Chapter 12 - The Dark I

Otto walked a few steps ahead, his torch illuminating the surrounding walls of the corridor. Focused eyes scanned the sophisticated patterns of calligraphy as fingers glided over the surface.

"Don't touch," the blind man stated sternly, his footsteps echoing off the frigid stones below.

Is he really blind?

Doubt gnawed at me as we stepped into the courtyard. I pondered the legitimacy of his disability—for it was as if he could see better than me.

Before the morning sun could paint the world in its golden hues, an inky blackness engulfed my vision. A chill crept down my spine as confusion warred with disbelief.

What time is it?

Before I could react, the torch in Otto's grasp dimmed out—deserting me in a sea of darkness. I attempted to speak, but my vocal cords remained captive.

My head swiveled in anticipation, searching for a source of light—there was none.

Ears twitched as an unknown object whizzed by—then, another object flew by for a second time, centimeters above my head.

It couldn't have been a bullet; there was no telltale scent of gunpowder. But it was of the same speed. An arm stretched forward into the night, in a vain attempt to make contact with the man.

Within the darkness, an arrow found its mark, sinking deep into the flesh of my outstretched arm.

Damn it!

The agony was immediate and intense, radiating from the wound in fiery waves. My breath caught in my throat, a raw gasp escaping my lips as I struggled to comprehend the sudden, vicious intrusion.

With compromised balance, my feet staggered left as I ripped the slender armament from my flesh.

"If a Mistomancer can smell you, you're already dead," Otto announced as another arrow rippled through the air to the right.

That would have been me.

Fear overtook panic as I sprinted into the unknown, holding my forearm to staunch the bleeding.

"Conceal your presence, and you'll survive till sunrise."

Till sunrise?

I cursed the Eastern monster inwardly as pain reignited the abdominal wound. Another round of arrows sliced through the air near me, sending my legs into overdrive.

I need to find an exit—fast. Running without direction will only kill me.

I slowed my pace to a walk, lowering my body to dodge the overhead arrows. Crouching cautiously through the darkness, my foot suddenly caught on an uneven stone.

Stumbling forward, my arms flailed in a desperate attempt to regain balance. The rough ground scraped against my knees as I fell, the cold, hard surface sending a surge of pain through my body.

My occupied hands struggled to catch the fall, causing me to roll forward.

Damn it, he heard me!

Knowing I only had a few seconds before death, I scrambled into a crawl. A small stone rolled beneath my fingers—a potential distraction.

However, a single stone wouldn't be enough. But maybe...

"Swallow your scent!" Otto exclaimed in the distance, followed by the snapping of a bowstring.

With each arrow fired, I placed another stone into my robe. While I was unaware of my exact location, I noticed Otto's voice becoming increasingly distant.

I continued in a sluggish crawl as the pebbles clashed against each other in my garb. My opponent was tracking me based on noise and smell—if I could manipulate these factors, the fight would be mine.

"At this pace, you won't survive till sunrise," Otto said, discharging another round of arrows.

He was right. At this pace, it was only a matter of time before an arrow pierced my head or a vital organ. I had a choice.

One option was to find one of the four corridors and hide along the inner walls, but I risked exposure by my scent. The other was to use the stones as a distraction—but he was too smart for that.

My crouch-walk came to a halt as my hand came in contact with a stone wall. I had made it—an arrow sliced the air inches from my ear, a stark reminder that I had no time to celebrate.

Hand placed on the wall, it served as my guide while moving eastward. Sooner or later, I would reach the corridor.

While creeping along the wall, I ripped a large section of my robe and placed it under my armpit.

After sustaining the crawl for an extended period of time, my hand finally felt an opening.

The hallway. I was tempted to sprint down the corridor with the little strength remaining. But if Otto's words were even remotely true, such a decision would spell inevitable death.

My head turned, discovering that the endless bombardment of arrows had ceased since entering the corridor.

This is what I need, an opportunity...

I set down the ripped cloth before placing a small number of stones inside, then wrapping the makeshift item.

"If you don't come out, I'll force you out," Otto's words shattered the atmosphere like glass.

Carrying the bag in my remaining arm, I crouched and crawled to the next opening. After walking a short distance, I dropped the satchel of cloth and continued.

The next corridor was notably closer than the last. Upon entering the hall, I repeated the earlier process of tearing cloth and wrapping—three times over.

In swift fashion, I exited the opening and traced my previous steps toward where I had placed the satchel.

"OH, now it's getting interesting," the blind assailant released a hearty laugh.

Pain reminiscent of a piercing dagger resonated through my arm as I placed all four bags into the injured hand.

Using my uninjured hand, I threw a bag to the left and right, then shifted my sprint toward the middle.

Right into danger.

A slight grin appeared on my face as my ears caught the sound of arrows fired in the direction of the bags.

It was working.

Utilizing the diversion, I dropped another bag a few steps to my right. He noticed. A relentless round of arrows rained to the right as I ran like a madman.

He was close. Very close. I thrust forward off my feet into a downward strike—connecting with his nose.

If he was tracking me by his nose, then I would just get rid of it.

A popping sound filled the vicinity followed by the solemn groan of my attacker. Capitalizing on the presented opportunity, I leapt away to claim the bags of stones, only to scatter them across the courtyard.

Damn! I hit him hard.

I retreated to another corridor while a small smile tugged at my lips. The bow released clattering sound when dropped to the ground, signaling my opponent's disarmed state.

Just when I thought I had succeeded, the world changed...