Page 67 of Cages and Crowns
TheCaged
The boat stops moving, something slamming into it, splashing water into the small craft. I sit up, looking around the dark waters, but see nothing. Ripples extend from the boat in all directions.
I hold my breath as I stare, waiting.
Something hits the side and I fall off the bench, my knees slamming into the bottom of the boat. Water soaks through my clothing as it pours in through the side. Something cracks and I feel the boat jerk again. I stumble and grab the oars, pushing against the water, trying to paddle as fast as I can. The oar rips from my hand, splinters slicing through my palm. I cry out as the other oar is ripped from my hand, disappearing under the black waters.
Silence.
Silence follows.
The only sound is the beat of my heart echoing through my ears.
I stand slowly on unsteady feet aswater starts to pour through the cracks in the boat. The water stills, as if it’s waiting. Expecting. I spin around slowly, water now up to my ankles. My pulse is beating rapidly, my limbs going numb from the cold water and the starlight thrumming in my veins.
Whatever it is slams into the boat again, and I go flying.
I hold my breath as I hit the water, the liquid infiltrating my nose. I kick out, attempting to swim, but it feels like I’m being pulled down, the cloak making it impossible to move. I struggle to rip it off as I go deeper and deeper. I get the sleeves free, and my eyes scan the dark waters.
I see it.
A black creature barrels towards me in the dark water, its mouth opening. My eyes widen as I thrust my hand out. Star filled lightning shoots through the water, illuminating it. The creature is all black, shaped like a worm. Rows and rows of teeth fill its circular mouth, eyes the color of the depths of hell find mine as it turns away from me.
I exhale, bubbles erupting around me.
Shift. I beg myself as my lungs burn.Shift, damnit!I kick and kick, trying to get to the quickly disappearing surface as the creature spins around, heading back my way. I fight against the urge to inhale as much as I can, but the burning is too much, it’s too—
I inhale and water shoots down into my lungs. I thrash in the water as its icy embrace wraps around every part of me. I kick and try to cough, but I can feel my heart slowing.
This isn’t it. It’s not my time.
I can hear a soft wailing as the worm speeds through the water in slow motion, as if time is stopping. The burning in my chest explodes and my mouth opens. I inhale, expecting the water to shoot through once more, but it doesn’t.
The burning dissipates and I take a deep breath. My limbs ignite and I thrust my hands out, starlight shooting through the water and hitting the creature straight in its mouth. Fissures crack through its black exterior before itexplodes.
I inhale again, but my lungs returned to their normal state, filling with water once more. My limbs twitch as I sink, deeper and deeper. The water is near black, blending into itself. Wrapping itself around me as I drown. I try to kick, but my body doesn’t move.
I have no energy left.
I had fight. I had a will to live, that’s why I left. That’s why I had to leave. I had to fight. To end all of this. To save myself.
But it’s all gone as my blood freezes and the starlight fizzles out.
My eyes stay open, but I can feel my heart slow to a stop.
Thump.
I no longer feel cold.
Thump.
Warmth spreads through me as my lips part, a bubble slipping through.
Thump.
And then nothing.
Bright purple light explodes in the water, illuminating everything. More of those worms are circling me, their mouths open. There has to be hundreds.
