33. Chapter 33
33
" W hy did you enter?" I asked as we trudged down the rocky hill, navigating the switchbacks. The sun was setting, casting a blue tint across the murky sky. We might not have felt so frozen if it weren't for the relentless wind.
"For my family…we need the money," Astor replied somberly, his eyes fixed on the swirling grey clouds above. "My father is sick."
"Oh," I murmured, feeling a pang of sympathy.
"It's life, right?" he said, turning to look at me with sadness. "I'm the eldest of three sisters, so I had to do what any provider would. My mother was furious when she found out I was accepted," he stopped, slightly smiling. "I wish I could harbor her face on dreary days," he said with a small laugh. I glanced at him with a smile, feeling it so very odd to have a family that he loved and loved him in return. A family that was worried for him.
He cleared his dry throat, "So it's true your guardian made you do this?"
I gave him a weary smile. "How many know?"
"All of us."
I laughed despite the deep hunger gnawing at me. "So much for secrets."
"That's why you didn't touch your food at the dinner?" he observed.
The thought of that meal made my mouth water, wishing I now had it in front of me.
I shrugged. "Among other things," I expressed, more bitterly than intended. The image of Lord Winslow waiting for me crept into my mind, and I shivered. "Let's hop off the path here and see if we can find any nuts or wood for a trap. I'm not sure how much energy I will have without food."
We veered off the path, pushing through the underbrush until the foliage began to change, welcoming us with tall evergreens and pines shooting up like swords into the sky. The ground was uneven and covered in a layer of dead leaves and twigs as the cold air bit at our exposed skin.
As we searched, the forest seemed eerily silent, the usual sounds of wildlife absent, causing me to wonder if there was anything around to catch. The wind rustled the branches above, adding to the sense of desolation. We moved carefully, scanning the ground for signs of edible plants or potential trap materials.
Astor paused beside a cluster of pine trees, examining the pinecones. "These might have some nuts within," he said, reaching up to check the branches.
I knelt down, digging through the litter of leaves, hoping to find something useful, yet every rustle and crackle seemed amplified in the stillness. "Keep an eye out for any thick pieces of wood we could use for a trap," I advised, my voice low as he dug into the pinecones, splitting them open with a rock, and continued doing so, pinecone after pinecone.
Minutes felt like hours as we scoured the area.
Finally, Astor held up a small handful of nuts, his face lighting up with a hint of relief. "It's not much, but it's something."
I nodded, grateful for even the smallest find. "Let's gather what we can and set up a trap nearby."
The process was slow and painstaking as our fingers were numb from the cold, but together, we worked quickly, gathering materials and setting a rudimentary trap. We put the pine nuts underneath it, hoping it would catch anything.
We hid behind a large boulder nearby, waiting in tense silence. My energy was nearly depleted as night loomed closer, and the cold began to seep deeper into my bones. We made no sound except for the shivering patter of our breaths, keeping close to one another for warmth as we watched the sun's light disappear into an indigo blue.
"Maybe we should keep going," Astor rasped, barely above a whisper.
I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of exhaustion mingling with a surge of frustration.
We stood up, took the pine nuts from under the trap, and set off. Our feet grew heavier with each step as we finished the juicy nuts and found the path again. The moon and stars illuminated our way, casting a pale light on the rocky trail. My feet throbbed with each step, and each breath became shallower as the cold pressed deeper into my bones. We walked in silence, the darkening sky our only cover.
The path ended at the base of a large mountain alcove, which cut smoothly into a dark, eerie, narrow canyon that looked barely big enough for one person to walk through at a time. The canyon walls rose steeply on either side, their surfaces rough and jagged, looking like the deepest, darkest trenches where nightmares dwell. The air within the alcove was colder, and the shadows were deeper, making it feel as if the canyon pass was the entrance into the mountain's belly.
We stepped to the canyon's eerie opening, and the sound of our footsteps echoed in the confined space. The oppressive darkness shook me to my core, begging me to run. It was too dark to see anything except a few feet before us. We were cornered against the mountainside with nowhere to go except back up the path or continue through the dark tunnel of the canyon.
"You're not actually thinking about going through there right now?" Astor whispered with terror in his voice.
I looked back at the deadly canyon, fear spiking through me, knowing what might be ahead.
"Maybe there's another way?" he said, already stepping back several feet. "We should wait until morning."
"And then what?" I snapped. "Wait until the other beasts eat us with nothing to protect ourselves?"
His only response was a single blink. "But we don't know what's through there," he said, pointing to the terrifying darkness. "I'm not going through there. We can wait until the first light."
I huffed, letting my anger sizzle through my shivering and hungry body. My stomach ached for more food, and my eyes were heavy with exhaustion.
"Fine, I'll take the first watch—"
"No, you need sleep. You're running yourself dead," he interjected with the same bitterness.
I clenched my jaw and fists, reluctantly letting him win this battle. But deep down, something didn't feel right. The need to run was more urgent than before, a burning desire to escape this icy, dead terrain.
"Anything. Anything at all , and you wake me," I demanded, pointing my finger at him.
He nodded as we both sat down by the wall, exposed and knowing— feeling —that this wasn't right. But I dozed off before thinking more, letting the weight and exhaustion pull me into a light sleep.
The cold air cut into my raw wrists and ankles, and the screeches of deadly things curdled my insides. I shivered naked on the freezing, rocky ground as flashes of red lightning lit the inky, oppressive sky.
" Give me what I want, and I'll let you go. " Pain erupted in my head, blinding my vision with shrouds of white. I turned toward the horrible, oily voice of the shadowy figure. " Give it— "
" No. " Realization sank in as I scrambled to cover myself. "No. No, no, no. "
" I will always have you locked up here, Eliah. So either give it up, or you can join me. "
The figure laughed, echoing deep into my mind as his spidery tendrils caressed over my hips and up to my neck.
I screamed, diving deep to find that anger and letting it consume me until I ignited the entire area with electricity.
The figure shrieked, slashing me down the forearm with its dark tendrils and sending a radiating pulse of fiery pain surging through my body.
"I'll kill you just like I killed them all! "
I jolted awake to the black sky and the dark canyon pass looming before us. My heart pounded in my ears as the blinding headache remained, along with the phantom pain of the slash on my arm.
Astor jolted in response to my sudden awakening, fear flashing in his gleaming eyes.
"I'm sorry," I breathed, falling back against the stone mountainside, trying to calm my raging soul. "I'm sorry, it was just a dream."
He slumped down next to me, pulling his legs in close as he shivered through shuddering breaths. It was well into the night as the stars continued to shine. The wind had died out completely, leaving an eerie silence nestling into the icy alcove.
"Sleep," I demanded, trying to calm my chattering teeth as I shifted closer to his side. He said nothing, curling his head around his knees and leaning on me. We sat there, shivering in the deadly quiet as I watched the stars twinkle, wondering what Levon might be doing.
Was he worrying about me? Was Kaizen beating him senseless, knowing that the Match was in the Spellcaster's territory? Was I a fool for falling for his kindness despite all his secrets? Or for his radiant eyes that still somehow melted my heart?
I let out a long breath, hoping his face would follow it.
I looked to the dark canyon to my right, feeling a need to run. As if the Spellcasters knew precisely where I was and waited, prowling to capture me.
The shadowy figure's phantom nails still stung my arm as I focused on controlling my thoughts, not letting the fear creep back in for them to take hold.
I'll kill you just like I killed them all.
The voice rang through my skull, over and over, as if I were tumbling down a steep hill right into their grasp.
Killed them all. Who else did he kill?
I shook away the thought, zoning in on my breathing to calm my racing heart.
A skitter of rocks tumbled down upon us from above, echoing off the mountain walls and shattering the quiet night. I brushed the dry dirt off, looking up only to see the towering mountain wall and the twinkling stars above, right as a shriek echoed from the towering mountain above, followed by more pebbles raining down on us.
My body seized in a panic, constricting my heart and compelling my whole being to run.
Control it.
I breathed in, forcing my anxiety to calm as a gurgle of choking sounds came from the left of us. More pebbles tumbled down, hitting our heads. Astor groggily awoke, groaning as a larger rock hit his shoulder. I clapped a hand over his mouth as his dark eyes shot to mine.
Fear spiked deeper, a metallic taste shooting through my nose and radiating down my veins, turning my blood into fire as an unexpected force gently tugged at my mind.
"Run."
I leaped up, pulling Astor with me, as my heart pounded in my ears, feeling the oily darkness before I saw it.
"Run! Eliah, RUN ."
The voice came a second before a dark figure emerged around the paths bend. It stood several feet taller, it's arms looked too long, too peculiar, to be human with something glinting in the moonlight at its side. An aura of spoiled acid radiated from it, and wisps of black smoke pulsated around its being. I shivered at the icy feeling that stabbed straight into my heart as a deadly, contorted smile formed on the figure's mouth.
Astor swore, and I swiftly grabbed his arm, pushing him forward into the black, narrow crack of the mountain without a second thought. The figure lunged toward us, compelling us to run as fast as we could in the darkness. We sprinted in silence, our panting and pounding boots hitting the rocky floor echoing in the confined space.
"Faster!" I hissed to Astor, my voice echoing as I pushed him forward. Behind us, rocks shifted, and the figure's feet thundered toward us, slamming into the canyon's opening with a shrilling crash. Its tall, lanky body seemed cumbersome, but its long legs kept pace, closing the gap with each step.
A deep, sickening laugh echoed through the dark canyon, paralyzing me to my core. Dried roots and branches jutted out from the narrow canyon walls, slicing into our cheeks, arms, and shoulders as we collided with them, along with freshly spun webs that caught in our throats. My legs screamed from the exertion as fear threatened to paralyze me. I grunted as the canyon seemed to stretch endlessly and offer no escape as we practically tumbled over each other.
The canyon narrowed further, forcing us to run single file, my feet barely avoiding Astor's heels in front of me. Our panting breaths echoed loudly against the moist walls, drawing a chorus of howls and yelps from a ledge above and behind us.
What do we do?! What do we do?!
I kept running, my throat raw and bleeding from the icy air. Glancing back, I saw the tall figure still pursuing us, now wielding a long black blade at its side.
What do we do?!
Up ahead, a gray, eerie light barely illuminated the dark path.
" Go, go, go! " Astor yelled, propelling himself faster.
A wet snarl echoed from a ledge above us, joined by two more as a dried root slashed deep into my jaw, tearing a screech from my lips along with warm blood.
Oh, Tryan. Help us!
I crashed into Astor, who broke my fall as the canyon abruptly gave way to a vast, bowl-like arena resembling a massive theater. A labyrinth of pathways spiraled down into its center, converging at a small black hole. Four large, loosely packed rocky slopes marked each entrance, ending in a perilous drop. Surrounding the rocky landslides were descending switchbacks that snaked their way down the steep slope of the bowl.
A shrill, oily scream cracked behind us, sending a jolt of terror through my body. We jumped without hesitation and tumbled into the sharp rocky slope that cut into our skin as we began sliding uncontrollably down to the lethal cliff at its end, pulling us down like quicksand.
Astor cried out as he collided with a large rock that held firm in the landslide and broke his fall with a painful thud. I managed to catch hold of a dead branch a few feet above him, gasping for air.
I whipped my head back, bracing for the figure to lunge out of the canyon, hearing its oily screech echoing perilously close. Just then, a glimmer of light caught my eye to the left of me. I looked over to see a pile of weapons clustered together at the start of each of the switchbacks, having a dreading feeling that this was the start of the finale.
My eyes locked onto the shaft of a bow and arrows amidst the pile, and with a surge of adrenaline, I swung myself over to the switchback landing, pain shooting through my knee as the jagged rocks tore into my flesh. The oily figure leaped onto the bone-crunching rocks. Its ebony skeletal form was draped in tattered black robes that billowed like wraiths against its frail, patchwork body of rotting flesh. All the air left my lungs as my mind raced back to that book of monsters in Levon's library. Believing them nothing more than fables. I watched as the bony black figure scrambled for purchase, and my heart sank.
Dark Magics known as Skinners.
No—it can't be.
Astor's scream echoed through the canyon as he jumped away from the figure onto the adjacent switchback path.
I scrambled towards the weapons, desperation lending speed to my movements as I swallowed my fear. Astor screamed again, forcing me to run harder. I heard a brawl of movement close behind me as I reached the bow with a skid, scraping open my suit and feeling a painful warmth trickle down my knees.
With trembling hands, I seized the bow, feeling its weight as I swiftly nocked an arrow into place and whirled back toward Astor. Before I could react, the monster slammed into me with bone-jarring force, sending us both crashing to the ground in a violent tangle of limbs. I cried out as the bow and arrows slipped from my grasp, the rough terrain digging into my skin while the bony figure pinned me to the ground.
The foul stench of decay enveloped me, making me gag as I struggled to breathe. With desperation clawing at me, I reached for the sword lying just inches away, my fingers barely brushing its hilt as I kicked and punched frantically, trying to fend off the relentless shadow. Its eyes were as black as the night, only visible by the mere gloss they reflected from the waking sky with a rotting patchwork of flesh overlapping its black frame, confirming my dread. Its spidery fingers cracked and popped, tightening around my throat.
I shifted my body, trying to throw the putrid figure off. A Skinner.
"Xaldruk will love the feel of you," it hissed out. The snake-like voice sent thousands of shivers down my neck and spine. " Perhaps he'll share your creamy skin. "
I grunted, closing my eyes and squirming beneath its crushing hold, pushing with all my might. My fingertips went numb from clawing and stretching for the sword, barely grazing its pommel but unable to grasp it. I cried out as the Skinner's black tongue flicked out like a snake, licking the Breva's blood from my face. Fear and disgust rippled through me as my lungs threatened to collapse under its weight.
"You killed it!" The figure shrieked, its grip tightening like a vise, cutting off my air supply. " YOU KILLED IT !" Its scream reverberated off the rounded mountains, waking everything in its path, unsure what it meant.
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears mingling with the dirt and blood on my face as despair sank deep into my ravaged heart. I abandoned my efforts to reach the sword and clawed at its fingers, gasping for air.
Help!
Levon's face flashed into my mind, recalling the comfort of his embrace in the market square. His voice pulsed through my veins and soul, causing more tears as my vision blurred and receded on the edge of oblivion.
Don't succumb to its pressure. Fight. Let your anger guide you instead of suppressing it. Embrace it and let it ignite your spirit; when you do, it will free you.
A blood-curdling roar shattered my eardrums, causing the figure to loosen its grip and turn toward the noise. Alarm spilled off the sinister being as it frantically searched for the source. I seized the opportunity, grabbing one of its bony fingers and snapping it, then swiftly shoved my knees into its chest. It screeched, its rotted teeth snarling, clutching me tighter.
Anger boiled deep within my core, pulsating in solid, vibrant waves, pushing up against the fear and igniting it like fire to paper.
I kicked the decaying Skinner's chest with all my might, just enough to gain some distance and move closer to the weapons. I screamed, throwing my body toward the sword. The creature tightened its grip again as I reached the sword's hilt and swung it towards its head.
The sword plunged deep into the Skinner's thin neck, unleashing a torrent of bubbling, red, and black blood that splattered down upon me, its stench as foul as death itself. The monster released its grip and staggered back, clawing desperately at the sword while choking on its own vile blood.
I coughed and gasped for air, the fiery anger within me igniting with a sizzle, jolting me awake. I welcomed the surge, feeling tiny pricks of electricity zinging through my veins, saturating my heart like a long-lost friend that finally returned. A warmth coursed through my body, as familiar as Levon's words.
I inhaled the cool, sharp air and snarled at the dying abomination, writhing and wailing in agony. With a fierce grip, I seized the slick, blood-soaked pommel and yanked the sword free, eliciting a gurgling shriek from the Skinner. Without hesitation, I lifted the dripping blade and brought it crashing down, cleaving through bone. I watched with grim satisfaction as the putrid head flew from its shoulders, the body convulsing uncontrollably before tumbling off the ledge to the path below.
An electric jolt surged through me, sharp and intense, making me feel more alive than ever. I was soaring on a wave of exhilaration that could sustain me for a lifetime.
Another roar thundered across the sky, reverberating through my core. I turned my eyes upward, above the carved out bowl, just in time to see the shadow of a colossal wolf leap onto a man running across the lethal slopes. The beast tore him apart, his shrill screams echoing through the arena.
Quickly, I pivoted, desperately searching for Astor on the other side of the rocky slope. I spotted him running, jumping, and sliding down the hill toward its center in frantic haste. My heart stopped when I saw what chased him, two matted and ferocious wolves, and I screamed at him to keep running.
I frantically grabbed my bow and arrows, nocked one, and released it without calculating. It struck the rocks before the wolves, bouncing off into the dark, dawning sky.
I sprinted forward, leaping off the ledge to the path below where the Skinner's body lay. Rolling with the impact, I quickly bound toward the middle, rocky landslide. I skidded across the sharp rocks to the large boulder and nocked another arrow, not caring about the blood that trickled down my arms and legs. Its feathers tickled my lips as I calmed my breathing, letting the electric energy within me force the world into silence.
Inhale.
I refused to let terror erode my concentration and focused on the gray fur just a few feet ahead, practically aiming at Astor.
Exhale.
I released the arrow.