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Chapter 7 - The Underground

Deep underground, behind rusty steel bars and under several layers of surveillance a man sits in the corner of his cell; illuminated only by the light of a broken lamp directly across from the bars. He had his knees drawn up to his chest in an effort to keep warm while he recuperated from the lashings he had received prior. Just as he started drifting to sleep, wailing, crying and screaming could be heard a little ways away, followed by the sound of a sudden silence. Realising he could very well be next, he peeked through his long overgrown hair, above his knees just in time to see a young girl being dragged down the long hallway by her hair, her eyes lifeless and body unmoving. She was dead. As he took this in he began to make his plans, if the girl who had been subject to torture in the cell three blocks away had died, he had the amount of time it would take his jailers to get through the next two to either escape or kill them. And with that thought, he huddled further into the corner of his cell and fell asleep.

Startled awake by the scraping of metal against metal as someone raked keys against the bars as they passed down the hall finally stopping in front of Jaspar's cell. Laughing maniacally, the jailer unlocked Jaspar's cell, walked in, grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out. As he manoeuvred himself and Jaspar's somewhat limp body down the hall, they came to a cavernous chamber. Filled with darkness and shadows, the jailer threw Jaspar down and quickly proceeded to light the torches strategically placed around the chamber.

Under the glow of the dim torch light Jaspar shakily climbed to his feet and looked around to see bloody handcuffs attached to the far wall, a surgical table with leather straps in the centre and many other tools such as a rusty saw, pliers, several types of scalpel and rod in a bucket of hot coals and a metal stamp. As Jaspar continued to look around, the jailer grabbed him and hung him on the wall using the handcuffs already attached, promptly then left the chamber.

Left only to his thoughts for an unknown amount of time, Jaspar knew he had to get out and fast - so he dislocated his skinny, malnourished hand in order to slip it out of the handcuff, which had been set to fit a person of healthy countenance. Once both his hands had been released he bent down to release the intricate clasp used to hold his feet. Finally freed from his shackles, he slowly crept to the entrance peering around, seeing no one he walked down the hall turning to the right after he passed the cells. At the end of the next hall there was a set of stairs leading upward, scrambling towards it Jaspar started up them, only to come across a small pile of bodies each mangled to a different degree, but all of them most definitely dead or dying. As Jaspar stopped, shocked at what he had seen and slowly taking it in, the sound of jingling keys and loud footsteps graced his ears. Realising he had seconds before the jailer saw him, he climbed the bodies and hid between them as the jailer passed the stairs.

As the sound of footsteps became more distant, Jaspar got up and continued down meandering halls, past jail cells and anti-chambers, hiding whenever jailers or guards were in the vicinity until finally, he came to a large set of somewhat mouldy double doors. After making sure there was no one around Jaspar pushed the left side of the door open a crack, being pleasantly surprised that no sound came from the action. Creeping out of the small crack he'd opened between the door, Jaspar's eyes widened at what he saw. And while you would have thought that those doors had led to the outside or the surface it had instead led to a giant room with many smaller caverns.

In the room Jaspar had entered was a bed that seemed to be as big as three queen-sized beds put together, on it was a multitude of fluffy pillows and two throwovers not to mention the quilt that was laid neatly across. Though the room was dark it had red LED strip lighting running across both the floor and ceiling, illuminating the room in a haunting glow. The bed and surrounding furniture were of a deep red and black ombre, leaving it looking elegant and trim despite its somewhat gothic allure. Having stood and appreciated the room in all its glory, Jaspar hadn't noticed a man of tall stature standing by the wall near the cavern that housed the bathroom, a room from which steam was now leaving.

'"To what do I owe the pleasure" said the man in a low voice, ultimately announcing his presence to the oblivious Jaspar. Startled, Jaspar let out a small squeak (which the man had thought to be cute) and turned to face him. Jaspar looked at the man and stared, upon closer inspection he had a pale face, short wavy platinum white hair and ethereal silver eyes. He was tall and wore nothing but a pair of black jeans. His torso had a series of tattoos of caring sizes and on his arm, a large monochromic dragon tattoo stood out the most. Looking up at his face Jaspar noticed he also had piercings, two black lip rings, industrial, conch and triple lobe on his right ear, while his left had double helix, triple lobe and his daith was pierced. He looked to be about 25 and had no facial hair but his jaw was chiselled.

Blinking himself out of his wandering daze as he realised the man had started towards him, he took a few scared steps back. At his movement, the man stopped and asked him again "Who are you and what are you doing here". 'I am Jaspar, I came here by accident, looking for the way out' Jaspar replied in a small voice. Regarding Jaspar with a curious look, the man spoke: "If you came here by accident and looking for a way out as you say you are, what pray tell are you trying to escape from".... After some deliberation Jaspar decided that this man is somewhat trustworthy as he had yet to attempt to capture or for better word re-capture him and so he replied- ' I was held captive in a jail cell somewhere down bellow, I was taken to a cavernous torture chamber and hung on a wall if I wanted to survive I had to leave before the jailer came back and I wouldn't. So I broke out of my bonds and ran hiding when jailers and guards were close until I reached this room which I thought would lead me to the surface'.

"My name is Alkomeides, and I have decided that you may stay here with me from now on. I also suggest you give up on trying to find the surface, you'll die before you reach it, while you may get far the surface is blocked not by people or doors but by hydra and hellhounds. I quite like you and I do not wish that you suffer such a fate" and with that, he went into the kitchen signalling for Jaspar to follow. Feeling safe in Alkomeides' presence Jaspar cautiously follows him settling himself on the kitchen island as he thought about what the Greek god in front of him had said; while Jaspar was scrawny and riddled with scars he still had a mesmerising appearance, with his long hair and purple eyes, he thought that with a little cleaning he would look good. Taking all this in he relayed to Alkomeides that he would stay with him on the basis that he would do him no harm nor sell him out to the wandering jailers. To which Alkomeides agrees.

A few weeks later...….

Having quickly settled into a routine, Jaspar slowly rolled out from Alkomeides tight embrace and off of the bed that was many sizes too big. Making his way to the bathroom he got in the shower and changed, after he had made himself presentable he made his way to the kitchen setting about making the both of them breakfast, humming a tune in a low voice as he did so. Successfully finishing making breakfast he plated the waffles, added some whipped cream, a drizzle of honey and a side of fruit sprinkled in powdered sugar. Moving both plates onto the island he covered them with a warm lid and went back into the bedroom to wake Alkomeides. Climbing onto the bed and straddling the sleeping form of Alkomeides, Jaspar pressed small kisses onto the temple and nose of Alkomeides. When he wouldn't wake up Jaspar pinch his nose closed and put his hand over his mouth. Alkomeides eyes flutter open revealing a piercing stare that made Jaspar blush. With a light chuckle, Alkomeides rolled out of bed picking Jaspar up as he went and travelled to the kitchen with Jaspar clung to him like a koala. As they made their way into the kitchen, Alkomeides said "Darlin, its been a few weeks but thank you for staying with me",Jaspar smiled and nuzzled into his neck replying 'You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wouldn't have it any other way'.

As the days pass by, Jaspar's life continues much like it had since he had met Alkomeides, pain-free, fun and safe. Although it had taken him a while to heal from all the whip lashes, bruises and other marks that had been inflicted on him while he was still captive in the cell, he finally felt at peace

A year later...

Both Alkomeides and Jaspar had started a relationship with each other and were living happily within their cavernous abode. Jaspar never did attempt to leave for the surface and Alkomeides had long since welcomed him into his life with open arms.

The end -