Survivor's Curse

Darkness greeted Kalen as his senses slowly returned. His limbs aching, his mind felt sluggish and the cold bite of air flowing down his back. The stone pressed against his back, rough, uneven and the scent of damp earth filled his nostrils.

He groaned forcing his eyes to open.

A towering gate loomed over before him, its iron bars twisting like skeletal fingers reaching skyward. Beyond those gates lay shadows and flickering lanterns that stretched into the distance. The Dark Hollow. 

The place that goddamn labyrinth had sent him.

Karen noticed a presence looming nearby.

Kalen turned his head as he locked eyes with a person. A guard. 

Standing by the gates lay a man clad in dark, patched armor, a fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders. His helmet was worn and dented, with the visor open. Revealing eyes that seemed sharp and scrutinizing.

Kalen pulled himself to his feet, wobbling slightly. He could feel the guard monitoring every inch of him. The lingering bloodstains on his tunic, the black blood that remained on him from his dire battle with the horrid wolf.

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then the guard spoke. His voice was gruff, unreadable.

"..You look half-dead, stranger."

Kalen exhaled, stabilizing himself. "Felt worse."

The guard didn't react. He simply studied him for a moment that felt like an eternity. 

"The Dark Hollows don't welcome the weak," the guard finally muttered. "And it certainly doesn't suffer the foolish."

He gestured toward the gates.

"If you want to step through, you best have a purpose."

Kalen wiped a hand over his face. Purpose? He had none. This was for his survival. For there to be a tomorrow for him. No longer Forsaken. 

He tightened his grip on the sword and took that step.

The gates groaned open as they swallowed him whole into the Dark Hollows.

Before Kalen could step through, the guard's hand shot out, grabbing his arm for a brief moment. He held up a pouch of coins.

"Consider this a compulsory fee for those who survive the labyrinth," the guard said. "Ten Hollow Marks. You've earned it by making it this far."

As Kalen stepped through, a whiff of scents overloaded his nose. Smells that contained the smell of damp stone, burning tallow, and even blood and decay. The streets were uneven, carved with cobblestone, twisting making it impossible to see ahead. The narrow buildings mostly devoid of light, allowed shadows to loom. 

The people of Dark Hollow were just as worn as their city. They moved like phantoms, with their ragged cloaks and their faces covered by a hood; if they even had one. Some walked with purpose, others walked with paranoia. Survival was the rule here, not kindness. Half-measures would just let him end up dead in this cruel world that contained the Dark Hollows.

Here, one did not ask too many questions.

***

Kalen found himself in what would be called the heart of Dark Hollow- a marketplace beneath dark sheets so thick that only fragments of moonlight peeked their way inside. The air was choked with the smell of spices and the like. Kalen noticed a butcher hacking away at the remains of what seemed to be a monster he didn't recognize. Some of the slabs twitched unnervingly as if refusing to die.

Kalen had to find a place to rest. Even for a minute. He had been fighting for his life without rest, so his energy was at an all-time low.

'The Silver Lantern'

'Hopefully, I can try and ask for a place to sleep. Anywhere will do really.'

Kalen pushed open the heavy wooden door of the inn, its hinges groaning reminding him of a dying beast. As he stepped inside, it seemed that the outside had faded. Not comparing to the labyrinth. He felt a warmth that he didn't feel outside, but not by much. A low fire cracked by the hearth, casting shadows over the stone walls. The scent of old ale, damp wood, and something herbal filled the air.

Few people were here, sat in silence, hoods drawn low, sipping on drinks watching the door as if waiting for something to show up.

A woman stood behind the counter drying a wooden mug with a worn cloth, Dorothy. 

She was in her late twenties, her black hair streaked with some strands of silver, tied loosely at her back. Her eyes were fierce and unwavering as if she could see through lies in an instant. She glanced up at Kalen as he entered, her gaze lingered on his bloodied tunic and the sword kept at his hip, before traveling to the long cloak that draped down to his shins. The cloak, with its hood, pulled low over his face, added to the aura of mystery around him.

"New, aren't you? I'm Dorothy by the way."

She said setting the wooden mug on the table with a small thunk.

Kalen hesitated before nodding.

"Kalen."

Dorothy sighed, crossing her arms "Another one then, how long were you in the labyrinth for?"

He furrowed his brow "I..I don't know."

She snorted. "Typical."

Without another word, she bent down beneath the counter pulling out a small, jagged metal coin.

"This," she said before tossing it to him "is a Hollow Mark. Currency here in the Dark Hollow, You won't find gold or silver like in those fairy tails. Here, we trade in things that matter - food, survival, and weapons.

Kalen caught the coin, feeling its jagged edges as if it had been a part of something larger.

After Dorothy handed Kalen the Hollow Mark, she asked with a raised brow, "You got 10 of those, right? It's a reward for those who complete the trial. One can't survive without these babies. It's 2 for a bed for 3 days and meals included, of course." 

Staring at the pouch the guard had given him, Kalen thought, 'So it's two for a bed and a meal.' His mind worked quickly, weighing the cost. 'Considering how much this costs, I can try and sharpen this sword.

"Alright, deal," Kalen said, accepting the offer. 

Dorothy gave a slight nod. "Oh, if you want to, I need some help around here," she said pointing toward the back storage room. "Of course, it's not for free. I'll pay you. You just need to help with serving customers, dealing with those who are too drunk, and helping with the heavy stuff. Simple right?"

"Alright," Kalen responded, nodding as he stood up.

"Alright, perfect. Go up the stairs, Anne will guide you to your room," Dorothy said before returning to her work again.