//------------------------------//
// In the Dark 
// Story: Apples Wild 
// by niftykoala 
//------------------------------//

	 Wild Card got to his feet and dusted himself off in the dim light from the hole above him.  He still had his satchel. He opened it to check the contents. Even after all he’d been through, the amulet was still intact.

“Wiiiild Card,” Came a voice in the darkness. “Giiive it back, and run awaaaay…Or your death will be very slow Wiiiild Card.” Wild Card turned in the direction of the voice. A pair of eyes glowed the blackness staring at Wild Card. “Or should I say L..”

Wild Card cut him off, “I just want my memories back.”

“We’ll alll diiiiiiiiie before I let you have them!” Golden Bale shrieked.  Lamps in the basement burst into life and exploded in flames spreading burning kerosene in the four corners of the room. 

Wild Card circled to his left, as Golden Bale spat and circled as well. “You want it Goldie?”  He flipped open the satchel and pulled the amulet out with his teeth flipping it onto his neck, it burned his skin.  He could feel the power filling his very being. “Come and Get it.”

Golden Bale screeched and sprang at Wild Card, his hooves coming down hard for a haymaker. Wild Card watched it seemed in slow motion as the hooves came down towards his muzzle.  At the same time he brought the amulet up with his hoof. Golden Bale’s hooves connected, smashing into Wild Cards’ head and shattering and splintering the amulet. Wild Card was sent flying backwards into one of the upper floor supports, splitting it in two. Wild Card had a flash of a memory of his mother’s eyes as part of the first floor fell on top of him.