Warm stale air permeated a cramped cave, low hanging stalagmites almost grace the rocky uneven ground as if reaching out. Dropping sounds could be heard as if it was raining inside the cave, a small shallow pond the source of these sounds the stalagmites dripping into it. The center of the pond held a small body with only their gray wet hair and blue eyes poking out of the pond. Slowly, the body stirred the dripping water hitting their forehead.

Eyes peaked open wearily, opening and closing a few times before opening fully. The now apparent boy’s hands rose out of the water and pushed down into the pond's floor to stand up. With a big stretch, arms in the air, the boy orientated himself, shaking his head a few times, water droplets flying everywhere from his hair before settling, his bangs stopping just above his eyebrows. The Boy appeared around the age of eleven.

“Wha? Where am I?”,  clutching his head, images flashed through the boy’s head. A sterile metal gurney, scalpels. Dark, dank hallways filled with indescribable horrors screaming at him as he was marshaled past. Wincing and stumbling he regained his footing against the bottom of the pond avoiding falling in again. “Ok, not messing with that right now. Ok, gods, where am I?” he said almost pleadingly, eyes wandering around the cave, his eyebrows furrowed together, before settling on the far end of the cave. The stalagmites parted to reveal a narrow opening, big enough only for a child. Past the opening flickering shadows could be seen.

A sigh of relief could be heard, “I hope that’s people over there”. he whispered. Settling on a plan the boy quickly walked towards the opening, weaving past all the tightly packed rocks and stalagmites. Hands placed along the edge of the opening his head peered around the edge. A still tight but larger and straight tunnel greeted him, the light grew brighter and some type of noise could be heard further down. A small smile graced his lips. Walking forward at a sedate pace he once again peered past the edge of the tunnel into a larger cavern with torches dispersed evenly around the cave. Scanning the room his eyes widened when he saw a figure lounging on a makeshift rug made of fur crudely stitched together. The boy's small figure cast a slight shadow in front of the figure causing it to slightly perk up. Looking upwards, the figure revealed a misshapen face set with a surprised look. Its eyebrows drew upward, its grin appeared like a grimace with its grotesque face drawing in on itself. Jumping up, the now apparent Goblin groped for a spear and stood up. “Hello? Can you tell me where we are please? I’m a bit lost”. The Goblin still standing  up made some sounds reminiscent of someone spitting up a loogy. “Um sir? hello?” the goblin whirled their spear towards the boy and narrowly missed him, giving the boy a slash across his cheek. Stepping backwards his eyes went wide and his hand reached up towards his cheek feeling the slow oozing blood.

Heart pounding he whirled around and the world narrowed until the boy could only see the tunnel he came from, sprinting back down, his bare feet smacked against the hard stone. Reaching the opening he squeezed past the small opening and danced around the tight knit stalagmites breaking a few off their bases. Quickly, catching up the goblin carelessly threw themselves against the entranceway and spikes jutting out of the floor, scraping off skin and cutting its flesh as it made its way into the room. Dark red ichor began to trickle down its body. Eyes locked onto the boy, they made their way through the maze of rock thrashing against the tight cave and snarling. Head whipping around the boy's eyes set onto a stalagmite broken off from the rush into the room. Grasping it, his hands barely wrapped around the entire handle. The Goblin slowed more, injuries seemingly catching up to it but still not stopping. The Boy took slow steps back, spike clutched tightly against his chest and knuckles turning white. “I could really die here!” he thought. Suddenly, eyes set with determination, he approached the rabid Goblin slowly. He pointed the dull point of the stalagmite at the goblin. Mustering all his strength, he threw his entire body towards the globin and thrust the spike into its chest, a small stream of blood the result. The Goblin's efforts, reinvigorated, smashed through some of the smaller stalagmites snarling forward and spittle flying at the boy causing him to take another step back. Adrenaline coursing through his veins he drew his entire body back like a spring every muscle taut and swung directly at the goblins outstretched head. A Thwump sound resounded through the cave, blood now leaking from the goblins' temple. It flew at The Boy as the Goblin scrambled forward harder and faster. Stalagmites broke and were thrown a sharp claw whistled through the air streaking across the boy’s outstretched arm. Eyes flying open and drawing back the Boy's back finally hit the rear wall of the cave. With a scream, the boy flew the stalagmite at the Goblins' face again and again and again. Drawing back each time and lunging forward. The sound of rock on flesh grew wetter. The Boy's face drawn into a snarl he continued to hit the now dead goblin. Grey matter splashing against his face and into the darkness of the cave. The strikes grew slower and weaker, unable to lift the spike again The Boy fell onto his knees, staring vacantly at the splatter of red, green and white now on the ground. 

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“What the fuck”, a tear slipping out of the corner of his eyes slid down his cheek. Gagging he realized he’d been staring at the corpse. Stumbling into the pond, vomit creeped its way out of his throat before expelling itself forcefully splashing and mixing into the pond. Cleaning himself in a separate part of the pond as far away from the vomit and body as possible he stared vacantly at the blank cave walls. Slowly, perching one then both legs under himself he stood up and walked towards a small clearing in the spikes barely big enough to fit him. Nestling himself within and drawing his legs up, his eyes slowly drifted close, he didn’t resist.

Dreams of unknown faces greeted him. Extravagant parties, ballrooms filled with exquisitely placed decorations. Flashes of events blurred around his vision, the edges fraying like burning paper. Children appeared memories flashing in sequence as they grew taller, gained muscle and sprouted facial hair. A stern man appeared with vague, blurry facial features sitting in a large chair with emblazoned gold accents. The man started speaking, but it came out as if he was mumbling. He shook his head, standing up slowly to a massive height and craned his back and reached over towards his face, the rough calloused hand encapsulated his vision and grasped his head tightly.

The boy’s body jerked awake, sweat arising from his now damp skin. Blankly staring around the familiar scene he remembered where he was. His muscles relaxed but still taut as if ready to spring into action at any time. The boy closing his eyes looked down and started speaking in a low voice. “Ok, Think about that thing and the dreams and everything later. What do I know? I’m in a cave, there's monsters that want to kill me and I don’t know how to get out right now. So I need to get out, but how? I only know about this and the next room. But, if I run into more of those monsters I’m dead, it’s over! Sneaking by them is the only thing I can do outside of taking on one at a time. Ahh! But, I don’t know if that’s even possible. They had so many torches it's not like they wouldn't see me!” he drew a ragged breath and curled his head in his hands. “I guess the only thing I can really do is move forward and see if there even is an exit, hopefully there is”. Flashes of being stuck in a dark cave, slowly starving and being eaten by more of those creatures flashed through his mind. Shaking his head he dispelled those thoughts and looked forward.

The boy’s eye set into a stern stare at the exit from the cave. Looking around for anything else, he noticed a slight shine from within the corpse of the dead goblin, with a sigh he rose from the cramped space he had shoved himself in, curiously walking over he set his eyes on a stone sticking out of the ribcage of the Goblin. “Not like I can afford to be squeamish right now” he whispered under his breath. Grimacing, the boy reached his hand out and while leaning the rest of his body back, reached his hand onto the exposed rib and plucked the stone from it. Gagging, he scrambled away from the corpse towards the pond. Washing his hands and the crystal inside of the pond he looked at the object. It was a diamond shaped crystal that felt warm in his hand. Peering closer, Inside a nebulous series of colors clashed and warred against one another. A green color seemed to predominate the crystal.”This is too weird for right now I don’t know what the hell this is. I need to focus on what I can do right now, fancy jewelry can wait till later when I can sell it and not be in danger of dying”.

He slipped his dirty fingers into the pocket of the now rough, tattered beige pants he wore and slipped the crystal inside. Taking a deep breath and staring at the exit again, the boy  briskly walked out of the exit and into the hallway. His feet slowly shuffled across the hallway, not daring to make a sound. Crouched, the boy made his way to the second room. Still crouching he slowly walked to the edge of the shadows in the hallway and peered into the cavern. With eyes squinting he couldn’t make out any new creatures. Cautiously, he made his way into the light, his heart pounded and eyes stung from the sudden change in light, finally he fully stepped into the brighter room. The room ceiling appeared never ending like a false sky. The room almost completely devoid of the stalagmites allowed the light to bask across the entire room and across the oval shaped room was another entrance way. The light filtered through illuminating the entrance diffusing over the rough stone leading to the dark void of the next pathway.

Crouched, the boy entered the darkness of the next entrance. Muscles relaxing slightly in the darkness he continued the slow shuffle walk as before. Making no noise except the occasional sound of feet hitting stone. The walls now damp with water slicked the ground and dripping water echoed throughout the tunnel. Continuing along the slick surface he brushed his hand against the walls steadying himself. The tunnel's darkness encompassed him further. Using his hand he guided himself down further. Eventually he was met with a sharp turn left, peeking around the turn, he was blinded by a sudden burst of light. Squinting and covering his eyes, he peered past and saw a massive cavern with a domed roof illuminated by a cacophony of crude torches plastered to the walls. Past the entrance a ridge encompassed the circular cavern. Stepping forward, his foot met the edge of a drop. Looking down, he’s met with a cliff that drops down into a massive complex of huts and tapestries strewn about, with a circular platform in the middle and a marble statue sat atop. laid beneath it more goblins bow before the statue with hands clasped. Shifting his attention down at the tents he notices tens of goblins scurrying about their tents, carrying pots, swords and other items.

“You have got to be kidding me”.