Right wins the coin flip.

The screaming coming from your left doesn't sound promising. You go down the right corridor. Up ahead a dimly lit torch flickers eerily. You flatten yourself against the wall and peer ahead through a barred iron door. Saliss another one of your torturers holds a iron rod, the tip glowing, nearly molten.

Shackled to the wall is a disheveled blond woman, no more than five foot even. She begs Saliss,"No, please, no!"

Foolish girl, she couldn't have been here long, begging only entices Saliss more. You turn to leave this pathetic soul to her destiny. "Damn" you silently swear to yourself. You remember the horrible things you have done. You can't leave this girl to Saliss. You flatten yourself against the wall and toss a rock against the other side. Saliss turns from his quarry, a puzzled expression on his face. He walks toward where you are hiding.

As he gets there you spring your surprise. A rock in the flat of your hand to his nose. Knee to the groin. Spin, kick to the head. Side step, fist to his abdomen. Leg sweep, spin, power kick to the head. You hear the snapping of bones. Saliss, won't be troubling anyone for some time, if ever.

You walk toward the chained girl.

"Please...please...don't hurt me."

You haven't time for this. You pick up a stone. The girl screams as you swing the rock. Your blow easily breaks the shackle. Soon she is free.

"What? Who?"

"Follow me if you want out of here or don't. But, if you make a noise I'll kill you."

"Please, let me help. I think I might know a way out. Down this way."

You reluctantly follow her. You pass hundreds of corridors, down most you can hear screaming in the distance. Finally, the girl stops and points.

"There, I felt a breeze there."

You wander over. Indeed the air seems to move here. You look up. You see what looks like a lava tube goes up what must be a half mile, but at the end you can see a bit of black sky.

"Help me up girl." You command.

She obliges. You jump into the tube. It is about three feet in diameter. You can climb it using pressure. You push against the walls with your legs and reach down offering the girl your hand.

As you pull her into the tube you ask. "So, what is your name?"

"I'm Melody. Thank you, I owe you an eternal debt of gratitude..."

"You can call me Jody."

With that you begin your ascent. It is grueling. The rocky wall of the tube alternates between smooth and razor sharp and jagged. It widens. It narrows. You push forward because you have no other choice. Finally, you push yourself out of the cave and onto the rocky barren ground above. You collapse from exhaustion. Melody falls beside you.

You wake up not much later starving. Whatever magic kept you from needing nourishment in the caves has clearly worn off. Beside you Melody stirs. You look at the land around you. It is like a lava field. It is barren, filled with giant rocks and crevices some of the more than twice your height. Not far from where you collapsed you see a little pool of water. You go to it and slake your thirst. As you drink you see movement in the pool. You lunge at it. You find yourself holding some kind of worm.

Given your hunger you have little choice. You bite off a bit and taste it. To your surprise it is rich and fatty. Soon you have devoured it. You feel stronger, it takes you only a moment to catch another for Melody.

You bring it to the stirring girl.

"Here, try this. It seems to be edible."

She is as ravenous as you. She tears into the six inch long worm leaving nothing.

You survey the plain you are on. To your left hills rise above the plain. Every other direction is the same bleak rock.