A lone figure faces a massive, imposing ancient guardian in a dark, glowing cave with abstract vibrant energy patterns. Digital art.

#: Ancient Guardian “You two should wait here. If this goes poorly there is nothing you’ll be able to do to help. If I haven’t returned by the time the sky starts to dusk, go back to The Jolly Roger and regroup.” He said removing his hat and handing it to a solemn Hank as he stepped into the unnatural darkness. Hooke couldn’t help shudder at the way light immediately became darkness. There was no gradual transition as one would expect. There was only the immediate change from the late morning brightness to darkness so complete that it swallowed all sense of direction, and gave one the impression that time itself was standing still. He reached out and groped for a wall to use as a guide and his fingers encountered nothing but cold still air. He eventually settled for crawling along the floor in what he believed was a straight line slowly and carefully, completely losing his sense of time as he made his way further into the dark. He began to see shapes and shifting colors in the darkness as his mind attempted to grapple with the ongoing sensory deprivation of the inky silent domain. Had he been crawling for minutes or hours? Were Thomas and Hank already back at The Roger? If He did escape the cave and night had fallen what then? Something in the darkness moved. Something large enough that it’s movements caused the previously still air to eddy and swirl. Hooke did his best to stand, but found that he had no balance, and once again settled for a position closer to the floor. “I See more