A Gluttonous Desire.

Prince unsheathed a short bone blade that was tied to his right leg using a thin cloth.

It came from my right no?

That hideous cough.

Not so much as directly right from me - but more diagonally.

Intriguing!

He prodded at the thin lumber under his feet. Pulling and bending and disfiguring.

Surely, this leads into another passage just like this one.

Prince had mauled the lumber—methodically, yet brutally. It had collapsed under his jagged blade, and now he was carving out a hole large enough for himself.

I could eat you right now.

I can taste you on my tongue.

He smiled.

The wooden plank transformed into a tight wooden hatch.

Pain!

He was in a frenzy of pain!

With a knife held to his stomach.

What would I have done if the wood was any thicker? Starve to death?

The thought of sustenance was stabbing his organs.

THIS PAIN.

IT DOESN'T STOP.

He roared like a wounded beast.

His pained expression cracked into a broken smile.

Humorous!

He laughed heartily and yet moisture gathered behind his eyes. Not a significant amount - but Prince couldn't deny it. A wave of pressure dissipated through his skull. A burning anger replaced it.

Prince wanted to scream, but he didn't.

He wanted to cry, but no tears came forth.

He wanted to curl up and die - to sleep forever, but no slumber tempted him.

Prince's eyes shifted to a hollow obsidian black.

How pitiful I am!

How astonishingly disappointing!

How insufferable I am!

Quiet fool!

Must you punish me with your self loathing?

Take it elsewhere! Take it to your grave!

You walk the land of those who live - act like them !

If you pity yourself so much then toss your life away now! Years of survival for nothing! Take that stolen knife and thrust it through your own heart!

Prince froze.

He shifted the deformed lid to the side.

Prince peered into the abyss - it welcomed him.

He dropped into its maw with apathy.

Welcome you fool!

Welcome!

Prince was already familiar with the sight. Long and endless horizontal paths, the cross sections, the recurring pattern of lumber on the walls.

The only notable difference that Prince understood had puzzled him.

The air was like sand - beads of sweat began to subtly swell from his skin.

His brows narrowed in thought.

It certainly was warm before and now its even more so. Call me blessed or cursed, which one?

The cold and its deathly blade I'm more familiar with. Who is to say warmth's blade isn't as equally harrowing?

Perhaps I'm overreacting.

Tell me, who would die to such a silly thing?

The slimy cough announced itself once more.

Prince laughed in silence.

Prince laughed for a while.

His eroding body reminded him of the time.

He was robbed of his innocent smile and laughter.

The depths of his heart frosted.

His limbs controlled by strings, he turned in the direction of the disgusting sound.

Not that there was much room to turn though!

His eyes were blood thirsty.

His throat was dry - his mouth was wet.

Prince could feel it on his tongue.

On the other side of this wall lay a man.