Falling... falling into the black unknown, it seems an eternity, as I whooshed past grotesque shapes and creatures too dark to make out. Now and then, a limb-or whatever it is- will dart out, missing me by inches, and I will catch the gagging reek of rotting flesh. The indecipherable sights, the suffocating smells, imprisoning me in a cage of fear, pure fear. i closed my eyes, but the worst of all, the sound, still ripped through my consciousness. Screams of untamed violence, shrieks of unspeakable pain, whispers of twisted desires.......
No more....please..... No more! Let it end, let it end, let it end-- a wail of agony-- demented wont-- let it end, let it end let it end--fetid stench--petrifying terror-- insane laughter--pure evil--I want to die! Let it end..... let.... it..... end.... let....it...........................
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"Yessssssssss........Yessssssssss! Fiiinally, one in flessshhhhh!" The creature threw back it's head and laughed, an inhuman blast of hideous sound. It reached out a hand, a hand covered in putrid, slimy, congealed flesh the colour of swamp mud. the tip of its finger traced down the snowy white forearm of the unconscious girl. Where it touched, decay blossomed. The fair skin was now defaced with an oozing, contaminated wound. The trailing finger reached the center of her palm.
Without warning, pure energy blasted from her, lancing the foul creature with brilliant rays of violet streaked white, throwing it back twenty yards before slamming in to the cave wall. The shocked creature looked back at the limp, vulnerable girl. "Magicssss? You are one with the ancient skilllsssss?" Like the god of death come to collect his victim, the creature loomed over the prone figure of the girl. " Long since has thiss one encountered one ssssuch as you. This one wonders...." The creature closed tattered eyelids over slitted yellow eyes. It flexed, and extended an oily mind probe. The girl's consciousness was open and undefended. The probe brushed against her mind. The creature's eyes flew open with shock. With a scream of rage, it swiped at the girl, leaving deep gouges on her neck. She jerked as if electrified, then screamed as the poisonous lacerations seared with fiery pain.
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I am burning. Something is burning me. Four white hot lines on my neck and my arm feels as if it had been split open. I heard a shriek of agony and terror. My raw throat told me it was mine. "Welcome, to the Cavvessss of Night," I screamed again, involuntarily, as the chilling, disembodied voice whispered. My breaths turned into gasps. The pain was escalating.
"Who-who are you?" I managed through my teeth, holding in the horrific pain.
"Who I am doessss not matter, but newsssss I have for you. Sssssad newsss, I'm afraid," It's voice was a mocking, falsely sad whisper that clawed at my ears.
"What news?" I gasped. Beneath the suffocating blanket of pain, I am afraid. Afraid of this horrible, disgusting creature, afraid for Martha battling the Snowclaw above, fraid of the news I was about to hear. I fought the excrutiating pain, trying to suppress it, to contain it
"Your fffriend........ sssshe betrayed you," His words pierced, and my mind jolted. No. Never.
"No. Syldaveen would never." I said weakly, . Was it my delirious state, or did his eyes glint at the name?
"I ssseee doubt within your heart. Doesss sshe told you what will be the outcome of thisss wandering journey? Doesss sssheee tell you her secretsss, like you tell her yourssss? Hassss nothing seeded susspicion within your mind? Doesss sshe treat you asss an equal, partnersssss on a quessssttttt?"
Through the pain, his words hit home. Those were the very questions I directed at myself, the very doubts that gnawed at my heart at weak moments.
"Massssked creatures, prowlerssss of night,
Deafnesssss of sssound, blindnesss of ssight.
Whisperssss in the ear, deception in the eyesss,
Giver of trusst, crumblesss to dusst."
The creatures voice had changed. It echoed around the chamber. It echoed in my head. From the moment the first word reached my ear, I was bewitched. I believed.
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To be continued. Hmm.... bit dark for my usual writings.
