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Chapter - 12 "The Deep"

A sudden crunching of sticks and twigs jarred Reecie awake. The chilling wind raking over her exposed skin. A horizontal view of blackened earth marked with dense stark white trees devoid of any sort of foliage. At first glance, she almost mistook them for giant jagged bones protruding from the ground at all sorts of unnatural shapes and odd angles creating no clear path in any direction.

"Wha-where?" Reecie muttered. As she sat up her head began to throb, a spell of dizziness overcame her. I was...I was with Raku then. She thought as she tried to recall what had happened. The last thing she remembered was seeing the back of Raku's giant crimson cloak and then an arm was around her throat crushing her windpipe as she struggled. There was a rush of blinding snow and then she was here. Reecie sat for a long moment, putting a hand to her aching head. Everything looked the same as she scanned her surroundings, odd white trees in all directions. "Hello?" She called only hearing her own voice echo back at her in an eerily deeper octave. She winced at the call grasping at the bruise on her neck. Something or someone must have heard her.

The deathly silence of these trees was marred only by incoherent whispering carried on the wind that sounded as if it were coming from just beyond the edge of her vision. The same chill wind sent an unpleasant chill down her spine. This must be the White Woods...was I left here? Slowly she managed to bring herself to her feet leaning against one of the barkless trees for support in her dizziness. The ground under her boots was rough and crunched as if it had been newly scorched by fire. Though it offered no heat. She reached down to gather her cloak she had been left sprawled out on and threw it around her shoulders. "Hello!?" she called again coughing as she did. Still, only her echo returned.

"Consider it a gift." Raku's voice came through the trees sounding more like it was in her head than actually there with her.

"Raku?" she whispered, again only her echo returned. Carefully she took a few steps in the direction she thought it might have come from before she heard his voice again.

"You wear it well girl..." His voice sounded as if it was right in front of her now but she could see nothing, nothing but these endless trees. Suddenly she felt over her chest and neck in a panic. My amulet!? Its gone? The wolf's voice came again this time she could feel his heavy breath on the nape of her neck as he spoke. "Do you like it?" Reecie spun on her heels but this time was met with only more whispering.

"HELLO!?" her voice cracked and she coughed again as she called out more desperately now. No echo came back this time. Something worse somehow thudded behind her as if stepping out from some unseen place. A sensation of fear she had never known before welled up in her chest as she almost was too scared to look. The sound joints creaking and bones grinding as she looked over her shoulder seeing first the exposed flesh and bone of what looked like the remains of a thigh a patch of flesh and fur dangled from the knee. Her eyes lifted following it to a rope of swaying intestines tangled in and around a pelvis extending further up into a bare rib cage.

A slow exposed beating heart and the gradual swelling of a set of lungs filling and exhaling held her eyes for a long moment before the head of the thing cocked to the side with a sudden crack pulling her eyes further up. This macabre patchwork of a beast bore the head of an elk, its great antlers looming over her as it's rotted eyes looked blankly down upon her. She let out a shrill scream and lurched forward to get away from the thing stumbling for a moment as she tried to break into a run through the tangle of trees. A wendigo was in all its terror. Not human, nor animal, neither alive nor dead. But always driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh. As she looked backs he could see the thing hardly gave chase opting to just watch her run as she put distance between them. Unable to see in front of her now though she tripped over a stone landing a heap. Her cloak blinding her in darkness as it crumpled around her head. Reecie thrashed like a trapped rabbit pushing her cloak back from her head. She struggled to her fee then froze. What was endless trees a moment ago now gave way to a long partially buried stone path. Worried she looked back only to see no sign of the creature. What is this? What's happening to me? Is this some kind of nightmare? Looking to the path again she could see ahead a small village, or what once was.

Slowly with every step being careful, she pressed forward. Many of the buildings were burned down to their framework others were just fully collapsed. Here the whispering was constant and sounded as if it was coming in waves from a central point. Somewhere deeper in the village. Reecie clutched her cloak tight around her as she tried to calm her physical shaking. That sting of adrenaline coursing through her. Just ahead one of the barren trees had fallen across the path and on the other side looked like the remains of an old well. Boards were scattered across the top like someone tried to cover it in a hurry. Beyond that lie a a church, the steeple had fallen on the roof and collapsed most of the building. The whispers were louder now, an audible chanting an unfamiliar tongue that just radiated from the decimated church. As she climbed over the fallen timber the very earth around her began to and churn with each step closer to the well. A dull shimmering in the well drew her closer. Which a shaky hand she slid the boards to the ground gazing into the mirrored surface of what appeared to be a mixture of blood and water.

She froze at the reflection staring back. It was her but her hair was draped around some sort of mask made out of the skull of a Garou. Her eyes shone dimly in the hollow sockets. A small set of horns decorated the top tangled with various charms and bones. A pentacle just like she had seen so many times lately was carved into the forehead of it. In the reflection the was some sort of glow approaching from behind her. At least it seemed to be just the reflection until she felt the heat of the thing on her back through the cloak. A wolfkin stepped into view behind her. This was the source of heat she realized. Instead of fur its body was engulfed in flames. The head of it bore no meat. no flesh only bone and fire The sockets of its eyes were a distinct green flame-like two great burning sockets of color.

But the beast of fire wasn't looking into the well as she was if Fiery gaze was set upon the church. Suddenly a voice came from the well, her voice. "Father...if only you could see me now. What trouble have I gotten myself into" The well echoed, as it spoke the surface rippled as bubbled began to rise destroying the image she saw. Reecie went to step back but bumped into what she assumed was the foul beast from before. However, as she looked up she saw that flaming head, its attention still fixed in the direction of the church. Shifting her attention to where it was looking her eyes shot open. Next to several of the ruined homes stood one or more of the Wendigos she encountered earlier. All standing motionless, scores of eyes were fixed on her. At the door of the church stood what looked like a ghost of an elven woman. Blackened thorn-covered vines circled around her feet like snakes, some spiraling off and up nearby trees and stones, scraping into the surface as they moved.

She was tall, pale though her face was hidden by a mask just like the one she saw in the well. The woman wore a long trailing robe tattered and torn in some places. As she came down the steps of the church it was as if her feet weren't touching the ground, just sort of levitating a few inches above it. She raised her arms as if to welcome her and all at once a cacophony of voices assaulted her from all directions.

"Welcome, HOME" they bellowed. She thought her ears might bleed from the sound. Her back burning now from the beast as well she clapped her hands over her ears and shut her eyes as tight as she good. Then all at once, it faded away. The heat, the fear, even the ringing in her ears all just disappeared. Opening her eyes again she was somewhere new, somewhere sane. Taking in the room quickly she found her self in the fetal position on the bed of a rather elegant looking room. The scent of warm food hit her first then came the soft sound of music and merriment, laughter and the dull murmur of conversation. Thank the gods it was just a terrible dream. Sitting up she realized her amulet and her potions were still gone. Left with only the clothes on her back and her cloak hung on the end of the bedpost. The room was rather barren and poorly lit with no windows. A half burned candle flickered on the bedside table and across the room was a large wooden vanity with and open seemingly empty chest next to it. The rest of the room was just barren stone.

A burnt-out torch sat on the wall next to the door. Under a small gap at the bottom of the door, she could see a flickering light outside and two shadows on either side. Someone was standing guard outside. It wasn't until she swung her feet off the bed and the heavy clatter of a chain that she realized she was herself, shackled to the bed as well by one ankle. She lifted her left foot to see the shackle locked around her leg. Is this Locke's castle? She wondered.

She thought for a moment weighing her rather limited options when she heard voices just outside the door. Reecie couldn't quite make them out so she tried to quietly get closer being careful not to make too much noise with the shackle and chain. However, it left her just out of arms reach. Getting to her belly tilted her head towards the small space under the door and closed her eyes just focusing on what was being said.

"So no one can wear the amulet but her."an unfamiliar voice droned.

"Yes, but the point is it's exactly as I thought this amulet is the perfected version of the binding enchantment I've spent my life trying to recreate! Lord Archarion if we can get her to cooperate whatever demon, whatever monster is bound to it is powerless against her word." another voice spouted with excitement. This voice Reecie did recognize. Is that, Vandel? Reecie cupped her ear trying to hear just a little bit better.

"And this Abyssal husk you call Baymon?" the new voice continued. Reecie's head tilted upward at the name. The chain on her ankle rattled slightly. Baymon!? No no no don't tell me he's here! Suddenly the door swung open, Reecie stared up in a panic at the three figures crowded around the door frame looking down at her. Vandel stood with a torch in hand to the right. Behind him was the hooded drow Vandel referred to and to the left holding the door...Baymon, drooling a little through his crooked grin.

"Seems our little squirrel has a knack for trouble." Acharion rumbled. Reecie got to her knees shuffling back to the bed. Her eyes rapidly darting back and forth from the two elves to the monstrous wolf-kin, if he could even be called that.

"Baymon break little elf master? Baymon wait for so long, can not wait forever. Baymon not have patience to wait much longer." The beast bumbled, several cloudy ropes of drool fell from its chin as he spoke a decrepit purple tongue flopped out of its cocked maw to lap up the dangling strings that remained. His claws etched into the door as he pushed it all the way open and limped into the room. Out of sheer horror and disgust Reecie's eyes stayed locked with this monsters seeming hollow spheres as it moved. If his looks were not bothered by the fact that Baymon never seemed to blink, capturing everything, never missing an instant of the fear he inflicted.

"Please... don't leave that..THING here." she pleaded moving back to the bed to get more distance from Baymon. His head swiveled around to Vandel as if just waiting for the command.

"Can it be trusted? It is paramount she remains alive above all else." Acharion asked sounding worried about the beasts enthusiasm. Vandel smirked giving a nod to Baymon and a wink. Reecie's heart dropped.

"Haaaaa... finally!" Baymon murmured hardly able to contain his excitement. Vandel started to slowly close the door sealing Reecie's fate.

"He may be a simple creature, but he is obedient above all else. Give him an hour and she will be begging to do anything we ask." He said as the door closed with a heavy thunk.

Baymons eyes reflected faint light of the candle on the bed side table. The rest of his imperfect form seemed to melt away into the darkness they were left in.

"GET AWAY!" Reecie shrieked tugging at her chain as she bunched on the bedding as she tried to scramble away from those unblinking orbs hobbling towards her. A throaty growl rolled from Baymon as he swiped at the chain and yanked her across the bed. Reecie fought her hardest against the twisted beast. Kicking him in the chest as he put one foot on the bed. The frame groaned in protest of his weight. Alas it was like Kicking against a boulder creating a hollow thud as her foot connected. However with one leg raised she saw her opportunity and baited him in as he put one knee on her chained leg. This left his legs wide open. Reecie looked down to the matted mound of fur where his bits should be and slammed her knee into it as hard as she could.

"Get OFF!" she shouted through gritted teeth. Much to her surprise The beast didn't so much as buck in response.

"Heh...heh...heh..." He started to laugh as he forced her free leg down now crushing them both into the bed under his own knees. The pain of his weight was so intense she thought they might break. "Little elf does not understand...Baymon has no weakness of flesh. For baymon is no man..." he growled getting close to her face as he leaned over top of her. Reecie turned her head to the side wincing and gritting her teeth as she punched and scratched with all her might. Her blows didn't even phase him as he grabbed her by one wrist then the other forcing her hands above her head. A glob of putrid drool dropped onto her chin before rolling down the side of her face. "Baymon not as dumb as looks. Waited for sooooo long for master to show weakness. Now Baymon know how to be free. Heh heh... Baymon eat master first, build appetite for little female." Reecie started to cry as the beast back hunched up suddenly a series of cracks and pops coming from its body. That foul discolored tongue of his dropped from his maw and caressed her neck. Like some sort of unnatural tendril It kept coming till it nearly encircled her entire neck squeezing gently. Through tear drenched eyes she could see Baymons Fangs start to extend slowly. His breath was nauseating and reeked of rotting meat.

"Please stop this...." she begged. Her words fell on deaf ears as that putrid purple muscle retracted some leaving a trail of saliva on her skin. Reecie tried to thrash again in futility as she felt it slither under her top rolling back and forth slowly it snaked between her breasts reaching nearly to her navel. Oh god it's going to violate me and then eat me alive! Reecie tried to focus on the flickering light of the candle attempting to force her mind to go anywhere but here.

"Eh?" The beast stopped out of the blue his tongue shooting back into his maw. "What interferes with Baymons meal?" Reecie cried and struggling so hard her whole body ached she saw no way out of this and there would be no Raku there to rescue her, not this time. With a trained grasp Baymon folded her arms above her head allowing him to pin both with one hand as the other hooked the edge of her top threatening to tear it off entirely as he searched for this interference. Gently with two claws he pulled the deed out of her top sniffing it at. All she could do was hope to buy time till someone, any one came and stopped this monster.

"I-i-it's a gift. I-I knew you would come back for me so ...I made you something."

"Offering for Baymon?" The beast grinned. He released her hands to open the deed pouring over it. All she could do was hope to buy time till someone, any one came and stopped this monster. Reaching as far as she could she grasped for the candle while he was distracted. Feeling the movement between his legs he glanced down at her only to see her lurch up and jam it into his eye. Baymon dropped the deed as he howled in pain. The room was suddenly plunged into complete darkness with the candle extinguished.

"Clever elf!" He roared as he reeled back from her and the bed. One hand covered his wounded eye. "Elf will watch as Baymon devours insides bite by BITE! This Baymon promise!" He shouted swiping at her with his free hand his claws connecting with the bedpost splintering it into pieces and inadvertently releasing the anchored end of the chain. Reecie scrambled backwards before falling off the far side of the bed. This was it, her only chance to survive or succumb to being eaten alive.