Post by Barlei on Sept 19, 2021 17:14:24 GMT -8
Dug too Deep | 2 Star Mission (4000 Words Requirement)- Teams excavating under Ox Mountain have lost contact with their mining crew. They need a stupid brave soul to enter the mines, find their crew, and bring them back alive. Who knows what could be down there? Bandits? Collapsed Tunnels? Some Eldritch Horror, heretofore unawakened, whose slumber was disturbed by the digging? You'll find out for us, right?
Barlei and Coriander stood with their backs pressed together, each assuming a fighter’s stance as they stared down the group of bandits surrounding them. The town square was deserted, all of the locals having fled at the first sign of trouble. Scared faces peered through shop windows and around corners, observing the scene unfolding in their town center.
The bandits chuckled, leering at the pair of outsiders. They bore the tell-tale signs of men who bore ill will: tattooed arms and faces, leather outfits, chains wrapped around knuckles, studded bats, and knuckle dusters. It was clear their intentions were to harm, perhaps kill.
A smirk tugged at Barlei’s lips. It was always the same thing; cowards took great confidence in numbers. It was too bad it wouldn’t do a thing to help them.
The police sirens grew distant beyond the walls of the foreman’s small, cramped office. The balding man with a thick mustache was sweating profusely, tugging at the tight collar of his long-sleeved dress shirt as he wrapped his phone conversation. Hanging up, he tossed the capsule phone onto his cluttered desk, groaning as he placed his head in his hands.
“I can’t believe this!”
“You alright?” Barlei leaned against the wall, arms folded.
The foreman shook his head. “Some of our guys were working down in the tunnels. One of the tunnels collapsed, trapping them inside. With the bandits around, most of my guys quit. We don’t have to manpower to get to them!” He stood, hands clasped in a praying position. “I know you just helped out with the bandits, and for that Gorman & Sons is grateful. But could you PLEASE help us one last time? I’m begging you!”
Barlei resisted the urge to glance at Coriander. He could feel the weight of her gaze settling on him. There was little doubt in his mind what she was thinking; more than that, what Coriander wanted him to do.
That was the problem, wasn’t it? The need for someone to bear the burden of the people never ceased. Someone always needed help. Someone was always being crushed beneath the boot of some bad guy. It wasn't possible to save everyone; he didn't even want to try.
"Uh... listen," Barlei said, rubbing the back of his head. "I dunno if that's something we can—"
"We'll do it," Coriander said.
She stood up from her seat in front of the desk, reaching across to shake the grateful hand of the hassled foreman. He pumped her hand, nervous laughter bubbling out of him.
"T-Thank you! I'll get two of my best men to join you!
They stepped out into the oppressive heat. Barlei regretted wearing the fur-trimmed mantle, but it was his right and duty as the new leader of the Starving Wolves. He turned to Coriander, but she silenced him with a raised hand.
"I know what you're going to say. You don't think we should get involved with this. You're wrong, Barlei. YOU can help them." Her dark gaze met his own. "You can help anyone you choose because you've got the strength to do so."
He shook his head, giving a frustrated grunt in reply but nothing more. He folded his arms, staring past the town square to the mining tunnels on the outskirts of the town.
She was wrong. And he was tired of having blood on his hands.
"I understand your hesitancy." Her stony gaze, too, was locked on the distant opening to the mining tunnels. "There's no way of knowing what challenges may lie beneath the earth. But I will not shy away from those challenges." She cast a sidelong glance at Barlei. "Neither should you."
"Yeah... I know that. And that's the problem." He sighed, raising the hood to shield his head. Shadows covered the upper half of his face. It was hot but he preferred the anonymity. "Honestly, I want to be strong enough to never lose what's important to me ever again. Every time I offer to help, I'm putting someone else's life at risk." He sighed. "Guess it can't be helped. Let's get a move on, alright?"
Coriander inclined her head. "Of course, my Fang."
They made their way across the town square, past the dilapidated buildings and temporary dwellings used by the workers and other locals. As they arrived to the work site, surrounded on all sides by mounds of dirt and machinery, they happened upon a heated exchange. The foreman was arguing with a large man in a construction hat and flannel shirt. A second man stood between them, trying in vain to calm the situation.
"Come on, Torwin, we NEED the help," the smaller man insisted. In Barlei's mind he was the smaller of the pair, but even he easily matched Barlei's size.
"No way! We can't trust these strangers to help us rescue our friends, Reiner!" The large man shouted at his companion.
The foreman shouted in response, and the bickering between the three continued while their stressed companions watched on helplessly. Barlei and Coriander watched the exchange from a distance.
"So, what will you do?" she asked him.
It was a tense situation. Cleaning up a group of annoying bandits plaguing the mining group was one thing. Venturing into collapsed tunnels in the hopes of rescuing people was something else entirely. It wasn't going to be an easy task.
"Honestly, I have to agree with the big guy, Ria. If it were my friends down there, I wouldn't want some stranger poking around making things worse either."
"We'll need their cooperation, then."
"Yeah."
The argument ceased the moment Barlei and Coriander drew near. Torwin glared at them, fists clenched and raised.
"You got rid of a bunch of bandits, so what!?" He thrust a finger at the tunnel opening. "Our friends are down there, trapped or worse! This isn't just some job—it's our livelihood! If a bunch of nobodies who don't know what they're doing goes down there and screws things up, YOU aren't the ones that have to face those families—WE are!"
Silence. The foreman, Reiner, and everyone else turned their gaze on Barlei, wondering what the pair of them would say in response.
He sighed, lowering his hood.
It made him feel exposed—not just to the harsh heat of the sun, but the unabashed stares of the men surrounding them. It was times like these where he missed his island abode; he'd shut himself off from the world for months on end, with few cares in the world beyond his own selfish needs.
Maybe it was time for a change. Maybe he cared more about others than he thought.
"You're right. We're not stickin' our necks out here—you lot are." He met the gaze of each person in turn. "So here's what I'm gonna do. I won't leave those tunnels until we find your friends and get 'em outta there. And if I die down there, well... so be it."
"It's as he says," Coriander said. "We remain until we complete our task, or we perish in pursuit of it. Either way, the Starving Wolves never go back on their word."
The foreman and Reiner shared a glance, both looking at Torwin. He glared at Barlei and Coriander, arms folded. After a moment, he huffed, turning his back to them. "Fine! But don't expect me or Reiner to babysit you two down there. Either keep up or stay here. C'mon, Reiner!"
Reiner gave a nervous laugh, clapping Barlei on the shoulder before he and Torwin went to fetch protective gear for the other two. Barlei and Coriander exchanged a look.
"...I should've kept my ass on that island, huh?"
WC: 1,276 | 4,000