Calypsius woke up in complete darkness, his head spinning. The air was cold and damp, filled with the smell of wet earth. The ground beneath him felt rough and slippery. Somewhere far off, he heard water dripping, slow and steady. The space felt small and tight, with the walls close around him, jagged and wet.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw strange shapes. The stone looked rough and natural, but too sharp, too deliberate, like something had carved it. Shadows flickered on the walls, moving even though there didn't seem to be any light.
Then, something moved. Calypsius froze, his heart racing as a figure stepped out of the shadows. It had been there the whole time, watching him.
The creature was tall and thin, its pale skin shiny and slick. Its limbs seemed too long for its body. It moved slowly, bending over him, and its bony fingers touched him, feeling his skin with an unsettling calm.
"You're awake," the creature rasped, its voice harsh and gravelly. The sound sent a chill through him. Its fingers kept prodding him, like it was checking him for something.
Calypsius flinched and pulled back, his voice shaking. "Who... what are you?"
The creature paused and smiled, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. It leaned closer, and Calypsius could see the dark hollows where its eyes should have been. Yet, they glinted faintly in the darkness.
"I am a Grimkin," it said, its voice quiet but still rough. "Your kind doesn't like us." There was a hint of amusement in its tone, but also something darker.
Calypsius felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know where he was or what this Grimkin wanted, but the shadows seemed to press in closer, like they were alive, watching him.
He stared at the Grimkin, confusion spun in his head. The creature's gaze felt heavy, pressing down on him, and its sharp smile was both unsettling and creepy. "What do you want?" he managed to ask, forcing his voice to stay steady even as fear crept in.
The Grimkin leaned closer, its breath cold and raspy against his skin. "You'll find out soon enough." It reached out, fingers brushing against his arm with an unsettling gentleness. Calypsius jerked back, his heart racing.
He looked around, desperate for a way out. The darkness felt like it was closing in on him, the air thick with an uneasy tension. He needed to think, but panic was clawing at him.
Suddenly, a memory flashed in his mind. He recalled reading about Grimkins—creatures that thrived in darkness, known for their cleverness and cruelty. They preyed on fear, taking advantage of the weak. But why did it feel like there was something more he should know? What did they want from him?
A shiver ran down his spine as he tried to piece together bits of those stories. The Grimkin wanted something—something important. The urgency of the moment gnawed at him, pushing him to remember more.
"Your eyes," the Grimkin said, a glint of delight in its hollow gaze. "They are so… beautiful."
Calypsius's heart raced as he realized the truth. The Grimkin wanted his eyes—his ability to see in the dark. He remembered the stories mentioning their hunger for light, for vision. Panic surged as he grasped the weight of its words.
But even in his fear, he felt a spark of defiance. He had to think quickly. "Why not just take them now?" he shot back, stalling for time while looking for anything he could use.
The Grimkin chuckled, the sound sending chills down his spine. "Because I want to enjoy this moment. The hunt is far more delicious than the feast." Its thin lips curled into a smile, showing more sharp teeth.
Calypsius could feel the creature's excitement, its hunger hanging in the air. He needed to act. His fingers brushed against something cool and hard beside him—a small stone. He grabbed it tightly, weighing his options. Maybe he could use it as a weapon, hit the Grimkin if it got too close. But could he do that before it lunged at him?
The Grimkin leaned back slightly, watching him with a predatory gaze, amusement clear on its face. "Go on, try. I'm curious to see what you'll do."
Calypsius's heart pounded in his chest as he focused on the stone. He couldn't let fear control him. With determination, he prepared to use it as a weapon, ready to defend himself. The Grimkin was watching, waiting for him to make a move, and the tension in the air felt thick with danger.
He just needed a moment—a chance to gather his thoughts and find a way out of this nightmare.
As he focused on the stone in his hand, his heart racing as he searched the darkness for a way out. The Grimkin, still grinning like a predator, started moving away from him. It began to dig through a pile of odd things scattered on the damp ground, its long fingers brushing over various items. Panic surged in Calypsius. The creature was getting ready for something.
"What are you doing?" he managed to say, trying to keep his voice steady.
The Grimkin glanced back at him, its smile growing wider. "Preparing for our little ritual. You have something I want, and I'll do whatever it takes to get it."
Calypsius's stomach twisted as the weight of the situation hit him. The Grimkin wanted his eyes. The stories he'd read said that his eyes—one green and one blue—were rare and beautiful. The thought of what the creature planned made him shiver.
He tried to think clearly, but fear clawed at his mind. He needed to find a way out. The darkness felt like it was closing in on him, and he couldn't let the panic take over. He needed a plan.
The Grimkin continued gathering its strange items—small glass vials, twisted tools, and odd, shiny stones that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. Each item sent a chill down Calypsius's spine. He had to act quickly.
Suddenly, a memory sparked in his mind—something he had nearly forgotten in his fear. He remembered reading about Grimkins, how they thrived in the dark but couldn't stand bright light. "Light," he whispered, gripping the stone tightly.
His fingers brushed the cool surface, and he remembered how light could drive Grimkins away.
The Grimkin paused, sensing a shift in the air. "What are you talking about?" it hissed, narrowing its eyes.
Calypsius took a deep breath, summoning all his courage. "You think you can take my eyes?" he yelled, forcing himself to sound brave. "You have no idea who you're messing with!"
The Grimkin's amusement faded, replaced by irritation. "You're just stalling."
Calypsius didn't have time to waste. He raised the stone, ready to strike it against the rough ground. "I won't let you have them!" he shouted, his voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside.
With a quick motion, he slammed the stone down, and a small spark flew up, lighting up the darkness for a brief moment. The Grimkin recoiled, its laughter turning to a snarl as the light hit it.
"Foolish boy!" it screeched, shielding its face with its long arms. "You think that will work?"
Calypsius didn't wait. He struck the stone again, harder this time. Another spark flickered to life, and hope surged through him. If he could keep this light going, maybe he could escape.
The Grimkin writhed as the light flashed across its skin, which shimmered like oil. "You can't escape!" it howled, trying to protect itself from the brightness.
Calypsius slammed the stone against the ground over and over, each spark pushing back the shadows that threatened to consume him. The flickering light seemed to weaken the Grimkin, its movements becoming frantic as it tried to shield itself.
"I'm not afraid of you!" he shouted, his heart pounding with adrenaline. The Grimkin wanted his eyes, but that desire could be its downfall.
In that moment, Calypsius felt a rush of strength. He could beat this creature. With each strike of the stone, the light flickered and pushed the darkness away.
"Get back!" he yelled, as the shadows twisted and bent under the force of the light. He wouldn't be its victim.
Calypsius's heart was pounding as he kept hitting the stone, creating tiny sparks in the thick darkness. Every little flash made the Grimkin flinch, its twisted body jerking back like the light hurt it. Its hissing filled the air, angry and sharp.
"You'll regret this!" the creature screeched, baring its sharp teeth as it squirmed. It didn't seem to be mocking him anymore—it actually sounded scared. Calypsius could feel it.
The power was shifting. He wasn't as helpless as he thought. The sparks weren't just keeping him safe; they were hurting the Grimkin. This thing that had terrified him was now backing away, like it was losing its control over him.
He looked around the small, cramped space, searching for a way out. The jagged walls seemed almost alive, pulsing with darkness, but he spotted an opening—a narrow path that could be his escape.
The Grimkin snarled and lunged at him, one last time. Calypsius reacted fast, slamming the stone down as hard as he could. A bigger spark exploded, lighting up the space for a second. The Grimkin screamed, stumbling back into the shadows, its slimy skin smoking from the light.
A strange calm came over Calypsius as his adrenaline kicked in. Without wasting a second, he ran for the opening, his heart racing with both fear and excitement. He didn't dare look back. The Grimkin's screams echoed behind him, but he kept going. The darkness seemed to follow him, reaching out to pull him back, but he wasn't stopping.
The air felt lighter now, not so choked with darkness. The smell of earth was different too—cleaner, fresher. A new hope surged through Calypsius. He was getting closer. So close.
But he could still feel the Grimkin watching him from somewhere in the shadows. It wasn't over yet. He had to keep running.
Finally, with one last push, he stumbled through the narrow opening into a dim cave. The walls glowed faintly from somewhere above, and Calypsius collapsed to the ground, breathing hard.
He made it. He was safe.
For now.