A Gloomy Encounter

Something kept splashing on my face. Rain was pouring and I was lying on the muddy ground. Why does it always rain on bad days? I opened my eyes and slowly lifted myself up. I was in the middle of a narrow non-concrete alley. There were houses lined up on either side making the path seem narrower. I felt claustrophobic. It must be a dream. I didn't recognize the place. It had an eerie feeling to it. I looked behind me and was shocked to find both Dan and Mike lying unconscious a few meters away. I ran to them and lightly woke them up. They both woke up with a groan. They too were confused about the situation. We recalled the events that led us there. The idiots were foolish enough to try to rescue me from getting through the portal, and now we're all trapped in this unknown place. We scouted the area, stealing clothes that were probably left to dry, but now soaked in the rain, along the way. The place was like a maze. The paths were narrow and both sides were lined by dirty old houses that somewhat looked like ruins than living quarters. We didn't run into anyone as well. It was quiet, too quiet.

The rain was getting stronger and we were getting more desperate. Finally, we saw a crowd of people who seemed to be in the middle of a very serious conversation. We slowly approached them and greeted them. We stopped on our tracks just a few feet from them. They looked human from a distance, but after coming closer, there was something different about them. Their eyes were bright red and they had fangs. Their nails were long and sharp. I felt a sweat run down my face. I took a step back. The men seemed amused. They let out sinister laughter, showing very sharp teeth. Dan and Mike tensed beside me. We were in trouble. Big trouble. I tried to keep calm and swallowed the vomit forming at the base of my throat. There was only one solution. Dan and Mike looked at me in unison - seems like they were thinking the same thing. Then we dashed along the narrow path, running away from those "men". They chased us. I got dizzy with all the turns we had to make. It felt like we were no more than guinea pigs in the lab. It was a good thing we had a few weapons with us, like Dan's pistol loaded with poisoned bullets and Mike's axe made from a monster rhino's horn. I was the only one who was almost defenseless. I've been in the lab for too long, I've forgotten the most important lesson we were taught: always bring a weapon wherever you go, even at least one. I'm more of an archer and carrying a bow and arrows around was a hassle. We passed by a small altar decorated with monster heads. My stomach twisted in disgust. Where are we? It was the only question on my mind. Eventually, we lost the men pursuing us, but ahead of us was a dead end. Shoot. Then, the door to our right opened slowly and a man peeked his head out. He had the same features as the others, but he seemed less hostile. He looked kind, actually. He offered to help us and invited us to his home. We didn't have much choice so we accepted his help.

Finally, we were able to get out of the rain into a warm cozy house. The house was old like the rest of the houses we saw. The drapes were on tatters and the furniture dirty, but it was relaxing, comforting. It felt safe. He offered us food and water and some dry clothes. His voice was light and had a friendly tone. We gratefully accepted everything he offered. We dried ourselves up and helped ourselves to some food. The taste was unusual, but it was delicious. He knew we were outsiders. That's expected, considering the difference in our appearances. At last, he answered the question I've been meaning to ask. We were in the demon world.