Phase One

“Ow!” fussed Alex as she swatted at the foot that was nudging her in the ribs. Sitting up she waited for her eyes to focus in the dark passage. Pain throbbed through every inch of her, beating in time with her heart.

“Up. Work.” Spoke Ugh in his Neanderthal dialect.

Alex forced her stiff joints to move as she came to a standing position. Moans and curses could be heard along the chain. Alex was comforted to know that she was not the only one feeling sore. She didn’t know how long she had slept or what time of day it was. Here in the mountain of Pastanpresent there was no such thing as time. There was always activity and never any sunlight, confusing one’s natural clock.

Alex felt the chain on her ankle go taut and realized that the line of prisoners was moving. She quickly fell in step behind Lith, her new found friend. The elf was unusually cheery for being in such a dismal place. Alex wondered if maybe the poor thing was in denial of his situation.

Ugh escorted them to one of the walls in the cavern and quickly went about his work of linking the heavier chain through the loops on their ankle cuffs. The same procedure was being played out throughout the pit as the refreshed shift returned to work. Alex only briefly caught a glimpse of the other prisoners as they were being led into the passages from which she had just emerged.

“Dig.” Ugh’s simple command was followed with a loud crack from his whip.

Reluctantly, Alex took her pick ax into her hands and began chipping away at the stone wall, her muscles crying out in retaliation to the brutal work. The fresh blisters that had formed during her last shift quickly burst causing the handle of the ax to become slippery with blood and fluid. Ignoring the pain, Alex worked on, her mind going over the escape plan that Lith had given her.

A pitiful cry broke Alex’s concentration. A prisoner on another wall had collapsed and was crying for mercy from the wrath of the overseer. The furious ape-like creature howled with rage, bending down he ripped the fallen digger’s arms off. Blood poured from the dismembered creature that was now writhing in agony on the ground. The enraged overseer proceeded to unlock the dying creature’s ankle clasp. Once this was done he grabbed the bloody prisoner by the hair and drug him off to a rubbish pile where he was left to die.

With the entertainment being over with, Ugh worked his way down the wall cracking his whip and threatening each of them with the same fate. Alex was still shaking from the horrific event when she felt the sting of the whip bringing her back to reality. She was no longer concerned with the uncertainties of Lith’s plan; she just wanted to get out of this place - alive.

When their next rest period arrived, Alex was eager to go over every detail of the escape plan with the elf.

“Why don’t you come with me?” asked Alex after her gruel had settled.

“I’m here to make sure you get out. I’ll be fine, you’ll see.” Alex knew better than to keep asking questions, the elf apparently had her own agenda.

The break having ended, Alex anxiously returned back to digging. She could feel the adrenaline starting to build within her. Putting all fear behind her, Alex put the first phase of the plan into action. Throwing down her pick ax she crossed her arms over her chest and stood with her feet spread apart, bracing herself for the encounter with Ugh.

“Pick up.” Ordered Ugh while twirling the whip around on the ground as if to remind Alex of what was to come.

“I want to see the Beholder.” Demanded Alex with more bravado then she actually contained.

Ugh screwed up his round face in a confused look. He was not allowed to mortally harm this human therefore putting him at a disadvantage. Looking down at the whip he decided to force the female into submission. Snapping the braided leather at the girl’s bare feet he smiled with satisfaction as she jumped back, her face contorting in pain.

Alex knew this wasn't going to be easy but it was worth it if she could get out of this place. Mustering up her courage she took her defiant stance once again. This time she vowed not to move. The pit was soundless as the workers stopped to witness the standoff.

Ugh again wielded the whip, it made contact with the human’s skin again and again, slicing it into fine red lines. Her shirt damp with blood, hung in rags at her back. She bit her lip to keep from crying out in pain. Stealing a glance at Lith she was surprised to see the elf smiling at her.

“No, I’ve been tricked!” Screamed a voice within her head. She was just about to give up when the purple lizard/man appeared.

“The Beholder wishes to see her.”

Alex sighed in relief. The plan had worked.