Faint footsteps echoed in the corridor, drawing Femi's attention. He crouched low, claws gripping the edge of the stone ledge above the doorway. Below, a skeleton marched into view, its bony frame clad in tattered armor. In one hand, it clutched a rusted axe; in the other, a splintered wooden shield. The creature moved with predictable motions, its empty gaze scanning the path ahead.
Femi's heart pounded as he waited, muscles coiled like springs. The skeleton passed beneath him, oblivious to his presence. This was his chance. With a silent breath, he leapt from the ledge, body twisting mid-air to aim for the skeleton's skull.
The impact was brutal. Femi's improvised club struck true, shattering the skeleton's skull with a single, decisive blow. The force of gravity amplified the strike, and the creature crumpled to the ground without a struggle.
Femi landed roughly beside the fallen skeleton, breath ragged as he caught his breath. He stared down at the lifeless bones, a grin spreading across his face. "Ha! My third kill," he muttered, his voice echoing softly in the corridor.
For hours, he'd wandered the corridors, ambushing skeletons from the cells he'd discovered. Each victory had been a quick strike to the skull like this, but now, he felt a surge of triumph. He glanced down at the femur in his hand, the makeshift club that had served him well.
"Goodbye, bone thigh," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You've been a loyal partner, but sometimes a man has to move on and find better tools."
His attention shifted to the rusted axe lying beside the defeated skeleton. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands. The blade was dull and corroded, and the wooden handle showed signs of wear, but it felt sturdy enough to last a few more fights. Satisfied, he set the femur aside and gripped the axe firmly.
Next, he eyed the skeleton's wooden shield but quickly dismissed it. It would only slow him down if he needed to run. Instead, he focused on the armor the skeleton wore a patchwork of red leather, riddled with holes and reeking of decay. It wasn't ideal, but Femi knew he couldn't afford to be picky. Protection, no matter how flimsy, was better than nothing.
The armor hung loosely past his waist but didn't hinder his movement. As he slipped it on, he realized it didn't account for his tail. With a quick adjustment, he used the axe to cut a small opening in the back of the armor, allowing his tail to slide through comfortably.
"It'll have to do," he said, smoothing out the leather. "At least I'm not running around half-naked anymore."
The thought brought a grin to his face, though it quickly faded as he remembered the madmen he'd seen wandering the streets back home, their waists wrapped in nothing but newspaper. He shuddered at the memory, pushing it aside as he tightened the armor and prepared to move on.
He moved through the corridor, his newly acquired axe gripped tightly in one hand. The faint sound of dripping water echoed somewhere in the distance, mingling with the occasional clatter of bones shifting in the darkness. His stomach growled, a low, insistent rumble that had been his constant companion for hours. He hadn't eaten since he'd stumbled into this cursed place, and the persistent ache in his stomach was beginning to wear on him.
Ahead, the corridor widened slightly, and the faint glow of a torch flickered against the walls. He paused, his sharp ears catching the rhythmic clacking of bones against stone. He pressed himself against the wall, tail flicking nervously behind him. Peering around the corner, he spotted two skeletons patrolling the passage. One carried a chipped sword, the other a spear with a broken tip. Their hollow gazes swept the area, but they moved with the same predictable rhythm as the others he'd encountered.
Femi's lips curled into a sly grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the torchlight. This was his chance. He crouched low, muscles coiled like springs, tail twitching faintly behind him. The two skeletons ahead moved with their usual stiff rhythm, their empty gazes scanning the corridor but failing to notice him lurking in the shadows. He waited, breath steady, until they turned their backs. Then, with a burst of speed, he darted forward, claws scraping lightly against the stone floor as he closed the distance in seconds.
He leapt into the air, body twisting as he swung the rusted axe in a wide arc. The blade struck the first skeleton's skull with a satisfying *crunch*, the force of the blow shattering bone and sending fragments scattering across the floor. The skeleton crumpled instantly, its body collapsing into a lifeless heap.
The second skeleton turned, spear thrusting toward him with surprising speed. Femi's reflexes kicked in, allowing him to sidestep the attack. He pivoted on his heel, tail helping him maintain balance, and brought the axe down again. This time, the blade cleaved through the skeleton's ribcage, shattering its spine and severing it in two. The creature collapsed, bones clattering noisily as they hit the ground, its spear falling uselessly beside it.
Femi stood over the remains, breath ragged as he caught his breath. Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses and numbing the ache in his injured muscles. He glanced down at the shattered bones, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. Two more down. He was getting better at this.
He glanced at the skeletons' weapons but decided against taking them. The axe was enough for now. His stomach growled again, a constant reminder of his need for food. He needed to keep moving. He adjusted his grip on the axe, claws tightening around the worn handle.
The corridor sloped downward, the air growing cooler and damper as he descended, clinging to his fur and making him shiver slightly. The walls were slick with moisture, and the faint sound of running water grew louder with each step. Femi's ears twitched, swiveling toward the sound, and his nostrils flared as the scent of fresh, clean water reached him. It was strange; he hadn't realized water had a scent at all. But there it was, unmistakable and inviting, cutting through the dungeon's stale, decaying atmosphere.
His pace quickened, hunger momentarily forgotten as he followed the sound. The scent of water filled his senses, pulling him forward like a lifeline. His tail swayed behind him, brushing against the damp walls as he moved, sharp eyes scanning the shadows ahead. The promise of clean water was enough to push aside his weariness, if only for a moment.
The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow. In the center of the room stood a fountain, its stone basin carved with intricate patterns of vines and flowers. Water bubbled up from its center, cascading down into the basin before flowing out through a narrow channel in the floor. The sound was soothing, a stark contrast to the dungeon's usual cacophony of creaks and groans. Femi approached cautiously, eyes scanning the chamber for any signs of danger. The room was empty, save for the fountain and a few scattered bones near the walls.
He knelt by the fountain, dipping his hands into the cool water. It was clear and clean, a rare find in a place like this. He cupped his hands and drank deeply, the water soothing his parched throat. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, the tension in his shoulders easing as the sound of the fountain filled his ears.
He lingered by the fountain for a moment longer, gaze drifting to the shimmering surface of the water. The reflection staring back at him was unmistakable a rat, his fur a patchy brown, snout equipped with wiskers twitching slightly as he breathed. His ears, large and rounded, flicked at the sound of dripping water, and his sharp, black eyes glinted in the well-illuminated chamber. He reached up, touching the side of his face, claws brushing against the coarse fur. The reflection mimicked his movements, and Femi's expression darkened.
He sighed, shoulders slumping as he leaned closer to the water. "Well," he muttered, voice low and tinged with exhaustion, "no use denying it. I'm a rat. Truly, my village people have succeeded."
His words echoed softly in the chamber, the weight of them settling heavily on his chest. His tail lashed behind him, the tip brushing against the stone floor. He didn't like the way it betrayed his emotions.The silence continued for a while.
"Abeg, I can't be wasting my time contemplating life," Femi muttered under his breath, his father's words echoing faintly in his mind.
"Sometimes we take the good with the bad and move on." The memory of his father's voice, steady and firm, brought a flicker of comfort, but it was quickly overshadowed by the gnawing hunger in his stomach.
Life was unpredictable, and Femi knew he didn't have the luxury to dwell on it. If he stayed here, wallowing in self-pity, he'd die of hunger. He needed to find something to eat, rice, meat, or even...less appealing options. Rat or no rat, he still needed to survive.
"Let's move!" he urged himself, voice sharp with determination. His stomach growled in agreement, a low, insistent rumble that spurred him forward. He glanced around the chamber, eyes falling on the scattered bones. They were old and brittle, picked clean long ago. No help there. He stood, tail swishing impatiently as he considered his next move. The dungeon had to have something edible or at least something he could stomach. He couldn't keep going like this.
As he turned to leave the chamber, something caught his eye. Near the base of the fountain, partially hidden by the flowing water, was a small, round object. Femi crouched down, reaching into the water to retrieve it. It was a piece of fruit, slightly bruised but still intact. His heart leapt as he recognized it, a pomegranate, its deep red skin glistening with droplets of water.
But he hesitated, brow furrowing as he stared at the fresh-looking food before him. In this desolate place, such a sight was almost unbelievable.
Yet, the promise of a decent meal felt too good to give up. As he stood there, contemplating the food, a faint shrug escaped him. "At this point," he thought, "I don't really care what it is, as long as it doesn't turn me into a yam when I eat it."
Femi stopped hesitating. He cracked the fruit open, the sweet, tangy aroma filling his nostrils. He devoured the seeds greedily, the juice staining his fingers and dripping down his chin. It wasn't much, but it was enough to quiet the gnawing hunger, at least for now. As he ate, he couldn't help but wonder how the fruit had ended up here, in a place so devoid of life. But he pushed the thought aside, savoring the moment of respite.
When he was done, he wiped his hands on his armor and stood, feeling renewed. His hand brushed against the water canteen secured at his waist with the remaining strips of bandage. He paused, considering the journey ahead, then moved to the fountain carefully, he filled the canteen to the brim, the cool water glinting in the light. With the canteen now replenished, he straightened, his gaze sweeping across the chamber. Other than the fountain, nothing of note caught his eye, no hidden passages, no lurking threats, just the tranquil stillness of the room.
Glancing back at the fountain, a small smile tugged at his lips. "Thanks for the food and drink," he muttered, his voice soft but sincere. The fountain had been a rare moment of respite in this otherwise hostile place, and he was grateful for it.
Turning away, he adjusted his grip on his axe, the weight of it familiar and reassuring in his hands. With a deep breath, he stepped back into the corridor, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Frustration welled up inside him as he turned back, to face the unexpected obstacle before him. A massive door, towering nearly twice his height, stood embedded in the rocky wall, at the other side of the fountain cambers, which wasn't there before. It's surface was carved with intricate, twisting patterns that seemed to shift and writhe in the light. The glow came from strange, runic symbols etched into the doorframe, pulsating with a faint, eerie energy.
"What kind of cursed place is this?" he muttered, voice echoing in the eerie silence. He scanned the area, thoughts racing. "How did this get here? Is the evil spirit in this place not enough already? Is this a breeding ground for evil entities?"
His gaze settled on the door, and a thought struck him. "I'm sure this is where those demons who brought me here want me to enter," he muttered under his breath. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but curiosity gnawed at him. "Do they want me to enter this place? Ah, I'll see what's inside."
Cautiously, Femi approached the door, his paws trembling slightly as they touched its surface. With a deep breath, he pushed it open. Stepping inside, he was met with a menacing sight: a skeleton sat on a throne made of bones, its hollow gaze seeming to pierce through him. The air around it radiated an aura of malevolence, and Femi felt a chill crawl up his back. He stood frozen, heart pounding, unsure of what to do next.
"Ah, why did I open this door?" Femi muttered, his voice tinged with regret.