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I crawled through the dirty vent for what felt like forever. I wasn't crawling full speed since I didn't want to risk cutting myself on a rusty piece of metal.

I kept crawling looking for a way out, my light eventually started flashing till I acknowledged it was half dry. I bought a charger with me, but I didn't have the space to get it, so if the light went out I was going to be stuck without it.

My stamina had slowly returned, but now my stomach wanted a reward for doing its job despite being emptied earlier. I kept a few snacks, just incase I got the munchies while I was out, but I wouldn't call them a meal.

A few gun shots echoed through the vent, but they were little more than distant noises for how far in I was. From what I could tell I had been moving south-east at a very slight decline. I didn't know how much longer I would have to crawl, but focused on moving forward rather than how far I had to go; Surely it wasn't a dead end right?

I crawled for what felt like the same amount of time, but probably wasn't. No sound or any other measure to judge time really threw my mental clock out of whack, and my stomach with it. My light started rapidly flashing till I pushed the button to calm it. With only 10% left I flipped the light to "flood" and took a glance down as far as I could see.

There was a side passage at the very edge of my vision. I decided to take a risk I hoped would pay off. I turned off my light to conserve the little battery I had and made for it.

After making the sharp turn to head west, keeping the slight decline.

I continued to crawl then stopped when I realized something, there was a REALLY wretched smell coming from ahead. If my stomach wasn't empty I probably would have puked, as the smell sent waves of nausea through my body. It was like the worst smelling poop to be pooped and the worst smelling corpse to exist had found each other. I rushed my sleeve over my face in a desperate attempt to spare myself of the stench.

It clicked in my brain what was the cause and I pulled on my goggles and respirator from around my neck. The mask provided some protection from the horrible smell, but I was still greatly encouraged to get out as soon as possible.

Continuing forward I eventually started to hear the soft trickle of water, like a stream flowing. I knew what was coming up and started feeling for a grate along the bottom. A little more and I found it. Flipping on my light I looked down through the vent to see I was over the middle of the stream of aged filth that was the sewer.

A quick look around, I couldn't see any signs of grimm from my angle. I crawled over the vent then started kicking it with as much force I could muster from the small space and poor motion. With what sounded like snapping metal, the grate fell from the vent splashing in the water. I crawled back, so my legs were hanging out of the newly made hole. Taking care not to encounter any sharp edges I lowered myself out till only my arms were holding me over the disgusting waters below.

I picked out the spot I wanted to land on and started swinging my legs to try and get the forward momentum I would need to make the jump. When I was comfortable with my speed I took a physical and mental deep breath.

One... Two... Three!

The count down turned out to not just be for me letting go, but also timing when my light's battery would finally die out. I panicked as I flew through the darkness toward my target, praying that I had the speed to make it.

My feet made contact with the edge of the concrete. My center of balance flew forward and I leaned back and flailed my arms to keep myself from going face first into the wall. Only to need to do it the reverse direction so I didn't fall in the water. Judging the two, I picked the lesser of two evils and threw my weight back forward.

Despite being ready for it, face planting in the concrete wall still hurt a ton. I groaned "Ow" to myself, as I stood. Removing my pack I fished out the light charger with memory and reorganization skills. After struggling with the strap around my helmet I started the process of charging the light, while fitting the pieces together where I was exactly.

I could tell I was in the sewer, obviously. The vent I was is must have been some sort of air duct that also functioned as a flood control for the Mountain Glenn subway tunnel. The stream of water went out of the city toward a dump sight, while upstream would be the Vale proper sewers.

I flipped on my recharged light and inspected the damage. My face hurt from falling on it, hands were scraped up, but only a single drop of blood had dripped out. My knees felt like they suffered the same as my hands, but despite the slight pain in them only my stockings were ripped. While digging through my bag for a cloth to bandage my hands, I fished out a bag of nuts and dried berries. I couldn't eat them now due to the poisonous fumes in the air, but kept them in arms reach for when I got out.

I headed up stream looking for a way out. The terrible smell making me feel slightly light headed, but I kept focused. I would consistently twist around looking for any signs of grimm. This was the furthest I had ever been from the metro, and I had never been out by myself before; I always had dad or someone with me.

I felt like I was being followed, only to turn around and see nothing. It was probably just my mind playing tricks on me, but the feeling was washing over me and I could feel my breath starting to shorten into a pant. I started running, not out of fear, but in hopes that putting distance between me and whatever my mind thought was there would calm me down.

I didn't know how far I went, but the feeling of being watch faded. I leaned over and took a few deep breaths, my stamina not as full as I thought it was. A quick breather and I was back to walking at a steady pace.

Another vent like the one I crawled out of passed overhead, but I didn't bother trying to enter it.

I paused when my light started slow flashing, and I decided to charge it so I didn't have to risk it dying out while I was being attacked or something.

Darkness consumed the area once more while I went about feeding electricity into the light. The feeling of being watched returned. I looked over my shoulder for any glowing red eyes, only to find darkness. the sound of the flowing water covered up any sounds the monster could have been making.

I stopped the charge a little short of full, just so I could get moving again, and get rid of the strong feeling in the back of my neck. Walking didn't get rid of it, so I started trying to calm myself.

"Calm down Ruby, there's nothing down here. Just keep moving till you find a ladder or some way up."

I kept going, speaking soothing words to myself, despite the fact the feeling was getting stronger. I walked faster, and it faded a little before growing stronger again.

"Alright come out! I know you're there!"

In an attempt to settle my mind I pulled my DMR and pointed it at where the feeling was coming from. I saw nothing and switched my light to flood to maximize my vision. Still nothing, but the feeling persisted stopping for a moment, before moving again. It drew closer and closer, I flipped around every direction looking for it but seeing nothing. My aura was flaring for me to move, but without a assailant I didn't know what way to move. Finally the feeling paused right in front of me, like it was coming from right on top of me.

I took a deep breath and placed my back to the wall, taking a look around nothing was there. My aura's flaring cooled off a bit, but was still warning me of danger. I took a full view seeing nothing. I took a full view in the water. Some trash was sticking out of the surface causing small rapids but otherwise just the pitch blackness of the dirty water.

"See it's nothing, get a hold of yourself Ruby, you're not five anymore, you can't be afraid of the dark." Not that I have ever been afraid of the dark, growing up in the metros.

I lowered my rifle and took some more deep breaths. I closed my eyes and concentrated on calming my mind. Slow breaths, In... Out... In... Out...

An eruption of water sprung my eyes open, by the time my mind processed what was happening I was looking into four red eyes. The world was in slow motion for me as my gaze followed the white mask that protected them, down a long maw, lined with two rows of razor sharp teeth. Teeth that were on the process of snapping shut on my leg. The grimm twisted it's head to it's natural angle, causing me to fall. Upon falling on my butt my mind finally caught up with what was happening.

I screamed in pain as the tiny white blades that were the crocigator's teeth cut deeper as it thrashed its head. Walking back it dragged me along toward the water. In a panic I grabbed my rifle while it was still in reach and leveled it at the grimm.

My mind was in panic mode, so instead of aiming for the beast's softer underbelly or it's eyes I just unloaded as much ammo into it's head as quickly as I could. It closed it's eyes and pulled them in to protect itself from my wild barrage of fire.

The water grew closer and I knew once I got it, it was game over. Not only did I lose the home field advantage, but even if I could escape the grimm while in it's own domain, the disgusting water would infect my wounds for sure.

My bullets had no impact to my assailant save a few scratch marks on its mask. In desperation I dropped my rifle and reached behind me.

The machinery in Crescent Rose snapped into place in a second's time. My knees were about to go over the edge of the walk area when I let gravity bring my blade down. It didn't carry the force I wanted, but it did what I needed. The tip of my scythe came down right on the grimm's forehead, cracking one of its larger plates as it forced it's way through. The crocigator released my leg and thrashed about till my weapon dislodged from it's head. I pulled away from the edge, while it backed into the water.

Using my sweetheart as a support I pulled myself up onto one leg. Adrenaline was flowing through my system, minimizing the pain, but even after the effect actually putting weight on it hurt a ton. I grabbed my gun and threw it over my back, not caring if it was on right or not, just that it was on. With Crescent Rose for balance, I hopped on one leg as fast as I could go. I turned when I heard a splash of water, to see the grimm had jumped out of the sewer water.

The grimm moved with surprising speed considering how it's legs were jointed out to its sides. The five meter monstrosity actually didn't take too long to catch up to me, but seemed to be hanging back a little. Professor Port once mentioned that some grimm will "play" with people that don't have a way to escape. Probably to intensify the person's fear and other negative emotions before enjoying their meal.

Despite its hesitation to go for the kill, I still grew more scared and pushed as hard as I could to get away. The grimm kept pace with me, seeming to be enjoying the chase to a degree. It let out a very distinct rumbling growl when it detected a spark of hope appear in me. In the edge of my vision, not even 20 meters out was a ladder up.

Realizing I now had a chance to get away the crocigator went for the kill, snapping at my still good leg. With all my force I vaulted forward to avoid the attack. Balancing on a single foot I brought Crescent Rose over my head and down at the grimm. Learning from the first time, the monster stopped and attempted to move back to avoid the blow. We met in the middle and my blade came down on it's jaw, piercing both the top and bottom jaw. It pulled away and thrashed about to try and free it's mouth. I barely managed to my weapon before it could be pulled out of my grasp.

Not wasting any time I started for the ladder again while it tended to its mouth for a second, before resuming it's pursuit. If I had to actually climb the ladder it would probably get me, even more so with only one good leg, but I had my sweetheart to help me. I threw my scythe's blade over the highest rung I could reach, then pressed the button to collapse it into its carrying form. As the shaft collapsed on itself it pulled me up with enough force to throw me to the top rung.

I pulled myself as far away from the ground as I could. The crocigator waited at the base for a moment to see if I would fall. When I didn't it leapt up to try and grab me, coming half a meter short. It tried again, coming even further. Putting a foot on the rung just out of it's reach I pushed up on the hatch above me. It was very heavy and I struggled to lift it with only my back and shoulders, but finally I got it out of the way and I crawled through to safety.

The grimm waited at the bottom it's maw open wide in hopes I would fall. I had a easier time pulling the hatch closed, resealing with a loud slam. I smiled, the sound of the hatch closing brought a certain satisfaction to my mind. I sat taking deep breaths, just trying to calm my mind.

Then I remembered, my leg is injured. On que, my nerves had their voices heard; they shouted my leg hurt... A LOT. A few loud 'Ahhhh!'s escaped me as I cradled the injured appendage. I was lucky to still have a leg, but at the current moment I kind of wish I didn't.

I struggled off my bag and fished out my first aid kit. Bandages, antibiotic, everything you would expect. Medic wasn't a term I would use to describe my skills in medicine. Applying the antibiotic was simple enough that a five year old could do it. The problem was the bandages; I needed an extra pair of hands. The freshly blood stained cloth wasn't wrapped very well, and I'm sure I didn't knot it right. It held though, even the areas that were a little loose stayed in place. First thing on my to do list after get back is find a doctor.

The antibiotic had a numbing pain killer in it. It still hurt to put any weight on my leg, but now it didn't feel like there was a knife still stabbed into it. Come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised if the doctor found one of the grimm's teeth that might have fallen out.

I didn't have time to worry about that though. I had a different problem at the moment, I was back in the metro tunnels, but I didn't know where I was. I thought at first I was in a tunnel to Blockade, but I hadn't gone far enough to be anywhere near there. It wasn't just the tunnel I was in either; I don't think I have ever seen this sector of the metro ever in my life.

The entire sector looked abandoned. Normally you could always see footprints in one form or another that had passed earlier that day; but here was completely empty. The air was uncomfortably heavy like it was squeezing me. I took a deep breath to reset my breathing. Releasing it made me feel very comfortable, but not because of having full lungs; I just felt... at peace here. Like a hole in me I didn't know existed was filled.

I continued on my way, Crescent Rose the crutch at my side as I traversed the unknown. I should be panicking about being isolated in the metros, not knowing where I was, or at least focused on getting out. Instead I felt happy. I stopped and leaned on the wall, a happy sigh escaped me as I slid down it onto my butt.

What's the rush anyways? It's not like I'll get out any quicker...

What am I saying? Of course it matters, I need to keep moving...

I got supplies, I could stay for a while. It's kind of nice here...

Yes it is, but Dad and Yang are probably on the brink of death with worry...

They'll be fine, they know I'm a big girl...

What about Blake, Ren, Nora and Jaune? They're probably worried too...

They'll... Be... Fine...

My eyes snapped open, I was on my side. I didn't remember falling asleep, I was dreaming though wasn't I? It was pitch black, after a pinch on the cheek to confirm I was awake I once more removed my helmet light to charge it.

That slight squeeze the air had started getting stronger. Like noticeably stronger, actually like I was being crushed. I decoupled the hand charger and light at only a small charge and flipped the light on.

All I saw was a grey smoke rolling on the ground toward me. Not the 'filling the room' sort of way, but the 'It's coming for me!' sort of way. This was confirmed when my light hit it and it unnaturally started to back off. I flashed it to my right causing it to fall back, then my other flank.

The squeezing stopped, but it didn't seem like the smoke was the cause of it. I don't know what's going on, but the light seems to be keeping me safe. I grabbed my hand flashlight from my side pocket and flashed it about as well. Keeping the light at bay I finished the charge on my helmet lights. Already set to flood they pushed back the fog out of sight.

Ok... Let's not stay here.

Thx to /u/Challos for editing as always.

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