Uriel’s hands were covered in blood, a trail of it followed from the inside of the dungeon wall.

  ‘I knew it, it’s my teammates. What are they doing here? Are they here to check on me?’

  His head pounded, the adrenaline was gone, aches and fatigue setting in. Uriel leaned against the dungeon wall, naked, weak.

  Finally reaching the end Finral glared at Uriel, sneering with annoyance. “Where have you been? And why the hell are you naked?”

  Ding. ‘Chosen One, fifteen minutes are left until the Trial begins.’ The ding and monotone voice rang in his head again.

  The Trial was coming but he wasn’t ready yet, he needed to get someone safe, secluded. But having his teammates with him would make that impossible.

  ‘Shit! Not yet, please not yet, they’ll kill me if they find out I’m a Chosen One!’ Finral started walking closer, annoyance in each one.

  “Whatever, just tell us if you at least found anything good in here? Unless you did, we wasted our time coming to check on you.”

  Daniel’s large hand went to Finral's shoulder stopping him from getting closer. “Wait, Finral, look at his arms and shoulders. He’s made a contract with someone.”

  Finral examined his arms and shoulders, checking if Daniel was speaking the truth. “Shit, you're right. Hey! How’d you get someone to make a contract with your worthless self?”

  Enith finally chimed in, his voice laced with skepticism. “Contract? You think he could get a contract with anyone? He’s not even a Chosen One yet. So how could he? Huh? That's probably some curse he got while in the dungeon.”

  They exchanged glances, evaluating whether to believe Enith’s words about Uriel having a contract or not.

  “You're right, he’s got nothing worthwhile to offer anyone,” Daniel broke the silence, a smile spreading across his face, it wasn’t one of good intentions.

  Uriel watched the whole exchange of questions and indirect insults aimed at him, trying to avoid any more suspicion.

  “But that doesn’t explain why the fuck he’s naked, a curse doesn’t do that,” Finral spat on the ground, scratching the back of his head.

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  Uriel looked around planning his escape, there weren't many places he could go to hide. He was also too weak to kill them, let alone scratch them. He did have one other plan though.

  “I got caught in a fight with a Bilt, my armor didn’t make it so I ditched it after killing it.” Enith looked surprised a little. It was an expression he rarely saw.

  Finral's face scrunched up with anger, getting closer, barely a foot away from him now. His left hand on the sheath of his sword.

  ‘Shit, shit, shit, he’s going to kill me!’ His chest pounded.

  “What, killed it? Don’t try to make yourself out to be a fool any more than you already are. Wait, did you say ‘ditched your armor,’ do you know how much that cost me to get you?”

  His heart felt heavy, fear, shame, and hate weighed it down making his head throb. Uriel knew where this was going. It had happened before when they sent him into an Unholy land with Capricases.

  (A Capricase is a small, black colored wolf-like creature with horns. About the size of a bobcat.)

  He had barely survived, the only way he could was by leaving his weapon, shield, and heavy leather armor. Afterwards, they beat him and only gave him a cheap sword and cheap leather armor.

  ‘I need to hurry, time is running out fast. I need to get out of here.’

  Uriel analyzed them, he knew he couldn’t beat any of them conventionally, it would probably be impossible to run away and hide too. His solution? He didn’t have one.

  He inhaled and exhaled deeply, standing upright wasn’t an easy task. Some semblance of strength had come back, enough to run away and hide in the darkness of the dungeon.

  That was the only real plan Uriel could think of. “What took you all so long? I’ve been here for four days at most, and you guys are only coming now?”

  Finral walked over to him, his fist raised falling fast and onto his face. Blood splattered onto the ground and Finral’s hand. Uriel fell onto the ground, dazed and shook, he couldn’t even see the blow coming.

  That was to be expected though, Finral’s speed was the highest compared to the others. Uriel rubbed his cheek and spat out a glob of spit colored deep red. “Tsk, what was that for?”

  Daniel walked over to Finral, hand grabbing his shoulder firmly. “Hey, don't kill the boy. We still need him for dangerous jobs and you know that.”

  Enith hung back the whole time, his eyes were like a forest. “He’s right, Finral, we still need him… but if you insist on beating him please hurry it up please.”

  Finral smirked at Enith’s words, Daniel shook his head. “I’m leaving, there’s no point in us all being here.” Enith scoffed his eyes mocking Uriel silently. “You're right, Daniel, he doesn't need us to beat his weak ass. Fin can do that himself, plus I don’t really give a shit what happens to him.”

  Ding. ‘Chosen One, the Trial shall commence in ten minutes.’ The voice rang in his head again, this time making him feel even more urgent to run away and hide in a dark secluded hole.

  Both Daniel and Enith walked away, disappearing swiftly. The scarlet moon hung over him as if it was a premonition of death.

  “Well since they're gone we can have some fun now, don’t you think, Uriel? Finral’s eyes scrunched in delight, a wide unhinged smile spread across his face as if it was a painting.

  Unnatural was the only word that could describe it.

  Uriel stood up, his legs and arms were slowly regaining strength, though his arms were still pretty much useless. “What are you going to do, huh? Beat me to death?”

  Finral pulled out his sword, a one sided thin sword. Perfect to use for his speed.

  “No, I’m going to cut you into pretty little slices, throw your trash back into the dungeon for those nasty Bilt’s to eat… then go about my days not having to worry about your foolishness anymore.”