Page 102 of A Kingdom so Crimson

I clenched my teeth, muscles straining as I exerted every ounce of strength and speed, leaning back against the resistance. The jagged rocks loomed mere feet away, their rough surfaces beckoning as the Breva's clicking resumed, now accompanied by a gruesome choking sound, as if the creature was drowning in its own blood.

It lunged toward us, its clicking punctuated by guttural gurgles that made me want to vomit. Its massive body crashed into a boulder, hissing at the impact and leaving a trail of blood.

Finding my footing, I hauled Zephyr up against the rocks. The opening was too small for us both or for me to pull her in wholly. I quickly dragged her body over one of the rocks and jumped in. With trembling hands, I laid her down and pushed against her knees, her body reluctantly sliding into the narrow gap, the jagged edges of the rocks threatening to rend flesh as I fought.

The Breva's clicks intensified, a morbid cry summoning other predators to our location. Desperation surged through me as I shoved Zephyr harder, the jagged rock scraping my skin raw as I pushed her into the narrow crevice. The acrid stench of the Breva's blood permeated the air, a thick, choking stench. Bracing myself, I barely had time to react as the Breva smashed into the outer rocks, a scream ripping from my throat. I ducked, curling protectively over Zephyr's limp body. Dust and debris swirled around us as I gave one final, desperate push, ensuring she was completely hidden.

Swiftly, I vaulted over the rocks, scrambling to escape. The Breva charged, its massive form bashing against the jagged stones. Suddenly, its clawed arm snared my foot, yanking me violently to the ground. Pain exploded through my body as I hit the earth hard, my vision blurring with the impact. The gurgling clicks of the bleeding Breva reverberated in my ears, its proximity freezing my mind with terror. The overpowering stench of its blood churned my senses.

Do not let one take you.

I lay paralyzed beneath its grotesque body, suppressing a scream as its cavernous mouth stretched open. The jagged remnants of the large branch jutted from its throat, and it choked on its own thick, black blood. Its fully erect stinger glistened ominously at the tip of its tail, clicking menacingly. My body trembled uncontrollably, but Levon's voice echoed fiercely in my mind.

You fight—let your anger guide you rather than try to suppress it.

Rage surged through me like a wildfire. My lip curled in defiance as the Breva staggered back just enough to create an opening. Seizing the moment, I lunged forward with a primal scream, thrusting myself into its gaping maw. My hands grasped the blood-slicked branch, and I tore it viciously from its throat. The creature's agonized wail reverberated through my bones, hurling me back to the ground, the branch still clutched in my shaking hands.

In less than a heartbeat, its stinger shot down, striking the ground mere millimeters from my neck. I rolled frantically, barely evading another deadly strike, as its viscous black blood splattered from its mouth onto my legs, burning with a rancid heat. It continued its relentless attack, its stinger smashing down repeatedly in a savage frenzy before its massive form slithered over mine, and I felt the sting of its razor-sharp claws grazing my thigh. Above me, the segmented shafts of its body writhed and swayed, revealing a gruesome gash on its underbelly.

Instinctually, I seized the broken branch, driving it with all my strength into the exposed wound. I screamed, pouring every ounce of fear and fury into the thrust. The Breva shrieked in agony, its cries a chilling mixture of wails and hisses as more hot blood spilled over me. It convulsed violently, its serpentine body coiling and writhing, encircling itself in a desperate bid to escape the pain.

With fury coursing through my veins, I leaped to my feet and raced downhill, refusing to witness the Breva's demise and unsure where else to go, praying nothing got to Zephyr before she woke up.

The already dim, gray light of dusk faded into an unnerving, inky black sky, making the warmth of the Breva's black bloodon my skin create ghostly wisps in the chilled air. Despite the cold slicing into my lungs with each breath, I pressed on, driven by adrenaline, overriding the protests of my empty stomach and exhausted body.

I ran until the landscape became a blur, unable to distinguish between rocks and shrubs and until fatigue threatened to overwhelm me. By some luck, I stumbled upon a shallow hole in the mountainside. Hastily, I gathered dry brush to cover myself, seeking refuge from the elements.

As I huddled in the makeshift shelter, my sole focus was on silencing the chattering of my teeth and suppressing the fear that threatened to paralyze me. The cold night air seeped through, chilling me to the bone. Desperate for distraction, I grabbed a thicker piece of wood I had found next to the brush. With a sharp rock in hand, I began to carefully sharpen the stick, each deliberate stroke a futile attempt to carve away my mounting dread.

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Ahowl startled me awake, jolting me from my restless sleep. I slammed my head against the low roof of the small hole I had taken refuge in, causing the remaining dried brush to tumble to the ground.

I exhaled sharply, watching my breath mist in the moonlight. Shivering, I licked my chapped lips, trying to steady my racing heart.

Another howl echoed across the quiet night, sending a chill down my spine. I curled tighter into a ball, hoping the darkness of my suit would enable me to blend into the shadows.

"I am not afraid. I am brave. I-I am,"I repeated barely above a whisper, trying to summon courage against the encroaching fear.

I rubbed my hands together, trying to stop them from shaking, as another howl echoed nearby, followed by a scattering of small yelps from the hill below. The sound sent the hair on my neck to rise, and I struggled to calm my shivering breath. Suddenly, a sharp and chilling scream pierced the eerie nightair. I heightened my ears to listen, ensuring I was not caught unawares by whatever was in these mountains, and waited.

A deep pressure ignited within me, like a stoked fire rushing through my body. My heart swiftly slowed to its normal rhythm, and a soothing warmth began to thaw my freezing limbs. I took a deep breath of the cold, crisp air, feeling it electrify my entire being as if every cell had been awakened and I had taken my first breath from a moment of drowning.

I glanced down at my hands in curiosity. The warmth spread to my fingertips, starkly contrasting the biting cold around me. My previously muted and numb skin was now vibrant with life through the suit's burnt holes.

What is happening?

I marveled, awe-struck by the strange and powerful sensation coursing through me. It was as if some dormant energy had been unleashed, filling me with a newfound strength and resilience.

I rubbed my face, ridding myself of the confusion, and felt the sticky residue of the Breva's dried blood. A shudder of disgust ran through me just as another scream pierced the vast silence, compelling me to peer out from my hiding spot.

The sky glittered with countless stars, their light casting an ethereal glow over the cold landscape beneath the waning moon. Despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Each star sparkled and radiated as if eager to meet me, beckoning to something deep within my soul.

The celestial display seemed almost otherworldly, the stars shimmering with brilliance contrasting sharply with the grim reality around me. I breathed in the cold night air, feeling it fill my lungs with a crisp, invigorating chill.

I sat there, mesmerized; the fear and exhaustion of the past days seemed to momentarily fade as I stared at the stars, so distant yet so vividly present, offering a silent promise of hope and endurance, begging me to keep going. I had an odd senseof feeling at home, much like I did in the colorful woods behind Jesri's estate.

Cautiously, I stepped out of the small hole, stretching my cramped legs and pressing against the mountain to peek around it. The moon cast a blue, silvery glow over the haunting, dead terrain, very different from the vibrant life of the sky. Long, narrow shadows cascaded from the jagged, towering peaks.

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