#uncoveringfables

Chapter Part 3.4 

And soon, we found ourselves in a long hallway with doors along the walls. To get here, we walked through a door at the end of the tunnel we ran though moments before and as soon as we walked in, Maria closed the door behind us, breathing heavily. The hallway must have once been a nice place for the samurai to stay but now the dark place was nothing but decay. Human remains were scattered across the ground and the walls were smeared with blood. Tables, and large rocks were stacked by some of the doors nearby and Maria slowly pointed to them.

She whispered softly. “We should stack those against this door. Hopefully that will slow down that monster if it wakes up.”

I slowly nodded and I quickly started to help Maria carry a table to the door. I wasn’t much help for I was weak, but Maria was able to carry a lot of it to the door to block it off. After several minutes, I placed a table against the giant pile we had against the table and I breathed out heavily.

Maria noticed me breathing a lot and she looked at me worried. “Do you need to rest? W-We have been moving around a lot.”

I quickly shock my head, stumbling against the wall. “N-No, we need to get out of here. I… I can continue walking. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m going to worry.” Maria looked back at the blockade that we built up against the door. “We might be able to afford a few minutes. Come let’s go sit down.” Maria slowly took my hand and despite me shaking my head, we walking into one of the first rooms in the hallway.

It was dark, so we couldn’t see much but through the light of the lantern, we saw a few things. A low table and lines of mats on the ground along with many supplies scattered across the ground that must have been for medical purposes. I guess we were in the healing quarters, but did that really matter at this point?

Maria lead me to a mat and slowly lowered me to it so I could sit. Maria sighed and sat nearby, crossing her legs in front of me and gently grabbed my leg in encouragement. She weakly smiled to me and I slowly returned it back. This made Maria smile a little more and it made me grin too.

Maria looked around and tried to joke around. “You know… when I said I wanted to bring you to Japan, I wanted you to meet my family not see all of this.” Maria weakly chuckled.

I smiled a little at this. “W-Well, um… if we make it out of here, you’ll have to bring me there sometime.”

“When we make it out of here and sure. That sounds like a lot of fun. I would love for everyone to meet you and…. And um…”

I spoke softly. “And what?...”

Maria quickly stopped herself and looked away. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired… I… I wish I could sleep but that’s a bad idea. Just this is all so hard. I want to get out of here, Maria. I just want to leave. And… and… I w-want…” As tears swelled in my eyes, my throat tightened and I was no longer about to speak. I started flapping my hands, trying to calm myself down and get myself to breath but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do this anymore. The dragon was still alive, the cave was falling apart and we didn’t know how we were going to leave.

“W-We’re going to die. We’re going to die.” I said this softly to myself, not meaning to say it out loud.

Maria quickly hugged me when I said this. “No, no, we’re not going to die. I would never let you die like that, Penny. I could never let that happen to you. You need to know that.” I slowly looked away, but Maria slow and gently made me look back at her. “No, you need to know something, Penny… I won’t let you get hurt. I would fight through heaven and hell before something harms you. Okay? Please understand that. You will be safe and you will get out of here without a scratch.”

I still couldn’t speak but I understood Maria, I just wished I could do the same for her. I wish I could be strong and brave like her. I wish I could have done something. Maria did everything for me and… and I leached off of her. I took everything from her without doing anything in return.

No wonder she…

If only I was better…

I could have…

No…

I should have…  

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Previous 

Chapter 1 Part 3.5 

Penelope slowly sat down on her stool and started shaking a little, hugging herself. The story was becoming overwhelming for her and she began muttering to herself about Maria. Drew straightened himself up and watched in worry while Mr. King slowly stepped back, not knowing what to do since he was a stranger in all of this.

 Alzena quickly went over to Penelope’s side and gently took her shoulder in encouragement. “H-Hey… hey… it’s okay. Maria was your friend, right? And you can’t just say you did nothing. Why would you think that? You probably did a lot more then you think? R-Right?”

“No… you don’t understand… y-you don’t…” Penelope spoke softly, holding tightly to her clothes.

As the two talk, Penelope’s rising voice was getting the attention of other customers who was there. And it only perked Clayton’s attention more for he was already watching this. Slowly, he took out the ring that was still laying in his pockets and he considered something. As soon as he thought about it though, the sooner he dismissed the idea and quickly put his ring away.

Alzena hugged Penelope tightly as tears swelled up in her eyes, and Penelope slowly hugged back, shaking a bit as she muttered. “Th-The story… I need to continue with the story…”

“No… take a break for a moment. No one is rushing you. It’s fine.” Alzena gave Penelope an encouraging smile, but Penelope didn’t see it as she stared at the floor. “My friend… Maria, I would do anything for her. W-Why did she… I loved her. I loved her so, so much. S-She was great and loving and I want to protect her…. B-but I failed. I failed.”

Mr. King stepped back from them when he heard this and stayed a reasonable distance away from the two as Alzena softly spoke to Penelope. “Hey, hey… what are you talking about? I’m sure Maria still loves you even if you couldn’t do a few things. You don’t have to say that.”

“But… But…” Penelope was unable to speak as she pulled her hair a little.

Mr. King felt tears swell in his eyes as his teeth grinded together when he listened. “Do anything for them...” He mutters something softly as he buried his hands into his pockets and looked behind him, trying not to get attention towards himself but this was all in vain.

Suddenly Drew was next to him, patting his back a little. “You alright there, mate? You look a little sick… or upset.”

“Nah… I’m fine. I was just reminded of a few things.”

“Oh… sorry to hear about that. If you want I can-“

“You don’t have to do anything. That was a few years ago, I’m mostly over it.” Mr. King shrugs and brushed his fingers through his hair.

“That is exactly what someone who is not doing okay would say.”

“Oh? And if I was really okay what should I say some no one mixes up my being okay and my really not okay but trying to cover it up?”

“That is a good question but I can see it on your face. I own a bar so I can see when someone is here to have fun or when they’re in a runt.”

“And what are you going to do with this information?”

“I’m going to offer you a drink for free.” Drew pats Mr. King’s back and walks over to the bar to start making a very fruity drink for him.

“You’re too kind. Thank you so much.” Mr. King smiled weakly and slowly sat onto a stool closest to Drew and the two talked softly as Alzena tried to encourage and comfort Penelope.

Alzena was speaking softly and tell Penelope about the time she went camping with Daniel, saying how they almost got lost on a trail and had smores at a campfire. Penelope smiled a little at these stories. “Whenever we visited each other at work, we came up with so many excuses to say there longer so we can see each other. We spent so much time together and I love her so, so much… s-so much.”

“You two sound like very good friends.”

Penelope smiles slightly. “W-We were. Yeah… we were the best.” She slowly wiped the tears away from her eyes. “I think I’m ready to continue the story again… if that’s okay.”

Alzena glanced over at Drew and Mr. King who were talking for a bit but at these words, glanced over. Drew looked between Alzena and Penelope for a moment before he sighed and nodded a little, allowing them to continue. Mr. King quickly finished his drink and was moving the tip of his finger along the top of the glass, staying quiet.

Penelope took a moment before she sat up straight, her thumbs circling around each other. “O-Okay… alright. I’m ready. The story is almost over so… you don’t need to stay here for longer. I promise.”

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Chapter 1 Part 3.1 

As Maria finished reading, she slowly stepped back from the scroll and she glanced around. As darkness fell over her eyes, I knew that she was expecting something to jump out of the shadows and eat us but nothing did.

I looked between Maria and the scroll, my body trembling. When I tried to speak, the words were caught in my throat. I quickly swallowed my fear and stared at Maria. “W-What? What happened next? It just can’t end with ‘Hopefully I will return to bring good-‘and it stops. Please, it can’t. Maria… what happened next? He got out of it okay, right?”

Maria stared at me, trying to find the right words. “It… It ends there.” When she saw my look of fear, she quickly backtracked on her words. “B-But I bet they’re fine. It stopped because at that very moment, the researcher looked over and noticed the deadly creature at the foot of the cave! The researcher quickly backed away as monster jumped out at him and swiped his deadly claws at him, splattering blood everywhere! But the man wouldn’t go down that easily. They started a battle to the death where only one will win! It was long and gruesome but eventually the researcher came out on top and defeated the beast! And because of this… everyone congratulated him and gave him the recognition he deserved and everyone was okay. And the beast is-“

Before Maria could finish her attempt to help me feel better, something trembled above us. The two of us stared at the roof, trying to figure out what happened as some loose pebbles in the roof lodged itself out and fell to the ground, bouncing.

As a chill went down my spine, Maria continued to speak, quieter this time. “And even if that didn’t happen. That monster is dead. He couldn’t have survived all of these years so we’re safe.”

Chapter 1 Part 3.2

The room was large and dark. The ground alongside the walls was scattered with broken pieces of wood that once was torches. I inched closer to Maria and hugged her arm, shaking as we looked at the terrifying sight in front of us. Across the rocky and misshapen ground, there was several holes that fell into a great abyss and dried, old blood was scatted across the rocky landscape. Broken samurai helmets were tossed carelessly across the ground and the remains of broken swords were sticking out of the ground.

Maria swallowed her fear and pulled a sword that was broken in half off the ground, in order to protect the both of us. She took a step forward and something cracked underneath her. Maria slowly brought the lantern down to her foot and froze when she saw that she was standing in a pile of moldy, rotten bones. Maria quickly stepped back away from it, pulling me back with her and glanced around.

Her eyes widen, she held her breath at the sight. We both got a closer look at the floor and fear struck me. Across the floor was piles of bones, none of them with any meat on them. Was that from the decay after several years from it being here or from something else?

Maria’s voice was quiet. “They must have had a training session when that monster came here. Most of them were here and they should have been good at fighting but… they were all taken down and so gruesomely.” Maria nervously chuckled. “I-It’s a good thing that the beast is probably dead, right?”  

I hugged Maria tightly, shaking. My friend could feel my fear, “P-Penny? Is everything okay?”

I spoke, my voice barely being able to be heard. “I saw it.”

Maria stared down at me, “W-What?”

“When we were in the tunnel, during the earthquake… I looked behind us and I saw two eyes staring at us. W-Whatever it was is probably trapped in the lab but we’re not alone… What if that beast is still alive?”

Maria stepped back at this and made a small noise of fear. But this look of fear only lasted for a moment as she knew that I must have been terrified. Her face hardened and she took my hand, deciding that she would be brave for me. “Then we must get out of here quickly.”

I slowly nodded. “Y-Yeah. Yeah. We should. We need to.”

Maria tightened her handhold and nodded. “I’ll lead and if anything comes out, I’ll protect you.” I nodded again, unable to speak, and Maria slowly walked across the large room, trying to find the exit.

I tripped over a helmet but managed to stay on my feet as I took in the surrounding and was horrified the more, I thought about what happened here. All these men were made to be strong and fearful fighters. All of them. Yet one animal was able to sneak up on all of them and put an end to their lives. If the dragon found Maria and I then we were all doomed. There was no question about it. None of us could fight so what advantage did we have over the monster?

It was trapped in the lab. That was the only thing that kept me from fainting or giving up entirely. We were safe. Right?

We were. We had to be.

Soon enough, Maria finally found the exit of the training room, took one more glance at the room and walked through the old door. I thought I heard something right before we entered the long hallway that resembles closely to the one that lead us to the lab.

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Intermission 1.3

[The researcher found himself in an empty space. As far as he could see, there was nothing except for the white abyss around him as the soft hollows of a calm wind could be heard. Shaking, the man stepped back and hugged his arms tightly, trying to remember what happened.

He was in a panic, writing quickly, trying to get his thoughts clear. He should have stopped writing. He should have run off to help the moment he knew something was up. He should have stopped all those days ago. He should have stopped with his silly and dangerous plan. He should have stopped when he accidently broke the coral. 

He should have stopped when the sickening touch of vanity started to wrap around his soul. But he didn’t and now he was stuck here. Wherever here was.

The researcher, slowly brought his fingers up to the side of his neck and a chill went down his spine. There was no heartbeat. He still breathed but it didn’t feel like it was doing anything to keep him functioning. His skin was cold and pale and he tightened the hug on himself.

This couldn’t be happening. He needed to save those people but… was he really dead?

Was this his fate? To perish from the hands of his own work? What kind of cruel fate was this? 

The researcher still deserved this. He knew that. He was the one who casted that monster out into their hideout so it only made since that he shall die from the same creature. Why did he do this? Why was he so stupid?

Pink flower petals, that were carried by the wind, started to brush against the man’s leg but he didn’t notice this. Shaking, he fell onto his knees, weeping. His sobs echoed around the area, as snot ran down his face. He had failed everyone because of his selfish needs. 

His version started to blur from this overwhelming feeling. Then when he felt someone touch his shoulder and he looked over; he couldn’t see who it was at first. The sweet scent of flowers filled his senses, as he heard the humming of a song that he heard weeks ago. The researcher quickly wiped his eyes and his version focused on a beautiful woman who was standing overtop him.

“M-Mom?”

A sad smile emerges from the woman’s face. “Son… I am so sorry.” 

The man stood up and quickly hugged his mother tightly, his hands shaking. “Mom… I am sorry. I… I failed you. I failed our family… I deserve nothing but shame. Cast me out. I don’t matter anymore after what I have brought upon my fellow men… I-I’m so sorry…”

The mother gently laid her palm on the man’s cheek. “Shush, relax my child. Don’t talk like that…”

“But… our people… our ancestors-“

The mother quickly interrupts. “They were aware that you would fall since the beginning. I was sent to help you… for when you joined us.”

“B-But…”

“I forgive you my son… Now, come with me. It’s time to rest.”

The researcher slowly nodded as he hugged his mother again. The mother gently embraced her child and hummed softly to him. The song swelled around them, and the wind seemed to dance along— The petals spinning gracefully around them. As the song slowly faded to its end, the two spirits slowly faded away as well, disappearing from our world.] 

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Pervious 

Intermission 1.2 

The first task was to set up security in my lab. I couldn’t allow any of the samurai around accidently walking into my lab and seeing that I was setting up to have a creature living here. What would they think? Something tells me that they would turn me to the emperor and I wouldn’t be able to defend myself before the sword comes down onto my neck.

I needed to keep my entire plan secret. This wasn’t difficult since no one cared about what I was doing for this country. I will prove to them that they should have paid more attention. Just watch.

It took me a while, but I have managed to set up a defense mechanism in the corridor leading to my lab. I used a fine orb that I found in my travels and used it for power along with a mechanism to shut it off at the front of the corridor, I put up a sign, warning people from entering. Yes, this may have all been very dangerous but I had no choice but to go with these measures. The more I push back on the others here, the more I can work in peace. Even if it meant someone getting injured because they didn’t listen to my instructions.

I doubt that would happen. I am started to be very thankful that less and less people come here.

Now, as I sit in my lab and glance around, I mentally prepared for what I am planning to do. I still have a few supplies to get but every day of work is just another step closer to accomplishing my plan. Hopefully this turns out well. 

Part 2 is complete. Now it’s time for a story. 

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Chapter 1 Part 2:11

As we sat on the cold ground, shaking, I looked at my friend. Maria had saved our lives and there was nothing I could do to thank her for this. She really was the greatest person in the world.

Maybe there was one thing I could do to thank her…

I leaned closer to my friend and was about to speak when something clanged in front of us. We quickly jumped to our feet, scared that another trap was coming. I hugged Maria’s arm tightly as she slowly patted my head and glanced around. I flinched as the pedestal in front of us slowly lowered into the ground until it was at ground level.

Another clang could be heard before the wall behind the pedestal was slowly lifted towards the ceiling to open an entrance to another room.

 I muttered something in confusion as Maria slowly walked towards this new entrance. I only took a step away from it. Maria tried her best to look inside the room, but it was extremely dim, and I couldn’t see anything inside it from where I stood. Maria thought for a moment before she took a broken glass shard from the ball she broke and tossed in it the dark room. It crashed against the floor but other then that, nothing happened. The next room appeared to be trap free. 

Maria gave a sigh of relief as she looked around thinking. “Well, it’s going to be very difficult for us to return the way we came. There’s too many pillars out of the walls… Um, I know this might be dangerous but… maybe the next room has an exit?”

A chill went down my spine as Maria said this. I knew she was right, but did we really have to continue? I stared at Maria, who had her head poking in the room. She grabbed something from inside the room and sat down on the floor, near me. In her hands was an old yellow lantern that has red and green stains smudged on it. I was scared to know what this was as Maria started messing around with the lantern.

Maria was right. There was no way we could leave the way we came. There wasn’t. That still didn’t mean that I was terrified to go into the next room. What if there was a trap in the next room and Maria didn’t see it. What if we were killed? It was all a possibility but… we couldn’t stay here forever. If we stayed, we would still die as we didn’t have food or water. I drew a shaky breath at this.

Surprisingly, my friend was able to get the lantern to work and its bright light filled the hallway. I had to resist the urge to hug the warm and protective light as Maria stood up. She tightly held onto the lantern’s handle and gave an encouraging smile to me.

“Are you ready to go?” She softly spoke.

After a moment, I nodded slowly, and I took Maria’s hand and squeezed it a little. The two of us stared into each other’s eyes before we gained the courage to walk into the next room.

Thankfully, nothing set off when we walked into the next room. As Maria lit up the area with the lantern she firmly held, it appeared that we were safe. The room was a long corridor and with the mat in the corner of the room it appeared that someone used to sleep here. Used to.

Despite the mat for sleeping in the corner of the room, this room looked more like a working area then anything. Or was this a lab? The back wall had a long, gray table that appeared to be crumbling at the legs and it was covered with strolls and other supplies. There were a few strolls on the ground around the table and one appeared to be open on the table. More Japanese writing was on the stroll. There were other tables as well on the opposite sides of the door that we entered through. There were covered with strolls and other supplies— small containers, paper, and other things that I had no idea what they were used for.

Along the ceiling was paper-like lanterns that were old and dark. One of them was blacken from being burnt. Over the table with the strolls was a torn-up map of what appeared to be Japan and the ocean and land surrounding it. Far under Japan a red ‘X’ was drawn. It was where we were. There wear also old cabinets and the doors to them where barely hanging on.

There was cobwebs and dust everywhere and I almost choked on some as I breathed in. With closer inspection, I noticed that everything was stained with a red or green color that appeared to be some odorful bodily fluid. I quickly held my nose as I almost gagged from the smell.

Against the far-left wall, in may have once been bare but now a gapping hole laid in the wall, like a creature had dug its way through the rock. The tunnel was pitch black just a few feet in and I didn’t want to know what made it in the first place. Between that wall and the table with the strolls in it was what appeared to be the remains of a cage, its bars made of metal. The top and the front side of the cage has been ripped apart as something probably escaped from it. Inside the cage was what appears to be the chewed up remains of a femur and a faded purple cloth.

I couldn’t help but whimper at this. “Nothing good happened here.” I hugged myself, shaking a bit.

“No… No, it didn’t. What the hell happened here?” Maria stepped further into the room and used the lantern to examine every inch of it. She reached the deep tunnel in the wall and used the lantern to examine the walls of the tunnel. The walls had deep claw marks on it and soon, Maria backed away from the tunnel, wanting nothing to do with it.

Maria bounced on her feet, trying to figure out a way to get out of this mess. She walked to the table with the strolls and laid the lantern on it so she can lean against the table to get a breather. I slowly approached next to Maria to try to comfort her with a hug. Maria glances over at me and blushed a little as she sighed.

“We might have to walk through that tunnel but… I’m not ready to go further.”

I slowly nodded, agreeing with her.

Maria sighed again and moved her lantern over the table a little to examine the markings on the bloody, open scroll in front of us. “H-Hey… want to do some light reading? It might help us relax before we head forward.”

I couldn’t help but nod at this. Maybe it would help us if we just sat down for a moment and heard the writings of someone from the past. It may be even cool. Maria took a few scrolls and sat down on the ground and I sat close to her. Maria slowly opened the first scroll, cleared her throat and started reading. 

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