Fear ebbed at him, blocking out most of the surrounding darkness. The silence only broken by sudden noise from the Barrels he had yet to see. Felix couldn't even picture them as people let alone the kind of guns they had. He tried to listen to every noise but his pounding heart echoed in his skull. Not to mention all of the crackling of the dark around him. Felix took control of his shallow breaths. In and out. Slow and steady. It calmed him, but the nausea of the dark consumed him more.

With another hard breath, he tried pushing those sounds away. It was harder than he thought, and the churning in his stomach wasn't helping.

Then he realized the quiet had gotten too loud. Under the static of the shadows, there was no more conversation in the background. Felix sat up only just able to make out the door Stephano had gone through. How long was he going to take? And could he do it without getting the Barrels' attention?

Remembering how Stephano had done it, he left the safety of his hiding place and slipped over to the door. He pressed his ear to it and listened.

Deep beneath all the cockroach noises, he could hear footsteps. Quiet. Purposeful ones. They had heard Stephano and were searching for him. Felix panicked. If he did nothing and suddenly heard gunshots, he would know it was over. Right? But Gonzales had mentioned before that he had killed Barrels with that sword. So the gold statue should be safe, right?

Still he thought of what to do. If he made a loud sound and distracted them, he could hide and it would all be alright! But… What if they were smarter than the Bro? They'd search the room.

Then it hit him.

Felix stepped away from the door and rushed over to another one. He tried it, and thankfully it was unlocked. Moving some things around he was able to get a table to stand beside the door and placed a half broken pot on it. With one swift motion, the door slammed hard enough that it bounced off the latch and creaked partly open. The pot slammed to the ground and the table toppled over.

Footsteps rushed down the hall so Felix jumped back behind the broken bed and pushed himself down as hard as he could, holding his breath.

The door flew open and a small silence.

"We both heard that, right?"

"Over there!" the other hissed.

A short quiet moment, and their footfalls followed through the cracked door.

Felix gave it another few moments in the dark before poking his head out. He sighed. "Thank every holy thing and doodad that worked."

He still didn't leave his spot until the ever so quiet statue returned. His yellow eyes bore through the bed so intensely it gave him chills. "What were you thinking?" Stephano growled.

"It sounded like they knew you were there!" The blonde pulled himself out from his uncomfortable spot. "I panicked!"

Grateful that he was okay, Stephano produced a call from his robes. "Forgot we found this earlier." And he showed the full vials as well. "And backup now."

Seeing the clear vials, Felix's tongue felt dry again. He had forgotten about the canned water too. How could he? CANNED. WATER. Clambering over the bed and to his friend he snatched up the can and quickly figured out the weird pop top. It probably would have been smarter to check it, but Felix was thirsty. He chugged the metallic taste down, almost not feeling satisfied when it was finished.

Stephano's smile was worried. "I… was going to say to slow down," he muttered.

Remembering the water also brought up memory of the apple. "What about-"

Stephano was one step ahead. The food was in his hand but most of it was crushed. "It wasn't as good as I thought it had been." He tossed it aside. "You still need a rest?"

Felix hesitated a glance at his leg. When he had gone back into hiding after slamming the door, he had bumped his still scratched and now bruised leg on the bed frame. It was now throbbing but in a minute or two it would probably go away. "Fit as a fiddle."

The other nodded and thankfully they worked together to pull the rotting bed away from the blocked door. Once it was free to go through-

A loud bang shot through the uncomfortable dark. It missed only just, sinking into the wood frame of the door by Stephano's shoulder.

Felix jumped, but Stephano had no hesitation. He grabbed the Swed's hand and threw the door open. No words and the two of them were running.

Not far behind them came the clicks of handguns reloading and almost as fast more pops as almost lit bullets flew past.

Felix risked a glance back.

The two in pursuit- it was like clones. And they shot as good as them too. Both men had light brown hair, brown suits without ties, and sunglasses. Why in the dark? He could never guess.

How he wished his leg wasn't hurting at this moment. The hard pounding of his feet against the ground was making his muscle cramp. And now that he was thinking about it, he had started limping on it. He pushed on ignoring it the best he could.

Another shot zoomed past, this time catching the fabric of Stephano's sleeve and the other passing close enough that Felix felt the heat of it. He veered to the right from shock and about ran into an open door. A hand had him before he could and shoved him ahead. "KEEP GOING!" Stephano demanded.

Felix kept on, resisting the urge to duck at every loud bang of the guns.

They quickly rounded a corner and skidded to a stop in front of a gate. Stephano reached into his robes but froze. "Piggeh has the skeleton key," he quietly mumbled. After just a moment, he unsheathed his sword and had his back to Felix. "Stay behind me!" he barked.

For the first time in his life, Felix thought too fast. "Steph- Stephano! The- The jar the stuff! ACID!" He was fumbling words as he got to the other and grabbed the still visible jar in his shirt. "On the lock!" And he was already at the gate putting maybe a little too much acid on the bridge of the lock.

Stephano was already on it as he spun and brought the bronze sword down on the quickly rusted down metal. It shattered just as another small spray of bullets peppered the gate bars. The gate swung open and the two were on the other side just for two more quick shots twanged off the bars. Felix pushed back on the door but what good was it if they could still shoot them? Or in Stephano's case, grab at his sword. They had his arm through the bars and were pushing it any way they could to loosen his grip.

Felix reached for the only thing he could which was a loose piece of stone. He easily pushed it through the bars and slammed it into the head of one of the Barrels. The other pulled away and Felix smashed the stone against the empty lock latch. A couple quick smacks and the latch easily bent.

With that, the two turned and ran. Much to their delight, all they heard behind them was the clicks of empty guns.

Once they were away and knew they were safe, Stephano finally said, "Quick thinking with the acid back there. You saved us."

Felix was just getting over his adrenaline. "Yeah. I remember that used to be a solution before."

Stephano laughed then. "So much for getting you water. You probably are thirsty again."

"Honestly, I was even after that can." He quickly fished out one of the vials but Felix pushed it away. "I'm good. Really." Even as he said it, the limp he now had was unavoidable.

The Swed didn't argue when Stephano pointed out another resting spot. This room also had a bed but best of all it had an updated door. It was like a small save point. Felix sat on the bed wanting so desperately to lay down. He was exhausted. Absolutely worn out. He just wanted to sleep. The closest he'd gotten to that was when Gonzales tried to kill him and that was hours ago.

Stephano made sure the door was blocked good. "You can sleep, PewDie."

It caught him off guard. "Sleep?"

"You're tired. It's fine. This is probably the best workout you've had in a while." Stephano stepped over to him, grabbing his leg and moving it so the other was forced to lay down. The bandage had dried from being wet but was still an ugly red and brown. "You forgot to tell me to change this," he scolded as he gingerly unwrapped it. Bits of the fabric had stuck to the cuts making Felix shiver when it tugged. With it off, Stephano used one of the vials of water to wet a new cloth - again, no idea where he's getting them - and wiped ever so gently over the cuts.

The bruises were getting more intense. Even the smallest touch was making him internally want to pull away. "I-It's good…!" he whined finally.

"Does it hurt?" the statue asked, blinking a little stunned.

"A bit." No use hiding it. It was just bruises.

He nodded, using the still wet cloth to wrap up his leg again. The cold felt nice and it wasn't so wet it would make the bed uncomfortable. "Now just rest up. I'll keep watch."

With how bulky the door was it didn't seem necessary. "Why don't you get some rest?"

A brief silence.

"I don't need it."

"Everyone says that until they get a well deserved nap." Felix pulled his leg away and rolled to the wall. "There's plenty of space. You get the side by the door so you can listen and I get the wall so I'm safe. Everyone wins!" And he yawned as he was instantly comfy. "It'll make you feel better."

He hesitated then, but his shoulders sagged. "If you just wanted me to lay down till you were asleep, then just say it."

"What…? No! Sleep, dammit!"

"Okay okay! Just stop yelling." He reluctantly laid his head down on the other pillow, facing up at the bed's canopy. "I haven't tried to sleep in… months," he confessed.

Felix chuckled. "Just shut your peepers and relax."

Stephano did, but just smiled. "It's like being down in the dungeons. How is this relaxing?"

"I try to think about good things. Seeing Marzia again. Taking Puga for a walk." He paused. "Getting out of here with my bros."

That one made the smile fall. There was more quiet. Finally Stephano spoke again. "I'll do that one."

Felix smiled. "Good choice." He too shut his eyes and curled up into his own pillow. Sleep didn't take long.

It was a swirling dark again. The faint pulse of something lit the horizon of a black surface red. Voices were ever so quiet calling out. They made no sense. None of them were loud enough to reach him. Like they were way in the distance.

Felix reached out for the pulsing distance. His body was stiff, unmoving. Even with his arm fully extended it only felt as if he were twitching a finger. When he blinked next, his eyes wouldn't open again. He could feel himself lying in the bed but he couldn't move. Those voices persisted, taunting him. Not a single word was reaching him.

That pain in his chest sprang back. It was an overwhelming feeling. Like a punch to the chest enough to knock you flat on your back. His chest burned. Felix grasped at it but it didn't feel like he moved at all. His grip tightened on it until he finally sat up with a loud gasp.

Stephano was up in an instant, his eyes hazy as he gave his full attention to the other. "PewDie!" His voice was distant. His touch was even more so.

Felix's body was on fire. His chest hurt in harsh waves. Finally another breath found a way into his lungs. He gulped down all the air he could before he was dizzy with it. It took some time before his mind cleared up and he could feel hands on his shoulders and his name being called.

"What happened? Talk to me!"

The words stuck in his teeth. Felix couldn't explain it. That was the second time he had a dream that had him wake up begging for air. It was making him hate sleep, but his body was still so tired. And now he had woken Stephano up from the first nap he'd had in months. What use was he?

"PewDie!"

That next yell got his attention fully. "St...e...phano," he was able to mutter to test his voice. "Damn…" He took another moment to breathe. "Since when was sleeping so hard?"

"What happened," the golden man demanded, eyes wide. The grip on his shoulders was shaking.

"I don't… know." Felix still had a hand to his chest. "I think I had a… heart attack?" Even he questioned it. He'd never had one before but he always heard they were mostly painless? That most people don't even know they're having them. Or was that a stroke? Or both? With another practice breath, he finally let go of his still blood stained shirt. "I'm okay now."

Stephano didn't seem convinced. "That's the second time you've done that."

"I know." He'd just gone over that thought in his own head.

"What did you dream about?" He needed some kind of answer to settle him.

"A black room and a red light." Felix was going to continue but the dream was fading fast. "Uh… A bed? I can't remember. I just know I don't want to sleep anymore."

Stephano rubbed his eyes.

"How'd you sleep?" That's what Felix was mostly worried about. How long had they slept? It only felt like a few minutes.

Thinking about it, Stephano said, " I do feel refreshed?" He stretched his arms, crossing them in front of him. "Tired still, but we need to keep moving." The man yawned making Felix too.

"Yeah. We should get going." Felix climbed over Stephano really not wanting to get comfortable again and fall asleep. He wasn't sleeping until he got out of here. This place was messing with his dreams.

And after that short rest and a quick drink of water, they were back out into the halls. From the looks of it, the Barrels hadn't broken through the gate, but now they were bound to have told everyone about Felix being here.

"We need to be on the lookout for any more Barrels or statues. They'll be looking for you." Stephano was extra cautious now. He took every corner more cautiously and made sure to stop at most doors to check for supplies.

On the way they managed to find some surprisingly new rolls. Stephano insisted Felix eat one or both, but of course the Swede made him eat one with him. If sleep made Stephano this much more focused then food was good for him too. That rest didn't take long and they were quickly back out.

The rest of the way through storage didn't take long. Stephano picked up the pace until he was running and Felix struggled to keep up fearing he might drop the lanturn. They came to an area that was broken down with much more stone and rocks around. The hall they came from was the only hallway. The other three entrances were tunnels as if this part of the castle had been dug into the side of a mountain. And across from all the entrances to that small room, was a latched door with a dim light shining through the cracks in the wood.

"Is that it?" Felix breathed with relief, but as he looked around he saw no one else there and no obvious signs anyone had been there. He already knew the argument that was about to come and it made his stomach twist.

Stephano said nothing as he went to the hatch to try it. It opened without any effort and the white light of the moon slipped down into the darkness lighting everything up. His golden form was now almost glowing with the light. His eyes were so bright in that moment, but he shook his head and shut the door. "We need to wait for the others," was all he said as he turned toward the other tunnels.

"Wait? Um… I'm sorry but I'd rather make sure they're all safe?" Felix crossed his arms.

The other shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

"You keep saying that! And I know it is! But I made a promise. I'm not leaving until I know everyone can get out." Felix stamped a foot angrily. "I haven't been through all of this just to abandon you all again!"

Stephano smirked. "PewDie, stop. Stop with all the old shit. You've more than proven yourself." He stood in front of the other tunnels, listening. Then he pointed down one of them. "And who the hell said we're waiting here for them?"

Felix stared at him a long moment. "W...What?"

He unsheathed his sword and slashed at the rock by the hatch. It made a strange 'P' shape. "Anyone else knows we've been here, so let's go get Mr. Chair and Piggeh."

Felix's eyes lit up. "Thank God you finally understand!" He jumped beside the statue and lit up the lanturn. The yellow fire mixing with the moon's white made the tunnel blaze with light. "I am SO ready for this!" he yelled just before a rumble shook the floor and a deep screech filled the air. "...M-Maybe not as ready anymore…"

Stephano's inner fire was burning. His eyes were a beautiful amber gold, a light Felix hadn't seen since falling down here. "This is our last big step to getting out of here. All of us. No more running or hiding. We can finally be free of this place and have lives, PewDie." Those eyes looked his way then, almost glittering with hope.

Now it was his turn. "I'm with you." He raised a fist.

Stephano mirrored that. "To the end, bro."

Their fists met and they hurried down one of the tunnels to find the others.

Not the end yet! Hey! 5ive again! I am still too hype for this story and I do intend to finish it! Eventually. I still have maybe four chapters left of this? If I'm able to draw it out like I want.

Thank you for reading!