Amnesia: Through The Ashes

The dragon lay perfectly motionless save for the frantic beating of his heart as the nightmarish being approached, the haunting screech the metal hinges echoed with the long haunting bellows the monster made. A thump followed from above him from what was surely another corpse being added to the putrid pile.

Every second of the stench around him gave his guts the desire to add to the wretched pile and he dared not open his eyes for fear of meeting the unflinching gaze of the dead that he'd surely find.

A couple moments after an addition was made to the pile Spike felt immeasurable relief as he heard the monster's tell-tale noises began to venture away from his position. Once he could no longer hear the monstrosity he quickly emerged from the pile. His expression paled as he was forced to look at the bodies again and this time he couldn't hold his stomach. He turned to the corner and vomited. He made every effort to keep as silent as he could and the only signal that he wasn't too loud was the fact that he was still checking for the sound of sound of the monster returning. His blood ran cold when he heard a gargling sound from behind him.

The drake was horrified to see that the most recent addition to the pile was still alive!

It was a young woman, it was difficult to tell from grime coating her features but she couldn't have been a day over twenty-five. What appeared to have once been a pretty blue dress now ran held crimson stripes that continued onto her legs. Her cerulean eyes showed something he only thought he had seen before.

True fear.

She stretched a hand out to reach him. "H-help..." She moaned weakly.

Spike stood nailed to the spot, completely unsure of any way that he even would help.

"B-blood...blood...loss...hurt." She continued almost breathlessly now.

He tried to get a good look at her but it was difficult with her on top of the pile. He gently scooped her up in his arms and moved to set her on the ground. She groaned as he lifted her and as he set her down she grunted in pain.

She had all of her limbs and didn't appear to have any puncture wounds but it was clear she was still bleeding underneath her clothes. Whatever injury she had sustained it could have only been very recent. The bleeding would kill her before long now and Spike knew how to stop bleeding. The only question was if he should.

He could certainly cauterize whatever wounds she had but she would scream, no doubt about it. If the bleeding didn't kill her the shock could still do the job. Even if she survived that both their lives were still in grave danger from the horrors that stalked the dark halls. Either way he had to make a decision now.

Here goes nothing...

Using one sharp talon, Spike sliced open the remains of the woman's dress, exposing the long bloody gash underneath. If he had to guess she ran into one of those monsters with the long cleaver in place of an arm and though it looked like it had only barely caught her it still did a terrible score on her.

He looked into her trembling gaze and spoke quickly and softly.

"I'm going to cauterize the wound. It's going to really hurt but please...please try to keep quiet. I'm so sorry...I can't leave you like this."

He took in a deep breath and put one hand over her mouth and held her legs down with the other. As he exhaled so too did he release a small, steady breath of fire over her injury.

Immediately a muffled scream tried to reach through his hand as she shook violently in place, her eyes shook inside her head as her senses reawakened with the hot, vibrant pain concentrated in her mid-section. Though he was certainly stronger even Spike struggled to keep the woman down as he worked to stop the bleeding. Just as he was finishing the piercing gaze in her eyes began to fade and her head tilted to the side.

Spike's eyes shot open and he rushed to check her vitals, placing a ear on her chest as his hand fumbled to find her pulse.

Thump thump...thump thump...

Spike sighed in relief. A heartbeat, she had merely lost consciousness. For just a moment he dared to smile, at least until he remembered he'd have to carry her.

He lifted her limp form in his arms and with his tail, the lantern he had set aside before hiding in the pile.

The dragon and the damsel...he mused silently as he trekked through the hall, vigilantly watching for the castle's other terrifying residents. He could faintly remember the baron telling him about fictional tales involving dragons and damsels in distress, though it was usually some brave knight that would save her from the fearsome dragon. He would have laughed if only under different circumstances. These thoughts occupied his mind until he reached an area where the hall diverged into three more identical to it. At least one of these would be a death sentence for the both of them.

I was always terrible at gambling...

He inhaled and formulated anything loud to say he could despite nearly every fiber of his being screaming how stupid that plan was. Though the only alternative was essentially a gamble with death itself. At least he knew how fast he could run.

"IF YOU WANT IT, YOU BETTER COME GET IT!"

Something responded from the hall to his left, a deep moan reminiscent of a tortured whale. A similar sound came from his right as well. It didn't take long to figure out that he should go straight. As began to run down the hall he detected yet another source that the moaning was coming from...dead ahead. By now the other monsters were surely entering this passageway and it wouldn't be long now before they'd box him in.

So he ran straight. If he was lucky the fiend would miss as he ran past, he could only hope the woman wouldn't get injured further as well.

Within moments the bladed monster came into view, its cleaver dripping with freshly drawn blood, likely hers. As soon he saw it Spike thought of an even better use for the lantern. With one good whip of his tail the lantern shattered against the creature's face, coating it in oil, which he promptly lit with the introduction of fire.

The beast's face lit up like a brazier and began to swing wildly, now blinded by the flames. While it was on the downswing Spike seized the chance to ram the monster with his shoulder, knocking it off balance. It didn't fall but it at least stumbled, giving him just the opportunity he needed.

The dragon surged forward, his blood swimming in adrenaline as he heard the other monsters behind catching up at a startling pace. Eventually Spike saw a literal light at the end of the tunnel.

Step by frantic step Spike bounded over the stone floor with the demons in tow. As he neared the light the outside world came into view as well, revealing an expansive forest along with a view of the castle exterior. Whilst running he saw a chasm coming up, at least forty feet long and dropping off suddenly to the forest below. Behind him he knew that the monsters couldn't be more than thirty feet behind him. The gap was fast approaching, as were the nightmares.

With a powerful flap of his wings Spike began to take off. He was nearly out of their reach when one of the abominations took a final swing at its prey. The blade carved a new gash into Spike's thigh, ripping off scales and parting flesh as the young dragon howled in bitter agony. Despite the pain shooting up from his wounded leg, his persistence was greater. Scarcely a moment later, he was out of their reach.

Spike poured all of his remaining will into his wings. He quickly began to drop out of the air once he made it over the chasm. Without the strength left to slow himself down, Spike braced for impact and did all he could to shield the woman he carried.

The pained creature felt his scales meet stone and his arm contort into a painful position. When at last he came to a stop, a pained grumble escaped his mouth as he assessed the damage. At first nothing seemed out of place. The woman was unscathed and he himself suffered no further injury. Then he found that he could barely to move his arm and that it was more than likely dislocated from the crash.

Might as well do it while everything else still hurts...

He glanced around to make sure he was in a relatively secure position before proceeding. In front of him was a large, open room with several doors leading elsewhere and behind him he could still see the monsters, though now they appeared to be heading back where they came from. The moans delivered a cold chill down his spine as he tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

Where was I...alright. Here goes...

"AHHHHHHHHHH! Ahha...ahh...damn...ah..." A deep cry of pain echoed in the halls as he tried to fix his shoulder. At least it appeared to be worthwhile seeing as how his arm was working again. His shout, however, awoke the woman next to him.

The woman that had laid beside him awoke with a start and screamed in sheer terror. She desperately tried to back away to the nearest wall and frantically looked about the entire area.

"Ah! Get away from me! NO! Leave me be! Go away!" She covered her head with her arms and got into the fetal position. If one listened close enough, they would just barely hear the soft whimpers of pain as well.

"Just leave me be...I never hurt anyone!" She cried.

"Hey...don't worry...you're safe now..." Spike cooed as he carefully approached her.

She peeked out between her arms and took in an eyeful of the battered, yet smiling green dragon in front of her.

"Y-you...I remember. You saved me...I don't know what to say...thank you. I have to ask...what are you?" She replied in a cautious tone.

"That's right. Look, my name is Spike. I'm a dragon and I don't have a lot of time to explain how I'm here. For now, we need to keep going. What's your name?"

"My name is Charlotte. I don't remember how I got here right now but I remember trying to climb out a window when those...things found me. One of them-" Suddenly her eyes widened and she looked over her abdomen. She also became aware that her breasts were bare.

She shrieked and made an effort to cover herself. "I remember having clothes on! What is the meaning-"

"Sorry. I had to cut it off to cauterize your injury. I had no other motive." He looked away awkwardly.

"Oh...I see...I'm terribly sorry to be so rude. I truly owe you my life. Now please, let us leave this wretched place."

"I can help you leave...but I need to stay. My friends are somewhere below and I need to find them." Charlotte returned a sympathetic look and put a soft hand under his chin.

"You poor thing...you look like you fought your way out of hell itself." She traced a finger over one of the bloody marks on his face. "I'm not saying that they aren't okay. Maybe they already got out. I'm sorry but I just don't think you'd make it..."

"I know...but I have to try."

"I can't let you go alone after what you did then...my life is yours. I am obligated to help you."

Spike sighed. "You are obligated to do nothing for me."

"Well you can't stop me from helping." She smiled weakly.

"Alright...can you stand?"

"Yes. I just need to be...careful." She placed a hand on the wall behind to support herself and she stumbled to her feet. She tried to walk a few paces but collapsed to the floor again on the first step.

"You need to regain your strength. Rest here a while. I'll keep watch." Spike said with concern as he helped prop her back against the wall.

"I suppose I'm in no position to argue." She said with a shrug.

Spike nodded. "Sleep well, Charlotte. I'll be nearby and making sure we're safe here. Just shout if you need me."

"I understand...just a couple things...I appreciate all you've done, but I'm freezing here. I adore being able to see the sky but it's cold and my...bosom is exposed. If you could find any manner of clothes or sheets it would mean a great deal to me. Something to clean myself as well if you would..." Spike nodded in confirmation as he began to search the nearby area, careful to not venture too far.

Several minutes later Spike returned with an impressive stack of miscellaneous cloths and bed sheets taken from a cupboard he discovered as well as a bucket of water. A sponge could be seen floating atop the water as well.

"Oh thank you! This is just lovely."

"It's nothing."

"Not to me. I can tell you that much. Anyway...would you kindly look away for a brief while? I need to clean myself..."

"Fair enough. There's some clothes in the pile that might fit you as well."

"Wonderful!" A moment later Spike heard a few articles of clothing tossed unceremoniously onto the ground followed by the sound of a sponge breaking the surface of the water in the bucket.

It wasn't long before the sounds of water became replaced with Charlotte shuffling through the clothes until she huffed in annoyance.

"Everything okay back there?"

"Yes. It's just so damn hard to put these on when I can barely stand. This is going to sound awkward but would you kindly pick me up a little?" She asked in an uncertain voice.

"Um...sure." He turned around and walked over to her. He averted his gaze as he lifted from under her arms, easily picking her up a few inches off the ground. She quickly pulled up the pants and signaled that she was finished a moment later.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Hope you can sleep well."

"Oh I shall." Charlotte chimed as she already began to generously wrap herself in bed sheets and a handful of heavy clothes. Shortly after, Charlotte was out like a light, leaving Spike alone to his thoughts.

He pointlessly patrolled the giant room until the pain of his own wounds began to resurface, forcing him to eventually settle down and rest. He slumped against the wall beside Charlotte but fought urge to sleep as well as he could. Just as he began to lose his battle he picked up the faint sound of foot-steps coming from beyond the door across the hall from Charlotte and himself.

Spike knew he wouldn't win the fight that was to come, but he would try, for her sake if nothing else.

Let the demons come.