Velken Karataev awoke with a start as he became aware of someone close by. They were clearly human- a female- and their heart was beating fast. Velken could hear the blood flowing in her veins, and her light breathing.

'So you're finally awake, are you?' a playful voice intruded his thoughts, on a path he had not even been aware of.

'Fine, don't answer me. I'll try to find you on my own. Granted, it will take longer and you'll most likely be dead, but I'll give it a go.' The voice was smooth, with a hint of Russian accented in her pronunciation.

'How is it you speak to me like this?' Velken finally said, careful not to move lest he open an old wound. He was met only by silence, and almost feared the woman had abandoned him.

'I'm not entirely sure.' She finally answered. 'I was kinda hoping you could tell me. Where are you? I know you're near by, but I can't see you.' She sounded irritated with herself, and Velken's lips curled into the faintest of smiles at her tone.

'Tell me your name and I shall tell you where I am being kept.' It was put forth as a dare, to see if she was brave enough to trust him. He could feel her indecision, her private war with herself.

'Anneka.' She said at last. 'My name is Anneka Svenjet. Now by all means, tell me where you are. i'm getting dizzy walking in circles.' Velken chuckled at her impatience and proceeded to give her directions to his prison.

'There should be a patch of Earth somewhere near you that has no grass growing on it. Once you find it you will have to find a rock or something to use in order to break the door. After that, it is a simple matter of following the underground path to find me.'

'So let me get this straight. You want me to break open a part of the Earth that isn't Earth, crawl down into a small dark space, wriggle my way through a tight passage, find your prison and somehow free you from it?' Anneka said as she began searching. His plan sounded ludicrous.

'Yes.' He sounded as though he was laughing at her, and that infuriated Anneka more than anything. Why was he even underground? Why was he locked up? Why was she helping some guy she didn't even know? He could be a murderer, or a rapist, and here she was freeing him. Why did she always let herself get into these situations?

'Anything else I should know about? Poisonous snakes? Tarantulas? Murderous booby traps that make Indiana Jones look like a walk in the park?' Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

'No, just what I have told you. Why, who is this Indiana Jones, and what does he do?'

'Wow, you've really been living underground if you don't know Indy. Best movies ever.' Anneka paused as she thumped her foot against a dry patch of land. She heard a hollow thud, and smiled in satisfaction at her discovery. She looked around for a rock or something, and was disappointed to learn she would have to use her legs to kick it in.

'You owe me big time, Buster.' Anneka grumbled as she began kicking with all her might. 'I'm gonna be sore for weeks after this.'

'Just hurry.' His reply was weak, as if he was slowly fading away.

Anneka grimaced as pain shot through her leg and the wood below her started to splinter. 'Hang on Indy, I'm on my way.' A few more kicks busted the wood completely, and Anneka screamed as her feet fell from under her and she plummeted into darkness.