Vigil bounded down the hallway, and stopped at the far end. A new hallway stretched left to right. He listened intently, his antennae twitching lightly. There was a slight breeze coming from the right. Without hesitation, he skittered in that direction.
He came to a bend. Rubble was piled in areas. This section was severely damaged, and was in danger of caving in the next few years. He climbed around the debris, and paused. Somewhere ahead, he could hear a sort of gasping. It wasn't a sound that the ghost would make, and he decided to seek it out.
He navigated through the rubble of the hall, until he came upon a large pile caused by the collapse of a section of wall. In a corner lay the Pikachu, curled around herself, pressing her body close to the wall to minimize exposure. She was panting heavily, and appeared to be scared.
Vigil thought for a moment. If he spoke now, while he was practically beside her, he would undoubtedly scare her to death. He would have to be careful in introducing himself. He did not want her to perceive him as a threat.
So he carefully made his way back down the crumbling hallway, and began noisily making his way back towards her, only to pass her, picking up a few pebbles and analyzing them before dropping them. He paused, listening. She was holding her breath, and thus, had noticed his noise. He turned around to face her, and took a good look at her. She could see him now, and sat there, wide-eyed as she tried to slow her breathing to try not to be detected.
He took a few steps towards her, and paused, and took another few steps, "The ghost isn't here anymore." He said quickly, glancing down the hallway and listening for its ominous sighs.
She took at him, "Stay back." She picked up a rock. Vigil pulled back, "Who are you?" She inquired.
The Venonat twitched, checking the hallway again, "Vigil. You are trapped here, yes?" The Pikachu nodded. "What is your name?"
"Sarah." She took a step away from the wall. "Do you know a way out of here?"
"No. I am trapped here two. Door sealed itself before I could escape. New passages opened up. Haven't seen anyone else. Just you and the ghost."
Sarah peered around her shelter, into the darkness of the hallway, "I have to get out of here."
Vigil approached her, "Then we can find a way out together. Place your paw on my carapace. I will guide you through these deteriorating hallways." He led her away.
"How can you see? I'm blind in here!"
"I am a Venonat. We can see in dark places. Very nocturnal." He stepped over a stone. "Rock." He warned. Sarah still hit it with her foot and flinched.
"Here's another passageway." He turned right, and guided her down it. "This one is clear. Well maintained. Very sound." He noted, looking at the lack of debris. They came upon another passage, and turned left.
"Look! Light!" Sarah released the fur on Vigil's carapace, and the two walked towards the light.
They entered a room of similar size as the one with the fountain. However, the roof was split open, and sunlight streamed into it. Fallen pillars were strewn about the place, and the roof had all but crumbled away, leaving the massive walls of stone above where the roof had been.
The room was silent, and Vigil made for the center. There, he stopped, raised himself, and listened, feeling the air, the sounds. He chirped, and ran towards Sarah, signaling for her to follow as he ducked behind a fallen pillar.
On the far side of the room, a crack appeared. It bulged outwards a few inches at a time until parts of the wall fell apart. A large anteater-like creature leapt through, spinning around to unleash a massive burst of fire into the tunnel. As the flames subsided, he darted for a passageway between the pillar and the new tunnel.
Behind him emerged a swarm of black shapes, their single eyes burning a fierce red. They burst from the tunnel in great numbers, and spread into the air, slinging rocks towards their prey. Then they promptly gave chase, piling into the hallway after it.
Vigil waited until their sounds faded, and emerged from his cover. He peered down the hallway the things had raced down, and saw no red lights. They were clear. He skittered towards the tunnel the fire creature had made, and motioned Sarah to follow. "They might not be in this direction. I would rather not follow them, nor head back towards the ghost." Sarah nodded, and ran to catch up.
Once more, she placed a paw on his carapace as he guided her through the rocky tunnel. Once more they descended into darkness.