I tried to stare at the direction of the noise. The rumble could have been anything. It could have been a little earthquake or a monster lurking. After stuffing the molding paper in my toga, I stood there for a while. Now it was complete silence minus my heart racing. I wonder if the creature was calculating my next move also.

Luckily my eyes were starting to get used to the dark. The walls were covered in black rock but there were tracks on the ground. They weren't big enough to be train tracks. Maybe this was a miner's cave and these tracks lead to coals and precious stones.

I stacked my swords into one, making an elegant arc resembling a bow. I clutched the weapon tight.

A figure swayed in the shadows, gradually gathering its form and revealing its appearance. The figure was relying on one side of the wall, feeling his way through the darkness. Judging his slow progress, he was either injured or just as lost as I am.

"Hello?" I called out to him. The figure paused, but recognized my voice and started to walk faster. When he spoke, the tension in my shoulders evaporated.

"I'm so glad I met up with you."

"Me too, Link."

My friend sighed and bent over. I went to pat his back but my hand was shaking. Maybe I wasn't as ready as I thought I was. Link stood erect and crossed his arms.

"Well now that we met, do you know where we are?"

"Uh, um, a cave."

Link chuckled. I smiled sheepishly.

"But come to think of it, I kind of remember this place. But I'm not sure." He mumbled. Good for him. I don't have the slightest idea where I am or why I'm here.

"I guess we should follow the path."

The tracks lead a gentle slope down. Link lead the way and I was in close pursuit, so when he stopped abruptly, I bumped into him. He pointed above us; an old wooden sign with block-y letters that read: "Under Development Do Not Enter".

Around us was a small station maybe fit for ten men. Several wooden boxes were stacked on top of each other. One of the open ones contained ruined books wet with bugs chewing on them. Some had mining tools like scabblers and brushes but most were oxidized. This place must have been abandoned for years.

"Hey look over here, I can see a river." Link called.

He was peering into a crack the size of a small window. Thick fog obscured the view but I saw glimpses of a canyon carved by the streams of water. It fascinated me how a stream could make such a smooth wall of rock.

"Cool, right?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe that river leads somewhere. Like a lake or the ocean."

Just as I nodded, a soft orange glow flickered to life. The glow was an electric lamp stapled with wire on the wall. And as one turned on, dozens more lit underneath the murky glass of the lamp. They oscillated constantly but it was enough to see the path.

"That's weird." I muttered.

"Maybe it was a power shortage. Let's move on."

"Yeah, before it dies out."

Link lead the way again. It was always like this. If we were taking a walk or going down the street to buy groceries, Link would be the leader, and I was the fledgling following the duck. A faint smile played on my lips by the thought of my friends and me going down to the store. The varieties of fruit and the icy chill of the frozen foods aisles were my favorite. It was wonderful to see how products from around the world come to one small store and how everyone thought that this was a normal thing.

The first time I came to the store with Link, I looked at all of the products and the ones that had a smell to them, I picked them up and smelled them. I liked smelling apples and citrus fruits but I regretted smelling packed meat. The smell of the blood and raw flesh sent shivers down my spine.

Link stopped. This time, he gestured me to stay back.

A horrible stench filled my nose before I could cover it. I shuddered and stepped back. It was the smell of meat, but much worse. It was a sour and repulsive smell. My eyes watered.

I saw Link carefully approach a man sitting against the wall. His eyes were serious and his hand was placed at his sword. After thorough inspection, he waved his hand for me to come closer. I didn't want to, but my feet were shuffling.

The man was dead. His body was starting to decompose long after being abandoned. There was a large burn on his neck and his face was in deep pain. Perhaps he found sanctuary here and ended his life alone. Thankfully, I didn't recognize him.

Link looked back at me.

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head slowly. My stomach churned as if somebody threw me into a washing machine.

"It's alright. Let it out if you have to." Link stood up and rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I had to remember how to breathe before I could speak again.

"What's going on in this place?"

The lights flickered, and died.

Everything was silent and nonexistent except for my shivering breath and that horrible acidic feeling in my throat. I ripped my hand off my mouth and nearly screamed out Link's name but only my echoes returned the call. A cold sweat ran down my neck.

The smell was still there. And so was the lifeless man.

I ran through the darkness.

Author's Note: I may change the rating to Mature for future themes of violence.