Peace of Mind

"Stop worrying about it!"

Fang said for the third time that morning. He wasn't wrong, Xiaodan knew, but it was driving him mad. Xiaodan had known Fang for years, growing up together in their small village. Fang was rigid in his mentality, totally inflexible. He was nothing like he was acting now, with his spear draped over his shoulders, with the swagger in his steps. It was how he coped with his worry. Xiaodan envied that about him.

Neither of them had desired promotions or the responsibilities that came with them. They were content in the background, watching others try to curry favor with the nobles. It was Yan. Xiaodan stopped suddenly, staring at the autumn leaves on the ground. If it wasn't for Yan, they would be--

"Emperor's beard, you're slow today. You're not just going to leave me here, are you?"

Xiaodan looked up from his thoughts, meeting the suspicious gaze of Fang.

"Caught me again, Fang"

Fang grinned, his deep wrinkles even more noticeable on his square head, before spitting on the ground. The bastard, grinning at a time like this, Xiaodan thought. For all they knew, today would be their last.

The Jing had recently defeated a rebellion. Some said it was a civil war. Now, those who defied the Emperors will lay within the mouth of a cavern, chained for all eternity. There were far worse fates an enemy of the state could suffer. Fang knew. Fang used to tell him stories of his own father, taken in the Imperial City. They were only rumors, he had to remind Fang. Dissent, in any form, was a punishable offense. Something Fang should have known. That conversation could have been the reason for this. No doubt, a hidden blade awaited them.

A stillness hung in the air. It had unsettled them, causing their horses to buck, forcing them to dismount. Without an escape, the world seemed at a standstill. It was eerily silent, not a single bird flew in the skies above, nor any beast was seen since they left the city. The closer they drew to the mouth of the cave, the stronger the presence gripped them. Neither said a word, though Xiaodan's hand gripped the pommel of his sword.

The cavern was black, a steady drip echoing. Xiaodan stepped in first, and Fang hesitated before entering as well. He could have sworn he heard something, though it must have been his imagination. There was no way that any of them were still alive. They were there to check the corpses, nothing more. They were both wet by the time they could no longer see. Xiaodan waited as Fang lit his torch.

A bit of finger was the first thing Xiaodan saw in the darkness, its knuckle resting on his shoulder. Around them, hundreds of eyes peered down, flesh dripping from the ceiling as water. Xiaodan couldn't scream, couldn't run. He was breathless, staring at the abyss. A high-pitched, ear-shattering scream filled the air, then silence. Then, there was nothing.