"This bridge will not hold long ," Cliff called out. "We have to cross it now, before it crumbles beneath our feet!"

Fear rushed through me, even as an insatiable curiosity pulled me forward. I followed the others, picking my way carefully across the unstable stones. A third of the way across, the entire bridge suddenly shuddered and a grinding rumble echoed off the mountain walls. Masonry splashed into the river of molten rock as an entire section collapsed into dust and debris. The bridge swayed violently under our feet, stones toppling into the abyss and leaving behind a ragged gap in the center of the span. We scrambled for handholds on the treacherous rock, fighting to keep our balance as the ancient bridge crumbled and tilted at a perilous angle beneath us. We hurried onward, half stumbling in our haste to reach the midpoint of the crumbling bridge, when shadows stirred in the depths. Sinuous beasts of dark fire and churning smoke rose from the molten rivers, slithering swiftly up the remaining pillars supporting the bridge and onto the span itself. They hissed a demand in a tongue that seared our ears.

"Payment for passage is due. The keys. But they alone will not suffice."

The bridge bucked and tilted wildly as they snaked toward us, writhing closer with Hell's flames dancing in their eyes, forked tongues tasting our fear. We retreated back in terror from the creatures. But the bridge was disintegrating under us with every frantic step, stones rupturing from the surface to hurtle into the inferno below. There was nowhere to run, no escape from the hungry elementals bearing down upon us or the crumbling span likely to fail at any moment. We were caught between the monsters intent on devouring us whole and the long fall to our doom in the molten river under the bridge.

I swung my blade at the nearest beast, hoping to slice through the shadow beast's flesh, but my sword passed harmlessly through its smoky form.

"We cannot fight shadows!" I called out in warning to the others, dodging flares of crimson fire.

The creatures swarmed around us, their fangs and claws raking through my leather armor to cause small but painful, stinging wounds. We tightened our ranks, drawing close together as we were surrounded with nowhere left to flee. Sam brandished the silver key uncertain what power it held, a blinding beam of pure light filled the spaces between us and the monsters. Brilliant flashes seared a path through the horde. The shadows shrieked, recoiling from its purifying glow.

"The light repels them!" Tyler shouted. "Use the key. Keep them at bay!"

Sam wielded the key like a beacon, sweeping its rays across the bridge. The creatures retreated, hissing their frustration, only to launch renewed attacks each time Sam paused for breath. Their numbers were steadily growing as more pulled themselves onto the bridge. My sword arm burned with the effort to drive them back, giving Sam precious seconds of rest to wield the light again. But we were tiring, and the bridge continued its perilous collapse around us, stones breaking away to leave gaps too wide to jump. If we didn't find a way past these creatures soon, our only escape would be a lethal plunge into the fiery river. Sam having bought us some time, plunged his hand into his pack, fumbling now to find the gold key. He pulled it from the pack and raised it high above his head.

"With any luck we can slow time again" He shouted to us.

A ripple of energy flowed out from the key, slowing the churning lava to stillness and halting the crumbling bridge in its tracks. The very air seemed to freeze around us as time ground to a stop. "Run!" I shouted, shoving at the others. "The key's power probably will not hold for a second time!"

We scrambled across the time-frozen bridge, leaping over fissures and sliding past tilted sections threatening to give way once the magic released them. My heart pounded as I glanced over at the smokey creature now locked in place, jaws agape and claws outstretched where they had been ready to seize us. With every step the key's power seemed to wane, its magic depleting quickly.

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The bridge trembled under our feet as time fought to reassert itself, cracks widening into gaps even magic could not stave off. We were nearly halfway across when the first stones broke free of the spell, crumbling into fiery dust. The bridge swayed as the magic drained, whole sections tilting at perilous angles beneath our feet. The elementals twitched to life behind us, smoky figures emerging as they turned our way in rage. Their quarry was escaping, the delicious meat they had smelled was now beyond their frozen grasp but not for long. They hurled themselves after us as the key's spell unraveled, razor sharp claws and fangs bared. They closed the distance with frightening speed. So near were they that I could feel the searing heat of their breath against my back and smell the acrid stench of smoke clinging to their shadowy hides. Tyler stumbled on the crumbling stones ahead of me. I grabbed his arm to steady him, pulling him onward as a chorus of hungry shrieks rose behind us. They were upon us and it seemed there was no escape.

Finally, We broke through the startled beasts, shoving aside their smoky figures with all our strength. They swiped claws at our flesh, tearing through both armor and skin, but their forms had not yet fully awakened from the keys spell to do more than stall our progress. Smoke billowed around us as they sought to herd us back toward the center of the bridge, but we worked together to batter them down with our swords. Their shrieks of rage echoed around the cavern.

Step by step we gained ground, fending off their attacks through sheer determination even as their claws left glowing welts and tattered flesh behind. They snapped and howled at our heels, coiling around us seeking any weakness to exploit. I slashed at their smoky tendrils that wrapped around my legs, while beside me Tyler crushed the half-formed figure of a beast under his shield, dissipating it into mist that quickly began reforming. Every step was hard earned, and yet we did not falter. Behind us, time resumed its relentless march. The bridge gave a shuddering groan and collapsed into ruin, plunging most of the monsters into the molten river.

The last remaining beast unleashed a roar that shook the ground, its claws scraping and gouging into the rocks as it thrashed about trying to pull itself up over the ledge. It raised a smoke laden foots into the air and slammed it down onto the ledge, Fiery talons grasping at the lose stones. Tyler was within its range when it attacked. He cried out as those claws found his thigh, sinking deep into the flesh of his leg. Blood sprayed against the boulders. He screamed in agony as the beast yanked back with all its might, dragging him towards the edge of the precipice. Tyler clawed frantically at the crumbling rocks. His fingers tearing into the loose soil as he struggled in vain against the creature's raw, brutal strength. My heart dropped as I watched in horror, helpless, while the beast lurched further out from the cliff face. It's jaws parted to reveal a mouth lined with dagger-like teeth. the beasts neck and throat billowing with foul black smoke. Coal fire eyes burned with a sinister orange red light. They fixed hungrily on Tyler as it let out another bone-chilling roar. With slow, deliberate malice it began to swing its huge bulk outwards. It's massive tendrils of smoke clinging to the cliff even as its prize dangled and thrashed against its iron grip. Tyler's screams echoed through the cavern as the creature dragged him inch by inch over the brink of the chasm. His fingers desperately clutching at the ledge now, until finally only the tips remained in view.

"No!" I screamed lunging forward and seizing Tyler's wrist, his blood slick fingers slipping in my grasp. Throwing myself onto the crumbling ledge, I wrapped both hands around his wrists in a iron grip just as the last of his fingers lost their hold. My knees and elbows scraped agonizingly against the rocky ground as the full weight of Tyler's body jerked me forward, nearly pulling me over the edge along with him. The beast bellowed in rage, thrashing about as I held Tyler firm. Summoning every ounce of strength left to me, I growled through clenched teeth and pulled with all my might.

" You wont make a meal of my friend today!" I locked eyes with Tyler. "Don't worry buddy, your gonna make it out of this one!"

The smoky beast's rancid breath washed over us in a noxious wave as it snapped and gnashed its jaws, flecks of saliva spattering us, It roared in frustration giving a savage wrench of its head. I felt Tyler's arm slip from my grasp.