The Seventh Sanctum: Newer Beginnings.

Prologue

     My legs were starting to get numb from all the running, but there was nothing I could do about it, because if I did stop for even a second, the 'Black Wall' would engulf me. And I don't want to find out what happens when it does.

     This, 'wall of darkness', has been chasing me down for what felt like an eternity, fragmenting and obliterating whatever came into it's path. It was massive, extending up to the sky and filling my entire vision whenever I took a glance at it. Whatever it was, it had it's heart set out to get me. 

     And it was catching up fast.

     In front of me was a plain plane of sand, flat, endless and with no sign of life whatsoever, Somewhat akin to a desert, but you see, deserts were not made of gold. That wasn't an exaggeration, because the sand looked like literal gold dust. Together, it formed a massive ocean of shimmering yellow. It would've been breathtaking if I had any breath to spare in the first place, as my lungs felt like they were constantly on fire, to the point where taking in even a minute amount of air would make me wince with anguish. At this point, it hurt to do anything.

     And then, as I took a brief look at the back, I failed to notice the only piece of rock in the entire goddamn desert.  With that, I stubbed my toe, cracked my left ankle due to the sheer speed at which I hit the rock, and flew face-first into a mouthful of gold.

     I felt hopeless and miserably as I realized I'd be dead in a few moments.

     I couldn't go out like this, as much as I hated my pathetic self, I just couldn't accept my fate without a fight. I propped myself on my elbows and pushed myself onto my knees. As soon as I got back on my feet, I instantly fell back down with a scream of agony. My left ankle was far more hurt than I thought it was, it was completely busted. 

     So much for going out with a fight. I rested my face flat on the ground in defeat. I tried at the very least.

     I heard the roaring abyss coming closer and closer, gradually tugging at my jeans as it approached.

     This was it I guess.

     All of a sudden, I heard a small explosion in front of me, accompanied by a spray of 'gold-sand' and pebbles all over the back of my head. Curious, I looked up with all the energy I had left in me, to see what or who it was that made that sound, little did I know that I was about to catch a glimpse of my savior.

     The thing wore a huge baggy scarf that wrapped around it's head and covered most of the upper torso. It was extremely humanoid except for one feature; Disproportionately long legs, like a ballerina's, but longer. I really couldn't make out anything else, as the bright sun was right behind the creature, making it a near perfect silhouette.

     "What are you doing here ?" It asked, in a very feminine but firm voice.

     "I don't know either" I replied, croakily "But I need your help, my left ankle's totaled, I can't run anymore"

     "I know, I saw everything" she said, the firmness instantly leaving her voice "But enough of the chit chat, that thing's coming fast and it isn't stopping anytime soon"

     And with that, she picked me up ( With a heavy grunt ) and slung me over her shoulder with a sigh.

     "Hold on as tight as you can, we're going Mach 3" she warned, with a heave.

     Just as I was about to wrap my arms around her neck, my head whipped forward and I blacked out for a few moments; a minor whiplash.

     When I regained consciousness, I looked up to see nothing, everything was pitch black, just an expanse of nothingness. Then it gradually started to retreat, as I could make out the corners of the 'wall' again, and it started to get smaller and smaller. 

     Puzzled, I looked down to see a blur of bronze and peach, surrounded by a mist of gold. She wasn't kidding when she said Mach 3, my brain turning to mush and the feeling that I'd left my guts a mile back would attest to that.

     Hold on tighter, I'm about to jump.

     I was taken aback, I didn't hear the order through my ears, but it resounded clearly in my head instead. It sounded like her though, so I didn't hesitate to comply this time.

     With whatever strength I had left in me, I wrapped my arms as tight as I could around her midriff. A bit too tight I guess, as I heard an "umph" resound in my head. I was about to apologize until I felt like my lungs gave out and my chest caved in. I looked down in time to see the ground 7 feet below us. 

     It took me a while to get my eyes to open up without tearing up with the pain in my chest, and when I did, I was blinded by a bright flash of light and I felt gravity taking over my body as I free fell to what I presumed to be my inevitable demise.

     I woke up with a start, my clothes heavily drenched in cold sweat while my alarm clock bombarded my ears with it's piercing shrieks.