Anguish
Unforeseen
I jumped off the bed. My first impulse was to run…
I HAD to run!
"Tut tut. Do you really think you could ---
Imare suddenly appeared in front of me.
--- run…?" he asked maliciously.
Instead of fear, I felt rage… wild undiluted murderous rage. I've had enough of being controlled like a puppet on a string. Frustrating… it has always been frustrating. He just had to point a finger at me and I cower in fright, so afraid of fatality.
Imare's eyes dimmed back to its original black. He tipped his head slightly and hovered unmoving. Though it was a hard thing to do, I could tell he was doing some thinking. I did not wait for him to come back to his senses. This was my one and only chance. I had to move… and fast!
Throwing wary glances at the motionless bunny, I side-stepped cautiously towards my backpack and picked it up. I ran towards the door, wrenched it open, and then took a last glance at Imare ---
--- Or more appropriately, at where he had been floating a while ago.
He was no longer there at the spot. With my breathing picking up pace, I scanned the room and found it empty. Where could he be? Puzzled, I took two steps towards the window and then stopped. My mind was telling me to run but my body refused to obey. I glanced at the table standing by the window and caught sight of a dusty black book.
Royaume ès Mystère. The book told of the places under the rule of King Tristan III. It was ancient but would be quite handy when I leave this damned village.
"No… IF I could escape that is…"
Cautiously, I walked towards the desk and picked up the book.
Still no sign of Imare.
I felt something behind. I whirled abruptly and saw Imare in front of me.
"You shouldn't leave the tower… Tis too dangerous," he muttered distractedly.
"If you chose another time to leave, I would have helped you…," Imare continued, lowering his head. "Do not… I ask of you not to leave the tower."
I was baffled by his behavior. One moment he was teasing and provoking, next he would be wicked, and then he would be pacifying and gentle.
Darn mood swings…
"Dangerous? But the only dangerous things around here are the dark mist and you."
Imare stared at me, his stitched brows meeting at the center in puzzlement. "Haven't you ever wondered if there were more like me?"
Come to think of it, I had. But then I would tell myself, "If there were more like Imare, I would have met them already." Besides, it was consoling to think that there were no more lunatic bunnies running round the village that could threaten you with their touch.
I did not answer his question and decided to sit on the chair. Imare was in his pacified mood. I just hope his serene disposition lasts long enough until the end of his visit.
I settled myself comfortably on the wooden chair and gazed quizzically at Imare.
"You will not be able to survive with them running amok…," he hissed.
"I can handle it," I replied confidently.
Imare flew towards me, bended over and said angrily. "You fool… Even I, a deceased, cower in the presence of these beings. Unlike me, they do not care about you."
For one second, he touched my shoulder with his right paw. Unbelievable pain surged through my nervous system. I thought I had died.
"What you felt when I touched you would be ten times more painful if not fatal when you come I contact with the great ones' skins. And they would not be merciful as I am with you!"
I gazed at Imare silently. Beings more deadly than Imare exists? Having more of Imare is bad… but to have beings more powerful than him would be terrifying. A leaden weight dropped on my stomach. My chances of survival, more of escape, looked to be non-existent. I was beginning to see myself becoming like Imare.
Maybe I would choose a stuffed bunny, too. I just hope the supplies won't run out…
The heavy wooden door creaked open, interrupting my thoughts. Imare straightened and watched the door apprehensively.
A deafening crash reverberated throughout the room. The door was slammed hard on its frame and was opened again but with no apparent doer. An evil chuckle came from somewhere near the door.
"So you have been here all along…"
The statement drifted through the open door of the chamber.
An expression of horror replaced the uneasiness on Imare's face. This was a first. I had never seen Imare display any emotion except malevolence and rage.
Weakly, I watched as the door of my room closed again. A moment later, a white figure appeared in front of Imare.
oooOOOooo
The bonfire crackled merrily, matching the merrymaking of the members of my expedition. Sitting around the campfire, they were singing and goofing around like they did not have a care in the world. Hidden from their sight under the shadow of a big tree, I observed them with envy. The burden of responsibility did not weigh on their shoulders. All they had to do was follow the leader, which is me, and try to survive in this monster-infested wilderness.
I sighed heavily. My thoughts turned to my missing charge. She was a part of my party but got separated when we met a monster that faintly resembled a yoyo but was much bigger and hairier. I had hoped that she somehow met one of the expedition's parties but as the parties came back to camp, the hope that I was carrying was slowly being stamped to nothingness.
We had looked for Misha in the camp thinking that maybe she had gone back before everyone else but the search resulted in vain. She was not there nor does any sign of her presence. I had a mind to go back to where we got separated and was about to was it not for Haziel's interference.
"Find her tomorrow. It is too dangerous to wander at night."
I heeded her advice. It was logical after all. If this dungeon was perilous during daytime, what more during the night? But the fact still remained that Misha was now wondering this treacherous forest on her own. Inexperienced neophyte that she was, she will not be able to defend herself well enough.
There was one last party that has not returned, however. I just hope that Misha was with them.
oooOOOooo
I flinched when I saw the creature. What was supposed to be lips were swollen to a point that it covered half its face. A red scarf was tied around its neck. The monster had an unusual claw-like hand that was largely disproportionate to the rest of its white body. A chain was dangling from the other side of its body.
The creature was wearing a leer not unlike the one worn by Imare but it was more annoying in this creature's face for his eyes were slanted maliciously, too. I doubt its expression would change much even without the smirk.
Imare's expression became guarded as he stared back at the newcomer. There was something bad about this creature's presence I could tell. Imare was not one to be horrified just by a statement. Well, I think he wasn't.
"Ferias…," Imare whispered with spite.
Ferias' leer widened with this statement. He glanced at me and, if it was possible, his sneer grew wider. He seems to be enjoying Imare's rage and seems to be one who liked to irk Imare a lot.
"Why did you come?"
"Ohhh… I dunno," Ferias replied in a voice that irritated me. "I was just wandering around town and I then heard a crash when I passed by this tower… Naturally, I got curious. I hate to run away from excitement, after all."
Imare glared at Ferias. "Leave…," he said venomously.
Ferias chuckled. "How long have you been keeping this a secret?"
Dropping all expression, he looked over at me and studied me quizzically. Then he smiled maliciously at me.
"Imagine…," he continued, looking back to Imare, "keeping a live one and not telling your friends about it. How selfish of you, Imare. You wanted to enjoy the kill by yourself…"
Ferias drifted towards the bed.
"Do not touch him, Ferias," Imare said ferociously.
As Ferias neared, the horror that I was trying to control broke loose but I did not run away. Instead, I was frozen on the bed… stock-still and helpless. Ferias raised his claw-like hand and slowly moved it towards my forehead. As it touched my skin, I almost blacked out due to the pain. I was near to drifting back to the familiar dark abyss of unconsciousness.
"Stop!"
I heard Imare shout the words and I felt the hand being jerked back from my head. But the pain was still there… I felt like I was being burned and at the same time pins and needles were being stuck to my skin. I could no longer stand it… so I gave in and allowed myself to be consumed by the darkness…
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To Be Continued…
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