Descent (non-definitive title)

Arcane Touch

That cold sensation, already familiar, spread all over his body.

He opened his eyes and saw that he was once again in the cavern. Naked, of course. How did he end up here, unknown.

He stood up and felt his body unnaturally light one more time.

The water pool in front of him shone lightly with the moonlight, its waters stalled, devoid of any movement.

It promised to unleash great secrets.

"Take a sip," the words came out of nowhere.

He frantically moved his head from side to side, looking for the origin of the sound. There it was, a big slug slithered in his direction, its gross body contorting and churning.

"You can talk..." he seemed to remember something, "just like the spider in the waking world".

"Correct, "the bug answered, "yet what makes you think that you're dreaming".

He thought about the question for a few seconds.

"If I'm not dreaming, then I must have gone totally mad."

"Hmmm... maybe," they both stood in silence until the smaller being spoke again, “I can't tell if you're crazy or not, but it's usual to feel that way the first time you start your descent. I suppose."

The slug was now beside him.

"What are you?" He inquired.

"A slug."

He felt stupid.

"Well yes, but normal slugs can't speak."

"They can't?"

The question left him confused. The bug continued.

"Maybe they did, but you never paid enough attention."

"But if that's the case..." he shook his head, "no, no it can't be. Having a tongue is  mandatory to produce a wide variety of vowels and consonants."

The slug emitted a sound disturbingly close to a laughter.

"But we're not speaking any human language now, are we?"

A wave of pain was sent through his skull.

"Arghh."

He held his head with his hands and looked around, as if trying not to look upon the speaking bug. Two drops of awfully black blood collided against the cold bare stone.

When did the nosebleed start?

"Hold in here a little longer," it begged. He started trembling, but the pain slowly went away between shaky breaths.

"H-how am I speaking to you then? How can I understand you?" He demanded to know.

"This is one of the many gifts provided by Master."

"Who is that... Master?"

"Patience," the slug turned around and faced the water pool, "take a sip."

A sudden feeling of dread invaded his entire body.
That call.

That fearsome call.

His legs moved on their own just like the last time. Once he reached the water pool, his feet barely touching the freezing liquid, he kneeled in front of it.

He was not commanding his body, all these movements were involuntary, like if some outer force was controlling him like if he was a puppet.

He formed a cup with his hands and slowly downed them upon the surface of the pool.

Freezing cold water started filling them up.

How did such a common phenomenon seem so unique and hypnotic now?

He got up and slightly shook his head to prevent his long black hair from getting in the way. Slowly, he dragged his hands towards his mouth.

He took a sip, then two, and then he drank the entirety of the water.

It tasted weird. Water is tasteless, yet this one...

He could not end the thought.

He grabbed his stomach with two hands. It burnt, it felt as if something inside of him was tearing apart.

He stumbled and pathetically fell to the cold stone, trembling and gagging.

And then it all suddenly stopped.

His eyes opened instantly and the visions started.

He pierced at an insane speed through the water pool that he drank from bare seconds ago.

A quick descent into darkness and oblivion.

Delving deeper with each second that passed, his sanity declining with each meter he fell.

Soon the tender light that once lit the waters was gone and the only thing that enveloped him was a vast and virgin darkness.

No other sounds but his shaky breath and the fast-paced beating of his heart were heard.

The feeling of discomfort was immense. This whole situation seemed cursed in more than one way.

And just as it seemed that nothing could break the impenetrable silence, a voice rumbled, making all his internal organs shake.

"YOU'VE DELVED TOO DEEP."

His ears hurt and bled, his heart pumped blood with such a strength that he thought it would break.

He tried to speak, he wanted to, although no other thing but a senseless mumble escaped his lips.

"I'VE AWAITED YOU."