Shadow of Corruption by Post A.M

Author:Post, A.M.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20: Let It Go

Unfortunately, there weren’t really any clues as to which way was out. Sure, the water had to go somewhere, eventually, but that didn’t mean it had to go to the surface. Underground rivers that never surfaced were certainly a thing back on Earth, and here, with magic changing what was possible, and what was not, there was the strong likelihood that the water here never returned to the surface, at least not in any way that I could follow.

So, exploration it was. The beach ended in a cliff, the little boat that Shadow and I had travelled on to get here was gone, presumably eaten by some sort of tentacled squid creature, so the only way forward was deeper inland. As previously mentioned, the terrain was rough and rocky, but navigable. Onward and upward. Well, hopefully upward.

Time seemed to stand still as we trudged through the rocky terrain. Everything soon began to take on a greyish sheen to it, the rocks all looking the same, the blue glow from the moss on the ceiling overhead dulling, almost to a grey color. Even Shadow started to be affected by the dull, colorless terrain we marched through.

Hours passed by, the passing of time only noted by the occasional break we took for water and food. Soon, though, it became time to take a longer rest. Clearly not nighttime, as the overall level light, the blue light cast by the moss overhead, had not changed, but both Shadow and I were more than weary enough to need sleep.

There were plenty of spots that looked sheltered, and by sheltered, I didn’t mean protected from the non-existent weather, but sheltered from view, hidden from passersby. Not that there were any of those.

I rolled out my bedroll, and pulled an extra blanket out of my Adventurer’s Pack, to ward against the cold. Nothing to burn here for a fire, everything was rocks and stone, but even if there was, I wouldn’t want a fire to advertise our location. I snuggled in, and Shadow nuzzled in next to me, trying to keep us both warm. She was, once again, my own little nuclear reactor.

If she was so warm though, why did I wake up shivering, and cold?

Wait, what? Shivering and cold? It wasn’t that cold, not when I went to sleep.

But now? The rime frost creeping across the boulder we were hidden behind put the lie to that statement. My breath caught in my throat, almost frozen. I stood up, and began to look around for the source of this incredible cold. No, wait, I tried to stand up, but my movements were slow, sluggish, almost frozen. I could hardly move at all.

The rime frost, cold, deep blue, creeping across the stone crept towards me, reached my arm that was closest to the boulder, and I felt a deep, dark cold invading my body, almost an actual presence, a tangible thing. I felt the cold, the rime frost creeping across my body, headed towards my core.

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