213 The Demon's Prey

An ear-piercing screech echoed. He couldn't help but glance at the passageway's entrance, where a figure stood illuminated by the faint light crystals in the walls. The aura around his body was the same color as the fresh blood dripping from his arm. Gregen licked his fingers clean before rubbing them on his compound eyes.

"They're still screaming in my head." He yanked out locks of his hair, which morphed after floating down the floor and wiggled into the cracks in the walls. "Someone needs to pay." Two cracks sounded and he collapsed, his legs having turned into mush. Liquified bone leaked out through his pores, covered his deformed limbs, and solidified into an exoskeletal layer similar to a grasshopper's legs. His antennae turned down the chamber. He bent low and lept forward.

'I need a weapon.' This was one of many of Thomas's thoughts. No matter how much distance he had gained, he couldn't pull out as much life essence as before. Heavy thuds got louder, and the smell of iron grew thicker in the dusty air. 'Already?' Thomas thought, running out of breath. Gregen's mumbling reached his ears. A few seconds and that thing would catch him, so he grabbed a pickaxe, the best he could find.

'I only know how to use a spear and…throw stuff.' He slid to a stop, life essence condensing around his arm, and launched the pickaxe only for it to bounce off of Gregen's leg. Then Gregen raised his great sword, blue and red energy swirling around his limbs, slid to a stop right in front of Thomas, who was still recovering from his throw, and swung right for his ribs. Thomas could only guard with all his life essence but was smacked down the passageway.

Ribs shattered. Thomas's vision went dark as he struggled for consciousness amidst his pain-filled world. He crashed into a support beam, which splintered. Several cracks ran along the weathered ceiling. Dust flew down along with some rubble. He rolled further down the passageway just before the support beam collapsed, followed by the ceiling.

Gregen grabbed his ears, groans escaping his mouth at the clatter of each rock. "It's too loud." He said something else, but Thomas couldn't make it out over the crashing ceiling and the ringing in his ears.

'Now how should I get out of here? My path back is blocked.' He looked further down and squinted at the figures on the ground. They sure weren't mining equipment, although they were cold, covered in some dust, and dead. Only the dehydrated skin and bone were spared; the rest eaten. Bile rose to Thomas's throat at both the sight and the horrid smell, but what came out was only water. 'What is this?' he thought. 'This…nothing like this was in any book I've ever read about adventuring.'

One clack followed another. He froze, the adrenaline washing away like his last bit of hope. He looked back at the collapsed entrance where, one by one, the rocks fell. Gregen's compound eye peered through the small opening. "I'm not finished with you."

'Guys, goddess, anyone, please help me.' Thomas forced his legs to take his aching body further down the chamber.

…

Doevm and Frey rushed through the cave's entrance, all thoughts of continuing silently abandoned. There were a few guards a little deeper into the chamber, which the duo dealt with in a few moments. Their footsteps clanked against the stone, getting faster and louder by the second. "Frey," Doevm said. "Remember what I said. Remember you are on a time limit."

"I know that," Frey said as he erupted in a white aura and surging blue life essence. "You should handle the small fry. I'll kill them if I do it."

"Got it." Doevm said as they rounded a corner to be met with two more men, both in their stances. One stab from Doevm's spear and one was down. The other one took a swipe at Frey, who picked him up by the neck and slammed him into the wall.

"Where is he?" Frey spat. "Where is-" Doevm put a hand on his arm. Frey took several deep breaths and let the unconscious man go.

Doevm nodded: "Good." Continuing onwards a little more, until they found a rickety door at the end of the chamber with blood coming from the bottom. "Frey," Doevm said after trying the handle and finding it locked.

"Got it." Frey said as they both backed away from the door. Frey held his shield in front of him and charged right through the door. When the cloud of dust settled, he found himself in a cramped room full of tiny cells and bundles of rags. Leaning against a part of the wall just shy of the collapsed door, covered in both links of chains and his own blood, was Trak.

"You could have knocked," Trak coughed.

"Where is my friend?" Frey saw red and Doevm held him back, his arm covered in an aura. Frey bit his tongue. 'Not yet,' he thought as blood dripped down from his cheek, and from his clenched fists. 'Just a little longer.'

Doevm poured a healing potion down Trak's throat. Each sip brought a little color back to his pale face.

"Thanks," Trak coughed some more. "Even though I was healing myself up with…" he coughed again. "life essence, I couldn't have remained conscious if not for that." His head slouched but Doevm slapped him awake. "Sorry, I almost passed out again. Looks like I'm wrong about most things today." His smile faded. "It's Gregen…He's possessed by a demon. Went after…Further down…" Trak's eyes closed and even though Doevm slapped him again, he didn't open his eyes.

"Frey," Doevm turned around. Frey was gone. "Well then," Doevm said as he rushed past the flaps of leather and quickly caught up to Frey, who was charging down the halls with his shield and spear drawn. "Can you hear me?" Doevm yelled. Frey didn't respond.

'He's already snapped. It's a miracle he went this far in the first place.'

Doevm put some distance between them but he kept yelling: "Hang onto what you want to protect. That's the only way to keep yourself sane. Hang onto it. That power, it can be a curse if you use it incorrectly."