Nicole was confused, the room was dim, but she could see a row of 4 devices similar to the human holding cells the last time, and a row of lockers, and a table with a sink full of water. The door cracked, nearly in half. The room was too small to fire the gun in, not without injuring herself or bouncing shrapnel back, and it wasn’t doing much against that armor anyway. She squeezed through the other partially opened door, hoping for a way out and finding just the other side of the human traps. The Door splintered and Kraken lumbered through. One more door between them. She had one move and the timing needed to be perfect.
You’re trapped little human. It’s over.” He huffed. She noticed the drain below her was full and starting to overflow.
“Face me, or face the water. You choose how you wish to die. Quick snap of the neck, or gasping for air in your own personal hell. Consider me your easy way out. It’s nothing personal, it’s just a job.
Gun in her hand, the kraken seemed beatable, stuck in flooding room didn’t seem to optimistic. Perhaps if she got behind him, was the armor on his back as thick as the front? Anything was better than drowning, and for a moment, Kraken didn’t seem so scary anymore.
“I think I’ll take your offer. Because you don’t scare me anymore. You’re either just a puppet on a string, or a quicker death, and I’ll die fighting any day, you prick.”
“Strong words with little action behind a closed door.”
“Yea, you keep staring at that door you big dumbass.” She whispered to herself. “and leave your giant backside unguarded.” She finished, taking off running towards the traps, knowing she could just barely dive through and have enough time to take one shot before he realized it. She put her arms to her side and slid, wriggling to get through.
Suddenly the sound of gears and metal overwhelmed her senses and the piston slammed down. She screamed, knowing it was going to take off her head and then silently breathed, realizing it was even worse, it stopped halfway down, just barely missing her neck, but not enough to get her head through. Kraken strolled out casually, the gun pinned at her side, facing away backwards.
“Did you really think that would work?” he asked, kneeling down.
She couldn’t go forward or backward, only her head protruding from the other side. She went limp, feeling herself giving up as kraken strolled back into the front of the room, her head almost literally served on a silver platter as he returned with a vial in hand. He grabbed her head and collected the tear streaming down her face.
“I have what I came for.” He said, placing it in the metal cooler.
“Report.” Said the voice in Krakens Earpiece.
“Successful. He said relaxing and stretching.
She smirked, looking up at him.
“I’m not afraid of you anymore. I can see it in your eyes. You wanna kill me but you can’t do it. You’re on a leash. Why else are you waiting?” she chuckled. “It’s all a game. Always has been. You’re a pawn, and all of this was meant to make me face my fears…to face you. Well look me in the eyes you big bastard and tell me If I’m scared of you!” she calmly grinned.
“Oh you poor pathetic stupid girl. You were so close. You think your greatest fear to face was me?” he laughed, pulling the lever and lifting the plate holding her head in place. “My job is just to point you in the right direction. Your greatest fear hasn’t arrived yet.” He smiled, turning around and lighting a cigarette as he closed the door and locked it. She squeezed her way through, slowly as the water reached her. Now neck deep she pointed the gun at the door and pulled the trigger and fired a round. It didn’t budge. She fired 3 more times and the wooden door just stared back at her. She pulled the magazine and looked carefully, the rounds were blanks. Everything was a show, but the water was real. There was no way out that door.
She waded through and moved in circles looking for anything useful and threw the gun at the door, climbing the human trap just to get out of the rising water. There was no ladder, no secret tunnel, and above her head just a drainage hole too high to begin reaching for. She hugged the metal bar, screaming in fear, entirely lost and alone. The black water climbing her back, oddly warm and silent, consuming her, swallowing her slowly as if to savor her death.
“PLEASE HELP!” she yelled at the grate overhead. “I CAN’T SWIM!” she sobbed, slipping into the water. Her hands flailed, pushing off of anything she could to reach the grate, as if reaching it mattered. She grabbed it, pulling herself up for one more deep breath before the last inch of room vanished into the dark and the pipe above her filled up. She let go, sinking into the darkness. She opened her eyes and her pupils dilated, but to her surprise she could see. The dark water was oddly clear, dim but very visible. There were no light sources she could find, but the room was somehow perfectly clear as if drawn in black and white, but the edges all crisply lined. She swam her way to the wooden door, not even realizing she was propelling herself effortlessly. She pushed the door and with the water now equal on both sides, it slowly moved open.
She swam into the hall, still completely filled with the clearest water she ever saw, but still pitch black. Was she dying? Dreaming? She was so far in that getting out would take ages, and her one breath was almost out. She went limp, floating in place, trying to think of what to do with her last seconds as her body began struggling, trying to inhale as she closed her mouth tighter. Her brain was on fire with signals, screaming, ‘open your mouth and breathe’, but even knowing there was nothing to take in but water, she couldn’t resist forever. Something in her just gave up, accepting it, and she let go, letting her body suck in a lungful of water, and everything went still.
Jack and Vinn stood and paced the street corner, waiting for anything.
“Jack why are here and not looking for her?”
“Because this is where that tunnel goes, and it’s where she’ll end up, trust me.”
“I trust you jack, but can’t we go in and find her?” he asked as the rush of water got their attention, the drain pipe leaking slightly behind the alley. A large iron pipe protruded from the cobblestone path, pointed at the lake, several metal rails and chains warning not to cross.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Vinn that’s an outlet for backpressure, it only opens outward and usually with a wall of water. You go in there, and either it doesn’t open or it opens and sends you 40 feet into the lake. You can’t swim and I can’t swim good enough to carry you.
“Then why are we here?” he yelled as people walking by stopped to investigate.
“Because I was told to be here and you have to trust me.”
“And what if you’re wrong Jack?” roared Vinn.
“Give me your better plan then. Where do we go?” Jack barked back.
Vinn angrily punched the pipe, struggling to find an answer.
Nicole froze, like a ragdoll in a pool just lifeless and limp, waiting to die. She waited far too long, blinking and turning her eyes to look around. There was no pain, her body was not struggling, she was warm and relaxed and yet…still alive with both lungs full of water. She tried to move and found herself able to. She didn’t understand, but the sound of the water was still moving. She swam higher, up through another pipe that was missing the vent cover, still unsure how she was alive let alone able to see anything.
Surely it was just a dream, it had to be. So she only had to wake up an follow the flowing water to find her way home. The dream was relaxing, like a warm bath, dark and quiet like the last moment you remember before falling asleep in your own bed or in her case on the wooly chest of a slow-breathing jackelope. The tunnel didn’t seem as claustrophobic as before, her movements fluid and effortless, propelling her with ease along with just the slow kick of her feet and the automatic wriggle of her back. The pipe opened into several more pipes, mostly the same size pointing back and one larger one pointing forwards, blocked by a large steel wall and a beam down the middle. She could see light, the slight bubble of air leaking past it as a sound in the distance rumbled and called her. Like a deep trumpet in the dark. She welcomed the approaching roar and smiled as the metallic crunch of the valve moving poured in more light. The roaring groan of the bar turning finally broke loose and like being pulled from death, her body rushed through and into the light. And it burned like hell.
“NICOLE WAKE UP!” Vinn yelled, hopping on one hoof to get her to the shore. He gasped and submerged, unable to swim himself but making slow progress. A hand grabbed him and his hooves hit soil as he pulled himself up with Jack’s help, carrying Nicole who was struggling and covering her eyes.
“Breathe sweetie.”
“I’m fine, it’s just too bright.” She coughed, spitting out water in an oddly calm manner. Vinn patted her back and hugged her, not sure what to do exactly as she blindly felt around and hugged him back.
“That was too close.” Jack said, opening her eyes and noticing they were entirely black. She struggled to shut them as the blackness contracted into pupils and returned to something passably human looking.
“God it’s so bright, where Am I?”
“On the shore, 20 feet from the street, in the dead of night, one street lamp. It’s dark as shit Nicole. She blinked and forced her eyes to focus and realized it was not as bad as before.
“You must be so cold and scared.” Vinn said afraid to hug her any tighter.
“No, I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine.” She smirked.
“Okay well I’m cold and scared, so let’s get you to the road at least. I think you’re in shock. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“Vinn, I’m not in shock. Look at me. I’m not afraid anymore. I found what I was looking for…myself.” She said. “And I’m back.”
“I don’t know what that even means but I’m glad you’re okay and don’t you ever go into that place again.” He scolded.
“She won’t need to.” Jack said as the valve opened again and he drew his boot knife. Kraken lumbered out of the narrow opening, drenched and confident, strutting up to them as the crowd at the bar began to notice the drama. Several people began watching, taking their phones out, including a platinum blonde with vivid blue eyes, grinning and playfully waving.
“Vinn, remember what I told you, stand down.” Jack said readying his blade.
“What are you doing with that blade little soldier?” Kraken growled. “You gonna kill me in front of everyone? For what? For all they know I saved that little human.
“I challenge you.” Jack growled.
“You can’t. Only Delmarians can fight in the pit legally. Right now you’re just threatening a security guard. But I’ll allow it. You’re only human. You’re scared. Your friend here nearly drowned. Now Vinn on the other hand should be furious with me.”
“What did you do to her?” Vinn huffed.
“Everything I wanted.” Kraken smirked.
“He’s lying, Vinn.” Said Nicole. “Just let it go. I won.” She smiled.
“Stand down Vinn, remember what I told you. Don’t let him win, just hold your ground.” Jack reminded with a wink.
“I challenge Vinn to the pit, over a matter of honor.” Hollered Kraken as the crowd grew interested. Vinn looked at Jack for the signal. He stared coldly.
“Fight me. Soldier to soldier.” Kraken boasted.
“Wha-no.” Vinn scoffed. “You’re just provoking me.”
“I publically invoke Fupar in front of these witnesses. You can’t turn it down!!”
“Yea, I can. It’s totally legal. People do that constantly.” Vinn argued.
“And it proves they have no honor.” Kraken said loudly.
“The hell does that even mean, you’d kill my ass and then I’d be dead, that doesn’t do me any good. Then she’s alone and sad, why would I volunteer for that?
“Because that is your second dishonor. You married a human, you ran away from the core, you have no honor left, fight for something back, incel.”
“Nah, I’m good, thanks for the offer dicknuts.” Vinn shrugged.
“Wh…what are you?” Kraken asked with revolt. “What have you become? You’re not a soldier, Not a Delmarian, not even a man. You may not care what I think about you, but everyone here has seen and heard your cowardice and you will be labeled as such. They will chant your name and brand it Coward, and that is permanent. Your wife will leave you for someone willing to protect her.” Kraken announced. “Perhaps this little soldier who has the guts to challenge me knowing he would not live. You have less honor than a human. And your name shall be worthless.” He puffed up proudly.
First off, everyone is right, Delmarian names are already pretty shit, so what’s one more stupid title? Secondly, if I gave a crap what people thought of me, do you think I’d have married HER!?” he pointed. She jerked her head back and looked pissed. “Sorry honey, you’re perfect it’s just.. the racist thing, you know what I mean, don’t even.”
“And your woman will stay with you as a coward?” kraken scoffed.
“Yes.” Hollered a tiny voice from Nicole. “Because I love him. And I’d rather have him alive, than dead with your stupid honors.” She admitted as kraken pulled Vinn up buy the shirt collar.
“Bro you got nothing. You can’t intimidate me or shame me. I know who I am, I’m weird and clumsy and pretty bad at soldier stuff, but that’s just me. I know my flaws and accept them and refuse to believe the crap you think is a weakness. So what you got, more names? Wanna call me a pussy? Humans HATE that one, you wanna slap me, I’ll slap you back and they’ll break us up, and I still win. There’s nothing you can say that is gonna change anything.” Vinn scoffed. Kraken leaned closer, antler to antler so nobody could hear but Vinn.
“And what happens when I come back some night for that little human of yours? Maybe when she’s walking home or reading one of her books at night while you sleep? Some day you’ll be away and she’ll be all alone. People get lost in those tunnels you know, unless you’re someone like me that knows them well. I’m staying on this stupid moon until this is done. You wanna live in fear the rest of your life?”
“They’d hang you for that. Delmarian or not they’d hang you.” Vinn said, losing his chill very quickly.
“Would they? Half the security on this moon thinks I’m right. She keeps running into those tunnels, why would she not return and be found dead? Who would question it? They don’t want human females infecting the men’s minds either. I might get away with it, Maybe they wouldn’t even care if I did it. Even if they did, in the eyes of the purists and the old gods I would die a martyr…and she’d still be dead regardless, and you knowing you could have stopped me. I’m taking one of you two apart, one way or another, and that will leave the survivor broken and alone. But my only interest in her is to get to you. If you die, she lives. So the question is not ‘are you man enough to die for honor’, the question is…are you man enough to die in her place?” Kraken smirked. Jack subtly nodded. Vinn grabbed him buy the horns.
“I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!” he said shoving him back as the crowd cheered.