Morning. The sun was warm, the ocean water sounded beautiful and fresh as the young student wandered through the city. It was early, sure, but that was the price she paid for her studies. She made her way through the town, stopping once she arrived at the academy. Just another day in the life of a student. At least, that was how it should be. She walked into the academy just find out there was a different plan for her that day. She was being sent on a mission. After the events of her last mission, she was, to say the least, wary. She couldn’t very well say no, however, so she went for it. She got her assignment, and headed out towards getting it taken care of. It was ridiculous, in every sense of the word. It didn’t seem like the type of place they should send a student, especially not one with such a…disability…as hers. Part of her thought it may be their way of getting rid of her. Send the blind kid into a dark mine and nobody will question when she doesn’t return. The fact that it was pitch black in there, and any light source that produced heat would set the highly flammable gas that was released into the shaft on fire was of no consequence.
The female made her way slowly towards the mineshafts, looking around and wondering how she would manage to accomplish the mission at hand. It would be simple, it should be at least. She found the mine entrance in question surrounded by workers, motioning any and all who went there away. They would have done the same to her, if she hadn’t showed them the scroll. They seemed to be as hesitant as she was. Neverless, they let her through, and watched as she disappeared into the darkness. As she faded from view, she pulled a somewhat clunky metal tool out of her pocket. She flicked the small switch to the “on” position, and began her journey.
”The mission begins. It’s dark in here. I can feel the darkness around me…seeping into my skin as an eerie cold. The echoes fill the space with every footstep, curling their way around the stones. The world is quiet, nothing making a sound save footsteps…and the occasional drop of water. Okay that was creepy. Oh shit. I should probably explain what it was. Okay, let’s try that again. A gust of wind blew through, brushing against my ankles as a small animal would. The screech of a creature echoed from in front of me, adding to the sense of unease. Wow that sounded nerdy. Alright. Note to self. Stop being so dramatic with description. No wait. Don’t. Being descriptive could save my….
…
…
…
Did you hear that? The sound. Shh. Listen.
…
…
I’m talking to myself now, aren’t I? Aw shit. Great. Now everyone’s going to think I’m crazy. Alright Kimi. Focus.
There was a sound. Soft. Barely audible. If I hadn’t been listening for it, I would have missed it. A whisper of wind. A doorway…no, nothing like that. Just a path. A split in the tunnel. The time is…. </I>TEN TWENTY-TWO AM ten twenty-two am. Gotcha. Damn, I’m sure glad I got this thing. I’d be lost without it. Anyway. 10:22. That means I’m about…ten minutes in. Here’s the problem. Which way do I go? Left…or straight. The miners could be anywhere. Alright Kimi. Think about it. The path is small…almost unnoticeable. Not big enough for a person to fit through. They couldn’t have gone this way.
It’s still quiet. Eerily quiet. There should be some sort of sounds coming from somewhere. An animal, anything. It’s actually too quiet.
…
…
[quieter] wait. Was that…a whisper? I think I heard something…time: TEN FIFTY-THREE AM shit that was loud…hold on…”
She flicked the switch to the “off” position. She hit the rewind button, standing still the few seconds it took for the tape to find the spot. With a sigh, she put the headphones over one ear. She then tapped the play button. ”help!! We’re over here!” There it was. The whisper she couldn’t quite identify. Caught on tape. She nodded, and resumed her recording.
”It’s them. I heard it loud and clear. Well…once I played it back, that is. There must be another way to get to them. I just have to…find a way to get through. A whisper of wind from through the rocks. There was once a path here. I would have missed it…if I hadn’t stopped. DON’T WORRY! I’M COMING FOR YOU!
Maybe they’ll hear me. Maybe that at least will keep them from worrying. Maybe…<I> Miss? Are you here to save us? contact with the targets was made at…ELEVEN SEVENTEEN AM Yeah. What that creepy mechanical voice said. I’M ON MY WAY! Now I just have to dig my way to them. Alright. Let’s get this started. I’ll just pull these rocks away…wow I really wish I had someone with me who knew earth jutsu. That would make this so much easier…a gush of air. A hole has been made in the wall. I can hear them now. Breathing. Don’t worry. I’m nearly there. Alright. I’m going to turn this off now.”
Kimi turned off the recording device, putting it in her pocket. She may need it later, but for now she had to focus on getting the three miners to safety. ”Hello.” she said, popping her head through the newly-made hole, knowing full well that they wouldn’t be able to see her. ”I’ll have you guys out in a jiffy.” she pulled her head back through the hole, and proceeded to make a gap large enough to walk through. ”Can you guys see anything at all?” she inquired, clearing out as much space as she could.
”No ma’am. We’d be as blind as a bat who lost its ears in through here.” Just as Kimi feared. They had absolutely no idea what was going on. She was going to have to lead them through there virtually blind. ”Alright. The doorway is clear. You guys take each others’ hand…the one in the lead take mine. I’ll get you guys out of here.” she led them through the cave, warning them of changes in the terrain as they went. The way out was a lot easier than going in. She noticed the small gap again, and made a mental note. She would have to come back eventually and find out what was through there. But that was for another day.
The sun. The warmth of the sun hit her face, signaling the end of the tunnel. She brought the miners out into the light. ”There ya go.” she gestured for them to walk past. The miners looked at her, smiling and thanking her profusely. ”Thank ye m’lady.” the eldest said, kneeling down to her level. He paused. ”Forgive me any insult, but is ye blind?” he asked. Kimi blushed slightly, and fussed with her hair. ”That I am, Sir.” she nodded. ”So that was how you found us. I’d bet your hearing’s something incredible.” he nodded to her knowingly. He then patted her head, and went their separate ways.
With much to think about, Kimi headed off towards home. She was covered in dust and dirt, and thoroughly exhausted. She would have to go back there eventually and solve the mysteries of the cave. But until then, a bath and a nap were surely in order.
The female made her way slowly towards the mineshafts, looking around and wondering how she would manage to accomplish the mission at hand. It would be simple, it should be at least. She found the mine entrance in question surrounded by workers, motioning any and all who went there away. They would have done the same to her, if she hadn’t showed them the scroll. They seemed to be as hesitant as she was. Neverless, they let her through, and watched as she disappeared into the darkness. As she faded from view, she pulled a somewhat clunky metal tool out of her pocket. She flicked the small switch to the “on” position, and began her journey.
”The mission begins. It’s dark in here. I can feel the darkness around me…seeping into my skin as an eerie cold. The echoes fill the space with every footstep, curling their way around the stones. The world is quiet, nothing making a sound save footsteps…and the occasional drop of water. Okay that was creepy. Oh shit. I should probably explain what it was. Okay, let’s try that again. A gust of wind blew through, brushing against my ankles as a small animal would. The screech of a creature echoed from in front of me, adding to the sense of unease. Wow that sounded nerdy. Alright. Note to self. Stop being so dramatic with description. No wait. Don’t. Being descriptive could save my….
…
…
…
Did you hear that? The sound. Shh. Listen.
…
…
I’m talking to myself now, aren’t I? Aw shit. Great. Now everyone’s going to think I’m crazy. Alright Kimi. Focus.
There was a sound. Soft. Barely audible. If I hadn’t been listening for it, I would have missed it. A whisper of wind. A doorway…no, nothing like that. Just a path. A split in the tunnel. The time is…. </I>TEN TWENTY-TWO AM ten twenty-two am. Gotcha. Damn, I’m sure glad I got this thing. I’d be lost without it. Anyway. 10:22. That means I’m about…ten minutes in. Here’s the problem. Which way do I go? Left…or straight. The miners could be anywhere. Alright Kimi. Think about it. The path is small…almost unnoticeable. Not big enough for a person to fit through. They couldn’t have gone this way.
It’s still quiet. Eerily quiet. There should be some sort of sounds coming from somewhere. An animal, anything. It’s actually too quiet.
…
…
[quieter] wait. Was that…a whisper? I think I heard something…time: TEN FIFTY-THREE AM shit that was loud…hold on…”
She flicked the switch to the “off” position. She hit the rewind button, standing still the few seconds it took for the tape to find the spot. With a sigh, she put the headphones over one ear. She then tapped the play button. ”help!! We’re over here!” There it was. The whisper she couldn’t quite identify. Caught on tape. She nodded, and resumed her recording.
”It’s them. I heard it loud and clear. Well…once I played it back, that is. There must be another way to get to them. I just have to…find a way to get through. A whisper of wind from through the rocks. There was once a path here. I would have missed it…if I hadn’t stopped. DON’T WORRY! I’M COMING FOR YOU!
Maybe they’ll hear me. Maybe that at least will keep them from worrying. Maybe…<I> Miss? Are you here to save us? contact with the targets was made at…ELEVEN SEVENTEEN AM Yeah. What that creepy mechanical voice said. I’M ON MY WAY! Now I just have to dig my way to them. Alright. Let’s get this started. I’ll just pull these rocks away…wow I really wish I had someone with me who knew earth jutsu. That would make this so much easier…a gush of air. A hole has been made in the wall. I can hear them now. Breathing. Don’t worry. I’m nearly there. Alright. I’m going to turn this off now.”
Kimi turned off the recording device, putting it in her pocket. She may need it later, but for now she had to focus on getting the three miners to safety. ”Hello.” she said, popping her head through the newly-made hole, knowing full well that they wouldn’t be able to see her. ”I’ll have you guys out in a jiffy.” she pulled her head back through the hole, and proceeded to make a gap large enough to walk through. ”Can you guys see anything at all?” she inquired, clearing out as much space as she could.
”No ma’am. We’d be as blind as a bat who lost its ears in through here.” Just as Kimi feared. They had absolutely no idea what was going on. She was going to have to lead them through there virtually blind. ”Alright. The doorway is clear. You guys take each others’ hand…the one in the lead take mine. I’ll get you guys out of here.” she led them through the cave, warning them of changes in the terrain as they went. The way out was a lot easier than going in. She noticed the small gap again, and made a mental note. She would have to come back eventually and find out what was through there. But that was for another day.
The sun. The warmth of the sun hit her face, signaling the end of the tunnel. She brought the miners out into the light. ”There ya go.” she gestured for them to walk past. The miners looked at her, smiling and thanking her profusely. ”Thank ye m’lady.” the eldest said, kneeling down to her level. He paused. ”Forgive me any insult, but is ye blind?” he asked. Kimi blushed slightly, and fussed with her hair. ”That I am, Sir.” she nodded. ”So that was how you found us. I’d bet your hearing’s something incredible.” he nodded to her knowingly. He then patted her head, and went their separate ways.
With much to think about, Kimi headed off towards home. She was covered in dust and dirt, and thoroughly exhausted. She would have to go back there eventually and solve the mysteries of the cave. But until then, a bath and a nap were surely in order.