Into The Unknown

The tunnel stretched before them, dark and winding, with only the faintest light flickering from the cracks in the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and Rapunzel shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself. The Snuggly Duckling was far behind them now, its warm glow and lively music replaced by eerie silence.

She clutched her frying pan tightly, fingers clenched around the handle. It had saved her once today, who knew what else they might encounter in the depths of this underground passage?

Eugene strode ahead, scanning their path with practiced ease. His boots barely made a sound against the stone floor, his movements fluid and confident. "Alright," he murmured, his voice echoing against the walls, "let's just keep moving. The sooner we get out of here, the better."

Rapunzel exhaled, glancing back over her shoulder. The tunnel behind them curved into darkness, swallowing the path they had just traveled. There was no way to tell how far they had come, or how much farther they had to go.

She quickened her pace, catching up to Eugene. "Do you think the guards will follow us?"

He smirked, tossing her a sideways glance. "Not unless they know about this tunnel. And judging by the looks on their faces, I'd say they didn't have a clue it even existed."

Relief settled in her chest, but it was fleeting. "So we're safe?"

"For now," Eugene admitted, running a hand through his hair.

That wasn't exactly reassuring.

The tunnel sloped downward, and the air grew cooler, carrying the scent of moss and something metallic, like rust or old water. The walls glistened with moisture, and every few steps, water dripped from the ceiling, plinking onto the stone floor.

Rapunzel hesitated, reaching out to run her fingers along the rough surface of the wall. "Where do you think this leads?"

Eugene exhaled, his voice light with forced humor. "Somewhere that hopefully doesn't include an angry horse and a squadron of royal guards."

Rapunzel let out a small chuckle despite herself, but it didn't last long.

A deep, rumbling sound suddenly echoed through the passage, vibrating up from the ground and into her bones.

She froze. "What was that?"

Eugene stopped as well, tilting his head to listen.

Another tremor rolled beneath their feet. A faint crack sounded above them.

Eugene's face paled. "That… doesn't sound good."

CRACK!

The ceiling groaned, and suddenly, a shower of dust and small rocks rained down.

Then, in a deafening roar, the tunnel collapsed.

Rapunzel gasped as a wave of debris crashed behind them, a thick cloud of dust engulfing the passage. She stumbled, coughing as she reached blindly for Eugene's arm. The air filled with the sharp scent of crushed stone, choking and thick.

When the dust finally settled, she turned slowly, heart hammering.

The way back was gone.

A solid wall of rock and rubble blocked the tunnel behind them.

Her stomach dropped. "Oh no…"

Eugene sighed, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the damage. "Well. That's not ideal."

Rapunzel pressed a trembling hand to the stone, feeling the weight of their predicament settle over her. There was no way through. No way back.

"We're trapped," she whispered.

Eugene shook his head. "Not trapped. Just… encouraged to move forward."

She shot him a look. "You're making jokes right now?"

"Hey, jokes are how I process near-death experiences," he said, dusting himself off. "And believe me, I've had a lot of practice."

Rapunzel swallowed hard. The tunnel ahead stretched into darkness, the path unknown. She had never been this deep underground before, never even imagined such a place existed beneath the kingdom.

She hesitated, fingers tightening around the strap of her satchel. "What if we don't find a way out?"

Eugene turned to her, his expression softening. He reached out, taking her hand in his. "We will," he said. "I promise."

His confidence steadied her, even if part of her still ached with doubt.

She took a deep breath, nodding.

"Okay," she said.

And together, they stepped forward, deeper into the unknown.