Derrick startled awake, as people do when they are about to crash or fall in a dream. A tremendous pain grappled him, paralyzing his body, and suppressing his mind, he was in shock. He could not breathe; the air was searing and thick with smoke. He tried desperately to open his eyes, but the broiling heat forced him to keep them shut. He could hear the roaring of the flames and the crackling, snapping of the woods around him. Horror, dread and agony gripped him tight, assaulting his very soul, but something deep inside him would not yield. A memory flickered in his mind for all, but an instant. It was foggy and distant, the details indiscernible, yet it left him feeling secure and wanting. Derrick was suddenly awash with an overwhelming instinct to survive; an eruption of determination overcame him. In a single instantaneous action he jumped to his feet and dashed away. He had no idea where he was going, but he did not care, something inside him had taken hold and was now driving his every move.
The flames continued their relentless assault on his naked body as he ran desperately through dense forest. His clothes had caught fire and ashed long before he had even awakened. The torment of the fires bore deep into his body, how he had not already been completely engulfed was beyond his comprehension. Somehow his skin had not caught fire or at least it didn't stay on fire for long. It was not blistering, melting or peeling. Every step was anguish; every breath was pure torment, both the dirt and the air felt as if they were alight. He could barely keep his eyes open for more than a wink at a time, though it was just long enough to gain an awareness of his immediate surroundings allowing him to navigate the uneven terrain, tall grass, bushes, and dodge the oncoming trees.
Derrick’s determination to survive did not cease, and continued to endure the torturous fires for hours. The feeling of purpose that had overcome him was unrelenting and undying. As hours turned into days the density of the woods decreased, replaced with an increasing amount of shrubs and tall grass. The heat engulfing Derrick faded slightly, from an intense blistering heat to a severe scorching. Though still difficult he could keep his eyes open for slightly longer than before, making scanning the area for obstacles that much easier. The thunderous roar of the flames that had devoured him had also faded, and in their place distant screams of other condemned souls that were suffering the same cruel fate as Derrick. A figure darted through the bushes. He saw a blip in his peripheral, and it caught Derrick’s attention. He closed his eyes for a second to ease the pain as he navigated around the tree, counted half a second to himself and jumped over the burning bush. He opened his eyes again, quickly scanning the area in front of him for obstacles, then turned his head to the right, back toward where he saw the figure, but nothing was there.
“Ah!” A long agonizing, panicking scream surprised Derrick, coming toward him from his left side.
Derrick strained to make out the source of the screaming, his eyes were swelling with tears, his vision blurring, he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer in this roasting heat. He closed them for slightly longer than before, but before he opened them again he was thrown off his feet. Something had tackled him, something on fire, the heat coming off this... thing was like being back in forest again. Derrick forced his eyes open and to his astonishment the thing that had tackled was human, or at least it looked human. Its entire body was alit, its skin charred black, holding on tightly as they tumbled onto the scorched ground. The charred being screamed louder, and the flames on it grew into a violent mosh of flames. Derrick thrashed with all his might, in a mixed effort of writhing in pain and attempting to break free of its grip. The blistering heat emanating from the charred being continued to rise, the pain soon reached unbearable, Derrick couldn’t stand it any longer and let out a howling scream. After everything he had been through, nothing had ever felt this hot, nothing had ever caused him this much agony.
“No!” a strong male voice yelled.
The charred being squealed in pain, its flames vanished, within the same instant its head was split from its body. Derrick hastily rolled away and jumped to his feet, trying to piece together what had just happened. The man standing in front of him was tall and extremely fit. Wearing armor and carrying a very large sword. Derrick looked around for the remains of the charred being, but all that remain was a breeze of ash. The pain that it has caused did not subside; he could still feel it throbbing.
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“We gotta move. Now.” The man said with urgency
He took off, Derrick followed. The man was fast and stayed ahead of Derrick without much effort. The burning throbs struck Orin in waves, the pain of the demons fire did not cease. Derrick’s unrelenting determination has starting to relent. Anger and doubt filled his mind, he wondered whether he could even escape this place, maybe this man isn’t even helping, what if he’s in league with the demons. The man noticed and slowed his pace to match Derrick’s.
“The demon’s have corrupted you.” The man stated factually.
Derrick looked at him curious and suspicious.
“When a locust gets a hold of you it’s fire burns you because the locust is fueling the fire and the locust is corrupted.”
It clicked in Derricks head
“Here, take this” Zak tossed a vial filled with dull lit blue liquid.
“That will keep the corruption at bay, we aren’t safe yet, there will be many more before we get out of here, fight it and keep up.”
The man pulled ahead forcing Derrick to push himself to his limits. Derrick did everything in his power to fight the feelings that were growing inside him. He felt he had no choice, but to trust this man, or else he would be alone again. The screams of the demons echoed through the fiery plains. Derrick looked around and notices that they are being followed. He turns and looks ahead to the man leading, he did not seem to realize
“W... we got company” Derrick yelled ahead, trying to hide his panic
The man looked back at Derrick with a look of why are you telling me things I already know? As they ran more demons trailed them, Derrick was finding it difficult to maintain this pace, but the man was unwavering, but every time Derrick slowed the man slowed and encouraged, and commanded him to push forward. Every time Derrick was sure he had nothing left to give, he kept on going, somehow. The screams of the demons had become a chorus, a swarm of them had gathered and was in close pursuit of them. Derrick could no longer hold in his panic.
“If they catch up we’re done for!”
Up ahead Derrick could see several more approaching fast.
“This is it!” The man said, surprising Derrick.
“This is where we make our last stand; you survive this it’s only another day’s run to Fort deliverance”
The man readied his giant sword. Derrick, feeling exhausted beyond anything he had ever felt, readied himself. He would keep them off of him no matter what. Suddenly a feeling of dread overcame him. Derrick couldn’t fight the whispers inside his head any longer. The entire time they had been running they had kept them in check. As long as they were moving these demons couldn’t catch them, they couldn’t hurt them, but now they had stopped. Now they was no escape. The whispers grew louder as the swarm of demons closed in, and Derrick knew now, there was no way out this time. The doubt of their survival, the panic of the oncoming horde, and the inevitable pain that they would suffer, Derrick couldn’t bear to go through that again. Derrick dropped his guard and turned to run, his only chance to survive. The man grabbed Derrick by the arm and yanked him closer.
“Do not let them win! Do not let the corruption take you!” The man said half pleading, half demanding. “Push out the devil’s whispers! Take backs your mind and fight with me!”
Without warning, a burning figure, whose flames are radiant orange/red/yellow darts into the scene gracefully executing demon after demon, using a combination of furious blasts of fire and swift strikes with her blade.
They fight, and win. Derrick does manage to get hit a few times and his corruption grows deeper. He becomes paranoid, angry, and impatient.
Valorin has no interest in him, exchanges words with Zak briefly and rockets away.
“Let’s get moving before the next wave catches us, the fort is close”
As they trek through the Dessert. Zak explains his memory, states that they are in hell, that those were demons, and explains what the corruption is and how it works. He explains that the women we passed was Valorin, and that she’s a prophet, and prophets are the strongest beings in hell. He also explains that he was “called” to come to the southern jungle to find Derrick, and that something greater than them both must be at work.
As they flee more Charred Ones follow. As they continue running, the vegetation dies down until the ground is just smoldering embers.