With his heart pounding against his chest, Astel pushed himself onto his stomach. Ignoring the burning pain in his legs, he crawled away from the monster.

  He couldn't hear it, but the intense feeling of pressure served as a constant reminder of its presence.

  As the beast descended, violent winds swept across the plain. To Astel, it was akin to a final warning.

  As he crawled, he could feel the sharp piece of bone dragging against dirt and stone. He thought that his leg would tear off before he got to safety.

  If something like safety even existed here.

  At this point he could only hope the monster didn't notice him. He was running out of stamina.

  He reached forward.

  His arm collapsed beneath him.

  That was as far as he would go.

  He was still in the middle of a bare plain with nothing to cover him. With the last of his strength, he shoved himself onto his back. Behind him he saw a trail of blood painting the green grass.

  He scoffed at the sight.

  "Hope the monster didn't notice me?"

  He let out a dry laugh, spitting out blood, his voice rough.

  'I must've looked like a beacon from up there.'

  He reached his hand out toward the sky where he first saw the monster. Just as he did, he could feel the ground around him tremble.

  He still couldn't hear it, but he knew it was close.

  The voices were practically screaming. He felt that if he listened just a little closer, he could make them out.

  He closed his eyes, focusing on the deafening voices tearing his head apart.

  He could feel the hot breath of the monster huffing above his head.

  He opened his mouth to scream, his body writhing in pain.

  A warm liquid dripped onto his face.

  Then the world went silent.

  Astel felt something sharp pressing against his body. It was warm, but there was a horrible stench in the air.

  Struggling to open his eyes, the only thing he could see was darkness.

  Was he… moving?

  A beam of light snuck through from below him, illuminating his surroundings for just a split second.

  Holding him was a row of sharp, double-layered serrated teeth. Pieces of meat were still hanging, stuck between the multiple rows.

  The jaws shifted around him.

  For a moment he could see past the teeth. The inside was a deep maroon color with shades of mauve.

  He tried moving his arms, but one of them was stuck between the creature's teeth. With the other hand he tried to pry the teeth open.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Even pushing with all his strength, nothing moved.

  A wave of hot breath came from the deep darkness. The smell almost made Astel puke.

  His head was spinning; he was barely staying conscious. Adding to it all, his stomach was practically screaming for food.

  Suddenly the creature swayed, yanking its body almost to a stop. It was slowly descending, breathing heavily as it did.

  This time he would throw up for sure.

  Just before he could vomit, the creature loosened its jaws.

  With a soft thump he fell on his right arm, which had been caught between its teeth.

  A sharp pain spread through his body.

  Astel bit his lip, trying not to yell. He pierced his skin, but no blood came out.

  He was cold.

  The ground below him was so soft.

  The dizziness turned into drowsiness.

  The world seemed at peace.

  There was no pressure, no voices plaguing his mind.

  Warmth spread through his body.

  He was just so comfortable.

  Maybe he could rest just a little.

  'No!'

  His eyes shot open.

  'I have to stay awake,' he thought, his eyes almost fully closing again.

  He started to circulate his energy. At first it was just through his head, hoping that it would alleviate the tiredness.

  His consciousness started drifting.

  It wasn't helping.

  His body was getting used to the rhythm.

  Reacting quickly, he redirected the flow of his energy toward his injuries.

  'Maybe it could speed up the healing process,' he thought.

  Blood was still escaping his body.

  It wasn't enough.

  In a moment of desperation, he used his unstable flow of energy to try and block the blood flowing to his lower body.

  He thought that if he couldn't save his legs, he could at least save his life.

  But once again he ran into the same problem.

  His energy reserves were too small.

  The influence over his body wasn't enough.

  His time was running out.

  'Fuck!'

  He wished to scream out loud, but his voice wasn't coming out.

  'Voice.'

  The word lingered.

  'Maybe I could try to get that monster to end my suffering if I scream loud enough.'

  He immediately buried the thought.

  He thought back to when he switched with the original Astel. Back then his injuries healed as if by magic.

  Maybe if he could replicate that.

  He knew he was grasping at straws.

  There was no way to survive.

  Not anymore.

  He would bleed out in the nest of some monster because he was too weak.

  Too stupid.

  Just as he thought that, he heard something rustling nearby.

  The familiar pressure returned, but it was quickly lost in the sea of pain.

  In front of him was a small black-white bird, with a matte black beak that seemed to absorb all light.

  Noticing Astel's gaze, it tilted its head and hopped closer.

  'What a cute little guy,' he thought, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

  '-not a… -ttle -uy.'

  Astel blinked.

  'Did you just say something?'

  He stared at the bird, one eyebrow raised.

  The bird hopped closer. It chirped aggressively, flapping its wings as it did.

  '-an… -derstand?'

  Astel nodded with great difficulty.

  The bird nodded back, its chest puffed with pride and relief.

  The words just sort of appeared in Astel's head, almost as if the bird was talking directly into his mind.

  'Who are you?' he asked, before shaking his head. 'Never mind that. Can you help me?'

  The bird chirped, looking at his injuries.

  Again, the words appeared in Astel's head, this time clearer.

  '-ou look -urt.'

  Astel scoffed, coughing out blood.

  'Yeah, no shit.'

  After a short pause he thought, 'Could you leave me be if you can't help? Thanks.'

  The bird hopped onto the bone sticking out of his leg, chirping once more.

  'Help? I -an help!'

  Without hesitation the bird hopped down to the ground next to his leg.

  Suddenly a long slithering tongue shot out of the bird's beak, licking deep inside the wound.

  'Ow!'

  Astel wanted to scream, but his throat was badly damaged.

  He watched the bird in horror, wishing to instead be dead already.

  Maybe the little creature would kill him and feast on his corpse.

  The image certainly didn't make him happy, but there was nothing he could do.

  As the bird continued, Astel felt the blood slow down.

  The injury was closing.

  Astel's eyes opened wide in excitement.

  'Maybe I won't die after all.'

  The bird suddenly stopped, turning its head toward him.

  'Die? Do you wish to die?'

  Its tone sounded almost sinister.

  'NO!' he shouted in his head.

  The bird, seemingly offended by the sudden shout, hopped away, staring at Astel from a distance.

  'I'm… I'm sorry. Could you come back and finish helping me?'

  The bird tilted its head again.

  'What do you offer in return?'

  Astel stared at the creature, which closely resembled a magpie.

  He had nothing.

  The creature knew that.

  Yet it still asked.

  A shiver ran down his spine.

  Perhaps he was making a deal with the devil.