Killian observed the rest of the group in thoughtful silence. He had stepped off to the side after greeting the first two people. He didn’t feel like announcing himself to the rest just yet. There would be time enough for introductions later when they were exploring the catacombs. For now, he simply contented himself with making first impressions of the others.

The first man to approach the small group seemed to have similar intentions. He looked upon them with a scrutinizing gaze. He was likely gauging them for their potential usefulness in the underground. However, the most notable detail about this new arrival was the bandage wraps around his arms. Killian wondered what kind of marks or damage he was hiding underneath them.

Next, a girl with bright red hair rounded the corner. She walked with haste as though fearing she were late. A man in a buckskin jacket followed her. Killian couldn’t help but raise a brow at his appearance. The man looked sturdy enough, but not nearly as professional as the rest of the group. Then again, perhaps this man was better prepared to face unexpected situations than his better-dressed companions. Killian glanced down at his own frock coat and regretted that he had not packed a more comfortable outfit to change into later if he needed to. Well, too late to do anything about it now. He just hoped the cavern wouldn’t be too muggy.

Killian roused himself from his thoughts when yet another young man joined the group. His breathing was labored as if he had just sprinted the distance to meet them. Perhaps he had. Killian made a mental note of the man’s apparent insecurity. One could never tell when such information would be useful.

The following two arrivals were the most unlikely duo Killian could have imagined for such a job. Carrying heavy weights, the two men –he guessed they were brothers– just oozed with unnecessary masculinity. They scanned the crowd and locked onto the buckskin-wearing man, then began a loud debate over whether one of them could throw him or not. Killian edged farther away from them, not wanting to be the next victim.

He glanced back to see the two siblings were already making their way down into the tunnel. Well, he couldn’t just let them go start without him. Killian wanted to be present when any large discoveries were made so he could take at least some of the credit. He slipped in after them, blinking in the darkness as his vision adjusted. The girl –she had introduced herself as Effie, he reminded himself– lit a lantern, revealing damp cavern walls surrounding them on all sides. The closed-in space made him feel slightly claustrophobic.

Killian trailed after the siblings a few meters back, saying nothing while they bickered with each other. It occurred to him that they probably didn’t notice him go after them. He smiled. It brought him pleasure to know he wasn’t out of practice.

The two siblings halted suddenly up ahead and Killian very nearly ran into the brother –Otto. He squinted in the lowlight to make out what they were gawking at. What he saw was disturbing, but hardly surprising. Human bones lined the walls in patterns. He briefly marveled at the thought that someone had gone to the trouble of arranging the bones in such a morbid fashion.

“That’s catacombs for you,” Killian said, momentarily forgetting that he had been following the siblings uninvited. “Macabre designs everywhere you look –oh?” He spotted the odd engraving above them. “Does anyone know what that says? I can make out a couple words, but unfortunately French is not a language I’m fluent in.”