Telos sighed shakily.
The dry sound of footsteps echoed off the cave walls. They felt closer and closer, and with them came a strange whisper that sounded like screams, given the number of creatures.
Telos couldn't grasp what the whispers might mean. Were they death sentences? He couldn't tell; the language was too strange.
Although, of course, he wasn't in a position to think about that…
Telos shook his head, shaking off the thoughts that flooded his mind. For a moment, he thought it was his nerves, but he felt increasingly confused, and his mind was clouding over.
He tightened his grip on the sword, which felt slimy from the blood running down his left arm.
The sweat on his body began to increase, a drop running from his temple to his chin.
Ploc…
Telos looked down nervously, then looked up. He snorted.
'Damn it… Either you come quickly or you don't come at all.'
He licked his lips, then swallowed some saliva, weakly moisturizing his dry throat.
The whispers at this point were so loud that Telos couldn't hear anything... not even the creatures' footsteps. His mind was constantly gnawing at him, urging him to go check on him. However, he didn't let his guard down and waited.
Seconds passed, then minutes.
'Why are you taking so long!?'
At this point, the desperation he was under made him forget even his intense thirst. The intrusive thoughts kept asking him to check on the situation.
'What if the traps have killed all the creatures?'
It seems logical since the whispers had stopped. The entire cave seemed to be silent, as if nothing had happened.
'Were the traps really that good, or were they just too weak?'
The grip of his left hand on the handle weakened for a moment.
He shook his head again and resumed his grip.
'Don't be stupid. You were the one who set the traps…'
But wasn't that the reason why the traps could be good?
He doubted.
'It is impossible for it to kill all the creatures.'
But what if it had done it? Wasn't it better to make sure?
'The traps weren't that strong…'
But what if they were for the creatures?
Telos was constantly in a mental struggle between doubt: were they dead or were they not? He couldn't know. Telos knew that the environment could often be deceptive, but there were also times when it wasn't.
You're going to die anyway, so isn't it better to see if today isn't the day?
Telos's expression was blank. He stared into the darkness of the cave corridor. He finally thought in a somewhat... passive tone:
'Sure… that is the best option.'
You were confident in your traps, weren't you? Then there's nothing to fear.
'It's true.'
Although... it would be better to leave the sword behind; in case you have to escape, having extra weight isn't the best option. Or can you take on hundreds of creatures?
'No…'
Telos ducked, leaving the sword on the ground, and the blue light that filtered through the holes directly impacted its edge.
Would you have to escape if the creatures were still alive? It's not like you have a better life... You were just abandoned again a few hours ago…
Telos's mind was still split in two, though this time one seemed to dominate the other.
Somehow, the mention of his reality again, that thought, made Telos decide to enter the cave. He still had doubts.
This world is too cruel... Isn't it better to give up?
Telos didn't think of an answer.
What have you done to make them hate you?
'You should know.'
…
I know. I just meant that there was no reason for them to do it.
'You're right.'
Telos walked towards the cave corridor.
'Even though the creatures are probably dead, don't you think?'
Of course they are. It's impossible that so many traps didn't work.
Telos continued walking.
The walls on either side seemed smaller than before, and somehow more oppressive. The air was warm, as if hundreds of breaths were repeatedly impacting his body.
The drops falling from the stalactites were strange; they were dense and warm, unlike any normal drop of water.
The smell was also unpleasant; it seemed as if rotting creatures had been left in the same place for years, unseen by anyone. A peculiar odor permeated that odor as well. The smell of blood.
It seems that all those traps had worked after all. The creatures were simply too weak.
'Of course... It's impossible that they survived.'
Telos continued walking towards what would be the outside.
Isn't that strange? Why do you try to kill creatures and help humans? Aren't humans the ones who have made your life miserable?
'I'm not on anyone's side. I'm going to take them all down equally.'
With your strength?
'Of course.'
It's understandable. After all, killing hundreds of creatures without getting your hands dirty isn't something everyone can boast about.
Telos continued walking.
The walls at this point seemed to be too close, in some sections even brushing Telos's shoulders.
Not only that, Telos should have left a couple of minutes ago, but he continued walking inside.
'Isn't it strange?'
It's probably the poor visibility that's playing tricks on you. You shouldn't have arrived yet; a simple cave can't extend.
'That's true.'
Telos continued walking.
The dripping of the stalactites became more and more constant, soaking his shoulders and the top of his head in a viscous, slime-like liquid.
Telos hadn't encountered any creatures yet, which was partly welcome, since he didn't have the strength to fight for his life. It also spoke highly of the trap he'd set, didn't it?
Telos was also grateful that the whispers of all those creatures had stopped; they were too annoying.
Everything was going well, although the death of the creatures still had to be confirmed…
They can't survive your traps. You've seen them before. Their physiques are so thin that they can barely move. They're also blind, making it hard to see traps coming.
'You're right.'
The doubt had already been cleared from his mind; the creatures couldn't survive his trap. With every passing second, he grew more certain of it.
Telos continued walking, his steps this time somewhat slower and more careful.
Crunch…
The young man looked under his step. He could faintly make out the shape of a dry leaf. The trap was nearby.
For some reason, the leaves were scattered throughout the cave when they should have been piled up in one place.
The creatures must have made quite a stir, having fallen into the trap.
The creatures' presence grew ever more present and ominous. The air around him grew heavier.
Along with the rustling of the leaves, Telos felt the presence of the creatures more and more.
Are you afraid? No need. Why should you be? You're someone who goes against everything, something like those creatures shouldn't be something to worry about.
'What if they're still alive? I don't want to die yet... I'm scared.'
They aren't. And if they were, what's so wrong with dying? You'll finally stop living in this cruel world…
Telos continued walking, his steps were getting slower and slower.
'I'm starting to doubt you…'
Why? You and I are one. You are me, and I am you. Why would you doubt yourself?
'Are you sure you're me?'
Of course.
'But I would never deceive myself…'
…
'Why do I feel like you've been deceiving me?'
Telos stopped.
A few moments passed, and Telos felt his surroundings growing ever more cramped. Above him, to his left and right, in front and behind him. Everything seemed to shrink.
The ominous feeling increased. If the breathing had seemed exaggerated before, now it was literal, releasing a hot, humid air.
For some reason, his mind seemed to become blurry as if getting rid of something, and his vision seemed to focus slightly better than before.
Telo shook his head.
If everything was dark before, now he could distinguish what surrounded him in that almost absolute darkness.
Hundreds of figures surrounded him, their tall, skinny figures, their eyes completely scarred, and their mouths full of sharp fangs dripping with drool.
Telos opened his eyes wide, looking from right to left.
'Oh, no… You have fooled me…'
Again, words were heard in Telos's mind, these being spoken again by his voice, as if spoken by his consciousness:
There's nothing wrong with dying... You weren't deceived, you were just destined to be.
Telos's shocked and fearful expression began to wither, replaced by a blank one. His eyelids relaxed, revealing an intense gaze in his crimson eyes. His sharp face seemed confident and contained... disgust.
Then Telos spoke, though he felt his throat raspy and hurt. His voice sounded hoarse and dry, but at the same time full of confidence:
"Don't tell me you seriously thought some stupid creature was going to trick me."
There was no response.
"I've let you talk, I've let you play with my head… now it's my turn to play."
With those words, Telos took a step back and stamped his foot. A gap opened up, and the young man dove through.
And then the massacre began.