The ending part of this chapter is where the dream that inspired this cut to after the events of chapter one. Yes, I have weird dreams. Sue me.
Chapter Three
The clash of metal upon metal echoed through the stone halls of the fortress, mixing with war cries and screams. Vexx dealt a finishing blow to the final guard in his path. The large armored man fell to the ground beside the others.
Stealth had granted Vexx entrance, but it was clear his escape would be anything but silent. They knew he was there now. He's lost count after the tenth guard jumped him, but he was guessing he had taken down thirty of them by now.
The fortress was practically a labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, halls, stairways and treacherous pitfalls, all riddled with guards and attack beasts of many breeds. The hall Vexx was in split off into three other passages, each looking exactly like the last… which is to say, dark and depressing. His blue eyes pierced the darkness as he carefully considered his path. He was distracted enough that he didn't notice a shadow creeping up behind him until it was almost too late. In fact, he may not have noticed at all, had the guard not lifted his sword a touch too high. The blade's tip hit the mud plastered ceiling, sending a small shower of rock and sand onto Vexx's head. He half turned just in time to see the blade coming down to cleave him clear in two. Vexx leapt aside, feeling the wind off of the swinging blade. The weapon met with the rock floor, rattling the guard right down into his bones. Angry that he'd let his guard down, Vexx took out all frustrations on the guard, wasting no time in gutting him. The mauled body slid down the wall, staining the floor with a red pool.
Vexx shook himself. His face had been splattered with blood. He'd never much minded the sight of blood –in fact, the less sane part of him rather liked the smell of it- but blood on his face… there was something about it that almost scared him. Perhaps it just pulled things into a deeper reality than he really wanted to face. His whole body shuddered. Taking care not to cut himself, Vexx moved to wipe away the blood with the back of his gauntlet. He paused, feeling a light breeze kiss the wet fur on his face. There was fresh air coming down the passageways.
His thoughts turned to the time he'd spent in slavery, deep within the mines of Dark Yabu. Long days and nights within partial darkness, where the whips of the guards were always ready to sting. There was never any fresh air. Vexx remembered feeling like he was choking to death many times in the stagnate prison.
Vexx shook himself from the memory. He wiped the blood away quickly, then charged head-long down the only tunnel which didn't have fresh air coming down it. He was almost positive this would lead him to Kiri.
The labyrinth of tunnels didn't get any less confusing as time went on. Vexx was confronted again and again with guards. Every time, he killed them all, but he was starting to tire out. His reactions were lagging, and the more they did so, the more he was injured in the battles. Still, he managed to escape with only a few minor cuts and scrapes.
Suddenly, all of the creatures coming at him where darker and fiercer, forcing Vexx to realize how much time had passed. Night had fallen, and the dark creatures were all being granted their full power. With no magic sundial at his control to hasten the moon onward, Vexx would have to pray he could hold out. Perhaps find some place to wait out the night. He knew better. He may intend to do so, but in the end, he could never stand to hide for very long. It wasn't his nature.
Suddenly, Vexx saw a bit of light up ahead. The hall he was in emptied out into a large room. It was more of a cave, actually, but Vexx had to take down a couple of Skinx before he got the chance to really look around. Second glance showed that the floor was uneven and jagged rocks stuck out everywhere. It was anything but a friendly setting.
The air smelled dead. Vexx knew he was getting close. He charged up a steep slop in the floor, only to find the land dropped off into a deep pit on the other side. There was no way for him to slow himself at this point. Much to his satisfaction, there was a suspended column of rock in front of him, lined with climbing polls which formed a path up to a doorway set high up in the rock face. Vexx leapt for the nearest poll, snagging it perfectly. A smirk slid across his face as he started climbing for the top of it.
Very suddenly, the poll shifted. Not the usual bobbing motion he was used to, nor a side to side one. It started to tilt. The whole poll spun about on the rock column. Vexx felt his stomach lurch as he was suddenly turned upside down. Unable to hold on in this position, Vexx's tumbled over, lost his grip, and fell into the darkness below.