I felt lethargic. Day by day in the mines I had smashed big rocks into smaller rocks. Theinterrogationscontinued and the restrictions were now tighterthanever. Wiping the sweat from my face continued to attack the rocks.


    Luckily Ren was in the cell closest tome, it was the only communicationwehad with the rest of the group.Baltorbeing uncooperative had left me feeling hopeless until I heard Renmutteringswears at the guards. When everyone was asleep Ren and I would talk about the progression of the plan, Celeste being the only one capable of getting themap andher "secret weapon". The last he spoke to her was 2 days ago she said she got the layout of the mines, what she did in exchange for it I didn''t ask. All that mattered was today was the day. The day we would escape from this hell.


    Noone''sheard from Leo ever since the lockdown happened, I thought maybe he was in acompletelyseparategroup, at leastthat''swhat I hoped,the latter was somewhereIdidn''t letmymind wander.


    The signal for our shift being over sounded and the beast-men attached the shacklesto usas usual,escorting us to the feedingroom. Eating thefood,I couldn''t help but think about how I would eat normal food again. Human food,itwas hard not to smile andBaltoroften gave me an icy look when that happened. He warmed up to me, even if only a little, only asking about how Celeste was doing. Ren''s constant chatter oftenput him in a bad mood, although he was always in a bad mood.


    Finishing ourmeal,we were taken back to our cells, removing the shackles they shoved us inside one by one. Finally locking the door and leavingthe area. It was only a matter of time now, Celeste had said we would know the signal when it happened. AndIdidn''t sleep, forfear of missing such a thing. The anticipation was jolting through my body. For onceBaltorapproached me and sat down.


    "Listen, I don''t want you messing this up for us. You listen to what I say,keep up and stay alert." Hemurmuredin a low tone.


    Nodding my head in agreement we waited patiently in the dark. minutes dragged on into hours and soon we could hear the silentmurmursof the other slaves. Their nightmares torturing them in their sleep. It was the first time I hadn''tslept in the mines at this time.


    The earth shook violently as a large explosion could be heard throughout the tunnels,theshifting of rockgrindingagainstrockcontinued to echo throughout the mine, causing myheartto jump in my throat. Was she trying to bury us alive? Darting up,Baltorstairs at the cell door,his muscles tense, waiting. A few moments passed before the echoingof yellscould be heard.


    Frantic footsteps approached the cell before Celeste showed her face through the bars, "Didn''t waittoolong did you guys?" A smirk plastered on her face.


    "It''s about time get us out of here!"Ibark with excitement, rushing towards the door.


    "What the hell Celeste let me out first,fuck that guyyou''ve known me longer." Ren barksin the next cell, even if he was joking it still stung a bit.


    "Getback! And cover year ears," reaching into a pouch she revealed adarkpowder pouringit around the cell door before trailinga wireto the far side of the room. Grasping astone,she strikes the ground sendingsparks flying,before another explosion sounds. I could feel the earth above us shiftunnaturally, as rocks began to descend on us. The other slaves screamed in despair, pleading for their lives. Half of the cell caved in killing the ones too slow to get away.


    Running through the door,Baltorclose behind we''re greeted byCeleste. "Long time no see, gladyou''reok." Looking smug we rushed over toRen''s cell. Arms folded he stood there waiting in the darkness. "Hurry up and get meouttahere, these depressed slaves are really starting to bore me."


    "GoodoléRen," Smiling Celeste places the powder around the gate causing another explosion to rumble throughout the mines. The shouts grew louder along with the clatter of footsteps. "We have to go,follow me!"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Running through the tunnel Celeste takes off, the rest of us close behind. "Where''s LeoandZefire?" I shout as we turn into the mining area. "The last I heardLeowas in the torture chamber,Zefire''sfine. Grab a pickaxe, you getLeoand we''ll go to the exit."shoving the map in my hands she looks up at me."We''ll see you on the otherside."Nodding,Idartoff towards the chamber. Angry shouts and cries rangthroughoutthe mines and fear slowly crept into my body as I approached the chamber.


    Pushing through the wooden door slaves lay riddled throughout the room, the walls andfloor weredrenchedin blood. Holding my mouth briefly,I search for Leo through thedismemberedbodies. The blood sticking to my feet as I walked through the room. I could see some had survived, yet too weak or scared to move, I try not to look in their eyes as I walk over them deeper into the chamber.


    Anotherexplosionvibrates through the mines, causing me to jump stepping on the corpse of a young woman. "Leo, where are you?" I shoutthrough the loud bangs of collapsing rock.


    Scanning theground,I see him buriedunderneatha small mountain of corpses. Scrambling I begin tossing the light bodies. "Get up, I knowyou''renot dead." Opening hiseye''s,he stared at me as tears welled up in his eyes.


    "Finn....just go leave me here." He whispers. Looking over his body he was slim, I could hardlyrecognizehim, aside from hiscurlybrown hair. "We don''t have time for that shit, get the fuck up were getting out of here."


    Dragging him to his feet we stumble through the corpses out of the room, glancing at the mapbrieflyI turn down an unknown tunnel. The foreign shouts ring throughout the mine behind us as we run through the darkness, stumbling over jagged stone and falling debris. Leo continued to mumble as he went in and out ofconsciousness, the only word I could make out was "I''msorry..."


    We arrive at anempty room, two tunnels going in opposite directions, looking at the path Celeste drew out for us I start down the left path before I see the dark figures emerging from the darknessin frontof us. Tightening my grip on the pickaxe Iapproach slowly, keeping Leo close behind.A snap soundsthrough the tunnels asa cut burnsmy face. "I don''t have time to play around here." My voice shaky as the words leave mymouth. Hurling the ax at them we turnheelandrunback into theroomturning down the only other path.


    The shadowsroaredangrilyas theyclosedinbehind us, "Hurry up! Their catching up!" My voice frantic. I couldn''t help but think he was slowing me down. I could be free by now with the others. The tunnel is long and winding, the licks of their whips sounding off close behind. The familiar light of the sun glimmered in the distance as we stumbled through the final room.


    "Light it now Zefire!" The shout rings out through the room as an explosion shutters through the mines collapsing the tunnel, the sound of stone crushing flesh could be heard as the ceiling rained down on the unsuspectingbeast-men. Looking up towards the exit three figures stood illuminated, "It''s about time man I wasgonnaleave you." Ren proclaims, triumph plastered on his face.


    "Even though you were the one saying to wait just one more minute?"Zefirepipped inanamused tone, silently chuckling. Wandering from behind a boulder towards the group. "It looks like you found Leo, good work nowlet''sgetout of here" Celeste barked in a demanding tone, turning her back walking towards the exit,Baltorin tow close behind. As I approach the group Leo tugs on my shoulder, his eyes frantic riddled with fear.


    "Let''s go, Leo, before they catch up." Tugging him forward we advance towards the exit before hearing roars and the clatter of metal against metal.


    Swinging his pickaxefranticallyBaltorgrowled as he struck thebeast-menin the chest, lodging it through the heart. The group formed a small circle back to back with Ren in thecenter clutching his bloody leg. Dozens of skorpionersurrounded them and as we exited the minedrawing their attention.


    "Run Finn!" Celeste shouts, swinging her weapon back and forth not making any contactwiththe approaching skorpioner. Myinstinctsto rush in and help was stopped by the thought of Leo, I knew he wouldn''t survive if we went to fight and with that, I resolved to leave them behind until a figure emerged from the minesbehind us.


    "So,it was this bunch who killed my men, and now you''ve destroyed my mine." The words flung from his mouth in anger asWickumplunged his dagger through my back. It went in cold, then was replaced by a throbbing heat. Withdrawing hisblade,he kicks me forward into the skorpioner.


    Looking back at him in anger I see Leo standing at his side, his face was riddled with guilt. And the pieces all came together in my mind, yet I didn''t want to believe it. He looked away in shame as he uttered the same words,


    "I''m sorry, Finn."