Author's Note

Hey All, just wanted to note a few things. First, the messed u text will be removed, to allow those who use AI readers to read it. Second, I apologise for this being almost two days late, I recently upgraded my computer, and it has just been giving me issue after issue. It's all fixed now thankfully.

Hope you enjoy the chapter, and as always, thank you so much for reading it. Please yell at me for any spelling and grammar mistakes.

Peace

The Gauntlet

Anon laid in his own bed. Something he has not been able to do for a while. While Azrael was curled up like a cat on the end of the bed, Anon gazed his heavy sleep-deprived eyes at the ceiling. He didn't want to sleep, even blinking gave him anxiety, worrying that the torturous pain the creature promised would take effect. With each rise and fall of his chest, his eyes got heavier as the pointless struggle of fighting off sleep became too much. Without even realising it, the human's eyes finally closed as he drifted to sleep.

An hour or so after Anon had drifted off, Azrael was stirred awake, the bed occasionally shook as the sounds of unsteady breathing and pained groans filled the room. Lifting her head up, the demon's gaze set upon Anon. His body was drenched in sweat, his skin pale, lacking its usual healthy tone. The sleeping human let out pained gasps and grunts as his teeth clenched. Azrael was so confused and had to fight the urge to wake him up. She hated this. Hated being so useless, she was summoned and never did anything she was good at, watched Anon, had mental break after mental break. And now, after not being able to help subdue him in the town square, she had to watch her master suffer. Summoned demons did everything they were told, they killed, seduced and died for their masters, always treated like expendable soldiers, which wasn't entirely false. But Anon just let her live how she wanted, something that had never happened in the thousands of years she had existed. And now she had to watch the first creature who considered her a friend suffer.

While Azrael could not wake him, it did not stop her from trying to help alleviate some of his pain. The demon snuggled up to the troubled human, pressing her body against his side. She knew that she would get kicked off the bed in the morning. But it would be well worth it. As Azrael started to fall asleep again, she felt his breathing steady slightly, which let her fall to sleep with a small pained smile spreading across her face.

When morning finally came, the sun's warm rays of light pierced through the bedroom window as it lit up the room with an orangish hue. Despite the brightness, Anon did not wake, his pained slumber seemingly teetering out as he slept. The room was almost silent part from the wonder bolts clock hung up near the door. It's soft, but insistent ticks filled the room. As soon as the clock struck seven. Anon jerked suddenly as he quickly sat up, gasping with shaky breath. His eyes quickly scanned the room, remembering where he was. The human felt his neck, letting out a sigh of relief when he felt nothing. Anon's breath began to finally slow down, realising he was actually out of that hell, but the thought of going back every night made his heart sink.

8 hours ago

Anon's eyes finally shut as he drifted asleep, seconds later they shot back open, gone was the safety as he had returned to that misty black void. The mist collected in front of him as it gave shape to his torturer, those piercing green eyes looked at the human with a natural smile.

"Welcome back. I hope you're ready because I have many activities for you." The creature told him, it's tone heavy with barely contained excitement. "Let's start off simple. Your goal is to survive as long as you can." It added, before Anon could say anything it melting back into the mist. In its place was a rusty skinning knife, the blade was chipped and the leather wrapped handle was worn.

Anon lent down to pick up the knife before hearing snarling from behind. Quickly snatching up the dagger, the human spun around to see three wolves prowling towards him. His eyes widened at their sudden appearance before narrowing as he focused. Their fur was jet black, sucking in any ambient light in this edgeless void, it dripped black gunk. Their teeth were bared as their bright-green eyes stared at Anon, tracking his movements carefully. Once they got close enough, the two at the front broke from the other as they began circling him. The human knew that the one behind him would strike first, so he paid attention with his ears rather than his eyes. He listened carefully, the only good thing about this place was that the floor was wet, making it easier to hear movement.

Time slowed as he waited for the inevitable attack to begin. After what seemed like an eternity, the sounds of splashing paws seemed deafening as he ducked and moved to the side, just dodging the wolves fangs. It landed in front of him gracefully as it quickly turned around. Next was the one to it's left, which was just in eyesight, the human took a step back as he slashed at the wolves body, catching its rear leg. It landed with a heavy thud as it's injured leg gave out. As the human turned to his right where the other wolf has, but in the commotion it had managed to sneak behind him, it latched its canine fangs onto his none dominant arm, it's teeth sinking deep into the flesh as it tried to yank him down. Anon grit his teeth hard as the sudden horrific pain caused him to grunt. With no time to think, he raised his other hand and plunged the dagger into the wolf's skull, killing it instantly.

Anon crouched and extracted his arm from its jaws, the sound of splashing paws filled his ears again, quickly pulling the knife from the dead wolf, Anon turned around and held the bloodied knife with both hands as he pointed it forward. The second wolf lunged at him, impaling its own neck on the blade, the force knocking Anon onto his back and the knife from his hands. The last injured wolf lunged at the human with a bit less force. Instinctively crossing his arms in defence, the wolf latched onto his already injured blood soaked arm, it's teeth sinking deeper. Anon punched the wolf's face desperately, each hit causing more pain.

Finally, Anon managed to knock the wolf off, unfortunately with his arm still in the creature's jaws. Anon wrapped his arm around the creature's neck as he jerked his body back, leaving the wolf limp with a sickening crack. He quickly extracted his mangled arm from the wolf as he stood back up while clutching his arm. The wolf's bodies dissolved into the mist, replaced by that creature once again, it's smile never ending. Anon glared at him, struggling to hide the excruciating pain.

"I'm impressed, was hoping for a bit more but are one stubborn person. Got bitten twice and still had fight left." It told him before snapping its finger. Almost immediately, the inflicted wounds disappeared as well as the pain. "I'll give you a couple of minutes and then we will continue." It told him before melting into the mist once more. Leaving Anon to his thoughts.