Chapter 26: Secret door
Axelius slowly tried to stand up, but a sharp pain shot through his knee from the fall. He bit his lip and took a deep breath, steadying himself as he pushed off the cold floor. The darkness around him was thick and heavy, making it hard to know where to step. In his struggle to rise, his grip on Owen loosened, and the little slime fell with a soft plop onto the ground.
"Ow! Hey! You stepped on me!" Owen's voice echoed loudly in the silent room, his slimy form wobbling under the pressure.
Axelius couldn't help but laugh quietly, despite the pain in his knee. "Sorry, Owen. It's so dark here, I can't see a thing."
He took a shaky step forward, but his leg trembled and his balance wavered. "Man, this hurts... I don't think I can walk properly like this."
From the floor, Owen's voice sounded annoyed "Be careful! You almost crushed me again!"
Axelius crouched down carefully and scooped Owen back onto his shoulder, making sure to hold him gently. "Alright, alright."
Owen bounced on his shoulder, his voice light. "Much better! Now you can't hurt me by mistake."
Axelius let out a slow sigh, the silence pressing in around them. "Now, we have to find a way out of here, but with no light, it's like walking blind."
Axelius moved slowly through the darkness, his hand reaching out carefully to feel the cold, rough stone wall beside him. Every step was slow and unsure because his knee still hurt badly, and the blackness made it hard to know where he was going. His fingers brushed along the wall until, suddenly, he felt a small, smooth button hidden among the cracks. Curious, he pressed it gently.