Chapter 8: A Midnight Attack

Chapter 8: A Midnight Attack

In his hotel room, Zeth is in deep sleep, but is shifting and turning as if something is haunting him. Groans escape from his lips. He is having a nightmare, a nightmare where he is running scared through the hallways of a castle. The castle’s walls are gray, cold, and unwelcoming. The view ahead, dark and ominous. Only dim candles create light. This castle is not meant for humans to wander into. Zeth is not alone. He runs, knowing the threat. Monsters and demons chase him, hungry and bloodthirsty. Saliva drips from their mouths full of sharp teeth. They’re humanoid in shape, but anything but human in detail. Their claws protrude with sharp nails, itching to tear Zeth limb from limb. Their skin varied, from gray to dark green.

As Zeth runs for his life, he sees an open door ahead and runs towards it. He runs into a large throne room, and stops in his tracks as he sees a tall woman that has a sinister smile sitting on the throne. She has long, straight black hair that flows down to her lower back. Her eyes are completely black with red irises, like she is a part of the darkness. The black dress she wears complements her hair and eyes.

“Consumption!” the tall woman screams as she launches straight for Zeth.

Zeth wakes up, sitting up with a jolt of adrenaline as he screams. He pants and darts his eyes around the room, seemingly scared to death.

“That was one terrifying nightmare…” he says to himself, still trying to calm down.

He gets out of bed and walks into the bathroom of his room, looking at himself in the mirror. Sweat drips from his forehead, his eyes trembling.

“It was just a nightmare… that’s all. Why am I still frightened?”

He turns the sink on and splashes water on his face, rubbing it with his hands. Upon looking into the mirror again, he still sees his frightened face.

Sighing, he says, “Maybe I need some fresh air.”

He leaves his room and then walks outside the hotel. He sits down on a bench next to the river that flows through the town. He stares at the water and takes a deep breath, frowning.

“I can’t believe I’m letting a nightmare bother me this much…”

Soon, he notices there is black mist rising to the surface of the water. After a moment, the water’s surface starts to bubble.

Zeth leans forward and stares with interest. “Well, that’s weird. What water-based phenomenon causes purple mist?”

Suddenly, a male imp-like monster that is 3 feet tall jumps out of the water straight for Zeth.

Startled, Zeth falls backwards, knocking over the bench in the process, while the imp attempts to slash him with his claws. “What the…!?”

The claws tear through Zeth’s night clothes, just barely missing his skin.

“What the hell are you?!” Zeth shouts in panic.

“Your death!” the imp replies with a sinister grin.

Zeth stands to his feet, now getting a better look at the imp. The imp’s dark gray skin is rough, lacking any smoothness. His ears, pointy, and his teeth, sharp. His eyes glow in the dark with a red hue.

Still frightened, Zeth prepares to fight. Zeth tries to punch the imp multiple times, but he is easily able to dodge them due to Zeth’s sloppiness from his lingering shock of his nightmare and the surprise of a real monster. The imp finally attacks and headbutts Zeth, stunning him. He then strikes Zeth with his claws, leaving slash wounds on his body as he groans in pain.

The imp grins victoriously. “Hehehe! You are weak. A low-level such as me would not be able to damage a strong opponent.”

The imp’s words light a fire in Zeth. His shock turns to anger as he finally lands a kick on the imp, knocking him back to the edge of the riverside. He follows up with a Star Shine Blast, releasing it straight toward the imp. To Zeth’s surprise, the imp grabs it and combines himself with it by shoving it against his belly, absorbing it fully.

The imp laughs. “Hahaha! I can combine myself with what I desire! Your attack is now mine!”

Suddenly, a sword comes flying in and stabs the imp right through the torso. The impact causes the imp to release the Star Shine Blast from his hands straight into the sky.

Emily steps forward, making her presence known. “Looks like you could use a hand.”

Wounded, the imp pulls out the sword and retreats into the water.

“Thanks,” Zeth says with relief. “Where did you get that sword?”

“Earlier, I had bought it at a magic shop,” Emily replies. “I also got this pistol. I can channel my magic through both. But never mind that. What was that… thing?”

“I have no idea, but it also brought this creepy mist on the water’s surface,” Zeth answers. “We need to wake the others and stop whatever that monster was.”

Emily nods. “Right.”

A new threat has been revealed, and now the heroes must stop it. The realization that there are monsters out there hits Zeth.

Chapter 8 END

To Be Continued in Chapter 9: Cursed Water