Every sharp turn slammed him into the side, knocking his breath away and sending a fresh spike of pain through his body. After what felt like hours but was really a few moments the ride ended. He popped out at hip level, falling into ankle high water and mud below the pipe exit. The young man pulled himself out of the heavy mud with a sickening slurp, coughing up traces of the foul tasting water. When he finally pulled himself onto solid ground and got his breathing under control, he began to get his bearings.

The first thing he noticed was that it was a massive cavern, easily dwarfing the biggest shopping mall from back home. The second thing was the shapes that began to form out of the gloom. Buildings and spires twisted and jutted from the flooded ground with walkways running between them. It was as if someone had taken a chunk of Ravnica and hid it deep below, or just forgot about it and built over it. The only light came from stray sun beams that burst through the cavern ceiling, or the odd torch lit along a path.

"I'm in the undercity..." He whispered, marveling at the gloom covered view. He fell back onto his rear, the soft moss below acting as a cushion. He pulled a piece up and studied it, looking around again. Now that he looked there was a definite green tint to everything, like vegetation clung to it all. So, undercity, but not totally dead...Golgari..

The realization was like a whisper in the back of his mind.

"I'm in Golgari territory..." He said aloud. Then realization came crashing down on him like a weight. This is not good. Not good at all. Alright, stay calm, tally the situation. I've still got my blade and some cash and I'm not guild affiliated...That's about it for the good side. Bad side, not guild affiliated, no idea where I'm going, and I have to believe that everything here wants me dead cause of the whole bullshit ecosystem they've got. Dammit... Alright, survival time. Blend in and get to high ground. Up is what I want.

Andrew pulled himself to his feet and began looking for the nearest staircase. He found it a few yards away leading up to the dimly lit paths. Nothing was walking the roads, so it was fairly easy to move along them unseen. He eventually came to a fork that lead both right and left. It took him a minute to realize he had a compass, the light beams. They were tilted at an angle that Andrew could just make out. Even the sun on Ravnica followed earth rules. Rises in the east, sets in the west. As of now it was setting, so the right path would lead him south and back towards Alvine. Without further hesitation he took the right path, disappearing into the dark tunnel on the caverns side.

The only sound was his muted breathing and the dull thunk of his own footsteps. At this point he was grateful for that. Anything else could be a one way ticket to death.

Keep calm, keep calm... Just be cool. No gleancrawlers here, or giant worm things. Gonna be fine...

He walked through the silence, body tensed, half expecting something to grab him by the legs and yank him into a hole in the wall. That's when an unexpected noise broke calm. It was a giggle, feminine and altogether terrifying. He immediately stopped and went into listening mode. Tiny breaths, ear cocked in the direction of the last sound heard.

Silence and then another laugh. This time male. Faint conversation between the two. Andrew pulled his blade out of its sheathe quietly, careful not to let it scrape. He started slowly moving forward, planting the balls of his feet first before stepping again. Soon enough he was at the tunnel entrance peeking out at the new surroundings.

Much like before it was another sunken section of the city. This time it was populated. Small houses dotted the area, coming out of the wall or built into the walkways. Almost every one of them having a glowing torch on or near it. Boats slinked across the water below with various sized beings using poles to push themselves along. Things moved beneath the surface, letting dorsal fins sprout just above the ripples. The two voices came from up ahead of him, a man and woman both leaning against a house making conversation.

"You should come over tonight, we've got sirloin shrooms marinating."

"Oh really? I haven't had those in forever!"

"Totally, I'm sure we'll be able to entertain ourselves until they're done..."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah.."

Andrew almost gagged. Here he is trying not to die a horrible death while these two write a teenage love scene... The two talked for a few moments longer before mercifully walking away hand in hand. This let him sneak out of the tunnel entrance and behind the nearest house. Even better was the torn cloak he found buried behind it in the moss. As he pulled it out of the dirt he found that it wasn't quite abandoned. A pile of semi rotten bones fell out from beneath it, the flesh still in the process of being eaten away by the horde of beetles. With a grimace he shook it out, not wanting any of them climbing around in his shirt. Once satisfied he flipped it around himself, covering much of his body and face. As a minor thought he ripped some of the hanging vines and lichen down, wrapping them around his neck and hands. They reached out from under the robe, giving him an overgrown look.

Most of the cards back home had the Golgari creatures being part plant or at least dressed in them, he reasoned that the same should hold true for actually being here. With one more pull on the cloak he walked out into the street, making his way to the staircase leading to the higher levels.

His disguise seemed to be working as he passed the locals. Many of them were human, but there were also plenty of variety mixed in. Zombies, some darker looking viashino, and the occasional elf dressed in tribal gear all walked by. Only one of the elves so much as glanced at him as they passed. Many were sullen faced and pale. Can't blame them, being shut away down here would devastate an average person.

Andrew made it up several more flights of stairs without problem before he reached another fork. The sign in the middle had a left arrow sign with the words High Reaches while the right was labeled Stone Garden. He quickly turned to the left assuming High Reaches meant closer to the surface. He kept turning when he noticed the large gathering of armed beings based at the left tunnel entrance. They seemed to be waiting for something or someone which only fueled Andrew's growing sense of paranoia. He quickly decided that the best course of action was to go the opposite way.

He was only a few steps from the right hand tunnel when a hand grabbed onto his shoulder.

"Where you going bounty boy?" Sneered a cold voice from behind. Quicker than the elf thought possible, Andrew spun around and threw a handful of dirt straight into his face. Forcing him into a blind coughing fit and giving the human enough time to turn and book it down the tunnel. He could still hear the elf coughing in between shouts for his comrades. Once again he was running for his life.

The only thing that gave him the advantage was his decent lead. The moment he lost that it was over. His legs burned, his lungs screamed, but still he ran. Vines and hanging lichen passed by in a blur and he found himself eating more than a few low hanging cobwebs.

Finally he saw it up ahead, daylight. It shined like a golden portal leading out of the darkness. He forced himself to go faster, taking deep, ragged gulps of air. And just like that he was out.

His shoulders slumped as he realized the situation. He was in a perfect cylinder built into the ground. By the looks of it street level was at least ten stories high. The bottom was like a small park with various statues, all spread out and overgrown. Including the tunnel he came out of there were six entrances to the garden. The reveal was morally devastating and he almost gave in, almost. But part of him wanted to keep going, he HAD to keep living.

Five years motherfucker! FIVE YEARS! You ain't getting me yet!

Picking at random he hurtled down one of the other tunnels, running until he started splashing, then splashing until he was wading. He worked his way past even more statues, ignoring the left and right turns of the main path. The water finally stopped at knee height, and at that point his energy was spent. Andrew leaned against the wall listening for signs of his pursuers, but nothing came. All he could hear was the drip of water and his own heavy breathing. Soon even that dissipated, leaving him calm and alone once more.

He reached out and grabbed the shoulder of the nearest statue, pulling himself from the wall. His legs had weakened considerably, forcing him to rely on his surroundings. In the dim, reflected light of the tunnel he could just make out the features of his new support. It was of an elven man, much like one of the ones he saw earlier, except his face wasn't stuck in a judgmental grimace. It's more like something of surprise and.. fear? He looked at another one a short ways away, this one seemed to be trying to block out the view of something. Like a bright object was shining in his eyes.

It took a moment for his mind to begin working again. When it did, panic and cold dread began to take over.

Wait. WAIT. No. No, no, no. Oh no, no noooo, no. His mind went into overdrive as realization took over. Flashes of images blinked by in series, the guide, creatures of Ravnica, rare and sentient, turns it's victims to stone.

"Gorgon..." He whispered. Two feminine arms snaked around his shoulders and crossed over his chest while a voice whispered into his ear.

"Human." Came the whispered reply. His body stiffened as his mind raced. He could feel her leaning against his back, her body cool against his own post running temp. By the feel of it she was definitely female, with two ample piles of proof pushed against him. He could feel odd touches on the back of his head, no doubt from the stalk like hair of his captor. He kept his eyes straight ahead, not daring to turn and look at her face. His mind pushed him into one of his old habits during a stressful situation, talking.

"So.." He said quietly, as if he was trying to keep the situation calm. "That was your garden out there?"

"Part of it." She answered, equally quiet but with a hint of glee in her voice. "I keep my good ones in a private collection."

"Ah, it was lovely. Had I not been running for my life I would have taken more time to enjoy it."

Fear had become his entire being. No doubt she could hear the waver in his voice.

"Oh, a lover of the arts? How rare for someone like you to end up here."

"Just passing through actually..." He said, trying to keep the shake out of his voice and failing. Alright, guide says that gorgons were practically extinct, but recently they've been making a comeback. Older generations turned everything they looked at to stone, they're gone supposedly. These new ones can actually control it, like an on and off thing...

"I can hear your heartbeat. It sounds like it's going to beat out of your chest."

"I.. I just finished a run actually..."

"Ahh, so that was what I heard splashing through my tunnels." She said as she leaned her head against his own. Her hair tendrils began running through his own mop of hair making a shiver go up his spine.

"I can feel you shaking..." She whispered into his ear.

"M-m-my legs are a bit cold is all. From the water.." He stuttered out.

Losing it, losing it! I got cocky, now this is my punishment...DAMMIT! Not like this, it's not fair!

"Oh is that all? And here I thought it was my fault." She chuckled.

"He heh... N-no, of course not. Why would such a... a charming young woman cause me any discomfort?"

"Well aren't you just a treat? Shame you have to die though... I can't just let a trespasser go."

"Oh...O-of course not. I'm sure you have a reputation to keep, but that doesn't mean you have to kill me just yet though!" She chuckled at him again, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"I suppose not. You're pretty warm after all." Few seconds stall, need more. Much more. Andrew began forcing himself to take slow breaths to lower his heart rate. Being nervous would only hinder him right now.

"I take it you don't get much in the way of conversation down here huh?" He asked, trying to keep her talking.

"Not really. Usually it's just screaming followed silence or a bout of wet choking." Holy shit...

"This is the longest I've talked to anyone in years. You should be proud of that." Taunted his captor.

"Oh, uh, wow... Glad I could be decent company..Uh, so if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?" Asked Andrew a bit more calmly. The reaction was anything but what he wanted.

"What?"

"Your name? I'd like to hear it." He pushed.

"Why? What does it matter if I tell you my name? You're going to die here." Her voice had taken a more hostile tone.

"Well, maybe. But that doesn't mean I have to-"

Didn't you hear what I said? You're going to be a crumbling sculpture in a matter of moments!" Her hands shifted, the long, sharp nails started digging into his chest. Oh my god...This is the first time anyone has ever asked her name... WAIT, I can use this.. Maybe... Shit, fine. Here goes.

"I know. I-I know that you can turn me to stone. That you could probably just rip my throat out and let me bleed to death. I know that this is the end, I get it..." He took a deep breath, shaking on the release. "Yet here I am, getting a chance to live my last moments talking to a woman who understands loneliness like no other being in Ravnica."

"What did you say.." Her voice was a whisper, filled with confusion and pain. Oooohhhhh shit... Keep going, keep going... The nails on his chest continued to drive in deeper, making him wince as the cloth around them turned scarlet.

"All these statues, all these people Why did they come here? To kill the monster, take it's treasure, avenge a loved one. How many of them came to see you, to ask how you've been?"

Silence followed while her entire body went still.

"When has anyone seen you and smiled?"

"Shut up..." Still her voice was light, filled with sadness and pain.

"How many of them came to laugh with you?" Her hands pulled away from his chest, leaving ten red holes in his shirt. He still didn't turn as her hands moved up to his neck.

"I told you to shut up!" Her hands began to tighten around his throat. One last shot!

"How many of them asked for your name?" The hold tightened, cutting off all his air. Try as he might he couldn't draw breath, and black spots began to dance in the corners of his eyes. As the darkness was about to take him, she released and he fell against the elf statue gasping for air.

Nailed it! Shit, can't run now though.. Dizzy, and I couldn't if I tried...Plus, if I did she'd just hunt me down. I got lucky, real lucky that she wasn't too far gone. Gonna have to roll with it now...

Andrew could still feel her behind him. She'd let go, but she wasn't going to let him go. Ohh.. She's waiting for me to run... Yup, definitely not doing that now.. What do I do? Think... Ahh.. The two stood there in the quiet. Him, leaning on a statue staring ahead. Her, leaning back against the wall staring at his back. Neither spoke, and for a moment all was still.

"Why didn't you run." It wasn't a question.

He took a deep breath before answering.

" Two reasons. One, because I can't anymore. I'm exhausted, been running all day. Two, I saw the statues, they tried to run but got cut off. I have no doubt that you know this place better than anyone..."

Silence took control of the conversation once more.

"And... and I still didn't get you name." He added after a few seconds.

The gorgon didn't move, didn't laugh or give any sign she heard. Then came a whispered answer.

"It's Leann."

"Leann... I like that name." This time she snorted.

"Good, because you're going to be saying it a lot. "

"Uh..what." He felt her take a piece of the ripped cloak and tore it off into a strip. It came down over his head and covered his eyes effectively blindfolding him.

"I'm not going to kill you now, but I reserve the right to do it later. I think I'll keep you. It's been far too long since I've had a personal servant." All the former negative emotion had simply vanished leaving the gorgon the way she was before. Andrew began to argue before he could think.

"But I've got work tomorrow! My boss will kill me, or worse, I'll lose my job!" This caused her to chuckle from behind him.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll kill you before your boss does."

"That really doesn't..."

"Enough, let's go." She steered him around with surprising strength, taking him further into the flooded tunnels.

"You know, it'll be awfully hard to be a good butler when I can't see a thing." He had his arms out in front of him feeling around for any type of obstacle.

"It will come off once we get home."

"Oh.. How far is it?"

"Not very. This is just to make sure you won't be running anytime soon. I'm the only one who knows these tunnels. Anyone else would get hopelessly lost. Understand?"

"I just think that-" She dug her knife like nails into his shoulder making him let out a little yelp.

"I expect proper behavior from my servants. This includes, cooking, cleaning, tending to my every whim and NOT trying to escape."

Bullshit. I'm gonna gtfo bitch. But what really came out was.

"Yes my lady."

"Oh? So polite. Keep that up and you'll do just fine." Eat a dick.

The two walked in silence for a short while longer. Andrew tried to make a mental map of the route, but the amount of twists and turns were just too great. Eventually the water level fell to shin height, then to ankle until they were walking on dry stone once more. It wasn't until after an hour or so that she brought the young human to a stop and ripped off the blindfold.

To say he was impressed would have been an understatement. He had expected some type of ruined grotto with a mattress in the center, this was nothing remotely close. An old style mansion had somehow sunk into the undercity from above. The incredible part was how intact it was. Only a couple windows had been cracked or broken out while the outer structure was completely unharmed. The stained glass above the door was shaped into the orzohv guild symbol. Obviously this had been one of the higher ranking member's mansion and they didn't feel the need to retrieve it.

"Damn..." he muttered under his breath.

"You like it? It's amazing what the Orzohv just throw away." She brought her clawed fingers up to his throat. "Now drop your sword here." He did as he was told, undoing the belt and dropping it to the side. Still got my knife. With her other hand the gorgon reached up under his shirt and pulled out the hidden blade. She threw it next to the sword. Shit...

"Now. Turn around and face me." Andrews shoulders sagged as he felt the color run from his face. She was just toying with me.

"Listen, Leann... Do I-" Her sharpened nails pressed against his throat.

"Two choices, turn and look at me or bleed out." Andrew clenched his fists together, took several deep breaths, and spun around to look his captor in the eye. Nothing happened. He didn't feel his limbs freezing in place, no icy stone creeping up his back, nothing. He just saw the face of his new master.

She was shorter than him, only by an inch or two though and she was pretty. Could have passed for a model in his world, if you could get over the writhing, tendril like hair and the pale green tinted pallor. Her clothes fit her figure, a dark green dress with a split along the thigh that came to her knees. The top left a rather large amount of cleavage bared to the world.

"Ohh..." Well... Okay, so I'm stuck serving a hot killing machine... There are worse options... but I'm still not staying.

"Ohh?" She asked somewhat hostilely.

"Uh, I just... Sorry, but I wasn't expecting-"

"You weren't expecting what exactly?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"That... that you were so cute..." The jumbled mess of words came out before his stress induced mind could stop it. She blinked once, then twice before clearing her throat.

"Thats... thank you..." She said a bit unsurely.

"Yeah... No problem..." he replied. Truthfully she was quite a looker. If you're into the whole zenophilia thing. Damn you 4chan... The pale woman composed herself once more and reverted back to the role of captor.

"Well then...This was to show you that you don't have to worry about looking at me. I don't need a slave that can't look me in the eye when I'm talking to them or has to keep avoiding me. Understand?"

"I do." Me thinks she's just wanting some attention.

"Good. Now into the house."

Andrew glanced once more at his pile of weapons before obediently walking towards the double doors.

"Don't worry, you'll get them back. What good is a bodyguard that can't defend me?" Psh, like you need defending.

They walked through the doors into a lavishly decorated hall. As with the outside there was minor damage. A few cracked walls, the banister for the left hand staircase was missing a few pieces, along with a few other assorted problems. Other than that it was incredible. Imagine every type of stereotypical rich persons furniture and throw it into a massive room. Antique vases and statues, tapestries lining the walls, even a crystal chandelier that lit the room. How did that not break? Oh right. Magic.

"Go on, up the stairs and make a right." She gave him a rough push forward. Stopping to close the doors behind her. The two made their way into the mansion, taking an occasional turn as they went. Finally she stopped at a door next to a suit of antique armor.

"This is your room." She pointed to the set of double doors next to it. "And that is mine. In." she commanded. Andrew did as he was told, eyes darting toward every door, window and possible exit. The inside of the room was actually quite nice. It looked to be a type of guest room with a cozy looking bed, desk, fireplace and several wardrobes. Two windows in the back of the room revealed an underground lake behind the mansion. Everything had a small covering of dust.

"I hope this is to your liking." She said from behind him. "They used these rooms for visiting family. The actual servants room was in the basement, it was crushed when the mansion fell. I prefer to have you close anyway. Sit." The gorgon pushed him down into a nearby desk chair causing a small puff of dust. He remained sitting while he heard her rummaging around behind him. Just as he was about to ask what she was looking for a thick, leather band was pulled tight against his throat causing him to jerk and immediately try to take it off. He hear a click and felt the pressure relieve itself to that of a necklace. He felt around and swore when he realized what happened. He had just been collared.

"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!?" A swift swat to the back of the head was her reply. He was bent over checking the back of his scalp for blood when she spoke. "I won't tolerate backtalk, and you will refrain from such vulgar language in front of me. That collar will take care of the rest. Now go retrieve your weapons first, then I'll give you a list of what needs done." She left him in the room, not bothering to close the door. He glanced back at his hand, it was tinged with red.

Fuck you bitch, collar or no collar I'm out of this place. Andrew immediately got to his feet and headed into the halls. Taking the same path back to the foyer as before. He kept himself at a steady walk to avoid suspicion. He reached the doors with no problem and not even a glimpse of his she bitch captor. I called her cute and she fucking chokes and slaps me. Crazy snake lady.

His sword belt was once more strapped on adding that comfortable weight he was used to. He quickly pulled out the knife and made to cut the insulting leather band off his throat, but just as the blade touched it the wretched thing constricted, cutting off his air. He quickly dropped the knife in an attempt to pull the collar loose. When the blade fell away, so did the tightness and he fell to his knees gasping for breath.

"(Cough cough) Seriously? (Cough)" Once his fit subsided he quickly sheathed the knife, there was no point in trying again. That was no fluke, he'd just have to get someone to magic it off.

"Doesn't matter, get it later." he said to himself as he took off to the tunnel entrance. He was halfway there with the mansion slowly receding into the gloom when the collar struck again. It was as if there was an invisible chain attached to it and he had reached the end of its length... At a dead run... Needless to say he was on the ground, staring up at the caverns ceiling, trying desperately to breath and failing.

Leann chose that particular moment to bend over his prone form with a smug, and overly cheery smile. "Ah, I forgot to mention. That collar is special. You can't get a set distance away from me, or remove it in any way by yourself! I can also do this."

A white hot pain erupted over Andrew's body, he would have screamed if he had the lung capacity to do so. The only thing he could do was make a type of choking sound and arch his back. Then suddenly as it appeared, it vanished. Leaving him gasping on the ground once more.

Gonna...kill her...got to..

It was if she read his mind, more likely his eyes. "Oh, and another fun fact. It's got a one way life link to it. I die, you die. Same with pain, I hurt, you hurt."

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch.

"Once you're recovered enough come back to the house, I want dinner ready within the hour. Then you'll be cleaning and doing repairs." She stood up and walked away, leaving the wheezing human alone on the ground with his grim realization.

I'm a slave to a psychopathic death machine...