CHAPTER 3: DESPAIR

The howling horror, filling the air with fear and anxiety, enraged by the petty tricks I tried to play on it starts running full speed towards me, throwing vile amounts of saliva around with clear intent to feast.

Only, this time... it’s much scarier than before. The seemingly quadruped suddenly decides to run on two legs, showing off it’s immense stature. There’s dried blood around its mouth, along with red stains that go down all the way to its neckline.

An incredible amount of adrenaline rushed to my brain in that single moment and made the world around me seem like it’s moving in slow motion. It doesn’t really help as much as it could have, considering I’m in a state of panic and can’t seem to be able to muster the strength to move my legs. I’m just standing in place, fully aware of my own shortcomings.

‘Am I going to die?’

Even the question that sits on the tip of my tongue doesn’t want to come out, face to face with potential death. This, however, made me realize something. It’s not like I’m dead yet! And there’s no way in hell I’m going to give up now, after I’ve struggled so much!

By the time the monster shortened the distance between us by another half, I was finally able to break out of my trance. The first step is very important, because it should release me from my fear induced shock. And so it did…

I turn around and start running.

I’m not very fast, and I start raising questions in my mind as to how I should deal with this tragic turn of events. Running away isn’t going to help much, considering I’m much slower than my predator.

I quickly reach for my bow and arrow that were strapped to my backpack. This might be a long shot, but if I’ll be able to hurt it enough so it would slow it down, I’ll have a better chance of survival. I’ll even try aiming for it’s eyes, so if everything goes well, I could even kill it. Maybe it’s strong and I wouldn’t be able to pierce its skin, but any living thing has a weak spot in the eyes.

I pass the corner, then I kept running until I reached a decent distance away and started getting ready to retaliate.

Failure...

The moment I try to place the arrow on my bow, the large beast appears from around a corner. It comes out with a long and loud screech, caused by the large claws scratching the flat surface of the ground. I panic. My hands start trembling, and I drop my arrow on the ground. I look in horror as the small wooden arrow falls down slowly, while my life flashes before my eyes.

My mind is turning black and it feels like I’m being swallowed by a black hole. My field of vision becomes invaded by a black mist slowly creeping in towards the center and I feel nauseous. It’s like a premonition of what’s to come. My knees feel weak and I fall down on my ass.

I’m scared.

I try to pick up the arrow, but by mistake I use the hand with the bow in it and I end up throwing the bow on the ground. It bounces off the ground and lands next to the wall on my far right. I start crying and sobbing, barely getting a grip of the arrow. But what’s the point anymore? I just threw away my weapon.

Thinking about my plain stupidity made me realise that in the end, I’m nothing but a child thrown away in the jaws of a large monster that is this dungeon. I never had any way to prepare for this, and neither did I want to end up here. It might just be better to die and get it over with...

I throw up, and little bit of food comes out... bits and piece of the small maggot i ate are still visible, but the worst part is, there’s a little blood getting mixed in with my previous dinner. It didn’t come from my mouth though, it came from my nose. At the same time, I end up peeing myself without shame, not even realising until it was too late. I took such a big psychological blow that my body is rejecting any kind of foreign substance in my body, in a desperate attempt to fix whatever is wrong with it.

I look up and see the giant wolf a few steps away, slowly walking towards me with a large grin on it’s face, showing off its large fangs that could even make iron crumble to dust.

My mind is scattered and I can’t even concentrate on one thing, before something else ruins my train of thought. Mostly memories of my past with my father, hunting. Now I understand how those poor creature’s felt, trapped and cornered, when I was the one doing the chasing.

The wolf stops a few steps away from me and stares in my direction... at the shell of my former self. No struggle, no attempt at survival, just acceptance for my fate.

The grin from his face disappears...

It looks around, probably to make sure nothing else is there to disturb its dinner, and notices the pitiful state of myself and my equipment. The small bow catches his attention and stares at it intently. Shortly after, with a look of pity he stares me down while breathing slowly. It was unexpected, and despite my fragile state I figure out that something is wrong.

‘Why would it feel pity for me? Why doesn’t it just kill me? Wasn’t it trying to kill me earlier? Maybe he’s worried about the demon? Did my attempt to kill it leave an impression? […]’

All sorts of questions without answers invaded my mind and i just stood there unable to comprehend the actions of a lowly beast. I’ve always thought that monsters act on instinct, not on emotions. And even if it did act on emotions, the need for hunger should be much bigger due to the lack of food in this place.

It’s eyes change direction and stare down the corridor behind me. Interested in what it was that caught its gaze, I manage to turn my head around slowly, only to find emptiness. Nobody was there, and nothing worthy of note even present. Just walls and dust.

I look back, confused as to why he was so interested in whatever was behind me, only to find it gesturing with its head. I’m even more confused, and its becoming more restless and angry at my indifference.

‘It wants me to run!?’

Well, more exactly, it wants to hunt me...

Most likely, the short time it took to catch up to me left a bitter taste in its mouth. And with just cause… this has been probably my worst attempt at survival since I’ve been sent to this place. My thoughts and emotions are still in turmoil, and a heavy headache takes over the back of my head.

I’ve been given a second chance...

I wipe my face from all the spit, tears and snot with my sleeve, while getting up slowly. He looks pleased.

The uncontrollable shaking of my legs almost made me stumble, but I quickly grab onto the wall on my left. I already know that my chances are probably close to none, but my body is screaming in pain, as it wants to survive at all costs.

However, it’s not about how to escape with my life intact, it’s about how long i can keep fighting. I’m disappointed in myself, but more importantly, I just found a way to get back at my soon-to-be killer!

I pick up the arrow in a hurry, and start heading towards the bow. However, a deathly growl stops me in my path. It won’t even give me the satisfaction of having a way of fighting back. It doesn’t want to deal with bothersome things, it just wants to play with its food!

The feeling of throwing up comes back, and i start gagging for a few seconds. As nothing else is left in my stomach, only air escapes my lungs in an attempt to compensate for my body’s lack of nutrition.

I give up on claiming the bow and start running, looking back to check if it plans on chasing. It’s just standing there, ready to charge, but without any intention of doing so anytime soon. Good.. I still have a chance…

Stolen novel; please report.

Running is hard, and my legs have never felt more heavy, making me stumble every few steps, forcing me to spend extra time maintaining my balance. My wet pants don’t help much either, as the cold breeze lowers my body temperature, making me sneeze every now and then, snot flying everywhere from my nose.

There’s no way I’m going to find a place to hide with this trail of breadcrumbs leading straight to my location.

At some point, without me even noticing, the arrow from my hand had disappeared. Most likely it slipped when i bumped on the flat ground earlier.

Pathetic...

I keep running until I reach a change in scenery, and I take a look to the right of a three way crossroad I just encountered. That’s when I notice something interesting... there’s a way to turn back without having to actually encounter the beast. Basically, if I keep going straight then take 3 left turns, I’ll be right back to where I’m currently sitting. A loop around the path...

That gives me an idea.

All I have to do is make the beast follow my smell, and lead it in a circle. Once it reaches the loop-around, all I have to do is run back and get my bow and arrows along the way, and try again. This might actually be my very last chance, and I have the resolve this time as well as a general idea of what to expect.

I set my plan in motion, and I wait around the corner, just before the last turn.

[...]

Not much time passes, and it shows up, taking the bait and making a right turn, following my trail of bodily fluids. I wait a few seconds, then I start walking slowly, making sure I’m not heard. Once I reach the corner, I take a peek to make sure it didn’t suddenly decide to turn around.

*HOOWWWLLLLLL*

I was wrong in assuming it wouldn’t...

Just at the end of the corridor the large wolf looks towards my direction and I start sobbing again. I might really not make it this time. But the plan was still in motion.

I quickly set my resolve to go back and get my bow and arrow.

‘!!!’

A large wall was present in place of the long hallway I had come from a few minutes ago. I’m also pretty sure I didn’t see anything preventing my escape when i came to check on the monster. It just suddenly appeared while i was checking around the corner. ‘How?’

I lose control over myself from the shock, as my legs move by themselves, and I end up running back around the loop.

I take two right turns as I’m still being chased from behind by the monstrosity.

I take out my blade that was strapped to the bottom of my backpack.

I take one last look behind to check on the beast and there it was, chasing me.

All moves I make are now emotionless and calculated. I have confidence in my will to live, and I let it guide me. My body is completely out of my control. I don’t even feel awake right now… It feels like I’m watching a show as someone runs around in circles.

*AAAAAAARRRRGGHHHHH…..*

Immense pain surges through my body and it wakes me up from my battle trance and forces me back into the physical realm.

But... what caught me wasn’t what was chasing me. I still had plenty of distance between us. I look in front of me and I notice I’ve been grabbed by my waist, all the way to my chest by a large furry hand. My left hand is also trapped in its grip, and I begin furiously hitting my captor's hand, trying to release myself.

‘Two of them?’

I look back and I notice that the one chasing me was gone. Then my mind quickly switched to the wall that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere earlier. Suddenly, everything made sense.

‘An illusion?’

The monster didn’t look like a normal one, but having a special ability was probably the worst thing that could have happened.

I’m slowly being dragged closer to its face, as the large mouth opens wide enough to accept my body. I’m going to get eaten. Just as I get close enough to feel its smelly breath, in a last attempt at escape, I shove my sword into its slimy tongue.

*SQUEAL*

In a panic I’m thrown away like some pile of garbage. This was my chance to once again start running away, but all strength left my body and I became a puppet to my aching muscles.

The monsters starts furiously clawing away at its mouth trying to make the new stylish piercing go away, ending up scratching itself until blood starts flowing out. Finally it spits out my blade with anger and makes sure nothing else is lodged in its mouth.

A few drops of blood drop on my skin, right in the opening between my shoes and my pants. As to make matters worse, its blood has some kind of acidic properties and it burns like hell. I feel like my skin is being ripped apart.

With no more patience to speak of, the monster gazes at me with killing intent seeping through its pores. The most I managed to do in the end is make it angry. I’m still going to die… I motion it to come get me with my right hand.

‘At least I managed to hurt the fucker…’

*SQUELCH*

I watch in awe as a sharp stick came out of its chest, as thick as my wrist. Life slowly seeping away from the beast’s eyes.

"What!?"

The first time after months of silence, a word escapes my mouth...

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As promised, here is chapter 3 before the end of the week ... It actualy took longer than i had originally thought, but I've been pretty busy walking around the city trying to get my hands on different paperwork and finishing my move to this god forsaken country.

The airplane ride was just as bad... I ended up throwing up twice on the way and it completely messed up my sleeping times. I tried writing a little while in the airport, but nevertheless I was completely exhausted.

For any questions or tips on how i can improve you can either leave a post down below, or send me a message, they are always welcome... except for spoilers... I don't like spoiling... Also pointing out mistakes in grammar is always nice. as I am not a native english speaker.

As usual, thank you very much for reading. Please take it easy as it is the first time I try to write any kind of story.

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