Chapter 4- What Did Kill Me…?
(Authors note- This is just a recording. Please be aware that this may hold great danger. Please note this is a new genre to the author.)
I just sat there… Sobbing… Just sobbing on the cold stone floor with torches burning down a corridor. I have escaped the shadow once again and I have escaped the monster. But I just held one of the monsters front legs. I tried to remember whose it was. But all I could do was sob and stare at the door. Blood started to seep slowly through the cracks of the door. I didn’t know who it was but it was someone I could trust. Someone I could rely on, someone that took care of me ever since I was a filly.
I stroked the front leg with my hoof. My emotional and physical tanks drained for the will to carry on. I didn’t want to live anymore. I didn’t know anything but why do I keep going? I’m already dead… Already dead in the inside… But what killed me?
When did this situation all begin…
-An Hour Earlier-
I gave myself a pat on the back carrying the bubbling acid out of the laboratory. I was truly proud of myself. Not only had I found a way to advance deeper toward my objective, but the fact that I also have found a way around the Shadow of Chao’s obstacle.
But I knew better then to put my guard down.
Taking the acid carefully like gold, I went down another set of stairs. I read the sign above the iron door that read ‘Refinery’. Opening the door I noticed the same thick, dark red tissue that blocks my path. I tried every means to destroy it by tools and hooves, but all has failed. With my better judgment I referred back to my notes. I took out the note from the lab and skimmed through it till I reached the point where it said ‘Creates an acid strong enough to dissolve tissue’.
Then I understood. I looked at the note once, and then I looked at the obstacle blocking my way.
Gently as possible I trickled the green acid on the tissue. To my surprise the acid started to react till it created large red bubbles and soon they popped. The process continued till all that was left was a clear stone passage way toward another door. With excitement I proceeded.
But not until I heard the same grunting noise of the monsters....
I looked behind me and gasped as I saw the same creature that I had first faced. I didn’t know what his or her emotions were due to the creature’s face being twisted and sewed together. But by the nature of it, it seemed ready to kill.
I tried to run but I stood in place as I watched the ‘thing’ creep toward me. Its mouth opening wider and wider getting ready to swallow me in whole. Its teeth stained with blood and its breath filled with the smell of rotten flesh. Blood was seeping out of the stiches around the body of the monster. I stayed where I was, frozen, terrified by fear. I tried to looked away and close my eyes, but my neck was frozen stiff. My eyes opened wide and I felt my vision become blurry and the ringing in my ears started to return.
The monster was only a few feet away and leaped toward me. I yelled in horror and I fell backwards hitting my head hard on the stone paved floor. I blinked once, and in the air I just saw a cloud of dust. As if the monster was disappearing back into the darkness and fading away.
I felt myself breathing heavily and I didn’t resist the urge to stop. Trembling from the event I tried to get up but stumbled due to the shaking of my front legs. After a few attempts I got up and made my way toward yet another iron door. Being more cautious I opened the door and peeked inside.
So far there was nothing except the darkness surrounding the walls, dust, and even the air. But as I continued a few steps along the ancient looking corridor the voices of a thousand whispers filled my head.
I blinked once and I found myself walking along next to the Princess Celestia herself. Still with her rather grim face posed on her face we continued to walk down the rotting hall.
“It sure is dark in here…” I found myself saying.
The Princess, without smiling only gave me a nod, “Yes, and there is a good reason for it. But you can light the lamp now if you wish.”
Looking at her funny I thought I had the lamp on. But found it turned off and with a flick of a switch I felt the warm barrier of light shining around us.
“Well what’s the reason? For the darkness that is?”
The Princess didn’t even bat an eyelash and with a hard face looked straight ahead. “Stay close- be careful not to stray.”
I found myself repeating the question, “But what’s the reason? Why is it so dark?”
The Princess finally snapped and looked at me with sharp piercing eyes, “Pay attention Twilight Sparkle! It’s important that you keep going straight and make sure not to stray… These deep parts of the castle were unused for hundreds of years. And they are filled with the darkness.”
I blinked slowly, and as I opened my eyes again, I found myself facing the deep hall with only my lantern for comfort.
Typical.
As I continued down the corridor this place wasn’t exactly better then upstairs. I would say it was even worse than upstairs. The walls with covered with peeling paint and there were bits of black here and there, but it looked as if it were dripping. And to top it all off some of the walls were covered with the same red tissue that I have faced just moments ago. Things were not turning to my favor.
And speaking of turns the hall makes a left turn!
‘Alright Twilight uh… Twilight… Twilight Sparkle! Just focus!’ I told myself, and I knew that if my old self saw me like this, she would’ve been really disappointed.
Focusing my mind on survival once again, I hugged the wall and turned off my lantern. Despite my hatred for the darkness I knew that if there was something there it would have come for me. Peeking with only one eye, I looked what was around the corner.
It was a little too dark to see but I made out some features such as rocks, some broken pillars, and to my already nerve broken mind, a misty doorway…
Taking cautious steps I crouched low and started to proceed toward yet another area of unexplored terrors. I peeked inside making sure that everything was clear then I started to make my way but strangely, it started to not become all that dark.
While I crossed the area only half way I heard a growl. In front of me, the same monster crossed the room just a few feet ahead. I held my breath and quickly dove behind a large barrel daring not to even move another muscle.
Seconds felt like minutes, and the minutes felt like hours. Yet I still held my breath hoping that the creature wouldn’t come this way. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the sound of a door opening and closing.
I fumbled for my lantern and I accidently dropping it on the floor. I let out a gasp of worry as I quickly held it and inspected it. I let out a sigh of relief as I turned the lantern on and it released a small flame. I felt myself soaking in the light as I took a deep breath, steading my breathing.
Finally getting the nerve, I got up from my sitting position, and started to explore the ‘Refinery’ even further. I didn’t go far until I heard the eerie cry of the hollowed Shadow once again filling the room. I doubled back, but I pressed on. I was still afraid of the Shadow, I was very afraid. But I knew that if I didn’t quicken my pace I would be good as dead.
I turned to my left and I saw the door barely open. I knew that the monster would be around here somewhere but I just didn’t know where.
I had to be extra careful.
Opening the door ever so slowly I peeked inside, but all I saw was a table, some barrels in a corner, and a shelf filled with bottles of wine (which later on I found were empty).
I closed the door quickly and quietly. Then I started to rummage around for supplies. There wasn’t much here except a bottle of oil and a tinderbox but I thanked whoever was watching me for giving me this small gift.
At this point I would have taken anything I could get my hands on.
And still, with these small gifts, my life didn’t get any better. For long periods of time I was very cautious, peeking in from one room to another trying to see if the monster was anywhere in sight. But fortunately the creature was nowhere to be found. I checked all the rooms and even every corner of the area but found nothing.
Except this one door and the last door to be exact, I did all I could do with physical force. From pulling, pushing, and even daring to throw a chair at the door, but it wouldn’t even budge!
“Oh come on! What am I supposed to do!? Find a hidden entrance somewhere!? I don’t have time for this!”
I yelled out in frustration pulling on my mane as I paced back and forth until I tripped over some of the boxes next the closed door. I tumbled around on the ground for quite a bit and landed right on my head but the good thing was, I could finally move on! And the bad news? Well… The monster wasn’t actually gone…
Just one roar… And I screamed like a little filly.
The creature just entered right through the door toward my left and was closing on me fast. I had no time to waste and certainly no time for mistakes. Quickly moving I removed the boxes with such haste I didn’t even bother looking behind me. I just tossed the boxes behind me to try and delay the monster but all it did was stall ‘it’ for one second, then ‘it’ would start to advance.
The emotional pressure that weighed me down started to intensify and I felt the panic start to take over. I started to scramble for the small hole and wormed my way inside. I felt blood pumping inside my head that banged in my ears. I just managed to pop out of the hole just before the creature reached for my hooves. I shuffled back and looked around the room. Surely the monster would come through the hole any minute.
Just like the last room it was covered in some of the red tissue and large barrels. I started to become frantic, there was no way out!
There were sounds of claws scratching stone and I looked behind me, only to see the monster poking its ugly, disgusting head out.
‘Come on Twilight! You’re smart or were smart… But come on think! Think!’
I felt my eyes moving back and forth trying to find a way out. I took out my lantern and directed it toward the other end of the room.
And then I finally screamed in joy and horror. The joy part was that I found some rope that was tied to a floor door of some sort. But horror part was that the creature was half way through.
Quickly following the rope that lead to some kind of crank. Frantically I tried to turn it but it wouldn’t budge!
The monsters deep growl was penetrating and threatening. I resisted the urge to look but I knew that that thing would be out to cut me to pieces within a few seconds.
Following the pulley system I noticed that some kind of wood was jamming one of the gears. I tugged on the wood as best as I could and cracked it in half. Splinters and dust showered on me but I didn’t care. I ran for the pulley and started to crank the lever, my breathing becoming very dense and heavy as I turned the lever round and round. Every turn made me even more afraid.
Time was running out.
I turned for the floor door and just saw that the monster had only his calves to go. Just as I was about to jump down something caught my eye on the table near the monster…
‘Oil and a piece of paper!’
I knew that I could use the oil and that paper could be another part to my diary. I had to choose.
Risk myself for the paper, or the oil.
I was pretty sure that I had plenty of fuel stalked up in my bag so with terrified haste I dived for the piece of paper and held it tightly against my chest. The monster popped out of the hole and lunged for me, but I rolled back dodging the lunge and once again, dived for the hole.
I hit my head against the hard stone floor but I felt as if I escaped one of the Shadow’s traps again. But I knew that I wasn’t safe yet. I quickly dashed through the corridors and feeling the same buzzing sound in my head that danger was very close. But the eerie sound of the Shadow didn’t help my sanity.
I turned around to see that the monster was only a few steps away from me. I quickened my pace and after what felt like an eternity I saw a door at the end of the long corridors. As I came close the ground started to shake and for a moment I stopped and turned my head around once again. This time the creature wasn’t alone…
Surrounding the monster, dark, red tissue started to cover the walls and floors creating an insane effect. The Shadow seemed to be surrounding the monster in darkness as if advanced toward me, and finally I felt my ears ring… I wasn’t going to last long…
I reached the door as fast as I could and I burst it open, but to only fall all over again. As I crawled back on the floor I slammed the door shut with my left hind leg. But just as the door was about to slam shut, a clawed hand rapped itself around my right leg. I screamed in horror as I held onto my dear life with some loose stone. The pull of the monster felt like it was ripping my legs apart.
“Let go of me! Please let go of me!” I found myself yelling.
For a moment I looked into the small gap where the hand was grabbing me from. It was pitch black… But then the red mist started to come in and what I saw shocked me. What I expected to see yellow, snake like eyes, just for a second, just a split moment… The eyes were a beautiful shade of light blue. His eyes sparkled and showed grief, sorrow, and regret… Just like my own self in my dream.
There seemed to be tears in its eyes, but the tears quickly changed to the color of blood and the soft eyes turned into piercing knives once again. I quickly went back into a panic as I tried to pull myself out of its grip but it was hopeless. This monster was stronger then I and the note of my formal self-warned me that the shadow will protect it. I cried thinking that this was the end of my miserable life. If there was anything like an afterlife, then I wish I could go there instead of eternal darkness.
As I loosened my grip to accept the fate but just as I was about to give up hope, the iron door slammed shut against the monsters arm and I heard a terrible cry of pain. I quickly shuffled backwards and slumped myself against a wall. Breathing heavily I looked at my legs to see if there was any damage done. There were only a few scratches and bruises but other than that I was fine. And as a bonus, I had a decapitated front leg with me.
I jolted back in surprise as a banging on the door started up my instincts. The banging continued to grow louder and louder and I heard a sickening crunching noise like bones were breaking.
But what really surprised me was there was another voice. Deep, raspy, and empty but, rather sweet… Something really warm… Like someone that would take care of you and just hold you close. Like a big brother of some sort.
“I’m sorry…” The voice strained to say, “It wasn’t meant to be this wa-“
Before the voice could finish, there was a sickening crunch and the voice was no more. Nothing but silence followed.
I had no idea if tears were dribbling down my face at the moment, but I felt as if a big part of me was gone. Something important has gone missing. So I just sat there with my legs wide open and I just sat on the cold stone floor, looking straight at the door, and I let out a sniff. I just stared. There was no emotion. Nothing but a sniffing Twilight Sparkle if that was even my name. Nothing but a confused Twilight Sparkle. Nothing but a Twilight Sparkle who can’t do anything!
I don’t even remember who was talking to me. But I knew that he was important. Even if he did try and kill me… What did kill me?
The question… The question is still unanswered. Who did kill me?
Who was to blame? Myself? The Shadow of Chaos? Or even the monster that was killed by something. Was it the Shadow that killed him?
So many questions swarmed in my head I just sobbed like a zombie. Not blinking, not moving, but only the sound of sniffing and heavy gulps of saliva filled the air.
What did it matter? I was already dead…
(End Note- Well I tried to add something in there and I tried to put in some tragedy and sadness this time. I was normally going to do something else for the beginning but then when I came to the end I thought ‘Meh… Maybe I should try something different.’ And there you go! I tried it once and if you guys like it I’ll try and do it again. I hope you guys approve of this!)