Chapter Four: The First Trial
The slam of the doors echoed through her head. The darkness had seemed to be total, but as her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, Yuffie could make out a faint glow in front of her. Deciding there was no other way to go, she headed towards it. Her footsteps echoed off the walls on either side of her, magnified by the shape of the room. As she came nearer to it, she could see that the gleam was actually a series of torches, lighting a great chamber. But it was only when she stepped into it that she saw what was waiting for her inside.
Her first impression was the stench. It filled the room, a sickly sweet odour of rotting flesh. The creature was like nothing she had ever seen before. It stood at least seven feet tall, a great bulk of tangled, matted, filthy hair. It was resting on its haunches, and its front paws scuffed against the marble floor, sharp, horn-like claws scratching at the smooth surface. Its face seemed most like that of a bear, with a great, heavy jaw that dripped saliva, and its eyes were bloodshot, and rolled wildly in all directions. Catching sight of the ninja standing motionless at the entrance, it gave a deep, rumbling growl, like thunder before a downpour, and sprang at her.
Yuffie dodged to one side as the beast charged, slashing at its flank as it passed her. She instantly realised this was a mistake; it gave a howl of rage, and seeming not to notice the blood coursing down its leg, whirled round to face her. Its mouth opened wide, exposing rows of sharp, yellowed teeth, and reeking of decay. It swooped down at her, snapping viciously. There was only one thing to do. Yuffie ran.
Fortunately, she was faster than her pursuer, and managed to keep out of its way. However, she seriously doubted that she could outlast it stamina wise. She had to think of a plan, and fast. Making a quick leap as the beast charged her again, ramming its head into the wall, she stepped on something which crumbled beneath her feet. Thinking that the floor was collapsing, she sprang to one side. Risking a quick glance back, she saw that what she had stood on was the remains of a skeleton, and it looked to be human. Scraps of flesh still clung to it here and there, but the bones seemed to have been gnawed on. A single eyeball remained, staring balefully at her out of the fractured skull. Yuffie turned away, swallowing back the vomit rising in her throat, and didn't notice the creature's next attack until it was almost too late. There wasn't enough time to dodge, so instead she dropped and rolled. She avoided the crunch of its jaws, but one heavy forepaw caught her a crushing blow as she rolled away.
Badly winded, gasping for breath and feeling that her lungs were on fire, Yuffie staggered to her feet and started to run again, sure that she was going to collapse at any minute. She could feel blood seeping from a shallow cut in her back. Looking for her adversary, she found it hadn't moved. It was sitting back, licking her blood from its claw. It raised its shaggy head, and gave a roar. Then all the torches went out.
The blackness was suffocating. Yuffie had never been so scared. She ground her teeth together to keep from crying out, not wanting to give her position away. 'That's it,' she thought, trying to maintain at least a little of her mental discipline. 'If I can't see it, I'll have to listen for it.' At first, all she could hear was her own heart, pounding madly, but as she concentrated, she became aware of other sounds.
First it was the breathing. Rapid, shuddering gasps, like the panting of a dog. Then, as she held her body motionless, something far more frightening; heavy footfalls, soft, stealthy - and directly behind her, drawing nearer. Yuffie had done a fair amount of hunting in her time. More than once, she had herself been hunted. But never before had she felt the sheer terror of the prey animal that senses the predator behind it. She didn't scream. She didn't think. She just ran.
The beast bayed in excitment as it gave chase, sensing victory was at hand. But as Yuffie ran, her brain began to work again. Suddenly, she veered sharply to the left. She had a plan. It was stupid, reckless and likely to fail, but under the circumstances it was the best she could do.
The monster followed hot on her heels, still not quite able to match her speed, but confidant it would catch her soon enough. As she hit the wall, Yuffie started to run along it, one arm stretched upwards. Within twenty steps, she found what she was looking for - one of the torch brackets. Making a final effort, she jumped, catching hold of it with both hands and pulling herself up. Her speed had bought her some time; when the beast arrived beneath her, she had perched herself on top of the sturdy, wrought iron bar. She could smell the rank odour of the foul thing, and hear it snuffling about, seeking its missing kill. Trying not to think about what she was doing, she dropped down on top of it, straddling its neck.
The creature growled in rage and shook its head, trying to dislodge her, but she grabbed a handful of matted fur and held on tight, digging her heels into what she hoped were sensitive spots in its throat. Grasping her shuriken tightly, she started to hack into it.
Its skin was tough and leathery, and the fur proved difficult to cut through, but Yuffie kept on slashing desparately, knowing it was her only hope. The creature howled and thrashed about, but she held on grimly. It seemed to go on forever, but at long last she felt her blade slice through something soft and yielding. An instant later, hot, sticky blood gushed out, drenching her hands. The beast's cries became gargled, and it convulsed. Yuffie sprang clear, not wanting to be caught up in its death throes. With a last, despairing moan, the thing lay still. Yuffie sighed with relief, and the fear, pain and tiredness she'd been holding back rushed over her in a wave. She passed out.
When she came round, the torches were burning again. She got to her feet and brushed herself down. Looking round, she gasped. The body of the creature had vanished completely. The floor, which ought to have been slick with blood, was gleaming white. The skeleton, too, had gone. But strangest of all, the cut on her back seemed to have healed. Yuffie had heard of spells that could transport the mind somewhere and leave the body unharmed, but never on this kind of scale. And no matter whether it had happened in this room or in her head, she was sure she had had a narrow escape from death.
There was a door on the other side of the chamber which she was convinced hadn't been there when she entered. Sighing resolutely, she straightened her back, and headed for it.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
To be continued......