A word before the story begins:
I've been living in Scrivener for nearly two weeks solid. For the first time in my life I've actually fully plotted a story, including sad scenes I hate-hate-hate writing because I make myself cry. xD Not only have I fully plotted a story, chapter by chapter, I've pre-written various scenes that I intend to draw from. There will be no pantsing this time!
Now... I write. Knowing that there is no excuse to not finish.
Come with me on my new adventure! 😃 Just remember and forgive the un-polishedness that writing a first draft can bring. I'm also writing a little more passively than I normally do. It's exhausting being entrenched in Active Deep POV all the time. 😩
Chapter One
Beneath the crumbling ruins of cities long forgotten, under ancient sewers and pipes that had once carried waste from a world that no one remembered, lay a vast network of tunnels and caverns. This had become the world — the only world that anyone knew. A constant hum filled the air, the soft mechanical whirr of ancient ventilation fans that brought fresh air to the subterranean cities. People didn’t notice the sound anymore; it was as natural as breathing.
In the heart of one such city, nestled into the rock wall of the main thoroughfare, stood a bakery. Outside, the tantalising scent of mushroom pies and fresh bread wafted through the open doors, curling into the tunnels beyond. Inside, flour dusted the counter-tops, the floors, and, more often than not, Lily’s apron.
Lily wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, smearing a streak of flour across her brow. She glanced at the clock hanging crookedly on the wall — a relic from the old world. The afternoon orders would soon be coming in, which meant at least three more batches of pies needed to grace the oven.
Three more batches of pies.
Every day it was the same. She slid a fresh tray into the oven, feeling the wave of heat as she shut the door. Her hands worked mechanically but her mind drifted elsewhere. She could hear the voices of the people outside. Laughter, chatter, the occasional clang of carts rattling along tracks that wound through the underground city. Traders hawked their wares, and somewhere nearby a miner’s pickaxe struck the stone, the faint sound reverberating through the walls. But it was all background noise to Lily. Her thoughts were far away, wandering through places she’d never seen — places she’d only heard about in stories.
The surface. The old world.
She paused for a moment, staring out of the window to the bustling street beyond. A trader’s cart rolled by, piled high with silk moth cocoons destined for a tailor. A group of children giggled as they chased each other, weaving in and out of the crowds. It was all so familiar. So predictable. So… not where she wanted to be.
A mindless punch of the dough. Stretch it out, stretch it out again, ball it up, set it to rest.
A heavy sigh escaped her. She wanted to be in the Museum, studying the relics of old with the Curator, or up on the surface making discoveries with the expedition teams! Her heart pulled her toward a life she had never experienced. She’d been born a baker’s daughter but she wasn’t going to die one. At least, that’s what she told herself, though her parents would laugh at the idea.
The bell over the door jingled and her mother’s voice cut through her thoughts like a knife.
“Lily, mind the oven!” Her mother called as she walked into the backroom.
Lily snapped out of her daydream.
“I’m on it,” she replied, though her heart wasn’t in it. She shuffled to the oven, casting one last, longing glance toward the street, toward the Curator’s Museum.
The heat from the oven radiated through the small kitchen as Lily pulled out yet another batch of mushroom pies, their golden crusts glistening in the low light. The smell alone was enough to make her stomach growl, but already her mind was wandering back to the surface. She had read so much about it. Asked traders for stories. Had even listened to strange rumours in the tavern on quiet nights. Every day spent folding dough and dusting flour felt like another layer of dust settling over her dreams.
The bell over the door jingled again, but this time the voice that followed was not her mother’s.
“Well, if it isn’t the busiest baker in town,” Sammy called out, leaning against the doorframe with that familiar smirk on his face. His dark hair was tousled as always and there was a mischievous glint in his eye that never seemed to go away. “You’ve got flour in your hair.”
Lily shook her head and brushed a hand through her hair, freeing several strands from sticky dough. Sammy laughed.
“How’s life among the pies?”
Lily rolled eyes eyes, but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at her lips.
“Oh, you know. Thrilling. As always. It’s just so exciting in here! I hardly know what to do with myself.”
Sammy stepped inside and made a dramatic show of sniffing the air.
“Well, if you ever get tired of this life, of all this danger and intrigue, know that there’s always a place for you at the tavern. We wouldn’t have to order these delicious pies from here anymore.”
“Tempting,” Lily said, turning back to the counter. She began to knead another batch of dough, but her mind wasn’t in it, especially now that Sammy was there. He always made things feel lighter, like there was an escape route just around the corner if only she’d take it. “So, are you here to order or what?”
“Yeah, I’m afraid so. A double batch tonight! You’d be surprised how many people come in just for the pies.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Lily said, wiping her hands on her apron. “I make the best ones in the city.”
“Modest as ever,” Sammy teased. He glanced behind her, then lowered his voice conspiratorially. “But, you know, we could do something a little extra to bring in the real crowds.”
Lily glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
“What are you talking about?”
Sammy leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ve been thinking… what if we went up to the surface? Just for an hour! No one would miss us. Maybe we could bring something back, something interesting.”
Lily’s heart skipped a beat, but she focused on the dough before her, pretending that she hadn’t heard something completely reckless — something completely enticing — something completely forbidden.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m always serious when it comes to grand adventures.”
“You do realise the Curators don’t exactly approve of random trips to the surface, right? You’d get us thrown into jail if we got caught.”
“If we got caught,” Sammy said with a wink. “That’s the key word.”
Lily sighed, trying to hold back her smile.
“You’ve got that look again.”
“What look?” He asked, eyes wide with mock innocence.
“The one that means you’re going to get me into trouble.”
Before Sammy could respond, the bell above the door jingled again and both of them turned to see Xander, one of the district guardsmen, step inside. His tall frame filled the doorway and his sharp green eyes scanned the room with a practised ease, a hint of curiosity flickering as he saw the two of them together.
“Afternoon, Lily,” Xander said, his voice calm and quiet like it always was. He glanced at Sammy who gave him a mock salute before leaning against the counter with a lazy grin.
“Hey, Xander!” Lily replied, swiftly brushing a hand through her hair in case there was any more dough stuck to the strands. She was happy to see him, though a little embarrassed that he had likely heard the tail end of their conversation — more embarrassed that he was visiting during these busy afternoon hours when she looked like a wreck.
“Afternoon,” Sammy said nonchalantly. “Just here for some pies. Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair in a sec.”
“Take your time,” Xander said, shrugging. “No rush.”
Sammy’s grin stayed steady, but his eyes lingered on Xander for a beat longer than necessary. He turned to Lily. “Don’t forget: double batch! And we’ll need them delivered.” He winked at her again, glancing suggestively over towards Xander before returning his gaze to her, his voice but a hushed whisper. “Don’t get so lost in the guardsman’s dreamy green eyes that you forget about what I said, yeah?”
A wave of warmth flushed Lily’s cheeks.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lily said with a quick wave of her hand, watching as Sammy gave Xander a friendly clap on the shoulder before sauntering out the door. She could feel Xander’s eyes on her even before she turned back to face him.
Xander waited until the door clicked shut before speaking.
“He’s… enthusiastic, isn’t he?” A faint smile touched his lips. “Always got a lot to say.”
Lily shrugged, then went back to rolling the dough out for another pie base.
“You know him. Always full of big ideas.”
“Yeah,” Xander said. His voice was light, but held a hint of caution. “Big ideas can get you into trouble sometimes.”
Lily forced a laugh.
“We were just joking around. You know how he is.”
“Sure,” Xander nodded, his eyes meeting hers briefly. “Just… be careful, alright? Sometimes Sammy’s enthusiasm can get the better of him.”
“Yeah,” Lily said softly, pressing the rolling pin into the dough a little harder than necessary. “I know that all too well.”
Xander chuckled, the tension in his face easing slightly. “Remember when the two of you set off that cave-in in one of the old tunnels?”
Lily’s cheeks brightened. “Oh, don’t remind me… that was not one of our finer moments, for sure.” An embarrassed giggle escaped from her as the memory rushed back vividly. “I swear, I still get nightmares about rocks falling on my head.”
“From what I heard, it was a close call. You’re lucky you didn’t get yourselves buried alive.” Xander’s voice held a teasing tone, but there was a note of genuine concern beneath it. “And I had to hear about it from a miner who couldn’t stop shaking his head at ‘those reckless kids.’”
“At least we got out fine.”
“Barely.” Xander’s eyes softened. “Just… keep that in mind when he’s whispering ideas into your ear, okay?”
For a moment, they stood in a comfortable silence. Lily spooned mushroom filling into yet another pie and stretched a layer of dough over the top. Xander watched over her with his silent, protective gaze. It wasn’t the first time Xander had tried to look out for her and it likely wouldn’t be the last, but today it felt different — heavier, maybe. There was a slight hesitation before he spoke, a tightness in his voice when he’d said Sammy’s name. Maybe he was jealous which, admittedly, sent a small thrill down her spine… or maybe she was just imagining things.
“Anyway,” Xander said, breaking the moment as he straightened up. “Just checking in, doing the rounds.”
“All good. See you tomorrow for breakfast?”
“Of course,” Xander replied, smiling. “It’s my favourite time of the day.”
Lily watched as he turned away and stepped back out into the city, and found a smile spreading across her lips. Sometimes, just sometimes, it was her favourite time of the day too.
Her mother’s sharp humph broke her reverie and she hurriedly forced herself back to the task at hand. The bakery had settled into a quiet rhythm as the afternoon wore on and soon the last batch of pies were cooling on the counter, their strong aroma filling the air and mixing with the scent of freshly baked bread.
Her father wandered in from the backroom where all the supplies were kept, and wiped his hands on his flour-dusted apron.
“Long day, huh?” He sent Lily a warm smile. “You did good work today, Lily.”
Lily forced herself to return the smile.
“Yep. Just another day in the bakery.”
Her mother appeared in the doorway, a slight frown creasing her forehead. She had been organising the shelves out the back, meticulously arranging bags of flour and sugar, sacks of mushrooms and berries; everything had its place.
“You were distracted today,” her mother said, her tone sharp. “Daydreaming. Flirting with boys. We have a big order tomorrow, destined for Curator Valen himself! You’d better be more focused. I can’t have you burning the cakes.”
Lily’s eyes widened and her heart leapt into her chest. The Curator was the man in charge of their city — the man who could change her life!
“Cakes? For the Curator? Really?” The excitement bubbled up inside her chest. What if she actually got a chance to speak with him, to show him her dedication? Maybe this was her opportunity — maybe this was how she could slide her way into becoming a member of his expedition team. She had been dreaming about this for so long… “He’s a busy man, you know,” she began to babble, clutching her hands together. “But maybe he’d have a moment to talk. I could ask him about the expeditions. I mean, I know it’s probably impossible, but if he see’s how much it means to me, maybe—“
Her mother cut her off with a sharp wave of her hand.
“Enough. No more daydreaming. We have work to do, and it’s not the Curator’s job to listen to the ramblings of a girl with so much flour in her hair. Honestly! You’re so unkempt. Just focus on the cakes. Focus on the baking. Understand?”
Lily’s excitement deflated like punched sourdough, her shoulders slumping beneath the weight of her mother’s scepticism. It was always the same. Every spark of excitement, every glimpse of something bigger than bread and pies, it was all snuffed out before it could be allowed to grow. She swallowed her disappointment and tried to ignore the familiar ache in her chest.
“Yeah, I understand,” she muttered, her eyes dropping to the floor.
Without another word she turned back to the counter, her movements brisk as she prepared Sammy’s pies for the tavern. Each one was individually wrapped in a soft paper cloth and placed carefully into a basket.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Her mother called as Lily headed for the door, hoisting the basket atop her head and balancing it.
“Takin’ the pies to the tavern,” Lily snapped. “See you later.”
Before anyone could say another word, Lily pushed open the door and stepped into the cool air of the underground city. As she hurried through the dimly lit streets, the warmth and noise of the tavern beckoned her, the promise of Sammy’s grin and his familiar teasing tugging her forward like a lifeline.
It wasn’t far, it was just nestled around the corner from the main street. As she approached, the sound of laughter and clinking mugs grew louder, spilling out into the street like the warm glow of the firelight from inside. The tavern, much like everything else in the city, was carved into the rock, and it’s doors stood open, allowing the scents of ale and stew to drift out through the tunnels.
The tavern was packed, as it always was in the evenings. People from all corners of the district were gathered here — miners, traders, farmers and guardsmen, all seeking a break from their daily grind. The walls were lined with shelves holding old-world relics, bits and pieces of a time long forgotten. Mugs clanked against the heavy wooden tables, and the air was full of hearty laughter and camaraderie.
“Lily, my saviour!” Sammy’s cheerful voice broke through her angst instantly. “You have arrived just in the nick of time.”
He hurried towards her, weaving through the crowd, and helped her manoeuvre the basket of pies over towards the bar.
A couple of rowdy miners, their faces still streaked with dirt and exhaustion, raised their mugs high in the air and let out a cheer at the sight of the pies. “Finally!” one of them roared. It was clear that Sammy’s family tavern wasn’t just the go-to spot for a drink — it was the pies that were the highlight of their culinary experience.
“See that?” Sammy grinned, motioning towards the miners. “Instant joy. It’s like magic!”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, nudging him playfully. “And here I thought the bakery was all flour and stress with a side of motherly disdain.”
“No, no. Flour, stress, and a dash of wizardly brilliance.”
Sammy portioned the pies out onto small stone plates and served them with his usual flair, joking with patrons as he handed out each serving. Lily watched him as he moved around the tavern, flighty and free. His confidence and joy was contagious and she soon felt all her lingering tension melt away.
When the last of the pies had been served and the rowdy laughter hit its comfortable stride, Sammy ducked back behind the bar and returned to her side, wiping his hands on a cloth.
“So,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as he leaned closer to her. “I have something to show you.”
Lily arched an eyebrow.
“Oh, really?
Sammy winked and rummaged around beneath the bar for a moment before emerging with a small, odd-looking object in his hands. It was metal, rectangular, with odd symbols engraved on one side. Part of it gleamed as though it had been polished, while the rest was tarnished and worn.
“Ta-da!” Sammy said, holding it up like a prize. “Found this beauty wandering through one of the older tunnels. Figured it could be… I don’t know. Something important? Or maybe it’s just a fancy doorstop? Either way, it looks cool, right?”
Lily crossed her arms and gave him a mock glare.
“You know, you really shouldn’t be exploring those tunnels without me,” she chided. “Next time you cause a cave-in, no one will be around to drag you out.”
“Hey, hey! To be fair, I was only poking around a little.” Sammy held up his hands in mock surrender. “No cave-ins. I promise.” Before Lily could interject, he rapidly tapped her arm. “Lily, Lily, Lily.” He repeated in beat to his taps. “Have you thought about… what we were talking about earlier?”
She shook her arm free and rolled her eyes.
“Oh, here we go,” she muttered, though her heart started to beat faster. He knew very well that she wanted nothing more than to visit the surface world, but it was dangerous — forbidden.
“Just hear me out,” Sammy said quickly, leaning closer, his excitement palpable. “Dawn, when the tunnels are quiet. We sneak up there, just for an hour, no more. Take a quick squizz, rummage through a pile of dirt or two.” He shrugged. “Find the find of a century!”
Lily shook her head, trying to keep her expression stern. “You really are going to get us into trouble one day, you know that?” she said, her voice half-reproachful, half-amused.
A gleam of determination shone bright in his eyes.
“Maybe. Trouble is where the fun happens.”
Lily opened her mouth to protest, to remind him of the risks, but the words caught in her throat. For a second, just a second, the idea of sneaking to the surface, of breaking free from the suffocating walls of the underground, felt intoxicating. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to give in to that wild part of her that Sammy so often encouraged.
She couldn’t fight it.
“All right,” she breathed, feeling a mixture of fear and excitement. “But, just an hour, and if we get into trouble? It’s all your fault.”
Sammy clapped his hands together with glee.
“Deal,” he said, then whipped out his hand for her to shake it.
“Good.”
Sammy’s eyes gleamed as he tightened his grip on her hand. Lily’s heart pounded, a tangled mess of exhilaration, fear, and anticipation swirling inside of her. For a brief moment, she could hear Xander’s voice echoing in her mind, laced with worry. ‘Just… be careful, alright? Sometimes Sammy’s enthusiasm can get the better of him.’
Maybe it was true. But the way Sammy’s grin widened, the way his eyes sparkled at the thought of sneaking up to the surface, it was impossible not to get swept up in it.
What would be, would be.
“Tomorrow, at dawn,” Sammy whispered. “The adventure begins!”