Day 6 & Finale
Finally, day six. All Raiza had to do was survive today, because day seven would be the day the maze wall opens up, and he finally is finished with the examination.
]"Can you survive knowing you let a friend die?" The voice whispered in his ear once more. His eyes lit up like they were on fire, anger boiled through his body as he staggered to a standing position.
"I have not let anyone die, and I'll be damned if I let anyone who came down here die". His voice filled with rage as he paced forward deeper into the catacombs, or was it closer to the exit? Even Raiza had lost track of direction down here by now, but what was apparent was now the lack of water had long set in. His body ached throughout, and he was nearly passing out on his own feet. Allowing himself a second sip only just to keep going. Water, feeling almost like liquid gold onto his chapp'd lips from the lack of water, it was not enough just one sip, but yet he knew the rest must be saved. Ensure the one that cried out to him can still be saved.
Yet could they? When was the first cry for help? Was it truly the spirit? The hallucinations? What was it. Yet the source did not matter, what mattered to Raiza at this point was just to keep pushing on, further, and take the steps at each moment, remind himself to take the next step.
"Who of the three can you afford to loose?" As if that was a question, Raiza shook his head
"I wont loose anyone" Though the whimper of pain as he fell to his knees from his own body nearly giving up on him again. How long had he been walking, a couple hours no doubt, but still, that should have been nothing for him. How long had it been since food? Nearly a week now, and it caused pulsing pains in his stomach for such a thing. Food, a thing he took for granted just because theft was a thing. A hard knot to swallow, but this was true, now it was no longer hard to see what this examination entailed. The test put to the test his fortitude, his will power, his physical determination, his fears, and himself in general. Everything was nearly put to the test in this turning point. What would the next test be? Now that was something that would no doubt haunt him at a later date.
However his eyes flickered back open, had he passed out on his knees? The hallway was shaking, no it was just him, his mind still grasping the center of balance. Dizziness set in, and he heard the cry once again. This time...from behind?
His mind raced, his body still hurting, yet in this adrenaline filled moment, he saw her, a woman's body cloaked in black, unable to be seen as to who it was until Raiza brushed his hand against the hood, pulling it back to reveal the face of Thorn.
"What... Thorn Why? Why interfere in my test you gave me...", then the pain truly set in. She looked deprived of water and food.
"Wait, I..I...I have water, don't you die on me damn it". Looking at Thorn whom was barely awake, he had handed her the canteen, and though she took and drank, something would shock his mind, the pain coursed his body.
The hallway shook, if one had to classify the intensity, it was as if being put through a scale 9 earthquake, all while being spun around. The dizziness set in. The spirit's laughs could be heard. Raiza's eyes closed as he lost balance while on his knees, helping...wait who?
His eyes were open, Thorn was gone, the water on the canteen was emptied out onto the floor, and he was currently pouring the rest out. Was the cries just another part of the hallucination.
However, standing before Raiza now, no longer was a hallucination, it was a spirit that had been testing him this whole time, it and the hallucinations created the penultimate mental test on him, that pushed his physical body beyond it's normal limits.
"No fears? Right Raiza? I think you've learned a valueable part of yourself today, and learned who truly matters in your life, and who you deeply care for. Good bye Raiza" And... just like that the spirit was gone. The gust of air filled the catacombs, the wall unlocking itself, and the entrence could be seen. Wait... how many hours passed, last he thought it was simply a couple. Had the entire day already passed? Wait, was today actually day six? Was that silly title just for play?
His body staggered up. The dizziness still was set in, and the seed that was in his pocket was grasped by him.
"A plant huh, I could use this in my room. Though... I don't think I'm ready to confess my uh... to Thorn, wait... talking to myself again, I really... need to get water and food in me.", Slowly making his way to the door now, the smile on his face as all his wounds have long been healed, but his clothing and bandages he made with tears on his cloak showed how rough his examination was on him. Slowly standing on the bottom stair, he would look up, the cool brisk air of midnight set in.
"Thorn, test is completed? I assume? Did I pass?", his words rang from inside, assuming Thorn would have been waiting on the outside, and have been the one to actually open it on the exact minute that his test was over.
words: 955 this post
Total: 4000+ I've completed this assignment of 4000 words.