Run

"I knew you would come little rat" 

My eyes darted around the room taking in as many details as possible. 1 window in the room, 1 door in the room. Window will most likely be trapped. It would be odd to set a trap in a room with one very obvious escape route. 

I stayed planted in place not daring to look behind me. My attacker most likely stood at the door. It would be the most obvious place to set the trap. Therefore If I was to make that my exit I would have to make it past them. 

Fighting was off the table, I would have to kill the attacker quickly enough to still have time to leave the building and begin my escape. I already know they have a characteristic and are clearly more versed in using it compared to me. The chances of me winning are slim to none let alone quick enough to escape. 

That left my last chance to somehow get them to leave the door and then rush through. First I would have to stall for more time. 

"Your a fool to think you caught me"

A cackle seethed out behind me. 

"A FOOL, HAHAH, YOU ARE A FUNNY ONE LITTLE RAT. 

I am no fool, I will savour your death. 

I wonder if you scream when I run a blade beneath your skin, slowly tearing it off piece by piece."

He clearly saw me as no threat. He would not draw this out if he did. That was good if he saw me as a threat the chances are I would already be dead. As he spoke I continued to study the room desperately searching for anything I could use. 

The continued dissipation of the paper brought my attention back to them. I stared down to see several floor plans of the very castle we currently stood in. Clearly, this user was less adept at using 'trick' as the illusions faded slower compared to the one used in the battle. 

My eyes frantically glazed over the diagrams as my would-be attacker blabbered on about all the torture methods he would use. Finally, my eyes lay on the very room I was in. One door, one window. I carefully inspected the room desperately searching for weaknesses. 

"I'm just dying to see that horrid look in your eyes as your life slowly fades from your body.

Come on little rat, I simply can't wait longer for our playtime to start"

Time had run out. 

I had to make a move. 

I pushed all the power I had in my body into my legs and sprinted towards the wall. A thick wooden wall which seemed almost impregnable. I dived head-first towards the wall. 

I passed through almost effortlessly pushing through the wooden shutter which had appeared in its place. The bell on the shutter rang out disturbing the peaceful night. 

This stupid bastard had used an illusion to change the location of the window. He had hoped that in my fear I would leap straight out the 'window' and bang into the wooden wall. I most likely would not have had he not added the floor plans to the rooms in the illusionary documents. He hid the original window behind another mirage of a thick wooden wall. 

Upon scampering through the now ajar window I hurriedly clambered down the side of the building. My breath quickened and the gentle thud of my hear had no climaxed into a cacophony of thuds. 

It took but only 10 seconds to climb down the building and back onto the rooftops. 

Laughter still echoed from the room I had left. 

"RUN, RUN LITTLE RAT.

I LOVE THESE LITTLE GAMES"

I took off across the rooftops as horns blared across the camp. My presence was now no longer a secret. Goblins raced along the paths beneath me. An at least 5 - 10 minute run separated me and the wall. 

I hurled myself from roof to roof all the while replaying that horrid laughter over and over again in my head. 

I lept onto another house to find a figure now standing in front of me. 

A tall figure cloaked in darkness stood at the other end of the roof. He unfurled his arms spreading them to display his hands. Where fingers should be replaced by long metallic claws each as long as a knife. 

"Caught you" 

I turned to face another direction only to find another figure. Identical to the last. Turning again I saw another and then another. Before long 4 silhouettes now stood surrounding me on all angles. 

In unison, their voices rang out. 

"You can't escape little rat" 

The once-flustered goblins had also begun to find order as several picked up bows and drew them ready to rain down a storm of arrows. 

3 of the silhouettes were most likely illusions but it was next to impossible to tell which one. 

Is this what they call fear? 

My brain faltered as desperation took over the reings. 

My breathing became quicker. 

The cackle rang out, this time from four directions. It filled my head bouncing between the four figures. 

Shit shit shit shit shit. 

Think, just think. 

My heart missed a beat as one of the four figures lunged forward. The speed felt almost unstoppable but by a hair, I ducked out of the way of the steel claws. Using my own claws to slash up at the figure. They passed straight through. 

Pain rocketed up my back as four blades sliced into my flesh. 

"YOU FELL FOR MY TRICK, HHAHAHHAHAH, SILLY LITTLE RAT"

I span around to face my enemy simultaneously pulling out my sword just managing to block another swing. The expected sound of metal hitting metal never came as the metal claws passed harmlessly through my sword. 

I felt the cold metallic blades slice through my back once again. 

"HAHAHHAHAHH, AND AGAIN"

Pain consumed my mind. 

I felt it again. 

A familiar sound. 

'Devour' 

'Devour' 

A moment of glee as I grasped at my last chance. 

Then it stopped. 

The hope drained from my body. 

"HAHAHAHAHHAH, THAT WAS ME AGAIN, DID IT FEEL HORRIBLE HAVING ALL YOUR HOPE RIPPED FROM YOU"

I slumped to the floor. 

Pain overwhelmed my mind as it sat motionless. 

I heard footsteps approach as I gazed upwards. 

A gaunt and angular face filled my view. Green skin with deep red eyes. He gently removed his hood to reveal flowing long black hair which extended from his scalp. 

"So this is the white devil. 

You were as smart as he told me you would be. 

I doubted his information but he did not lie. I was never in the castle little rat. What you saw there was merely an illusion, All of this was merely an illusion. you were never gonna be able to escape this city alive

My little trap in the castle was merely a test, I wanted to test to see how smart you were. It will be interesting to examine your brain later"

I held his gaze. 

I threw my sword up in what looked to be one last desperate attempt at escape. He dodged it with ease by taking a few steps back. 

"Is this the last plight of the white devil"

He spoke slowly and mockingly. Arrogant fool. 

I clenched my fists and ground my teeth together as I pulled myself to stand. My vision faded as pain overtook me.

I reached my hand into my pack to pull a small round object. Something Lorath had given me while tutoring me. 

I felt its warmth spread through my hands which soothed the pain now seeping into all parts of my body.

I forced myself to croak out one last word. 

"Fire"