Hidden behind a boulder in one of the hallways. That was how I found Soleil. I peeked from behind a stalagmite. It was big enough to cover me. Growling at the top of its lungs was an orc. Soleil was on the ground. She wasn’t frightened but more like stuck. The beast in front of her had at least 3 meters and she isn’t properly the tallest person I’ve met so far. Hell, she’s only a bit taller than me.

I turn one of the settings on the slave crest so she notices me and as soon as she feels a little zap, we lock eyes. I want her to run towards me so we can get the hell out of here but I’m not seeing her pull that off.

The other group of monsters is already back in the place that they were before so the plan was lost. Our path to the safe haven was now cut. We are in a dangerous predicament and we can’t sit here for much longer. I need to get her out of there. I need to move. We need to move. I refuse to die here.

We are not completely out of luck since the group of monsters in the middle is not approaching us. Probably due to fear of the orc. The fewer things I have to deal with, the better.

Cough. Cough.

With the sound of Soleil coughing, the orc’s ears picked up where it came from. And with it, a roar that made my spine shiver and it made me sweat. Every cell in my body is telling me to run and don’t look back.

Just run. Get out of here. You don’t owe anything. Get the hell out. Run. Run. Now. Don’t die.

Why don’t I run? Why do I have to stay here and save her? I don’t. She’s just a slave that was given to me by some shady old guy. I don’t owe her anything. Yeah. I don’t. I’m getting out of here.

“I wish I was like that.”

Those words left my mouth while I stood up. The orc was almost near the boulder where Soleil was hidden. I appear from behind the stalagmite I was the entire time and I lock eyes with the orc.

With his mouth opened and low roars leaving it, we stare at each other. While I’m completely scared, he looks like he is simply picturing how he is going to kill and then eat me. And that scares and pisses me off at the same time. I signal Soleil to stand up slowly. This is going to be it. As soon as Soleil stands up, everything is decided.

“NOW!”

My loud voice echoed through the corridors of the first floor of the dungeon only to be overlapped by a roar of the orc. I run towards Soleil and quickly carry her newlywed style. Elves hate being touched but at this point, I couldn’t care less.

“What are you doing? Put me down this instant!”

“Do you wanna serve as food for the orc? Keep moving and I throw you!”

“I can run on my own!”

“Oh, shut it. The way you are right now, even limp I could outrun you.”

She bit her lip and decided to finally place her arms around my neck. Running into an open area would be our best chance so we had room to move even while being chased by the ugly orc that was running behind us.

No matter how I look at it or how I run simulations in my head, he can catch us easily. I’m not fast, I don’t have movement skills like Soleil. Our movement stat is not high enough for it to be noticeable. I just need to run. Run. Don’t look back. Don’t stop.

Go up one gear. The faster your feet land on the floor, the faster you move. Faster. Faster. Move. Move. Move. Just move. Open areas, corridors that look the same, more open areas. Several monsters are also gathering chasing us. The orc is no longer alone. But by the way, everything looks, orcs aren’t supposed to be on this floor. Other monsters act really carefully around the orc. The imps and goblins keep their distance from it but the bloodshot eyes they have are still locked on us.

Sweat keeps pouring from every part of my body, my breathing is ragged. The pain in my back is getting sharper with every step I take. But I can’t stop. Not now. I keep scanning my surroundings. Soleil keeps coughing on top of me. At this point, if it’s contagious, I’m pretty sure I already caught it. She can’t help it, every time she tried to cover her mouth, the sudden movement almost made me lose my balance every single time. Just cough away.

The growls and screeches are getting closer and closer. I’m scared. I’m scared. So scared but I don’t want to die. I’m not stopping.

I recognize where we are. We are back at the location where the orc showed up. We are close to the safe haven. I just need to rest. I don’t care what happens next. The stairs were blocked by monsters when I tried to go for them so I just gotta wait it out there.

“Soleil, we are almost at the safe haven again, just hold on a bit longer.”

No answer.

“Soleil?”

I look down and the grip around my neck loosens up. Fuck. Not now.

I hold her tighter.

“Soleil. Soleil. Wake up. Fuck. Soleil.”

Running and talking is making it worse for my already ragged breathing.

“Hm..”

She finally makes a sound. Okay. Okay. Better. We are almost there.

“Wake up, blockhead!”

“What? How dare you?”

“Who the fuck falls asleep while being chased?”

“Well, I do apologize if I’m in poor health, maybe we should’ve just, oh, you know, stayed put for a couple more days?”

“Oh, look at that, a slave turned princess, are we?”

Our argument overlaps the grunts of the monsters that are right behind us. If I was back in my home and I saw this on the television, I would laugh like an idiot.

The small entrance to the safe haven is within my sight. We are almost there. Please, for once, let things go my way and make sure the magic stones do keep even the orc at bay.

“We are back!”

I said with confidence. But as soon as those words left my mouth, a fist with the size of a boulder came in contact with my back. As I was falling, I threw Soleil inside the safe haven. It was a rough one but at least she is safe inside.

I spun and spun and finally stopped.

With blood leaving my head, my back aches like I was hit by a truck. The orc and the rest of the monsters are focused on me.

Laying on the floor, contemplating the gaze of several monsters on me, I feel my conscience slipping.

Several images crossed my mind.

Ciara and I happily living in our home. Making dinner. Cracking jokes. Playing videogames, roasting each other. The day where she snatched us away from our parent’s grasp. The day which we became free. The dreams we had of going far away. So I could enter college, get a degree. So she could do the same.

We longed for a happy life. We strived for it. We were like hungry animals. Focusing so hard on our prey that we forget the rest.

Then I remembered.

The loud explosion. Everything turning black. Waking up in this world. Feeling like I had some sort of friendship with Jasmin. Not friendship per se but not animosity was good enough.

Talking with Ciara over meals and reminiscing about the times where we would talk about ‘What if’ we ever came to a game world and how fun it would be.

But then I remember about the rulers of the fucking kingdom. The look on their face when they accused me of something I didn’t do. The happiness in her eyes. Like she was stepping on a bug. Like I was nothing but dirt to her. I will never forget the eyes of that fucking queen.

But there is nothing I can do now. I will never know why Ciara left me there to dry. I will never know what made her change towards me. The person that mattered the most.

It’s ironic that I’m actually going to die the same way I was supposed to all those years. Alone in a ditch somewhere.

“…rem!”

The floor was shaking due to the orc steps. I could feel it getting closer and closer.

“…rem!”

What’s that sound?

A soothing sound came into my ears.

Ah. That’s right. That dumb elf.

In the midst of all this, not everything was bad. Even though we started shakily, even though we barely speak. Even though she’s just a slave… I think I’m going to miss her.

Sorry for failing to take you home.

And as I was about to pass out, a scream woke me up.

“YUREM!”