{"sf1_id":2109531,"sf2_id":"214B34rm","title":"JIH Chapter 2: Knife to Meet You","author":"Dextrose Overdose","words":1664,"posted_at":"2024-02-27T23:46:04.000Z","tags":["Adventure","Alien","Cave","Fantasy","Female","Human","Isekai","Magic","Male","Monster","Salamander","Sword","knife"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2109531-jih-chapter-2-knife-to-meet-you","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/214B34rm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/9c/d8/9cd8c589-35de-4a83-b690-80b0f957fbd3","description":"Jack, an unassuming holiday traveler, finds himself in a cave with unusual creatures.","content":"It was a trick.\n\n \n\nIt had to be, there was no other explanation.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I waved my phone around, trying to acclimate my eyes to the poor lighting.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I sloshed through ankle deep water as I wandered back and forth where the door had been.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It must be fiberglass walls shaped to look like stone.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The same goes for those stalagmites, they had to be fake.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Airplanes don't just drop you off inside a cave, that's ridiculous.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I put my hand on the wall.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The surface was slimy, wet and sure as hell felt like stone.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Try as I might I could find no sign of the entryway that had been there only moments before.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I attempted to beat the pommel of the knife against it but it was unyielding.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;All I succeeded in doing was making loud clanking noises.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Hey!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Let me out!\"\n\n \n\nThe only answer was a roar from something in the cave with me. Whatever that was, it was getting closer.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I quickly turned the phone in the direction that I thought it was coming from, but it was difficult to tell from the echo.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The light barely seemed to go past a few yards before everything became empty abyss.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI turned my phone around to examine the screen.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;At the top it was showing zero bars with an indicator that meant it was searching for service.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Next to that was the charge indicator that read 58%.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Tucking the big knife under my arm, I began poking at the settings.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It should have a flashlight option on it somewhere, but I couldn't for the life of me remember how to turn it on. To my right there was splashing water that was quickly getting louder.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;My heart started to hammer away as the reality of the situation—no matter how unlikely it was—was settling in. I was in a cave somewhere underground, in complete darkness, and something unseen, quite large, and possibly dangerous was closing in on me.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nThe sloshing footsteps were almost on top of me, accompanied by the sound of a hiss.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The footsteps approached with zeal and the sound of thrashing water.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It had seen me and was charging!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Unable to find the flashlight on my phone I quickly switched to the camera, raised it in front of me and touched the button.\n\n \n\nThe phone flashed brightly and briefly illuminated the cave.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Something huge and white reared up and let out a horrific shriek.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Unable to completely discern what it was, I took another picture.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was something slimy and monstrous.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The creature screamed again and splashed down into the water, drenching me with the foul-smelling, warm fluid up to my chest and nearly dousing my phone.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;A third picture and I caught a glimpse of a long, white tail with pink spots as the beast fled.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI stood for a moment, completely frozen in place with stark terror at what I had just seen.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;If the monster hadn't drenched me, the front of my pants would have been warm and wet anyway.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;My only reaction was to keep pressing the camera even after the threat had fled.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI finally shook myself back to my senses.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I looked down at my phone to flip through the pictures I had just taken.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Empty cave, empty cave, empty cave, empty cave… tail…\n\n \n\nThe monster was massive, but I had no real reference for its size.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Somewhere between bigger than a horse and smaller than an elephant.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was long and serpentine with at least six sets of legs.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;White as a sheet with light pink polka dots on smooth, amphibian skin.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;A huge, wide head with an equally gigantic mouth.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Inside its mouth were thousands of sharp teeth.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Even its tongue and upper palate were lined with them.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;On the sides of its head were exposed gills, like an axolotl or a waterdog.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It had tiny, beady eyes.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Not just two of them, I counted four pairs.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI had to get out of the cave.\n\n \n\nNow that the looming danger had gone it was easy to find the flashlight on my phone.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I swept the light around me.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I was in a large chamber with a ceiling so high that the light couldn't reach it.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I only knew there had to be a ceiling because of the long, slender stalactites that protruded from the dark, some reaching to the floor.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Everywhere I turned the light I had a sense that something was moving away just beyond where it could reach.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I didn't like that I couldn't see the dangers around me, but there was some comfort in the fact that they were afraid of the light.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Judging from the pictures I had taken I probably didn't want to see them anyway.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I made one final attempt to find the doorway.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Even with the flashlight I could find nothing.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;However, I found my luggage bobbing in the water.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Great,\" I muttered.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Everything in it was going to be soaked with vile cave water.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I picked it up, it was heavy and dripping.\n\n \n\n“Just great.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nAt least it had wheels, even though they were barely of any use on the uneven, wet floor.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I started walking, dragging the bag behind me through the muck.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I had no clue which way to go, but away from the direction the white and pink mutant salamander monster had gone was good enough for the moment.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;If I ran into another one of them that wasn't afraid of the light, I don't know what I would do.\n\n \n\nAt that point I remembered that I had a weapon on me.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The knife was still under my arm, but I had my phone in one hand and my luggage in the other.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;If I needed to, how was I supposed to use it?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I found a spot in the cave that wasn't wet and I opened my luggage.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I rummaged around the sopping contents until I found my necktie and fastened it around my head as a makeshift \"Rambo\" headband.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Tucking the phone in at my forehead created a serviceable headlamp, keeping the light where I was looking and out of my eyes.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The added benefit was it kept the phone from falling into the water as they're want to do.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The manufacturer promised it was waterproof, but I didn't feel like testing that claim.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I took off my jacket.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was fine for the snowy winter, but the cave was hot and I was sweating.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I thought about taking off my long sleeved shirt too, but I felt better having something between me and whatever was dripping down from the ceiling of the cave.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI briefly considered tossing the jacket away, but I didn't have the heart.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I tied it snugly around my waist before I stuffed the knife sheath under it.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I drew the weapon smoothly out of the scabbard, holding the blade aloft like a larp nerd pretending to be a knight.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;All I was lacking was a damsel clutching my leg to complete the illusion.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I turned the weapon in my hand and the light glinted off the steel.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;At least I think it was steel.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was an odd purplish metal blade with a single, sweeping edge about a foot in length.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Not exactly a _Conan the Barbarian_ caliber weapon.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was dainty, having almost no weight at all, but elegant and fit in my hand nicely.\n\n \n\nThe knife suddenly vibrated in my hand.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“Hi! \u0026nbsp;How are you doing?\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“What the—?\" I spit out in surprise as I dropped the weapon.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It clattered on the stone floor and slid down into the water.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Blub… blub… blub…\" the water bubbled where the knife had fallen.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I approached cautiously.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Did that really happen?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I reached in and pulled it out.\n\n \n\n“Oh, wow!\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The knife had a cheery woman's voice.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“I thought I was going to drown!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;But then I remembered that I don't breathe.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Ha-ha!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Oh wait, that water stinks.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;How can I smell that?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Gross!\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“You can talk?\" I noted the obvious with astonishment.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“I can?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Neat!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;That means we have something in common!\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI turned the knife over, looking for some type of microphone or something.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Maybe this whole situation an elaborate prank by one of those Youtubers with more money than sense.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Decided to hijack my vacation for a few million hits.\n\n \n\n“Hey!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Don't look up a lady's pommel without her permission!\" the knife admonished me.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“What sorta girl do you think I am?\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Sorry,\" I said, quickly turning the sword right side up.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I didn't realize there was etiquette to this.\n\n \n\n“Well…\" it hummed pleasantly in my hand, feeling a little warmer, “...I suppose it's okay.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;You are kinda cute, in a meaty, fleshy, sort of way.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Thank you?\" I replied uneasily.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Being called “cute\" by an inanimate object was a new one for me.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“It's just that I've never seen a knife that could talk before.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“_KNIFE_?\" the blade pulsated irritably.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“I'll have you know I identify as a _sword_, thank-you-very-much!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I mean, I'm a short sword, but still totally swordy and not knifey at all.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Okay, I'm sorry,\" I apologized again.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“It must have been the light.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I can see how “swordy\" you are now.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Really?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I mean… uh... yes, of course you can!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Erm… thank you.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;So… um… I suppose you're my new master.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Do you have a name?\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n“Jack.\"\n\n \n\n“Master Jack,\" it tested my name.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“I guess that's an okay name.\"\n\n \n\nI shook my head.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Seems I was the proud owner of a ditzy knife with self-image issues. I finally accepted that it wasn't a trick at all.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;What was really happening is that I was dreaming.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;That's why it seemed real even though nothing made any sense.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;It was a very vivid dream, to be sure, but I was definitely asleep.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Probably still on the airplane, snoring away with drool running down my shoulder.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Hopefully not sitting in a pool of piss as well.\n\n \n\n“What's your name?\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Even as the question left my mouth it felt like a weird thing to ask of an object.\n\n \n\n“I've had a lot of names given to me by lots of masters,\" the sword said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“Knightbane, The Singing Edge, Purple Vorpal, Saf Crusher, Shut-the-Hell-Up, and Zoe, just to name a few.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\nI grinned.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“I like Zoe.\"\n\n \n\nThe sword made a huff.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;“Poo, I sorta like Knightbane,\" it grumbled, “but Zoe is fine.\"\n\n \n\n\"I suppose I should say it's nice to meet you, Zoe.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n \n\n\"It's nice to meet you too, Master!\" it said with enthusiasm.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"So, uh… now that we know each other are we gonna kill that ugly thing sneaking up on you or what?\"\u0026nbsp;","series":{"name":"Jack's Incidental Holiday","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2109180-jih-chapter-1-a-ticket-to-anywhere.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2110031-jih-chapter-3-a-snail-s-pace.json"}}