Sweet Factory Mishaps (OLD)
#2 of Commissions
Rumors had it that a fairly new candy factory was said to have shut it's doors for unknown reasons, even in spite of the fact that both the owner, employees and the factory itself were in pretty good standing in general. The factory went dead silent seemingly out of the blue, and if that wasn't strange enough, all employees who used to work there went missing the day it happened while the owner claims he knows nothing.
Of course, several suspicions began to arise, for example the owner being behind the disappearances, or that the factory might've ran some illegal business involving contrabands.
Yuni, knowing about the strange events, had always wanted to unravel a massive mystery and become famous for it. Being in the headlines of the media had always been one of his biggest dreams, and he simply could not let a chance like this one slip away. Unfortunately, his parents weren't as fond of his plans to invade an abandoned factory, they said it's too dangerous and a bad idea in general.
And even then, all things considered, he would not let anything or anyone stop him from pursuing one of his, if not his biggest dream: Becoming famous.
Following the advice Syl gave him, he would wait until sunset before preparing his backpack with some water and a camera alongside a few more things that might come in handy, he'd hide it in his closet under some sweaters and pants in case his parents would somehow become suspicious of him. He tends to become nervous quite easily, and doesnt want any of it to give away to his plans for tonight.
He handled the usual: Eating dinner, doing chores, a bit of studying to put his parents at ease alongside other preparations to make sure his plan will run smooth as butter.
The time has come. The sun has gone down, his parents were fast asleep and Yuni was all prepared and ready to go. He snuck towards the kitchen, climbed through the window and made sure to not fully close it so he could get back in before sunrise. The candy factory was quite distant from his place, but he didn't care. He was devoted to his plan, backing out was no option to him. Excited, he went on his way to the factory.
Upon arrival, he retrieved his camera, hit record, snuck to the back of the building, retrieved his pliers from his backpack and cut a hole in the fence for him to fit through. The property itself was redundantly large, about forty percent of just the fenced-off area wasn't even used. Maybe it's the reason they shut down? Looking for an entrance, he soon realised that the property had no security cameras whatsoever. And if that wasn't already strange enough, he laid his eyes on a chained-off door with bolt cutters put right against it. Almost as if it was a trap to lure in thieves, vandalists or simply nosy people.
Although considering the lack of security, he simply shrugged it off, approached the doors and used the bolt cutters to break the chain.
Upon finally making his way inside, he was hit with the smell of all sorts of candy, mainly chocolate and caramel. He sniffs around as he hurries through the hallway, his jaw dropping to the ground when he makes it through what appeared to be section 1: A massive space with several massive vats, presumably filled to the brim with all sorts of candy.
Curiosity gets the best of him. He approaches one of them, going up the stairs as, once at the top, he was met with a huge vat with several litres of pure caramel. Approaching the edge, he swipes his finger to give the stuff a taste test. Stars filled his eyes, this must have been the purest and easily the best caramel he has ever tried. He slides his finger into the caramel and licks it off his talon, repeating this process for a couple times until he eventually dips his entire claw in it.
Unbeknownst to him however, he'd soon run into quite a problem. The caramel was so sticky and so thick that it wouldn't let go of his claw. He yanks harder, but to no avail, and if his situation wasn't already bad enough, he'd evetually lose his balance and fall face-first into the thick, goopy stuff.
As the realisation sinked in, he panicked, yanking and pulling at his arms and legs as they sunk into the viscous substance, his clothes all ruined and caked with the goopy stuff. He called for help despite knowing it was no use. To make matters worse, Yuni would soon realise that not only was he stuck, but he also appeared to be sinking deeper in the thick caramel.
Panicking more and more with every inch he sunk deeper, he'd eventually manage to free one arm, the thick caramel weighing it back down. The more he struggled, the faster and deeper he sunk, yet he'd continue to yank and struggle frantically in desperate hopes of gaining even the slightest amount of control or leverage. The edges of the vat were just out of reach, too bad.
He'd soon find himself waist deep in the caramel, sucking him down like actual quicksand. He called for help again, this time louder, only to be met with disappointment as his voice echoed through the sector, reaching nobody. He'd start to sob softly, his hopes declining and his energy running low, his futile struggles did him no justice whatsoever. Accepting his fate was a no-go, he was too young to die...
Although it seems like his fate was decided as the thick stuff reached up to his upper chest.
He took a deep breath, and so devoted his last bits of energy and hope into struggling his way to freedom. He pushed, yanked and squirmed as vigorous as he could, clawing at the surface as it'd only suck him deeper. The stuff bubbled and squelched like mud while dragging the unfortunate owl deeper into it's suffocating mass.
Blinded by panic, he failed to realise how much worse his situation has gotten until he felt the thick, sucking caramel reach up to his beak. He shouted, screamed and cried, clawing at the surface and the air as the thick stuff claimed his beak, forever silencing Yuni as more facial features started to disappear into the caramel until the last feather vanished into the thick, creamy caramel.
The surface bubbled and gurgled aggressively as deep down, Yuni gargled and struggled, holding on for dear life, wishing upon a star that someone would rescue him before it was too late. More than six feet under, he wouldn't cease his struggles, absolutely refusing to die. He feels a wave of adrenaline and power surge through his body, he would devote his everything to getting out before it's too late. He struggles, swimming upwards as adrenaline flows through him.
Against all odds, his claws would break through the thick caramel, and soon enough, his head would finally resurface as a thick blob of the viscous substance. He pokes holes through the blob to breathe and see through as he continues to slowly but surely work his way out of the sticky stuff. Once waist deep, he grabs onto the edge of the pit, slowly pulling himself out and towards safety.
Yuni was absolutely exhausted, breathing heavily as he stares at the ceiling of the factory. Admittedly, despite the dangers and fears he faced, he had some fun struggling against the thick caramel after all.
He'd get up and look around for a water source to cleanse the caramel off his body, or at least what could be cleased off. He'd find a bathroom when navigating through a locker and dressing room of some sort. It'd take him quite a bit to rinse the sticky substance off his body, but luckily manages to get rid of it. Unfortunately, his clothes were ruined and beyond saving, luckily those weren't his favourite clothes, so disposing of them was no issue to him.
To avoid drawing anymore attention to himself, he'd quickly escape the factory, eventually making it back home, climbing back in through his bedroom window. He'd sigh, reflecting on today's events while he hides his clothes underneath his bed. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to keep himself awake, his vision was blurry and his body begging him to rest. He collapses on his bed and drifts off to sleep in seconds.