Tap, tap, tap. The sound of the boy’s and your small, bare footsteps tapping on the ground resounded in the dark hallways. Left and then right, the boy pointed the flashlight in the direction you both needed to go, illuminating your path. His tiny hand grasped yours, tugging you forward and away as you both journeyed through the Maw.

Little puffs of breath came from both you and the boy as you ran, panting and only stopping every once in a while to catch your breaths. The metal cuff around the boy’s ankle another grim reminder of where you two once were after being captured and managing to escape the Janitor. The skittering of nomes sent the flashlight pointing in the direction of the noise in a frenzy, almost. The boy makes a slight noise, pointing a small, scrawny finger at the nome as both of your tiny feet chase after it.

No matter how much stamina the boy has, the nome is quicker and lighter on its feet, already far, far away somewhere in the depths of the Maw. The boy seemed to give up for now, pointing to a latch in the wall instead where he presumed the nome had scurried away. He looked back at you, charcoal bangs completely covering his eyes and yet a sense of determination as he pointed the flashlight at the latch. With the flashlight in hand, he’d cast a light in this unbearable darkness and escape the Maw with you.