Muse 9 (ONC 2020)

Chapter 7

The tunnel leading from the gutterfalls quickly split off into two paths. Thanks to Eurykhan's map and his notes on the tunnels, I was able to choose the right path with confidence. I kept up a swift pace as I traveled down it, continually glancing to my sides and behind me.

My Muse 8 in my hands, I tried not to think about what Eurykhan had written concerning the Library. I needed my head in the game, in the here and now, and not dwelling on what challenges I'd be facing on reaching the location where the texts were housed. I needed to be prepared for anything that could happen before reaching the Library – I would figure out what to do once I got there.

A sound from up ahead made me freeze. For a moment, I stood stock still before retreating to the wall of the tunnel, clicking off my illuminators. I had seen briefly the sketches of the monsters that roamed the tunnels down here. I didn't want them seeing me before I had a chance to see them.

That was when I remembered that the creatures of the Drain didn't need the light to see. But, well, I sort of did.

I rolled out of the way just in time, coming up a few feet away on one knee. Knocking my wrists together, my illuminators flickered on in time for me to see the hulking creature standing where I had been several seconds before.

My gauntlets showed me that the beast was nine feet tall, with broad shoulders leading into a slender body. Dark green scales covered its skin, with black spikes sticking out down the length of the spine. The creature was athletically built, with sharp talons on its large, three-toed feet and smaller, thicker claws on its hands. Leaning forward, arms held out in preparation to catch prey – me, in this case – the beast pivoted to look at me.

Small eyes with large pupils stared out at me, with ears set into its skull and a mouth of small, needle sharp teeth flanked by large, sharp canines. It hissed at me, squinting against the light from my illuminators as I brought my rifle up into ready position.

As it leapt forward, I pressed the trigger on my rifle. Energy sprung from the muzzle and I realized, too late, that I hadn't changed the setting from "capture" to "kill," an ability that the newer Muse rifles had which the older ones – such as my Muse 5 – lacked. The energy struck the creature but didn't slow it down.

The creature slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. My head smacked into the stonecrete and my vision blurred as I felt its claws sink into the flesh between my ribs, the claws knocking against the bone of my ribs. Hot, shooting pain rushed through me and I screamed, kicking up with all of my strength as I wrenched my rifle upwards.

As my rifle struck the creature's neck and my legs its chest, it recoiled slightly with a hiss of pain. I used that opportunity to palm at the setting panel and then jammed the muzzle upward, aiming at the creature.

But before I could fire, the creature removed its claws from my ribs and grabbed my rifle, forcing the barrel down onto my abdomen. With its other hand, it grabbed my face, the bloodied, squared tips of its claws slowly beginning to dig into my skin as it leered at me, deliberately taking its time to allow me to feel the pain. I could feel the mounting pressure on my jawbone and knew I had to act now.

Gasping for breath, I released my rifle and drew my knees up, reaching for the daggers sheathed in my greaves. Bringing my hands back to my chest, I thrust the blades up, aiming for its neck.

The creature screeched, loosening its grip, as blood spurted down into my face. Spitting out the dark blood, I stabbed up again, my eyes stinging as its fluid blinded me. Again and again, I struck it with my knives.

The beast pushed back from me, blood dripping from its scaly neck. Kicking my boots up into its abdomen and dropping my daggers, I snatched up my rifle and lifted its muzzle, centering my sights on the creature's heart. I drew my other hand across my eyes to clear my vision and pressed the trigger.