| She felt the binds loosen at her feet, as if by some cold,
thoughtless force. She rotated each foot to get the circulation running back through her veins. Then, in a blink of an eye, the world tilted. She suddenly found herself standing upright as Fear lifted her with an ease that was startling. She felt his cool touch upon her wrists only seconds before the bindings melted away. Pain shot through her hands as the blood rushed back through her veins, giving life and oxygen to the tiny fingers. She almost cried out from the numbing soreness that flowed along with the blood, but Fear whispered for her to run. She didn�t need to be told twice. Her unsteady feet lurched her forward to a chance at liberty and freedom. Her legs felt like wet noodles as she struggled to stay upright. She didn�t go near the walls. She didn�t know what other traps the walls hid, and they were trying to squash her like a tiny insect. She stuck to the middle, or what she thought was the middle of the temple hall. The darkness surrounded her. She could hear the walls closing around her, moving closer and closer towards her. She could feel them, like the cold touch of death upon her shoulders. They were gaining on her with each laboring step she took, giving her a new look at claustrophobia. Fear was cautiously moving forward, leading her to precious safety. The gray, floating mass, was always in her sight, guiding her through the suffocating darkness. The strength flowing though her was brought on by this stooped, ghostly figure--her only ally in this exasperated gloom. The summoned figure seemed to melt as the darkness dissipated. Ahead of her, Cainbre viewed a small glimmer of hope shining through the unerring darkness. There was a tiny slot of light at the end of the tunnel--a flicker of freedom. Life waited on the other side of that glowing light. There was fresh air to fill her lungs and cleanse them of the mildew and stale smelling air from the ancient Kilimari tomb. The grating sounds came closer and closer still. From the ever growling and widening light, she could see the deadly spikes itching to bury themselves into her soft flesh. They flashed with a life of their own. Thousands of glinting, poisoned spikes hung with deadly intent. They screamed for a taste of her blood to sate their ever-growing hunger, longing to dance and shine with her blood. She was determined not let that happen. Ahead of her, Cainbre viewed a small glimmer of hope shining through the unerring darkness. There was a tiny slot of light at the end of the tunnel--a flicker of freedom. Life waited on the other side of that glowing light. There was fresh air to fill her lungs and cleanse them of the mildew and stale smelling air from the ancient Kilimari tomb. The grating sounds came closer and closer still. From the ever growling and widening light, she could see the deadly spikes itching to bury themselves into her soft flesh. They flashed with a life of their own. Thousands of glinting, poisoned spikes hung with deadly intent. They screamed for a taste of her blood to sate their ever-growing hunger, longing to dance and shine with her blood. She was determined not let that happen. Demons nipped at her heels in the form of walls and spikes. Her lungs struggled to draw in much needed air. The pounding beat of her feet echoed off the encroaching walls. Freedom seemed so far away. Fear was no longer guiding in front of her, but she didn't seem to notice. Her only focus was getting to that light--the end of her doom. She could feel him at her back, a cool reminder that he would see her safely through this hellish nightmare. Cainbre was so intent on reaching freedom, she didn't hear Fear's warning whispered in her ear. |
| Excerpt |
![]() |