Claire was horrified. Elric was fascinated. The walls seemed alive. There was blood, there was flesh, there was movement. It didn't seem hostile but Claire wasn't about to touch it. Elric was a little more brave. He approached the wall cautiously and outstretched his arm to touch the flesh wall. His fingers connected with it and he jumped back, wiping his hand on his pants.

"Gross. It's slimy.", said he.

"Why would you touch something in a place like this?", Claire asked rhetorically.

She marched off back into the hallway, Elric close behind.

"Don't be like that. I was only curious."

Claire turned to face him. "Curious could get you killed in this place, or don't you care."

Elric held his hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok. Let's just find a way out of here and get you to your sister."

Sudden realization hit Claire like a ton of bricks. "She's in danger! Those monsters are all over the place!"

Hot tears pooled in her eyes once again. If her sister was in danger, she was going to save her. Elric reached out to comfort her but she ran off into the dark.

"Claire, WAIT!" He shouted after her.

Elric had no choice but to follow her.

Claire ran blindly, feeling for a way out along the fleshy wall. Then there was light. A faintly glowing light as if from the embers of a dying fire. She rounded a corner and saw the most frightening thing yet. It was horrid, it stank of death, it was huge. This new creature was humanoid. A huge muscular form standing at least seven feet tall. Its naked torso was covered in blood and scars. Its waist and legs were clothed by what seemed to be badly stitched skin. In its right hand it gripped a rusty knife as long as Claire. It's head was not a head but a metallic pyramid covered in rust.

Claire blinked away tears and took a step back. This thing, this monster, this pyramid head took a single step toward her. As it walked, it struggled to drag the huge blade which screeched against the wooden floor with each pull. Claire wanted so badly to turn and run but fear had frozen her in place. The pyramid head took another step. What could she do against something like that? It was monsterous. Claire only watched as it came closer. When it was no more than a meter away, it hefted the huge knife into the air and swung with all its might.

Elric crashed into Claire and they both slammed to the floor. The wall behind them crackled and splintered apart as the knife drove through it with incredible force.

"Move!", Elric screamed as the knife was raised for another strike.

He pulled Claire up and started down the hall, pushing her in front. Elric himself was close behind her but was jerked back. Something had his hair. He was dragged to the floor and then hoisted into the air. The pyramid head wrapped its large hand around Elric's throat and held him several feet off the ground, crushing his windpipe.

Claire turned around. Elric was no longer behind her. She ran back. Elric was in the hands of the monster. Claire didn't know what to do. She couldn't possibly stand against that thing. She looked around for a weapon, something to hit it with. There was nothing. Elric was going to die if she didn't do anything. She took a deep breath, then another. Building her courage, she ran at the monster and slammed her fists into its abdomen. She punched it over and over again to no effect. The monster turned its pyramid in her direction and swatted her aside with its free hand. Elric kicked weakly at the monster. His lungs could not draw breath. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a switchblade. It was his only chance so he took it. He jabbed the tiny blade into the monsters hand.

Claire gasped for breath, having had the wind knocked out of her. The monster dropped Elric and clutched its hurt hand. Elric was also trying for breath. He scrambled away as the monster, now angered, approached him. It raised its mighty blade over Elric