They are now all in the circle of light, pressed together like canned sardine.
Their flashlight preventing the creature to come out of the tunnel at their left.
Dust with cold sweat recalls the flying pickaxe and hope it won't think about going back to take the weapon.
But by how things are going, the black cloud has the intelligence to do it, and will eventually try to chase them out of the circle with this method. If they don't escape before that.
They wait with bated breath. Suspicious's chest is glued to his back and he can see Princess's nape from up close.
The two are taller than him, in fact he realise that apart from old man they are all taller than him. So it must mean he is a short guy.
-is it gone?
Pony ask between Purple-belly and Old-man.
-It seems. We should take a break one second here.
Old-man seems to be tired and out of breath.
-You should have helped us.
Reproachfully add Purple-belly, without even giving a glance in the direction of Dust, the red-haired man or Princess.
His short brown hair are ruffled and if one was to look at his profile they will see his frown and his purple lips pursed.
No one answer him.
-How did you find your path?
When he speak Dust can feel Suspicious's chest moving in his back.Two turn his face toward his interlocutor.
He is impassive only his brown eyes let his surprise be seen.
As if he is wondering if Suspicious is really asking him a question and not to somebody else.
-I have a good memory, enough to remember my way back it seems.
Two closes his mouth. Then like an afterthought he add.
-I think the lightbulb will be extinguished soon.
Pony give him a look suddenly having an interest in Two.
-What?
He push his glasses up his nose, and light up the beams of the cieiling with his flashlight.
-I mean, i also remember seeing the cable of the other extinguished light bulb cut. You also saw it.
He look at Dust, but Dust avoid his stare like he did for everyone else. Only giving him a meek yes to confirm what he said.
Hell, that mean they need to go fast. Now that he remember it. only the creature could have cut the rock like that with its claws. It's really clever.
Old man has a dark expression on his face, his grey eyes reduced to a thin slit.
-You mean that this thing has cut the cable of the previous light bulb?
Two nod .
-We should go then before it does.
Purple-belly still doesn't give them a look and his tone is resentful.
- This time i will appreciate if everyone could act like a group by supporting each other.
They retreat toward the last tunnel before the corridor.
Dust has a lot of questions in his mind.
First, if the black cloud know how to deprive them of the light of the bulb, why the cloud didn't do it directly?
Is it playing with them?
Or does the creature want them to stay there until it retrieve something to destabilize their defensive formation? Like the pickaxe?
To stall for time?
…
Does he give too much credit to the intelligence of this black cloud?
Dust's back shiver.
It act like it has the brain of a human.
Suspicious is now in front him walking in the corridor and they bypass the room with the beds without any interference from the dark fog.
Pony and Purple-belly are still at the end of the group to protect their back if the cloud was to appear again.
Sometimes the man with his belly beer will give them a suspicious glance. As if he is checking that that they don't run away while letting him and Pony all alone again.
He must be a man who keep grudge for a long time , think Dust.
The boy peek at the half broken door and the row of bed when they walk past it.
In the mine, they found three lockers so he logically assumed that only three miners worked there. But if it's true why so many beds? And why are they even there in the mine?
All this gives him a headache.
He decides to think about it when he is safe. I should focus on what is important, that is to say : Going out.
When you meet a lot of problems at the same time you must resolve the one who is the most important. Everything else can wait.
With a strange peace given the circumstances they reach the stairs dug in the rock.
They climb the stairs quickly without stopping under the other light bulb.
Dust is really anxious.
Suspicious is the first to enter the room with the closed door. However the man doesn't stop and keep walking.
The beam of light of his lamptorch directly fall on the closed door.
The exit is so near.
Dust follow closely.
He isn't suprised when he hear screams behind his back.
He jump a bit though under his anxiety.
Of course it will come back.
The red-haired man already twist the key in the door lock.
When the door open with a bright light Dust can only feel a brief relief.
We are saved!
" Nightmare: Level: F- completed! Surviving Guest of the horror congratulation! Please awaken and rise!"
Just like that, all the survivors disappear as if they were just mirages.
In this mine, only the creature remains.
The door closes on its own without producing any sound while the key twist without external help in the lock. After locking the door again with a click it fall from its lock to hit the ground.
Dark fog wrap the key and retreat. Taking in one tunnel the clothes of Eyes and the clothes of One after dissolving the boy's body.
The creature return to the hole, lay with care the clothes put the key at top of it, and then the fog wait patiently behind its trap.