Colliery

Only a few moments had passed before two lone guards, clad in an odd form of smooth metal armor, came to visit their cell.

Standing just in the hall beyond their reach, they smacked the iron bars with their spears — forcing out a grading low hum of resonating steel and awakening those who were still lost in slumber.

"Wake up, all of you-!" One commanded, grabbing a silver keychain wrapped around his waist and beginning to twist it into the lock. "It's time for mining duty."

The prisoners, as if painfully used to the routine, all stood without a single complaint leaving their mouths.

Not wishing to stand out, the boy did the same.

The other soldier was quick to pull out a small clipboard, peering towards one end of the room and slowly shifting his gaze down the line.

Only then did his heart drop.

'Shit.' he scathed, 'He's checking off people... No way in hell I'm getting caught already!'

His mind raced for any form of excuse he could give to the man, both as to who he was and why he was there. Unfortunately, by the time his gaze laid on the nervous boy, nothing could come to mind.

"...Who are you?" He calmly muttered, a hint of confusion staining his voice.

A nervous shiver fell down his spine. "I... well, you see..."

'I'm fucked.'

It was only when the sweat began to trickle down his face did a voice finally speak up. "That's Keelan, sir."

In shock, the tensed boy looked over to see the voice came from none other than Benaya himself.

"Keelan?" The guard murmured. "Holy shit, it is you! Weren't you released three years ago?"

"I, ah... agh, I've been on a bad streak recently, sir."

"By the fact that you're here, I can tell. At least you're not a little shrimp anymore- went and gained some muscle."

Somehow, even though he wasn't actually Keelan, being called a shrimp felt like a direct insult — even if it was in the past. "Right..."

"Even still, it's weird they didn't update the list for your arrival... it's probably fine, though."

And with that, the guard shoved the matter to the side. By some miracle, he actually made it through the first hurdle.

Then again, he must admit it was largely possible due to the enigmatic Benaya standing by the far end of the cell. He had not the slightest clue as to why he helped him, but he was determined to figure it out.

Before the guards began to chain the prisoners in a line — binding their hands and connecting them all with a series of links — the newfound 'Keelan' made sure to take his place just to Ben's front.

The fetters loosely bound their limbs as if they were nothing more but livestock and slaves. Arms locked to his front and legs slightly bound, the snake of prisoners began to march their way out of the cell, being herded by the two guards.

Not wishing to draw attention to their conversation, Keelan was wise enough to not tilt his head back towards the stern man as he spoke. "Why'd you help me?"

Ben scoffed. "I wasn't planning on it. I ain't never seen a prisoner come here unmarked by their damn lists before, but it's pretty damn obvious what they would've done to you if they found out. As far as I'm concerned, however, you're in this shithole just like the rest of us. And living in a shithole is better than dying."

He wouldn't argue with that.

"Besides, you truly do resemble him, you know. And luckily for you, those pigheaded guards couldn't tell the difference between a rat and a mouse. As long as it squeaks and squeals, they couldn't care less."

He tensed his eyes. "So... am I the rat or the mouse?"

"Who knows."

"-Can both of you shut up back there?" Someone in front began to speak.

Keelan's eyes naturally began to examine the boy — only able to see a small portion of his face from the side, though using his imagination to fill in the rest.

His voice was jarring. Upon making contact with his ears, it had an oddly soothing quality to it, sounding somehow both soft and cold at the same time. His hair was that of a pale white, short in nature and sitting messily atop his head. From within the golden glow emanating from the wall sconces, it almost appeared like that of fresh snow.

Of course, the lone eye Keelan could see just from his side gave the look of an indifferent killer. A hint of boredom lingered in its pool of deep blue, seeming like an infinite void of swirling darkness he could get trapped in.

He didn't even want to imagine the weight of his full gaze.

"...I see you've met Mekan," Ben stated, "Ignore him. He's just grumpy cause he slept in like a fool-"

"Not a fool-!" He scoffed, raising his bound arms and slightly rubbing his eyes, "I just appreciate sleep. It comforts me."

"Whatever..." Ben murmured.

"-And you, red-head..."

Keelan tensed up. "What?"

"Keep your head down and your voice lower. I don't know your story, and I don't want to know your story. I'd like to keep it that way."

"Sure..." He agreed, "I don't have a story to tell anyways."

He passed a side glance. "Hmm..." He pondered, "Maybe we'll get along just fine then."