Three days. Three days he trekked through the darkness.
Five different laws broken upon descent and a couple more broken in transit. But those were not of this world. Not anymore.

The indicator still pulsed a lazy red light every few seconds, but he stopped consulting the device a day and a half ago. Here was as good a place to rest as any.

His hands were stiff within the ripped confines of his gloves. Searching through his bags for a lamp was still a painful activity. Not that it stopped him or anything. It wasn’t the first and certainly, he thought, wouldn’t be the last time he was in less than optimal condition.

He sought out a small alcove in the walls and ignited his lamp. The yellow light banished the darkness with a flash, repulsing the clingy murk the occupied the dark space. It flickered, the darkness surged; it blazed, the darkness ebbed. He removed his goggles and pulled away his coverings. Even with the lamp, he still felt the sting of the receding darkness on his bare skin.