Allistor anchored the makeshift rope around his waist, then dropped the rest of the coil down the shaft.  Robert Edward assisted Sean in getting his legs into the shaft, then gripped one arm as he took hold of the rope.  When he felt secure, Sean let go of Robert Edward and began to lower himself down.   The multiple knots gave him decent hand and footholds as he worked his way down.

In less than a minute, Allistor felt the tension on the line go slack.  A whisper came up from below.  “I’m down.  Hang on.”

They all waited anxiously as Sean explored the room below.  Allistor actually jumped a bit when he called up.  “All clear.  Lots of junk down here, but there’s enough room.”

Meg, looking dubiously at the rope, called down in a loud whisper.  “Any doors leading out?”

“Yeah.  But both are blocked with furniture and crap.”

Robert Edward stepped toward the shaft.  “I can help him move that.  I put a point in strength last night.”

So they repeated the process, helping him into the shaft and down.  While they waited for the two men below to try and find a way out, Allistor looked to Sam.  “I can hold this while everyone else goes down, but…”

Sam nodded.  “We need an anchor. Especially if this is going to be the only way up or down.”  He went back around the wall to poke around inside the building.

Five minutes later he returned carrying a six-foot length of broken wood beam.  “We can tie onto this.  Set it across the hole with one end stuck in the ground.  It’s sturdy enough.”

There was a crash from below, and a cloud of coal dust erupted from the shaft.  Everyone took a few steps back as the breeze pushed it away.  Sean called up, “We’re okay!” causing Meg to chuckle.  There was another sound of creaking hinges, then silence.

The group up top shuffled around and fidgeted, anxious to hear what was going on.  None dared call out, in case something non-human was alive down there.  Several minutes passed, and then Sam stuck his head into the shaft.  Allistor could see him clenching his fists, resisting the urge to call out.  They hadn’t heard anything that sounded like a battle, or screams of pain.  So he held his tongue.

Allistor nearly shit himself when Sean walked around the corner of the building and called out, “Hey guys!” as he waved at them.  He had a huge grin on his face, bright white teeth standing out from his coal-dust-covered face.

Meg threw a water bottle at him, cursing under her breath about giving old ladies a heart attack.  The bottle bounced off his chest, and he caught it on the rebound.  “Thanks!”  After taking a swig and spitting it back out, he took a long drink.