Infraburst

Jiggling the key frantically against the metal gate's lock, it didn't budge. Wedging his hands back inside, he fumed with rage. Robyn continued to muffle in protest, although he couldn't figure out how to loosen the wrappings, especially with how close they were.

The men's shouting died down, transitioning to laughter. It was like they were mocking him for falling for Ernest's trap.

Cursing, Brand banged his hand against the wall. It echoed back.

"Am I really that stupid?" He shook his head, forming a small fire shield for light in the palm of his hand. It was still the only thing he could summon on command. Sure enough, there was a small, box-like entrance right behind the metal gate.

"Bless you Ernest," he sighed in relief, unlocking it and then pushing it open. Pocketing the key, he heaved himself up. Through much trial and error, he managed to also pull Robyn up into to the narrow tunnel with him.

Soon after Brand managed to face forward once more, they crawled onward through the tunnel. He whispered soothingly to Robyn, telling her everything was going to be okay. She seemed to calm down after a little while, apparently understanding the situation as she willingly followed him.

Instead of opening up like he hoped, the tunnel seemed to only become even tighter, the rocks often scraping against his shoulders.

With all the cuts and scrapes, Robyn's wrappings finally came loose. "Where are we?" she barely managed, her muffled voice a soothing sound to hear.

"I'm not sure honestly. All I know is that Ernest helped us escape," he answered in return. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"They'll kill him. We need to go back," Robyn pleaded, halting in place.

"There's not much we can do," Brand whispered in return, his voice quietly echoing across the tunnel.

"I'm going back," Robyn stated firmly, shuffling backwards.

"Robyn, please. What could we possibly do to help him against your aunt, against Elvina even? Not to mention Nora!" Brand reasoned, passion reverberating through his choked up words.

At this, Robyn paused. After a while, she conceded, simply responding with, "He should have come with us," and then moving forward.

"I think so too," Brand agreed, hoping this tunnel would end soon.

An incredibly sudden sense of panic overtook him as his hand met nothing but thin air. Robyn's head butted into his backside, causing him to sloppily grab the walls in an attempt to hold on, crying out while doing so.

"Sorry, sorry," Robyn hurried an apology, inching back.

"What are we supposed to do? Fly!?" Brand shouted, staring down to the ground in disbelief. Sparth's star slowly rose to illuminate their predicament.

His eyes traced a crack in the ground below, trauma resurfacing as he recalled his time in the mines. It seemed like ages ago, even though only a mere few weeks passed by.

"What do you see?" Robyn asked, her breath labored.

"Empty air and ground for us to splat on," Brand responded heatedly. "Is this Ernest's way of saying death is better than living with the Infrabursts?"

His remark caused Robyn to whimper, soon brekaing into tears.

Wounded by his own words, Brand whispered an apology.

"It's fine," Robyn brushed it aside. "It's not like you were wrong anyway."

"Do you have any ideas on how we can escape?" he looked back at her best he could, observing her naked eyes staring back at him. He knew that they changed her body, but her eyes were still the same. For that he was grateful.

"Maybe I could form a waterfall?" she suggested, sniffling.

"That could be problematic in more ways than one," Brand chuckled. It was still better than anything he could come up with.

"I don't know what to do," she broke the rising silence, defeated.

"We'll think of something. We have to," Brand responded determinately, gazing upon the open air beneath them. Infraburst's floating mansion would soon be the least of their worries.