Level Up Or Die Trying:100 levels of Hell

Into The Dark

Chapter 5

“Dave, slow down–your leg!” I hissed as he staggered ahead of me. I managed to convince him to come with me and now he ran faster than me.

“There's no time,” he muttered, gripping his thigh. “Just keep moving.”

“But you’re bleeding through your jeans!” I shouted.

“Then walk faster so the blood isn’t for nothing!”

I caught up to him and grabbed his arm to keep him upright.

“Dave—stop. Just breathe for two seconds.” But he jerked away.

“Alex, you don’t get it. If we slow down, they’ll catch us. They always gain on us when we slow down.”

“Are they behind us?”

“No, they have retired to bed after a long day's work.” His voice cracked.

“Dave…” I whispered. “Hey, hey buddy look at me.”

He didn’t stop even for one second. He just kept limping forward, teeth clenched, with sharp and shaky breaths.

“Dave, talk to me. How bad is the pain?”

“If I talk, I’ll start screaming.”

“Then scream,” I snapped. “Isn't that better than collapsing?”

He shut his eyes, exhaled, and muttered, “You’re annoying.”

“I know , but I am not the one dying on one leg!” I threw his arm over my shoulder. “Let me help.”

“Fine,” he growled, leaning on me. “But if you drop me...”

“Why would I do that?”

Heavy footsteps echoed behind us and we turned to face each other far.

“Dave…”

“I hear it,” he said flatly.

“Is it...”

“Yes.”

“How many do you think they are?”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.”

“So, they are that many?”

“Alex!”

“Okay!” I air zipped my mouth

The trail narrowed between jagged rocks. Dave stumbled, nearly pulling us both down.

“Sit,” I ordered.

“No.”

“Sit. down. now.”

He opened his mouth to argue then his injured leg buckled, and we collapsed onto the cold stone.

Dave pressed a shaking hand to his thigh and blood seeped between his fingers.

“Fuck,” he whispered. “It’s getting numb.”

“Is that bad?”

“Well, yes. It means I’m losing the leg.”

“Dave...”

“Don’t soften your voice,” he snapped. “And don’t give me that pity stare.”

“I’m not pitying you.”

“You’re absolutely pitying me.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Dave focus. I need to know what to do.”

He sighed, clearly exhausted but won't stop talking.“We need a tourniquet. Or stupid luck. Or a miracle. Pick whichever makes you feel better.”

“You’re the one who keeps dying. Aren’t you used to this?”

“Not when it’s in the same day,” he muttered. “When it stacks, it hurts way more.”

I swallowed.

“Okay. I can help. Just tell me how.”

He glanced at me, suspicious.

“You’re not squeamish?”

“Oh no, I am absolutely squeamish.”

“Just great.” he muttered under his breath.

“But I’ll do it anyway.”

Dave let out a tiny, disbelieving laugh. “You’re… ridiculous.”

“Thank you.”

“I wasn't giving you a compliment.”

“Still taking it.”

He groaned, bracing himself on the rock wall. “Rip my shirt.”

“What?”

“I said Rip. My. Shirt.”

“Dave, if I rip your shirt, how will you feel dramatic when you resurrect?”

“Alex—Rip. The. Damn. Shirt!”

“Okay! Okay! No need to scream!”

I grabbed the hem and yanked as it tore unevenly.

Dave shot me a stink glare. “That was not even remotely useful.”

“You said to rip it, not rip it well!”

He held out the sleeve.

“Stop talking and just try again.”

This time I tore off a long strip and he gave me a satisfactory nod

“Good. Now, wrap it tight above the wound.”

“Define ‘tight’.”

“As if you’re trying to cut off my circulation.”

“Isn’t that bad?”

“Yes! That’s the point!”

“Oh.”

I wrapped the cloth, pulling it tight. Dave hissed through his teeth.

“Sorry sorry...”

“Don’t apologize,” he gritted. “Just finish it.”

I tied the knot.

“Done. But Dave, your leg is still bleeding.”

“That’s because I’m still alive. I will have to apply pressure on it while we move.”

“We’re moving? Now?”

“Yes. We don’t stay in one place,” he said. “It draws attention.”

“From who?”

He stared at me.

“Right. Never mind,” I muttered.

The footsteps behind us grew louder. I could hear leaping gaits and claws scraping stone.

“Dave…”

He grabbed my wrist.

“Whatever you do, don’t look back.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll panic, and I need you sane.”

“I’m totally sane!”

“You’re shaking.”

“That’s just cause I'm cold!” I lied.

“It’s twenty degrees you fool, stop lying.”

“Fine. I’m somewhat panicking. But this is functional panic!”

“Good. Keep that.”

I dragged his arm back over my shoulder, and we kept limping forward. The trail curved and descended sharply.

Ahead, a small arch of stone glowed faintly.

“What’s that?” I whispered.

“What does it look like?”

"A glowing stone"

”God” his free hand went to his head.

”That's an entrance”

“An entrance? To what? How do we fit inside?”

“The cave you idiot. The one I told you about.”

“The one with...”

“Don’t finish the sentence,” he warned.

The footsteps behind us multiplied as they grew louder. The echoes bounced through the canyon.

“How far till we get there?” I pressed.

“Two minutes on good legs which I clearly don't have” he said looking at his bleeding leg.

“We’ll make it.” I said

Dave wobbled again and his knees gave out.

He gasped. “Alex—stop, I can't continue.”

“What do you mean you can't continue? You clearly said we can’t stop.”

“I have to. My leg is… going numb.”

“You said that earlier.”

“Now it’s going numb-er.”

“I am very sure that’s not a word!”

“Alex you idiot, focus!”

I tightened my grip. “Try putting your weight on me.”

“I am.”

“Well, it's not enough!”

“See who's talking, you’re five-eight and probably made of noodles!” he said

“I am not made of noodles!”

“You absolutely are!”

“Shut up and lean!” I said

We stumbled forward again as the shadows behind us grew larger—stretching long across the rock.

“Dave,” I whispered, “they’re close.”

“Don’t say that.”

“But they are.”

“Don’t.”

“I think one of them just growled.”

“Stop describing it.”

“Okay, but...”

“No buts just move!”

We rounded the bend and the cave entrance yawned open like a mouth.

Dave sagged in relief. “We would be safer here.”

Just as we reached the arch, Dave’s leg gave out completely and he collapsed.

“Dave!” I dropped beside him.

He pressed a trembling hand to the stone floor.

“Don't worry about me, you go ahead, I would catch up to you."

"And how do you expect to walk?"

"I can crawl.”

“There's no way I am letting you crawl!”

“Then drag me.”

I hooked my arms under his and pulled. He kept groaning until we got in. The cave air felt colder and thicker and had this awful smell.

We just crossed the threshold as a chorus of snarls erupted behind us.

I turned instinctively but Dave slapped my shoulder.

“Don’t look! Keep going!”

“But...”

“Alex—move!”

I dragged him deeper into the cave as cracked stones scraped our boots.

The sound of claws skidding at the entrance made me freeze mind you, it was still very dark.

“They’re here,” I whispered.

Dave’s breath came ragged. “They won’t come in.”

“What?”

“They don’t like enclosed spaces.”

“That’s great, we just wait here until morning comes.” I said relaxing my back against the cave wall.

“They will send in the small ones.”

“The What?!”

“Just get deeper!”

We shuffled farther into the cave so far the entrance was now a small crescent of gray light.

I thought it was all over until I heard sniffing and scratching. Something smaller skittered across stone, past my leg.

I held my breath.

“Umm...Dave…”

“I know.”

“What do we do?”

“Nothing. We just have to wait.”

“Ok, wait for what?!”

“For them to give up.”

“And if they don’t?”

“They always do eventually.”

“Eventually? Dave, I’m not built for eventually!”

“Then pretend you are.”

“I can’t!”

“Yes you can!” ”Or do you prefer dying?”

I swallowed hard. My hands were still locked under his arms.

Dave looked up at me—sweaty, pale and barely conscious, he was still losing blood.

Outside, the snarling quieted and was replaced by low clicks and choked, breathy sounds.

Dave shut his eyes.

“They’re deciding if we’re worth waiting for.”

“That’s surprisingly comforting.”

”It shouldn’t be you...” ”You know what, just forget it, once we survive until morning,I am dumping you. I have had enough of your nonsense positivity. You still don't understand what you are in right?"

We stayed there—me half-kneeling, him sagging against me, the cave pressing in on every side.

The noises outside rose, fell, rose again.

Then complete silence.

“Dave?” I whispered. “Did they leave?”

“No.”

“We should go deeper, maybe there's another exit."

”There isn't." he said flatly.

”How would you know..."

"For fuck sake Alex, I said there isn't. You don't believe me, be my guest, go fucking get yourself impaled. There's a monster in this cave and for the fact that we are still alive means it's asleep but your tiny brain cannot comprehend that can it? You want to die? Go ahead." he shouted.

”I am sorry, I didn't..." I started until I heard a hot gust of wind against my back.

"Just great, now he's awake" Dave said trying to stand.

"What are you talking about?"

"The monster that eat humans like us for breakfast. I tell you the Howlers out there are better than this meat grinder. Prepare to Die Alex."

Just then, the timer appeared floating in the air. Time until dawn: 03:39:12