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My fingers fumbled as I worked on the lock. It was a simple one and I could feel signs of decay. Even working blind, I should have already been out.
Finally it clicked and I threw open the door, able to see at last, and ready to take on any foes. But the hall was empty. Things were still strangely quiet.
What the heck was going on?
I stepped out tentatively, ready for an ambush, but nothing came. I took another step and then froze. I hadn’t imagined I would have to make a decision immediately. I thought I’d be fighting for my freedom.
An empty tunnel loomed before me, confirming that I was underground.
I glanced to either side and noticed tons of closed doors. Were there other people like me in here, other prisoners in the dark?
Part of me begged to check, but the other part knew I had to get out first. I’d alert my team, and we’d all be back to save whoever was behind those doors.
It felt wrong, like masking up with oxygen in a plane before my child, but I couldn’t save anyone if I didn’t make it out now.
So I fought against my protector instinct, hoping that no one else was there, that I was leaving no one behind. Then I focused on my decision.
Right or left?
I tried to recall the steps I’d heard, replaying the sounds in my mind. They’d sounded from my right and then disappeared to my left. That meant everyone who’d run down this tunnel had gone to the left—and probably the way out.
Did I want to follow them?
Voices sounded to my right.
Holy hell, they weren’t gone. Someone was there. Were they female? I swore the voices were higher-pitched than men’s.
I had less than a split second to make my decision. Toward the female voices or away? Away. I had to get out of there.
I quickly and quietly pulled my door shut, hoping that would buy me more time. Could the brain monitor just be an act? Was that why no one had come to stop me?
I’d been too ready to take things as they seemed.
But no time to worry about that now. I raced to the left and away from the voices, with no idea what would greet me.
I came to a set of stairs and didn’t even hesitate this time. I took them two at a time, racing up to who knew where.
Fear begged me to stop. To take on the people who’d been behind me. Maybe they were even saviors? The men who’d captured me seemed to have been running from someone. But then again, I could have misconstrued the whole thing. I couldn’t trust anyone to get me out of here.
As I neared the top of the stairs, I saw a trap door overhead. I would be coming out from under the ground. It was a major disadvantage, not knowing who or what might greet me on the other side of the door. But I couldn’t go back. This was my way out.
I threw open the door and flung myself out onto grass. I landed in a defensive crouch, noticing that the darkness of night still encompassed my world.
I turned in a quick circle, checking for enemies. No one. How was this happening and who was behind me in the tunnel? I knew I still had to run, but where? Just beyond the grass on every side were woods. The moon was waning, her light giving me close to nothing. But it was more than I’d had in my dungeon room, and even more than the badly-lit tunnels.
I closed the trap door, considering my options. I wanted to just start running and never look back, but I had to make a plan first.
The first priority was to get out of plain sight. I ran toward a group of trees and hid behind one as I gathered my thoughts and my breath.
I was out. I’d gotten out.
But I couldn’t rejoice yet.
Why hadn’t I seen anyone? Was this a trap? And where the heck was I?
I figured the only way to answer those first two questions was to keep moving. The third was harder. I looked up at the stars, trying to gauge my surroundings.
This could still be the same night . . . or it could be the next? I had no idea how long I’d been out, how far they’d taken me. I could be on the other side of the world for all I knew.
