Richard woke in a dark room, the only sound a faint rhythm of breathing surrounding him. His hearing was clearly sharper than before; he could pinpoint one breath to his left, another to his right. Beyond that, a swarm of similar sounds pressed in from every direction—so many that, though hard to separate, he wouldn't be surprised if there were hundreds.

  He suspected his eyesight had improved as well, but with almost no light, he couldn't test it yet. The other major change was the soft, flexible material now wrapped around him. Unable to move, he turned to listening for more clues. After some time, unsurprisingly, it grew boring fast and revealed nothing new.

  Unsure what else to do, Richard wriggled against the wrapping, channeling his inner worm as he tried to free his hands. He really hoped the monsters weren't cannibals and that he wasn't wrapped up like a burrito on their menu.

  When his efforts proved useless, Richard grudgingly went still. Clearly, his motor skills hadn't improved like his senses, or maybe his worming technique just wasn't up to the task.

  As time passed, Richard noticed the room growing brighter, not from any window, but from random spots on the ceiling and even the walls. At first, they appeared like stars blinking into existence, scattered across the room in shades of neon green and pale blue. The stars slowly grew brighter and larger, then began linking into intricate, beautiful patterns that illuminated the cave. As the light grew, Richard realized it came from patches of glowing green and blue moss.

  Distracted by the moss's beauty, Richard only then noticed a group of giants moving through the room.

  This time, with better eyesight at his disposal, Richard finally got a clear look at them. They were mean-looking, gray-skinned humanoid beasts with oversized heads. With faces twisted into parodies of human features, wide mouths lined with jagged teeth, long pointed ears, and crooked noses. Slightly hunched, with wiry limbs built for speed and agility, they looked like predators made to hunt.

  "What are these monsters?" thought Richard. "They look like goblins, but clearly larger."

  Embarrassingly, he only now noticed the smaller creatures around him—miniature pup versions of the beasts. Without the clear example of what they'd grow into, he might have even called them cute.

  Looking at the baby goblins and then at himself, Richard could no longer deny it—he was one of the monsters, more specifically, a goblin. At the same time, another realization struck him—something was wrong, terribly wrong. His emotions were raw, overwhelming. Richard had never considered himself particularly strong-willed, but the sheer intensity of his fear and anxiety was absurd. Even worse, he couldn't concentrate for long—his mind felt like a slippery eel. He had forgotten something important.

  Overwhelmed by the situation, Richard barely reacted as an adult goblin scooped him up along with a couple of other goblin pups and carried them toward the cave's exit. He tried to move, but again he was paralyzed by fear, and the wrapping around him didn't help either.

  Like him, others were scooped up as the goblins moved toward the cave's exit. The vast chamber was connected to other caverns by long corridors that ended in yet more caves. The adult goblins strode through them with confidence, never once seeming lost.

  After passing through a dozen or so vast caves, they finally reached their destination. This chamber was different, its walls covered in intricate murals and patterns, with the same green and blue moss illuminating it from above.

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  In one corner rose a stage-like platform, its surface covered in elaborate carvings. At its center stood a massive blue-painted boulder, marked with three large dots above the midpoint and a gaping maw painted beneath them. Before it rested an altar with a wide bowl, and beside the altar waited an old, withered goblin.

  He was clearly male, draped in feathers and bone jewelry, and carried a wooden scepter tipped with a skull. The skull belonged to a small animal which, like the boulder, had three eyes, or at least three sockets. A dozen lesser-robed goblins surrounded him, their adornments far simpler than his own.

  When Richard came back to his senses, he was standing in a queue. He'd always prided himself on never waiting in lines, and while he disliked the change, the familiar concept oddly steadied his nerves. "Can't be too different from Earth if they've got queues," he thought with a chuckle.

  The queue moved surprisingly swiftly, with no one trying to cut or making a fuss. In no time, it was Richard's and his ride-sharing brethren's turn.

  The less adorned goblins took each of them and presented them to the old goblin. The old goblin, in his turn, took his scepter and started smacking each pup on the head once. After each smack he waited a little, looked at the scepter, then gave the corresponding attendant some directions in a growling, crude language.

  When Richard's turn came, the old goblin glanced at the skull with slight confusion, then shrugged and moved on. After getting the instruction, the attendant goblin added three beads onto a string and hung it as a necklace around Richard's neck. This was nothing special, as every pup received one. The only difference was the number of beads; most got two, while a few received one or three.

  After all of his cohort got their beads, the transporter goblin scooped them up again and moved back the way they came. Once again, the moment he was scooped up, a deep-seated dread froze him in place, leaving him a helpless onlooker. The transporter goblin set Richard down on the floor of his original cave before leaving.

  Once he was sure the larger goblin was gone, Richard began fuming.

  He had been reduced to a powerless puppet, frozen by anything and everything. This was unacceptable. Unacceptable. He might be small and weak, but he was Richard Newton, for god's sake, and he would not allow himself to be dominated by some kind of ugly beast.

  Lost in his miasma of rage, Richard was once again late to notice a new group of goblins entering the cave.

  This group was more interesting than the last. Split into two distinct parts, the first resembled the previous arrivals, shabby-looking goblins, both male and female. The second was composed entirely of females, clearly higher in status, dressed in finer clothing and better fed.

  The females gathered at one end of the cave and began barking orders at the shabby-looking goblins, which Richard guessed were some kind of working class.

  Growling and unenthusiastic, the worker goblins began checking the pups' necklaces. Any with three beads were taken to the females, who in turn picked them up and began feeding them.

  To Richard's horror, it was done in nature's most primal way.

  Remembering his three beads, Richard resolved he wouldn't suffer that kind of humiliation—not this time. As fear crept back into his bones, he closed his eyes and drew deep breaths. His hands still refused to obey, but he had his teeth, surprisingly many and sharp for someone only a day or two old.

  As a worker goblin approached, Richard shut his eyes and braced himself. He was certain he'd freeze if he looked, but maybe, just maybe, he had a chance with his eyes closed. Trembling, heart pounding like a drum, Richard focused on his hearing.

  And fortunately, he didn't have to wait long; the worker knelt, lifting the bead necklace and taking a look. Knowing he had only one chance, Richard struck, snapping his jaws shut on the goblin's hand with all his strength.

  Surprised, the goblin yelled and tried to shake his hand out, but to his dismay, this made the pup's teeth go even deeper. Richard went feral as the taste of blood hit his tongue. Rage and fear consumed his mind, leaving him with only one thought—hang on.

  Furious, the worker goblin glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Finding none, he slapped the hateful little cretin with an open palm. Still seething, he cursed at his injured hand, and gave him a kick for good measure. Still not satisfied, the worker knelt again, yanked the necklace from the pup, removed two beads, and then stalked off.

  Dizzy and in pain, Richard looked at the retreating form of the worker, grinning despite the pain.

  He had won.