The Undergrounders: Volume I

32.2

Content warning for those with claustrophobia: Kanden will be in a very tight space, so please read with caution.

Faint, red light illuminated a small section of the engulfing darkness. Metal thumped and groaned with Kanden's movements as he performed a chimney crawl, using his legs to take the strain off his arms. He moved slowly but found this experience easier than his last. The vents also seemed smaller this time around even though he was certain they were the same size.

When he reached the first fork, he turned and rolled onto his stomach before crawling through the musty tunnel. The glow stick revealed a fine layer of dust and a few small pebbles as Kanden's gloves scraped the surface. His breaths drowned everything but the soft shuffle of clothing as he scooted forward.

The further he crawled, the more the walls threatened to close in around him. His shoulder blades ached from crawling, and his racing pulse fluttered in his neck below the surface of his skin.

Like his previous excursion, his mind conjured unpleasant images of all the worst possible scenarios. Aware he'd grown since undergoing his training, the fear of finding himself stuck bombarded him until he stopped moving, pressed his cheek to the cold metal, and closed his eyes. More than ever, he wanted to turn back and give this mission to anyone else.

Pull yourself together, you can do this, said one tiny voice at the furthest corner of his mind.

Who am I kidding? asked the other, I can't do this. I can barely get through training.

Well, you won't get anywhere if you stay put.

No rebuttal came for that thought, so Kanden opened his eyes and considered his options. He wasn't in a hurry to die in place, but advancing wouldn't guarantee him success. Turning back would ensure his survival in the short-term but wouldn't solve the overall problem of limited resources. Like it or not, his only recourse was to forge into the unknown.

Moving slowly on his elbows, Kanden crawled ahead while his glow stick dangled from his neck and splashed the narrow enclosure with bouncing red light.

When his shoulders brushed the walls, he noticed an inward dent from the direction of the blocked corridor below. Complete darkness stared at him through the remaining crawl space, unwilling to reveal its secrets.

Lying flat on his belly, Kanden extended his left arm, wincing when his shoulder tightened. He then felt the metal walls, noting the smooth surface of one side and the sharp edges and dents to his right. The dip sloped downward, leaving very little room for anyone to fit, including someone with his small stature.

Forward or backward? He didn't know what to do. Rhonin would tell him to think of safety — that much he knew. He also believed in Kanden's abilities; or else he wouldn't have sanctioned this mission. Everyone else though? If anyone knew what he was up to, they'd probably bet rations on how fast he'd fail. Then, they'd probably blame him for being too afraid to try.

He muttered a curse before taking a deep breath and removing his multi-tool. Once it was firmly wrapped in his hand, Kanden positioned himself with one arm ahead and the other pressed to his side, ready to grab his emergency rope.

Progress was slow as he used his legs and feet for leverage and his free arm to pull himself through the vents. Jagged edges snagged his clothes, digging into his skin, but he continued, focusing on his singular goal: to find the other side. Humidity coated the ground near Kanden's mouth, and his only companion was the sound of rent fabric and his soft grunts.

Soon, his back and chest touched both surfaces, forcing him to exhale and wiggle to give himself more room. In the soft glow, a welded seam had burst, split wider by compressed rock. The uneven section provided footholds, which he used for additional leverage.