Infraburst

With the room dark and everyone sleeping, Brand's eyes shot open. He hadn't slept a wink, showing just how determined he was to find Robyn. He looked around, his only light source being the cracked open door of the bathroom nearby.

Creeping out of bed, Brand was already dressed in a tan tunic, slipping into a pair of rubbery black boots. He slid his satchel over his shoulder, and began to tiptoe to the door.

A hand brushed lightly against his foot, causing him to squeal in shock. Peering down at the perpetrator, he could make out the shadow of Edwin, who seemed to be sound asleep on the floor.

"Weirdo," Brand whispered to himself, inching past Edwin toward the spiral staircase. Opening the door with a loud creak, Brand successfully passed his first obstacle. All that was left was to find Robyn, and then escape this wretched place with her. In his head it all seemed easy.

Peering out of the top door, he surveyed the gigantic hallway, looking for the slightest trace of movement. The dimly lit torches flickered, protesting against the cool night air.

Once he was sure the coast was clear, he opened the door wide enough to sneak through. He nearly fell back at what he saw the second he closed it.

Ernest was standing right there in front of him, not moving a muscle. His position was so obvious. He couldn't believe he was just now seeing him.

Sighing in defeat, Brand turned around, all hope lost. Returning to bed and hoping the punishment wouldn't be too severe was his only option. "It won't happen again," he muttered, his hand fumbling against the door to make his way down the stairs.

Then a rough hand rested on his shoulder, and he observed Ernest nudging his head in a 'follow me' kind of motion.

Unsure of what was going on, Brand cautiously obeyed. "Am I in trouble?" he whispered after a little while as they carefully crept across the monotonous, comically large hall.

When Ernest shook his head in protest to his remark, Brand couldn't help but get excited. "So we're going to rescue her?" he questioned, wide eyed. His voice was much louder than intended.

His whispered shout was met with Ernest's calloused hand over his mouth. He wasn't much larger than him, but his background was apparent. It wasn't until then Brand realized just how similar his story was to all of the boys he shared a room with. It was no wonder Ernest was rebelling, dissatisfied with servitude.

When Ernest's hand went back to his side, Brand quietly whispered, "Where have you been?" No answer was given. Instead, Ernest opened a door, motioning for him to go inside. They walked down a maze of staircases for what felt like hours, the smell of rotting flesh filling their nostrils.

As they got deeper in, Brand heard muffled whimpers. When they finally reached the end, a small, dark hallway greeted them. Cells lined each wall within, every one of them full of half-naked, starved men.

"What the," Brand's mouth gaped, his eyes lighting up in a frenzied flame.

Instantly, Ernest's hand clapped over his burning face.

"Who's there?" a groaning, weak voice uttered from one of the cells.

"Help us!" another hoarsely shouted. It wasn't long until they were all chanting cries of distress.

Ernest's hand left Brand's face, flicking away the heat. His own mug was displaying nothing but disappointment. Then, he pointed to a cell at the very end. When Brand didn't budge, alarmed at the display before him, Ernest dragged him to it, dutifully ignoring the cries of the others.

Finally reaching the cell, Brand saw a woman inside it. Her body was wrapped in white cloth, sheared hair discarded to the side. It took everything in him not to vomit.

Slowly opening the cell, Ernest calmly put a hand on her shoulder. She winced in shock, the sound familiar.

"Robyn?" Brand asked, the sounds of the crying men becoming numb to his ears.

Rather than letting the two of them share a moment, Ernest yanked them out of the cage with an ironclad grip. He then quickly shoved them into a gap in the wall as they protested, placing a key in Brand's hand. Then he lowered a metal gate, trapping them in the narrow gap.

"Good luck," he then announced, quickly sprinting out of the dungeon.