Spike has always been a brave, loyal, and kind dragon but coming events will put everything he though he knew about himself to the test.
I...I don't know where I am. I woke up in some castle somewhere and all I know is that my friends are somewhere inside it. I can barely move...something feels so wrong about this place...I hear haunting noises from within and I see things that shouldn't be. The wind blows open a door in a windowless room. Music plays in a hallway with no one to be seen near the instrument. Even worse I would've sworn I felt something watching me...My name is Spike and this is my one last letter.
(The cover art is a picture of castle Brennenburg from the Amnesia site. aka not mine and belongs to the creators of the game.)
The adolescent dragon's eyes slowly opened in response to light trickling in through a window to his left. After a couple groans stemming from the frustration of being woken from his slumber he stumbled to his feet. Immediately in front of him was a hall that branched off in a few directions. The odd torches spaced throughout the hall cast a soft light over all that he could see, though darkness still held secrets in the corners of unlit rooms.
"Where...am I?" He asked quizzically as he surveyed the hall he was in. A structural collapse made going to the path behind him impossible, leaving only the path forward as an option. The castle was old. That much he could tell. The stones echoed of age and being well past their prime.
Within moments Spike became subconsciously aware that his heartbeat had turned in to a nervous tempo. The very air seemed threatening and being unsure why made the matter worse.
"Is anyone there?" He called out. His voice echoed back to him, almost mockingly.
"Oh I get it. Real funny. You got me, guys. Good prank." He said with a small laugh as if to reassure himself. No response came.
"Guys? Please...this isn't funny anymore..."
The only sound he heard was the wind howling through a broken window. Without anyone else around and no sense of what to do Spike had only two options. Sit where he was and wait indefinitely for his friends that might not even be coming, or descend into the structure...
He put one scaly foot on the floor. His claws made a soft click as they made contact with the stone. Another set of claws clicked as he began taking uncertain steps forward. He flapped his wings nervously. They had started growing in as he reached his teenage years and though they were not small they were not large yet either. He was not capable of flight though he could greatly soften landing from a fall.
Spike walked forward cautiously and though his claws were not loud they seemed all but deafening in the silence that reverberated all around.
Hopefully that means my friends will find me easier... He mused within his own mind.
Something sitting atop a nearby table caught his eye. A tinderbox.
"Who'd leave this here? Might as well take it. Just in case."
He scooped it up in his talons. For a moment he considered leaving it because he could breathe fire naturally though he held onto it anyway. It was more for the sake of just having something to hold if he had to give a reason, he liked to fiddle with whatever he was holding when he got nervous.
As he progressed into the main hall a runaway breeze from nowhere flung open a door a short distance ahead. He recoiled a few steps back in fear as he saw a shadow as tall as himself cast on the door. He would stand eye to eye with a man at his height and did his best to cover himself behind a set of drapes that adorned the window behind him. A moment later he dared to peek out again.
He heard a small squeak and watched the shadow shrink down to mere inches when a rat scurried out of the doorway.
He was confused but relieved nonetheless. He walked up to the doorway to investigate. Inside was a small closet illuminated by a candle resting on the floor.
Just a trick of the light! He thought to himself. The incident would have been funny to him under different circumstances. With his eyes following the rat moving across the floor he caught sight of a strange liquid on the floor. It was a pinkish hue of sorts and there was a trail of it leading into a hallway that branched off of this one.
Spike's curiosity getting the best of him, the young dragon followed it. His claws making a "tick-tack" sound as he walked.
I should clip those sometime. Last time I was in Canterlot it drove me nuts. The new, clean stone there made it even louder.
He followed the trail back to a room with nothing in it with the exception of a single desk in the center of the room. On it lay several items. Spike cautiously advanced to get a closer look. The first thing he noticed was a note in the the middle with a quill and inkwell beside it, as well as a nearly empty bottle with a few drops of pink liquid in it. Likely what left the trail he found. He picked up the note and began reading.
Dear Spike,
I don't have too long to write this. You are writing this, even if you don't remember by now. Details are already slipping from my mind so I can't get off subject. You have been in this castle for a week. Twilight was experimenting with a new form of magic and it went haywire about a week ago. Everyone was there expecting positive results but we were sent to this castle, on a world called Earth. An odd but charismatic man named Alexander welcomed us and showed us around some areas within the castle. He took the most interest to Twilight and Rarity and sometimes invited them privately to help him with his "projects". At one point I found a note written by someone named "Daniel" but he was quick to claim that he was an old assistant that had left years ago. I was right to be suspicious when he forbade us from certain areas of the castle and hesitated when any of us asking detailed questions and became frustrated when he caught Rainbow Dash trying to snoop. Last night he was very excited when he asked me to follow him into his "inner sanctum". I did as he asked. We crossed a narrow bridge that stretched over a hole that seemed to go on forever and he opened a large pair of doors and inside the chamber was a pair of orbs on pedestals. I noticed that there were three pedestals and only two orbs. The second thing I noticed was the smell. Blood. When I asked him he claimed it was it was liquid squeezed from a fruit that would aid the ritual he had planned but he was lying. Any dragon knows blood when they smell it. I pretended to believe him but I was already planning escape routes. He said the orbs were advanced ways of channeling magic and he asked me to breathe fire into the empty pedestal in the hopes that it would work in the absence of a third orb. I asked where my friends were and that's when I think he knew that I had caught onto him. He called for a servant to come in but what entered was a nightmarish creature with its head split open and a blade replacing the right arm! A second one entered right behind it and they stood beside Alexander. He told me that my friends were safe for now but he demanded I do as he said. I breathed onto the empty pedestal but nothing happened. That's when he flew into a rage and ordered his monsters to throw me in a cell while he figured out what to do next. I ran as fast as I could away form them. They chased me and swung their terrible blades while making bone-chilling roars. I don't remember the areas I ran through anymore and I can tell I'm almost out of time to write this. I made it to a solid metal door some distance back and locked it down tight. They made a ruckus for a while but eventually they stopped and I could hear them walk away but I can't dare to head back as I am, I can't remember it anymore but I couldn't even begin to think of how I'd keep living with the knowledge of it. So I'm sorry to do this and leave myself in the dark about so much but I took one of Alexander's "Amnesia" bottles and drank it. Find the girls. Find a way home. Bring Alexander to justice. Stay safe.
Sincerely, Spike.
"Oh no..." He whispered to himself.
This can't be! I'm no hero! This has to just be a bad dream...but I know it isn't. My only choice is to go back down there...
That was when an idea came to his mind that perhaps there was something else for him to find, whether it was another note or a map of the castle if he lucked out. He pulled open each of the drawers in the desk and in the largest one he found a lantern with a small jar of oil beside it. He dumped the oil into the lantern's fuel supply and picked it up by the handle.
He left the room and turned to the giant doors that closed off the main hall. He took hold of a handle and slowly pulled the great slab of wood and iron open. It led straight into an empty hall lined with torches. At the end sat a simple wooden door. He lifted the wooden door lock and pulled the door towards him. Behind it was yet another hallway, only this one was longer and only dimly lit. At the end was a heavy metal door.
The hunk of metal that sectioned off the hallway looked heavy enough to crush a catapult if dropped from high enough. Three locks and a door bar kept it secure. Spike reluctantly approached. If he had a choice he'd be here only to seal it tighter but he needed to rescue the girls and get them home safely. They needed him, and that was all the purpose he needed.
First he undid the door bar, lifting it up and gently setting it against the wall. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he began to undo one of the locks. His imagination conjured up a million horrors that could emerge as soon as he passed through here. He undid the second lock as well. As he reached for the third one it felt as if his blood ran cold. While he couldn't actually remember what the monstrosities looked like some deep, primal part of his mind remembered exactly how they made him feel. He felt terror. Spike looked back at the lock hesitantly, realizing he was panicking and had yet to even open the door.
Get a hold of yourself, Spike. You are a dragon! You shouldn't be scared! If anything they should be scared of you! This is for Twilgiht. This is for Fluttershy, AJ, Pinkie, and Rainbow! This is for Rarity! I can't fail them! The young dragon thought confidently. It faded again slightly as he undid the final lock but it was done and he refused to turn back.
Once more steeling his resolve, Spike but one claw on the door and flexed his arm.
He let out a long nervous breath. He slowly pulled towards himself...and opened the door.
The door groaned to reveal the dragon's silhouette when the light from the hall was cast over his back and into the darkness before him. He took a few tentative steps forward. Every muscle flexed and he could feel a chill arc down his spine. A sudden squeak by his foot startled him and he stumbled to the side with a yelp. He crashed into a wooden support beam and caused the fragile thing to collapse. The storage alcove it supported came crashing down and blocked the door. Spike dove out of the way just in time and narrowly missed having his foot pinned between two large rocks. It was barred now with several feet of stone and wood strewn around the door.
"NO! No, it can't be! Shit!" He cried out. He immediately began to rip away the fallen pillars and pull the stones away, making a ruckus as he did. "Let. Me. OUT!" Spike heard the echoes from further away bounce back to his own ears...but that wasn't the only sound he heard...
An angry growl called back to him from somewhere in the dark. No...it wasn't quite angry as it seemed almost...hungry. It was hunting and he just rang the dinner bell.
Spike's keen ears heard the heavy foot-falls of the monster approaching. He crept forward into the darkness and hid behind a bookshelf and let his eyes adjust for a moment. He dared to crane his head around the bookshelf and caught a glimpse of a humanoid shaped monster in the darkness. He couldn't see any details about it but his gut told him he should be thankful for that. He also heard it coming closer.
If I sit here it'll find me no doubt...I gotta move...
In between the monster and himself was a tall well and beyond that another bookshelf jutted out of the wall. It was already approaching the far bookshelf.
If I can keep low and circle around the well the opposite way he does I should be able to get past...
Spike's plan was ruined the second he took another step as he claws raked against the floor. The beast stopped groaning and grunted simply, no doubt turning its to exactly where he was hiding. The footsteps came faster.
Although his instincts screamed at him not too he poked his head out again. The monster was within a few feet of him now and he missed getting knocked in the head by its muscular arm by only a hair.
RUN, NOW! His mind screamed.
His instincts kicked in and he scrambled to the top of the bookshelf. He leaped off of it and hit the ground running with the horror trailing only a few paces behind him. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide, every step he took only attracted attention. For now, he simply ran.
Spike's claws raked the stone as they covered a long hallway in an astonishingly short time but even so the monster did not lag far behind.
There has to be a way out!
The young dragon's feet practically flew across the floor as he raced through the castle with the monster in tow. He prayed that he wouldn't run into a dead end. Eventually he saw a wooden door at the end of the hall. It was one of three and was on his right side. He made a dash for the handle. He pulled it open and burst through, making sure to slam the door behind him. Once inside h let out a relieved breath and leaned against the door, confident he was safe for now.
He felt the door shake when something slammed into it.
Damn that thing's strong! The door won't hold! There's nowhere out!
Spikes eyes darted around the room for anything he could use. The only things in the room were a desk and a cupboard. He rushed to barricade the door with the desk to buy time, his strength allowing him to do so quickly. His eyes turned to the cupboard and he desperately hoped there was room inside. There was another slam against the door. This time he heard wood start to give way. Spike quickly crept into the cupboard, fortunately it was empty aside from a couple shirts on the bottom of it which served as something that he could keep his claws on without making noise.
Suddenly he heard the door shatter, spraying wood chips against the wall and the front of the cupboard. He could feel the impact of the desk flying into the wall beside him. He held his breath as the monster walked inside. Spike heard it wander about in confusion. His blood ran cold when it stopped directly in front of his hiding place. It growled slowly and he felt something gently knock on the door and start to pull.
Spike's heart raced like lightning and his life began flash before him as he prepared to fight in a last ditch effort. His tail still clutched the tinderbox from earlier and he held the lantern loosely in one hand. He set them down softly on the bottom of the cupboard and readied himself to unleash a torrent of fire against his assailant. Just before the door opened a loud squeak came from outside the room. The monster let go of the door and followed after the sound. It squeaked again and he heard the squeak begin to move farther away as the sounds of footsteps did as well.
He breathed out in relief when he could tell the room was empty now.
He cautiously stepped out of the cupboard, grabbing his lantern and tinderbox as he did. He wrapped the shirts from the cupboard around his talons and created make-shift socks. They'd hold but if he started running they'd come off quickly. Spike tested the results and tapped a foot lightly on the stone. He couldn't even hear it.
A spark of hope ignited in Spike's heart. A small one but it was something.
He softly pushed open the doors of the cupboard and carefully made his way to the empty door-frame. His eyes widened at the damage the monster had left. The door was nothing but a scattered mess of wood on the floor and even the desk lay broken in pieces. He shuddered to imagine the result if it had found him.
He glanced into the hallway. Farther down the hall he could see the terrifying creature walking away from him. Directly in front of him was another door identical to the one that used to be where he stood and to his right was a somewhat larger door that he was willing to bet actually led somewhere.
Spike slowly put his right foot forward, then his left and tried the handle on the bigger door. Locked. He tried the other remaining door as well and had the same luck.
Damn it! There's nowhere to go! Unless...
Spike already had the beginnings of a plan in his mind. He witnessed how easily that monster beat down a door just standing there.
Spike looked around for anything he could use as a tool or even weapon to pry open the door. While he suspected the monster could break it down there's no way that he would get it to attack the door. He could try to break it down himself but even if he succeeded it would create a great amount of noise. That was when he noticed the pipes running along the ceiling.
Maybe...just maybe...
The pipes were easily within jumping range and looked like they'd be out of reach of the monster.
"Here goes nothing..." Spike whispered to himself in uncertainty. He could still see the monster, even if it pained him to look at the abomination.
He cupped his claws around his snout and shouted.
"HEY!"
The monster stopped and turned it's head to stare at him. For just a moment its twisted eyes met his own and they seemed to peer into his very soul. Spike regretted his decision already but it was far too late to back out now. He set the tinderbox and lantern on the floor and made ready to jump.
"Yeah you! Ugly! Come and get me!" Spike's fear added to the pitch of the voice. It was louder but his tone wavered as he spoke. The creature began walking towards him. The walk slowly grew faster until it was near a run.
"Come on, freak! I'm right here you piece of-" The nervous dragon shut up when he saw how fast it was coming now. It was charging at him in a full sprint. In a matter of seconds he'd be smashed into the door.
"Now for the moment of truth..."
Just before the abomination made contact Spike leaped up to the ceiling and wrapped his arms and legs around the pipe, narrowly dodging the monster. The monster passed underneath him, smashing into the door like a train. The door shattered into bits and the creature fell forward after impact.
Spike jumped down from the pipe and raced over the monster into a room filled with lab equipment and all sorts of chemicals, including a large barrel on the far side of the room with some bubbling green liquid in it. All around were corpses, though he was slightly relieved that they were all pigs though it was still an ugly sight. The true bad news was that he couldn't see a way out.
He was trapped.
He heard the monster behind him already rising to its feet and Spike's heart froze. He spun around just in time to see the monster charge him once more. He held up both claws just in time to catch the monsters arms in his grip. As they made contact Spike felt himself pushed several feet back. It tried to free itself from Spike and was starting to overpower him. It growled and spat in his face. With the monster's grotesque features fully visible now he began to feel his resolve fade. It continued to push him back to the wall and was about to free an arm to swing at him.
Spike's mind raced and when he was unsure what to do he began to feel the adrenaline in his veins, fueling his strength. His muscles flexed in defiance and his eyes narrowed at the assailant. The dragon mustered his power and threw the monster back a couple feet. It stumbled but remained fixed on him. It moved towards him again and Spike slashed a claw up in line with the monster. The talons sliced into it but the creature barely flinched. It swung a meaty arm at Spike's head.
Spike ducked just in time and quickly got behind the beast. He raised a leg and kicked as hard as he could, pushing the monster to the wall. It impacted against the barrel and its head dipped into the barrel before coming back out. The head was noticeably burnt but the monster continued undeterred.
As soon as it emerged Spike released a torrent of fire upon the creature without hesitation. Finally it stopped in its tracks as the fire began to take hold and burn away the flesh. The beast only stopped for a moment however before attacking yet again. It swung at Spike in a vicious rage, this time he was hit. The claws in the monster's arm carved three long marks across Spike's face and drew blood. Another attack left three shallow stab wounds in Spike's chest. Drops of blood fell from the injured dragon.
"AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" He howled in pain. In a flash he charged back at the monster, lifting the heavy beast into the air with both claws. He rushed forward and dropped it into the acid barrel. It tried to climb out but Spike held it down, though not without earning a slash across the length of his left arm. The creature began to scream with him as Spike roared in pain with the acid eating away at it.
At last Spike let go and breathed fire into the monster's face at point blank. He held the flames for several long seconds until the monster ceased to make a sound. Spike let up to see the results of his work and gave a disgusted look.
Its face was charred completely black and the body was starting to sink into the acid, eventually dissolving completely into the concoction. At once Spike felt his strength leave him and pain take its place.
He fell to his knees and hissed in pain.
"Ahhhh...damn it..." He looked at himself and assessed the damage. He was relieved that nothing would cause permanent damage but it would probably scar, especially on his face. He grabbed at the cloth only barely clinging to his feet now and removed them. Spike quickly wiped the blood that remained on himself before gripping onto it tightly with both hands. He'd need to cauterize the wounds or risk getting dizzy from blood loss. It wouldn't do any damage to him but it would hurt as badly as the original wounds did with those scales broken.
"Alright...here goes..." He let out a small flame over his chest, just enough to do what he sought to do. He had to suppress the urge to stop and scream but he didn't lighten up until the wound stopped bleeding. While the pain was still fresh Spike quickly cauterized the wound on his arm. It was agonizing but at last the bleeding from both areas stopped rather than adding to the small puddle on the floor.
Slowly the pain began to fade, though it never completely left. Spike silently wished there was a way to cauterize the wounds on his face, fortunately those cuts were very shallow and the blood would stop on its own before long.
As Spike stood up something dawned on him.
I...I actually killed it! This was the first time Spike had ever killed anything other than a fish, though he didn't feel very guilty about ending the monstrosity that had tried to end him. In fact he grinned. He no longer felt helpless...he felt empowered. The fear drained from him and became replaced with a new-found confidence.
Now that there was no immediate danger Spike had time to closely look around the room for a way out. He was pacing about the far end of the room when he felt something on the floor. He looked down and saw a trapdoor disguised to match the stone around it. He threw it open and gazed into the darkness. There was a ladder that seemed to lead into another section of the castle.
Spike retrieved his lantern and tinderbox before proceeding down the hole. Once at the bottom he noticed how distinctly cold the room was as well as how oddly soft the floor seemed to be. An instant later a foul stench assaulted his nostrils and he couldn't help but gag.
Spike opened the lantern and breathed a soft flame into it to light it. A dim light bathed the room painted in a crimson red. A second observation revealed that it wasn't paint on the walls...
He looked down and was horrified to see he was standing out a mound of bodies. He gasped in shock and his scales crawled as he looked around. Corpses were all around the room, many of them were on the floor but there was some half decayed or eaten bodies still chained to the walls. One was missing both legs and the intestines simply dangled out onto the remains of another rotting man.
The whole room was like a huge box but with the important exception of having a hallway leading out. Spike gladly took a few steps to leave until he heard a haunting, echoing moan. It was very different from the one the other creature had made and it triggered a slight glimmer of recognition in his mind. Accompanying the moan was the sound of rusty iron shifting, as well as scraping noise of something heavy being dragged. The nervous dragon backed up to the pile of bodies as his eyes began to make a shape out in the darkness.
It was shaped like a man...only in place of a right arm it wielded a long bloodied cleaver. It was also walking straight towards him, dragging along another shape. Spike quickly doused the lantern and set it and the tinderbox on the ground.
There was nowhere to hide and if he tried to climb the ladder it would probably see him since light from the room above served only to illuminate the ladder. Spike held no doubts that if he didn't do something the monster would spot him in only moments. He began to see details of the monster and that it was dragging yet another body to add to the pile.
The pile! He thought. He hesitated to even consider it but he was out of options.
Without any other hope...Spike crawled into the mound of bodies.
The dragon lay perfectly motionless save for the frantic beating of his heart as the nightmarish being approached, the haunting screech the metal hinges echoed with the long haunting bellows the monster made. A thump followed from above him from what was surely another corpse being added to the putrid pile.
Every second of the stench around him gave his guts the desire to add to the wretched pile and he dared not open his eyes for fear of meeting the unflinching gaze of the dead that he'd surely find.
A couple moments after an addition was made to the pile Spike felt immeasurable relief as he heard the monster's tell-tale noises began to venture away from his position. Once he could no longer hear the monstrosity he quickly emerged from the pile. His expression paled as he was forced to look at the bodies again and this time he couldn't hold his stomach. He turned to the corner and vomited. He made every effort to keep as silent as he could and the only signal that he wasn't too loud was the fact that he was still checking for the sound of sound of the monster returning. His blood ran cold when he heard a gargling sound from behind him.
The drake was horrified to see that the most recent addition to the pile was still alive!
It was a young woman, it was difficult to tell from grime coating her features but she couldn't have been a day over twenty-five. What appeared to have once been a pretty blue dress now ran held crimson stripes that continued onto her legs. Her cerulean eyes showed something he only thought he had seen before.
True fear.
She stretched a hand out to reach him. "H-help..." She moaned weakly.
Spike stood nailed to the spot, completely unsure of any way that he even would help.
"B-blood...blood...loss...hurt." She continued almost breathlessly now.
He tried to get a good look at her but it was difficult with her on top of the pile. He gently scooped her up in his arms and moved to set her on the ground. She groaned as he lifted her and as he set her down she grunted in pain.
She had all of her limbs and didn't appear to have any puncture wounds but it was clear she was still bleeding underneath her clothes. Whatever injury she had sustained it could have only been very recent. The bleeding would kill her before long now and Spike knew how to stop bleeding. The only question was if he should.
He could certainly cauterize whatever wounds she had but she would scream, no doubt about it. If the bleeding didn't kill her the shock could still do the job. Even if she survived that both their lives were still in grave danger from the horrors that stalked the dark halls. Either way he had to make a decision now.
Here goes nothing...
Using one sharp talon, Spike sliced open the remains of the woman's dress, exposing the long bloody gash underneath. If he had to guess she ran into one of those monsters with the long cleaver in place of an arm and though it looked like it had only barely caught her it still did a terrible score on her.
He looked into her trembling gaze and spoke quickly and softly.
"I'm going to cauterize the wound. It's going to really hurt but please...please try to keep quiet. I'm so sorry...I can't leave you like this."
He took in a deep breath and put one hand over her mouth and held her legs down with the other. As he exhaled so too did he release a small, steady breath of fire over her injury.
Immediately a muffled scream tried to reach through his hand as she shook violently in place, her eyes shook inside her head as her senses reawakened with the hot, vibrant pain concentrated in her mid-section. Though he was certainly stronger even Spike struggled to keep the woman down as he worked to stop the bleeding. Just as he was finishing the piercing gaze in her eyes began to fade and her head tilted to the side.
Spike's eyes shot open and he rushed to check her vitals, placing a ear on her chest as his hand fumbled to find her pulse.
Thump thump...thump thump...
Spike sighed in relief. A heartbeat, she had merely lost consciousness. For just a moment he dared to smile, at least until he remembered he'd have to carry her.
He lifted her limp form in his arms and with his tail, the lantern he had set aside before hiding in the pile.
The dragon and the damsel...he mused silently as he trekked through the hall, vigilantly watching for the castle's other terrifying residents. He could faintly remember the baron telling him about fictional tales involving dragons and damsels in distress, though it was usually some brave knight that would save her from the fearsome dragon. He would have laughed if only under different circumstances. These thoughts occupied his mind until he reached an area where the hall diverged into three more identical to it. At least one of these would be a death sentence for the both of them.
I was always terrible at gambling...
He inhaled and formulated anything loud to say he could despite nearly every fiber of his being screaming how stupid that plan was. Though the only alternative was essentially a gamble with death itself. At least he knew how fast he could run.
"IF YOU WANT IT, YOU BETTER COME GET IT!"
Something responded from the hall to his left, a deep moan reminiscent of a tortured whale. A similar sound came from his right as well. It didn't take long to figure out that he should go straight. As began to run down the hall he detected yet another source that the moaning was coming from...dead ahead. By now the other monsters were surely entering this passageway and it wouldn't be long now before they'd box him in.
So he ran straight. If he was lucky the fiend would miss as he ran past, he could only hope the woman wouldn't get injured further as well.
Within moments the bladed monster came into view, its cleaver dripping with freshly drawn blood, likely hers. As soon he saw it Spike thought of an even better use for the lantern. With one good whip of his tail the lantern shattered against the creature's face, coating it in oil, which he promptly lit with the introduction of fire.
The beast's face lit up like a brazier and began to swing wildly, now blinded by the flames. While it was on the downswing Spike seized the chance to ram the monster with his shoulder, knocking it off balance. It didn't fall but it at least stumbled, giving him just the opportunity he needed.
The dragon surged forward, his blood swimming in adrenaline as he heard the other monsters behind catching up at a startling pace. Eventually Spike saw a literal light at the end of the tunnel.
Step by frantic step Spike bounded over the stone floor with the demons in tow. As he neared the light the outside world came into view as well, revealing an expansive forest along with a view of the castle exterior. Whilst running he saw a chasm coming up, at least forty feet long and dropping off suddenly to the forest below. Behind him he knew that the monsters couldn't be more than thirty feet behind him. The gap was fast approaching, as were the nightmares.
With a powerful flap of his wings Spike began to take off. He was nearly out of their reach when one of the abominations took a final swing at its prey. The blade carved a new gash into Spike's thigh, ripping off scales and parting flesh as the young dragon howled in bitter agony. Despite the pain shooting up from his wounded leg, his persistence was greater. Scarcely a moment later, he was out of their reach.
Spike poured all of his remaining will into his wings. He quickly began to drop out of the air once he made it over the chasm. Without the strength left to slow himself down, Spike braced for impact and did all he could to shield the woman he carried.
The pained creature felt his scales meet stone and his arm contort into a painful position. When at last he came to a stop, a pained grumble escaped his mouth as he assessed the damage. At first nothing seemed out of place. The woman was unscathed and he himself suffered no further injury. Then he found that he could barely to move his arm and that it was more than likely dislocated from the crash.
Might as well do it while everything else still hurts...
He glanced around to make sure he was in a relatively secure position before proceeding. In front of him was a large, open room with several doors leading elsewhere and behind him he could still see the monsters, though now they appeared to be heading back where they came from. The moans delivered a cold chill down his spine as he tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
Where was I...alright. Here goes...
"AHHHHHHHHHH! Ahha...ahh...damn...ah..." A deep cry of pain echoed in the halls as he tried to fix his shoulder. At least it appeared to be worthwhile seeing as how his arm was working again. His shout, however, awoke the woman next to him.
The woman that had laid beside him awoke with a start and screamed in sheer terror. She desperately tried to back away to the nearest wall and frantically looked about the entire area.
"Ah! Get away from me! NO! Leave me be! Go away!" She covered her head with her arms and got into the fetal position. If one listened close enough, they would just barely hear the soft whimpers of pain as well.
"Just leave me be...I never hurt anyone!" She cried.
"Hey...don't worry...you're safe now..." Spike cooed as he carefully approached her.
She peeked out between her arms and took in an eyeful of the battered, yet smiling green dragon in front of her.
"Y-you...I remember. You saved me...I don't know what to say...thank you. I have to ask...what are you?" She replied in a cautious tone.
"That's right. Look, my name is Spike. I'm a dragon and I don't have a lot of time to explain how I'm here. For now, we need to keep going. What's your name?"
"My name is Charlotte. I don't remember how I got here right now but I remember trying to climb out a window when those...things found me. One of them-" Suddenly her eyes widened and she looked over her abdomen. She also became aware that her breasts were bare.
She shrieked and made an effort to cover herself. "I remember having clothes on! What is the meaning-"
"Sorry. I had to cut it off to cauterize your injury. I had no other motive." He looked away awkwardly.
"Oh...I see...I'm terribly sorry to be so rude. I truly owe you my life. Now please, let us leave this wretched place."
"I can help you leave...but I need to stay. My friends are somewhere below and I need to find them." Charlotte returned a sympathetic look and put a soft hand under his chin.
"You poor thing...you look like you fought your way out of hell itself." She traced a finger over one of the bloody marks on his face. "I'm not saying that they aren't okay. Maybe they already got out. I'm sorry but I just don't think you'd make it..."
"I know...but I have to try."
"I can't let you go alone after what you did then...my life is yours. I am obligated to help you."
Spike sighed. "You are obligated to do nothing for me."
"Well you can't stop me from helping." She smiled weakly.
"Alright...can you stand?"
"Yes. I just need to be...careful." She placed a hand on the wall behind to support herself and she stumbled to her feet. She tried to walk a few paces but collapsed to the floor again on the first step.
"You need to regain your strength. Rest here a while. I'll keep watch." Spike said with concern as he helped prop her back against the wall.
"I suppose I'm in no position to argue." She said with a shrug.
Spike nodded. "Sleep well, Charlotte. I'll be nearby and making sure we're safe here. Just shout if you need me."
"I understand...just a couple things...I appreciate all you've done, but I'm freezing here. I adore being able to see the sky but it's cold and my...bosom is exposed. If you could find any manner of clothes or sheets it would mean a great deal to me. Something to clean myself as well if you would..." Spike nodded in confirmation as he began to search the nearby area, careful to not venture too far.
Several minutes later Spike returned with an impressive stack of miscellaneous cloths and bed sheets taken from a cupboard he discovered as well as a bucket of water. A sponge could be seen floating atop the water as well.
"Oh thank you! This is just lovely."
"It's nothing."
"Not to me. I can tell you that much. Anyway...would you kindly look away for a brief while? I need to clean myself..."
"Fair enough. There's some clothes in the pile that might fit you as well."
"Wonderful!" A moment later Spike heard a few articles of clothing tossed unceremoniously onto the ground followed by the sound of a sponge breaking the surface of the water in the bucket.
It wasn't long before the sounds of water became replaced with Charlotte shuffling through the clothes until she huffed in annoyance.
"Everything okay back there?"
"Yes. It's just so damn hard to put these on when I can barely stand. This is going to sound awkward but would you kindly pick me up a little?" She asked in an uncertain voice.
"Um...sure." He turned around and walked over to her. He averted his gaze as he lifted from under her arms, easily picking her up a few inches off the ground. She quickly pulled up the pants and signaled that she was finished a moment later.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Hope you can sleep well."
"Oh I shall." Charlotte chimed as she already began to generously wrap herself in bed sheets and a handful of heavy clothes. Shortly after, Charlotte was out like a light, leaving Spike alone to his thoughts.
He pointlessly patrolled the giant room until the pain of his own wounds began to resurface, forcing him to eventually settle down and rest. He slumped against the wall beside Charlotte but fought urge to sleep as well as he could. Just as he began to lose his battle he picked up the faint sound of foot-steps coming from beyond the door across the hall from Charlotte and himself.
Spike knew he wouldn't win the fight that was to come, but he would try, for her sake if nothing else.
Spike's clawed feet thundered across the stone floor. His heart beat like a hammer on a drum.
"Charlotte!" He howled into the dark even as he feared for his own life. "Where are you!?"
He received the answer he feared when the hideous squealing of metal mixed with agonized moans echoed from a hall he could scarcely even detect. The terrified drake wasted no time in slinking off in the other direction, praying to whatever cruel gods might exist for even a hint of a miracle.
Using his hands to probe the walls, Spike blindly stumbled through the darkness into a hallway with a few doors leading elsewhere. Behind him he still heard the beast approaching. He opened the nearest door on the left and slipped inside, closing the door behind him. He spied the outline of a wardrobe in the corner and approached it for shelter.
Already he heard the nightmarish creature stalking the hall he was occupying but a moment ago. He nervously hid within the cupboard and closed it tight. Once he was in position the door to the room sounded as if every demon in Hell were hunting him. The beast pounded ferociously and won entry within a matter of seconds. It moaned and the sounds of rusted metal followed every movement. For what felt like an eternity it simply bumbled around the room. Then the noises came frightfully close to his location, likely no less than two feet away stood what could easily be his doom. Nothing could aid him in making peace with the fact that he might be eviscerated before he could draw another breath. He did not have to listen hard to hear his own heart beat like a drum in his chest and yet he barely noticed the distinct sound of the metallic scraping moving away from him and into the hall.
There was a soft couple knocks at the cupboard door a few moments later.
"Spike?" The soft voice asked curiously. Confusion joined the flurry of emotions Spike was experiencing. "Can you help me? I'm scared..."
His words were caught in his throat. If indeed by some impossibility it was her he couldn't abandon her...but what if was some kind of trick? Could it simply be toying with him like a cruel predator might toy with its prey? How could it have returned so quietly? He was paralyzed with indecision.
"Please? It might come back and I can't find the way out on my own."
Nervously, Spike slowly opened the door. He was relieved beyond words to see that it truly was her. They embraced each other in a blissful hug.
"I'm glad you're safe, Charlotte. I'm sorry for losing you."
"And I'm sorry for doing this..."
"For doing w-" Without any further warning he felt teeth upon his neck, followed by a them clamping down and tearing his throat out.
Spike's eyes widened as he held a hand to his throat and fell to the floor. Blood spurted from his neck despite his efforts to keep pressure. His consciousness drained at an alarming rate and all he could think about was why this happened. His eyes pleaded the question as she looked down at him with an emotionless expression and blood dripping down her chin.
"It's the only way to escape this place...please...do me now. Quickly." He stared at her as the edges of his vision began blurring and his pulse weakened. She knelt down just in front of him so that he could do the same and yet he couldn't bring himself to follow her twisted logic.
"Please!" She took hold of his hand and held it to her cheek. "I want this...don't think about it like that. Pretend if you want. Pretend you'll sing me to sleep."
It took all his effort for Spike to shake his eyes in a way that told her he wouldn't do it.
She embraced him and began crying as the last of his consciousness slipped away.
"Please forgive me..."
Spike awoke suddenly and was panting as if he had narrowly evaded death. He let out a few low, terrified screams until he realized he was currently in no danger. Immediately he felt about his throat to make sure all was normal. Once he was satisfied with that he checked the rest of the body and was displeased to remember how he obtained all of his cuts.
His eyes snapped to the woman beside him in fear. He stumbled to his feet and braced himself against the wall opposite of her. All the ruckus he made in doing so successfully roused her from her slumber as well and she was met with the sight of the young drake staring at her as if he saw evil incarnate within her.
"Spike? Are you okay? What's wrong? Is it still safe here?" She stood up carefully, still hurt from the events of the day before.
"Please, stay away..." He pleaded.
"You were having nightmares weren't you..."
He nodded.
"I've had them too..." She approached the terrified drake slowly. He hesitated as she came within arm's reach.
"What was yours? In mine I was running from those monsters until I jumped out of a window. It felt like I was falling for ages...and then an angel saved me." She gave Spike an endearing look and quickly hugged him. Spike visibly tensed up and moved his hand to cover his neck.
"I take it yours did not end well..."
"I dreamed I ran too...I took shelter in a cupboard just before a monster entered. It left before long and then you were there and asked me to help you..." Spike paused for a deep breath and to try and steady his nerves.
"I said I was sorry for losing track of you and then you..."
"Well go on." She looked at him with pure blue eyes.
"Then you tore out my throat...you said it was the only way to escape and...you asked me to do the same."
Her hug around him tightened. "Let me assure you that is never going to happen. We'll make it through this if we're careful."
Spike cautiously lowered his hand from his neck as his own paranoia died down. "How are you so calm about this?"
"I've lived nightmares worse than it." She said soberly.
"Oh..."
A long moment of silence passed as the pair merely enjoyed their moment of safety.
"So assuming we do make it out...what are you going to do after?"
"I don't know...I don't have any family nor a place to call home anymore. You?
"Well it would be no surprise that I'm not from around here...but I know a way that I might be able to get to where I'm from. I didn't come alone. I have friends but I was separated from them and I have to find them before...before something unspeakable happens." He confessed.
"Wherever you go, do you think...do you think I could come with you?"
Spike blinked in surprise at the request.
"I don't belong anywhere anymore. When this is all over just take me. It doesn't matter where except away from here." She whispered with a hint of desperation in her voice.
"I see no reason not to." He shrugged. "You're welcome to stay with me when this is over."
"Thank you so much. I wouldn't even be here without your help..."
"You're welcome...I couldn't leave anyone to that fate."
"But you risked your own doing so! Why?"
"What's the point of living if you live only for yourself?"
"Heh...I suppose chivalry isn't dead after all. " She said, adjusting the various mismatched fabrics on her so that she could keep herself both covered and warm.
"Well I suppose we should-" Spike stopped himself as he heard the steady beat of shoes hitting the stone floor not far away. Not bare feet, shoes. Regardless he tried to formulate a way that Charlotte could hide in case the individual turned out to be unfriendly.
"Charlotte." He whispered. "Hide under the clothes and don't move. Someone's coming and I don't know if they're friendly." She tried to say something in response but Spike shushed her as the footsteps came closer. She took the hint and buried herself in the small hill of cloth, careful to leave a way for her to breath as well.
Scarcely a moment later an individual bearing a lantern in his left hand approached from a wide hall that had been flanking theirs. As soon as he turned the corner he spotted the rather imposing drake and paused for a moment. He immediately thought about running and hiding and would have if not for the calm demeanor and spark of intelligence in the eyes of the creature before him. His greatest relief was likely to find something that didn't immediately attempt to pursue him.
"What in the hell..." The man said uncertainly.
"My name is Spike...look I know I'm not a human but I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm a dragon."
"I...um..." He stopped to recollect himself. "My name is...Daniel. What are you doing here?" Daniel asked, completely unsure what to make of this stranger.
"I'm trying to find my friends...it's a long story but I'm not leaving without them."
"Well I have my own business to attend to as well...may you find the best of luck in your own endeavors." Daniel said dismissively and may well have continued on if he had not caught a glimpse of movement from the pile of clothes laid in such a conspicuous location.
Charlotte listened carefully as the two spoke. At first she was thankful it was not a monster, but then she realized she recognized that voice. Her anger flared and she took hold of a chunk of rock from under the clothes.
In the span of a second Charlotte burst from the pile of fabric and charged Daniel with her weapon, caring not for modesty even as she was left bare and freezing when the loosely tied clothes fell off.
Daniel fell to the ground and Charlotte looked for an opening to strike him as he desperately tried to keep such an opportunity out of her reach.
"Monster! You fucking bastard! Die!" She shouted in a rage.
"Ah! Dragon, help me!"
Although surprise held him still for a moment Spike still rushed to help the stranger and sort out what was going on. Spike pulled Charlotte off of him as soon as he was close, though it was made more difficult from the violent flailing and screaming.
"Let me go! He can't get away with what he's done!" She howled.
Spike carefully set Charlotte back on the ground but held her in place as Daniel stood back up and brushed himself off.
"Now, just what is going on!?" He asked the pair.
"This bastard is the one that kidnapped me and brought me here! He's a murderer! He personally tried to kill me!"
"What!? Is this true?" He glared at Daniel suspiciously, waiting for an answer.
"I don't know! I don't remember anything!"
"Liar!" Charlotte pointed an accusatory finger before attempting to cover herself.
"I barely remember my own name! I don't recall ever seeing either of you!"
"What are you...you drank some didn't you?" She asked, already aware of what the answer might be.
"I...yes. The amnesia drink...I can recall that...I don't remember the things I did."
"Charlotte...what did he do exactly?" Spike whispered.
"He kidnapped me and many others...and he tortured us. I think I'm the only one that isn't dead yet but It seems like he drank this potion that's designed to make someone forget everything they had been through for the past few weeks...he tried to force feed it to me but I would spit it out when he wasn't looking."
"How could someone..." Spike looked at Daniel with a gaze of horror and disbelief. "You should keep dressed. It's cold." He said, glancing back to Charlotte.
"First boy I've seen that doesn't lose all his brains at the sight of tits." She huffed in amusement as she carefully wrapped some of the clothing from the pile as tightly as she could while remaining comfortable.
"If you don't remember anything how do you know where you're going?" Spike asked Daniel.
"I left a note for myself."
"What did it say?"
"I shouldn't say, it could-"
"What. Did. It say." Spike said with a surprising edge in his tone the demanded compliance.
"It said I needed to find and kill Alexander." He explained reluctantly.
"Yet another kill, should be easy, shouldn't it!?" Charlotte hissed.
"He deserves it." He fixed her with a cold stare.
"I'm sure that's so easy for you to justi-"
"Enough! I am sorry for whatever I did! I cannot remember much and what I do recall I would have rather forgotten! Let my crimes drag me to hell but not before I exact vengeance on the man that turned me into a monster!" He shouted back in an wounded tone. When he finished he stared at the floor and took long, deep breaths.
"So you are looking for redemption?" Spike asked curiously.
"In a way...yes."
"Do you think you could help find my friends?"
Daniel gave him a sad, bitter look.
"If you wish my help...but I want help finding Alexander."
"Deal." Spike said.
"Like hell he's coming with us! At least we know what the monsters want!"
"There is safety in numbers, is there not?" Daniel offered.
"Charlotte. He has a point, and if anything happens I'll protect you but maybe you could try to forgive him?"
"Spike, I saw him murder a little girl in cold blood. People don't come back from such a thing." She whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
Spike winced and seemed to think for another moment before continuing. "Give him a second chance. A true monster wouldn't be on the verge of collapsing from the horrors of what he's done."
"You're taking his side!?" She whispered back loudly. "Are you not hearing what I told you of his misdeeds?"
"No I'm not, but I see no reason not to let him try to redeem himself, especially if he can help save my friends."
"Fine. But promise me that you'll take me somewhere safe after all this..." She asked with a pleading look in her eyes.
"I promise, Charlotte."
"Well if we are going to find your companions we should not dawdle here. There's a shadow following us. It's like a living nightmare, breaking down reality. I may sound mad saying it but you'll believe me when you see it closing in."
"Okay...where should we begin searching though?" Spike asked.
"We'll have to descend deeper into Castle Brennenburg. There is an ascending room nearby. It was not working before but I managed to fix it"
Daniel led the others in tow towards the elevator after Charlotte scooped up more clothes for herself to keep warm, leaving the rest of it behind.
As they approached the ascending room Daniel guided the other two in. Once inside, he closed the heavy iron doors and pulled the lever.
The ascending room groaned and bellowed before slowly starting to descend into the darkness below, carrying yet more victims into an even darker hell.
"I don't like this...what did you call it?" Charlotte turned to Daniel.
"An ascending room..."
"So it's basically an elevator?" Spike commented.
"I-yes it is called that as well."
The elevator groaned and shook as it continued its slow crawl into the bowels of the castle.
"Not too thrilled about it either but it'll do..." Spike breathed as he examined the how sturdy it seemed.
Through the bars of the elevator doors the trio could see room after room pass by as the descended. Most were cloaked in darkness but a few retained some visible source of light, unfortunately for anyone witnessing the nightmares within. Charlotte was standing closest to the bars and received a painfully clear view of one of the gatherers. It did not even make a move for the elevator. It just watched with an uneasy, haunting stare, not unlike how a predator examines a potential meal. Charlotte shuddered and withdrew to the back of the elevator, subconsciously trying to cover herself as if the monster was creeping under her skin.
Spike glanced to Daniel, expecting him to be used to this by now, but he saw something else entirely. A grown man shaking like a child lost in the forest. He appeared to almost twitch and his movements were sharp and sudden.
"Daniel? Are you alright?"
"I-I am fine...but we must move through this place quickly. We are being followed. I can sense it..."
"Yeah...that's nothing new...these things won't relent." Charlotte said.
"No. Not those...something far worse..."
At that moment the elevator groaned like a massive wounded beast and metallic screeching and tearing could be heard directly above them. Then the cable snapped and the elevator began to drop rapidly.
"Hold on!"
Spike coughed violently into his fist and looked back at the mangled elevator as the dust settled.
"Everyone alright?"
"Yeah...just a few scrapes and a splinter I think." Charlotte stood up and dusted herself off.
"Daniel?"
The man wearily pushed himself to his feet and similarly cleaned himself of the dust. "I'll survive." He said in a raspy tone.
"Good. Let's move." Spike suggested. No sooner had he started walking when a pair of gatherers fell down the shaft behind them onto the crumpled elevator. Only a moment later they were already up and chasing after their prey.
"GO! Find the way out. I'll catch up when I'm done here..." Spike growled to the others. They nodded and took off down the hallway leading deeper the dark labyrinth.
The first gatherer approached Spike and swung a clawed, meaty arm at him with great force. The drake ducked and charged the monster, knocking it to the ground. Unfortunately, he was not fast enough to evade the blow that came from the other beast. It broke a few of the smaller scales and drew blood. Spike dove under the neck swing and delivered a powerful kick that forced the assailant to stumble back several feet.
Spike ignored the blood trickling down his face and the tempo of his heart that beat like a war drum. Even if he could not defeat these things he had to buy time for Charlotte and Daniel, but there was another reason as well. Deep, deep in his heart somewhere there was one thing he wished he could deny. He enjoyed this.
The bloodied dragon lunged forward and dug into the stumbling creature with a violent, animalistic ferocity. Each swipe of his claws rips flesh and sinew from its chest. Spike pressed his claws into the center of the monster's chest until it began to give. He reached in and forced apart the rib-cage as the creature continued to struggle. He quickly spotted the heart and without a second thought seized it up in his jaws. He withdrew a second later and ripped out the still-beating heart. Blood spurted all over him as he launched the organ into a far wall, splattering in a hideous mess.
When the other monster charged him Spike was ready this time. He swiftly gripped under the muscular arms and used the monster's momentum to slam it into the wall. The blood-crazed dragon then lifted it clear off the ground and threw the heavy creature into a spike that protruded from a wall where some device had long ago resided. The mindless demon continued to swing in vain at Spike even as it remained pinned on the spike. Safely under the creature's swings, Spike grabbed both feet and pulled straight down. Hard.
The spike began to rip the monster in half, severing its lungs and separating one of the shoulders from its neck and head, all of which fell to the ground in a spurting, crimson display. Spike stomped the head into the stone for good measure.
Once they had been dealt with Spike stood over his massacred foes victorious. He smiled and took a moment to calm his breathing. Within moment, however, he heard Charlotte scream in pure terror, far down the halls. Without skipping a beat, he took off in a dead sprint down the halls, swerving around the corners with impressive agility for his size. It wasn't long before he found the source. He saw yet another gatherer, like the others, pounding away at a door, presumably where Daniel and Charlotte were hiding.
This one will be easy... He thought.
With its back facing him Spike rammed the monster against the door. He smashed its head into the bars of the door before throwing it into the stone floor. Spike used the talons on his feet to pin the beast's torso to the floor while he held down the arms using his claws, ensuring its movement would be minimal. Finally, Spike unleashed a torrent of flame straight onto the monster's face. For a couple seconds it thrashed viciously, but few things stand up to dragon fire for long. Its half-melted head fell back to the stone a moment later. With the threat eliminated, he asked Charlotte and Daniel to open the door.
"Are you two okay?" He asked once the door was pulled open.
"Dear lord!" Charlotte cried out.
"Seven Hells..." Daniel remarked as they both looked at Spike, whom despite possessing purple scales, appeared almost completely crimson.
"What happened!?" Charlotte looked him over for injuries.
"I...dealt with them." He responded calmly.
"Regardless. We must keep moving. There may be more." Daniel told them. "Quickly. I was almost finished widening the hole when the creature heard us in here and the foolish woman decided to scream louder just in case it did not quite hear us."
Charlotte scowled and opened her mouth to say something but remained silent.
"Just one moment and...there. Got it. Charlotte, you first. This will probably be a tight fit so we need you to take the hammer and chisel and widen any areas that would prove too narrow for the dragon and myself."
Charlotte sighed, taking the tools in both hands and descending headfirst down the hole.
"Try to be quiet and move swiftly. I do not know how many are down here. Come back to us when you are finished." He added.
As they listened to Charlotte's work in the hole Daniel and Spike at last had a moment alone while they took turns keeping watch through the door bars.
"I suppose I now is a fair time to bring up the subject...you clearly aren't of this world, are you?" Daniel asked.
"Can't say I am. My friend, Twilight was working on a spell of some kind but it malfunctioned and sent a bunch of us here."
"I see...are these friends of yours dragons like yourself?" Daniel inquired.
"No. They're ponies."
"And these "ponies" are intelligent like yourself?" He asked with a skeptical look in his eyes.
"Oh very. I'd say they're brilliant." Spike smiled, although it more than likely came across as terrifying to most people on account of his bloodied mouth and sharp teeth.
"Interesting. As much as I would enjoy knowing more about where you come from but there is precious little time to discuss it." Daniel stopped and peeked out the door window for a moment before looking back at Spike.
"So is there a way for you to return to your home?"
"I hope so. I won't be able to on my own. Twilight or Rarity might be able to reverse what happened and create a portal back home but I can't say for certain..."
"I see...is there any possibility that I may accompany you should the attempt succeed? After I..."deal" with Alexander there will be very little left for me in this world, and that is if I manage to evade the nightmare following us somehow."
"I...suppose so. Yes. Charlotte asked the same thing. While it's a very nice place to live and even if the folks there are welcoming, things will be difficult. It wouldn't be like visiting the next town over."
"I understand full well what I am asking. You see my world right now. Are you enjoying it thus far?" Daniel gestured around the room.
"Good point..." A moment later Charlotte resurfaced from the hole and coughed into her fist for a moment before speaking.
"Hole's clear. Should be good now. It's still narrow but you should be fine if you take your time. Best as I can tell it's clear on the other side but that's just going off what I could hear."
"Great. Good job, Charlotte." Spike said. She nodded with a smile and clambered out of the hole. Both Spike and Daniel stood awkwardly and stared at the hole.
"Ladies first." She gestured to the hole.
"I'm not sure I can..." Spike grimaced.
"Why not?" She asked.
"My wings. It's very difficult to keep them pressed against my back without using my hands."
"Damn...what then..."
"We don't have time to make it wider." Daniel informed them. "This might help." Daniel unbuttoned his over-shirt and aided Spike in binding his wings to his back with it.
"Thank you. I should be good now."
"No problem."
Without another word, Charlotte descended down the hole, followed by Daniel, then Spike. They crawled uncomfortably through the cramped dusty tunnel as silently as they could manage. Several long minutes later Charlotte emerged safely from the tunnel, followed by Daniel. They both looked back at the tunnel to see Spike stuck still within. Both of them quickly grabbed an arm and pulled him out, not noticing the stones held precariously above them. As soon as Spike emerged a hefty stone became dislodged and fell, hitting the drake directly in the abdomen.
"Spike!" Charlotte called in alarm. Daniel was quick to clamp a hand over her mouth and raised a finger in front of his own to indicate silence. She closed her eyes and nodded. As soon as he released his grip she rushed over to Spike's side and moved the stone off of him with Daniel's aid.
"Spike? Are you okay?" She whispered. He coughed up blood before managing to wearily speak to her.
"I think so...I don't feel all that good though..."
"The best that I can tell he has three broken ribs and some mild internal bleeding. He is fortunate the ribs did not puncture any organs. There is nothing that we can do for him here and I doubt he will be able to fight the creatures hunting us without risking internal injuries." Daniel whispered as he examined Spike.
"Since when the hell are you a doctor?" Charlotte commented.
"I have...experience with anatomy...and I could be wrong about the rib number but there is some internal bleeding. He'll be fine so long as he avoids fighting."
"What do we do? We can't leave him here and he'll barely be able to walk."
With a surge of effort, Daniel carefully lifted the dragon in both arms. He looked Charlotte straight in the eyes as he did so. "No one else is going to die here." He stated.
"We must move quickly. I think I remember the way. If this is the norther cell block I should be able to find the way to the cistern."
"Wait...what if my friends are down here?" Spike asked weakly.
"They wouldn't be. If the shadow is this close Alexander would more than likely keep any prisoners close to him." Daniel said. Spike's eyes snapped open and his pupils dilated slightly.
"We need to move. Now. I can walk...I just won't be doing any extended sprinting for a while. If he hurts them..." Daniel released Spike so he could walk on his own, although it was closer to a limp.
Silently, the trio navigated their way through the halls, careful to steer away from corridors that echoed the presence of gatherers in the distance. Soon they came upon a locked gateway that Daniel identified as the passage to the cistern. Before he could be asked Spike breathed a small stream of concentrated fire onto the lock before it fell from the door, allowing it to be pulled open. Charlotte led the way forward and opened the door leading to the cistern. Daniel, however, paused and looked around the hall they had come from.
"Something's not right...there should be more of them here..." Daniel commented.
"I'm not complaining." Charlotte responded. Once they were in the cistern Daniel took point.
"Okay...next I think...we'd need to pass through the sewers to get to the nave...but they might be flooded and-" As they approached the sewer area Daniel noticed that it was in fact, almost completely devoid of water.
"Are you certain you're remembering things correctly?"
"I..I'm not completely sure on details...but this is the way."
Something isn't right. Something really isn't right... Daniel thought to himself. As they entered the sewers it was clear that even the toxic fungus that used to grow down here was not present anymore. Am I just not remembering things correctly?
Although thankful to have a break from the monsters hunting them and the shadow right on their heels, the absence of both left a pit in Daniel's stomach. Alexander must know something, or decided they weren't worth the effort to hunt anymore. What scared Daniel the most is the knowledge that above all, Alexander was clever.
