>>5308188Both golems stare blankly at you for a moment before they spring into action! While <span class="mu-g">ERNESTO,</span> the one with what looks like some kind of <span class="mu-i">eyeball</span> wedged in between his head and torso, rummages around in the chum-scented filth you’re currently stuck in, <span class="mu-g">VIVALDI,</span> the one with a smudge over his eye like a cute lil’ puppy wordlessly points his hand down the shaft at another, <span class="mu-i">much</span> lower conveyor belt.
One that just so happens to be headed for a tunnel that flashes with light every few seconds. Yep, you’re pretty sure that ain’t a dance club down there.
“Is dat’ him down there?” Ly asks, prompting you to squint to get a better look. Sure enough, lying on top of another rubbish pile is Art–the accident-prone ginger’s perpetually-sweaty face even <span class="mu-i">slicker</span> than usual! Pinned to the filth by a large, unwieldy science thing, the rent-a-cop struggles to break free as he lets loose with a terrified, and still <span class="mu-i">surprisingly</span> feminine shriek!
Mind racing with all the horrible things that Syb could do to you if you let Art die, you frantically pounce onto Talbot and shake him by the shoulders! Quit eating whatever the hell that is and help save Art! Does he <span class="mu-i">know</span> what the readers will do if Art dies <span class="mu-i">aga-</span>
Exhausted from the sudden bout of effort, your brain shifts gears to a more exciting topic: Is uh, you mutter as you watch Talbot and Lil’ Stanley graze on the formless goop that broke your fall, is that stuff any good?
“Mmm…” Talbot mumbles in between chewing, “Nah. Not <span class="mu-i">terrible</span>, though.”
Ignoring Lil’ Stanley’s encouraging thumbs up, you shift your attention back to Ernesto as he dutifully unearths an alive, but still <span class="mu-i">very</span> downtrodden-looking Sybil from the trash heap! You good?
Before The Goth can give you an appropriately-half hearted response, you feel something move, or rather <span class="mu-i">slither</span> in the mound of goop past your feet! Guys, you mutter as you try to locate the one responsible, there’s something <span class="mu-i">in</span> here with us!
“And dat’ ain’t all…” Ly murmurs as he turns your head around. Looking ahead, you immediately spot where your conveyor belt ride ends: a sheer drop into the yawning shaft below! What’s worse, you feel a powerful current pushing the water around you downwards–looking up, you spot not one… not two… but a <span class="mu-i">BUNCH</span> of humongous turbines lining the chamber–each one sending a whole lotta water downstairs!
As Talbot and Lil’ Stanley take another bite of trash, Art lets loose with another shriek, and Syb continues to hang limp in Ernesto’s confused hand, you come to a realization:
This… this might not be as easy as you thought...
>CONTD. 