Hell Mine - Warden’s domain - ?

"Nunnalé, you... Why?"

Blood spills from her stomach, like a faucet being left to run. The sight leaves me horrified, unable to move a single finger in my body, let alone scream.

"It is...my duty. I must...protect...my Master..."

Nunnalé spits blood from her mouth. Her body sways from the ridiculous amount of blood she lost. She uses her sword to keep herself on her feet. Her breathing is getting heavier.

"You did that, just for me," I mumbled under my breath.

"I must protect you...no matter what the cost may be."

Those words were the same ones I resented, the ones that allowed others to get hurt just to protect me. I thought they only applied to others and not to herself. But now, she's limping around, trying to defend me with her wrecked body.

"Please…stay…behind…me!"

She points her sword at the enemy, disregarding her weakened state. The giant unleashes another devastating punch. Nunnalé guards against it, but her body got shot back‌.

What am I doing? I just watched her guard that for me. Why the hell did I do that? What the hell is wrong with me!? Damnit! I’m a spineless moron! A spineless moron with no guts! I…I! I’m an idiot! Shooting up to my feet, I manage to reach Nunnalé before its next attack could connect. I push us under its fist. I can still feel the force behind it, making it all the more intimidating.

I stop for a moment, placing her on my back before running for the exit.

"What…are you…doing?" she whispers, weak from her injury.

"Saving you, obviously."

"Leave…me! I’ll…protect…you!"

"No, you can't! If you fight that thing now, you'll just die!"

"If… If that…is so… Then…so be it."

"Don't just chalk up sacrificing life for me to be easy! That's not acceptable for other people or you!"

Her logic to put me before anyone, and anything else, is pissing me off. Of course I’d be pissed, anyone would be!

This monster's speed is picking up, it’ll be almost impossible to escape it on a narrow path. However, if I can get us down a corridor with turns, we can lose it there. It's a long shot by ourselves without any navigator to help us out, but it's better than being in here with this thing. Just before reaching the exit, a piece of rubble flies over our heads. I immediately turn left. That monster throws another piece of ground at us. Dodging it is easier than it looks, but me turning to get out of the way cuts into my momentum, helping the monster get closer and closer. Again, another comes our way and I get out of its way.

"Damn, how long is this gonna go!?"

As I got out of the way of the other one, I turned too quickly, causing me to sprain my leg. Damnit, not now! I protected Nunnalé’s head when we fell.

"Nunnalé, are you okay?"

Her breathing is heavy, her eyes are closed. There’s so much blood on my shirt. I need to get her out of here now! The giant closes in on us as I’m trying to get up. Damn, even if I get up, I won’t be able to escape this thing. No, thinking like that won't help. I need to go ‌fast. Despite my sprained foot, and the pain in my leg, I make a run for it one last time.

The giant is catching up, breaking the ground with each step. With this leg, there isn't any competition. But I don't care! I have to ‌get us the hell out of here!

It aims a punch for our backs. I jump to my left. It immediately follows up with a left. I’m barely able to dodge it, nearly getting grazed. Though, an attempt to evade it knocked me off balance. While I managed to stay on my feet, it gave the giant a chance to deliver the final blow. No, it’s not the final punch. I’m not going to let him stop me from getting away. I'm sure I can still dodge it, even from this distance. There's no room to second guess this; if I get hit, Nunnalé and I will die. I need to dodge this one, no matter what!

As I prepare to dodge the attack, someone comes between us.

The small figure that I’ve come to familiarize myself with belongs to Racheal! She uses her tiny body to defend us.

"...Pa..."

Did she just speak!? But what did she say? Sounded like “pa”. The giant stops its attack short of her whole body. The undying rage that was emanating from its body and thunderous roars that quaked the ground beneath it is gone.

"Pa...pa." Pa pa?” Wait, papa! Does that mean that thing is her father!? So did he go berserk because the Warden tried to kill her? She places her hands on his fist. "...Ah."

It sounds like she’s choking on her words… Yet, I can feel all the emotion behind her attempts. Happiness, but profound sadness too deep for words.

It opens its hands to her.

She places hers on his giant palm. "...Pa...pa..."

There is no monster, no rage of a beast… Just a man who reunited with his daughter...

"Racheal,"

The man whispers, emitting nothing but joy. He just stands there, holding her hand.

The new emotions from Racheal, who is still struggling to form a word, are regret, sorrow, and anguish, yet her happiness persists. They’re overpowering, stronger than any other emotion I’ve ever felt. They are the pure emotions of a child being reunited with the one she loves the most in the world... I know it's ridiculous, but I can’t help but be jealous, but I’m happy for her as well.

"Ya damn bastards!"

The Warden is up at the other entrance on the far left of the room. "Ya bastards thought ya won, huh? Well, ya sons of bitches gotta ‘another thing comin'!"

A loud explosion goes off that ripples across the ground, followed by a powerful earthquake. The ceiling is giving out, and pieces of it are falling. Several more explosions follow, each one stronger than the last. This is bad! We need to go now if we want to escape.

"Come on, we need to go!" I picked up Nunnalé. She’s still breathing. Racheal's dad turns his gaze to me. Those eyes said everything I needed to know. He then casts his eyes on her again. He kneels to her.

"Can't...go...monster... Go...with...him..." He picks her up, attempting to put her on my back, but she does her best to hold on to her dad. "...Cannot...monster...me."

Every word is chock-full of pain, regret, and fear that could consume this entire room. He probably has little control. His sanity came back because of Racheal, but that probably won't last long...

Racheal still isn't letting go. This place is becoming even more unstable.

"Put her on Nunnalé's legs!"

He did just that. I have a good hold on both of them. I just hope I can keep them up long enough to get us out of here. The giant has a strained expression on his face. Probably fighting back the monster within itself. This is the end of the line for him. He’s going to revert to a monster, and he might not come back...

"...Pa...pa," Racheal whispers, her voice breaking up as she’s on the verge of tears. "love you..." Even when fighting his monster urges, even if it would be difficult to speak, he was still able to utter such simple, yet meaningful words. Half of the room is collapsing in on itself. There’s no time left, we have to go.

"I'm sorry, but we have to go! Don't worry, I'll take care of your daughter! I promise!"

I ‌leg it out of the room. Looking back at the man, he’s just standing there, looking at us, running away. In a mere matter of seconds, our view gets cut off, no longer able to see him. With that, Racheal let out a cry that echoed through the tunnel. Bawling with all her might. I feel the tears soaking into my chest.

"I'm so sorry, but we can't go back now. We just can't!"

...

As the cave collapses, Avon waits for his death. Memories of his life flash before his eyes, in a movie of his life, playing out in his head.

In his early years, he had little in terms of goals. He was comfortable living his life in his village alongside his father and mother. However, during the war, they would be among the many casualties when he was still a teenager. His life did not change as he was raised by the village people. However, no matter how supportive they were of him, they could not fill the void in his heart.

But one day, a girl, from a village a few miles from his, ended up near his. He found her hurt, hungry, and tired. Avon took her home, caring for her wounds and feeding her. The girl was cautious of him at first but quickly grew to trust him. She became a resident of the village, helping out with daily chores, and keeping watch for anyone suspicious. However, she and Avon would continue to see each other, spending time together when they weren't busy.

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The girl would eventually open up to Avon more and more, telling him about what happened to her village and her parents. They were killed in battle with the kingdom as the kingdom's soldiers attacked her village. This led to the two to bond further and further until they fall in love.

Years later, they had been wedded, living their lives in bliss. The hole in Avon's heart was beginning to fill, and this whole would only finally be full until his daughter was born. The joy he felt from the life that was born into the world was beyond description. When he held his daughter in his hands for the first time, tears of joy fell from his eyes. It was truly a blessed time for him. Three years later, the war had just ended, but tragedy struck.

The villagers were suddenly sent to the Hell Mine, alongside others from their sister villagers, as well as prisoners from the war. For four years, day by day, grueling work was all that comprised their days. Eventually, Avon's wife got sick because of over-exhaustion. She would slowly but surely lose the life in her eyes. However, she would not complain about her condition, she was only showing concern for her husband and daughter. During her last days, she told her husband to stay strong-willed and to take care of their daughter. With those final words, she passed on. Even with the death of his wife, he couldn't mourn; he had to take care of his daughter.

So, he made a shelter for the workers who were being taken out and did his best to be the best father for his daughter, and a man who would lift the spirits of his fellow workers. Despite the sorrow of losing his wife, he carried a high spirit around himself. He would help his fellow man and plan on getting everyone out, biding his time until the time was right. However, this time came as he was being taken away. For four hours, he fought not to protect himself, but the people inside of the shelter as they too were threatened to be put out. When he was subdued, he was taken to the Warden. During their meeting, they struck a deal: the warden would leave the shelter alone if he agreed to be properly taken out. The choice was obvious, and he agreed.

This only dragged him into a world of hell. He doesn't know where, but day after day, his body would be altered, experimented on, filled with something else, something ethereal. Day after day, there was nothing but pain; each bone altered, his muscles tightened, and his body burned from the excruciating pain. However, he stayed strong, all for his daughter. In the end, he slowly lost his will and memories as his mind was being corroded. Eventually, he fell into a never-ending slumber, later turning into a bodyguard for the Warden, three years after being put out.

But, when he laid eyes on Racheal again for the first time in years, a piece of him came to the surface.

It was only when the Warden tried to kill her did he finally awaken from his slumber, not with sanity, but rage. He sought to kill anyone that touched her or was near her, all to protect her. Even with this rage, when she was in the sight of his rage-fueled eyes, the man that once was truly reawakened, to be with her one last time.

Now, with the rage slowly coming back, but too slow to come into effect. He’s in a state of peace. The falling rock around him doesn't frighten him. The only thought he has is of his family; his father, mother, wife, and his beloved daughter. All of them are steadfast in his heart to the very end, as the ground is about to crush him.

"Stay strong... Racheal."

The ceiling crushes him under its weight... That day, a good man, husband, and father, had died under the earth. Leaving his love and hopes with his daughter.

...

I made it to the upper levels. The entire area is crumbling and falling under itself. If I had been below this level for another minute, the whole floor would've crushed me. It’s getting a little dicier moving through here. A wrong step would lead to our deaths. Fortunately enough, I see the exit.

"Almost there!"

It’s a brief climb, but I can't scale it with people in my arms.

"Racheal, you gotta climb on your own!" She isn’t budging. Her hands clinging to my shirt. "Come on, Racheal, you have to climb!" She still isn't moving. At this point, she must feel defeated, losing her father after finding him. "Fine..."

I hoist Nunnalé over my shoulder as I start climbing. I have only one hand to work with, the other is to keep Racheal from falling. Climbing is harder than it seems, but the method is simple: find a foothold before I keep going.

Another rumble rocks the mine. Below, the floor gives out below us, showing the deeper parts of the mine. There is nothing to catch us. Once we fall, that’s it, we’ll die.

"Holy crap!"

The parts below me are falling apart. I make one giant leap before grabbing onto the edge of the platform. So close, I just need to pull myself up with all my strength, but my body has too much weighing it down.

"Racheal, I need you to climb up now!" She’s still doing nothing. "Please, I need you to climb! I know, losing your dad again must feel horrible; I can't even imagine what it feels like. But he wouldn't want you to die here, not in this place. He would...he would want you to live!" A gasp escapes her. "So if you really love your father, then please, just climb up!"

My fingers are going numb. I need to feel up every inch of sensation so that I can keep a hold on this ledge. Something presses down on my head; Racheal scales up from my body to the top of the platform. She made it up in less than a couple of seconds.

"Okay, can you pull Nunnalé now?" Nunnalé is slowly being lifted off my shoulder. Even with a small frame, she lifts Nunnalé onto the ledge. Now I can finally move my other arm without worry. Racheal extends her hand to me...

"Whoa!"

The rumbling is getting worse. My fingers can't take it! As I try to pull myself with the other hand while the rumbling continues.

"Huh!?"

The piece of the wall with my hand firm on it tears from the wall. My body falls backward. The immediate shock hits me fast. My heart is racing faster than I can even compute. This is the end, my body is going to hit the floor below me, being broken, torn apart by the impact as my blood splatters all over the place. I can’t believe this is how I’ll die… Suddenly, as if my luck hasn’t run out yet. Racheal, with all her strength, catches my hand.

"Live...you...live!" The words that she fumbled out were genuine and heartfelt, I can feel the desperation in them. She’s pulling me up with everything she has, but it’s not enough to pull me up

"Racheal, you're not strong enough. Just save Nunnalé and yourself!"

She shakes her head. If she keeps this up, we'll both fall! The rumbling grows violent. The rest of the cave is beginning to fall. But that tremor was enough to loosen her grip on me. Once again, I fall, with Racheal coming with me. No, no, no! This is the worst outcome! Please, something, somebody, save her!

"YAHOO!"

At the last second, someone pulls Racheal back, grabbing my hand while hanging from the ledge. The goggles on his face, that overconfident smile. It can’t be anyone else but...

"Proxy!"

"Sup, buddy. Hanging around?"

"That joke sucks! But I'm glad it's coming from you."

"Bet you are. Here we go!" He pulls us up to the ledge. "Ready to leave this dump?"

"Thought you never ask." I pick up Racheal, giving her a piggyback ride. Proxy carries Nunnalé as we make a mad dash out of here. “Let’s go. I promised him I would take care of you, and I mean it.”

Running like our asses are on fire, we dash for the exit, fighting the upward climb to the entrance.

"So, how do you like the new world experience?" Proxy jokes, not breaking the rhythm of his breathing.

"Gee, it's like being in a paradise, nothing but fun!"

"Knew you'd see it my way."

"I was being sarcastic!"

"I know, so was I."

Holy Lands - night

Zooming past the exit, we escaped from the collapsing mine. The heat escaping from the mine parallels the summer. The entrance is still somewhat intact, but the deeper part of the mine is inaccessible now and forever. I start coughing the moment I stopped moving.

Proxy pats me on the back, helping me get through my coughing fit. "Richard, you all right.”

"Yeah, never better. I'm just glad we're out of there."

"Yeah, I thought we’d never breathe cool air ever again."

Me too, the fresh air is welcoming to my lungs. The moon hangs in the clear, dark sky.

"Glad you both made it out," a man with no hair congratulated us.

"You too, Ovan. And yeah, we almost didn't," Proxy replies, gasping for air in between sentences. "How about you guys? Did the others get out?"

"Yes, we were able to escape safely. We also managed to rescue some workers as well."

Thank goodness for that… However, looking at the large group of people, there are only around 50 workers here, or maybe more.

"Is this all of them?" I ask the man named Ovan.

"Yes, we got as many as we could, but not all of them could get out in time."

Only this many made it? There were so many more than this amount, and some of them were sick in the shelter... I can't say that I feel right about any of this... Wait!

"Hey, Proxy, what about Nunnalé?"

"She's breathing, but barely. We need to get her back to camp," he urges me.

"What are we going to do now?" One of the workers asks out of nowhere, expressing a tinge of despair.

"What do you mean, you're free, you can do whatever you want," Proxy simply answers.

"But what? We have nowhere to go. Now that the mine is destroyed, we have nothing!" The workers are getting agitated. More and more of them are despairing over the fact the mine was gone.

"Are you telling me you'd rather be down there?" Proxy bites back, obviously irritated with them.

"At least we had a home. We knew what to do down there, but now..."

They were seriously saying it was better down there? Why the hell would anyone want to stay down there!? That is so stupid, so astronomically stupid! I can’t even…!

"Yo, buddy, hold her."

Proxy hands off Nunnalé to me.

"W-what are you?"

He walks over to the wooden sign of the mine. Coughing into his hand. "YOOOOOOO!"

The crowd immediately draws their attention to the boy who yelled his lungs out. His sudden outburst quiets them down, giving him a chance to be heard.

"Home? At least you knew what to do down there? Are you guys dumb?" Proxy yells, kicking the sign next to the mine, breaking it under his foot. "The hell are you people talking about!?... If you really saw that place as your home, then why didn't you stay down there and die?” Nobody responds to his question. "No, no takes on why? Then I'll tell you why." Proxy points to the moon. "Because you wanted to see that! You wanted to live and see the surface, to live and get out of that hellhole and get a whiff of fresh air, feel the breeze hit you in the face, and the grass between your toes. Who cares if you lost that dump, you can find another home. So would you rather be slaving away the rest of your lives, or be kickin’ it outside, where the sky's the limit, baby?" Proxy snaps his fingers at the sky. The crowd's murmurs die down, all eyes were on him. "So get this, my friend and I are heading back to our camp. If you wanna tag along, follow us."

Proxy goes chugging ahead, not even giving a second glance at the crowd of people. At first, it seemed like they didn't want to follow him, but one of them went with him, then another person went along with him, and then some more did, and soon after, all of the began following after. Amazing...

"Your friend truly is strong-spirited. Even after everything that happened in there, he’s still standing strong." Ovan compliments him, smiling all the while

"That's the kind of guy he is..."

"Oh, excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself: I'm Ovan."

"Oh, I'm Richard. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Well, Richard, we should get your lady friend medical help," Ovan mentions regarding Nunnalé with a dire look.

"Yeah." I go pick up Nunnalé, who is still unconscious on the ground. The bleeding isn't as bad as it was before and her clothing is repairing itself in front of my eyes. Did she do something? No, now’s not the time. The bleeding might have slowed, but it's still bad. Hopefully, Marie has the supplies to patch her up.

“Nunnalé, can you hear me?” She's still unconscious, but still breathing. “...We're going to get you treated, so hang on." There’s no time to lose. We need to get back to camp. Looking back, I see Racheal, who tugs at my pants. “Are you okay?”

She nods her head.

“Come on, we’re gonna go somewhere safe… Do you want a piggyback?”

She sheepishly nods her head again. I crouch down, letting her climb onto my back. Her legs rest on my head and her arms are wrapped around my forehead.

“Okay, here we go.” I head down the trail everyone else is going through. The quiet night puts my heart at ease as I carry these two…