[b]Nothing Left[/b] Part Two The Hive, in all their cruelty and hunger, most definitely enjoyed knowing that humanity had been broken by them, even if they still hadn't managed to kill us all off yet. They burrowed into the Earth, their network growing everyday along with their reach across the surface and their appetite. It was getting harder and harder to stay away from their territory, and when amongst them it was usually better to be in the places they wouldn't suspect. That's where I was now: in the Hive tunnels. You were just as likely to run into Hive down here as above ground, but in the tunnels they didn't expect intruders. Although the Hive left no nook or cranny unused or unchecked, they couldn't be everywhere at once, leaving plenty of opportunity for an experienced warrior to hide. The problem was how well they could see in the dark, making it to where you would have to blend with not only the shadows, but with the entire environment. To adapt, I had taken up a dark cloak and any dark or earthy clothing and armor I could find. Occasional roars and shrieks from distant Hive kept me on edge, not that I needed the calls of hidden horrors to know I was on treacherous ground. Every now and then a small cluster of the Hive's strange, glowing crystals and green lanterns would be placed to illuminate the tunnels and caverns, reflecting off of dark pools and trickles of water that dripped into the damp depths of the earth. The stone was dark and oppressive, engulfing victims in its rough and jagged gullet as it dragged them into a maze of identical halls. No light pierced the eternal night aside from those created by the Hive, and no enemy trespassed into the endless labyrinth of death. That is, no enemy that had another option, had no experience, or had no substantial amount of lunacy. Luckily for me, I was a crazy warrior with no options who had done this a thousand times. Unluckily for me, each attempt was another gamble with death, no matter how good you were. A bone scraped the ground as my foot pressed down on its end, shocking me into a complete halt, breath caught back in my throat as I listened. Nothing. Letting out my held breath, I lifted my foot from the bone and placed it back down in a clear spot. I realized that my free hand had shot to my pouch protectively and I pulled it away. That was another thing. The bones. The remains of the Hive's victims littered their home; most were human, but the skeletal remains of all the other species in the system could be found, including those of the Hive. Despite understanding their ways of killing and infighting to grow stronger, I was always unsettled by how normal killing each other was to them. A scream rebounded to my ears through the tunnels, but it was human, not Hive. Cursing softly under my breath, I moved on at a quicker pace. They had found some prey, and I would have to get away in case some hungry Thrall began clustering around whoever they caught. It stilled hurt, knowing I couldn't save them. Counting my steps, I came upon a fork and turned left, taking note that they had dug out a third tunnel connecting at this junction. I had never seen what created these passages for the Hive, but they sprung up out of nowhere and left it clear that lesser Hive hadn't been the ones to scrape away at the dirt and rock. The only clues were the giant bones left in the corners of the largest caverns, each with ribs that towered above the height of men. But unseen monstrosities like that were too horrifying to think about. In a maze where everything looked the same, the only way to find your way through was to venture in repeatedly, counting your steps and going deeper each time until you found a new way out. I came to a cavernous room at two hundred and eighty three paces and adjusted my gait as well as my count because I was seven ahead of the correct number. Eventually the inconsistency would've grown, and being just a dozen paces off could get you lost in a place with so many tunnels. Of course, before entering the cavern, I pressed myself against the rocky wall and peaked out to make sure it was clear. A scuffle sounded above me just before I was about to step out and I ducked back into the shadows. After a second, there was a sliding scrape and a Fallen Vandal fell onto its face several meters in front of the cave mouth. Moments later it was followed by a Knight, which landed on its feet in a plume of dust and let the tip of its sword thud to the ground just inches away from the Vandal's head. The beast let out a roar that echoed through the chamber. Knowing it was about to finish the Vandal and feed it to the doubtlessly approaching Thrall, I abandoned my cover and leapt onto the Knight's back, slashing its neck open with my dagger. I fell amongst ash and bone, then started helping the Vandal up as it blinked its four eyes in surprise. But when I let go of the Fallen, it collapsed onto its knees, clearly unable to stand. Swearing quietly again as the shrieks of Thrall drew closer, I pressed my knife into he Vandal's hand. It wouldn't escape, so it would fight. The Vandal bobbed its head knowingly and clutched the hilt tightly. Claws scratched on stone and I raised my head to see a Thrall standing in the tunnel I was supposed to go down. Cursing my bad luck, I drew my hand cannon and ran down a passageway that I knew from my exploits, not bothering to shoot the Thrall. I had to save ammo, and that wouldn't change the Vandal's fate. Feet pounding now that I didn't have to worry about silence, I stormed down the tunnel, searching for a place to hide since I knew this wouldn't lead out. There was nowhere that could keep me covered, so I continued on until I stumbled upon a fork I didn't recognize. Four paths, none from my previous journeys down here. Not bothering to choose one with the sound of scrabbling claws closing in, I went down the tunnel that seemed to be the original path down this straightway. Hungry and angry cries of Hive followed me down the hall until I came into a cavern that ended with a wall of white stone. No exits, no cover, nothing. Apparently whatever dug these places out had stopped when only half finished. The screams stopped, and I turned slowly to find the Thrall clustered just inside the cavern, a single Wizard floating silently above them. Raising my cannon, I backed up against the white wall, waiting to see what they did under the Wizard's direction. I wasn't surprised when the Wizard laughed, her grating voice making me wince in pain, but when the Thrall began chittering and gnashing their teeth excitedly I had to wonder what was happening. Then something grated against my armor, and I flipped around to find that the wall was moving. The massive bulk curled up into great coils of white, revealing that the creature had been stretched out across the cavern and creating the illusion that the room ended. I realized that there would be no escaping into the newly revealed tunnels at the opposite end of the chamber as the beast turned its head toward me, displaying gaping fangs. It was a Worm- one of those that the Hive consumed when they were young -only this one had not been eaten and had grown huge. This was one of the creatures that had dug out the home of the Hive, only leaving behind bone. I gripped my pistol tightly as the Worm looked down on me, but I did not falter or try moving away. My left hand reached into my pouch and pulled out the single item I always kept inside. I looked down at the last reminder of my life as a Guardian; the last thing that was important to me; the last reminder of the Light. The Ghost rested in my hand, cold and empty without its Light or single, glowing eye. After so long, I could still almost hear his voice, telling me "quit getting distracted and fight William". "Thanks for everything, Rush," I whispered to the husk of my first and best friend, then turned my eyes back up to the beast that now surrounded me with its coiling length and raised my weapon. I would die a Guardian, one last time. [i]End of failed timeline[/i] Hope u all liked it. Here's my original entry for the contest that ended up too long to submit: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/229945487/0/0 And here's my Archive for more of my work: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217384398/0/0 Link to part 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/229946652/0/0