I moved forward with deliberate caution, each step a battle against the cold terror coursing through my veins.
The safe zone behind me felt like a distant memory, swallowed by the impenetrable darkness that stretches endlessly before me.
My eyes darted to my surrounding. The endless darkness sending a cold chill down my spine, the chilling wind seeping into my pores.
I shivered instinctively, my hand subconsciously clenched together.
I knew things were about to get pretty crazy. Any slight mistake and i was as good as dead.
I exhaled sharply, forcing down the unease that gnawed at me.
Each breath i took was ragged, the icy coldness biting onto my lips. Gnawing and clawing at me with each inhalation.
Ahead, three houses loomed, each more foreboding than the last.
The one directly in front of me stood like a grotesque monument, towering and twisted with an ancient aura of malovelence.
And surrounding the eerie, dark towering house were at least three supernatural creatures. Not only were they bigger than the big bad wolf, based on the intensity of the iksclamate sign that marked their existence.
I didn't need to be told to know they were faster, deadlier and were by far, more powerful than i could possibly have imagined.
To the right, a decaying gray structure seems to whisper eerie tales of madness. It was supposedly guarded by two supernatural forces- beings so strange they defied all reason and shape.
They were unseen but not unnoticed- the way shadows curl around the building told of their presence. A mere glance at the house made the hair at the back of my neck stand on end, dread pooling- like ice, around my chest.
On the left, stood the third house, solitary and shrouded in silence.
Only one creature or perhaps a supernatural force guarded this place, yet its desolation hinted at a power so devastating, that approaching felt akin to suicide.
The scant information i had about this being was more terrifying than the unknown.
Hence it was very safe to assume it could easily destroy and annihilate me with but a mere thought.
I shivered instinctively from my thoughts.
Frosty chills running down my spine.
I ran a hand through my hair, exasperation and desperation tugging at the walls of my mind.
My jaw tightened, and with balled fists and hardened resolve. I darted to the nightmarish house before me.
The thought of heading to the house at the left never dared to cross my mind. I wouldn't dare head for a house where i had rather high chances of meeting with a creature or supernatural force that has prowess on par with that of the ancient force- the one that had annihilated me in the blink of an eye.
That thought alone, sent cold chills down my spine.
The deep scars still throbbing with phantom pain.
Yet i shook my head.
Forcing down the horror and dread that clawed at me.
And as if to make matters worse.
There was no other way.
The past him had left a single truth: to retrieve the necklace, he had to pass through one of these houses.
Biting onto my lips, i managed to remain clearheaded as i moved down the cold cobblestones.
The darkness whispering tales of untold origins as the endless darkness swarmed over my vision in a way that sent a rivulet of colors across the corner of my eyes.
I blinked, trying to shake off the intense weariness that clung to my eyes.
I would have considered the right.
Yet i couldn't.
For they were two supernatural forces manning its geound.
How can i combat what I can't even see.
T-hat was literally no different from courting death. And i definitely ain't planning on dying.
At least not anytime soon.
...I still had to escape from the cold, inhuman clutches of the Amaraith before i could even afford to die. For now, any thought of dying scared the hell out of me and i would very well do my best to avoid it.
The psychological toll it had on me was becoming worse and worse. And I am afraid a point would eventually be reached, whereby i wouldn't be able to take it again, and will eventually collapse mentally.
Perhaps that is what I'm really afraid of.
Not the death per say.
And although they were still chances of me dying by approaching the house ahead of me. But still, it was definitely a better choice when compared to the other two.
I knew myself.
I would have even considered another method.
Perhaps another way.
Heck, i would have done anything to avoid going through any of the three houses.
But i knew i had no choice.
...This was the only way.
And i had to take it.
Gritting my teeth.
I slowly moved towards the towering abyssal-like house, its gargantuan gargoyle sending cold chills down my spine. The hollow silence in its eye seemed to speak of secrets best left behind, and the desolation that surrounded it seemed to open, twist and morph into a mind-chilling emptiness.
Just by taking a glimpse of it, I felt a silent, ancient pressure and gaze wrapping around me. My heart hammered wildly, each beat reverberating in my ears.
I blinked away, forcing down the unease before hiding behind the gargoyle.
My breath came in ragged and shallow, eyes darting frantically as i observed my surroundings.
My hands trembled lightly, fingers shaking ever so lightly as i struggled to regain my calm.
When i dared a glance to my right.
My blood turned to ice!
...A massive monstrosity could be seen at the corner of the house.
It laid on the ground like a dog.
Two eyes remained shut, but another set, ghostly white and lidless, scanned the perimeter with deadly precision.
My breath caught in my throat.
'Did it see me?'
I questioned no one but myself and the endless void within me.
Frantic thoughts hit the walls of my mind. Hard and fast, brutal and unforgiving even.
And although I knew I was very careful and I had cautiously made way for the gargoyle. But still, the chances of the supernatural creature seeing me was quite high.
Panic roared through me.
Surging through every fiber of my being.
Making it harder to think. But as i remained frozen, seconds stretching into what f-elt like an eternity.
...The creature didn't move.
If it had seen me, it gave no sign.
I glanced to my right and saw the same supernatural creature lying there. Waiting patiently for the fool that would dare make its way into their territory.
And ironically, i was such a fool.
...And at this point, I couldn't even force a wry smile to tug at the corner of my lips.
My mind spiralled downward.
Into a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts.
Finally, i had no choice but to accept a weird fact:
The two supernatural creatures hadn't seen me. But still, even if they didn't see me. How am i supposed to make it into the house before their eyes.
I had no doubt about it. They would rip me to shreds before i can even blink. Then just how? How the fuck am i supposed to make my way into the house under their nose.
Smile my way through? Play some music for them? Heck, i knew none of that would work. They would only hasten my death.
Bloodshot veins ran across my sclera as i tugged at the corner of my hair, eyes wide open in frustration as chaotic thoughts slammed onto the walls of my mind.
Just how?
They had to be a way.
They had to.
I glanced at the two supernatural creatures once again. They were still laying there, quietly. And only the two white eyes above their closed eyes were wide open.
My eyes suddenly widened in understanding, a flicker of hope rising within the depth of my heart.
'Don't tell me...'
Confusion mingled with dread as i recalled fragments of an old lore.
If these supernatural creatures were Erantanxes, that would explain why they hadn't seen me when i was heading for the house.
It was simply because their white eyes... were attuned to something specific. Something that eluded my grasp but taunted my memories.
Somewhere along that line, i tried to remember what it was exactly.
Yet I couldn't.
Each urge to remember sent a wave of pain through my head, sudden and searing.
It was hellish painful.
Agonizing even.
I bit down on my lips to stifle a cry, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
The creature's nose twitched, its massive body shifting slightly.
My eyes widened as a terrible realization sank in.
'It smells the blood.'
Desperation surged through me, fear even. I licked the blood from my lips, my hands trembling as i cleaned every trace from my skin. The sickly-sweet taste churned my stomach, but i forced myself to continue. Slowly, the creature's tension ebbed, and it settled back down, its white eyes scanning but no longer alerted.
Yet my relief was short-lived. A sudden, terrible thought took root in my mind.
'Where's the third creature?'
I couldn't help but ask myself and perhaps the endless void within me.
I felt a cold chill run down my spine, eyes wide open in fear as despair tugged at the walls of my mind.
'Don't tell me...'
My eyes widened in realization.
B-ut before i could react, a stone-like hand slammed into my chest.
And then... Pain exploded through me.
Sharp and unforgiving.
My vision blurred as i gasped for air, eyes darting up to see the grotesque face.
A bitter, and wry smile tugged at my lips.
I should have known better. After all, gargoyles aren't only used as some sort of mere decorations.
Somehow i also knew they were used for defensive purposes and this said gargoyle had such use.
The grotesque face of the gargoyle was alive and grinning with cracked, jagged teeth. Its hand pressing deeper, stealing the last of my strength.
My heartbeat faltered, the world around me darkening.
I tried to gasp for breath yet only ragged exhalation escaped my lips.
I was losing my grip on the world.
I knew that much.
I could feel it.
I was too damn familiar with it.
A wry smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
And then, the endless darkness slowly swarmed my vision.
My vision blurred and twisted, the endless darkness encroaching upon the walls of my mind. Inching closer with each ragged breath of mine.
Then, with a bone-rattling crack, the gargoyle's grip released. Blood sprayed the air as my heart shattered, splintering into fragments that rained down like stone knives.
I crumbled to the ground, my vision flickering in and out. I coughed weakly, a faint smile on my bloodstained lips.
Battling the unseen was humanity's greatest fear.
But now, as the endless darkness claimed my vision, and silence reclaims the night.
I now knew my enemies and very well now knew how to make my next move.
There and then, the endless darkness overwhelmed my mind!
And for once, i was glad i had the time reset ability.
It wasn't just a mere curse.
...It was more of a blessing. And I will make use it to the best of my abilities. I will escape from the inhuman clutches of the Amaraith.
And I will escape from this wretched and cursed land.
Meet with other humans. Be with families and friends and be around those who loved him.
No matter what it takes. I will find a place I can call... home.