Walking through the mines, I had been covered in soot waiting for this day to be over, hearing the words I like to hear after a long day’s work, I walk out of the mines and drop my pickaxe on the ground, and my hat on the table to start my long trek home into Miner’s Hollow, the small town I live in with my wife and son, every day I try to bring back stories of my time in the mines. As I make my way through town, I see my house on the hill near the town’s little store. Tired from the long day, I stumbled in the door and practically shed my work boots, and walked towards my bedroom, I felt as if I could rest for a week after today’s shift. Before I could drift off into sleep, Lily my wife walked in, with her hands on her hips “There you are Thomas, I know you’re tired, but go freshen up while I finish dinner”, I tiredly get out of bed and walk to the shower to clean myself up for dinner. As I walked downstairs, I could smell the food just being sat on the table, Lily washes her hands off, before I dive in however, I ask her “Where is Arthur?” Lily walks over and takes a seat across from me. “He said he would be eating with friends tonight”. 

~ 

During dinner Lily and I started talking about how my shift was, and I told her the boss had me working through my lunch break because of an incident that happened in a different section of the mine. Lily looked disgusted at this point and asked me “So you have had nothing to eat all day?”. I said yes but then she told me she was going to talk to my boss tomorrow. I tried to talk her out of it but before I could finish my son Arthur came running in the door and said “Daddy, I missed you”. Arthur came running towards me and jumped into my hands. And I asked him how his friend's house was, He told me it was good but then it was like all his energy drained because he fell asleep in my arms. Lily then said to me across from the table “want me to put him to bed?”, I said no and walked him to his room for the night, when I got back to the table Lily was finished with dinner and said, “Help me clean up.” I helped her clean and then retired to my bed for the night she was behind me checking on little Arthur. When she got into the bedroom, I was already half asleep in bed. She then said, “We haven’t finished are conversation, what were you going to say?” In a drowsy state I explained to her how if she showed up at work my boss would go harder on me, have me working longer shifts. Once she agreed to stay home tomorrow, I fell into a deep sleep. 

~ 

The next morning, she came barging into the room and opened the curtains, and told me “Rise and Shine, sunshine.” As I start to wake up, I asked her what time it is she told me “6:30 why Thomas?” I then bolted up, oh crap I am going to be late, I walked towards the bathroom to wash my face, and rush off with a piece of toast in hand, but before I left, I kissed Lily on the cheek and gave Arthur a hug. I told Lily I would be home for dinner like usual. I put on my work boots in a rush and run out the door, Once I get to work, I am a little late so before the boss noticed I grabbed my pickaxe and hat and got to work straight away. 

~ 

Once I walked further down the mine, I started working but I started to hear something that sounded like an explosion. 

Tom’s POV: 

I started work early today, because I woke up earlier than usual today. I tried to make the most of it, but today something just felt wrong. But I didn’t think anything of it. When I was called for my lunch break, I was talking to my friends, Thomas was his joyful self like he always was, we weren’t the best of friends, but he looked out for me around the town and during work.  

~ 

After we had finished eating, we all started to walk back into the mines but before I could get in my boss pulled me aside and gave me some dynamite, he told me that I had to clear a section of the mines that was too hard for a pickaxe. I wondered why I was put in charge of dynamite; I was new to the job, but the boss didn’t seem to care.  

~ 

I started my walk into the deeper parts of the mine where my boss told me to go, I arrived at the location I am supposed to be in according to my boss, so I set up the dynamite and when I set it off the mine started to shake, and small rocks were falling from the roof I knew I had to get out of there before it was too late, so I started to run out of the area but before I could get out It collapsed on me and as I fell to the floor I felt hard rocks falling on me, so I fell to the floor, I was crushed by rocks and rubble, and then I passed out. 

~ 

Thomas’s POV: 

I was clearing out space in the lower sections of the mine since I was the strongest guy on the team, until I heard an explosion. I thought no one else would be down here, so I went to find out what the explosion was. After wandering around for a few minutes, I saw some rubble and I saw a head. I realized straight away who that was It was Tom. What was he doing down here then I remember overhearing the boss tell Tom to take dynamite down here. I snapped back to reality and started to dig Tom out. I was glad I brought my pickaxe with me but once I got Tom out it was too late, he was already crushed. 

~ 

I picked up Tom and carried him out of the mine and the boss asked me what happened. I wanted to tell him what I was thinking. But I just said that he must have just set the dynamite off in the wrong place. I put Tom down gently and started walking back into town, my boss asked me where I was going, and I told him someone had to tell Tom’s wife. I then kept walking into town until I found the house Tom described to me during the lunch break. But while searching through Tom’s stuff earlier he had a letter on him addressed to his wife. I don’t know what the contents of that letter were, so I just kept walking. Once I arrived back in town I searched for the house until I saw it up on a hill. 

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~ 

As I walked towards Tom’s home, I was trying to figure out what I’d tell his wife, but I didn’t know how to tell someone that their husband died. Once I got closer to the door, I figured out what I would tell her. I knocked on the door, and then a lady opened the door. Tom’s wife answered and asked me if she could help me. I told her. I’m sorry ma’am but your husband Tom, passed away from a mining accident. She then stopped me from talking and said, “I told him not to take that stupid job”. I saw tears running down her eyes. I then found the confidence to hand her the letter. I left her to read the letter alone, but before I got too far, she said to me “thank you for looking out for Tom.” I told her it was the least I could do for someone so new around town and the job. Then I turned around and kept walking back to the mines. 

~ 

On the way back to the mines I couldn’t help but think about what would’ve happened if I got to Tom quicker? Would he still be alive? Well, when I arrived at the mines no one was there, I just thought they were in the mine still. So, to make up for lost time I walked into the mines to pick up my pickaxe and helmet and got back to work again. 

~ 

A few hours had passed since I returned, I was a bit confused about why my boss hadn’t called me. Maybe he is just busy, I will just keep working. Then there was complete silence in the mine. It was almost an eerie silence, I decided I should walk back to the entrance, but when I got to the exit of the mine there was a dark mist surrounding the mines. Then I heard a cry for help come from the forest, I was debating if I should just go home but then something just told me to go find out what the noise was. 

~ 

I started walking towards the forest surrounded by a dark mist, I kept telling myself it's not too late to turn back, but I just kept walking until I heard that sound again, it kept on drawing me further into the forest. A few hours had passed since I started walking into the forest, I tried to turn back a couple of times, but I kept getting further into the forest. Once I heard that noise again, I yelled out who was there. But no one replied, so I kept walking further and further until I saw a trail of blood leading off into some bushes and as I went to check it out two men appeared behind me. I heard a grunt from one of the men, when I turned around one of the men stared me in the eyes and forced me to my knees. I thought I was going to die at that moment, but I refused to go down without a fight. So, when I could I tackled one of the men for his revolver but before I got it, a shot went off and as I looked down, I saw that I got shot in the stomach. I fell to the ground with my eyes closed hoping that I wouldn’t die. I then fell unconscious. I woke up a few hours later in some run-down cell. I didn’t know where exactly I was but the wound on my stomach was patched up.  

~ 

I don’t exactly remember much of what happened but one thing I knew for sure was, if I aimed to get out of here alive, I should comply with them. A hooded man who appeared to be tall and had a strong build appeared from the darkness of the halls and said in an angry tone “My King has a proposition for you, he wants you to join us.” I asked them what would happen if I turned down the offer and they replied that they knew where my family lived. They also said they have been watching me for weeks. 

~ 

I had a decision to make, should I try to escape and try to save my family, or join the king's mission. It was risky to try to escape, since I'm outnumbered and wounded my strength wouldn’t help me in this situation. So, my only option was to join the King. By God would I let my family die by this “King”. When the men came by with food and spoke to me about the offer, I reluctantly accepted the offer. After I ate my food, I decided to go to sleep. After I fell asleep for a few hours two masked men entered my cell and put a mask over my head. 

~ 

I didn’t know where I was going but I felt like I was walking for hours, but then I started to hear running water, and the floors were creaky. It sounded like wooden floors; it got me wondering where I could be then it dawned on me. We had been walking for hours, so if I was correct, we were heading towards the king's fort in Kingstown. Then I heard a man say, “Where hear, take his mask off”. When the mask was taken off me, I looked around to figure out how I could get out and back to my family. Then the King walked in, and sat on his fancy seat I think they call it a throne? I am not too sure since I don’t come from this fancy background. The King started to speak. I didn’t exactly hear what he said because I stopped listening when he said, “Ladies and Gentlemen”. But then he started to talk about taking over Miner’s Hollow for himself. And he said “And Thomas you're going to make that happen” I didn’t want to do this, take over my homeland. I am not a weapon for people's use. 

~ 

The King asked me about his plan, and I turned him down. But this was the worst decision I could have made, because the King said to his men “Lock him up.” Then I felt something hard on my head and I blacked out. I woke up in a small cell underneath the castle I was in. I tried to look for a way out but there was no way to escape my cell without the help of one of the guards. Then a man walked into the room and told me if I tried anything like that again they would kill me. I foolishly told them to bring it on. So, they left telling me to get some sleep and then they went to talk to the king. 

~ 

After a few hours of sleep, I was awoken to the sound of keys. Then three men came in and told me to put this mask over my head, and they opened my cell, so I walked out, and they directed me to where we were headed. When they finally took the mask off, I was met with the townsfolk, the king, and a couple of his guards. I realized what was happening, but the king told the crowd. “Ahem, listen up ladies and gentlemen. This peasant from Miner’s Hollow thinks he can question my power. So, I have brought before you six of my strongest men to fight this man one by one. May the best man win.” 

~ 

After the Kings speech I knew I could die here but then I remembered my strength and that I have a family to get back to. So, I fought to get back to them. Once the first man was let out, I checked him out for any weaknesses or soft spots, but I couldn’t seem to find any. The man started to walk close to me, and I knew I had to fight, I let all my anger out and I started to fight. It was a close call, but I managed to overpower him, I think I broke a few of his ribs with my punch. After I fought the rest of the guys the King saw a gift in me. So, he summoned me to his quarters I don’t know what we talked about I think I blacked out or something, but I was under the king's command