ωнєη тнє ιмρσѕѕιвℓє кєєρѕ уσυ нσℓ∂ιηg ση

[echolight4eva]

Theon was already outside when the skaa emerged. The three bodies were gone, a smear of blood all that marked where hey had been. He observed the skaa, considered how below him they were.

The other skaa that was partnered with Ryder was lowered down and immediately began groping around for some hint, some tiny clue as to where a crystal might be found.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder held him up firmly, but his eyes wandered to Theon. A flash of hatred showed in his eyes before he quickly forced it away. He couldn't afford to piss that man off.

[echolight4eva]

Theon met Ryder's gaze and his own eyes hardened angrily. It was hardly worth it to him to kill the man right now. He would die anyways soon enough.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder forced his eyes away from the guard and focused on steadying the rope holding his partner. Sometimes, he wondered which was worse: being down in the pits, or standing on the surface for hours on end with the sun beating down and the ash falling in his hair.

[echolight4eva]

Theon narrowed his eyes but moved on, occasionally cracking his whip at the feet of some unfortunate skaa holding his partner in the Pits. Today was a boring day, and made worse by the ash falling from the heavens.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder kept a watch on Theon out of the corner of his eye. As the guard drew closer, he shifted his gaze away and stared down at the pit, though he couldn't see the other skaa through the deep darkness. This man... this nobleman, he was everything Ryder hated. The people who thought that skaa were worthless, not even human. The ones that thought they could use and abuse them, kill them and rape them. And he had a feeling that this man was one of the worst.

[echolight4eva]

Theon noticed the man looking at him and quickly strode over to him. "Don't look at me! Don't ever look at me! Keep your eyes on your work, trash," he snarled angrily. He hit the man about the head.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder didn't flinch until Theon hit him. The blow caused his head to burst with pain and he lost his ability to stand for a moment. The rope jerked as he fell to his knees, and a pained scream echoed up from the depths of the pit. Lord Ruler, I hope he didn't have his arm in a hole down there, he thought as his head started to clear.

[echolight4eva]

Theon glared at Ryder with narrowed eyes, then moved on, stalking around. He seemed to be even angrier than usual for some reason.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder took a deep breath and waited for his vision to clear. He'd put up with a lot here, worse than that, but he was drawing close to the end of his temper. How much longer could he go on living like this? At that moment, he decided he was either going to escape... or die trying. Preferably, he'd bring down Theon and as many guards as he could down with him.

[echolight4eva]

Theon glanced back at Ryder and then back at the skaa he was scaring. He moved away from Ryder, observing the frantic work of the skaa. Filthy skaa.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

After noon had come and gone, Ryder had been lowered deep into the pit, searching the tunnels in the walls for the geodes. As the start of the new week, there wasn't a ton of pressure, but he'd rather find one and be done with it. Then he wouldn't have to worry, and he could spent his time planning his escape.

[echolight4eva]

Theon made his way around again to Ryder, looking down into the pit where he was located. He smirked, allowing his foot to knock some loose gravel down into the hole. He glared at his partner and moved on again, letting his bullwhip touch the foot of the skaa holding Ryder in the hole.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Ryder pulled his arm out of the hole as the gravel rained down on his head, using his hand to shield his eyes. When the whip hit the man's foot, he cried out and staggered forward, almost pitching head-first into the pit with Ryder. He caught himself as the last minute, but both he and his partner were left shaken.

[echolight4eva]

Theon let out a full on, cruel laugh when the skaa nearly fell in, moving to the next pit.