Page 110 of A Kingdom so Crimson

Levon's face flashed into my mind, recalling the comfort of his embrace in the market square. His voice pulsed through my veins and soul, causing more tears as my vision blurred and receded on the edge of oblivion.

Don't succumb to its pressure. Fight. Let your anger guide you instead of suppressing it. Embrace it and let it ignite your spirit; when you do, it will free you.

A blood-curdling roar shattered my eardrums, causing the figure to loosen its grip and turn toward the noise. Alarm spilled off the sinister being as it frantically searched for the source. I seized the opportunity, grabbing one of its bony fingers and snapping it, then swiftly shoved my knees into its chest. It screeched, its rotted teeth snarling, clutching me tighter.

Anger boiled deep within my core, pulsating in solid, vibrant waves, pushing up against the fear and igniting it like fire to paper.

I kicked the decaying Skinner's chest with all my might, just enough to gain some distance and move closer to the weapons. I screamed, throwing my body toward the sword. The creature tightened its grip again as I reached the sword's hilt and swung it towards its head.

The sword plunged deep into the Skinner's thin neck, unleashing a torrent of bubbling, red, and black blood that splattered down upon me, its stench as foul as death itself. The monster released its grip and staggered back, clawing desperately at the sword while choking on its own vile blood.

I coughed and gasped for air, the fiery anger within me igniting with a sizzle, jolting me awake. I welcomed the surge,feeling tiny pricks of electricity zinging through my veins, saturating my heart like a long-lost friend that finally returned. A warmth coursed through my body, as familiar as Levon's words.

I inhaled the cool, sharp air and snarled at the dying abomination, writhing and wailing in agony. With a fierce grip, I seized the slick, blood-soaked pommel and yanked the sword free, eliciting a gurgling shriek from the Skinner. Without hesitation, I lifted the dripping blade and brought it crashing down, cleaving through bone. I watched with grim satisfaction as the putrid head flew from its shoulders, the body convulsing uncontrollably before tumbling off the ledge to the path below.

An electric jolt surged through me, sharp and intense, making me feel more alive than ever. I was soaring on a wave of exhilaration that could sustain me for a lifetime.

Another roar thundered across the sky, reverberating through my core. I turned my eyes upward, above the carved out bowl, just in time to see the shadow of a colossal wolf leap onto a man running across the lethal slopes. The beast tore him apart, his shrill screams echoing through the arena.

Quickly, I pivoted, desperately searching for Astor on the other side of the rocky slope. I spotted him running, jumping, and sliding down the hill toward its center in frantic haste. My heart stopped when I saw what chased him, two matted and ferocious wolves, and I screamed at him to keep running.

I frantically grabbed my bow and arrows, nocked one, and released it without calculating. It struck the rocks before the wolves, bouncing off into the dark, dawning sky.

I sprinted forward, leaping off the ledge to the path below where the Skinner's body lay. Rolling with the impact, I quickly bound toward the middle, rocky landslide. I skidded across the sharp rocks to the large boulder and nocked another arrow, not caring about the blood that trickled down my arms and legs. Itsfeathers tickled my lips as I calmed my breathing, letting the electric energy within me force the world into silence.

Inhale.

I refused to let terror erode my concentration and focused on the gray fur just a few feet ahead, practically aiming at Astor.

Exhale.

I released the arrow.

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The arrow plunged deep into the eye of one of the wolves, eliciting a bone-chilling yelp and stopping its pursuit. Another roar blasted through the crater, startling me and breaking my focus. I tumbled to the ground, sliding against the sharp, jagged rocks. My ripped gloves offered little protection as my bloody fingers scrabbled for purchase on a dead tree trunk, its bark slicing into my hand. Desperately, I dangled from the cliff's edge, screaming in pain as the agony radiated up my arm.

The energy within me sizzled away my panic, flooding me with adrenaline and giving me the strength to hoist myself onto a lower ledge, splitting my nails against the hard soil.

I found my footing, hastily pulling out another arrow, when I saw a red-haired boy plummet down the opposite rocky slope, followed by a shorter raven-haired girl. Their screams, piercing and desperate, mirrored the agony I had just endured. I tore my attention away from their cries and spotted Astor. He leaped across another slanted rockslide closer to the center, only to catch one of the rocks and tumble down it. He looked up interror as the large gray wolf followed, yelping as it scraped against the sharp rocks.

I nocked the arrow, tracking the wolf's movements with trembling hands, and released it. The bowstring snapped, echoing off the crater's walls as the arrow soared through the air, embedding itself deep into the wolf's shoulder. The beast tumbled forward, crashing straight onto Astor.

"Astor!" I bellowed, panic flooding my voice. I sprinted towards him, leaping over the first dead wolf, and watched Astor scramble for footing while the beast snarled, slashing and biting. Astor's desperate cries propelled my feet faster, leaping off each switchback until I reached his level closer to the crater's center. The sight of the wolf's fangs, inches from Astor's face, sent a surge of terror through me.

I nocked another arrow and let it fly into the wolf's back leg as I sprinted faster toward him. The wolf howled in agony, falling farther down the slope until it plunged off a cliff, smacking the center in a sickening crunch. Astor swiftly grabbed a low-hanging tree branch. Blood streamed down his arm, staining the rocks below as the cold light swallowed the darkness of the crater.

"Hold on!" I screamed, sprinting faster towards him. My lungs felt like they were about to burst, and my legs begged to give out as exhaustion began to overtake me. I slung the bow over my back and leaped across the next slanted rockway, scraping my legs against its jagged surface. I reached the other side, frantically leaping down each switchback until I finally reached him, his eyes brimming with tears as he grasped my bloodied hand. His body slammed into the sharp rocks, spilling more blood before I managed to pull him over.

Astor shook uncontrollably, blood bubbling from deep teeth marks on his arm and a long gash that ran down his thigh and one on his stomach. Tears spilled from his eyes as I satparalyzed, staring at the blood pooling on the dirt path beneath us. The sharp scent of copper filled the air, sending my heart into a deep despair.

Quickly, I grabbed a sharp rock, using it to cut jagged strips from my suit, wrapping them around his leg, arm, and stomach. The blood soaked through almost instantly, but it was all I could do to try and staunch the flow. My hands trembled as I pressed against his stomach.

He hissed in pain. "What was that thing?" he cried out, slumping into me, his voice filled with pain and terror.

None of this should be happening.

None of it.

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