Chapter 4 | From Bad to Worse
1303 Words
Phoenix’s POV
Lisa’s sobs reverberated through the confined space, each heart-wrenching cry echoing off the walls of the hole. Her tears seemed to land on my arm with a palpable weight, a physical manifestation of her pain.
Desperation filled her eyes, the kind that pleaded for a lifeline. “How do we escape this?” she cried out, her voice carrying a note of anguish. I felt a surge of irritation building within me, exacerbated by the mounting pressure of our dire predicament. Lisa’s tears, like acid rain, had a way of corroding even my patience. I fought to maintain my composure, though the strain was evident in my voice as I responded, “I don’t have the answers, Lisa.”
Her frustration was tangible as it erupted into a brief outburst. “Can’t you just teleport us out of here?” Her footfalls reverberated through the ground as she stomped in agitation.
A sense of frustration repeated like a broken record surged through me. “I’ve already explained, my teleportation won’t function here.” I took a deep breath, willing my mounting vexation under control.
Lisa sank down beside me, her shoulders slumping in a defeated posture. The gravity of our circumstances was wearing on us both. My mind wandered as I reminisced about the entrance to the blue fairy’s abode. The gate, adorned with a floral arch of varying shades of blue, had been a serene sight. That tranquility had shattered when the white dove disintegrated into ashes before our very eyes.
Trembling, Lisa’s voice quavered once more. “What do we do? You’re the daughter of the king of hell, surely you have a solution.” The suggestion recoiled within me. “Me? Why should I risk everything? I could perish just like you.” My mind raced, attempting to formulate a viable strategy.
As the sands of time slipped away, the need for a solution grew more pressing. Should we return to our father, our mission incomplete, and admit our failure in securing the blue fairy dust? But then, how would I ever actualize my dream of venturing beyond hell’s boundaries, to enroll in a supernatural school and embrace a world beyond our realm? The answer remained elusive, a specter of uncertainty hanging over us.
I drew closer to the gate, my senses on high alert. The scent of rust invaded my nostrils as my hand grazed the fence, trembling uncontrollably. My eyes clamped shut, preparing myself for the impending unknown.
My eye cracked open a sliver, a cautious peep into the unknown. The air crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on. A bone-chilling realization settled in my gut – we were not alone. Then, a guttural growl ripped through the darkness, a sound that scraped against my soul and sent shivers slithering down my spine.
Swallowing hard, I forced my hand to move, pushing the gate open wider. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum against the silence. In the yawning maw of the night, a creature stepped forward. It was a nightmare given flesh, a twisted monstrosity born of dark magic and forbidden desires. A beast forged in the fires of a witch’s ambition and a werewolf’s savagery, a living testament to the price of playing the Moon Goddess.
At first glance, the howler bore semblance to a werewolf, yet its form was adorned with spikes and oozed a viscous blue fluid. Its eyes locked onto us, drool oozing from its maw as it emitted a menacing growl.
My attention flicked to Lisa, and my heart clenched. She fled with all her might, her screams carrying the weight of her survival. Fear threaded through me as I dashed in the opposite direction, motioning for her to follow suit.
Checking on Lisa, my heart sank as I witnessed the creature in pursuit. She sprinted as though her very life depended on it, her cries seemingly fueling the creature’s wrath. My mind raced, seeking an escape route from this waking nightmare.
Amidst the peril, a chuckle bubbled from within me. The absurdity of our situation engulfed me, and laughter bubbled forth until tears streamed down my cheeks. However, as Lisa turned to shoot me a glare, she stumbled and plunged into a deep abyss, disappearing from sight.
A pang of sorrow gripped me as I observed the howler cease its pursuit, its snout sniffing for any vestiges of Lisa’s scent. When it dawned on the creature that she had vanished, its attention pivoted to me. My heart raced as it scraped its rear leg against the ground, a signal that a new threat loomed.
Summoning my inner strength, I sprinted toward the creature. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I gauged its distance and elevation, psyching myself up for an audacious leap over the creature.
Crouching down, I launched myself skyward, soaring over the beast with all my might. Wind whooshed past me, and I felt a rush of exhilaration as I cleared its towering frame. Upon landing, I was breathless yet alive, buoyed by the intoxicating taste of triumph.
“I did it!” I exclaimed, the adrenaline coursing through me and igniting an exuberant smile. However, my celebration was fleeting, interrupted as a force slammed into my back. The impact stole my breath, and I tumbled forward, the unforgiving earth scraping against my skin.
Agony surged through me, yet it couldn’t drown out the primal instinct to survive. With a grunt, I forcefully halted my momentum, twisting in midair. Gritty earth scraped my palm as I landed in a one-legged crouch, gasping for air.
A brief sense of solace evaporated in an instant. The colossal limb swung again, a silhouette blending into the waning daylight. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impending collision. The impact, akin to a sledgehammer, stole my breath and threw me to the ground. My back collided with the compacted earth, a groan escaping as pain radiated through my bones.
Moments later, I opened my eyes to find Lisa’s gaze fixed upon me. Embarrassment and frustration mingled within me. “Are you planning to observe, or might you lend a hand?” I inquired, struggling to catch my breath while feeling the dull throb of pain in my ribs.
She blinked, a nod punctuating her response, a clear sign of her concern. Painful as it was, I managed to rise, my limbs protesting against the exertion. I stretched, grimacing at the sharp twinge shooting up my spine.
Lisa and I had been trapped within this chasm for what seemed like hours, at least by my estimation. A yawn overtook me, fueled by exhaustion and the gnawing hunger. Lisa’s voice, a soft whisper, broke the silence once more. “Is there no recourse to escape this?”
“I might have an idea,” I smirked, pushing aside the pain riddling my body and motioning for Lisa to come closer.
Her eyebrow arched to an almost dangerous height, skepticism written all over her features. “What?”
“Turn and face the wall,” I reiterated, a spark of hope rekindling within me.
A dubious shake of her head accompanied her murmured response. “You’re not using me as a human ladder. I’ve made my stance clear.”
I refused to be dissuaded, even as frustration surged within me. “So, what’s your alternative for us?”
“You’re too heavy. You’d crush me like a bug,” she retorted, tossing her now-dirty blonde hair over her shoulder, a faint glint of mischief in her eyes.
“Excuse me?” I spluttered, incredulousness and a tinge of embarrassment heating my cheeks.
Her smile broadened, a knowing twinkle dancing in her gaze. “You’re excused.” Her amusement was palpable, and it was evident she found our predicament oddly entertaining.
- Writer
