Episode 2: 13931- Never Again
Master Kilja had nearly worked us to death just the evening before, and the amount of sleep I had gotten during the night was haunted by the screams of that dying man. It would look like the amount of times you wake up in a cold sweat, peering and gasping into the darkness, would have a difference on your mind once you had gotten used to it- but it doesn’t.
It was a new morning, but the newness of mornings was never different. I had dug since I was old enough to carry a shovel. It was, unfortunately, my greatest talent; that is, as far as I knew. I slipped on the same cloth pants and the same cloth shirt, as I had wore for nearly nineteen years. The tanned clothing was paper thin- not enough to keep us warm within the drafts of the tunnels.
We stood in the same location as we had the day before: the other slaves, Master Kilja and me. We had been digging all throughout the morning, and Master Kilja sat against one of the tunnel walls. I wondered, while I worked, if I would survive throughout the day. There were five slaves including myself- I had an 80% chance of survival- a chance that would be lowered by the next day.
The tunnels were used as travel. The environment on the surface was simply inhospitable for life. The tunnels were nearly unbearable. The ground was unforgiving, broken glass from centuries of travel lines the flooring, and the tunnels were dark enough to stay confused forever. One wrong step away from the group, you could be lost forever, either to die from thirst, or eaten by a stray Reptilian, whichever came first.
As I dug, I found it impossible to ignore the yellow tented glow of Kilja’s snake-like eyes peering from one slave to the other. Undoubtedly debating whom he would slaughter for the evening- we were like animals- and there was nothing we could do.
The site we were digging in was hard on our tools and arms, but we had managed to make huge progress into the ground. More than likely twenty feet down from the roadbed, the other slaves and me competed to get the most unearthed. Slackers- just like the weak – were for dinner… or so it seemed.
I worked, feverishly, and although sometimes delirious, I continued to dig. It wasn’t uncommon to see an older slave fall over from exhaustion. Sad, pitiful being. There was no doubt that he would be chosen for that particular day. Perhaps, I sometimes thought to myself, someone will dig themselves to death today, so that I might give my body a break.
The next moment will never escape from my mind. I was digging as hard, and as fast, as I had ever dug before. My shirt was darkened by moisture from the fluids of my body and the smell of sweat filled the air ever which way you turned. I was determined; I will not die this day.
With a great push, I thrust my shovel into the ground. A metallic ring emanated throughout the tunnel, echoing out into the silence. Kilja stood to his feet in alarm and immediately jumped down to see what I had found.
“Move vermin!” he hissed. I did as I was told.
He peered toward the ground, breathing deeply, and a slight gurgle sounded out within his chest with every heave. I wasn’t entirely sure what he was looking at, but his eyes were much keener to the darkness than that of humans.
“Speak,” he said looking to me.
“13931- digger” I responded
“On your knees 13931, the dirt is a place for maggots.”
I quickly dropped to my knees, my hands only trembled a little, and I had survived these situations before.
“well?” he asked with a impatient tone
Fear crept across the upper part of my spine. I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. “What does Master wish to know?”
He growled, slightly opening his elongated jaws. I looked up, hoping for an answer, dreading a response of hostility. A thick bead of drool struck me in the face, splattering across my nose and mouth- I did not move.
“Tell me what’s there!” he erupted.
I rubbed my finger across the bottom of the whole. The metal was smooth and cool to the touch. I could feel a latch of some sort on the right hand side.
“It feels like a large metal plate master. I am unsure how big it is.”
“Move!’ he violently drew back a foot striking me across my cut. I soared across the room bouncing off the western wall of the tunnel. I tried to stay silent, but the pain was immense. I reached down and ran my finger across my side. There were three gaping wounds that were bleeding profusely from the claws that extended from the toes of his foot. I reached to pull skin across the wound, but it simply hurt too badly, so I sat in silent tears.
“It’s a latch.” I heard him comment to one of the other slaves. “You,” he pointed, “speak.”
“14523- digger” a slave responded.
“Open it up.”
The slave hesitated.
“Now!”
I’m unsure what happened next. I could only see a silhouette kneeling about the ground before I heard a large metallic crack. Kilja ordered everyone inside, but I remained quiet, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I assume the slaves did as they were told, hopping one by one into the large metallic container. I laid still.
I could hear kilja’s growl from the inside.
“What is this!” he exclaimed, obviously interested in something beneath the ground. The slaves did not respond to the rhetorical question. “A tank of somewhat… but what is it used for? 14523 show your loyalty- press the button.” There was a moment of silence. “Do it!”
There was a series. Beep. Beep. Beep.
My ears was suddenly deafened, I threw my hands upon them to try to protect them from the blast. It seems as if I remember them screaming-dying- but I’m still unsure.
Smoke bellowed from the hole within the ground, I rolled over slightly just in time to see Kilja leap out of the container and onto the surface. His body was darkened with smut and the blue mane that once rippled down his neck now evaporated into the air. Smoke smoldered from his back and chest, but other than that, the Rotundra had no physical wounds about him. The Reptilian was furious.
His roar boomed throughout the tunnels extent. And slowly, I saw the yellow eyes of a monster turn toward me.
“You’re… still alive. This… this is your fault! I am permitted to kill one slave a day…. This… this is your fault!”
He charged towards me, the ground seemed to shake as he stomped. I closed my eyes and turned my head- held my breath- and said a prayer.
A slight gasp whispered past my ear.
I slowly opened my eyes to see something large and blue, flickering and resonating, pointing towards me through Kilja’s gut. With mouth and eyes wide open, Kilja’s head slowly looked down towards the object that had impaled him… and I heard Master Kilja take his last breath.
The object slid from the monsters interior and Kilja fell beside me.
Someone- or something- stood behind him. He was wearing a black suit and a large black mask, all of it, embroidered with golden thread. The blue sword that was in his hand silently shut off and the light turned back into darkness. I was losing conscious from the escaping blood that still poured from my wounds- I laid my head to the ground.
“Quickly son, do you know these tunnels?”
“13931” I responded
“What? No, do you know your way around these tunnels!”
“13931- dig” I blurted
“They will be coming soon! Do you know your way around this area or do you not!”
“139”
“I’m not asking you about a damn number! Ah! You’ll have to come with me!”
I remember searing pain across my side when he picked me up. I remember seeing the tunnel walls flash by. I remember, silently, drifting away…