Black Field

I stared through the gigantic gaping hole of crumbled brick, peering into a ground of endless darkness. Just beyond this dilapidated wall the black took shape in various ways I was all too familiar with. Large peaking spikes that jutted out in all directions, large flesh-like boils that were scattered in the darkness, and loose black threads that dangled off any protrusion and wrapped around the textures present in the void. Embedded in the growth were several corpses that have long decayed. The stench was as wretched as the first, rot and death filling my nose. The sight was just as mortifying as the first time I had seen this darkness, but this time I had the stomach to not looked away.

Dente looked at me and Fesha. "Seems like thou hast seen something like this before."

We looked out at at the silent field of darkness, as if awaiting for something to come out of it. Dente stepped forward to lead the way and we had crossed the threshold of the crumbled wall. Next to my feet was the glistening black texture of the growth inviting me to step on it. Dente reached his arm across my body to back me up.

"Careful, don't touch it. It tends to mess with thee." Dente said.

"Really? I touched it before and I don't see any difference." I said.

Dente looked surprised, then said something that made me realize that something had happened to me after I touched the black growth the first time. "Tell me, hast thou forgotten something after touching it, something that is completely blocked from thine memory?" Dente asked.

I thought for a moment until I remembered something that I had not only forgotten, but got stolen. Fesha's true name. I remembered the garbled mess Fesha's true name had become to me after I had first touched the darkness, and how no matter how hard I tried, it would never come back to me. I looked over at Fesha and she seemed to understand as well. Dente read both of our expressions.

"Ah, so it seems there is something. Lucky thou got out." Dente said.

"So how'd you find this out?" I got curious.

Serrum and Dente seemed saddened. "An old friend of ours was driven mad... If only we'd found him sooner." Serrum answered.

We decided not to dwell on the topic further, so Dente began explaining the plan. "Look over there. See that glimmer peaking out in the rough? That's the engine."

Following the invisible path his finger made, I saw the shine of old metal peeking through the blackness of the growth. The engine was covered in the growth, with web like threads draped all over it, and dark spikes protruding from it.

I question popped into my mind. "How would you know that thing isn't broken now?"

Dente responded. "We've seen this black stuff plenty of times. It seems to only embed itself in things that hold life, and covers over things that don't. Surely the metal of the engine is in pristine shape!"

I took his word for it, after all, he seemed very confident, and it this is what gives him and Serrum hope in a dreadful time, I'm willing to help with that. Dente continued with the plan.

"Truthfully, we've no way of crossing this thing. We've tried many o'times to get rid of it, but to no avail." Dente paused. "But, when Serrum first brought thee to me, I thought thee might be our hope." Dente looked over at Fesha. "Clothes like those are only reserved for royalty, those who can usher in miracles." Fesha and I got the hint of what Dente was trying to say.

"Ah, so thine plan was to useth me from the start." She said.

"Putting it like that seems harsh, considering the supplies we offer." Serrum said slyly.

Fesha sighed. "Very well, I shall vanquish this curse."

Fesha detached one of three small bags from a belt around waist. Serrum noticed my look. "Nice right, better than keeping it in the bag." She said.

Fesha took out those familiar red flowers that she usually uses for cooking. She crumpled the small petals in between her fingers and placed it in her mouth. Her cheeks moved around as she chewed one the crimson stems. Her cheeks began to puff up, as if she was trying to keep something in it. Then she blew out violently. A scorching heat blasted in our direction, forcing our hands up to cover our faces. A deep orange light lit the air in its vibrant hue. The smell burned my nostrils, and the sound of roaring echoed throughout the atmosphere. Fesha's fiery breath filled the room, covering the darkness that lied before us. I looked ahead at the growth, watching it slowly shrink, until finally exposing the floor beneath it. Fesha exhaled for a while, but never seemed to run out of breath. Finally, she shut her mouth and the air cooled down again and the light dimmed, revealing a wide and straight path towards the engineered hunk of metal. 

"Hey, why didn't you do this the first time." I asked.

"Hmm, so thou would rather eat raw meat next time? I shall make sure to save my offerings for situations such as this, rather than an edible meal." Fesha said snidely. "Besides, I cannot cover nearly as wide of an area with the explosive powder, and frankly, I never fathomed that this would work." She answered.

Dente laughed at Fesha's remark toward me as we walked along the path she had made for us. We reached the engine, which was now partially exposed just enough so that we might be able to pull it out.

"Nice job not frying the engine!" Serrum praised Fesha, to which she bowed.

With that, Dente and I each grabbed an edge of the engine that was now exposed to air. We both pulled hard, black threads still covering the engine began to snap, and the growth gave way. With a loud clank, the engine hit the floor, revealing intricately woven metal pipes, several valves, and a precisely placed formation of spaced out metal plates. Dente and Serrum inspected the engine to assure that all the black growths have been detached from it or if there were any other damages. Everything looked good enough to them, so finally, each of us grabbed a corner of the metal and carried the heavy machine as we made our way out.