35. Chapter 35
35
T he frigid embrace of the tunnel's icy walls sent a sharp sting across my exposed skin, threatening to wrench a scream from my throat. Deeper and faster, it spiraled, engulfing me in pitch-black darkness until finally ejecting me into the watery light. Fighting the urge to scream, I slammed onto the slick, unforgiving rocky ground. Pain exploded through my side at impact and forced the air from my lungs.
Gasping for air, I surveyed the terrifying, black, rocky expanse and slowly got to my feet. The terrain was filled with thousands upon thousands of small obsidian pebbles that gleamed against the faint light. Low clouds swirled around towering masses of black stone that loomed tall and as far as the eye could see. Their jagged forms reached skyward like ancient sentinels while shattered remnants jutted out like deadly spears.
Large, dark boulders formed a formidable barricade around the area before me, creating an impenetrable wall. I scanned the surroundings once more, desperately searching for a passage through the wall of boulders, but found none. The only option was a series of scattered stones that led up and over one of the massive boulders.
I looked up to where I had been thrown moments before and spotted the small black opening several feet above, carved into the towering mountain. The chill in the air deepened, and a layer of ice coated the ground beneath like a corpse, stealing my breath.
Quickly, I retrieved my fallen arrows, urging my trembling legs into motion, unwilling to linger for the Skinners. I forced myself to run against the exhaustion pouring into every crevice of my body. I scaled one of the large black boulders, scrambling up its rugged surface before swiftly descending the other side, determined to put distance between myself and the dark figures.
To my back and left, the towering Adauntus Mountains framed the sky with their dark, jagged edges. Skidding to a stop, the black, wet pebbles sprayed outward from the force. Turning in frantic circles, I began calculating advantageous points but only found ones that would expose me like a beacon.
I drew in a shaky breath when suddenly, I heard uneven, shuffling footsteps against the black pebbles and muffled cries up ahead. Panic surged through me, and before I could think, I lunged into action, scrambling up another larger boulder to get a better view. A blistering screech tore through the air, causing me to lose my grip and crash back to the ground. The closeness of the sound ignited every nerve, screaming at me to run, hide, and escape.
Without hesitation, I scrambled back up the boulder's rugged surface and bolted, leaping across the top of each boulder. From here, it looked like the boulders were a maze among the tall, jagged stones that shot up high into the sky. Beyond the boulder maze, a sea of the black pebbles spread wide. Dark black crevices of the terrain sloped down, touching the base of the towering mountains where a looming dark cave sat. My heart pounded wildly, and I cursed through gasping breaths as I kept leaping over boulder after boulder, letting the sheer panic of my situation drive me forward.
A sudden crash of black pebbles echoed behind me, followed by a sharp wisp cutting through the air. Before I could react, a searing pain ripped through my side, knocking the breath from my lungs and hurling me backward off the boulder. The scream tore from my throat, raw and uncontrollable, as the pain exploded through my body with brutal force. My head collided hard with the scattered pebbles, sending a shockwave of agony through my skull. Warm blood streamed down my forehead, dripping onto the cold ground below. I blinked rapidly fighting against the hazy blur clouding my vision.
Groaning, I turned over with a wheezing cough, expecting to see my demise, but only gray clouds drifted by as I felt my eye begin to swell. Fear spiked through my heart as I scrambled to my feet, struggling for balance and feeling absolute exhaustion fighting against my every movement. I touched my right side, where the sting had sent me flying through the air. My suit was sliced open, revealing a narrow red welt. Each breath sent sharp pains through my ribs, which felt as if they were collapsing with every inhale.
I hissed at the pain, desperately hoping I hadn't broken one, and wiped away the blood trickling into my eyes. Through the daze, I saw a flash of black to my left.
Instinctively, I notched an arrow, my trembling hands barely steadying the shaft, and started running in the opposite direction, away from the mountain range and toward the open sky.
The loud crunch of pebbles underfoot echoed with each step, contradicting every instinct I had to stop, blend in, and silence myself. But there was nowhere to hide and disappear, so I kept running as fast as my legs and the pebbles that sucked at my feet would allow me.
The pounding in my chest matched the throbbing in my side. Each step a battle against the searing pain, and every inhale sent a sharp sting through my ribs, threatening to steal my breath.
Wiping the blood from my eyes, I frantically scanned the area for any sign of a dragon or the Skinners. A sharp scream cut through the air, followed by a deep, terrifying rumble that shook my bones. I pushed myself to run faster, zig-zagging through the maze of jagged rocks, stumbling over loose stones. Suddenly, I burst into an open area, no longer surrounded by the towering black boulders. Instead, I stood before a vast sea of dark pebbles leading to the menacing cave in the distance.
Up close, the entrance revealed several winding black columns spiraling downward, resembling a slick slope that led deep into the enormous cave below where I stood.
I cautiously stepped out from behind the wall of black boulders, calming my ragged breathing and desperately searching for another escape route. I did not want that to be the exit, knowing it would take me right into the dragon's lair.
Suddenly, a massive black shape darted to the left, and my feet locked in place. Terror surged through me, my breath coming in ragged, uneven gasps as I struggled to think clearly, desperate to escape this nightmare. The looming threat of death pressed down on me, every instinct screamed for me to run, yet I stood frozen, paralyzed by fear, unable to tear my eyes away from its serpentine form.
I saw its massive, black, metallic body before I comprehended what it was. Its sinister scales gleamed with a dark, menacing sheen, interwoven with jagged patches of crimson that seemed to pulse with electric energy, like veins of molten lava. One eye burned an intense, fiery red, casting an eerie glow, while the other was a void of inky blackness, mirroring the darkness of its body.
One of its wings hung in tatters, shredded and clinging uselessly to its side, while the other remained poised for attack with long, sharp claws that protruded at each bend. Its long, snake-like tail coiled protectively around it, the tip twitching with a lethal readiness. The dragon exuded a humming aura of raw power and primal terror of red that radiated around its body; its very presence was a harbinger of fear. Every detail of its form spoke of pain and fury, a creature forged in raw darkness, hatred, fear, and saturated in violence.
It leaped into the air, snapping its tail, and vanished back beyond the boulders without a sound. My throat constricted as I realized it was the dragon's tail that had struck me off the boulder earlier, unable to comprehend how quietly it could creep, especially against the clattering of the obsidian pebbles.
Dread flooded my entire being as I edged slowly back toward the maze, my heart hammering with each labored breath. I crouched low on the slick, obsidian pebbles, desperate to blend in. My eyes darted around frantically, noting the eerie similarity between the pebbles and my shredded suit.
I gritted my teeth and channeled my anger and fear into a single, harrowing decision—I wasn't going through that cave; I'd find my own way out.
Backing away, my eye locked onto Osric's blonde hair, visible on the farthest edge of the area. He leaped onto one of the winding paths and slid down, oblivious to the looming danger. In an instant, the dragon was back and lunging toward him, its monstrous body rippling with predatory malice. Osric's scream pierced the silent air as the dragon's mouth opened, releasing a thick, suffocating black smoke that began to engulf him. His screams rose higher and full of agony.
I watched in horror as Osric hit a small landing, his form contorting in torture as he uselessly tried to lift his sword overhead. The dragon's smoke swallowed him whole, extinguishing his screams immediately as if it were poisonous. My heart pounded with fear as I waited for the smoke to dissipate, my mind racing as I weighed my options for escape.
I could feel the Skinners closing in, their evil presence scratching at the door of my mind, relentlessly hunting me, making me believe they were part of the Spellcasters. Panic surged through me, urging me to choose before it was too late.
The dragon's desperate attempt at flight was impaired by its injured state, causing it to lurch awkwardly before crashing into the black pebbles with a thunderous impact. A wave of obsidian stones cascaded away from its thrashing feet as it swiftly pivoted, its movements sinuous and predatory, reminiscent of a giant serpent as it leaped out of sight.
I tore my gaze away from where it bounded, only to be met with a horrifying sight—Osric's body, once vibrant and alive, now a grotesque mass of blistering red flesh. I choked back a gag of revulsion as the realization washed over me that his skin was no longer intact but had melted grotesquely around his dead body. Hot tears spilled from my eyes as I covered my mouth to silence my screaming and gnawing fear.
My hands trembled uncontrollably as movement caught my eye from the far left. The red-haired contestant slipped back into the maze of rocks, surely witnessing Osric's death as he scrambled away, desperate to escape the dragon's wrath.
Shaking frantically, I followed suit; my mind clouded with terror and repulsion. I raced through the labyrinthine passages, hitting one dead end after another but putting as much distance as possible between myself and the nightmare behind me. Though no matter how far I ran, I couldn't shake the image of Osric's dead, blistered form from my mind.
Once again, a piercing screech shattered the quiet of the morning, propelling me forward faster against the slick, icy pebbles that clattered loudly beneath my feet. I hugged the ground, darting in erratic zig-zags around the towering boulders of the maze, the pebbles clinging to my shoes, threatening to betray my position with their noisy protest.
Another deafening roar erupted, so close that it knocked me off my feet, sending me sprawling into the jagged pebbles. My breath came in short, panicked bursts as my heart hammered in my chest. The dragon's searing heat radiated from behind the massive boulders at my back, the force of its presence suffocating me with panic. Without thinking, I dropped my bow, my fingers trembling as I clawed desperately at the pebbles, knowing every sound I made only served to draw the beast closer.
I scrambled into the tiny crevice I made, forcing myself deeper into the earth, frantically piling the cold, black pebbles over my head and body. Their icy edges scraped my skin, but I didn't care—all that mattered was staying hidden. My heart pounded violently in my ears as the dragon's snout came into view, its hot breath washing over me in waves and sending out tendrils of smoke in the cold air. The creature's nostrils flared, searching the path I lay hidden in.
Half-buried and half-exposed, I froze, every muscle locked in terror. My breath caught in my throat as I trembled beneath the mound of pebbles. Every second stretched into eternity as I prayed it wouldn't find me, seeing Osric's raw, dead body in my mind.
The dragon's massive form twisted up and over the boulders, then slammed down with a bone-shaking crash that sent pebbles scattering in all directions, uncovering more of my trembling body. I clamped my teeth together, swallowing my scream as I watched in paralyzed horror. The monstrous creature hovered above me, its overwhelming presence pressing down like a suffocating weight. My heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it might burst, and I could only silently pray for a quick end as the fear clamped tightly around me.
Pebble after pebble cascaded off, revealing more of my quivering form as the dragon's colossal foot crashed down beside me, narrowly missing my head and discarded bow. It dug a massive claw into the ground as its snout hovered over me again, inhaling and taking my breath with it before emitting a repugnant snort that sent shivers down my spine. It shook its head and backed away, belching a deep grumble from its throat, almost as in repulsion.
A cacophony of howls and screeches ripped through my terror and wrenched the dragon's attention away. With lightning speed, it twisted its massive body towards the source of the noise and leaped, its sinuous tail barely missing my arm as it soared past. I remained frozen in place for what felt like an eternity, struggling to remember how to breathe, how to move.
The deafening chorus of viscous screeches, howls, screams, and roars reverberated through the air, melding into a deadly symphony. Amidst the chaos, Kaizen's voice fluttered into my mind, cutting through the fear and stirring me into action.
Control it, Eliah, because that will be all you have left.
All you have left.
All you have left.
I repeated the mantra to myself and letting it anchor me. With trembling limbs, I began to move and swallowed hard, centering myself back into reality as my body pumped with adrenaline. The black pebbles slid off me in a rocky cascade, clattering to the ground as I crawled toward my bow. I grasped its cold wood tightly, swallowing down the rising tide of panic that threatened to engulf me and wondering why it didn't attack.
It knew I was there.
I scanned the black pebbles around me, searching for clues as to what might have spooked the dragon and caused the repulsion. My gaze fell upon my own bloodied form, and realization dawned with a chilling clarity—I was covered in the grotesque blood of the Breva.
The sticky, dried, dark fluid clung to my skin and suit, its foul stench still filling my nostrils, overpowering my own coppery blood.
Slowly, I rose to my feet, finding my balance, and swiftly set off again, pushing back against the suffocating grip of fear.
Control it, Eliah.
Inhale, exhale.
I returned to the breathing techniques Levon had taught me, forcing the fear out of my heart.
Inhale, exhale.
I forced my ears to focus on the shifting and clattering of the pebbles underfoot, refusing to let my mind conjure the horrors that could accompany such chaos that screamed beyond the boulders. The air was electrified with more howls, gnashing of teeth, and screeches that erupted perilously close.
Nocking an arrow, I sprinted toward the expanse of open air, praying for some semblance of escape away from such sounds. I honed in on my breathing, channeling my anger to propel my legs forward despite the profound exhaustion and gnawing hunger threatening to drag me down with each step. A deafening snap reverberated to my right, coming from the other side of the boulder wall, followed by guttural screeches that sliced through the air.
Leaping over broken rocks, I hit an end wall that led right to the cacophony of horrid sounds. Confronted with a choice, I had to either scale the towering boulders and risk becoming a target for the dragon or possibly face the snarls head-on, praying they were in another part of the maze.
Digging my feet into the pebbles, I scanned the sky, thick with ominous clouds, searching desperately for a sign.
With a heavy heart, I took a step toward the screams, cursing myself for the decision.
Bow raised and arrow drawn taut, I advanced cautiously, my breath irregular against my ears. Each step felt like a burden as I navigated around scattered rocks amidst the sea of pebbles, muscles straining from the tension of holding the arrow at the ready.
I slowly walked forward, following the twists and turns of the maze, pressing myself against its side walls for cover. With each quick turn, the screams began to fade along with the obsidian pebbles, spurring me to quicken my pace against the hard black terrain.
The maze abruptly opened into a broad, open space strewn with dark, molten rocks that glistened with the same residual, eerie glow as the obsidian pebbles. The ground was a chaotic scatter of jagged, blackened stones, that promised to cut your skin if you faltered. I crouched behind the last massive boulder, my heart racing as I scanned the surrounding landscape with wary, watchful eyes. Each rock seemed to shift and shimmer with a menacing light, casting long, flickering shadows that danced across the uneven terrain. The air was thick with the acrid scent of scorched earth, heightening my sense of unease as I tried to make sense of the treacherous new environment, wondering if there was another dragon with fire-breathing abilities or if the black dragons' poisonous smoke could do this.
The eerie silence of the new area did nothing to ease the growing knot of dread in my stomach. Every sense was heightened, every instinct screaming at me to stay alert. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart, and took several cautious steps into the open expanse, scanning the long line of rocks.
Unexpectedly, a grotesque face lunged toward me, stealing my breath. Instinctively, I released my arrow, closing my eyes at the motion. I couldn't stop the scream that escaped my lips as a Skinner tackled me to the ground, cutting open my skin on the rugged obsidian rock beneath me. Black blood bubbled out of the Skinner's throat where the arrow had pierced straight through, the close range ensuring a fatal shot. Its long, bony fingers clawed desperately at my skin, leaving deep scratches as I struggled beneath its weight. I could feel the creature's jagged nails digging into my flesh, and the stench of its foul, viscous blood threatened to overwhelm me as it drenched my clothes and pooled around me.
Desperation surged through me. I grasped the bow and slammed it into the side of its head, making it topple off with a sag. I scrambled to my feet as crunching rocks heralded another attack before a second Skinner slammed into me, throwing me to the ground and causing me to lose my bow in the fall. My head struck the molten rock hard, dizziness blurring my vision and blood trickling down the base of my skull.
I thrashed against the new attacker, much larger and more menacing than the last two I encountered. It straddled me, its bony fingers digging deep into my forearms. A cry left my lips as I glimpsed another figure through my distorted view. With a desperate effort, I threw my legs up into the creature's torso, but it barely shifted. Its rotten grin oozed a slimy green, the stench making me gag as my fading vision begged me to succumb to the darkness.
" Keep fighting!" roared the familiar voice in my head that stirred me to stay conscious.
Reaching for an arrow, my hand fumbled as the dragon's deafening roar assaulted our ears, momentarily stunning the Skinner. Seizing the opportunity, I drove the arrow into its side. It screeched out, tightening its hold on me as I tried to find this odd, angry energy within me, but it only flickered in response as if it, too, was depleted.
The dragon's black body slithered up, tackling another Skinner running towards us before leaping in our direction. Snarling, tendrils of smoke billowed from its mouth and nose.
I screamed as the Skinner on me shifted, angrily screeching at the dragon. Desperation fueled my actions, and I jabbed my thumbs into its cavernous eye socket, feeling pus swell around my fingers. It slashed out, opening a wound across my chest before collapsing backward.
Blood oozed from my chest as I scrambled for my bow; my breaths deteriorated, and I panicked, facing the giant, snake-like dragon hovering nearby.
The Skinners backed up, screaming at the dragon in fury is if they were trying to talk to it. The dragon snapped its jaws, the crack reverberating through the air and stealing my breath.
I nocked an arrow while still on the ground when a loud snarl from behind the dragon caused the Skinners to stop their screeching. The dragon turned its massive head towards the noise, and my eyes followed. A massive, golden-brown wolf with streaks of coppery oranges came into view. Saliva was dripping from its snarling maw and charged towards us.
Seizing the shift in attention, I stumbled to my feet and bolted, running back the way I had come, aiming for the entrance of the maze.
But the Skinner was relentless and leaped towards me, plunging its sharp, bony fingers into my leg. I cried out as pain erupted, shooting up into my back. I slammed into the ground just as the massive wolf tackled the creature, ripping it off me, and quickly snapping its neck. The other Skinner, still bleeding profusely from its neck wound, slashed out at me but had no chance as the wolf shredded it apart, then continued its attack by tearing apart the remaining morbid stolen-flesh creatures.
Terror surged through me as I forced myself up, grabbed my bow, and limped away, leaving a trail of blood in my wake. The dragon advanced, jaws open and snapping, tendrils of its poisonous smoke puffing out. It brushed against my right elbow, and a searing pain consumed me as a burning fire spread through my body in a blur of agony. I plunged forward, each step leaving a bloody footprint from the gash in my leg.
The massive wolf leaped from one of the large boulders onto the dragon's back, its claws sinking deep and sending the black, metallic scales clattering to the ground. The dragon thrashed and stopped spewing its poisonous smoke as it tried to dislodge the massive wolf. Its tail whipped against the black rocks and shook the ground beneath us. The wolf sprang from the dragon's back to its outstretched wing, snapping down on bone and shredding through the thick membrane of its wing like paper. The dragon's roar of pain echoed through the air, so intense that I had to cover my ears.
I stumbled, my vision blurring from the pain and blood loss. The dragon's tail lashed out, narrowly missing me and striking the ground with a force that sent shards of rock flying. The wolf continued its relentless assault, tearing into the dragon's flesh with savage ferocity. Blood, dark and metallic, sprayed across the ground, mingling with my own.
I crawled away, my body trembling, each movement a battle against the agony that gripped me and screamed at me to stop, to accept the dark oblivion. The dragon's screams grew more frantic, a mix of rage and desperation, as the wolf tore segments of its body apart, the ground littered with chunks of flesh and shattered scales.
I collapsed behind a boulder, trying to catch my breath, my entire body shaking in pain and the loss of blood. My right elbow burned as my leg pulsated with my warm blood that oozed out from the Skinners grip. I clutched my bow, knuckles white, and forced myself to remain conscious.
I watched in horror as the dragon snapped its wing, sending the wolf hurtling through the air. The wolf hit the ground with a sickening thud, landing just inches from me. A pained yelp escaped its throat, and our eyes met—its vibrant amber eyes locking with mine, filled with a familiar, desperate worry. The sight of its golden coat and fiery gaze triggered a flood of memories, taking me back to my last evaluation at Jesri's. The image flashed vividly in my mind—pulling four bloodied arrows from its soft fur after it attacked the terrorizing black beast.
My brows furrowed in confusion as I struggled to make sense of the familiarity, the glow of those amber eyes stirring something deep inside me that I couldn't quite understand in my murky mind, and the growing pressure in my head built, threatening to pull me under.
The wolf staggered to its feet, swiftly rushing towards me, its snout nudging under my arm. I hesitated, torn between fear and desperate need of help. Meanwhile, the dragon snapped and snarled, its tongue lashing out like a serpent. The wolf's amber eyes bore into mine, filled with an urgency that sent familiar shudders down my spine as it snarled at me in anger.
"Get on, now!" shouted the phantom voice barely recognizable within my disoriented mind.
With a final glance at the advancing dragon, I tightly grasped the wolf's coat, hauling myself over its massive body. The rough fur scraped against my blistered elbow that left my skin barely hanging on, but I held on tight, determined to survive.
The wolf took off, charging straight towards the dragon, forcing me to hold on. Smoke billowed from the dragon's mouth as it leaped after us with a deafening roar. The wolf dashed around the dragon, running faster and harder, its powerful muscles rippling beneath me.
I clenched my teeth, the strain to hold on almost unbearable as I clung to the wolf's golden coat, my blood staining its fur with dark streaks. We hurtled across the boulders, hitting them each with a jarring impact that felt like it might throw me off.
Behind us, the dragon's thunderous roar echoed through the blur in my mind, its monstrous presence charging after us with a fury that shook the very ground. My vision blurred with adrenaline and fear, but amidst the terror, a thin thread of hope flickered in my chest, urging me to believe that I might just make it out alive.