"Come check this out," Samuel called out.
Ryan's expression transformed from annoyance to curiosity. "What is it?" he asked, still standing in the same spot while side eyeing Samuel.
"Looks like an iron door, hidden beneath the earth," Samuel explained, dusting his dirty hands, his face was lit by the incoming sunlight.
Aria leaned forward on Ryan's back, her injured leg throbbing at the movements, "An iron door? Here?" she asked with interest.
Ryan walked back to Samuel with Aria still secured to his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Aria's grip on Ryan's neck tightened, her nails digging into his skin as she gazed at the old looking iron door that was hidden beneath the forest's ground. "Do you think it's safe?" she asked with apprehension.
"It could be a shelter," Samuel suggested, looking at the door in thought.
"Or a trap," Aria countered with wide eyes. Her injured leg throbbed, and she winced a little.
Ryan's brow was frowned in deep debate. Should they test their luck and open the iron door or continue on their way, The silence in the forest weighed heavily on his shoulder.
"We don't have many options," Ryan said with uncertainty. His eyes scanning their surroundings.
"I don't like it," Aria said, They can't walk from death to death, they had barely escaped from that creature, why walk into a trap, she thought.
Samuel hand traced the rusty hinges of the door. "It looks old." he said with awe, as if seeing a long lost lover.(^^)
"Which means it could be unstable," Aria pointed out, her grip on Ryan's neck tightening, Come on reason with me.
Ryan's eyes met Samuel's, seeking reassurance amidst the stupid silence and the debate in his head. "You think it's worth the risk?" he asked.
Samuel nodded with a set jaw. "We need shelter. We can't stay out here with that creature hunting us."
"What if it's a trap?" Aria wanted to shout, Hello, weren't you guys sworn enemies?. But her fear in drawing attention kept her silent, her eyes darting between Ryan and Samuel. Ryan nodded, they needed shelter.
Aria's grip on Ryan's neck tightened, her nails digging into his skin, almost hurting."This is insane. We're trusting our lives to a stranger."
"You said it yourself, we should cooperate to survive" Ryan said to Aria, who clenches her jaw, regretting her words. Damn my stupid mouth, she thought.
"But...but aren't we headed north?" Aria asked, trying to convince them with their original plan, her eyes darting to Samuel awe face.
"Changed plan," Ryan said curtly as samuel grunted after straining himself to open the door, his muscles bulging beneath his worn leather jacket.
"It's fucking stuck," he muttered.
Ryan carefully moved Aria from his back and lowered her to the ground, supporting her injured leg with gentle care.
"Sit a little," Ryan whispered softly, his hands lingering on Aria shoulders, ensuring she was stable.
Aria winced in pain "Sorry" Ryan whispered softly, offering a reassuring smile.
Aria's face relaxed slightly as she sat on the ground "Okay?" Ryan asked and Aria nodded.
They both stare at eachother, their eyes searching for God knows what. The air was thick with tension, but in that moment, time stood still. Ryan could feel Aria fear and she could feel his uncertainty.
"I still don't like this plan," Aria whispered her fear, she doesn't like it one bit.
"Trust me," Ryan said lowly, his words were a gentle caress, soothing her frayed nerves.
Aria's pursed her lips in a pout, "We have no choice," Ryan added, moving his hand from her shoulder to her neck, caressing the skin there.
Aria tense shoulders turned sagged and she nodded reluctantly.
Ryan's hands lingered on her neck, his touch warm and reassuring. His fingers brushing against her skin, sending some comfort through her chilled body.
Samuel, still struggling to open the iron door hidden in the brush, rolled his eyes. "There's no time for lovers," he whispered with impatience. His gaze darted between the two individuals.
Ryan's eyes snapped away from Aria's. He shot Samuel a warning glance. "Focus," Ryan whispered harsh.
Samuel grunted and Ryan moved to Samuel's crouched form, joining him at the door. The iron surface was rusty, with vines snaking through the bars.
"What's the holdup?" Ryan asked.
"it's Stuck," Samuel replied.
Ryan examined the door, his eyes tracing the rusty surface that has vines and moss that had grown unchecked for years.
Two small handles was protruded, partially hidden by the soil that had claimed the door as its own. He grasped one, his hand wrapping tightly around the cold metal, feeling the rough texture against his palm.
The incoming sunlight, indicating morning, lit the ground with a warm glow. "Together," Ryan whispered, his breath misting in the chill morning air.
Samuel nodded, taking the other handle with tensed muscles.
They heaved the door together and the door creaked, its hinges groaning in protest.The noise seemed to shake the foundations of the earth.(^^)
Samuel grunted as his muscles bulged while raising the door, Ryan added his strength and the door finally screeched open.
A musty smell wafted out, heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. It filled their lungs, a noxious cloud that clung to them like a bad omen. Samuel and Ryan coughed at the smell and dust.
"Ahk! Ahk!" they coughed in unison, covering they noses with their arms.
Samuel eyes watered while coughing. "What's that fucking smell?" he choked out.
"Decay and who knows what else." Ryan coughed out.
Aria, who was sitting on the floor nearby, looked up at them with concern on her face. Her worried eyes were on Ryan "Are you guys okay?" she asked.
Still coughing, Samuel nodded."Yeah, we're fine."
Ryan gestured toward the doorway, his arm sweeping through the air to clear the lingering dust. "Let's move," he said.
The now risen morning sun cast its rays through the opened iron doorway, illuminating the stairs that led down to an unknown depth.
The sun light revealed dusty cobwebs clinging to the stone walls.