I was woken by several loud thuds. Dark trails dripped from the rock Liu held. He stood over Peth, her eyes staring into the black vastness above. She laid motionless. Before I could even fathom the thought of questioning Liu, he bit into the corpse’s leg with all his force and chewed it out. I nearly fainted.

Liu says we need to survive, that only the strongest will make it down. That he had to choose the weaker of us two. I sit with my back against the wall, glaring at the sight. He offers half to me.

I walked on over and sat down next to Peth’s remains. It was long before I found the strength to bite into the meat. Something more than hunger convinced me to do so. My teeth sliced into her skin. It was difficult, the meat was tough. Its taste was inhumane. I learned the intricacies of her flesh, which parts to feast on. Her blood quenched my thirst. I know not how long it took us. We stand over a mangled skeleton, a distant memory of a friend.

The two of us continue deeper into the void. Silent. We never speak of what we did. Horror mauls me within. I wonder how Liu feels. He worries me more. I shall not sleep this night. He is lying down, peaceful in the quiet stone. I watch.