“Instead of following the path we took before let’s go in the other direction. What do you say George?”
The slime replied enthusiastically,” Sure, but why do you call me George.”
“Well… you never really told me your name”
“Well, my name is %!&%*!”
What?”, I had never heard something like this before, it sounded almost like a shriek, or like someone who muffled with a high-pitched tone.
“My name. My name is %!&%*!”, There it goes again, like a wild scream of an owl at night, it’s as if someone is trying to smother the sound, something I am not supposed to hear. But wait. Why is it that I am perfectly able to communicate with a slime? Shouldn’t there be a language barrier? Looking at the innocent slime vibrating from side to side like a child humming along to his favorite rhythm. The boy let out a sigh.” Sounds delightful, but why don’t I just call u George, it’s a cool nickname isn’t it?”
“Sure, but what is your name?”
“You can call me Orvyn”
“Ok Orin”
“Wait that is… never mind, lets continue exploring we need to get as many of the orange-silver mushrooms as we can!”, George jumped as if it was his way of nodding. The boy and the slime ventured deeper into the unknown. With George at his side, he searched the cave for more mushrooms, gathering blue, brown, and especially the silver-orange ones, which he immediately fed to George. Though Orvyn was sad that the slime no longer purred, he had grown quite used to it. We came across some red ones again but since George did not sense any lines in it, we ignored it just to be safe.
Eventually, a rich, earthy aroma filled the air, like it did when he used to go to the fancy restaurant on special occasions. Maybe there were finally other people in this cave. Maybe he can finally go home! He ventured deeper, captivated by the almost intoxicating smell guiding him. ” Why aren’t we picking any more mushrooms Orin?”, the boy continues without a word, not a thought in sight. ” Hey, I don’t think this is a good idea.” The boy’s stride echoes in the desolate cave.
I inch closer and closer, the air is redolent with a symphony of flavors, calling me, promising warmth, indulgence, and a taste so divine that it will bring me back home. I edge further in, I am so close I can feel it— the warmth, the otherworldly sweetness just in front of my grasp. I extend my hand, fingers trembling with anticipation, hope in my eyes.
And then-
It shatters.
The warmth vanishes, the cold rushes deep into my veins, reminding me of the harsh reality that i live in.
“Get your head together Orin! It’s a monster!”
Dark green vines slithered out from the cave walls, weaving toward them. In the dim light, George jumped forward conjuring the lines once again, burning the vines. The air that once promised a bright future was now filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh, my knees trembling, I stumbled to the ground, gasping for air. “What is happening?” I darted my eyes around the cave, vines emerging from the sides, twisting and curling, enclosing us. Then suddenly roots burst from the ground; The floor crumbles away, and I plummet into the abyss. Time stretches, each second dragging as if the world itself is holding its breath, but all I hear is a distant, fading cry—
“Orin!!!”
The voice grows weaker, swallowed by the darkness.
I fall and hit the solid ground.
Thud!
A wave of pain crashed over me, adrenaline surges through my body as I forced my eyes to open just in time to see a vine hurtling toward me. Instinct kicks in—I throw myself to the left.
Crash!
The impact shakes the ground where I stood just moments ago, debris scattering as I barely escape with my life. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my chest heaving, but there’s no time to recover—
Whoosh!
Another vine lashes toward me, I throw myself away just in the nick of time as the vine grazes past me. A sharp sting blooms on my arm where it barely touched me. More vines slither from within the walls like serpents, that’s when I notice that the cave is embedded with light blue crystals glistening, their glow illuminating the cave. My gaze snaps to a shard that had broken loose from the rubble, its edges jagged and sharp I snatch it up just as the vines surge toward me. “I need to get to George”, I said as I gripped the crystal tight and swung manically, cutting the vines like a hot knife through butter. Thick blue liquid started oozing from the fresh cuts, dripping onto the stone floor with a sickly hiss.
But they keep coming.
“Damn it, there is no end to these vines!”, I cursed under my breath, swinging the crystal in a desperate attempt to keep them at bay. They attack one by one, dragging the fight out, wearing me down. “I need to do something; this isn’t going to be enough.” I look for any sign that could help me reach George. “If only I could use fire… this would be over already.” However, thinking about that right now is useless. I have to focus.
Whoosh!
I duck out of the way and slashed. “There has to be a weakness.” My eyes darted around, and I noticed. There was a cluster of vines, completely still, wrapped tightly around something. Unlike the others, they haven’t moved an inch.
My gut twists. That has to be it. I started edging toward it and the vines, as if sensing my plan suddenly rushed altogether
I grit my teeth and push forward, swinging faster, cutting them, slowly getting closer, gasping for air. One shoots from the edge of my peripheral, I leap back and slash, blue liquid spraying onto me. I barely register it. I just keep going. But their numbers won’t start growing.
“I can’t do this alone”, and that’s when I hear someone shout, “Orin!!”
I glanced back and it was George, flying towards me.
“We need to get to whatever it’s protecting—burn the vines near it!” I shouted.
Without hesitation, George hurls himself forward, his body blazing. Flames dance across the vines, searing them away. He lets out a fiery blast beside me—a direct hit! The vines recoil, shriveling into ash, revealing what they had been guarding. A massive, blinding blue gemstone. The remaining vines lurch toward it, desperate to shield it once more.
“I won’t let you!”
With a final surge of adrenaline, I charge forward, gripping the crystal shard in my hand. I leap, driving it straight into the gemstone.
Clink.
A single crack splinters the surface. Radiating a blinding blue glow Then—
BANG!
A blinding explosion erupts from the gemstone, sending shockwaves through the cave. The force hurls me backward—I slam into the cave wall, pain exploding through my body—
And then—
Everything goes dark.
