Dragon's Fire

I rushed down the murky swamp, water swashing all around me. I looked back. They were still chasing me. I ran faster. I could barely stand at this point.

My legs finally gave out and I instantly felt infinite dread flow through me. I cursed, as the skeletal creatures closed in all around. My heart sank, and I swallowed hard as they closed in all around. Yet to my surprise, they didn't tear me to shreds. Instead, they lifted me up, carrying me back towards the eerie temple.

I was tempted to close my eyes, let all the horror fade away, but something kept my eyes from closing. I was carried up the temple stairs, lead inside the very heart of darkness. There, lie the face of death itself. I recognized only one, horrific face that no mortal wished to greet: The Reaper. God of Death. I was thrown before him. My heart beat faster and faster as complete fear, terror, and horror consumed my heart.

I got up to run, yet the other Archdoriens blocked my path. I cursed as I turned back to face the grinning reaper. The god wore dark robes that seemed to float above the ground, his boney hands holding a massive, grinning scythe.

"Calm down, my dear." He said, his voice raspy. "Your day hasn't come. At least, not yet. In fact, I've brought you as an honored guest."

I looked at the dark figure, puzzled. "Guest?" I asked, confusion and terror filling my voice.

"Yes, as a guest. I will give you the honor of going on a hunt with my champion, Gor Tul. If you succeed, follow his orders, then you will be allowed to go back to your life, as if nothing happened. If you fail" he made a sweeping gesture with his scythe.

"And why should I go?" I asked.

The faceless god laughed. "Would you prefer I kill you right now?" He rasped.

I looked around, considering my options. I sighed, quickly realizing how screwed I was. "Good point." I growled.

I could feel the god smile. Well, he would've if he had a face. I looked around, pausing in terror as I felt nausea set in.

"Sleep now, my pet." Were the last words I heard before darkness claimed my soul...

I woke up that night on a carriage, a dark, skeletal figure watching over me. I screamed at the sight of the massive figure.

"Fear not." The figure rasped. "I am Gor Tul."

I looked at the figure. That should've helped calm my fear. It only served to intensify it. I was on the hunt already. A million questions flowed through my mind. The first thing that came to mind was what the hell are we hunting?

I stood upright in the carriage. The figure who called itself Gor Tul almost took up the entire seat. I felt the carriage stop as we arrived at our destination. I looked out the small window, which revealed the entrance to a massive cave.

The figure opened the small door, slouching as he stood. He stepped out, and I, reluctantly, followed. Chirping crickets filled my ears. The inside of the cave were filled with lava, hot rock, and something I couldn't quite identify. I continued onwards, looking around.

Eventually, we arrived at a massive, arena-like area. Lava seemed through the cracks, and in the center, to complete the horrific scene was a massive, black dragon. My heart truly sank at the sight of such a powerful beast. Whatever he wanted with such a beast, I didn't want part in it, yet fear immobilized me.

The champion of death let out a bellowing laugh. "This beast shall make a worthy sacrifice." He cried, as he slowly descended towards the dragon.

The dragon took note of it, and reared its head, prepared to sear the Archdorien with it's devastating fire. The drake let out it's horrid breathe, as the fire wholly consumed the king. When the smoke finally cleared, it revealed a still standing, yet badly burnt Gor Tul, who was smiling like a madman

"Foolish beast!" He laughed. "I serve death, and death has come to claim you."

The room suddenly went dark. Dark fissures of black-blue magic burst forth, exploding throughout the whole of the arena. If it weren't for the fact I was standing far away from the madness, I would've been instantly slaughtered.

The dragon was soon consumed wholly in darkness, and it roared so loud it made my ears pop. The cave groaned and shook under the wrath of the dragon's roar. Soon, the darkness cleared, showing the dragon falling. It landed with a massive plop. I screamed as the dark king began to laugh like a madman, walking towards the fallen dragon.

The dark king stepped atop the dragon, his boney fingers reaching into the dragon's chest and pulling forth a fiery, still beating heart. The dark king turned to me, and I felt sheer terror overwhelm me. The king leapt off the dragon, stepping towards me. Every step spoke was another step towards what most assuredly would be my doom. And I welcomed it.

When the dark king reached me, he pushed the heart into my hands. I looked at the fiery heart, curiosity filling my mind.

"Eat it." The dark king barked.

I swallowed hard. I slowly did as I was told, placing the warm heart within my mouth and biting down. It tasted strangely good, almost like a dry apple. And then, I felt a surge of emotion. I screamed, as every sensation in my whole body was activated at once. I felt fear, but joy. I felt anger, but sorrow. I felt every possible emotion a human being could feel all at once, and then came pain. Agony coursed through every nerve in my body, as if my whole body had been drenched in acid.

The mad king laughed and laughed until my vision turned red and I heard a crackle of fire. And then, finally, came knowledge. A massive wave of information flowed into my brain. The answer to every question I'd ever asked was suddenly given to me all at once, and my eyes soon awakened in horrid truth.

And then, finally, it ended. I fell to the warm ground, embracing the darkness that called for me. The last thing I heard was the echoing mad laughter of Gor Tul.