Richard smacked from time to time, due to dried mouth cavity. He even gulped his saliva many times, but now there was almost nothing.

He was thinking about licking wet walls, but it won’t provide much to him. Only water oozing from rift or running off from a stalactite will quench his thirst.

Sometimes a drop of water dripped on his head, causing to turn his head in an instant toward a place, where the drop of water came from, with a fully exposed tongue to at least satisfy his organism with this amount, even if it calm his body for a split second. But it wasn’t guaranteed that next bead will come, and in most cases was like that.

The food was not a problem now, but only thinking of water gave him a headache, making him gave a groan: “I want to leave… I want to go home… I want to sleep in my bed...” He even reminded of an alcohol, which goblins kept in the corner of their room, making him turn back few times, but he knew that he couldn’t… it was driving him crazy...

Richard already left the dark floor, so now he could see everything within five meters ahead, but he didn’t care about it, he continuously murmured one word under nose: “Water… water… water.”

His pace slowed down, making merely steps.

He fell down.

He could hear steps resounding somewhere before him. It caused his senses to came back making him terrified. He tried to move, but body refused to cooperate.

Richard was cursing at himself, for his unskillfulness, and that he disappointed his father, that it will make his mother cry. It’s such a pity that he couldn't do anything he thought.

When he could hear steps clearly, he lost consciousness.

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A tear slowly fell down.

…

“Richi! Richi! Dinner!”

“I’m coming!”

“Where are you?”

“I’m here mom!”

“Honey, did you see Richard?”

“No I didn’t,... but wait who is Richard?”

“Richard is eh… I don’t know...”

“Mom! Dad! It’s me Richard, your son!”

The boy tried to run toward them but in vain. Instead, he was slowly slipping away.

“Mom! Dad!” His voice didn’t spread. He could only see family slowly vanishing in the distance. Tears were streaming down his face as his voice disappeared into nothingness.

…

Richard woke up all sweaty with a heart booming like crazy.

He slowly touched his cracked lips, gave his eyes a wipe-down and looked around.

His eyes got bigger, he wiped his eyes again and stopped breathing.

What is this place? Where am I? Did I get out? Am I alive?

The wave of wonders hit him.

He found himself in a small place, which could fit five beds. Looking around, he could see a pile of scrap metal, randomly hanging shelves with jars and rusty devices. There was even a big sword of his height, but Richard's eyes widened when he saw table with some food.

He threw away his thoughts and like hungry hyena pounced on food. He didn’t even notice that he isn’t any longer hungry or thirsty, he just sat at the table with open wide mouth and like drooling baby stare at food, while his arms slowly headed toward it.

A tasty mushroom soup with various smells pleasant for his nose and flavors for taste buds overflow within Richard, he could only smile and close eyes with each spoon.

For the main course was a rat, but compared to the one he made, this was wonderful. With each bite, his organism went wild demanding for more, real feast for senses.

Between each bite he drank a jug full of honey, he couldn’t be happier at this moment, but...

“I see you’re enjoying yourself.”

… someone interrupted him.