Shadow Cursed

Chapter 44: The Key

Hands shaking, the only light source was from the candle I brought down with me from my bedroom. The water was dripping onto the floor from the ceiling like those dungeons from the movies. The air was wet as I explored what lay beyond me in the darkness. I could hear voices, quiet ones. They cried for help, and I could hear their suffering. It looked like the underworld but worse in the dungeon.

I couldn't imagine being locked down here for centuries to rot and be forgotten. The floors were constantly flooded and cells cramp. It smelled of death and decay all around. Pure torture is what I would of called it.

Looking around every twist and turn, I couldn't find what I was looking for. I ran into many demons who were stripped of their physical forms left in only a spirit lost and wandering. Skeletons from once living beings littered the cells, I felt shivers imagining what hell they had gone through. Focusing on my goal I pushed forward ignoring the little things along the way.

Time didn't seem to exist in the dungeons, I had no way to know if it was day or night outside. I had no idea how long I had been searching. I snuck out in the middle of the night, but I wasn't aware of the time.

Stopping in my steps, I paused. A door was in my way. It was old and partly boarded up. The key hole was exposed and no key was in sight, another dead end. As I turned away I felt a familiar heartbeat from inside, and a darker presence. He was inside this door, there was no other door unexplored. A feeling in my gut told me to walk away, but my heart was racing telling me to find the key.

A key, where could a key be located in a dungeon. I tried to recall if I had seen a key earlier while wandering and I couldn't remember. It had to be somewhere nearby or somewhere in this place.

I leaned against the wall carefully and cursed at myself, I had come down here to be forced to turn around when I was so close. I prayed for a sign.

Look for the collared dog, but don't wake him.

A collared dog, of course, the key wouldn't be hidden in plain sight. That would be too easy and convenient. Where would they keep a dog guarding the key to possibly the answers I was searching for.

The massive maze like dungeon didn't help much with finding a collared dog. The reminded me of a scene from a movie, except the main character didn't make it out alive. Shivers went down my spine as I felt it watching me, this thing I was looking for. Every little sound around me was enough to leave a spook.

"A collared dog," I whispered quietly as if I was talking to someone that wasn't there. Leaning against the wall on my back I felt hopeless.

Caught off guard by a faint voice, "Beware of the dog that guards the end of the hallway, he can hear your beating heart a mile away. He can smell the fear as you get closer. He can taste your blood as thinks about eating you for dinner." The voice paused, "Better to turn back while you still can and have a choice." The voice stopped again.

I felt chills down my back as I felt something breathing down my spine. It was a little too close for comfort. "I need the keys."

The voice responded, "I can't stop you from your doom, but I can give you advice. Don't wake the dog, what ever you do."

Great, stuff I already been told, "And how do I achieve not waking the dog long enough to take the keys?"

No answer. Perfect.

I glared down the long path ahead of me, oh how I wished I had a traveling buddy. And along a path that I probably would never see the light of day again.

The floor started shaking every so often, I had to be careful where I stepped. The air was hot, suffocating me slowly. The dog couldn't be too far now. The mini earthquakes became stronger as time passed and I struggled to stay on my feet. Holding onto the wall for support I made my way to the opening at the end of the hall.

As expected a giant 2 headed dog was laying on the ground sleeping. He was chained to the wall behind him but the excess chain was still a good distance. Slowly trying not to make a sound, I crept closer to him. His snoring shook the floor as I fought for balance once again.

A shiny object had caught my eye, hanging from his collar was a set of keys of all shapes and sizes. There it was, just how to get it without waking the dog.

In all my pondering I seemed to not notice that the dog had woken up and was making its way toward me, it struck me when I could feel his hot breath breathing down on me. "Good boy, good boy," I tried to calm the dog but it had no effect. He kept staring me down. I was really bad with animals.

I ducked and rolled away barely in time before his paw came down where I was standing seconds ago. My breath was short and heart pounding. Not good, not good at all. Another paw came down and another narrow escape. How long until I would be too tired.

Almost hopeless, I helplessly tried to gain access to the collar. But he kept me at a distance not allowing me to get closer. He reminded me of the neighbors stupid dog that hated me.

After making a grave error, back against the wall I tried to find an escape route. Running between the legs might be difficult, and getting around him was no option. I took deep breaths, there had to be something here of use.
A shining object caught my attention, it was sharp and rusted, but it didn't need to be sharpened to be used. Throwing all my force into the sharp object, it stuck in its paw like a thorn or splinter. He paused for a moment then he started rampaging around the clearing. All that succeeded was to make him mad, and want to kill me more.

Caught in his tantrum I found myself flying across the room and hitting the wall and laying on the cold hard ground. He came charging at me mercilessly, as I couldn't escape and was now cornered. Pulling a sword out of a decaying body near me, I held it out as a weapon, the dog actually laughed at me. I only gripped the old rusted sword tighter in my hands.

The dog seemed to be more amused to see my next course of action over how much he was gonna enjoy his meal.

With time running out, I found a last ounce of strength and ran at the great beast. There was a loud whine and a bright light then silence.

Opening my eyes, the scene was different. Sword still in hand I looked around me. There was no two headed man eating dog, only a shining sun. The clearing was not littering with the bones of unfortunate souls. The air even seemed less toxic. Where was I, and what happened to the beast?