Elion slowly turned on the lantern.

  The carefully selected magnesium battery began to illuminate.

  The light was dim, but in this space, it was overwhelmingly strong.

  The lantern illuminated the path ahead.

  The moment light touched, darkness was pushed beyond the walls.

  The cave retained the structure of an abandoned mine.

  The floor was level.

  The walls were jaggedly carved, with artificial supports and corroded iron bars protruding from various spots.

  The air was cool.

  Neither too hot nor too cold—a static stillness.

  Dry moss brushed against his toes.

  Something briefly touched the back of his hand and vanished.

  He stopped. Above,

  between limestone formations,

  a bat took flight.

  Small, strange flutter of wings.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  As soon as light touched it, the wings trembled noisily as they fled into darkness.

  Walking a little further,

  near the wall,

  something scurried— moved. A cave rabbit.

  Gray fur.

  Moist, reddish eyes.

  Its hind legs were unusually long, and its ears shorter than its head.

  The moment the lantern light touched it,

  it fled without looking back even once.

  Elion remained motionless.

  "Is that... is that a monster?"

  He recalled stories from his childhood.

  "A demon wearing a rabbit mask lives in the caves."

  "A child who went in there was torn apart and eaten by rabbits."

  Everyone believed such tales.

  But the animal before him was small, timid, and above all, alive.

  Elion slowly approached.

  Near the wall,

  pale fungus and moss were growing. And,

  beside them,

  another cave rabbit was gnawing at it, its small jaw working.

  Suddenly, he pressed his lips together.

  "How many things have we been taught wrongly."

  It was then. Though there was no wind, though the light didn't move— a chill ran down his spine.

  Elion raised his head.

  Someone, or something was watching him.

  There was no sound, no form.

  But the presence was unmistakable.

  He held his breath.

  Sweat formed on his fingertips.

  Holding the lantern,

  slowly,

  very slowly, he turned around.