[Zerlina]

Originally Posted by Dark FFnut

"Thou hast got to be kidding me."

((Officially my new favourite quote from the story))

The large stone door gave way to more darkness, only this was more hopeless than what they had already seen. Ahead, the passage sloped upward, but disappeared quickly into absolute shadow. Somewhere along the way, a stream ran off the course rocks, echoing like a hollow growl.

Glenn squeezed his fists hard, the worn leather of his gloves squeaking beneath his strength. Without a word, he moved forward and Syne reluctantly followed.

“The air is thicker here.” She said, “I think we’re moving further in the wrong direction.”

Glenn did not answer but instead walked on. There was a great silence, and it was not until some time later that he cried out in frustration; he had walked into a net of tangled vines.

“How in hell do vines grow in such a dark…miserable…useless place!” he screamed, pulling his arm back.

The vine did not leg go.

“Syne, backare! Backare!” he called, but it was too late (and Syne had not understood him anyways).

The vine wrapped tightly around the four, pulling them off the ground and into the hard wall.

Titania let out a small cry as her thin shoulders smashed up against the rock. She pulled slighlty to the right, but her arms cracked in pain, as another vine caught her wrists and twisted them behind her back.

Yet, what should have been a fearsome struggle was little more than a violent binding, for there was no will to fight left inside of her. It was almost as if the vines were strangling someone who was already waiting to die.

*

Glenn was the first to catch his weapon, and he cut through the thick vine, swinging blindly in the darkness. There was a strange cry as he fell, landing with a heavy splash into a deep pool of water.

The world became thick and heavy, his friends’ painful screams muted by the frigid water. The darkness was still unrelenting, and he knew only from his other senses that he was now in a dark and bloodless air. As quickly as he could he swum in the direction he believed was upward; his heavy armor pulled him back, holding him down.

*

Syne drew her sword. Her freedom was not long, however, as her wrists were soon as the vines whipped over her wrists, painfully wrapping them up. She found herself struggling to keep control of her weapon.

Finally, her strength won, and she cut through her captor, only to be pulled up quickly by the foot. Soon, she found herself rushing through the air, still held by the vine.

Furiously, she swung her sword in every direction, but it was in vain. The air rushed by, and she came to a sudden stop. The vines pressed her hard into something soft. With her free hand, she felt the darkness in front of her, all too late realizing she was now in front of the monster that held her.

Fear washed over her as she could feel the heat of the creature’s breath against her face, and soon its grotesque tongue against her skin. It seemed this monster had not eaten in some time and was now attempting to swallow her whole. She kicked, screaming for help and swinging her sword desperately.

There was a scream from further away, and a pulsing through the vines. In a moment, Syne was hit hard with a spell. She cried out in pain, soon realizing she had been attacked with white magic.

*

Titania was still held in the dark, her wrists bound by those terrible vines- each as thick as a man’s arm. She screamed as the rough plants pressed hard into her skin, piercing her hands with what felt like fangs. In an instant, she could feel blood being drawn out of her wounds, and became afraid.

She heard Syne’s voice and saw the light in the distance.

That was when she knew. The creature was using her magic against her friends, and she was sure it could use Glenn’s too if it got a hold of him.

She began to fight.