WTAWCT Chapter 7

"Ow..." Nate clutched his head, hissing as he sat up from the rocky ground of the cavern. Lily and Jeremy's expressions were a mix of fear and relief, wide eyes with just the smallest of sighs. "What...what happened—"

"You're alive!" Lily and Jeremy spoke in unison, pulling Nate into a hug.

"What are you—ow!" Lily and Jeremy recoiled, pulling away just as fast as they had pulled Nate in. He was holding his side—a large gash tore into his chest, blood dribbling onto the cavern floor. The stench of iron and copper melted into the air, choking them. "Oh, oh God..." Nate's eyes shut, and their hearts leaped as Jeremy moved to take his pulse.

This can't be happening, Lily thought, this can't be real. This is supposed to be a game—

"He's alive," said Jeremy. "Now, what do we do?"

"We have to get out of here and get Phillip," she said, pointing up. Light, a single ray, broke through the cavern. "Jeremy, help me break this."

"Got it!" The two balanced themselves on ledges, pulling out their pickaxes. They slammed them into the earth, watching the dirt fall in blocks. Lily picked them up, shoving them into the pack. "Why are you keeping those?"

"Just in case. Now, let's grab Nate and get out of here." Lily picked Nate up, carrying him as Jeremy mined the earth to form stairs. The three ascended from their cavern prison, the sun watching with it's burning eye in the distance. Far off, they could see the sickly-purple land.

"Oh, thank Cthulhu!" Phillip's voice rang from behind them as he sighed, smiling at them. His face paled, however, when he saw Nate. "What...what happened?"

"We went into that purple place."

"There was this huge flying thing, and it stopped down at us! Then we got stuck in a cave and Nate was all jacked up!"

"You all went into the Corruption?! Are you mad?!" Phillip balled his fists, gritting his teeth. His expression softened, however, when he saw their anxious expressions. He shook his head, looking down. "...I apologize. But the Corruption...that land is dangerous. They say that a creature of darkness lives there."

Lily and Jeremy looked back at the land, watching as foul creatures flew about it. Lily looked down at Nate, still in her arms, and looked back at Phillip.

"Do you have any healing potions?"

"Ah, yes, of course." He shuffled through his satchel, grabbing the familiar red potion. Jeremy gagged, giving the bottle a disgusted expression. "If you can get some bottles of water and some mushrooms, you can make these as well."

"Good to know." Lily grabbed the bottle from Phillip's hands, handing it to Nate. "Drink up."

"Alright..." He took a gulp, twitching as he gave an I'm-going-to-throw-up face. "This is disgusting!" Jeremy held back his laughter. "Jeremy, I hate saying this, but you weren't that far off!"

"You guys will be fine," said Lily, looking up at the sky. Night would be falling fast—the sun was already painted in warm oranges and pinks, streaked across the sky. "Let's get home."

The quartet practically collapsed into the cabin, tired beyond belief. Every bone in their bodies cried out for a bed and a blanket and rest—

"Why don't we eat first?" Phillip pulled out some mushrooms, holding them out to the group. "...Not hungry?"

"Nope," They said in unison. "Not at all."

"You all have literally eaten nothing for an entire day."

"Well, what can you do?" Lily shrugged, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, all of you."

"I'm with you, Lily," said Jeremy, stumbling. His eyelids drooped, and Lily shuffled. Is he gonna fall? she wondered.

"So am I." Nate stretched, brushing a hand through his hair. He glanced at Phillip, eyebrow raised. "You coming, Phil?"

"...I will retire soon enough. Go rest, heroes; tomorrow will be a big day." The trio's ears pricked up at that; Phillip continued. I will show you how to mine."

"Ah, of course. Appreciated, Phillip."

"Thanks, Phillip!"

"Nice of you, Phil."

"It is no problem for me." He watched the others filter into their rooms, swaying on their feet. He sat down at his table, looking down at his hands. A few minutes stretched like hours before the sounds of snoring appeared. "...These poor children."

He shook his head, sighing as he drew the curtains and looked at the sky. If you could ignore the groans and flying eyes, it was beautiful—twinkling things that blinked in and out of existence. For a moment, the world stood still.

Then the door broke.

The thing was on him in two seconds; he kicked it, the skull caving in. Rotting limbs grasped—an axe, drawn. Hacking. Squelch.

He hit it again. It's skull no longer looked even vaguely human—a scramble of things organic and not, oozing on the floor.

'This feels good, does it not, Guide? Your human impulses are sadistic—enjoyable.'

"What business do you have?" Phillip grit his teeth, head and heart pounding.

The floor began to glow, and a gray entity arose, piecing purple eyes its only fully visible feature. The rest of it was a shroud, so inhuman compared to the Phillip with bones and blood and hair. It blinked, it's translucent body staying rooted to one place.

'The first prophecy will soon be fulfilled. The day of sight approaches.'

"And they will be ready!" Phillip glanced back at the other rooms. Would they? "You have yet to answer."

'They are weak things of flesh, so easily created and destroyed. More will take their place if you will it.'

"They are heroes—something you will never understand."

'I am wiser than you know, you insolent creature. Do not insult a force that wills everything.'

"And yet, I am still alive." Phillip smiled as the entity turned away, it's piercing gaze no longer on him. It began to dissipate, separating.

'If they are heroes, then they will prove it. Be prepared, Guide.'

And the entity disappeared.

(AN: Apologies for the wait. Hopefully I will have more free time in the summer.)