Okay, not a moose. No, this looks more like a were-bear-buffalo. Because that is so much better. But it’s got to be easier to beat than the Slip Demon, right? I mean Nexus must know I’ve had no training, and yet she’s sending this thing after me. I can do this. I can.
I heave and punch it in the rib cage. My knuckles scream in pain after contact with the damn thing. Let’s just say, it’s built like a tank.
It steps back and scrapes its hoof on the ground, dipping its head and thrusting it up again. Oh god, is it about to charge me? Yep.
At full speed, the creature races toward me and at the last second, I jump to the side, but I am not fast enough and one of those sharp, hard as hell antlers rips across my bicep. I don’t have to look to know I am bleeding; the pain is very clear. Still, I don’t have time to really take care of it, because the beast has turned and is charging me a second time.
This time, I dodge it only to slam into rocks. Well, I will definitely be purple and blue after this.
The creature is snorting like a bull, its beady eyes trained on me, but it doesn’t charge me right away. My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath and wince through the pain.
“Okay, come on, baby. It’s go time, bitch. Whatever you are.”
“It’s a Worgle, but that’s unimportant,” Nexus says unhelpfully.
“Thanks for that. Any other bit of help you want to extend my way right now?” I call over my shoulder to where Nexus is watching as if she is binging her favorite show.
She doesn’t say anything, so I assess the situation. I have to kill it before it kills me. This time, when it charges, I surprise it by also charging. This does it, as the creature doesn’t know what to think of the smaller prey coming back with full force. It bows its head, ready to impale me with its horns.
I scream in fear and rage; I like to think it is a proud warrior cry. I slide on my hip at the last second and slam the blade as hard as I can into its left eye and scramble to the side out of the way, panting. It wobbles to the left and crashes hard to the floor, twitching before going completely still.
Nexus steps forward and inspects the creature and taps her staff to the blade, which dissolves into a strange liquid that snakes up the staff to the glowing tip. The pain in my arm is now a very distinct burn. I groan and take a look at it.
Thankfully, the wound is not as bad as I assumed, but still it burns like hell. Nexus taps that damn staff and those letters start to scramble again. It’s all just too much. I groan and let out my pent-up frustration on her.
“You know what? Screw this! You don’t want to help me, fine. But I’m done with your testing BS. Got it?”
“I’m impressed.”
“I don’t give a damn what you are. Send me back up there.”
“One more test. A test of endurance.”
I start to shake my head, when the crazy witch poofs away. She doesn’t leave without leaving a gift of course. I hear the trickle of water before I see it. My eyes dart around in a panic. Water is filling up the cave at such a rapid rate that it’s already up to my knees.
Trudging through it, I try to reach the walls, looking for any kind of escape. It’s to my chest now.
“Nexus! This isn’t funny. Get back here and let me go dammit!” I cry out, but there is nobody here but me.
I’m bobbing up as the water hits my chin and my feet are no longer touching bottom. My breath comes rapidly, like my heartbeat. I take a second to calm myself the best I can. They taught us in health class that the more you panic the more energy you burn, quickening your breathing and making your air run out faster.
This is it. This is how I will die. Never mind the Four Horsemen, simple H two fucking O is enough to kill me off apparently. I’d cry if I wasn’t so damn pissed.
I suck in as much air as possible just before the water envelops me. It takes a moment to adjust to looking through the blurry water. A soft blue light shines, cutting through the gloom a little. I wonder vaguely where it’s coming from and then I dismiss the thought. Who cares where it’s coming from? At least I can sort of see, though maybe being blind as I drown would be preferable.
It’s really hard to explain the feeling of drowning. Actually, no, not really. My lungs are already pinching together as the last air bubble drifts away from me and my arms and legs are kicking and flopping around. I know I am just using up whatever energy I have left, but the calm has left me and I am terrified and I don’t want to die.
Of all the things to think about right now, Rye really shouldn’t be at the top of my list, and yet there he is, looking devilishly handsome in an annoying way. My head grows heavy, deprived of oxygen. All the fight is fading in my legs and arms. Bubbles drift up around me and I snap my head down. There, a door is opening in the floor of the cave.
That’s it, Sailor.
Get your shit together and get out of here.
With the last reserve of my will to live, I push myself to reach the door. My arms and legs, already sore from the fight, scrape the rock wall as I feel my way to the door and my hand wraps around the latch.
I plant my feet on either side of
