...and yet the only reply...

~

"Who the hell are you?" The man I'd tried to kill demanded firmly with my knife to my throat.

Well shit.

I slowly raised my hands and realized I might be in for it. I started to weigh my options - whether or not I'd be able to take on those other demons - and decided I almost definitely had the lower hand. The demon with the cloak was a mere stroke of luck compared to the fight I'd be trying to have against a handful of soldiers.

"You've got about 5 seconds to answer me before I cut open your throat or shout out to have plenty of people here who would do it for me. Or would you rather be used as a test subject for the vaiakyur?"

Definitely wasn't dicking around. There was quite literally no way of wiggling out of this one. But then I realized I don't really have an answer to his question.

"I uh... I really don't know," I said, my voice cracking a bit because I wasn't used to a man's voice.

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Again I'm... not really sure."

The knife began to pierce my skin.

"Neither of us have the time for this. I'm trying to be reasonable here. Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?"

"Listen, I'm just trying to figure my way out of here. It's a long story, and like you said, neither of us really have time," I said, surprising even myself with the calmness of my tone despite the obvious threat.

"So then why are you dropping from 8 feet above me with a knife over my head?"

I had to hold back a somewhat mischievous chuckle as I mumbled, "I mean, the reason for that is a little obvious."

Before the researcher had a chance to reply, the phoenix decided to stir atop the second floor and glide down on top of my shoulder.

I noticed the man's grip on my knife hesitate. "Who are you?" He asked again.

So the plot thickens...

"Like I said, I'm just trying to figure out a way out of here. Everything about this is a giant heap of unfortunate circumstances. That and maybe learn how to get stronger."

"Alright kid," he removed his hold on me and gave me my knife back, a complete change of pace. "You're looking for a way out of here, and you're trying to get stronger. Stronger for what?"

He grabbed an old piece of paper from the top of the table, then stopped and waited for a response.

"I mean I'm pretty... well... lacking in the strength department. I've been at death's door one too many times."

That's a question I'd rather not answer thruthfully. The less potential hazards on my road to revenge, the better.

Speaking more has gotten me more comfortable with my new voice. Well. Old voice. Not sure which of the two applies in this case. Speaking more has also gotten me realizing my 2 minutes of daily social allowance are up and I'd now like to retreat from social interaction ASAP, so the sooner we can end this conversation, the better.

The man grabbed a book and a scroll and handed them to me.

"Take these. I don't have a map or anything that can show you the way out, but these have a few tidbits on spells and a few training regiments and stuff like that. Got left by a soldier a few months ago. Probably didn't need em. Otherwise I've got a giant handful of junk in the eyes of what you're looking for."

I took the scroll and book and quickly rifled through the messy pages, slapping the covers together and placing the small, thin book in my pocket.

"Listen, I'm not sure how you wound up here, but you're a long ways away from home. If you don't know what you're doing here other than getting some basic info, I'd get as far away as you can. This is not the place to be."

I stared at him, awaiting more of an explanation.

"This is a demon-infested cave. Look left and right and you'll find nothing but demons who want the Kavari War times ten to happen all over. If you want perspective, we're researching a natural magic substance flowing all over the place that could turn a dead mouse into your worst nightmare. Let alone what it can do to our best warriors."

Ah. Got it. They're researching steroids. But the steroids took roids. And meth. Lots of meth.

"So I'll say it again. Get outta here. I'm about the only face remotely as generous in these depths. And that's because of that bird you got on your shoulder."

He shoved me along before I could ask anything (I definitely didn't care for being shoved), instructing me to go the opposite direction of where the veins lead to, and if I'm lucky, they might take me out of the cave. Otherwise I could play it risky and try to stow away in someone's transport out of here.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I'm Dr. Gauffsteadt. I pray we never see each other again, because if we do I can't promise it'll end in a way that you keep your head."

~

Well that was an experience. Back to square one, huh?

I mean I do have some stuff to learn from, so I can't exactly call it all for nothing.

In all reality I was trying to keep my mind off the fact that I completely wasted my time and made a total fool of myself.

I slipped up bad, and slipping up is not something I intend to keep as my M.O.

For a while I was just walking aimlessly. Just like before. There was too much on my mind for me to be able to stop and read what that researcher gave me.

Walking kept me in a dull and numb state of mind.

I must have been on my feet for hours. Playing out better ways I could have snuck around instead of being a total doofus, playing out my fall into this cave and the events leading up to now, thinking about the Demon King, thinking about what the fuck I'm doing with my life.

The further along in the cave I got, the more scenic things started to get.

I passed along some crystals and minerals, open spaces where water used to run through, and found that I was rather enjoying myself, the fact that I'm just trying to stay distracted aside.

I had all the time in the world, so I told myself I was taking the scenic route, and I took it through both the cave and my mind. Again, distractions aside, a big scary cave full of demons with no way out in sight can actually be kinda comforting.

There was a point where the cave stretched to a ravine below, far enough that even with my ability to see at least a little in this dark, I still couldn't see all the way to the bottom. Normally I was timid and terrified and that kind of thing would have me vomiting and turning the other way at all costs.

But for some reason, things just seemed so much less scary. It's not like I have anything to lose.

The only way across was an outcropping of rock where the path I'd come from ended, where I then had to climb up with my full strength onto another outcropping that led to another long and winding cavern on the other side.

In that ravine I saw dozens upon dozens of paths and openings and formations. Even at just this one small point in the world, there were a million places to go, and yet here I am on one of them anyways. There was something humbling about that. Not that I'm humble by any means, and nor do I plan to be.

I passed by a real river down here. Well, more of a crick. A small trickle at best. But that doesn't matter - it was cool. The sound was calming, and I got a drink that was actually pretty clean and tasted like minerals (I wonder why).

I'd been walking so long that my feet didn't feel like a part of my body anymore. And while there were some nice sights every here and there, mostly it was still just long, boring, and very endless stone. So I found a small almost bubble-like formation at a turn in the path I was on, where water dripped from stalagmites into a small pond of water that seemed to glow by the ever so faintest smidgen.

I stopped to take a rest there, bashing at the sharp spikes of rock with the hilt of my knife (which ended up doing nothing and sent pain throughout my wrist the first few times I tried), but I eventually cleared out enough of them that I could lay back against the stone wall.

It wasn't too uncomfortable, though, because I was laying on some thick moss. And honestly, I was surprised at how little it bothered me. I like this feeling of not caring.

Normally I'd be beyond disgusted at all the moss and grossness even being near me, let alone me laying on it... and being kinda comfortable doing it.

That and hungry. I was very hungry. The researcher, Dr. Gaulfsten, or whatever his name was, didn't give me any food, and the hunger was starting to hit.

I didn't have much of a choice other than to turn around and eat the moss. Once I realized I was hungry, I realized I was very hungry. And this is the only thing even remotely edible I've seen basically the entire walk after I left the little research facility forever and a day ago.

It was slimy and I could hear it schlurp off the wall. Laying against it wasn't so bad but having to peel it off the wall with the goal of eating it wasn't the best.

I dipped it in the pond to get rid of the dirt, plugged my nose, and said to myself, bon appetit, before devouring the chunk of moss whole. I could only stomach chewing it once or twice before I legitimately thought I would puke, so I just swallowed it whole and then had to clench my fist and bang it on the ground to surpass my gag reflex.

As fun as it's been to wander around here, I'm worried that I'll run out of food soon.

The spot where the part of the moss was started to glow, and I realized it was a little bug crawling out from behind. It flew out and around the little inlet I was relaxing in, and it was kind of like a firefly but glowed far brighter, and a somewhat blueish color.

Water from the stalagmites dripped into the small pond, and the insect drifted around near it.

So I cupped my hands and grabbed some water, washing my face and then looking in my now blurred, but slowly clearing, reflection.

I was the old me, but not. There were horns on top of my head. Two white, bony things sticking out straight up about 2 or 3 inches high. My hair was fluffy and white, and when I ruffled my wet fingers through it, it was extremely soft, like a brand new fur blanket or the inside of a nice new sweater.

What shocked me the most, but also made me smile a little, was that my eyes were a sort of cherry crimson color. I'm a demon now. But no demon I've ever seen before. Not that I'm an expert, but considering Lockwood was one, I know at least a little about them, and what I am is certainly no breed I've ever heard of.

I hate to gloat. Actually scratch that. I love to gloat, fuck it. It feels good. I feel badass.

And what's even better is that when I smiled, I noticed my teeth were exceptionally sharp, which explains why I cut my tongue on them earlier.

(It still hurts by the way)

This is the face I intend to keep. And it's the one I'll make sure is the last that a few people see.

I licked my lips at the thought of Keith's blood draining quicker than a freshly-cleaned bath pipe from wounds I inflicted. That and a few much more vulgar and graphic things.

But as of now, I need to focus on finding myself some food.

Though before that, since I've found somewhere comfortable and quiet, I should get some real rest since I haven't at all this whole time.

I squished the glowing bug and dipped my glowy-goo-covered hand in the water to clean it off, then layed my head back and closed my eyes.

As little as I knew about fighting and magic, I felt empowered. If my body has taken the form of my soul, then boy am I in for a reckoning when I see just how red my soul is.

My thoughts went around like this for a long while until I eventually realized... I'm not falling asleep.

I'm no stranger to sleepless nights, but even on those I'm a little groggy or drowsy. I'm just straight up awake now.

After another few wasted hours, I jammed my knife into the stone and groaned aloud.

"UGGGHHHHH!"