Chapter 2: The Girl and the Tunnel
(Please note: The majority of the rest of the story will take place from Mike's perspective, except when we need to check up on the bad guys and whatnot.)
I screamed for a good ten seconds, until my breath ran out. That… That couldn't be me in the mirror! That small nose, those full, red lips, that long, smooth hair, those big, doleful blue eyes… That wasn't me! The woman stood there, her smile bordering on a smirk.
"Yes, we prefer to keep all the prisoners in the castle female, it makes breakouts that much harder. Guards! Take this girl to one of the cells in the dungeon." A pair of thugs entered the room from the hallway, grabbed me by the shoulders, and hauled me out of the chamber full of mirrors.
Ten minutes later, I lay on a grass pallet in a dark cell, with only a small, barred window letting in the morning light. I sat up, feeling stiff from the remnants of the quickly dissipating spell. Twisting my neck from side to side, I heard a satisfying 'Crack'. Feeling thoroughly stretched, I examined my new body, hoping that I hadn't gotten royally screwed over by the gowned woman.
After a few minutes, I decided that I could have done better, but I could've done a lot worse, too. My hair was only down to my neck, and my chest was only about a C Cup. I still had jeans, although now they were the skin-tight kind that you would never catch a guy wearing. I was less pleased with my shirt, which was one of those sleeveless deals that most girls in New York wore during summer. It was dark, navy blue, just like the jeans, and stopped right under my breasts, leaving my stomach exposed. My leather jacket, strangely enough, had now become a cloak, covered in varying shades of green, brown and gray. Well, it would presumably keep me warmer, so I couldn't really complain. The only part I truly couldn't stand was this ache I had in my tailbone. It didn't feel like a break in the bone, it felt… deeper than that.
Unsteadily, I stood up, my hand on the wall for support. Shakily, I made my way over to the door. Looking out the little barred window on it, I saw that there was a whole corridor of cells, most of them seemingly filled. Dejectedly, I slumped on the floor next to the doorway. I was stranded in some strange world, captured and behind bars, and I was a girl to boot. I felt like breaking down and crying, but I knew that that wouldn't help at all. I had to figure out a way to escape. Afterwards, I could get all my questions answered. Looking around the cell, I couldn't see anything that would be useful. Hearing hurried footsteps outside the door, I slowly stood up and looked out the cell window. Running down the hallway was a tall, beautiful girl. She looked to be about 18, and had long, flowing, orange-blonde hair, and a red tunic with a skirt that went down to her knees. She looked as if she were running from something… Maybe she was escaping!
Sticking an arm out of my cell, I waved it at her.
"Help! Let me out!" She slowed, than stopped right in front of my cell.
"My God, they're arresting even kids these days…" She muttered under her breath.
"Please, let me out! I'll do whatever you want!" I pleaded through the bars, tears beading in the corners of my eyes. She hesitated for a moment, looking torn.
"Oh, alright!" She said, bending over near the lock. I stood up on tip-toe, trying to see what she was doing. After about a minute, the lock clicked, and the door swung open.
"Now come on!" She hissed at me, grabbing my hand. "We need to get out of here now!" She started sprinting down the corridor, with me in tow.
We turned down a corner, with me just managing to keep on my feet. She looked left and right, and decided to go left. After about five more minutes of running, we came to a door. Pulling a key out of her pocket, She unlocked the door and ushered me through. We were in a room filled with bits and bobs, random junk that seemed to have been abandoned. In the center of the room was a pool of water that led into a grated tunnel.
Turning to me, she sized me up.
"Can you swim, girl?" She asked, with a note of condescension. Defensively, I replied,
"Of course I can! I'm not just some helpless kid!" She snorted.
"Yes, that must be why I had to break open your cell for you." I glared at her, but said nothing. I knew I would need her cooperation to get out of here.
"Alrighty sweetie, here's the plan; I'll swim under that grille, through the tunnel and out the other side. You follow me, alright?" I nodded, hoping it was as easy as it sounded. She nodded back, and dived in. Looking at the murky, light green water, I wished that I'd have just stayed asleep under my bush.
"Well, here goes nothing." I said, as I was swallowed up by the murky depths.