While He Xi was secretly glad that the timid fellow hadn't managed to escape,
he himself was also dragged into the cave like a dead dog.
His body scraped against the rough ground, but He Xi's mind was perfectly clear.
Past the entrance lay the largest chamber.
Then, about a hundred meters to the left, three stones jutted up conspicuously from the floor.
Once they tossed him into a corner, he took the chance to sneak a glance around and size up his temporary prison.
It was clearly some kind of dungeon. The light was dim, and the air reeked of damp and mildew.
Besides their party, several other figures were huddled in a corner. They looked like unlucky adventurers too, all hanging their heads, injured and dejected.
He Xi's gaze swept quickly over them, but he didn't see that familiar head of long red hair.
Annis wasn't here...
He wondered if there was anyone else in the cave now. He could come back and look after they got out—maybe he'd find some other clues.
After the black-robed figures had stripped them of everything, they left the cave and shut the door from the outside.
In the darkness, time lost all meaning.
After an unknown length of time, a stifled sob broke the silence.
It was Lily.
"Big Guy... do you think we'll ever get out?"
Zander seemed to have been silent the whole time.
"It's all my fault... I shouldn't have asked you to take this job with me..." Lily's voice grew choked with tears. "Do you think we're going to die? I... I don't want to. I... I still want to go see your hometown with you..."
"It's not your fault. My hometown... isn't nice. It's all rocks and sandstorms."
Lily's sobs gradually subsided, apparently soothed by Zander's