Vicious Crown (Complete)

Nora was about to head into the tunnel when she heard her name being called from behind her. It was Roxxy, who was hurrying over to her.

"Hey Nora wait! You heading down this tunnel by yourself? What are you, nuts?"

"Well I wasn't going to go too far," Nora replied.

"At least let me come with you.{if Brock is alive = true} I think I'm getting on my brothers nerves, bothering him while he's drawing that picture, and I sure could use a break to stretch my legs. Who knows, maybe there's some exciting stuff down this tunnel."

"The more the merrier I guess," Nora smiled with a sense of relief, "I was a little nervous going by myself, and I didn't want to bother you two."

"Psh, I know we're rivals and all that, but you can still go up to us and talk you know." Nora couldn't help but chuckle.{else}I need a little time to clear my head. My brother is... gone. Shit, I might cry again," she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, "seeing his stuff next to my tent is a little too much for me right now. But there's no point mourning until we get out of here."

"I understand. Come on, lets go then."{endif}

The two of them travelled down the tunnel with their flashlights illuminating the way. They walked for quite a while, passing by several ancient skeletons that lay cluttered on the floor.

{if Brock is alive = true}"Heh, these guys sure aren't subtle about keeping people away from this place,"{else}"Geez, this place is depressing..."{endif}Roxxy said{if Brock is alive = true}casually{endif}, looting a simple necklace from around one of the skeletons neck. It wasn't long until they came across a perfectly square room, with three tunnels leading in different directions. Pictographs covered every inch of the walls, depicting gruesome images of sacrifices and carnage, but otherwise not indicating which way goes where. Roxxie thought for a moment, one hand on her hip and one hand stroking her chin. "Hmm..." she hummed deep in though, before placing the necklace she picked up before next to the entrance they came in from. "So this is the room we came into. Now as long as we keep our heads about this, we'll always know where the way back to hub is."

She paused again, scratching her cheek. "I don't have a compass, but lets say..." she pointed her finger at the tunnel in front of them, "that way is north. The tunnel to the right will be east, and the one on the other side will be west. The way we came in from will be south."

"Yeah, that's a good idea. It's much easier to remember which way we're going now."

{If Brock is alive = true}"Ain't I just wonderfull?" Roxxy grinned, sticking her tongue out between her shut teeth. Nora raised her eyebrow.

"You're acting unusually cheerful for someone who's stuck miles underground with no way to get out."

"Ah well, you know, you shouldn't worry about the little things. Besides, I've been in worse situations." Nora couldn't help but feel uplifted by her attitude in the face of this daunting situation.{else}"Well, lets get to it then," Roxxy said. Nora sensed a kind of determination in her voice, and despite the recent happenings she felt a little uplifted.{endif}