Lying on a paper-thin mattress, half-eroded and synthetic. Prince, of humble, medium stature, wore a puzzled expression that was swiftly replaced. A wide grin and open eyes glinted in its stead. Followed by a silenced laughter that jittered through his body.
I need to eat.
This pain... it's etching at my insides.
Prince stiffened. His fists clenched. His eyes latched onto the abyssal oddly slanted ceiling.
There was no furniture in the room to accompany his humble bed. No light either; harbouring one was risky.
Prince sat up, his eyes dull and devoid.
Everything hurts... This stupid stomach.
He couldn't ignore the devastating hunger any longer. He nimbly leapt onto the crawl-space floor, and in a crouch, he traced the outline of a small crudely cut hatch; disappearing inside silently. Using the odd pieces of protruding wood and metal as handholds to aid his descent down the short drop, Prince found himself in a tight labyrinth with suffocating wool for walls.
Charming... Isn't this cosy?
Vast, dark, endless pathways spanning in perpendicular lines - long and short. The cotton-wool interior was heavy with dust and debris. Prince squinted. His thick eyelashes protected him from the harsh and bitter air. Compressed from both sides in a fibre embrace; it was especially warmer here than his attic bedroom.
Guide me, gluttony!
Prince elegantly walked along the single beam ahead, running his fingers along the wooden framing at his sides. Long beams stretched wide and tall, recurring abundantly in pattern, with bare wool protruding from within.
He arrived at a compressing cross-section.
A pointless endeavour!
For what could he see? Nothing.
Squinting his eyes like a fool.
Charming!
His eyes growing large, he strained his ears.
A sound was all he so desperately needed. The catalyst in a devious plot. But such hideous wool walls! How could Prince hear anything with clouds of yellow and grey dampening the air?
Pointless!
His brows narrowed and he donned a mean scowl.
I refuse!
He fumed, eyes brimming with dark brown flames. Prince continued in a rough stride, twitching with impulse.
Surely there has to be someone near. An empty building of this size - impossible.
Prince's heart grew icy. A sharp pain jabbed it. His organs pierced with dread. Fraudulent eyes that reflected nothing.
This is killing me, please...
Prince continued in silence until he heard it. A ravenous laughter - not of his own - echoed through his mind. Hollow laughter, belonging to a man with hollow obsidian eyes.
What are you laughing about, Bastard? Do you find this funny? Does my situation entertain you? Don't forget bastard, your life ends with mine. You're blessed I even survived the climb to the top of this vile breeding ground! So laugh all you want, but don't forget you're merely a puppet of mine, a shadow I control!
Who are you fooling boy? Nobody! Lie all you want! Fool nobody! You're a fraud! A leech! You call yourself Prince when what you really are is a peasant! So tell me... How are you any better than me? You have accomplished nothing! You have done absolutely nothing! If you are the heir to any throne, you are the heir of nothing! Grovel at my feet bastard! Kiss them, worship them! For you are nothing without-
I have heard enough. Silence bastard. I need you not to tell me things which could be apparent to me. Mind your business. I apologise for my outburst.
Prince's eyes focused. His movement became precise and invigorated. He continued in silence.
Until the madman spoke once more.
Not long left Prince... Fear not, food will come anyhow.
The manic voice was right. Food did indeed come. Prince heard it, his painful march had finally ended and it had borne fruit. The sound of hideous coughing faintly permeated the air.
Euphoria!
Euphoria shot through his veins like deadly poison.
Sweet dopamine!
The ecstasy was dazzling and crippling in nature.
Smile!
Prince smiled like a clown who ate kids.
Adorable, look at that innocent smile; knowing full well of your treacherous thoughts. Aren't you cute?
Prince stifled a hearty chuckle.
And aren't you funny? You're acting like I'm going to eat them. Remember, that's only if they have NO food. I'm not a psychopath. Now let us get back to what's at hand. How the hell do i get closer? How do I infiltrate this place without getting caught?
Prince clenched his teeth and grabbed his hair.
Composure Prince! Honestly, relax.
Letting his hair go, he sighed.
No but seriously, how the hell am I going to get in without attracting attention? And why didn't I think of this before?
Relax fool, did you have any thought to spare? Another day out there and you would have joined the dead. Ease up. There's always a way. Even if it means we have to gamble our way to victory.
Prince was not impressed.
Ideally the best plan would be to wait and listen, for at least a few hours to days, in order to map out a general idea of what the inside looks like and the potential threats. Unfortunately, time is a luxury I cannot afford, so let's not waste it.
Let the foolery commence!