I slumped down to my knees ignoring the nagging objection I felt in my thigh - numb with shock, disappointment and absolute terror. So that's it? All the trauma and pain over a core that doesn't even exist??
If only there was a way for me to know that beforehand.
If only there was a way for me to know that entering this stupid cauldron was a horrible idea.
If only there was any kind of sign to warn me of – wait.
Yes, there was a sign. Multiple signs actually. They were shoved at my face one after fucking another the more I get myself involved in this paranormal investigation game. But did I heed those signs? Did I?? Like hell I did. That much was quite obvious otherwise I wouldn't be here getting the biggest scares of my life with a piece of junk wedged in my flesh.
The Tenakth outpost. The totem infested forest. The cauldron. The shadow folk themselves. All of them were massive red flags that were being waved at me from miles but did I listen? No... I was engrossed with the idea that something as illogical as re-animated corpses and floating objects had logical explaining. I blame my brain and its practical thinking.
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I raised my head and looked around at the final destination in this hell on earth - and perhaps the final destination in my life - my eyes scanned over the walls, the empty pit and the roof. Oh how I wished so bad to go through that roof right now. I wish I had never gotten here. I wish I would have just taken the hint and stayed the hell away. Too bad wishing and regretting won't help me survive what I now consider the most difficult situation in my whole life.
I shakily stood to my legs squeaking a small yelp at the sharp pain in my injury. I gotta pull this thing out and preferably sooner than later. It's probably covered in a shit ton of filth and I'm not in the mood to be infected. If only I had some bandages or any piece of cloth to wrap the wound with, I could have treated it without worrying about the bleeding. But all I have on me for curatives are the medicinal berries, which I dumped a handful of in my mouth to keep my condition stable as much as possible. I chewed half heartedly as I looked around at nothing with tired non focusing eyes. I probably have bags underneath them that could be big enough to fit in a whole new inventory.
Suddenly, I had this urge to just call out to the jinn and ask them for a small favor: "Okay, guys. You win. I give up. Now rid me of my misery." I blurted out loud choking back tears. What's the point of staying alive anymore when there was no chance of survival? I'm badly injured and can't get out so might as well accept my fate and join the other corpses. At this point, every minute I spend alive is only torture. I'm just being weighed down by the nagging horrible reality of the current state and it's beginning to finally take a toll on my sanity.
"JUST FUCKING KILL ME!!!" I shrieked not having it in me to keep my resolve anymore. The sound of my agonized death wish bounced off the cauldron walls alongside my shaky breaths and unyielding sobs. Never have I felt this devastated in my entire life and, let's be real, I deserve it. I walked into this cauldron with my own will ignoring all the signs that I shouldn't tread where I wasn't supposed to so it's only fitting that I receive the punishment by none other than the ones who had sent me those signs in the first place. Heh. I kinda figured that when I die, I'd die to a machine or even a human who is capable enough to end me. But to die by the hands of the jinn? Wow... Until a few hours ago, I didn't even believe in them or at least wasn't sure they existed, yet here I am, about to finally meet my end by those creatures. I hope they do so nice and quick. I don't want to go through more torture than I already did. Enough is fucking enough.
