Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
FRID
In the quiet, indifferent darkness ahead, the air slowly turned heavy and warm.
I could smell the tang of water from the sacred pool.
I was close to the chamber, but the crawler was shortening the distance between us, and I was almost on the brink of losing consciousness.
Pressure nested right behind my eyes, and with every beat of my heart, the pulse throbbed in my temples.
I could feel the blood flow through my veins with a dull, unbearable pain that never lessened.
My arms shook and I concentrated on seeing beyond the light of the torch.
My vision was playing tricks on me and the brightness of the fire blurred, multiplying the ache in my forehead.
In this state, I did not know if I was still awake, or if I had already collapsed and was dreaming everything.
When an opening was visible ahead, I strained my eyes even more, hoping to see the pool, and a new fear exploded in my head.
What if I was in the wrong place? What if something happened, and the water didn’t help Victor? What if I was too late?
A screech came from the darkness behind me.
I had to keep pushing. There was no alternative, no other way. My entire existence was molded into a tiny shape that only knew one truth. I had to make it to the pool, despite the pain and discomfort, despite the fear or uncertainty.
Suddenly, I saw a reflection of water and the stone edge of the pool.
There were no words to describe how I felt.
The joy, the triumph, of making it that far.
I dropped my torch, and unstrapped my sword.
The flames pressed against the rock and partially extinguished, as I dragged Victor’s body into the pool.
The flames flickered, threatening to go out entirely.
It was dangerous to let the crawler remain in the temple, especially in the dark, but in my current state, I could not face the monster.
I concentrated on keeping Victor’s body above the surface, but then, remembering Tynan’s story, I lowered Victor below the water level. He did not move when the water closed over him. Bubbles rushed to the surface, but still, Victor did not move.
“Damn it!” I lifted him up.
Sacred water or not, I did not want to drown him in it.
Just a moment later, my skin started to tingle. My arms, my ribs, my thighs, even my jaw relaxed.
Whatever this magic was, it was working.
Suddenly, a low growl came from the doorway and I looked up. The misty fumes obscured the entrance into the chamber, and no matter how hard I strained, I could see nothing.
I moved my arms, and swore, realizing that my sword was left on the side of the pool.
Why did I unstrap it? I could not explain it. I did it mechanically, without thinking.
“Victor, wake up!” I shook his body, seeking any signs of consciousness and not finding any.
“I need you, please!” I called.
The crooked figure stepped from behind the rising spirals of steam.
The crawler had a partially torn leg and the torso was half eaten.
It could not catch up to me in the tunnel because it could not move normally.
Its empty eyes landed on my face, but did not concentrate on my eyes.
It looked at my center mass because I was moving, because I was still alive.
“You’re too late. We’re in the pool. What’re you gonna do about it?” I asked.
The creature hissed in response and stumbled forward. It could not get to us in the water, but years of dealing with the undead taught me to be cautious. I kept glaring at the crawler that paced the pool, not fully grasping that I was surrounded by water.
I could not risk moving Victor while that thing was still out there. I had to kill it.
With that, I inched closer to the edge of the pool, where my sword still remained. The crawler growled getting closer to the water. There was no way I could get to the sword without letting go of Victor.
I stopped as close as I could and attempted to reach for the blade.
The monster extended his arms, desperate to get to me.
I locked my jaw, looking at the decaying flesh and the strips of skin that were hanging off his torso like the ribbons on the clothes of street performers.
The stench of rotten flesh filled my nostrils, and hatred and revulsion surged within me.
Not waiting any longer I released Victor and lunged forward. I got a hold of the crawler’s leg and pulled it toward me. It immediately lost its balance, falling backward. While it writhed on the ground like a bug on its back, I managed to reach my sword.
Just then, I realized that Victor had disappeared under water.
“Victor!”
I dove back into the pool, and pulled him up. His head moved from side to side. Even though he was out of danger, he was still too weak. I wrapped one arm around his shoulders and returned my attention back to the crawler.
The undead was stumbling forward, impatiently opening its mouth, oblivious to the fact that I had my weapon.
Carefully, I moved closer to the crawler.
And when I was close enough, with one well practiced motion, I slashed his good leg off and the half eaten body slammed to the floor, close to the edge.
One last time, I let go of Victor and jumped up, aiming at the crawler’s skull.
My blade easily passed through flesh and bone.
When it was over, only silence remained in the chamber.
I grabbed Victor’s torso, releasing the breath I had not realized I was holding.