99 Dazed And Confused

After walking for... lord only knows how long, I finally start to see what looks like crudely made homes. They jet out of the hard ground like miniature mountains made out of slate. I look up to the red sky to see it's still just as bright as when I first got here.

Does it never get dark here? Or is my perception of time that off? I try to keep calm and decide to sneak up on the houses. If I really am down in hell, I need to avoid the other demons or I'll have another issue on my hands.

I hide behind one of the few dead trees around and look around. I don't see a single demon or another living thing... I frown and slowly ease out from behind the tree but when I hear someone approaching, I quickly hide back behind the tree and hold my breath.

Two male demons riding... skeletal horses!?! Come riding up to the small village. I watch the skeletal horses with a morbid fascination as the two demons yell something in a language I don't understand.

Suddenly, demons start appearing. All coming out of the slate built homes with nothing but blackened and torn clothes on. More is being said between the two demons and the others but I can't understand a single word.

One of the two demons kicks a villager demon before the other demon jumps down off the skeletal horse and starts searching the slate homes. My heartbeat increases when I suddenly get a bad feeling. They're clearly searching for something or... someone.

I decide to stay hidden and watch from afar. Suddenly, my head spins before I hear "ERIS!!" Both hands fly up to my ears to stop the pain but it doesn't help. The voice is coming from inside! "Stop yelling!!" I snap back in my head as I quickly turn back to keep an eye on the demons.

I hear Binx sigh with relief before saying "I've been trying to reach you but I wasn't getting anything. I was afraid you were lost for good... are you... are you in hell?" I grit my teeth and say "Yeah. How the hell were they able to pull me down like this!?"

I watch as the one demon pulls out a few female demons and throws them in front of the one still on the horse with a look of disdain. The demon on the horse yells something and waves his hand. The other demon kicks the demon women away before quickly mounting the skeletal horse and riding away together.

I relax a little as Binx says "Uh... we've got a little problem." I lean back against the tree and close my eyes as I ask "What now?" Binx is silent for a little before saying "Kian and I took care of all the demons outside of the house but once they were gone...Kian when down to find you." My eyes snap open and I jerk forward almost gasping out loud as I ask "What the hell!? WHY!? If he comes down here, he won't be able to come back for another ten years!!"

I can feel Binx bristle as he says "I know!! I told him that and I even told him how pissed you'll be but he insisted on going down to you. He says it's entirely too dangerous down there..." I slowly slide down until I'm sitting and say "Great... just great. Even if he comes down here, how is he supposed to find me!? This place is huge!"

Binx sighs and asks "Should I come to you?" I think about it for a moment before saying "No, stay there and keep an eye on the house. Be my eyes and ears up there and if I really need you, I'll call for you."

Binx is silent for a while before saying "Okay, that works. Can I order Chinese?" I feel my eye twitch as I say "Sure, Binx. Get whatever you want..." I feel myself licking my dry lips and wondering where I can find water and food for myself.

When I look back over to the villagers, I see them walking up to a tree and cutting it. They lift up a bowl and hold it there for a bit before taking the bowl and drinking it. They then walk over and offer it to the women.

I lean back and look at the tree in front of me with a frown. They're drinking from the trees? I bite my lip and decide to try it. I use a little of my magic to cut into the tree and instantly cringe. A red goopy substance starts seeping from the tree and to be honest, it kinda looks like the tree is bleeding!!

I hesitate before leaning forward and smelling it but it doesn't have a smell. Nope. Can't do it... not yet anyway. The tree suddenly starts to close up, creeping me out further. I need to keep moving. I'm almost sure the two demons on the skeletal horses were looking for me.

I decide to keep going and leave the village. I need to find somewhere I can hide and stay unnoticed. That village was entirely too small. If I stay there and someone sees me, they'll know that I'm an outsider.

I look down at my torn jeans and sigh. I never did get the chance to change after my last fight with the demon and now I'm starving and thirsty. I stay close to the path but instead of walking right on it, I stay close to the dead trees in case I have to hide again. After a few more hours of extreme heat, I find a big tree and slowly sink to my ass. Panting with exhaustion.

I look up to the red sky, still just as bright as it's always been. I try to swallow but my mouth and throat are just too dry. I sit there for several minutes before croaking out "Screw it" I reach out and cut the tree, watching with disgust as the red goo starts to flow again.

"Alright, Eris... you've done worse. You can do this... Survival!" I say in a whisper before clenching my eyes shut and opening my mouth.