The Rabbit Hole
Whatever they used to numb the pain, worked better than I ever hoped it would. I was kept under intense observation for forty-eight hours, just in case I had a reaction to the plants that scraped me. (Although that was mainly unsuccessful, considering the request I made with Svalek. T'Preen working with what she could anyway.) All my injuries were minor, I got off really lucky. T'Preen tittered about sick bay, constantly checking my vitals, and looking at my blood for any developing diseases. It didn't take long for Svalek to come and see me.
All the feelings of love and admiration for my Knight in Shining Armor were a thing of the past, I found that I really wanted to punch him in the face right then. He looked smug, and I think it was because I cracked and cried in front of everyone. Torek and Orson, thankfully, were right behind him. "You're alive!" Orson yelled. He scrambled down Torek's arm and onto my shoulder. "You live! I can't believe it!" He kiss my cheek three times and jumped. "I'm so happy you're ok." I let out a little chuckle, at least someone was happy to see me. "How are you guys?" I asked, looking worriedly at my companions. "We're fine." Torek assured me.
"Miss Felicity, I'm sorry to interrupt your family reunion, but you must be debriefed on what happened while you were gone." Orson shot him a look. "Have you no compassion?" Orson yelled. "Do you really think she wants to be questioned right now? She's been through so much already!" I placed a finger on Orson's forehead, to his people, it meant silence. He immediately dropped his gaze in submission. "It's alright Orson, now or later, I'm going to have to talk about it, and I'd rather it be now, while the details are still fresh." Torek sucked in a breath and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked. I nodded, better to get it done and over with.
So then, I set about explaining my little 'adventure', purposely leaving out the part where I peed myself, up until the moment Svalek came and ripped me out of that damnable hole in the wall. It was then I paused and looked down. I lost my shorts, and here I was, explaining the course of events in my lavender colored underwear like it was nothing. I blinked up at the two men who saw what I had seen and turned around, presumably to give me some privacy. I snickered, which turned into full blown laughter. I couldn't help it, the situation was just so absurd. The boys turned back around, slowly, not sure what to make of my sudden fit. Orson hopped back on Torek's arm and looked on with wide eyes. "I think she's lost her brain." Orson whispered.
The comment only made me laugh harder. "I think you're right." Svalek said. He pushed me back down on the gurney. "Perhaps you should relax? Sleep if you need to." I shook my head and the laughter died down. "No, I'm actually really hungry."
"You haven't eaten for three days, I can only imagine." Torek informed me. "Jesus, three days?" I asked. "ONLY three days?"
"What do you mean ONLY three days?" Orson said. "It felt like forever cooped up in that place!"
"It's just….everything happened so fast, it doesn't feel like three days, that's all." I muttered. Before anything else could be said. T'Plana and Marek walked into the room, they were at my side instantly. "Are you alright?" Marek asked, if I didn't know any better, I could have sworn there was just a hint of worry, but I do know better, and I paid no mind to the strange twinge to his voice. "I'm fine," I lied. "Just hungry and tired." And still freaked about what could've happen if Svalek hadn't shown up and still very, very angry for thinking of him in such a romantic light. "I will leave you now." Svalek announce. "Miss. Felicity, I'm surprised by your genuine good fortune and your ingenuity, let's not make a habit out of this."
Even now, he was STILL trying to get me to rise to the bait, I didn't, merely put my head on the pillow. I was too tired, and frankly, a little embarrassed by my current state of dress to argue with him. Plus, I didn't want to make a habit of getting kidnapped and then meeting creepy humanoid creatures.
I shuddered, just thinking about them gave me the creeps. And they were the real reason I didn't want to go to sleep, I knew I was going to have nightmares for a while after this. It's a good thing I get quarters to myself. I felt warmth on my hand and found that T'Plana was holding it. "Do you wish to rest before you eat? You look rather tired." I shook my head. "I would like to take a shower and get changed first. On earth it's considered very improper to wander around in your underwear." T'Plana nodded. "I'll get your clothes."
"And I'll get you something to eat." Marek voiced. I smiled. Wow, they were going above and beyond the call of parental duty weren't they? After all that I had seen the past three days, they thing that shocked me the most at this point was the kiss T'Plana and Marek placed on my forehead. My mouth dropped as I watched they're retreating forms. My head snapped to Torek who gave me a quick smile. "Is it not customary for parents to place a kiss on their child's forehead as a gesture of comfort?" He asked. "I, what? Child? I'm not-"
"You've been a part of this family for two years now." Torek interrupted me. "You're very much the daughter they never had, and very much my sister." I'm sure a blush spread across my face because T'Preen was on me in a second, feeling my face for a temperature. "Are you alright?" She asked sternly, eyebrow ridges visible at this angle. "Feeling feverish? Is your heart racing? Feeling dizzy?" I answered a negative to all those questions. She stayed for a few more moments as she checked my vitals, and satisfied with what she saw, she left.
That was the odd thing about T'Preen, she was there in a heartbeat if something went wrong, like she just knew, but then she would just randomly retreat to a dark hole somewhere in the sick bay, never to be heard from, or seen again until she's needed. And she was silent, she scared me more than I would've liked her to. "Ready for that shower then?" Torek asked. I nodded.
The thing about Vulcan ships is this; the atmosphere is generally what it would be on the planet, so people didn't get too uncomfortable. That meant hot, humid air, and freezing cold water. Most of the time, I didn't mind the cold water, it happened to be the only reprieve from the heat, but right then, I wanted to boil my sore ass in soapy water. I sighed, stepping through the threshold of the small sick bay bathroom. It didn't take me long to turn the water on and undress, I wasn't wearing much. I stepped into the spray and shuddered.
I was pleasantly surprised when the cold water did more good than I expected. My nerves calmed a little, and relief finally spread throughout my body, oh yes, this was the life. My brain was not yet done messing with me however. I saw them, those eyes, those creatures. I felt a tugging sensation on my legs, I was back at the hole all too quickly. My eyes snapped open and I leaned on the cold, unfeeling tile. Good, I was still in the shower, on the ship, safe.
Yes, I was indeed safe, but there was still something bugging me. I knew it wasn't the fear, that was long gone, it wasn't the anxiety about the nights to come, I could get through those without too much difficulty. It was there, on the tip of my tongue, hell, it was most likely dancing naked in front of me, I just could seem to focus.
I don't know how long I stood there trying to sort things out, but a knock on the door yanked me out of my reverie. "Come in." I called. I heard the door open and I shut off the water. There was some shuffling, and then the door closed again. I pulled back the curtains and looked around. A towel had been placed on one side of the sink, along with a fresh pair of clothes.
I quickly dried myself off, careful around the scrapes, and slipped into the warm outfit. When I came out of the bathroom the first thing to hit me was the smell of Marek's special, spicy Plomeek Broth. I looked at the brownish liquid and smiled, my stomach gave a painful lurch. I'm pretty sure it guided my feet instead of my brain. I descended on the bowl of broth like a wild animal and sucked it down in mere seconds. "Ah!" I gasped, the liquid burning a path to my belly from the spice and warmth. I swear I could feel it slosh around as it hit its target. My tummy gave a happy sound and sent about the business of digesting the Vulcan food. "It's a good thing I got you other things to eat." Marek commented. I laughed sheepishly and blushed. They'd never seen me eat like that before.
"Sorry," I muttered, looking at the tray of food. "It's quit alright. It's nice to know that you're healthy enough to eat." I nodded and began eating the vegetables set out in front of me. Silence filled the room up, but no one left. It was comforting in a sort of awkward Vulcan family gathering. My mother would have never stayed this long, but T'Plana seemed content just to stand and watch over me, as did Marek and Torek. And in the midst of feeling like I had an actual family for once, I was slapped in the face by the sudden realization as to what was bothering me.
Svalek saved me. It wasn't the fact that it had been Svalek that saved me, it was the fact that I needed saving at all. I was sore beyond belief, scraped, and I was in a very pathetic state, I was weak, I was a woman. I think I made a face as the thought crossed my mind. "Is there something wrong with the food?" Marek asked, reaching to take the trey from me. I shook my head. "No, sorry, just thinking."
"Hey," Torek placed a hand on my back. "It's over now, you don't have to worry about those things anymore." I let out a strained smiled. "Yeah, you're right." I continued to eat, but I was somewhere else, already berating myself for being so pathetic. After all, wasn't I the one who usually looked at the princess in those fairy tales with scorn, swearing that I would never end up like them, merely waiting for a prince to come and save me. I'd sure as hell save myself, Felicity Kirk needed no dashing rogue to come to her rescue.
I reminded myself I wasn't being completely fair, I HAD gotten myself out for the most part, it was just the last bit I had trouble with. But still, didn't I once make a vow to myself that I would be the hero, especially of my own story? And what did heroes do? They trained, hours upon hours, night and day, reaching their physical peaks and staying there for the better part of their younger years. I was sixteen damn it, I was in my prime, and I would be for a while.
I set my shoulders, new determination flooding through me. I was going to become a warrior damn it. No, fuck that, I was going to become a Damn general, indispensable to whomever I was serving. I would not only be able to fight my way out of the damnable paper bag, but I would be able to strategize the hell out it, and plot my moves accordingly so I didn't just get out of my enemy's reach, but completely destroy it. There would be no weapon in the galaxy I couldn't use, be it a phaser, or a blade, hell, I'd even learn how to kill someone with a tea cup if I could.
This resolve also happened to shake me to my core. "Is something wrong?" T'Plana asked, she began to feel my forehead, why was everyone checking for a fever? I wasn't sick. "I'm fine." I muttered for the umpteenth time, and again, it was a lie. "I'm just tired." She nodded. "We'll leave you to rest." Marek gathered the plates and walked out. T'Plana patted my hand and followed. Orson and Torek were the only ones to stay behind. "Do you want to talk about it?" Orson asked. "No, I just want to be alone for a bit." Torek nodded "We'll come back and check on you in a bit." He promised, and left, Orson turned to wave one last good by as my surrogate brother walked away. This left me all alone to my thoughts.
I gathered strength from my resolve yes, but like I said before, it scares me. I don't want to become some sort of monster, I want to be the good guy, I want to help others. And I felt this path would only lead me astray. I mean, to hold the knowledge of how to kill someone with a teacup? Really? Who the hell thinks like that? I didn't even know if I could actually kill a man. Ok, so new plan, I get to my physical peak, and I learn how to defend myself and others ONLY. The problem with that? Sometimes defending yourself and others against an enemy meant killing that enemy. God, this was a never ending vicious cycle wasn't it?
I decided I wasn't going to dwell on this subject anymore. I hopped out of me bed and made my way to the bay door. "Where are you going?" T'Preen asked. I turned to her. "I'm going to find the Captain, I want to ask him something." I wanted to ask him for help. The fact that I was going to him cut me real deep, but I decided I was going to swallow my pride for now and bow down, because later, it would be Svalek bowing to me.
I hadn't liked asking him for help, but at the time, I deemed it necessary. I had my entire speech planned out, I was even prepared to rely on the fact that was nothing but a small human teenager that is in desperate need on instruction. As I neared his quarters, bile began to creep up my digestive tract, when I asked for entrance, it settled in the back of my throat. "Enter." I heard him call.
I entered. Svalek's quarters weren't what I expected at all. I expected the usual Vulcan décor, which was flat, dull, and sparse. All the while very pleasing to my eye. Instead of the dull greys and dark browns I had become accustomed to Svalek's room was a mix of reds, browns and even a few greens and blues. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be weapons of some sort, and diagrams of ships, and books piled neatly on top of each other. "Miss. Kirk, aren't you supposed to be resting?" He wasn't in his captain's uniform, he was in a sleeveless shirt and baggy pants without shoes. The simple outfit flattered him well and I was painfully aware of just how masculine he was. Svalek the Vulcan was indeed a man's man. This realization caught me off guard, and I suddenly became shy.
"If you wanted to thank me personally, you tears were gratitude enough." I was pulled out of my reverie and I glared at him. "I'm also glad to see you have suitable clothing." I sucked in a breath, ready to retort this time, but swallowed the comment, I could insult him later, I need him at the moment. "I would very much appreciate it if you'd allow me to take defensive classes." I didn't think that was the right term, but I was positive he'd get the meaning. He raised a pointed brow. A long moment of silence passed between us before he finally said something. "I see."
I felt my shoulders drop. He made it sound as though I had asked the most ridiculous question in the entire world. I thought it was pretty reasonable. I was about to plead my case when he spoke again. "Just how serious are you, about….learning how to defend yourself?"
"Pretty serious." I was proud to note the determination in my voice. "Would you start right this moment if you could?" I didn't know how to interpret that question, but I answered with an immediate 'yes'. This earned a nod from the Captain and he turned from me. He took off his shirt and folded it neatly and placed it on the back of his couch. I blushed and noted the delicious muscles that rippled throughout his back with every move. He replaced his nakedness with another shirt and began to slip on a pair of socks and shoes.
I was flabbergasted by his blatant display of nakedness, other Vulcans didn't undress in front of each other, especially virtual strangers. It was then that I got an inkling that Captain Svalek REALLY wasn't like the rest of the Vulcan population. "Come with me." He said, sailing past, not giving my blush a moment's thought. I silently thanked my lucky stars, because I don't think I could have endured a snide comment from him at the moment. That was the most naked I had ever seen a man that wasn't my brothers or my step-father.
We quickly made our way to one of the holodecks. I didn't say anything as he set up the computer program. We were back on Vulcan. "We're going to run?" I asked, recognizing the program, it was one we had done many times before. "Yes." He said. "I want to truly test your stamina, so far, I've been going easy on you." My mouth dropped. He had been going EASY on me? If I recall correctly, everyone morning I shadowed him, and we did this program, I came out, sweating like a pig and panting like a dog. My legs and ass burned, along with a few other muscles I didn't even know I had. Still, I merely tightened the laces on my shoes and set off. I'd take what I could get.
I thought I knew the meaning of exhaustion, but by the time Svalek was done with me, the full meaning of word came crashing down on my brain like…like…something really heavy crashing down on my brain. Svalek hadn't even broken a sweat. "You continue to surprise." Svalek said. The normal running routine had been altered, instead of only jogging, he made me sprint, then he'd give a short bark sound and I'd drop to my hands and begin doing pitiful attempts at pushups, another bark and I was running again. Different barks signaled different things, sit-ups, jumping jack, running backwards, and a few other things my tired brain couldn't comprehend. "Go back to sick bay, I believe you really ticked off T'Preen not following orders." I shrugged. "Tomorrow we continue." I nodded and went back to sick bay for the rest of the night. I slept without dreams.
And that's how it went for two days in a row. I'd wake up early, meet Svalek in the training room, we'd do the new routine, and I'd be on with my day when we were done. For two days my body was in a constant state of hell. It was all I could do just to sit and watch the people I shadowed. Orson noticed my sudden lack of energy and was worried something had happened to me back on that planet, I had to constantly reassure him nothing was wrong.
On the third day, just before I was about to begin running, Svalek stopped me. "Miss. Kirk, I was wondering," I stopped stretching and looked at him, not sure what was about to happen. "Since your last visit on the surface of a planet wasn't such a good experience, would you be willing to try again?" I popped up off the floor. "Of course!" I said. Svalek nodded. "I have a few diplomatic duties to attend to on the planet MIV, its Class M and very safe. Torek is going to meet a few of the natives. He has expressed his consent to have you along." I smiled. "Yes, I'd like to go very much." Svalek nodded. "Good, begin." And I was off.
By the time I met Torek in the transporter room, all my aches and pains had been forgotten, I was too excited, I got to explore yet another planet. I had my pack ready, and this time, I'd even been issued a phaser. "Try not to get into a situation where you have to use it." Svalek pleaded with me as he showed me the basics. I merely shrugged his comment off. I had no intentions of being kidnapped this time. Neither did Orson, because he elected to stay behind this time. "I don't think I can take any adventure at the moment." He said, clutching his chest. I promised him I'd try and get him something from the surface.
I wriggled in my shoes excitedly as I waited for Svalek to board the transporter. "Now I don't want you to be surprised when you see them." Torek whispered to me. "They're very odd looking." I snorted. "ALL aliens are odd looking." I told him. "That's why they're ALIENS."
"Don't get smart." He flicked my ear playfully. "And I mean it Felicity. Don't even show surprise, you'll offend them, they're very conscientious about hot they look."
"They sound like a teenager." I mumbled. Nothing else was said as Svalek FINALLY took his place on the pad. I took in a deep breath and was in the process of letting it out when we were reassembled on the surface.
The best way I can describe the Slithvehks is stringy. They're very tall, and thin, and they're arms and legs, along with their fingers remind me of strings compared to human appendages. They were very white, on some of them, I could see their inner workings, which just look like a bunch of black mush to me. Their heads were distorted tear drop shapes, with black eyes and no pupils that sat very close together. I didn't see much of a nose, but their mouths were clearly visible. They didn't have hair, and wore shiny blue robes. "Welcome, most honored guests." The lead Slithvehk said. Torek and Svalek bowed, so I followed suit. "Thank you for receiving us." Svalek said, he then straightened. Torek stay bowed however, and repeated the Captain, then he too straightened. I did the same, Svalek and Torek both looked at my shocked. "Oh, we have not seen the likes of you before." The leader said softly.
"This is Felicity Kirk," Svalek explained. "She is Human of Earth, Class F citizen, Adopted into the Vulcan family which Torek hails from." The being bowed to me. I wasn't sure what to do and looked at Torek. "Welcome, Felicity Kirk. I am Moreuhnd. I am Slithvehk of MIV (I can't tell you what it was called because it was absolutely unpronounceable, and very long), Class A citizen of the house of The Honored."
"Thank you." I replied lamely. Moreuhnd smiled at me. "Is she here to help you with your studies?" he asked Torek. "Yes, she is. She is very important to me and my family." The alien nodded slightly. He turned and Svalek began to follow him, Torek went in a different direction, and I followed him. "What was THAT?" I asked. "Standard way to greet a new Slithvehk. Tell them your name, what you are if you're an alien, what planet you're from, what class citizen you are, and what family you hail from. I'm glad you decided to observe and bow, good forward thinking on your part." I smiled. "Alien interaction 101 my friend, do as they do, and you might live longer." Torek smiled. "So, the classes…." I began again. "There are classes A through M. Class M is the lowest class, the people who deal with the unsavory things. And lass A is the highest rank, the nobles if you will. You're Class F, a student." Cool, I was a student.
While I had him explaining things to me, I decided I was going to ask him more probing questions. "Svalek seems….not normal." I confided in him. Torek frowned, we weren't among any other Vulcans, so he chose to show emotion now. I wonder if he was ever going to slip up in public. "What do you mean, 'not normal'? Svalek is normal."
"I don't know…he just seems….more…" I flung my arms out in frustration, I had no words to convey my feelings. "He seems more like a warrior than a Vulcan of logic."
"Yes! That's it exactly." Torek nodded. "I can't tell you anything. I'm sorry, if you want to know, you'll have to ask him. Just know that he's a very good Vulcan commander, and there's a lot more to him then what meets the eye, just like there's a lot more to all Vulcans." I nodded, as sucky as the answer was, I would just have to take it, but at least I wasn't alone in realizing Svalek was different.
We travelled for quite some time in silence. It was then that I noted MIV was a lot more like earth than I would've imagined a planet being. Specifically, it was more like medieval earth. Dirt roads, and trees, with grass, and odd looking cows. "So, how far away is this place?"
"Not very far." Torek admitted. "Just over that hill. We'll be staying for a while, the people are very friendly, you can wonder around if you want, get a feel for local life, it might be good for you to become exposed." The corners of my mouth twitched upwards. I wasn't going to lie to myself, I was a little scared to wonder off by myself. After what had happened last time…but I was determined not to let that get in the way of my explorations. But a thought occurred to me. "I don't know the language." I said. "Obviously it's English."
"How do they know English?"
"I don't know," Torek admitted. "They were discovered recently. When the Vulcans got here, they knew English, all the aliens do, at least, all the ones I've talked to and seen."
"How terribly convenient."
"Yes, it's like an author is writing a story and is just too lazy to think of language barriers."
"Or too tired."
Another long stretch of silence as we walked over the hill. At the top I paused, shocked. What I had seen so far was mostly just farmland, but what was in front of me definitely WASN'T farm land. "Holy…." I muttered, looking at Torek, he flashed me a smile. The town really wasn't a town, more like a small metropolis. Torek chuckled at my shock and clapped my back to get me moving again.
We walked through the city for only a few moments before Torek stopped at a door. "Well, here it is." He muttered. Before he knocked, he turned to me. "Why don't you explore the city for a bit? Then come back here, or, go see Svalek at the palace, the main road leads straight to the palace doors." I frowned, didn't he want me with him? "Alright." I agreed, taking the hint. Maybe the person my brother was about to see was a total scumbag. I turned and walked away.
I have to say, wondering the city was pretty successful, the natives were willing to oblige me on my cultural short comings, and explained to me how things are done. For instance, if you are getting ready to buy something from the shop keeper, you touch your forehead to his, also, before you enter a shop, you call out who you are, and where you're from. First time guests get one object for free, no matter how expensive it is. It's considered good business, and proper promotion to the 'guest'. I didn't question it at all.
In one instance, I entered into a sort of clothes shop, and I saw a dress that I really liked. The owner had an interest in me more because I was human, not Vulcan. He was very polite in his questions, and decided he would alter the dress for me, because I was so short. "Where to humans come from?" He asked. "A planet called Earth," I replied, trying to stand still. The fabric was so light, it felt like I was wearing nothing at all. Of course, it hung off me in a very awkward way.
"What's it like on earth?"
"It depends on where you live."
"Where did you live?"
"Riverside, Iowa." He was quiet for a few moments. "Well Felicity Kirk, from now on, when you greet someone, tell them you represent Riverside, Iowa." I frowned. "Why?"
"It's a much shorter greeting than the one you spouted at the door, and no less formal."
"Oh." I blushed. "So, I'm Felicity Kirk, Class F-"
"No, no, you are Felicity Kirk representing Riverside, Iowa." I nodded. "And that' socially acceptable?" The man stood up and I had to crane my neck to look him in the face. "Yes, quite acceptable. Now, I must ask you, those mounds on your chest cavity…what ARE they?" My blush deepened and I insticntly covered them, though I didn't snap a smart remark, he was an alien and he was only curious. "They're breasts." I muttered.
"Are they to be covered?"
"At all times."
"Are they for aesthetic purposes?"
"Uh, only for men."
"Well, what other purpose do they serve?"
"Feeding young."
"They're Teats!" It was a comment of surprise and realization. I laughed at the absurdity of his comment. "Yes, I suppose you're right, they're teats."
"I see, I see, you're a female!"
"Yes! What did you think I was?"
"I didn't know, I didn't want to ask either, its bad form to ask what gender one is, though you can have a conversation that leads to the answer."
"Is that what just happened?" The Owner smiled. "In a way. I was mostly curious as to your….breasts and whether or not they were to be covered." He then set to work, and we said nothing more. After he was done, I was amazed. "I love it." I breathed looking down at it. "Would you like to look in a reflective glass?"
"Please?" He brought me to a small alcove and uncovered the mirror. I gasped, the girl I saw in the mirror was not the girl I remembered at all. My messy black hair was pulled into a tame ponytail, my freckles had darkened as had the rest of my skin. The piercings in my ears hadn't been removed, but they'd changed, they were smaller studs all linked my chains, when had I done that? What delighted me most was the amount of weight I'd lost. "Holy shit," I muttered, turned about and delighting in my new figure. "I'm fabulous!" I breathed. Owner had done a marvelous job of accentuating my figure as well. The dress was a dark green color. The color dipped just enough to show a hint of cleavage, but not enough to be considered a desperate cry for help, it ended in a knot behind my neck, where the rest of the fabric hung down my back. The back was open, but on the fringes it had a very pretty geometric design that glittered when the light hit it just right. It went all the way to the floor, stopping just above my toes. It tapered out slightly where my knees began. Between looking at that, and my new body, I was in shock.
"I take it you like it?" I nodded my head furiously. "I love it! You must want payment in return!" "The pleasure you take in my work is enough for me." He said. "But please, if you would be so kind as to promote me when you get back home?"
"Oh trust me." I said. "They'll definitely know about you back home." Owner smiled and that was that. I was back on the street in ten minutes, back in my normal clothes, dress tucked safely in my bag, and feeling more confident than I had ever felt. I decided I'd better get back to the ship though, it had been hours since I landed, and I hadn't heard anything from anyone. I guess this planet really WAS safe if they left me alone for hours on end.
I don't really understand what happened next, but I suppose I just walked into a shady part of town, every city had them, so why not this city? I bit my lip, noticing the sudden change in atmosphere, everyone was less friendly, more hostile, and shot me looks that sent shivers up my spine. I told myself to keep a cool head, I could get out of this, just find the main road. The more I wondered, the more I was taken deeper and deeper into the dark side of town.
As I was approaching an alley, my warning system went off, and I crouched down without meaning too, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I looked all around me, but nothing. I looked above, nothing. I recalled my adventure a few days ago, and panic got the best of me, I began to run. My body screamed at me not to run. Just like it did when I began my morning routines with Svalek, but my brain said a proverbial 'fuck you!' to my body. I was getting out here one way or another.
Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn, and dead ended in an alley. I saw shadows that time, and my brain kicked it into hyper-drive. I noticed a manhole a few feet from where I was standing, I decided I'd go down, wait right where I was and then come back up when I felt like it was safe. I dove for it, wrenched it open, and grabbed for the stairs, only, there were no stairs to grab. I had entered the rabbit's hole.
