The Dungeon

I tried my best to run until I stumbled upon a pebble and fell. Arlo and Iris didn't notice me falling; they kept on running.

My chin landed first, leaving a noticeable wound. Blood dripped down my chin, and the walls didn't stop shrinking.

My heart raced; I looked to my left and right. I tried to collect myself and stood up.

As I was standing up, hands started to appear from the floor. I stepped forward to avoid their capture.

"Iris! Arlo! Help me," I cried helplessly as one of the hands managed to grab my ankle.

They were already far ahead of me but could hear my cry for help. So, they turned back and ran to me.

The hand crushed my ankle, and I moaned in great pain, "Hngh... Shit, please, hurry!"

Iris ran to me with enormous speed. She pointed her glass staff at the hand and chanted some unfamiliar words. Magically, its grip loosened, and it melted as if an ice cream under tropical heat.

I tried to move, but my ankle wouldn't cooperate. Iris noticed it and dragged me while she ran as fast as she could.

Arlo's finger pointed at my hurt ankle. Then, he murmured something. At the same time, a familiar glow radiated around my ankle, and my pain started to lessen bit by bit.

But, the pain in my back and butt didn't disappear as Iris continued dragging me. 

The walls were starting to sandwich us, closing in relentlessly. I couldn't see what lay ahead due to the position of my body, facing backward.

"Jump!" Iris commanded.

Iris and Arlo jumped. Iris's hand didn't stop grabbing onto me; I fell along with her and Arlo.

We fell into a deep cliff, and after what felt like a minute of falling, our bodies drowned in water.

My whole body ached; my bones felt burnt from the impact. 

"Mmph!" I choked on the water.

I could feel a hand reach for my body. It was Iris's hand; she had pulled me by the hips before proceeding to carry me.

I felt weak and helpless. I was a burden to these strangers.

We reached the surface and rested our bodies there. I looked everywhere, and I was met with endless darkness wherever my gaze fell.

We were all soaked. The aftermath started to rush in; my body was shaking from the cold, and shivers ran down my spine.

The water reeked of rotten fish; its color was a disgusting shade of green. It tasted salty and left an oily aftertaste.

"It's not poisonous, right?" I asked.

Iris shook her head, "It's not deadly poisonous. It'll only cause a stomach ache for a few days. Besides, Arlo can heal you. Right, boy?"

Arlo's weary face nodded,

"I gulped the water too, unaware." He grimaced.

"Alright, let's get back on track." Iris stood up and offered us her hands.

Arlo and I grabbed her hands as a source of strength to stand up.

I felt like crying because of the pain I suffered, but I couldn't afford to burden them further.

"It's extremely dark here," Arlo commented on the darkness surrounding us.

"Now I can only afford to do this." Iris ignited a fire on her finger.

It was an impressive sight for me. I've never seen anything like that before in my whole life.

Iris continued leading the way, and we walked side by side. While we were walking, my gaze always fell on the ground. I felt dizzy and nauseous.

Because I ignored my surroundings, my head bumped into a wall. I looked up, and I could see a huge wall with archaic symbols carved on every inch of it.

"What?" I caressed my head out of pain.

"There's a monster hiding behind this wall. I'll buy some time, so, please be prepared to run as fast as possible."

Iris looked at us with a determined face, "You can do this much, can't you?" 

I eyed Arlo; he sighed before he nodded.

"Can you heal me first? I don't think I'll be able to run with my current condition," I asked Arlo.

Arlo looked at me and cupped his hands together as if he was praying. He murmured something, and my whole body, along with his, was encircled by a glowing light. It felt warm and comforting.

After a couple of minutes, he pocketed his hands. My body's aches were gone in an instant, my soaked body all dried up, and my dress was cleaned and cozy again.

"You're an angel, Arlo. Thank you," I smiled at him.

"You're welcome."

"Ready?" Iris inquired as her hand rested on the huge wall. We both nodded in unity.

"Remember, run as fast as possible. Don't look back, run straight and turn right. Wait for me there."

I gripped the hem of my dress; my heartbeat indicated anxiety rushing over me.

Iris pulled out her dagger from beneath her tight blouse. She wounded her fingertip and sprayed blood on the biggest sigil on the wall.

The wall split into two, forming a gate. As the gate began to open, a loud shriek echoed through the air.

"Now! Quickly, run," Iris shouted, letting the monster know that we'd arrived.

I positioned myself to run. I looked at Arlo before taking my first step. But then,

"Huh, what the hell happened here?" Iris's eyes flinched at the sight which lay ahead.