The Steadiest Satisfaction

A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.




Darkness surrounded her completely. (F/n) couldn't tell if she was asleep or awake. She could blink, but she would never be able to see in front of her; however, she could feel ropes wrapped around her wrists and ankles. They cut into her skin if she struggled too much. Panic did begin to set in, and the constant smell of death didn't aid her either. It almost felt like she had been thrown into a large coffin with a fresh corpse.




She recalled encountering the creature before being knocked out by it. Had it not killed her already? A dreadful knot formed in the pit of her stomach. If she was alive, her fate wasn't looking too good. Why had he strapped her to chair? Was he planning on torturing her? More terror stirred up within her. There was no alternative; she needed to get out of wherever she was now.




Despite the sharp bites of the rope, she pulled against them more. She could feel her skin tear as liquid ran down her wrists. It loosened the ropes hold on her. Once her hands were free, she could untie the ropes around her ankles. Making her hands as small as she could get them, she wiggled them under the ropes. Thankfully, the creature hadn't tied them too tight.




Maybe, she would get lucky and find that the exit of the room led to the end of this nightmare. Perhaps, it was all a horrible dream. She almost let out a bitter laugh at the idea. No, things were never that simple. If anything, she was far from getting out of the tunnels.




Relief washed over her, however, when her right hand became free. Her wrist probably looked horrendous, but it would heal. Even if scars formed, they would be better than being dead. Hurriedly, she worked on the rope around her left wrist. After it was free, she went onto her ankles. She paused for a moment before she continued. It had sounded like someone else was in the room with her but not the creature.




With the ropes off, she swiftly stood up but stopped until she regained her balance. She heard the noise again. It sounded like someone moaning as though they were just getting up. Well, she couldn't do much without light. Quickly, she went to search her jacket, but her fear came true. The creature had taken her flashlight. Things really weren't looking in her favor.




Another moan caught her ears. Hesitantly, she called out, "Hello?" No one answered, but she could hear movement now. It started out slow before it went into a full blown panic. From the sounds of it, a chair was rocking back and forth violently. A string of curse words filled the room. That was when she recognized the voice. "Brent?"




The movement stopped, and she heard an annoyed groan. "(F/n)? You're in here? Of all the people to get stuck with, it had to be you." Nearly, she forgot what situation she was in as she had the urge to punch him.




"Look, just lead me to where you are. Otherwise, I'm going to find a way out of here and leave you behind." A scoff hit her ears. "You're lucky that I don't where the exit is, or I would've left you already." She was tempted to offer him up to the creature as a peace offering, but she had a feeling that the creature took no such things.




"Fine. Just follow my voice. It sounds like you're in front of me, so probably keep walking straight." Thinking the same, she continued to step forward. "It sounds like you're getting closer. Just try not to walk right into me." She rolled her eyes; she wouldn't mind bringing a kick to his face and stating that it was accidental. "And, what's that dripping sound? There aren't dead bodies hanging around us, right?"




"How would I know? I can't see a d*mn thing." Brent was about to throw an insult her way, but they both stopped. For a second, it sounded like someone had giggled, and there was only one laughing individual in the tunnels. She gulped before she pressed onward and tried to forget it. "It's my wrists. They were bound in rope, which I'm guessing yours are."




"I wish that mine were bound in rope. It feels like it's some fabric, and it's tied too tight. I can't even move my wrist or ankles." That information didn't sit right with her. Why would the creature tie them up with two different materials? Had he lacked enough of the other one?




Her right foot impacted something. A small shout of pain left Brent. At least, she had found him, and she had even been able to hit him. Despite the situation, there was a small smirk on her lips. He had deserved that entirely.




"Are you going to untie me?" he questioned, irritation and impatience dominating his voice.




"No, I was thinking of kicking you again. And, I'll be tempted to kick you somewhere else if you don't learn to stop being such a jerk." Thankfully, he didn't say anything; he merely grumbled something under his breath. It was most likely some insult, but that didn't matter. Once he was free, they could find a way out, and that was more important.




Finding the knot on his right wrist, she began to untie the thing. The fabric reminded her of what a cotton shirt might feel like. She didn't focus on that detail too much. Instead, she put her energy into getting the bonds undone. Once his hands were free, she let him do the rest. "I'm going to work on finding a way out of here. I'm heading to your right."




Carefully, she walked in that direction and hoped that the room wasn't too big. Her right foot stepped into something, and it squished underneath her. Holding back the urge to vomit, she wiped her foot off and carried on. When her hands finally hit what felt like a wall, she began to walk along it. Some hope arose within her.




Behind her, though, she heard a switch being flipped on. Light shone on her. "Brent? The creature didn't take your flashlight?" she asked, quite shocked. She doubted that the creature had missed such an item. When she turned around, she froze. The creature had the flashlight, and he was standing right behind Brent. Brent's ankles remained tied to the chair, and he looked petrified with fear. Blood drained from her face. The entire time that she had been helping Brent, the creature had been right behind him. Giggles erupted from his mouth while his nails rested dangerously close to Brent's neck.




To matters worse, she recognized the fabric bonds. Brent had the same realization. They were from Laura's shirt. Both of them wanted to say something, but they didn't want to die.




A wide grin stretched across the creature's lips. He directed the flashlight a little to the right of her. There was a door there. "It's unlocked." Chuckles parted from his lips. "Why don't you go and open it?" She stood frozen and didn't dare trust him. More laughter escaped him. "Please, I insist. I'm letting you free." (F/n) shook her head. Something was wrong. Why would he tie her to a chair and then let her go? What was he planning?




"Oh? Well, isn't that amusing." He walked around Brent and towards her. Steadily, Brent bent over to attend to his ankles. The creature paused and aimed his nails back at Brent. "You do that, and I'll make sure to eat part of you before I kill you." Brent stopped, and his hands visibly trembled. His pale eyes turned back towards her before he headed over to the door.




He opened it and signaled for her to go out. Instead, she took a step back. "You wish to stay?" A loud chuckle left him. "Well, well, first you offer me a bite before your death and now this? You're certainly a treat." The creature fell into a fit of giggles. Brent shot her a horrified look, which morphed into one of pure disgust.




Stepping away from the door, he indicated for her to go again. She analyzed the distance between the creature and the door. Potentially, she was out of his nails' reach. Cautiously, she walked forward more and more. When she was at the door, she cast a final gaze towards the creature. He simply motioned for her to continue. Her eyes stayed on him while she put a foot out into the hallway.




"Oh, but one thing." She froze, not knowing if another step forward would kill her. "If you leave, I'll administer a slow death to him. You'll be able to hear his screams and cries for help during the whole time you walk down the hallway," he voiced in a singsong manner. "Music to my ears but possibly not for you." Her eyes briefly glanced to Brent. "Either way, he'll die, but you can save him from a slow and painful death. If you stay, I'll simply plunge my nails through his heart." He leaned forward and smiled. "Your pick~"




"If you ..." The creature swiftly turned around to look at Brent. A murderous smile graced his lips before he placed his left index finger up to his lips. Brent quieted down, and the creature faced her again. (F/n) didn't know what to do. If she left, Brent might be able to escape before his death, but the likelihood of that was next to none. She was guaranteeing him death, though, if she stayed, yet it seemed merciful in comparison to what the creature possibly had in store for him.




Did he deserve mercy, though? He had been an a**hole the entire time that she had traveled with him. She knew that he would've left in a heartbeat had it been her strapped to that chair, but her conscious prevented her from making that decision hastily. Still, a chance at escape might be better than a mercy kill. Both of the decisions were terrible, and she couldn't lash out and fight the creature. That would result in her immediate death too, but there was a piece missing. "How long would I have to stay for?"

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