Go on without me.

That's what she kept on repeating. I remembered it vividly. Comparing those times to now maybe I gone back and relived those moments, replaying those memories in my mind over and over again has become numb, maybe I should have left her there…. If that was hell then what should I call this?

+

Eria mouth is moving non stop muttering something I couldn't hear what she was saying properly. But it is somewhere down the line of her saying I should go on without her. Did she think I would do that? Trying to make me feel bad without even lifting a finger. She has been doing this even since we fell into this pit. All the problems and trials we faced. I have loathing myself for not being able to do anything. I hate that feeling and here she is trying to make me leave her.

We have been walking for hours now and no demons or whatever have attacked us. My legs have gotten strained because Eria on my back couldn't move or do anything. The only words that came out of her mouth was…

The journey so far has been smooth. Maybe that woman did something to protect us? I don't know what trance I was in back then, my mind was on another realm. I could still feel her presence next to me like she's lingering here.

“Argh! Leave me bitch!” Eria screamed behind me, her voice was different. Her body shaking, why is she trying to make me feel bad. I didn't reply but kept on walking its painful.

“Please don't leave me… Elana it's dark here” the grip around me tightened. Her voice was back to normal again. This has been a recurring thing since I started walking. I don't know what to make of it so I just kept quiet. My foot was healed for whatever reason I don't know if it was related to that woman. Every time my mind went to her I felt a chill down my spine.

But that's not the problem now. Getting out of here is the problem. The trail of flame was still there directing us. Everything has been going fine so far and it made me feel uneasy. My body wants something to happen maybe….

I need something to take away my thoughts from Eria and that woman. We came to an open plane with blinding lights from above, the sky? Is that the surface? My eyes couldn't adapt to the light I had to cover them. Eria hissed behind me like a cat. I pretend not to feel concerned. I'll just ignore it. I don't understand how the light from above is able to reach here. ‘I hope you have a safe trip’ those words echoed in my mind. A spell? Curse? Whatever it is, the journey so far has been safe. And it seems we have a way back to the surface.

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“Eria, we might be able to go back.” She mumbled something I can't make out what it meant. But I bet she understands what I said. Whatever happened to her, they'll be able to do something about it when we get up there I hope. Now how do we get—

A disturbing pressure was exerted on me, it is familiar I know it too well. My breathing increased, the scenery around me spinning. I could feel Eria muscles stiffened. My fingers were shaking, my legs couldn't keep their balance. What is this feeling? Fear?

“You're bound to feel that. You filth, that's the only logical reaction you can make.” A voice but I can't make out where the source is. A force from above slammed me and Eria to the ground, it was like gravity around us increased. I couldn't move and the impact with the floor felt like I shattered a few bones. My skeleton is forcing itself out of my body trying to bury itself in the ground. I wanted to scream but my throat wouldn't produce anything. My eyes were wet, tears? No this felt thick and by the smell it can only be one thing, blood. My vision blurred, my heart struggling to beat. Everytime it moves I feel an astonishing pain. I don't even know what Eria is going through. Death, yes dying is better than this. Please just end it whatever you are. End it already. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please.

“Yes, beg for death. Beg for the mere escape it'll give you. You're tied to this place, even death wouldn't make you escape this. Your fate” The same voice, I still don't know where it's coming from.

Something caught my eyes. An insect-like creature bigger than any land animals I have seen. It looked familiar, I have seen it before, yes the vision I had with the snake and dogs it was there. It saw me looking at it.

Floating right above me. Its wings didn't move like the need for it wasn't there. It looked like a fly but there's something distinctive about it.

“Lilith, strange behavior from her protecting you. And even giving you a way out. I think she has her own interest. Don't flatter yourself thinking you are in love with her. That's her charm working and you fell for it very easily. I feel sorry for her going through all that trouble to protect you. Too bad for her I already had my claws wrapped around you the very moment you fell down here. She can't take what's already mine.”

“Before, you even think about it, my interest in you is just to destroy you to my own amusement. It's nothing deep like Lilith’s even though the conclusions are the same.”

“The surface have been acting quite impulsive in their own interest not taking account of those above them and we. It's quite predictive that the one's above are still protecting them. But not for long.,”

“Why am I saying this to you? Well you'll be dead soon, don't worry yourself.”

“Enough listening.”

My eardrums exploded, both my ears filled with blood. My teeth grinding against each other, I could feel them breaking. Legs turning the opposite direction twisting. I could feel them shattering. My left eye was pulling itself out of the socket. My entire body is going to get crushed under this pressure. At least after this there will be silence. That's good right? But why don't I feel happy about it? What's making me cling to life?

My left hand, maybe I could…

Just one thing

Give and take

Take

Give

Take all of me and give me all of you.