaks, just clawing the flesh with their small little hands.

I gasped for air, trying to tell myself that it's going to be ok when actually, it's not.

“AAAAAAAHHHH!!!” Kayl screamed, and suddenly they all stopped eating.

They looked at her. With a synchronized gasp, we looked at her. For a moment, it was as if we all knew what would happen to her.

“RUN!!!” Someone shouted.

“I—I DON’T WANT TO DIE!!!”

“SAVE ME!!!”

---

Brandon ran as though his life depended on it, and so did the others. They ran in all directions. He could hear Cassimir tripping to the ground, groaning as he fell. He was screaming for help all the way until he stopped. The monsters laughed maniacally in unison. Hooting at their feast.

Another one even strugg— wait was that Susan?! Shit!

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" She screamed.

No. Fuck. No more. Please don’t. He didn’t want to hear any of that anymore.

“No more. Please, no more.…” Brandon whimpered. Thinking that he was a coward for leaving Susan behind.

Trying to drown all that painful noise before suddenly falling. His body rolled down a slope into a hole until he eventually hit the floor. All of a sudden, his head was forcefully grabbed and his mouth sealed shut.

Just as he thought that he was going to die, he heard someone's voice that washed him with relief.

“Shut up! Shut. Up. If you don't stop crying, I swear. If those THINGS don't kill you. I. Fucking. Will.” He threatened intensely as his words spat on Brandon’s ear. "I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?" 

Brandon’s hands held tightly on the man’s elbow as he choked him. He couldn’t breathe. He nodded as soon as he got what the guy was trying to say.

“Good. That’s good.” He sighed. The strength of his choke weakened, allowing him to breathe.

“I’m going to let go now, alright?”

Brandon nodded again. After he did so, the man pulled away. Staying a good meter away from him.

Both of them stayed quiet, allowing the noise from outside takeover the underground. Funny. It's like they were under the underground. The screams seemed farther away than they were before, but they were still there. His friends were probably still running away from those freaks.

"..."

The air around them got awkward. With the whole thing happening, he wasn't exactly surprised. But then again, Brandon was still worried about his friends. Not that he had many, but they were still his friends, you know?

They were probably dead now.

“You’re Brian, aren’t you?” He asked.

For a while, the figure in the darkness didn’t answer. Squinting his eyes, Brandon could vaguely see that he was rummaging through something, but didn’t know what it was. It looked like a box.

“…Don’t talk too loudly.” The guy whispered as he stuffed something into— what seemed like— his bag. “And yes, I’m Brian."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

He was right, it turns out he was Brian after all. “Where… where were you?”

Brian stopped what he was doing, turning his head around to Brandon’s direction, “Where was I?”

“When those th—things jumped on Mister Abe...” He gulped as he remembered the bloody scene, “—Where were you!?”

He was angry. Angry and confused. Did he seriously have to choke him like that? And, why the hell wasn’t he there with them? How the hell was he safe in here?! Inside this hole? When no one else could fucking see in the dark?!

“I was on my way back from the toilet.” Brian sighed as he explained, “But after I blinked, I was already under this tree.”

“Tree?” Brandon furrowed his brow, “What the hell? Aren’t we in a cave?”

“Yes. it also appears that we're in a cave.”

“…”

Neither of them said anything after that. Opting for a change in topic, Brandon said, "We’re gonna die, aren’t we?”

He didn’t really want Brian to answer that question, actually.

“Hmm…” Brian started taking something out from his bag, “We might.”

That wasn’t the answer Brandon was expecting. If anything, he expected him to say something else.

“But first, I need to ask you a few questions.”

The two spent some time talking to each other, with Brian asking most of the questions. Contrary to what other people might be thinking, this was the first time that they had spoken to each other. Brian being the loner between them (Brandon was also a loney, but at least he had friends), preferred to stay alone and didn't really talk often.

His looks weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. He had your usual black hair and black eyes, just like any other Chinese you would find. There wasn’t anything remarkable about the guy, just like there wasn't anything remarkable about him either.

—Now that he thought about it, he didn’t exactly know much about Brian besides the obvious ones. So he couldn't say for sure.

“What about those monsters?” Brian asked, for the second time. “What do they look like? What happened after she screamed? And why weren’t you chased by them?”

Brandon twitched, “They’re like animals. No. Wait, I take it back. They’re just as you said. Monsters. They have bleached white eyes, big yellow teeth, and stringy long hands that make your spine crawl.”

“They may be as tall as a midget, but— they killed Mr.Abe and laughed when they did it. I'm probably alive because I didn't scream for jack shit.” He grinned uneasily, “Heh, we’re probably the only ones left.”

For the second time, light dawned on his face. It was Brian’s flashlight, and he was standing right in front of him.

“I have a plan, but I need your help.”

----------------------------------------

“This is stupid.” Brandon's thought as his nose wrinkled in agony, “This is so stupid…”

Here he was, smeared with monster shit and cave moss.

After being thoroughly convinced by Brian, Brandon was now out of the hole. Scared shitless. Who knew that loner was actually good at talking. Trying to calm himself down he walked— with Brian’s flash on his left and a rusty sword on his right— for about 5 meters outside the hole before coming to a stop.

“…” Standing still, he looked around. There didn’t seem to be anything, just moss everywhere.

Turning around, Brandon found that the hole he had fallen in, was under a large underground tree. Complete with dead leaves and brown roots. Looks like Brian was right.

“Anything?” With a whisper so impossibly small, it was a miracle that Brandon was able to hear it.

“…” He shook his head and gave him a thumbs up.

After doing so, Brian proceeded to creep towards him with his bag, filled with loot. Apparently, he had found what seemed like an old chest back in the hole. Why that chest was there, however, they had no clue and decided not to question it.

Besides having plenty of termites running around, however, it also had a few rotten pieces of equipment that might come in handy for what they were about to do.

“…” Brian grabbed onto Brandon’s shoulder, and after doing so, their legs began to inch slowly. Really, really slowly.

The tension was rising. His palms were sweating like crazy. Completely to Brandon’s dismay, it was Brian’s idea that these creatures were blind. He didn’t know what kind of series from Natural Geographic did Brian watch, but deep down he didn't really care.

He was just a bit concerned about him being in the front with a sword while Brian was behind him. It was his argument that he needed someone watching his back, and it was actually Brian that was suffering the risks by not having a weapon. But he couldn't help but feel sketchy and ill-feeling as he said so.

Unfortunately for him, there was no room for thought other than his fear for death.

Tap! Tap!

Feeling like someone had tapped him on his shoulder, he turned around to look at Brian, who was gesturing him something.

“Keep calm, and DON’T walk on the moss.” It seemed to say.

“…” Brandon paused before nodding.

Walking on the stony parts of the ground, he noticed that it was quite slippery.

No wonder some of his friends had tripped as they ran, he thought. Poor Cassimir, he had always made things fun in class, even if he was a spoiled brat sometimes. Damn monsters.

"..."

Now wasn’t the time to be whining though. They had to find the exit. There had to be one. For these complex underground creatures to live, Brian thought that there had to be some cave system big enough to support the inhabitants.

"..."

Was Brian always this smart? He wouldn’t say anything about it. Brandon wondered as his thoughts went everywhere, yet nowhere.

A few minutes of silently inching in, they began seeing dead bodies. Their blood scattered everywhere. One had a large hole on his back, while another had holes all over his body. The one Brandon found most horrifying, though, was his one classmate who was missing his head.

Blood leaked from their bodies, making puddles. It was deathly quiet. Almost too quiet.

“Huurgh…” Brandon vomited on the floor.

He couldn’t take it anymore. His friends were all dead. And he did nothing to stop it. How could he? How could he leave Garry, and Susan, and Kayl to die? He should’ve been the one who died, not them. Not them. If he were given another chance to risk his life to save his friends, he would probably take it.

But now, because of him, those freaks’ll kill them both.

“…”

“It looks like they’ve left.” The tension on Brian’s fists disappeared. His face was as pale as Brandon’s. “If they hadn’t, I would’ve killed you myself.”

“Heh, you said that twice already.” Brandon chuckled dryly.

“Whatever.” Brian shrugged it off, “We should get going. They could’ve heard us—“

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” A scream echoed through the cave.

"..."

“NOOOO!!! PLEASE, STOP!!!” The scream echoed again.

'Why did it sound familiar?' Brian thought.

“Is that Susan?! Oh my god. OH MY GOD!!! SUSAAANN!!!” Brandon shouted in joy. She was alive. Christ, she’s alive! Fueled by the guilt of leaving his friend behind, he was suddenly determined to bring her back. Alive. Never before had he been so courageous in his life.

“Brian, we have to save Susan—“ He turned around to meet Brian.

—Only to find that he was gone.

“Brian?” Looking around, he saw a glimpse of someone running away with another flashlight. It looks like he had another one he kept to himself. Brandon stared at his fleeting figure, “Seriously? You're running away? Why the fuck are you running away? We need to save her!”

Without stopping nor turning around, the shadowy figure kept running.

“Fuck...” Gripping on his sword tightly, he sprinted towards the direction of her screams. He was wasting time. Never mind making noise, none of it mattered now.

He could hear Susan’s screams getting closer and closer. Yet, there was something about the atmosphere that seemed amiss. Now that he realized it, it wasn’t just her that was screaming. Other girls were screaming with her, though not quite as fierce as she was.

He could hear rhythmic claps, just like ones you would hear in a po...

“Shit!” He feared the worst had happened already. Rushing towards her, he could hear the moans and the struggles of the girls getting louder. He could hear the monsters laughing, delightfully enjoying their meal.

His baggy pants shook under the rush of his legs. The moss stamped violently below his feet. The wind howled. Storms began swirling inside him. He couldn’t keep the anger brewing inside him. Please. It can’t be.

----------------------------------------

Brandon entered a crevice on the far walls of the cave.

Noises echoed from inside told him of what was already happening.

He saw it with his own eyes. Those brown midgets were raping the girls. Gangbanging them together. Their clothes, torn to pieces. Weeping and crying as they were forcefully thrashed from behind.

"HAAAAARGH!!!" Suddenly filled with anger, Brandon rushed towards the nearest midget and viciously slashed the monster's nape with his sword, and struck another on its chest, and another one...

Although the sword was rusty, it didn't disappoint him. A vein was struck, blood began flowing out like a fountain dyeing his clothes red with its blood. Two of the monsters dropped dead on the ground, while the one who was stabbed on its stomach only cried in pain as it crawled backwards.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

Even the girls stopped crying for help. For it seemed, it has arrived in the form of a kid with baggy pants. It was quiet again. The calm before the storm. He couldn't help but notice something big in the back, so with his flashlight, he flashed it at the thing.

"..." Words couldn't express the regret he was feeling.

It was like a taller version of the midgets. Its facial features were much sharper than its siblings. With a pointy chin,  knife-looking teeth, elf-like ears, and eyes that stared at him like daggers. It exuded an atmosphere far more dangerous than its peers. It was growling at him. Like a wolf that had his meal spoiled by a sheep.

—And of course, Susan was beneath him. Just perfect.

It was a wonder that they hadn't heard him shouting outside before.

"Bran—Brandon..." Kayl muttered weakly, as she stood from the ground. "Is that you?"

"..." He dropped his flashlight on the ground and held the sword with both hands. There were too many of them. He was no longer playing Dungeons&Dragons anymore, no longer reading a wuxia web novel, no longer watching a Marvel movie. Wait, that last one might be like that one scene with Quicksilver though.

At least... at least he wouldn't be doing it like a boring old guy doing nine-to-five jobs all his life. Yeah, though he would be doing it like an idiot who risked his life for nothing... he'll do his best to get at least one of them out. Brandon couldn't fathom saving Susan. Even if she was his crush.

He may not be able to save Susan, but he wouldn't be able to get out anyways. Not anymore. Today, Brandon decided that he was going to be a hero.

"Heck, yeah I am." He said, trying to look as cool as he could be. "Now, this is the part where you run, sweetheart." He always wanted to say something like that.

She cringed a bit when he said 'sweetheart'. But after turning around to look behind, she looked back at Brandon with hopeful eyes.

"If you meet Brian, tell him that he's a fucking coward. And I fucking hate him." Oddly, Brandon was smiling as he said so, "But tell him I said thank you too. If it wasn't for him I would have—"

One of the monsters jumped at him. Brandon slashed its stomach open as the corpse flung to the side.

"If it wasn't for him," He panted for air and thought of something different to say, "You wouldn't be alive right now."

The monsters jumped at him, but Brandon persisted to hack them away. She stared at awe of who was supposed to be a cowardly nerd at class, turn into her savior. All the girls stared at him, similarly shocked in awe. Not wasting her opportunity, she ran towards the exit before stopping in front of it.

"Thank you." She whispered, before running away.

The elation from her gratitude was temporary as he was bombarded by the sheer number of those monsters. One got hold of his leg, another ripped apart his elbow. The sword won't be able to last that long either and was basically dull after his last strike.

"AAAAARRGGHHH!!!" He yelled in pain. But continued to rage and rage against the odds. He kicked the monster biting his leg and slashed another jumping towards him.

He hadn't actually killed any more of those fiends after the first few moments of the fight. The blade was caked with fat and blood. It's dull. If it wasn't disappointing him before, it was disappointing him now.

Wait, is this it? Really? He couldn't feel his left hand anymore. And could barely stand. Honest to God, he expected more than that from himself. Like, maybe, kill the big boss and save the day. But he guessed that he was asking too much.

"Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuuuuuuuckkk!!!" He was seriously going to die, huh?! It hurt like hell. It was tough enough to last this long, but he did his best, didn't he?! Aw, crud. His eyes were starting to get blurry. Man, and here he was wearing glasses too.

"Huuuuurghh..." His gaze wandered upstairs, while his body was in pain. Not like this, he didn't actually want to die. He wanted to save Susan, and all the other girls.

"Hargh!" His slash missed.

"Die!..." He failed to hit anything again.

"COME ONN!!!" His grip slipped as he slashed, throwing the sword away from him.

"..." Everyone stared at his pitiful struggles.

Brandon began crying under his glasses. He clenched his teeth in frustration. Life was unfair. The world is unfair. No one is treated equally. Just once, he wanted to feel like one of those heroes in Dungeons&Dragons. Just once he wanted to be a Marvel Superhero.

But he guessed that he went a bit too deep into this mud to pull himself out.

"Fuck. I'm so dumb. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Sorry nasty drake bro. Sorry D&D squad. Guess, Brandy's gonna meet Jesus n—"

CHOMP!

One got to his face, and he fell to the ground. All the monsters began laughing at Brandon. Even without eyes, they could smell the stench of the pathetic fool. One by one, they began to throw him around. Playing with their food. Before eventually eating it.