Chapter 4 – Dim Pathways
It was dark inside the Pyramids. The three adventurers clung together to prevent separation. As they were struggling to find the way to the Pyramid's basement, Wilkren noticed something…
"Hey, guys, don't you think we are just moving in circles?" he questioned, his voice sounded very worried.
"No need to worry. I am very familiar with this place. We just need to get to the center of this maze," the assassin said with confidence.
Dane was overwhelmed by what the assassin said. He could not believe that they were actually working their way out of a deep maze! He sighed, then confronted the assassin..
"What? You mean this place is a maze? Are you sure you know the way to the basement.. or whatever? We've been walking for hours, and I'm very hungry! Could we stop for a while?" he imperiously said.
"We could stop, but we might not make it to the basement. Blood-sucking bats lurk this place," the assassin said.
"Never mind, let's go. We need to find Mother Matilda. I just need to talk to her about something, really," Dane uttered.
Wilkren was irritated by what was happening, especially because he could only see dim pathways. There were also instances that they encountered bat attacks, which made him feel really uncomfortable.
"For Odin's sake, could we just get out of here? Mother Matilda's been missing for like three years! We won't be able to find her! She might have died of hunger, or have been killed by monsters!" he exclaimed. He really wanted to get out of the dreadful place, the Pyramids.
"No, Wilkren, there's no turning back. Why did you come with me in the first place? You should have rested in that old inn and have your head massaged." Dane said, as if he was telling him that there's still hope in finding Mother Matilda.
Wilkren went beside Dane. He found it really cumbersome to travel there, especially with a stranger. A stranger who might have killed them right there.
"Hey.. don't you think that the man we're journeying with is a little bit annoying? I have a terrible feeling that he might do something to us. I think he knows that we do not know the right path to get to the basement, or the right path to get out," he whispered to Dane.
"Don't worry. I think we could trust him. Well, shall we ask for his name then?" Dane said.
"Hey," Dane said, while he pulled the assassin's cloak to get his attention.
"What's your name, if I may ask?" he courageously asked.
The assassin did not answer. He just continued walking as if he did not hear anything. After a few moments, he stopped moving, which made the two halt, too.
"Tch.. freaks are the only ones who ask what my name is. Anyway, El Thor's the name.., killing people's the game.." the assassin grumbled, and then he continued to walk.
Wilkren was really dissatisfied on how El Thor answered Dane's question. The only reason why he could not grab El Thor's cloak and tell him how annoying it was to travel with him was he was too afraid that El Thor might leave them there or kill them.
Unknown to them, they were already being chased by twenty-two blood-sucking purple bats. They reached a dead end. El Thor wondered why they met a dead end. He was certain that they were traveling on the right track.
"Now what, smarty-pants? I thought you knew the way to the basement?" Wilkren said, as he faced El Thor.
"Yes, this is supposed to be the right path. But now I'm having doubts.. Someone might have changed the—"El Thor was not able to continue because he heard someone shout.
"Gaaaaaaah! Die, bloodsucker!" Dane screamed while he was finishing the bats one by one with a threshing weapon which had a long piece of wood as its handle and a metal ball at its end.
El Thor quickly moved. He hid in the shadows, then he stroke the bats with numerous spiky teeth-like pillars from the ground. He finished the bats instantly. He approached Dane, who was being aided by Wilkren.
"Are you guys alright?" he asked.
"Wow, it's a good thing you're worried about us!" Wilkren said.
El Thor did not utter a word. He went near Dane and he grabbed his right hand, to help him get up.
"Come on, I can sense that we're near the basement," he mumbled.
"Aaaah, my butt hurts… S-sure, let's go." Dane said as he got up.
They walked for a few minutes. They saw two torches which were clinging to the wall. They walked a few more inches, and they saw a staircase which led to an underground territory. El Thor knew they were almost there. They were almost in the basement. Just as they were about to go down, a man who wore long lavender coat and brownish pants—a stalker, flung a stone into their direction.
The stalker grinned. After a few seconds, he said "You guys are going nowhere…"