35. The Hourglass
The Hourglass
Scarlet
A bruptly, the sands spit me out, dropping me into a dim cavern. I crash to my hands and knees on the stone floor, coughing and shaking sand from my hair. It's done - I made it through. Relief and elation well up in me as I regain my feet, squinting into the gloom. Above me is the towering flow of sand pouring from high above. Without magic, that fall alone would have killed me. I wonder… a quick glance around and I can see more glass in the far off distance surrounding me still, but the shape is almost upside down from where I just was.
It can’t be. A laugh escapes me. I must be going crazy. Did they throw me into a giant hourglass? A hint at time running out for the last trial?
A blinding flash suddenly illuminates the cave, and I am no longer alone. Surrounding me stand a dozen figures wearing each competitor's likeness. More magic? Confused, I turn slowly, taking in the circle of doppelgangers. Their faces show no emotion, but they mirror my movements exactly.
Perception is fleeting... My own double's dagger lifts in warning. These must be shadow selves summoned to challenge me, mimicking me perfectly. I cannot beat them by matching skill for skill. I must be unexpected.
I charge first, faking left then rolling right and springing up inside the guard of one double. My dagger slides smoothly into his heart and he dissolves into black vapor. The real fight begins.
I abandon all defense, aggressing relentlessly with blinding strikes from all angles. The doubles react a blink too slow, and two more fall to well-placed blades. My confidence builds - I can win this!
But slowly the tide turns as my initial fury spends itself. The remaining doubles adapt to my onslaught, the perfect match for my every attack. My lungs burn, injuries blazing as I frantically parry and dodge their encircling blades. I cannot keep this pace forever.
In desperation, I flip atop one double's sword, slash and kick off his chest, to vault over the circle. I hit the cavern floor and sprint into the dark before my shadows can pursue. I need a new tactic, quickly.
The sound of rushing water reaches my ears. A river! Following the sound, I find a swift underground channel cutting through the chamber's far side. If I can cross it, perhaps the doubles will struggle with the terrain...
Sheathing my weapons, I dive into the biting cold waters. My sodden clothes try to drag me down but I kick furiously, angling against the push. Halfway across, a shadow appears above - the doubles found me.
One dives in after me, swimming powerfully to intercept my path. With a grunt of effort, I crash into and overturn the double beneath the surface, then continue towards the opposite shore. My feet finally hit silt and stone.
I stagger from the river onto the bank, collapsing to my hands and knees and vomiting water. A splash tells me the remaining doubles have entered the river after me. It will slow them, but not for long. I push back to my feet and run on trembling legs down a passage leading away into more unknown darkness. There has to be an escape somewhere ahead. Otherwise this trial is unwinnable.
The footfalls behind me gain ground in the winding tunnels. Up ahead, a rope bridge spans a gaping chasm, barely visible in the gloom. It will have to do. I sprint out onto the swaying bridge, my added weight making the ropes creak alarmingly.
Halfway across, the planks under me give out and I crash through into open air beneath. Instinctively, my fingers catch and clench around one of the rough ropes as I swing out over the inky void below. I cling desperately, breath frozen. Don't look down.
Far above, footsteps carefully make their way onto the weakened bridge as the doubles follow me out over the gorge. The ropes jerk and twist in their hands. They will cut my anchor any second!
Swallowing back fear, I begin hauling myself up the rope, muscles screaming protest. I cannot defeat them, but perhaps I can still evade them. The lead double's blade flashes down toward my white-knuckled hand.
Letting go, I allow myself to plummet into the abyss. The wind roars in my ears for seconds or hours - I lose all sense of time. Is this what dying feels like?
Just as I abandon all hope, the fall abruptly ends. My body slams into an icy pool, the shocking cold driving the breath from my lungs. I sink into shadow before clawing back desperately for the surface.
I break into blessed air again, coughing violently. Jagged stone walls loom all around, barely visible in the gloom. But above, a soft light glows, pulsing gently.
I flip onto my back, floating as strength flees my thrashing limbs. Craning my neck, I realize the radiance emanates from the highest point of the hourglass above. It seems to beat in time with my slowing heart as I drift, mesmerized by its hypnotic rhythm.
With a final bright pulse, the last golden grains fall and settle into the giant cavern. The glow fades. Understanding washes over me – the sands of my trial have finally run out. Time is up.
I roll over, slowly pulling my leaden body through the dark waters toward a sandy shore just ahead. Relief floods me as I crawl onto blessedly solid ground and collapse, every muscle trembling with exhaustion.
Perception is fleeting, but courage endures. When you have nothing left but breath in your body, that is enough. I have passed the final trial. But was it enough to win?