Into The Abyss | TWIN: Bloodless Trek
"No way!" Tyke started jumping. "What happened next?"*
The pair were still shaken by the fall, and with all their protection crystals destroyed, they were an easy meal for the surrounding beasts. Sylla stood, trembling. The crystals might have protected their lives, but the energy they needed to work was still taken from the casters. So while they were alive, they were still exhausted. Still, someone had to protect Serje.
"We have to run Sylla." Serje started looking around. "You can't find them all, not in your state!"
"W-watch me," Sylla said, drawing her sword. This gave the beast pause. Their red eyes gleamed as they slowly advanced on our heroes. Sylla was all bravado, of course. Sometimes, you had to lie to yourself to give yourself power, a fighting chance. No amount of lying could propel her strength at that instance, she knew that, for the sake of Serje she had to be strong.
"Their love was really that intense?" Myke asked. "I always thought Sylla was more of a protector than a lover."
"Sylla only protected those she loved!" Tyke was still jumping. "And she loved Serje most of all."
Shush! Sit down or I stop the story! Good. Now, where was I? Ah, yes.
"There!" Serje yelled. "Sylla, an opening! A cave!"
Sylla wasn't one for retreating, but she understood well enough the value of a chokehold. They were in the open. Snow, ice, and rock was the only thing surrounding them. Well, that and the encroaching horde. The two of them had landed in a sort of glade. The area where the horde was approaching had a gap that seemed to lead to a much larger area. While on the opposite side, behind our daring couple, was nothing but jagged rocks and tall cliffs.
And, as it just so happened, several tiny caves.
"Go1" Sylla said, still facing the trolls, "I'm following! Go!"
Serje stumbled, barely able to stand upright as he moved towards the nearest cave. The crystals had taken a lot out of him. Sylla carefully followed, barely able to hold up her sword. She knew the moment she dropped pretense the horde would charge them without a second thought. If they even had thoughts to begin with.
It didn't work. The horde started charging.
"Serje! Run!"
"I am!"
"Run faster!"
Using all her might Sylla reached, then grabbed Serje and started dragging him towards the cave entrance. It wasn't enough. They both saw that death was imminent.
"Better to die under an open sky!" Sylla shouted, panting.
"Better to not die!"
"You think that cave will stop them?"
"We're almost there!" Serje through a pouch of powder behind them, the pouch burst into a tar-like substance. It wouldn't slow them down much as the substance was meant to act as an inflaming agent. It was better than nothing as some did get stuck, if only for a few seconds. A precious few seconds.
Serje and Sylla made it past the threshold of their targeted cave. Sylla turned her face a snarl with both hands on her sword. She was surprised to see the first troll so close. She barely had time for prayer. So be it! Death was meant to be swift and vicious and -
"Aaaaahhhhhh!" Tyke hid behind a pillow, crying. "I don't want them to die!"
It's alright, Tyke!" Myke went to sit beside him. "They won't die here. It's too soon." He patted his friend on the back. "Go on, sir. We're sorry."
Erm, yes. It's all right. Perhaps I was a bit too dramatic? Yes.
The beast lunged forward with staggering dexterity. Sylla raised her sword, exhaustion taking over. The beast landed on the ground in front of her confused. It and Sylla both. The same happened with the others. As they leapt forward they got repelled back. Serje finally saw what was happening.
"A forcefield? Here?" He gasped. "Love, how did -"
"It isn't me," Sylla said, eyes wide. The pile of confused trolls only grew as they attempted to enter the cave.
Sylla turned. Who was casting the spell? There are more dangerous things than trolls in the world. Had they forgone a bloody fate only to fall into a more terrible one?
"Who is there?" Sylla's voice was hoarse, but she tried to shout all the same. "We seek shelter!"
Serje looked around in the blackness, then got threw a handful of glowing powder in the distance of the cave. The powder started the glow more intensely as soon as it hit the ground. The cave was empty.
Sylla, barely able to walk turned away from the mounting pile of trolls behind her. She signaled for Serje to stand up and walk beside her. They were still in danger.
As they walked, very slowly, over the glowing beads, someone kicked a rock. The rock hit another rock, which in turn made the floor under their feet vanish. The pair fell into absolute darkness.
But it wasn't a long fall. Nor a bumpy one. Darkness was smothering them, however. Sylla, alert as always tried to stand up but fell. Her fatigue had reached its peak. She was done.
"Weary travelers." A voice reverberated off the walls.
"Who is there?" Sylla's voice cracked with fear. Helpless as she was, she could not protect Serje.
A light shone in the blackness, revealing a smiling mustached face. "The caretaker of the tunnels." He set the light at his feet and offered a hand for support. "Do not be frightened, child. You are safe here."
🔴 Read the TWIN Anthology; a collection of unrelated stories with the same cast of characters.
🔵 Obligatory shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
Cover image source.
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