Lesson 101- It’s wrong to hit people, but you should always protect yourself first. You can say sorry later.
Torin takes another step forward and the guy yanks me a little bit closer, a clear threat. But I can feel him shaking, just slightly.
“Tori…” I start.
“Quiet!” The guy hisses into my ear. I know I should probably do as I’m told, but honestly this guy sounds nearly as scared as I am.
“He said he doesn’t want to hurt me.” I blurt out. Torin looks us both over carefully and takes another step towards us.
“Don’t!” The guy warns. Torin takes another step forwards, clearly coming to the same conclusion I did, that this guy isn’t actually planning to hurt me, even if he IS using me as a human shield. The guy takes a step backwards, dragging me with him. In a quick movement, Torin launches towards us. He never makes it though. I don’t know what happened, but one second we were standing there, upright and mostly steady. The next I’m being knocked over by a huge wave of water. Where does a huge wave of water even come from? The place might be flooded up to my knees, but we’re INDOORS. Waves don’t just HAPPEN! But putting aside the technicalities of how water works, I have bigger problems. For starters, how human’s work. Specifically the fact that I need oxygen. The room is flooded, the guy still has a tight hold on me and HE doesn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that our heads are being submerged in water every few seconds. I have no idea what Torin is doing, I’ve completely lost track of him, but I’m assuming whatever this water is, it’s running interference to stop him from trying to rescue me. But right now all I can worry about is oxygen, I’m running out of it, and I keep accidentally inhaling water so I’m choking badly.
I begin to kick and struggle against the guy again, although my attempt is probably kind of pathetic because my throat and lungs are burning and I feel VERY lightheaded. I don’t actually expect my struggling to help, it just seems like I should do something, so I’m particularly shocked when the guy lets go of me. Not only does he let go, but he pushes me away and what must have been in the general direction of the surface or smoother water or something because I’m no longer trapped or submerged. Instead I’m standing in water up to my waist and coughing up my lungs. Not ideal, but certainly less deadly than my position a moment ago. I look around for Torin. Honestly I can’t figure out what’s going on. The very unnatural water is everywhere and in some places much higher than my head. I’m assuming Torin is caught up in it somewhere. I should do something, help somehow. But I don’t know what to do. It’s not like I can fight, and even if there were somewhere I could run, I’m not sure it would help much. My eyes land on the front door. I don’t know where this water is coming from, and it doesn’t flow like water should, but there is just so much of it, maybe I can let some of it out? I trudge through the water, oddly relieved to be barefoot. I hate wet shoes even more than wet socks. I reach the door, pushing floating chairs out of my way and tug on the handle. It doesn’t budge, the water is holding it shut. Still, I keep trying, if I can just get it open a tiny bit, then I might be able to open it completely.
I struggle for a minute until I manage to pull the door open a crack. It’s like a broken dam, the water flows straight towards it, trying to escape. The door is thrown open and I’m pushed to the side with it. Shit that was close. The water almost shoved me straight out the door. That would have been bad. VERY bad. I hoped that opening the door would let the water out and I was right. It continues to flow out until the room is empty. Wet, but very empty. Even Torin and the guy are gone. I rush over to the doorway to look for them. They’re outside as I predicted and both of them are lying on the floor, motionless. Torin is only a few steps away from the doorway.
“Torin?” I call out, concerned. He doesn’t move, he’s face down and I can’t see much. But his skin looks strangely greyish and I think there are horns sticking out of his hair. Six of them if I’m counting correctly, little ones about two inches in size starting just by his temple, each set increasing in size as they move back towards the crown of his head where they’re more like 6 inches long. He’s swapped into his more demonic looking form, and given how much he has avoided the subject, I’d say it wasn’t planned. Still, he isn’t moving. The guy is however struggling to his feet. He looks none the worse for wear. Just wet.
“You need to come with me.” He says to me firmly.
“I can’t.” I tell him again, my throat is hoarse and I’m exhausted.
“Ah, right. Because of the demon.” He answers flatly and takes another step towards Torin. Where he seemed sort of indifferent to me, he seems a lot more threatening when he looks at Torin. Damn, this is not good.
“I’ll take care of the demon, then you can come with me.” He says firmly and I shudder at his tone.
“Torin isn’t the one keeping me here! There’s a binding spell, he doesn’t cast spells!” I insist in a panic.
“Yes I know, you need a witch for that. But the demon controls the witch. If I take care of him, she should be easy enough to manage.” He responds easily. He kneels next to Torin and places his hands on Torin’s shoulders. Water starts to pool again, this time around Torin’s head. In seconds his face is completely submerged in water again. Shit. He’s going to drown! He starts to struggle, but he can’t seem to get free. I need to help him. I look around and a piece of wood gets my attention. I think it’s the leg of one of the chairs, it must have broken off. Well I have a weapon, but they’re OUTSIDE the bar. I can’t get outside the bar. I stare in horror as Torin’s struggles get weaker. He’s going to die. I’ve got to do something. Sure, stepping outside the bar MIGHT kill me, but if I don’t do something he’s definitely dead. I take a deep breath and steel myself, then I rush out of the bar. Every movement is AGONY. I can’t breathe. This is a little like what I imagine being burned at the stake would feel like. The guy isn’t watching me, all his focus is on Torin, probably because he thinks I can’t leave the bar. He’s probably right. My head is pounding, my blood feels like it’s boiling. Even my eyeballs hurt. My fingernails are sore, can fingernails even BE sore? I’m definitely about to pass out. But before I do, I use the last of my strength and swing the broken chair leg as hard as I can at the guy’s head. It hits him with a sickening thunk and he collapses to the ground. The water surrounding Torin drops into a harmless puddle on the floor and he starts to gasp and choke.
“Tori…” I trail off, barely able to stay standing, I’m swaying in place and my vision is foggy. If someone came and stabbed me right now I don’t think I would notice I’m already in so much pain. Torin pushes himself up so he’s sitting and his eyes go wide when he sees me standing there. He launches forward just in time to catch me when I collapse.
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