70. [DREAM/DREAM/DREAM/DREAM]
[So while the rest of Johto alternately panics, cries, or rushes around trying to capture as many of the soulstealing insects as possible, there are dozens of souls floating around in that dream limbo, drifting in and out of each other's slumbering thoughts and visions. Whether it's nightmarish flashbacks or just those dreams where you're at school
( Read more... )
... they were still approaching, like a hoard of hungry predators, and if he stood here, he probably wasn't going to be living through this dream much longer. His heart is pounding in his throat, blood and adrenaline rushing through his ears. There had to be a way out of this, there just had to be. This couldn't be the end, he refused to go out like this, attacked by a mob of disgusting, naked things --
And as though it was a beacon of light in the middle of a dark alleyway, his gaze is drawn toward the tunnel across the water, suddenly and inexplicably. He thinks it's large enough for him to pass through, but he'd have to get closer to see. The only problem is the water separating him from the only viable escape option. The very same water teeming with slimy creatures from god knows where.
He didn't want to risk being pulled under. But hell, it's not like he had much of a choice, did he?
Without hesitation, he whips away from his pursuers and takes a running leap at the chasm, trying to clear as much of the smelly sewer water as he could to minimize how much he had to slosh through himself. Unfortunately, his jump isn't powerful due to how narrow the walkway is, and it's only enough to get him about halfway across before he lands splashing in the disgusting sewer river.
Gross...
There wasn't any time to think about that now. He quickly splashes his way across to the other side of the tunnel, shooting at any creatures who might try to come near him as he does so, hopefully keeping them at bay long enough for him to reach the tunnel and duck inside... to safety]
Reply
[But all the same, those strange beasts are still clambering towards him like an army of deformed amphibians. They honestly don't seem to have sharp teeth or claws, or even mouths for that matter, but if the WHACK that single one trying to get to its feet gave him was any indication, they packed some punch and probably wouldn't be very pleasant to get trampled under... which was absolutely what would happen if he stayed where he was, which thankfully was not what was happening.]
[The water is cold and rank, reeking of ammonia and other smells best left unmentioned, but though it soaks partway up his torso, at least it's shallow enough that he can make his way to the little escape route without slipping under. A couple of times he may brush against something cold and slimy in the water-- but his nimbleness will carry him past them without incident, although a series of plops and splashes behind him will confirm beyond doubt that the beasts are still in pursuit.]
[The hole in the side of the canal is small, but definitely man-made-- it belches water that seems a LITTLE fresher than what he's wading through, but not by much-- and once he's inside, the current running around his wrists, knees, and ankles is weak enough that it doesn't put him in danger of slipping right back out the way he came.]
[The bleats of the creatures soon sound around the mouth of the hole, but although they're small enough to get in, they... don't... seem to be succeeding very well at it. Note to monsters: if you tried going in ONE BY ONE, you could probably do it. Climbing all over each other and trying to get in five at a time? NOT THE RIGHT STRATEGY.]
Reply
He knows better than to breathe easily just yet.
The tunnel is cramped, but there's enough room for him to glance over his shoulder in order to see if any of those things are following him. Thankfully... it doesn't seem that way, especially since they're dumb enough to crowd about the entrance. Still... just in case one happens to sneak through, he alternates between glancing behind him and keeping his eyes on the trail in front of him, just in case he needs to use his card gun to shoot more of them down]
Reply
[It might be dark, smelly, and completely uncertain as to where this leads, but... at least it's safe. For now.]
[The tunnel does seem to be going upwards, at least... there's no guarantee that it goes to the surface, but hope is better than nothing. Unfortunately, he'll probably be wriggling slowly upwards for a good long while before he encounters anything... but eventually-- eventually!-- a dim light starts to filter in from somewhere ahead. Light from the surface! ... Or, well, maybe-- wherever the original source is, it still seems awfully far off-- but it's something!]
[The more IMMEDIATE source, of course, is something he'll find when he reaches a level spot in the tunnel-- and a fork in the metaphorical road. The light is coming from a grate (ANOTHER one...)-- beyond which the tunnel continues to slope upwards, towards a far-off bright opening. The OTHER path is a semi-steep drop just like the one he just climbed up-- the water coursing through the grate rushes down both the downhill inclines.]
[The grate, though still an obstacle... looks rusty as hell. He could probably kick some of it loose if he tries!]
Reply
His back and neck are cramped by the time that light begins to shine through the darkness, and he feels himself reflexively let out a relief sigh. Choosing a path at the fork isn't difficult-- if he just climbed up from the sewers to get here, then the downward incline probably led right back to them.
He approaches the grate, frowning as he peers at the bars, but taking note of that rust. It's cramped, but he manages to shift until he's on his back and able to aim a powerful kick at the rusted bars. Freedom looks like it's so close...]
Reply
[The sound of the grate breaking is screechy and echoes up and down the three tunnels like nails on a chalkboard.... bouncing a few times before fading out.]
[... But then there's another sound... coming from the second downhill tunnel.]
... Hello? ... Is someone up there?
[... A voice. A hoarse, male voice.]
Reply
... except maybe not yet. Kaito freezes just before he crawls through the hole he made in the grate, glancing over his shoulder at the second tunnel. The voice is unfamiliar, but never being the type to leave someone behind, stranger or not...]
Ooooooi!
[He crawls back toward the downhill tunnel, but doesn't quite crawl through it just yet] I'm up here!
Reply
Thank God...
I thought I would never hear another decent human voice again. I've been trapped down here so long...
Reply
Geez, how long have you been stuck down there? Need someone to pull you up?
Reply
[There's a pause, silent broken only by the sound of labored breathing. Sounds like he's sort of having a hard time down there...]
Will you... help me?
Reply
He's not the type of guy to leave someone behind. However gross and disturbing this sewer is... he can do it]
I'll be right down!
[With that, he starts his slow and careful descent down the tunnel]
Reply
[The voice sounds relieved, but it falls silent once more as Kaito makes his way down. It's slippery as hell, but he should be able to keep steady without losing his balance and sliding all the way to the bottom like the world's grossest waterslide.]
[When he eventually reaches the mouth of the tunnel at the very bottom, it may take him a moment to adjust to the much-dimmer light once more... but what little is filtering down from above is enough to grant him a rough vision of the place. It's wide, and somewhat open-- there's a much-higher ceiling than the tunnel he had entered this strange, dank place in. In fact, it's not a tunnel down here at all. The water comes to about halfway up his thighs, and somewhere beyond, there's a great rushing sound of falling water and whirring machinery.]
[But there doesn't appear to be anybody in sight... it is incredibly dark, though, so maybe it's just hard to see...?]
Reply
As soon as he slides feet-first out of the tunnel, he lifts his arms above his head and stretches. No one in sight, huh... well, he just made it down here. The person he was speaking to is probably ducked behind a piece of that machinery he can hear]
Oooooi! Where are you?
Reply
There you are...
They've kept me ... stuck in this disgusting place for longer than I care to know...
I'm back here-- back where the water gets deeper.
There's something chaining me down...
Reply
[Kaito immediately takes a step forward, testing the depth of the water to make sure he's heading toward the deeper end. His eyes have adjusted to the dark by now, but even so it's difficult to make out anything other than the outlines of the mechanical equipment that flanks the side of this room]
Who the hell-- do you remember who chained you down?
Reply
[But not as cold as the speaker's voice grows when he answers the question-- he sounds pissed. But really, who can blame him?]
Who? Who?
That little brat did it... She may not have put me down here to begin with, but she sealed my fate when she tricked me into believing she was my ally... only to steal what was mine and leave me for dead. Disgusting whelp...
[The voice trails into a wet cough in its anger, then trails off, appearing to calm slightly.]
But that was a long time ago...
Finally, someone must have remembered I was here... and sent-- ... ah, well... it doesn't matter.
What's your name, boy?
Reply
Leave a comment