King's Quest

CHAPTER 6: DIGGING UP THE BOX

Rosella heads directly north, past the waterfall and into the graveyard. She's just going to pass through at a normal pace, when she catches sight of a zombie clawing its way out of the ground and there were more doing the same. As such, she hurries her steps and is able to bypass each of the terrifying obstacles while she continues north, into the forest with animated trees and they look none too happy.

The intrepid explorer swallows hard as she follows Lolotte's advice and brandishes the ax. The very sight of the trees' worst nightmare, terrifies them and as such, they grant her safe passage, though she never does trust that they wouldn't attack her should she turn her back on them.

As such, Rosella carries on her way, ever watchful of the many limbs that could crush in an instant. A little further north reveals a cave in the shape of a skull. Inside she finds a lightly furnished dwelling, with a cauldron bubbling in the middle. Off to the side are three blind witches, one of whom holds a small, shiny ball.

"Well, well," the one holding the orb speaks. "Looks like dinner has come to us."

Another witch bolts forward, as fast as her lack of vision will allow, as she's coached by the only one that can see. Rosella runs from the clutching hands, as the other witches cheer on her pursuer.

The dexteritous explorer rounds the cauldron again and again, as she's chased by a woman old beyond her years, who does not slow even a bit. There is only one option available, during her next round she plucks a stone from the ground and heaves it at the ball.

It makes contact and ocular sphere falls from the witches grasp. As one the three hags wail in anguish and gathered together, as Rosella picks up the dropped orb from the ground.

"Give us back the eye!" one of them shrieks and is repeated by the other two."

"Sure," Rosella says. "But you have to answer me one question, where's the box?"

"The box," another speaks. "The box lies in the locked crypt."

"Locked Crypt?" Rosella responds. "Where can I find the key?"

"The key lies with the dead," the third one informs her. "You have to appease the spirits. Dig for what they value most, but you'll never survive the zombies."

"Is there a way to survive them?" Rosella queries.

"Give us the eye and we'll give you the scarab," the second offers. "It repels the undead."

"I will only give you the eye," Rosella angles in. "If you first give me the scarab."

"Not fair!" they protest as one, but soon surrender the charm.

True to her word, Rosella rolls the eye to them and hurries out before they get their sight back. She then carries her way south past the nasty trees who are still intimidated despite the weapon being on her belt and not in her hand. So, she's able to pass without incident and into the graveyard.

The zombies are still about and she avoids them, despite the wtches' assurances. She simply is not willing to put it to the test. As such, she's able to weave her way around the shambling undead and into the decrepit manner, which in the dark is even more spooky.

She stops within the confines of the residence. She can feel an energy here that was not there before. She hears a sound coming from above her, that sounds like a baby crying. She ascends the stairs following the sound to the left most corner, into the nursery.

She can see the ghosty visage of a baby. It cries as it rocks within its crib. She draws near to the child and lays her hand upon it, it's cold and her hand passed right through it.