Corrupt souls

I opened the cold rusted gate that led into the darkness of the Mort Myre Swamp.

As soon as I stepped through, I felt the atmosphere begin to decay me. It wasn't so much a physical decay, but more of a mental decay, breaking down my soul. My hope.

I took another step forward. The place was terrifying, even to the bravest of warriors such as myself. I couldn't see much ahead of me. The dense fog limited my view greatly. The ground was covered in dark green grass, and the many puddles of water scattered across the area were filled with a murky, greyish liquid that could only be identified as water if someone had told you. There were moss covered logs rotting on the ground with small mushrooms growing on them. These mushrooms were known as Mort Myre fungus, a rare secondary ingredient often sought after by Herbalists.

I knelt down next to the closest puddle. I looked into it, the same way in which a fortune teller reads a crystal ball. Only the pool wasn't crystal clear. Its clouded contents showed nothing.

No fortune, no future.

I stood up and sighed, but, rather than feeling sorry for myself I continued my quest.

The path wasn't extremely long, but the tenebrosity of the swamp made it seem an eternity. I felt uneasy as I wandered through the unknown swamp, as if there was someone watching me.

Something.

I felt the long blades of grass, like fingers, brush gently against my uncovered legs. It was quiet as I walked through, but not peaceful. No, definitely not peaceful.

Suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks and quickly turned around, sword in hand and shield guarding my face - just as I had been taught.

Nothing.

There was no one there, but I was sure I had felt a hand smoothly rub across my shoulder, as if it were massaging me. It couldn't of been, I thought to myself.

But I knew deep down I was only lying to myself. I definitely felt something.

A strong smell came from my backpack that made me vomit a little onto the ground below. It was a disgusting smell. The smell of something that had gone "off".

I opened my backpack to look inside, my sleeve pressed against my noes. I soon saw what was the cause of the smell. One of the bits of tuna I had packed for the journey had gone rotten. Odd, I thought, as I had only caught the tuna earlier this morning. It was the decaying effect of the swamp, I thought. Or was it? The fish had physically decayed, but I had only been decayed mentally. It made no scene that it should happen to the fish and not to myself.

I didn't want to take any chances though. I needed to get out of there, and fast.

I sprinted straight ahead, not knowing where I was heading.

I saw the paths in front of me, one leading into more darkness, and the other leading to a little cave, covered with tree roots and moss and beautiful plants that didn't fit with the rest of the surrounding.

I knew which one I would choose.

I ran. The only thing that separated me from refuge in the cave was a broken bridge. I could easily jump over it, I thought to myself.

I ran. I was getting closer, and as I neared the bridge I psyched myself up for the leap of faith.

I ran. No turning back.

I jumped.

yeah, so r+r and the like. its my first story so be kind^^ and yeah hope u like it

more to come if u did like it.