sparks flew. He was tired of this. His shoulders burnt but he continued on, the sound of metal against metal filled the room from all around him. So so tired. For as long as he could remember he had been in the mine digging away. He picked up chunks of ore and rock, dumping them into a battered dusty cart by his side. A faint logo reading Mianarch Corporations was etched into its side. A dust covered figure then came and slowly heaved the metal cart away.

The pickaxe suddenly ricocheted off of the ore and slammed into his face. It clinked against his face and fell out of his hands at the same time his knees buckled and he fell backwards onto the hard cold ground. He heard heavy footsteps coming from behind him. Iota! What are you doing?” Said a deep husky voice. “Get back to work”.

Iota scurried to his feet and continued back.

After the day they were led into a barren room with bunk beds rising 5 metres high. Iota, exhausted from the day, climbed into bed. The lights shortly thereafter were turned on, enveloping him in darkness.

He went to wash his face from the bathroom, his cold metallic face stared back at him. A red drop fell into the sink. He touched it. It was blood. He looked closer in the mirror. A small trickle of blood had made it#s way from under his mask and was pooling under his chin. He wiped it and grazed his mask. It gave no resistance and the mask rotated slightly on his face. He gently touched the mask and it moved more. Blood started to gently stream from his face. The mask slid down and clanked to the floor and he caught the hideous reflection of his skinless face in the mirror. THe world collapsed and he woke up.

He wakes up and is covered in sweat. Next to him an old man stirs.

“What is it” the old man said in a low voice.

Iota sat up slowly. “Deka, Is there anything else out there, beyond the mine”

“No logical person would think that this is all to life. The guards do something else, there just is someone controlling them. There may be an entirely new world somewhere beyond these rock walls. They sat there in silence for a while when Deka coughed heavily into his arm. “I don't have much time left. I'm planning on getting away from here.

I’m an old man with an old dream I don’t know if I can do this without your help, Join me” He said

Iota was caught off guard but thought about it long and hard. He nodded to himself after making his decision and resolutely said “yes!” If he was going to do backbreaking labour for the rest of his life he might as well take the risk now instead of later.

The guy looked around before leaning in and smiling slyly . He pulled out a pair of shiny metallic keys.

Iota’s eyes widened in surprise. “Those keys!” He burst out before hurriedly covering his mouth. He looked around but no one seemed to have woken up. “How did you get them!?” Exclaimed Iota. “I managed to swipe it off of one of the guards, tomorrow we’ll escape, during the lunch break we’ll sneak off and make our way to the forbidden room. “Okay.”

For the rest of the night no matter how hard he tried Lota wasn’t able to fall asleep.

Their plan worked wonderfully. The key opened the door and the thing that had been but a distant memory now was in front of him. The fresh air hit him like a storm.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He remembered once a long time ago one of his earliest memories. He caught a glimpse of something only for a moment through a keyhole. A green place with fresh air and a ceiling so high it couldnẗ be seen. White puffy things were in the sky as well. Having lived his entire life in the mine the fresh air he now experienced was overstimulating his senses. The greens, reds,yellows, oranges and blues of the various trees, flowers and fruits were beautiful and almost dreamlike. He realised that he had begun to cry, he never imagined something so beautiful could exist. He didn’t have much time to take it all in and they moved quickly forward. They were soon in the thick foliage of the jungle and had to slice past many leaves and branches. A sickly sweet scent also perpetuated the air.

He began to feel drowsy, something was wrong. Deka seemed to be moving further and further away; it seemed almost as if the very trees and vines were moving. He felt it but it was too late. He was overwhelmed with drowsiness and he fell asleep.

When he awoke he felt shooting pains all over his body tingling sensations like a million sparks dancing across his skin. When he woke up he tried to move but it didn’t go.. His whole body was encased in a thick cocoon. He was cut out by Deka and he was dragged away. ‘

“I almost didn’t find you Iota. ” said Deka, dragging him to a stop. Slowly the strength returned and he was able to move again before long he was able to walk.

Deka moved his head back and forth studying his suroundings. “What are you doing?” asked Iota with his head tilted to the side in confusion. “We can’t stay here for long.” said Deka quietly while increasing his pace. “We’re not in the clear yet, they let it out”.

“Let what out?” “The beast, it acts as a guard dog so to stop anyone from escaping we have to avoid it at all costs. ” If that thing was after them… Iota’s blood ran cold.

Twigs cracked and the bushes rustled as they stumbled through them.

Something felt off. The sound of chirping birds had stopped. It happened in the blink of an eye. A jet black creature dashed forth from the thick foliage. Deka just managed to push Iota off of the way and faced the creature. He slammed the thick metal pipe into its snout. “Run Iota!” shouted A burst of energy flooded into Iota the drowsiness from the plant slid off him like a weighted blanket. He sprinted. As fast as he could. Deka’s hand went numb as the pipe slammed into the beast’s hideous face. The beast’s head smashed into the ground and it rolled over itself. Deka was nearly crushed by it’s massive body. He immediately sprinted as well in the direction Iota went.

“It won’t keep it down for long.” The wall was now in sight. Iota slowed down but Deka surged ahead. He hurriedly moved his hands across the wall feeling with his fingers.

“There it is-'' muttered Deka. The place by his hands clicked and a section of the wall collapsed in on itself. Opening into a doorway. Iota gazed in amazement. How did he know there was a secret doorway? He had so many questions. He ran through the doorway,which was surprisingly thick around 2 meters. Deka soon followed, the doorway began to close but it was too slow. Iota realised with dread that the creature would make it. There was nothing he could do. They had lost. Deka stood in front of Iota facing the beast while holding the metal pipe. “Iota, I want you to listen to me.”

“What are you doing?” Time seemed to slow down. “You’re probably wondering how I knew about this entrance. I used to be a guard but was sentenced to slave away in the mines as punishment for rebelling against this injustice I already have blood on my hands not doing

anything for a long time out of fear, there’s no saving me.Without your mask you probably be fine. I’m sure if you go left following the wall you’ll be able to find shelter.”

With a hoarse cry and his club raised high he ran for the creature.”Wait Iota reached out his hand but only grasped air. The creature jumped into the air it’s gaping mouth closed around Deka’s arm. That was all he saw before the doorway fully closed. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He stood there in complete shock, unable to process what had just happened. Tears streamed down his face. He clenched his fist and he would never forget his sacrifice. He swore to return and get his revenge someday. To free those like him. But that would be a story for another day.