___

My body turned down the familiar, grim hall that housed the numerous, withered articles and stories. Each and every one detailing the destruction Joker caused in Gotham. My head pounded from the recent assault I was forced to endure, at the hands of one of the escaped inmates. Still, I knew I needed to press on. I was the only hope for the men and women Joker held hostage somewhere in this building, and the only way to get to them was to follow along with the trials ahead.

As I walked down, shining my flashlight where I looked, I glanced again at the horrific deeds of the madman whose game I was forced to play. Looking through the Joker’s past, another article stood out to me, blaring at me like a hazard sign. I don't know why, but I was drawn to the horrific title of that particular article.

“Joker slays Kindergarten class. Victim’s yet to be identified a week later.”

I whispered the tragic headline aloud, my eyes fluttering over to the picture placed before the article, using the flashlight to help me make out what it depicted. Rows and rows of sleek body bags stretched across what looked to be a coroner’s morgue, with the shapes inside of those bags making it abundantly clear children occupied them. As I read on, a chill started to creep along my neck.

The article detailed Joker’s crime - kidnapping a Kindergarten class and their teacher on a field trip six years ago. The class, from what the article described, was missing for three, excruciatingly suspenseful days. That was until their bodies were found back in their classroom, deceased.

I read the next paragraph, and when I did an audible gasp of horror erupted from my lungs, as if the horrific detailing of the crime stole away my ability to breathe. My body began to freeze, constricting me while I read on.

The journalist painted a very clear picture of how their bodies were found. Each one, sitting at their desk, cruelly posed in attentive positions. When it came time to identify the remains of the students, they found the task to be difficult, since their killers mix-matched different body parts to different students. Joker later took credit for the massacre but offered no help to the families. Meaning the victimized parents of the children had to identify their own children’s remains.

My eyes squeezed shut as I held my head, the words detailing this sick man’s actions now burned in my brain. I used my fingers to comb my hair back in disbelief, holding back the urge to retch and vomit at the thought of what the Joker had done so many years ago. Horror once again overcame me, as tears welled up in my eyes.

This can’t be real, it couldn’t be.

Disbelief poured over me again as I looked at the list of children named in the attack. One name caught my eye, and when it did the waves of realization crashed through my shaking body.

Delgato, Emily. Age six.

“No!”

I whispered out, wrapping my arms around my person to try and comfort myself in this nightmare, but to no avail. The familiar name rang inside of my mind.

Delgato.

It was Sydney’s daughter. The one she said Joker murdered. Once the recognition dawned on me, I knew this wasn’t fake, despite my desperate pleas for it to be.

I could feel every sting and ache on my body, from the previous assault. My hand stung while the blood from the slice began to stick to the dirty bandage I crudely wrapped around it. My head pounded from the bashing I was subjected to, with its flow of crimson starting to slow, trickling down to my neck. My body processed the pain, as my mind processed what was reality.

This was real. What the Joker did was real, and now whatever he had planned was real. The Joker made the most horrific of fantasies come to life, and I had to live through it. Sweat stuck to my skin as I felt the flames of terror burning me alive from the inside. My insides felt the knife of dread plunge itself in and twist.

I needed to find the hostages, I thought. I needed to find them before he did something to them. Just as sick and depraved as what he did to those schoolchildren.

I looked for a way to go as a cold chill ran down my neck, looking for anything other than the horrid unit I had just come from. My cautious eyes drifted toward the door with the wires and chains affixed to it. Not seeing any other way to go, I began to walk in the direction of the ominous entrance while catching it in the dim beams of my flashlight.

As I walked, the filthy darkness of the halls mixed with green hues of light, blurring together in my peripherals to form a grim setting. The only thing that was clear enough was the destination ahead, taking the shape of frightening doors, likely containing more horrors I'd have to face behind them.

A sudden sharp popping noise stopped me in my tracks, as static crackled in the air for a brief second. I braced myself for the haunting voice that always followed that sound.

“Ah, ah, ah! What’s this? Is someone getting a little ahead of themselves? Well, I’m afraid the party in there isn’t quite ready for you yet! Why don’t you turn back?”

The Joker’s unsettling voice called out the warning as if he were speaking to a child.

As my body shook with fear, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the comment. I stopped in my tracks, lowering my hands to my sides while I looked around for another place to go. I could feel an annoyance build itself up in me, starting like a small flicker of flame. When I realized there was nowhere else I could head, with walls and other entrances being blocked off or collapsed, I spoke up with a monotone, defeated voice.

“Okay, so where do I go?” I asked aloud.

I knew the madman could hear me, as well as see me. How he could, I had no idea. All I knew was that he was watching, and listening. Guiding me through the hell that was his entertainment.

“What’s that now? I can barely hear you, kid! Speak up! Geez, even Robin number two had a better set of lungs than-”

“I said: WHERE. DO. I. GO. THEN?”

I yelled out, my throat burning from the anger in me. What started as a small flame was growing in my heart. Annoyance into a rage.

How dare he, I thought. How dare he have the gall to demand anything of me. I’m already playing his twisted game, to free the poor souls trapped under his heel. Doing it all his way, with him demanding me to hurry, or run along.

I was tired of his demands. Fury started to boil in me, especially after I heard the gut-wrenching laughter on the other end.

“That’s the spirit, Sarah! You’re starting to get into it now! And whattya know? You’ve got a voice after all!”

“You didn’t answer my question!”

I managed to bark out into the dark.

“Well- aren’t you a little firecracker! As much as I’d like to help you, I’m afraid I can’t give away any more pointers. That would be cheating! You should know better!”

I could feel my nose curl up in disgust and anger, my breath increasing as the adrenaline continued to flare through my body. I looked ahead at the doors, trying to look for a way in. Unless Joker had a pair of bolt cutters hidden in the musty debris, there was no way I could physically go through the door ahead.

Physically, I thought. I began to walk towards the doors, with a plan swimming in my brain.

Even though my abilities have been hit or miss recently, I could try to at least use them to get past the doors. Time was of the essence, and if I could use them to phase through the doors, it might cut the time I’d reach the hostages short.

“ I wouldn’t do that if I were you! You don’t want to get docked points for not following the rules, do you kid?”

The Joker’s taunting voice over the intercoms only made the rage inside of me bubble over.

“Fuck off!”

I managed to yell out, quickening my pace to the door.

“Careful, now! The last person who uttered those words to me didn’t fare so well. And disrespect doesn’t suit little, ol' you!” The Joker's words became less jovial and more stern with a growl erupting from his throat.

“What, did you talk them to death?”

I spat out angrily, trying to hold my ground despite my voice shaking in uncertainty.

I reached the doors, placing a hand on the rusted, metal surface while trying to focus on reaching the abilities within me.

His jovial voice returned.

“Quite the opposite, actually! Gave me a good tongue-lashing for hours, if I recall. That is… until I took it out of him. Rid him of his little attitude problem. And that was just the start of a fun night for him! They only found the lungs and the teeth, if I recall!! I am, after all, a world-class hide-and-seek champion!”

My blood turned cold as I heard the Joker laugh hysterically as if his recalling the mutilation of his victim was a joke for the ages.

My fear was quickly turning back into determination as I looked through the broken windows. Using my other free hand, I shone my flashlight into a hole where the glass had broken off. Once I did, I could see dim, flickering lights on the other side, illuminating a hallway that ended where large descending stairs began. I couldn’t see beyond those stairs, which led me to believe the room ahead only led deeper inside this hell.

I need to get through these doors, I thought. I needed to get to those hostages, and I was going to do it my way. I was done playing this psychopath's game.

Shoving the flashlight I had through the hole in the window’s glass, the clatter of the tool echoed through the halls as I gently closed my eyes, trying to regulate my breathing. I pushed out the pain, the fear, and the rage. Only focusing on my inner self.

I need to phase, I thought. Help me phase.

After a brief moment, the door’s surface could no longer be felt. When I opened my eyes, I saw the smoke, twirling around me as I slowly pushed my arm passed the the metal doors. Without hesitation, I moved my body through the chained entrance, passing through it with ease while I focused my mind on staying phased.

Once my legs moved through the entrance, I faced the corridor with a cautious gaze, peering into the darkness and what lay beyond it. My head quickly jerked down, looking at the flashlight I had dropped through the hole in the glass. The shadows and smoke around me flickered, before disappearing into the darkness around me as I kneeled to pick up my flashlight. As my cold, shaking fingers were about to grab the handle, something caught my eye.

The surface I was standing on was not hard, filthy tile. Instead, rusted bars with knitted metal held my weight.

Grates, I thought.

The slight sound of water trickling down below could be heard faintly, in the eerie silence of the new room I was in. In an instant, I realized the grates I stood on were hollow underneath. As I picked up my flashlight, I shone it down into the void underneath me, trying to peek at what was below me.

Black. All I could see was black below, with the light sound of rushing water becoming more eminent as I focused on it. A blinking green light drew my attention away, however, as I shone a light to the side. Once I did, the breath in my lungs froze, as I realized the grate was connected to wires, all attached to a hinge.

It wasn’t just a grate. I was stepping on a makeshift trap door.

Regret sunk in, seeping through to my heart as it filled with dread.

Damn you, Sarah, I thought. I should have known better.

I heard a crackle through the intercoms again, and before I could jump out of the way Joker’s mocking words echoed through the dark room.

“Time for a penalty round, ladies and gentlemen!”

I let out a scream as the trap door swung open, dropping me harshly into the dark below. The feeling of no ground below me as I plunged into the darkness caused another spike of panicked adrenaline. Even though I only fell for a few seconds it felt like an eternity, my heart falling throughout my body. One hand clutched onto the flashlight for dear life, while the other reached upward towards the fleeting trap door in a desperate attempt to try and salvage my life. The sounds of faint water grew louder, and louder, growing as I continued to plunge.

SPLASH!

Cold water encased me, chilling me inside and out. Before I could process what was going on, my body whipped to the side as the currents of winding water swept me away. Shock hit me like a blunt object, setting my survival instincts into overdrive. Quickly, I gasped as my head peeked above the current, trying to refill my lungs with the air that was crudely stolen from them in the fall.

There was no use in trying to go back, as the current zipped by with enough force to blast me back if I tried. Instead, I quickly floated on my back as it dragged me away, trying not to fight against the hopeless rush of water now roaring in my ears. The water carried me for what seemed like ages, twisting and turning violently with every sharp corner it took. This hellish water slide seemed to have no end, and part of me worried that I’d be doomed to ride it forever.

Just as suddenly as I had fallen, it only took a few seconds before the water I was traveling with shot me out into the open air. With my luck, the descent only lasted a couple of seconds. At one moment, I was freefalling through chilled, unfamiliar air. Then in the next, my body collided painfully onto a flat metal floor. A light splash erupted from me as I slammed into the ground, shooting out around me before settling into small ripples inside of the vast puddle I was in.

My heart kept beating from the sudden nature of everything that had just transpired, quickening its pace as I slowly brought myself onto my knees, lifting up my flashlight to see if it was still usable. I grunted out in pain as I did so, my body aching from the impact I had just suffered from. My uneasy finger flicked the on switch to the flashlight up, as I silently pleaded that my flashlight was waterproof. Hope reignited in me once I saw the dim beam shift on, and I considered myself lucky that I wasn’t completely in the dark.

I flashed the light upward, to take a look where I had just come from. A tunnel poured out dark, murky water, splashing downward onto the ground I now stood in. Shining my flashlight around, I gazed at my surroundings. A circular room was all that could be seen. With three large tunnels attached to it. Two of the tunnels were closed off, from the looks of it, blocked by concrete gates that held firm despite the age of this place. One tunnel to my right, however, was wide open. As I took a couple of steps forward to gaze down the tunnel, I could see its features more clearly. Two openings on the end meant the tunnel split off in those directions, but the main focus was the curious dark, stormy light at the center of the split tunnels.

I couldn’t help but feel my heart skip a beat as I raced down the tunnel, my jog turned into a sprint as I got closer. Was it really what I thought it was? When I was right near the end of the tunnel, my heart raced with hope.

It was exactly what it looked like.

My free hand reached out to grab the thick metal bars of the tunnel’s massive drain. Once I did, I could feel the cold, whirling wind of the outside world. Blinking to make sure it was real, my eyes saw the vast sea beyond Arkham’s Island, as well as the grey, violent sky above raining down on the world below it. My eyes shifted downwards to see where the water from the tunnel was dripping to, and that’s when I realized a massive problem.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Even though this tunnel directed water to the outside world, there was no way for me to escape. The bars of the drain prevented me from getting through, and there was no ground for me to phase or reappear on. Instead, just a plummet down into the sea.

I was still trapped for the time being. I sighed, taking a step back from the drain. Hope seemed the dash before I came up with a new idea. If there was a way for Oracle to find this drain on the map, they might be able to find a way in faster. One that didn’t require the hassle of the Arkham Security System.

I quickly touched my finger to my ear, trying to find my comms unit while trying to guess where I was. The water wasn’t necessarily clean, but it wasn’t dirty enough to be a sewer of any kind. My mind settled on some type of old irrigation system when I realized that I didn’t feel the tech I was used to, but instead felt the cold, wet skin on my ear. Panic set in as I felt around for it, trying desperately to locate it. I looked around on the ground but saw nothing.

“Shit, shit!”

I cursed out, throwing my head back in regret.

My comms unit was gone, probably washed away in the water current I had fallen into moments earlier.

“God damn it!”

I yelled out in fearful frustration.

I only had myself to blame for it. I decided to break the rules, and I should have known that the Joker would have been clever enough to anticipate my stubbornness. Now I was alone. Without a comms unit to connect me to the outside world. Stuck inside these tunnels with only a flashlight in hand, and a knife in my boot.

A low growl echoed menacingly from the tunnel to my left, breaking my self-pity. Instead, fear and uncertainty took over once again, as I shone my flashlight down the dark circular path. Nothing could be seen, except for the tunnel sides caught in my beams, meaning the path continued on.

Swallowing my fear, I decided to pursue the growl. Slowly walking over to the left tunnel, I grabbed the switchblade from my boot, extending it out in case something came from the shadows. Whatever made the low sound wasn’t human, and that thought made me feel more confident using the blade for protection. As I walked down the tunnel, I listened intently to the faint noise that echoed down the tunnel, being cautious of what lay ahead.

The tunnel stretched on, making several turns. The growls got louder with each turn I took, with the soundwaves from the mysterious noise sending vibrations through my body. I felt dread and doom fill my heart as I got closer to it. My body came across another turn, and the noise that erupted from it shook me down to my core.

Whatever was making the sound was right around the corner, I thought.

Cautiously, I made one last step, water sloshing from the movement as I peeked around the corner to gaze at what lied ahead. Once I did, a loud gasp erupted from my lips as my eyes widened in pure horror.

I quickly backed up, covering my mouth to try to avoid making more sound.

There caught in the flashlight’s beam stood what could only be described as a monster, in all nine feet of its glory. Sharp green scales covered every inch of the creature, with large clawed hands hanging at its sides. A frightening tail swished in my direction, as the massive creature turned to face what now disturbed its territory.

Me.

A low growl emitted from the lips of the creature as it turned. When its head faced my direction, demonic yellow eyes glimmered in the flashlight’s illumination. Bright, horrendous eyes with pitch-black pupils smaller than the prick of a needle. Cold chills of pure terror filled my heart as I looked at the monster’s sharp, elongated teeth, protruding from its jaw like daggers, stained red with fresh blood.

“Who… are YOU?”

The creature grumbled out, its words causing the ground below my feet to vibrate.

I took another slow step back, moving my gaze slightly behind it. The dead end behind it led to another drain, but the body lying next to it was what drew my attention away from the creature briefly. Whatever, or whoever this person was, they were unidentifiable. From the looks of it, their body was torn into, and ripped apart. The face was missing, revealing the gruesome parts underneath. From what I could make out, sharp teeth marks adorned the skin still remaining on its face, as if something massive had taken a bite out of the body. A snack, now turned to a bloody pulp. Most likely done by the beast who now stood before me.

The creature saw that I had looked behind it, and I watched its cruel, scaly lips turn into a smirk. A small, malicious chuckle released from its throat as if seeing my fear amused it.

“He wasn’t much of an appetizer. You’re even less…”

I didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing, being less than an appetizer. Regardless, whatever this thing was, it was making its taste for human flesh abundantly clear.

I slowly moved my leg back, ready to step back while gripping the flashlight and switchblade tightly. Part of me wanted to run away, but my survival instincts were screaming at me not to make any sudden moves. Instead of listening to my fear, I froze, barely moving my muscles.

“Who ARE you? Another guard? A doctor? Who did he send me?”

The massive beast growled out its words again. Taking a sharp breath in, I knew I needed to answer. Better to pacify the monster than to agitate it.

“N-No. None of the above… I-”

“Not a doctor? Then what are you? What are you to this pla-”

The monster froze before it could finish, and after a brief silence, it began to laugh.

“No. I know you now… You’re the little hero Joker’s playing with… He told me he'd send you to me."

I began to move my other foot back, slowly but surely moving away from the beast. My fearful eyes locked with it, intertwining with its burning yellow irises. Whatever this was, it was associated with the Joker.

“W-Who are you?” I managed to ask.

Despite every bone in my body telling me to run, my inquisitive side wanted to know more. Maybe this monster knew what was coming next. Or better yet, how to get out of these tunnels.

The creature only snapped its jaws at me, before lifting its head up proudly.

“I’m the Killer Croc… I can smell your fear, girl. You’re right to be afraid.”

Low, callused words spat out from the beast, causing me to inhale sharply with panic. Still, I managed to compose myself. I needed to know more.

“What are you doing down here?”

“I was sent down here to wait. For you.”

“Why? What did Joker send you here for.”

“To feed me. Then, when the time was right… To kill you.”

Just before I took another step back, I froze again. Paralyzed by its explanation.

“W-Why are you helping him? You don’t know what he’s done… What he’s doing!”

I managed to stutter out, trying to reason with the beast.

“I’ve done worse, girl.” The creature snarled.

“What are you?”

I whispered out, my body shaking.

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re not as bright as you seem…”

He leaned down towards me, still towering over me as it walked over to me. My body backed up as far as it could, but the corner caught my back, preventing me from going any further. I faced it, its massive jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth now inches from my face. My breath escalated, quickening as my heart pounded in my tightening chest. Constricted by fear, I stood there, waiting for the creature to pounce.

“I’m a monster.” It bellowed.

Suddenly, its jaw unhinged, and it lunged at my face. In the nick of time, survival kicked in. Using the switchblade in my hand, I instinctively sliced at the monster while releasing a yell. The beast recoiled back a few inches, lifting its green, scaly claws to its face. The switchblade had caught it across the face, slicing it from its right eye past its nose. A loud, almost animalistic scream erupted from the creature, as it now looked at me with one rage-filled eye open.

Using what strength I could muster, I landed a bold kick to its grey-scaled chest. It managed to make it stagger back a few steps, and in turn, gave me my opening. Now having some space, I turned and bolted towards the tunnels ahead of me. Water splashed around my feet wildly as I dashed away from the monster.

A blood-curdling roar from behind me vibrated the tunnels. Despite my instincts telling me to not look back, I couldn’t help but take a glance behind me. The creature fell down, getting on all fours. Its tail swung wildly as it began to run after me, each step it took making the ground shake.

Killer Croc now made sense, as I could see its eyes glowing hauntingly in the dark as I ran. The creature looked exactly like a crocodile, locking onto and chasing its prey.

Quickly, I whipped my head back forward to look at where I was running. I took many loops and turns, sprinting away from the massive creature. Despite my best efforts to get some distance, I could feel it getting closer to me as I ran.

It was catching up to me.

No matter how hard I tried, a steady flashlight beam could not be achieved with the light shaking violently while I ran. Luckily, I was still able to see the twists and turns ahead of me. The ground shook with every stomping step the creature chasing me took, almost making it so it was all I felt throughout my whole body. My body quickly swerved, about to take a right when-

SMACK!

Something large smacked into my body, and I was sent flying into the wall. The entire backside of my body colliding with the rounded metal surface of the tunnel. I released a cry of anguish, with pain shooting out within me in every direction. I landed in the shallow water face first, releasing everything in my hands as my back erupted with pain. Looking up, I tried to process what happened. Managing to catch a quick glimpse, I could see the creature's tail recoil back to a straight position.

The damn thing caught me with its tail, I thought.

Killer Croc still ran at me on all fours, getting closer, and closer. Quickly, I looked around me to try and find what I had dropped. The only thing I could spot was the flashlight below the water, still shining brightly under the murky ripples. Plunging my hand in to grab it, I came to the realization the switchblade I had was completely gone.

I brought the flashlight back up, holding it up just in time to catch Killer Croc’s face directly in its beams. The monster shielded its eyes in pain, as it roared out angrily. Apparently, its eyes didn’t approve of the light being directly in them.

Using the time I had, I scooted back quickly, the water below me sloshing around with every movement I made. Once I had some distance, I flipped myself upright, standing with the flashlight in hand.

The monster recovered from the bright light faster than I had hoped, as it stood up again. I had started to back up, rushing away from Killer Croc. It was quicker than me, however, and in one swift motion, it swung its massive clawed hand at me. I felt the large claw wrap around my throat, stealing every breath I had in an instant. My feet lifted off of the ground as it violently threw me to the side, pinning me against the wall as if I were nothing more than a ragdoll to it. I cried out once more, as pain once again echoed throughout my bones

Desperately, I clawed at the creature, trying to free myself from its dangerous grasp. This creature could crush me completely if it wanted to. I thrashed around wildly, trying to prevent that outcome from happening.

“No more games, brat! Time to die!”

The angry creature roared out, once again unhinging its jaw readying itself to take a massive bite.

Panic boiled in my chest more so now, as I realized I was stuck in its clutch. If I still had the switchblade, I could have at least used it to free myself once again. My bandage hand did everything in its power to claw at the creature's hand around my throat, hoping some ounce of pain would persuade it to release me. All the creature did was laugh, almost like it pitied my attempts. Its large, scaled head tilted, looking at me struggle.

“Face your end, little hero. No point in struggling.”

The creature snarled out its words, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth. Its jaw unhinged once again, before its mouth lunged for my face, ready to bite.

My hands came up instinctively, gripping onto its upper and lower jaw. I pushed back with all of my might, determined not to become its latest victim.

Pleading inside me, I begged to escape. The smoke only flickered, before disappearing. This happening multiple times, unable to fully heed me. I could feel my lungs scream out again for air, and I knew I wouldn’t last long unless I did something.

I struggled intensely, fighting for my life against this creature’s grasp. I grunted out in the struggle, using every bit of might within me to push the creature’s monstrous jaws away from me.

The monster growled in anger, unappreciative of my attempts to sabotage its snack. It pushed further, snarling at me in the process. My arms started to buckle, and I could feel my strength begin to waiver. Cries of desperation escaped my lips, as my attempts to protect myself were failing.

The situation seemed hopeless, yet I still fought. My abilities failing me, my will fleeting, my strength unmatched. Yet, I didn’t want to go without a fight. Remembering Sydney’s words, I didn’t want her to think I gave up down here.

“You can beat this.”

Her words to me echoed in my skull, time slowing as I remembered her face standing in my room. Despite the monster in front of me, all I could see was her. One of the only people to believe in me from the start. I thought back to when we had our conversation. A heart-to-heart that healed us both. Occurring just moments after she had given me something.

My eyes widened in realization, as I looked down towards my dangling feet. When I focused, I noticed one of my boots had something inside.

The taser, I thought.

I quickly raised my legs lightly, propping it against the wall I was against as braced myself.

I needed to make this quick. One wrong move and Killer Croc would tear my face off. Move too slow, and the same outcome would occur. I needed to be fast, and precise. As I pushed against it some more, a strength I didn’t know I had vibrated through my arms. Angrily, the beast roared in annoyance, frustrated that I was still fighting back.

Now, I thought.

I quickly took one hand off Killer Croc’s upper jaw, reaching down to pull out Sydney’s taser from my boot. Right as the monster lunged forward, about to bite, my hand extended out into its slimy, bloody jaws. I pushed the device into the roof of its mouth, and with a brisk flick I switched the device on.

Inhumane whines came from the creature, as it began to shake from the electric currents shooting through its body. I quickly retracted my hand as the monster closed its mouth, narrowly escaping a lost appendage. The monster’s jaws couldn’t close fully, as the taser I had just used lodged itself in its jaw. It fell back, collapsing onto its knees in pain with the device keeping its jaws at bay. I fell as the monster released me, landing back into the murky water below.

A splash came from around me as I choked for breath, my long wet hair now sticking to my face and body. I had no time to waste, however. This bought me some time, but I had to ensure some more.

Bursts of anger and energy shot throughout me as I ran up the beast, holding my hands together to form the ultimate fist. Once I was beside it, I leaped up with all my might, lifting my fists above my head before swinging it down onto the creature's head. Its head jerked from the assault, the force I had being enough to send it onto its belly flat.

I didn’t stop there. I wanted this thing to stay down.

I lifted up my foot, bending my knee to give it more power. With a swift kick, my foot collided with the side of its head yet again, causing it to yelp in pain. Once the deed was done, I picked up the flashlight I had dropped in the struggle, before taking off down the tunnels. The tasers and beatings only bought me time, and I needed to take it.

My legs sprinted down the tunnels away from the beast. With every turn I took, I could hear its growls and bellows of anger get fainter. In my journey, I encountered another drain, with another tunnel system leading further into this labyrinth never-ending. My wet hair bounced behind me as I continued to run, never slowing for anything. Adrenaline was in high gear, and I wouldn’t slow down until I found a way out of this hell. As I ran down the different twists and turns, I could hear the growling echoing throughout, making my heartbeat quicken. It told me that Killer Croc was up now and on the hunt.

The tunnels seemed never-ending, making me exhale in frustration as I looked around frantically for an exit. Desperately lost, I stopped running for a brief moment, looking down at the ground, looking at my boots completely submerged in water.

“I HAVE YOUR SCENT, LITTLE HERO! YOU CAN’T ESCAPE!”

I could hear the creature bellow again, and though its voice was faint in the tunnels, they were still loud enough to vibrate the ground below my feet. I began to sprint again, deeper into the tunnels, trying desperately to escape the man-eating beast that was after me.

___

It seemed like ages, but when I made another blind right, I found what I needed. Up ahead, light shone down into the murky waters. When I pointed my flashlight up at what was causing it, my heart skipped a beat with hope.

There it was, in a narrow tunnel you could barely walk through. A pair of metal grates that gave a taste of the light above to the world below in here. The tunnel path ahead formed a T, with the metal grates being just straight ahead of me. My flashlight bounced in my hand as I jogged over, finally seeing the way out. Reaching my escape plan was cut short, however, as a deafening roar erupted the eerie silence.

Shit, I thought. He’s close. From the sounds ahead, it was in the right tunnel, adjacent to where I stood now.

An idea stuck itself in my brain as I froze in place. My escape plan was just ahead, but if I could hide for just a moment until it passed, then I would be free of this place.

The stomping of massive feet grew closer, and just as they came close, I dashed around the corner, turning my flashlight off and pressing my body to the circular wall.

Low growls returned, as the water around me settled. From where they came from, I could tell Killer Croc was straight ahead of the tunnel I once was in. its snorts and snarls of frustration were all that could be heard, as I pursed my lips together to keep quiet. Daring not to breathe, I listened as its heavy footsteps became more careful.

“I can smell you…” It growled out.

Slow steps could be felt coming in my direction. Putting the back of my hand to my lips, I waited in silent prayer, staying still as if I were already dead.

Please go, I thought. Please don’t come here.

Hearing its sharp, menacing inhales, it walked closer to the edge of the tunnel’s turn.

I needed to do something, and fast.

My heart pounded as I looked at my flashlight, lifting it up slightly. Without it, the world around me was dark, however, I could use it as a distraction to get to my escape.

Quickly, I recoiled my arm back, before chucking the flashlight down the tunnel I was in. Once it collided with its destination ahead, it made a faint, but audible clatter. A loud roar escaped Killer Croc, and I felt my body freeze as the massive beats came barreling in my direction around the corner. In the dark, I saw the brief silhouette of the massive monster, wind whipping my face as it rushed past me.

He didn’t see me, I thought.

I breathed a sigh of relief, as the monster chased down the opposite end of the tunnel I was in. It was out of the way for a brief moment, but I needed to act quickly if I was going to move. Rushing back around the corner, I sprinted to the metal grates ahead, shining light down as if it were heaven itself. I quickly dropped to my hands and knees to fit into the tunnel, crawling into it towards my escape.

Once I was directly below it, I laid on my back, to look up into where the grate lead. Bright, but fading mechanical lights were all that met my gaze, almost as if I were a patient being examined. My fingers quickly rose up to grab the grate, seeing if it was moveable. After a couple of shakes, it didn’t budge.

Damn, I thought.

For a brief moment, I lost hope. That was, until, I looked down at my legs. Another idea had come to me, and as I scooted back towards the dead end of the tunnel I made sure to line my feet up with the grate.

If it wouldn’t budge on its own, I’d help it.

I breathed in, before exhaling slowly. Then, using all of my might, I kicked my foot up, landing a blow to the metal grate. I was about to land another when I heard growling in the distance, with footsteps shaking the ground below as they got closer.

Shit, shit!

It was now or never, I thought. Using all of my might I kicked, and kicked, and kicked. The metal grate slowly giving in. Snarls and roars closed in, indicating it was only a matter of seconds before the beast reached me.

Come on, Sarah, I thought. We can’t die here.

My knee moved back, as I got ready to deliver one last blow. I stretched it out with immense speed, kicking in the grate and smashing my way through to freedom. Just as it gave in, the face of Killer Croc could be seen at the end of the tunnel. I gasped out in paralyzed fear when I saw it re-emerge.

“THERE’S NO ESCAPING ME!”

His demonic yellow eyes focused on me, as it tried to push its way through the tunnel. Luck was finally on my side, as its body was too large to fit down the path I was down.

Now’s the chance, I thought. Go, go!

I grabbed the edges of where the grate used to be, quickly pulling myself back in front of the hole in the ground. Killer Croc growled, and roared in anger, using its claws to try and grab me. Without wasting another second, I reached through the hole where the grate used to be, securing my hands on the floor of the new room I was about to enter. I took one last glance at the monster, before hoisting myself up out of the watery tunnels and flinging myself on my back. I rolled over onto my stomach, before pushing myself up on my knees.

Bright mechanical light surrounded me, covering me in a warmth I never thought I’d feel again. I allowed myself to breathe heavily, no longer needing to shield myself from the monster below.

My body shook violently as I fell back onto the tiles in exhaustion, looking around at the fresh, new circle of hell that awaited me.