The sound of a sickening crunch reverberating throughout the dark corridor. Arthur standing over another monster with his hands covered in blood and his mace covered in bits of pieces of flesh. His shield was torn and shredded but still there. The monster under him was a large black hound, its head was bashed in.
The lantern he had attached to his belt to free his hands as he walked further down into the deep. He didn't even know where he was, having lost his way long ago. If you followed his path you could see monsters similar to the black hound littering the ground. the further he delved into the deep the more enemies he faced. The mace twisted and turned without reason, never finding anything to show him the way he marched on. He opened another dust covered door and inside he found a prison. He walked through the prison passing the cells. Skeletons was a norm inside them, until he found not a skeleton.
Someone quite alive. A woman covered in tattered dark leather armor. She was huddled close to the corner. She was rocking herself into a sleep.
"Are you alright?"
The woman looked up startled by Arthur. Most of her face was covered by her dark scarf and her hood. You could only see her deep blue eyes.
"who are you?"
"Arthur, I am looking for… something, something that might save me from the cold"
The woman chuckled and stood up approaching the bars and Arthur.
"So are we all, but I am afraid you have come here in vain"
"So there is nothing to protect you down here in this accursed place"
A deep feeling of despair overcame Arthur. He felt weak and mentally exhausted. It had been days since he had a proper rest, always having to sleep with one eye open in this dark and twisted place.
"ohh there is, but it is guarded by the despoiler. Believe me many have tried to reach it, but none killed that thing"
"you have tried?"
A brief silence in the dark prison.
"I along with a party sought to find the very same thing you do now. I got wounded just before we reached the despoiler. I was too stay back to not hold them back and wait for them to return with our salvation… but they never came back. I could hear their haunting cries and screams even from here"
"I'm sorry"
"don't be, the weak die and the strong survives, that is the rules of this hell. I am merely prolonged the inevitable by hiding in here. I suggest you give up in this pointless endeavor, believe me many much stronger then you have tried, all have failed"
"I can't give up now. I have gotten so far. Going back is not an option"
"then you will die like so many other have done"
Arthur sat down and leaned on the stone pillar behind him.
´is this really it?"
The fear of facing something that have killed countless other set in. If so many others had failed, then why should he think he will succeed. The dark seemed to creep closer to consume him. the eerily haunting darkness seemed to grow teeth and eyes, it was salivating at the prospect of another lost soul to consume. It approached steadily suffocating the light from the lantern.
The woman stood there watching another soul going to be consumed, just like so many others she had seen being consumed by that thing.
It finally attacked. The shadows and darkness leaping into action attacking Arthur. Before he could even raise his arms to shield himself a massive light shockwave drove the darkness away.
The necklace shined in defiance against the darkness. Warmness spread through out the entire room driving the darkness and cold away completely. Arthur hurriedly stood up and pointed his mace at the woman who was now cowering in the corner once more.
"you tried to kill me! you have been corrupted a long time ago!"
"no please, please don't kill me! I don't want to die! I don't want to be claimed by the cold!"
She was crying in the corner blinded by the light. The light of the necklace finally wore off and it returned to its bland appearance. The woman looked up and once she saw the necklace she shakily stood up and pointed at the necklace.
"where did you get that"
Her voice small and weak"
"I met a man called William who told me of this place. He gave me this necklace to stay warm"
"William… so even he have given up. what you have their boy, is an amulet from the high pontiff himself. He has blessed the amulet to protect its wearer. William the brightest among us was given it to him by the High pontiff… he was our brightest hope"
She seemed to cower and grow weaker as she spoke. The little hope remaining in her was vanishing.
"I am sorry…"
Silence returned once more and so did darkness.
"Boy go back. There is nothing for you here"
"I have to go forwards, or I fear the cold will claim me"
She sighed and went to the bars.
"I will tell you a way to defeat the despoiler, in turn you have to do something for me"
"what?"
"kill me"
Her words stunned Arthur.
"I can free you from here, we can defeat him together and get out of here"
"no, no, no. it is too late for me. I have seen things no one should see, done things that would make you sick. I just want to rest. Kill me and promise me you won't let me be claimed by the cold"
Arthur grew silent. Killing monsters and beast was one thing, but killing another human being was an entire other matter. He could see her despair and pain, it tormented her and corrupted her.
"how"
"the amulet. After you kill me then hold the amulet over me and chant these words"
She leaned closer and whispered the words. Arthur nodded and opened the decayed cell door. She went on her knees and closed her eyes.
"there is a weapon down here guarded by many more monsters and beast. A spear blessed by the high heavens themselves. It will kill the despoiler"
"What is your name"
A single tear fell, her face filled with pain and sorrow.
"my name was Sarah, remember me"
Arthur hesitated, but then raised the mace and struck her head. another sickening crunch could be heard throughout prison. She laid lifelessly on the cold ground. Arthur kneeled beside her and took off the amulet and held it over her.
"heavenly father
Spare this soul from the biting cold
and welcome her into paradise.
Deliver them eternal rest and warmth
and deliver them from every evil.
Take away their pain, their suffering and give them salvation.
Bring back a lost sheep into the fold"
An ember sparked from the amulet and gently floated down on the corpse. The entire body sparked into a bright fire. The fire was brief and left no trace. Arthur was once more left alone in the dark deep.