Chosen Successor

Bigger Fish

How long has it been? It feels as though it has been hours- maybe even a day or so, but time can become hazy when you were running for your life. Originally, when you had first been thrown down into the hole, there was nothing in sight. It was pitch black. Absolutely nothing- until that thing showed up. Thing- you call it a thing, but it looks too familiar. Looks can be deceiving, you know it's not what your animal brain is believing it to be.

But you can't stop thinking it. That thing was-

The pounding gets closer, making you huddle further into the hole you were sat in before going deathly still. It was a game of cat and mouse- but your leg was caught in the mousetrap, and you were scurrying trying to get away. The numbness was gone, you could feel the stinging from the leg, and your vision had blotched from the blood loss. You swear you had blacked out at some point, but you can't remember much. It was all such a blur.

A golden leg steps in front of your small hole, thumping onto the ground while a hand lands near your hole for balance. Another hand lands next to it, and a red body comes into your vision. It hadn't leaned down- and you're hoping it won't. This hole was two-way, you had dived in from the other side to escape the monster, but you don't think you would get away a second time. It was hopeful thinking to believe you could.

"Gotta hand it to ya', kid! No tools and a mangled leg, yet you run pretty well!" The voice of your friend plays in your ears, as if he was all around you. "Howsabout' I rip that leg off of ya'? One less thing to worry about!"

A large black eye peers into yours. You cry out, body moving back instinctually, nerves on fire and brain running a mile a second. He sees you, of course he would, this is his domain. Your hands scratch at the floor, nails digging into the stone for any leverage as you scamper back down the small hole and out to the other side. Tears rush down your face as you heave yourself out of the hole with bleeding fingers.

This was your friend! The one you had traveled with for a good bit of time now- so why was he so angry at you? Angry would put it lightly, it seemed like he was trying to kill you. Bill has never been this angry with you, nor have you seen him with this kind of anger towards anyone else. Except- and your mind struggles to think as you lug yourself across the floor- when Bill had torn apart that glarbnock, but that was for you, was it not?

The stone is cold under your feet, your shoes had been lost while running from the monstrosity chasing you. He had toyed with you- your life was a mere plaything to him. You can still feel those hands around your body as he squeezed the air from your lungs, and you can still feel the crystals under your skin as he flung you into a jagged wall. Everything hurt. It hurt so bad. But he got a kick out of it. Every time you screamed in pain when he dragged you back by your legs, he would cackle and call you pathetic.

Perhaps you were.

With your leg you could only do so much- and your all in this moment was not enough. He was leagues ahead of you, everything you tried to do, he was at your heels and laughing at your attempts. It was horrifying. He snuffed every bit of confidence you had, reveled in your lack of abilities, and jeered when you tried to fight back.

Fight back- yeah, you won't be trying that again. Not when he had threatened to spear you on one of his many, many sharp teeth.

You look to the crystal hall Bill had to climb through to get to the other side of the hole. Good. He hadn't made it through yet. You throw yourself forward, wincing as small crystals and rocks imbed themselves into your feet.

But you can't move forward. The red mass of Bill stands directly in front of you, top pyramid rotating in place as the eyes on each side stare at you with sickening glee. You can't breathe. Not again. Not turning your back from him, you reel backwards, hoping to sink back into the hole. Unfortunately, you are not that lucky.