Depths Below

The tunnel stretched endlessly before them, the path winding deeper into the earth with every step. The air was thick, cool, and damp, carrying the scent of stone and decay. Shadows danced along the jagged walls as their single torch flickered, casting eerie shapes that twisted and stretched like ghostly figures.

Rapunzel's heart pounded as she moved forward, clutching the strap of her satchel with one hand and her frying pan with the other. Every step echoed, swallowed by the darkness that seemed to press in from all sides.

"We've been walking for hours," she whispered.

Eugene, a few steps ahead, glanced back at her. "It's been thirty minutes."

"It feels like hours."

"Well, when you grow up in a tower, I suppose any amount of walking feels like a long journey."

She shot him a glare, but there was no real anger behind it. The truth was, she was exhausted, not just physically, but mentally. The day had been a whirlwind: sneaking out of the tower, meeting Eugene, escaping from the guards, encountering the ruffians at the Snuggly Duckling, and now, navigating an underground labyrinth with no clear way out.

She had wanted adventure. She had wanted to see the world.

But she hadn't expected this.

Eugene let out a low sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright, let's take a quick break."

Relief flooded through her as she sagged against the tunnel wall. She didn't realize how badly her legs ached until she stopped moving. The cool stone pressed against her back, grounding her as she took deep breaths.

Eugene slid down the opposite wall, resting his arms on his knees. His expression, usually filled with a confident smirk or sarcastic remark, was unreadable.

"Do you think there's an end to this tunnel?" Rapunzel asked after a moment.

"There has to be," he said. "Tunnels don't go on forever."

She bit her lip. "But what if this one does?"

Eugene turned his head toward her, his brown eyes scanning her face. "Do you always think of the worst possible outcome?"

"I—" She hesitated. "I don't know."

And that was the truth. She had spent her entire life in a tower where everything was controlled, predictable. There had never been a reason to worry about what was next because there was never a "next." Now, out in the real world, she was facing the unknown at every turn.

She hugged her knees to her chest. "What if we never find a way out?"

Eugene exhaled, tilting his head back against the wall. "Then I suppose we start a new life underground. You can grow glowing mushrooms, and I'll teach the rats how to steal wallets."

She gave him an unimpressed look. "Eugene."

His smirk softened into something gentler. "We'll find a way out, Blondie. I promise."

She wanted to believe him.

For a long moment, they sat in silence. The flickering light of their torch created a golden glow around them, but beyond that, the tunnel was nothing but shadows.

Then!

A sound.

Rapunzel stiffened. "Did you hear that?"

Eugene sat up straighter, his body tense.

Another sound. A low, distant drip… drip… drip…

Rapunzel strained her ears, holding her breath.

Then, something else. A faint scraping sound, like something shifting against stone.

Eugene stood immediately, hand on the hilt of his dagger. "Okay. That's unsettling."

Rapunzel clutched her frying pan, her pulse quickening. "What was that?"

The sound came again. Closer this time.

A scrape. A skitter.

And then, silence.

Eugene and Rapunzel exchanged a look.

"I vote we keep moving," he said.

She nodded quickly, scrambling to her feet. The exhaustion in her limbs no longer mattered. The eerie quiet of the tunnel felt heavier now, as if something unseen lurked just beyond the edge of their torchlight.

They walked faster.

The path sloped downward again, and soon, the air grew even cooler. The dampness thickened, the scent of water mingling with the earthy smell of stone.

Then, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern.

Rapunzel gasped. The space was enormous, its ceiling arching high above them, disappearing into shadow. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth, dripping water onto the rocky ground below. Pools of water reflected the golden glow of their torch, casting shimmering light against the cavern walls.

At the center of the cavern, a dark river flowed. Its surface was smooth and silent, vanishing into the darkness beyond.

Eugene let out a low whistle. "Well. That's new."

Rapunzel stepped forward, peering into the water. The river was deep, its surface so still it looked like black glass.

She turned to Eugene. "We have to cross it."

He raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

She nodded. "It has to lead somewhere."

Eugene glanced at the water again, then at the crumbling rock walls surrounding them. He sighed. "Alright. But if something in there tries to eat me, I'm blaming you."

Rapunzel rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile.

They approached the water's edge carefully. There was no boat, no bridge. Nothing but the dark current stretching into the unknown.

Rapunzel hesitated, her fingers tightening around her satchel strap. "How do we—"

A sudden ripple in the water.

She froze.

Eugene's hand shot out, grabbing her arm.

The water, which had been eerily still, moved.

Something was beneath the surface.

Something big.

Eugene swore under his breath. "I really don't like that."

Rapunzel swallowed. "What do we do?"

Eugene pulled her back a step. "We rethink our plan."

The water rippled again. A long, slow movement. Whatever was down there, it wasn't small.

Rapunzel's mind raced. She had faced thugs, guards, and collapsing tunnels today, but whatever was lurking beneath the surface of that river was something else entirely.

She wasn't sure she wanted to find out what it was.

Eugene tugged on her wrist. "New plan: we find another way."

She didn't argue.

Together, they turned, their torchlight barely penetrating the cavern's vast darkness. The unseen creature beneath the water stirred once more.

Then, silence.

They walked faster.