Chapter 2: Savior?

Once the unassuming book was in my possession, my heart rate decreased and I felt my head clear. I was then able to look more closely at my surroundings. My eyes lingered on the obvious treasures and I wondered if they were worth something. If those gems of that sword were real I wouldn't have to worry about money at all for the next year or so. Hell, I might even be able to pay off a good chunk of my college tuition with that kind of dough.

I was still pretty weak and I knew I wouldn't be able to carry much weight. Anxiously, I began to play with a ring on my index finger. Suddenly I could see another dimension. It was small, abnormally small. It had the amount of space that I would equivalent to a suitcase.

A special ring? I'd read about these in web novels. Wasn't the amount of space in the ring supposed to be a show of status...

Was I poor? WAIT! How did I even get this ring to begin with?!?!?!

I really didn't want to think about this right now. I'll just push it all to the back of my brain till I have time to dissect it all.

I couldn't fit the sword in the ring, (it was too long). But I did put both the flute and potion in. Along with some of the more shiny looking stones scattered across the ground. I also found a small dagger hidden behind a bookshelf and several vials filled with strange substances.

Once I was satisfied that I had cleared everything of value from the room (at least anything that I could fit into my special ring) I looked around for the exit.

And found none.

Shit.

I looked back to the direction I'd come from and inwardly groaned. It seems as if I would have to make the long trip back to the caved-in the entrance and then I guess I would just try to call for help? And If that didn't work, I'd have to pull apart the blockade by myself.

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"It seems as if someone has beaten me to it..." I thought as I listened to the sounds from up ahead. As I drew near to the entrance the sounds got louder and louder until I peeked around the corner of the cave wall.

Thankfully, the cave was very dimly lit so it should be hard for them to discern my figure from any other shadow. There seemed to be four young men in their group. Two of which were breathing heavily and where standing in front of a pile of rocks that they had supposidly pulled from the entrance to make there way inside.

The other two were waving their hands around and arguing with each other. I sneaked closer to try to hear what they were saying.

Blinking, my eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. I could hear what they were saying but I didn't understand the language at all. It sounded a bit like a mandarin but there were too many differences for me to pinpoint any of the words that were spoken.

My eyes soon trailed to the entrance, where soft light illuminated the cave. I had been trapped in this cold and desolate place for what seems like a millennium. The sun seemed like a distant memory and I found myself longing to see the outside world. Without thinking, I rushed forward, in the next second I realized what I was doing and tried to stop myself.

*thud*

I had tripped over my own foot and had fallen face-first into the ground. All four men turned to look at me and I blanched. Shaking a tried to crawl backward, but the fall had reopened the wound in my side and a hot flash of pain spiked through me.

I gritted my teeth and lied down pitifully. I could hear footsteps approaching me but I didn't dare lookup. I could feel my eyes watering and I tried to blink them away but I knew I was crying.

" Nǐ hái hǎo ma?" a soft voice asked. I shook my head, unable to understand what he had said. Then a sharp gasp escaped my lips when I found myself being lifted into a strong embrace. The man began to stroke my back as I sobbed into his neck.

What was I doing? I didn't know this man! He could be a serial killer for all I know!!!!

But at that moment I didn't care.

I felt so alone and confused and it felt so good to be hugged. And even If I couldn't understand what he was saying, his comforting tone made me feel better. Soon I had stooped my hysterical crying and I lifted my head up to look at my savior.

Before my vision went dark, I could have sworn I saw the face of an angel....