The Epic of Dalen Grey

I didn't notice Ondre when I finally made it home the night before. I don't remember looking for him, I went straight to bed. I woke up not expecting to see him gone. I was alittle surprised to see the doorway in the floor wide open and his bed empty.

I looked into the hole. It was a stairway into the darkness. I didn't know what to expect, of what was down there. I proceeded with caution.

"Ondre, can you hear me?"

There was no answer and I proceeded alittle further into the hole. I couldn't hear anything and I didn't see much more.

"Ondre..."

"BOO!"

I reached for my sword, but noticed I didn't have it with me. If it weren't for the laughter that soon followed, I would have killed him with my bare hands.

"You should see the look on your face."

"Your damn lucky I didn't kill you."

"Take it easy Dalen, no harm done."

"I remember telling you not to come down here without me."

"You are here, so lets explore. I had business last night or the curiosity would have killed me."

I got a lit candle and brought it down to look around. The floor was cobbled stone. It was rough and unfinished, it even had numerous tiny rocks Just lying on the floor. It was tough on the feet, but you hardly notice when your caught up in a moment. The walls were wooden boards and where meant to keep the dirt from falling in. They looked fairly new as they weren't at all rotted down here. The room was small and unimpressive. There were some crates and other non significant items. We looked through them all. We found some paper, empty bottles and other worthless items. This appeared to be a dead end so far.

"Ondre you are welcome to keep checking this out. You have a keen eye for such things. Try not to do anything maJor til I get back."

"I can try, but I'm not one to make promises."

I left it at that. What could I do. We both lived by our own rules and our alliance was a unique one. He is more helpful to me then I would admit outloud. He could investigate it all he wanted, I was pretty sure he wouldn't find much anyway. Even if he did, I wasn't worried that he would do anything dishonorable. I at times want to distrust him because of circumstances, but he doesn't seem like anyone that could betray me.

I had to meet with Elizia and discuss what was gonna happen tonight. I was suppose to transfer money over. I was also suppose to escort the girls out of site. They were paticular to point out that only one person was to come with her.

I discussed the plans with her that afternoon and when it got dark we headed out. I wanted to hurt them, but she begged me not too. I couldn't argue, she was paying me.

I walked with Elizia and dropped the sack of money in a small crate in an ally behind this house and continued walking. We walked to a desinated location and waited, like we were told. In the hour we waited, I couldn't stop thinking of how I hated to not be in control of my own destiny. We were eventually approached by someone.

"Elizia you are to wait here, you come with me."

There was three men there. They were hooded and I couldn't see their faces. They let me to a man, also cloaked. I saw in this narrow dead end the three girls tied up. They rigged up a swinging blade on a chain. It seemed as if it would sever there heads if it was released. There was also some sort of bucket next to it that seemed like it might be the release, but I wasn't aware of how it worked.

"I will release this lever and you have one minute before the water drains and there heads will be chopped off. This is all the time you have to untie them."

I stepped forward, alittle into the light. "I won't let you get away with this." As soon as he said that they set it into motion. Two of them begain running.

"Its you, you captured Brick, prepare to die."

I had secretly hidden a sword on me so they couldn't see. I drew it quickly and was barely able to deflect his blow in time. I clashed swords together and then felt something hit me in the back. I thrusted the sword Just behind me and caught him in the gut. The man advanced on me. I was Just able to avoid him and he stumbled right past me. I swung and caught his throat as he turned around. I saw his face for a moment and I noticed it was one of bricks guards. I hurried to the girls and I chopped the robes that bound them. They sprang up Just as the blade swung down.

"Come with me, we must hurry."

I ran and got Elizia and then we hurried out of the area. She was paranoid of a backlash She insisted the girls stay at my place and hide. Elizia came back as well. Once we got back I explained everything. The Midnight Moon was going to be closed tonight. I had to protect the employees tonight. I went to bed that night not knowing what they would do in the morning. I didn't know what happened and I wasn't sure what Brick's men had to do with the attack. I hope the morning has more answers.