Feeland.

After descending for what seems like hours in a miserable inky blackness, the only light that of their dull gas lamp the men start to notice glints of light here and there, each sparkle slightly brighter than the last. Every ten or so feet causes more of these phosphoresce to spark into life.

After taking several more steps Tom halts and examines one of the sparks, his eyes narrow as he peers into a tiny fissure that seems to be formed naturally in the bedrock.

“It looks like there are dozens of tiny holes, natural cavities formed in this layer, the great digging thing has unearthed a marvel of nature.” He says lowering the lamp to gain a better look.

Within the tiny hole a zygote like being writhes, a tiny head and nub like arms dig at the moist soil and rock.

Tom unsheathes his dagger and forces the tip into the gap, as the sharpened metal draws closer to the being the light intensifies, a beam of green-blue light spills onto Tom’s face.

“What is it lad?” Albert calls from above, his knees shaking from their descent.

“It looks like a tiny being, it seems to get brighter, more intense, when the metal draws closer.”

“Perhaps it’s attracted to the steel?” Henry adds.

“I’m not sure that’s it, the thing isn’t moving closer, or for that matter drawing away from the blade. It’s light just flares up when it’s close.”

“It’s a magnetic field!” A rough voice filled with dirt and gravel claws from the gloom.

The men startle and draw back against the tunnel wall.

“Who’s there?” Tom yells suddenly drawing the lamp upwards and directing the knife into the shadows.

“It is just I.” The voice answers with a cough, “Feeland.”

Narrowing his eyes Henry peers into the shadows of the furthest wall, a shape moves in the dim, something of the underworld. “I think I see something, over there!” he says while pointing to the other side.

“Yes you’re very clever earthman, very clever indeed, you’ve found me, you’ve found Feeland the elusive, Feeland the dirt lord, Feeland the child eater.”

“What nonsense is this? Show yourself.” Tom calls brandishing the dagger once more.

“Very well, but first please lower your lamp, you may continue to point the knife, but please lower the lamp and let the tunnel illuminate its own walls.” Taking a deep breath Feeland moves around the wall in careful slow steps. “In any case it’s a more gentle light, better on the eyes.”

Tom does as the being asks and lowers the lamp, at the same time manipulating the fuel knob to dim the flame. As the gas slows the walls pick up in brightness, and within moments the tunnels lit by a million tiny stars.

“There that is better is it not?”

“I suppose so.” Tom answers while getting his first look at the strange creature.

Clinging to the wall with four appendages Feeland clambers slowly along the moist face. Each limp acts like an arm with four hooked hands at each end; no legs protrude from the beasts body which looks damp and pale in the extreme. Between what would be shoulders on a man, coincidently at either end of its frame and on both sides, four distinct heads look about with eyes that face outwards.

The fellow clambers around the tunnel wall and comes to stand beside the men, the four gripping hands hooked into tiny rock holes.

“Well you have come a long way down haven’t you?”

The three men look at each other, their faces and clothes damp from perspiration and the heavy air.

“Yes we have, we’re following a large digging beast. Have you seen in?” Tom starts, taking the initiative to draw as much information from the beast before they’ll likely have to kill it.

“Yes, yes, I saw the metal thing screech past, the metal and magnets in the core of the thing lit this place up like a circuit board.”

“Circuit board?” Henry asks.

“You’ll see one day.” The creature says with a cutting smile from its pointed teeth and pinched lips.

“What is your part in all this?” Albert asks while steadying himself on the ledge.

“Part, oh only a onlooker, in the bleachers if you will.” Moving his body in a slight circular motion he smiles at the men, “not like you, not bit players at all, perhaps the protagonists of the story, perhaps.”

“Enough of this.” Tom says angrily, clearly not one for riddles, “What’s your purpose, do you intend to stop us, hold us up, or perhaps attack us?”

“No, no, no, just a curious onlooker, your metal beast woke me from my slumber, disturbed my progenies. Just wanted to see what it was, what was so important to drill through the nursery.” Reaching out to one of the holes Feeland smiles lovingly at the glowing sprog. “Just curious.”

“Then you’re not going to hamper us?” Henry asks.

“No, you can go on your way, but please leave it as you found it.”

“Right, Tom says with a sidelong glance.”

Leaving Feeland behind the men continue to descend into the borehole, every step taking them further from the creature, every step causing Tom to look back at the strange thing.

Feeland continues to caress the zygote his eyes only looking down at the men when they vanish into the fog. Then he smiles that horrible toothy grin, his teeth grinding like a tiny saw while one armature grips a zygot to push it into his maw. Chewing the tiny being screams as its crushed to death, its glowing life fluid spills down Feelands body and drips onto the walls of the chamber.

“Humans will pay.”

⚅⚀thoughts