90 The Tunnel (1/2)

An arm came out of the hole on the wall, full of cuts and bruises. The man was trying to crawl out of the hole.

”I will try to force the door.” Cansu said. ”Get me closer.”

I walked back and leaned towards the door on my back. Idil was waiting in the far corner of the room, trembling.

”Come on!” I said to Cansu.

”I'm sorry.” she said. ”They are stronger than I imagined. There is no way I can open this door.”

”Well?”

”Well, my teacher, we are done for.” Cansu replied. ”It was fun being with you.”

Our chances were not good, but I wasn't going to give up without a fight. I got away from the door and approached the hole, staying out of the man's reach. He was trying to get his head through the narrow crack on the wall.

I stepped back and attempted to kick him. Just as I hit him, he suddenly grabbed my leg and pulled me closer to himself. I cried in panic, trying to get my leg back. Idil saw my struggle and ran closer. She held my upper leg and tried to pull me away, but it didn't work.

I heard a menacing laugh. There was no doubt our situation was entertaining The Community. And, if we died here, we wouldn't get any rest after death either.

”It isn't us who the evil manipulators are...” the voice spoke, like she had just read my thoughts. ”It is you who betrayed the deal.”

She wasn't entirely wrong, but this didn't change the greater picture; THEY were the evil manipulators. We were simply trying to protect ourselves, using any means necessary, which included deceiving. They have exploited our naive nature for too long, but they no longer had the chance.

It was also possible that they have seen through our lies, but pretended to believe and let us proceed; just so they could strike us back with it.

These thoughts passed through my mind in a few short seconds as I was trying to free myself and get away from the crack on the wall. I was in no position to reply to the evil voice, not that it would make any difference in the first place.

Idil stopped trying to pull me out. She stepped back, and kicked the man's arm at full strenght. The man didn't release me, and in the end, this attempt only hurt my leg. I screamed in pain and fell to the ground.

The hole widened, and we could now see inside clearly. The cavity was large enough for a man to fit inside now. There was a tunnel going far back into somewhere I couldn't see.

The man began pulling me inside the hole. I was being dragged on the ground. Idil held me by my arms this time, and tried pulling me back. Unfortunately, she wasn't powerful enough.

”Don't let me go!” I yelled.

”I'm trying!” she yelled back.

I was scared like never before. Until now, either me or someone else close to me had an escape or rescue plan of some sort, but this time, we were caught at our worst moment. We had nothing to do, and no one could come to our rescue anymore.