from the shadow to the grave

CHAPTER 2

The night in the dungeon seemed longer for Kael than any other night in his life. The heavy stench of urine, blood, excretion, smoke and other things he could decipher kept him awake through the night.

The sound of rats scurrying around set an uneasy fire in his heart. The chains beside rattled loudly but the stench was really set him off. He couldn't wade of the feeling of being trapped in his head, the gates of the dungeon seemed to have extended to his mind as well.

He couldn't believe that any place could smell as bad as the dungeon but, he was getting executed the next day so none of it really mattered.

His heart was shattered from everything that happened during the day. From the smirk on Leon's face to the hatred on his uncle's face, Kael wondered if his uncle's family had always hated him and only used this as a means to get rid of him.

He shook his head multiple times, whilst blinking back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. The thoughts of never getting to build any machine cast his heart into so much sorrow that all he could do was cry through the night.

He sniffed his nose for his umpteenth time as he thought of what he did to deserve his family's betrayal until a dark figure in the dungeon tapped his shoulders continuously.

The dungeon was dark and barely lit so he could barely see a thing. Coupled with the fact that he lost his glasses as the guards dragged him to the dungeon, his vision was on the bad side.

“Hey kiddo, you'll get a nose bleed if you continue sniffing at this rate.” A gruff voice in the dark told him. Kael scampated at first, scared and anxious since he could not see who his dungeon partner was.

“Wh…who are you?” He managed to ask with his heart beating fast. The stranger in the dungeon let out a long chuckle before stepping into the well lit part of the dungeon.

Kael saw that the man looked familiar, like he'd seen him someone around. The man was short with a head full of white hair, his beard was long and overgrown while his hands seemed bloody.

Kael staggered backwards at the sight of the man's bloody hands.

“Oh, no, no, I didn't kill anyone. I found a rat running around here last night and tore it to pieces.” The man confessed with a satisfying grin on his face.

Kael was thrown aback, “what type of person enjoys killing an animal with their bare hands?” He thought to himself. The man stopped smiling and stared at Kael.

“I know you.” He suddenly blurted out. Kael's eyes shifted uncomfortably in fear.

“You're the boss's nephew. The boy with the artistic brain.” The man added with a booming laughter. Kael was surprised that the strange looking man knew him but that was not all.

“Tell me, what's your name and why are you here?” The man asked, sitting beside Kael.

It took a minute for him to muster the courage to speak but when he did, ge decided to let it all out.

“I'm Kael.” He started.

“I'm Uncle Magnus' nephew but he had the guards throw me here for execution tomorrow. Someone accused me of stealing his newly launched robot but I swear, I didn't.” Kael revealed. The words of his uncle rang in his ears again, forcing tears out of his eyes.

“Damn, so he didn't try to hear you out or nothing? Just threw you in here to be killed just like that?” The man asked in surprise. Kael nodded, unable to speak as his tears stuck to his throat.

“That's a crazy thing to do to your nephew, man. I'm so sorry.” The man tried to console Kael but his tears were way past consolation now. His fear pounded harder on his heart with every passing second.

“If it makes you feel better, I'm also here to be executed. I don't know when or how it'll be done but it's happening soon.” The man let out a depressing sigh. His words caught Kael's attention, this was his first time in a dungeon so it was all new to me.

“My name is Lyra. You may not know me but I'm the head of the mechanics department in your uncle's firm. I made an error with a prototype development once and he threw me here to be killed.” The man's countenance switched from the seeming happiness he had earlier.

“Have you tried begging him?” Kael asked and Lyra broke into laughter.

“You're really naive, aren't you? Your uncle isn't who you think he is.” Lyra stated, letting out another round of laughter. “Nobody comes here and makes it out alive. No amount of tears or begging can save you.” He added with a forlorn look on his face.

Shivers ran down Kael's spine as he heard those words. In just few hours, his life went from being all rays and sunshine to a dark, gloomy hole. The light in his eyes was completely dim at this point.

A thick silence of tension filled the dungeon as both men went silent, each fighting a battle in their minds. Kael became lost in thoughts as he relived the delightful memories of life outside the dungeon. One night in there felt like a year.

“Want to hear something interesting kiddo?” Lyra's voice broke through the heavy silence. Kael turned to him with anticipation brewing on his mind.

“I know a way out of here.” Lyra added and Kael's eyes widened in shock.

“What?” He whispered as though the walls could hear them.

“I know a way to get out of here alive into the outside world.” Lyra repeated.

“Why are you here if you know a way out then?” Kael asked in obvious surprise.

Lyra shifted uncomfortably in his position, making way to state clearly at Kael's face.

“I have a brain tumor.” He revealed. Kael went from being shocked to feeling pity for the man. His stomach churned in discomfort but he stayed silent.

“I don't know how long I'm going to survive in the outside world if I leave. I might probably slump and die on my first day so I figured it's just best that I pass away quietly here.” The old man's voice became a mix of acceptance and sorrow.

Kael realized just how much the man was suffering to be locked up with a terminal disease.

“But I want you to take the route. I want you to escape this place.” Lyra's voice cut through the silence.

“What? Me? Why?” Kael had multiple questions on his mind. Those words were too unreal to be le out casually.

“You…you're still young, you have a long life ahead of you. I can't let you die here just like that.” Lyra offered.

“No, no, I don't want to risk it. What if someone finds out? What if I get caught? No, I'm not doing that.” Kael refused vehemently. Nothing could make him believe a stranger easily.

What if he was a spy sent to test him?

Kael shifted away from Lyra a bit, to avoid getting roughed up if anything went wrong.

“Can't you see it? Whoever set up obviously wants you to die in here, you can't let that happen and I promise you will not be caught.” Lyra pressed further.

The words weighed on Kael's heart, he could feel his heart beating fast at the idea of a second chance.

Few hours later, Lyra was pushing Kael through a hidden hole in the dungeon's wall.

“Are you sure about this?” Kael whispered with fear and uncertainty in his eyes but Lyra tapped his shoulder. Out of nowhere, they both started hearing the sounds of footsteps approaching, torchlights approached them closely.

Kael's eyes flickered with fear and uneasiness but with Lyra's steady hands behind him, he wasn't sure what to make of it.

“Remember this, kiddo, do not trust anyone you meet outside, not even the ones you call friends.” Lyra said and with that, he shoved Kael hard, letting the dark swallow him whole