Come Back Witch

He somehow predicted that he would wake up inside the dark room again, having to talk to the world once again. But nothing similar happened; only a small flash of the memory of them shaking hands filled his mind, not long enough to distract him.

Instead, the pain was much more noticable, his hands felt like they were on fire. No, they were, he had created fire in his hands, but it seemed as punishment he himself wasn't immune to his own spell.

Feeling the fire eat away at his flesh, he let out a pained scream; the wooden surface he was holding also seemed to be heating up fast, melting the palm of his hand. As the pain blinded his new sense, he couldn't move.

Only after a few seconds the fire in his hands suddenly disappeared, but the pain did not lessen, he could still feel the burns on his hands. Every fiber of his body screamed different things at him. But he wasn't able to move at all.

Finally freeing his iron grip from the monster's face, he fell towards the cold ground. But he didn't even feel the impact his whole body was still only feeling the sensation of his hands, which started violently shaking.

He wanted to focus on the enemy but couldn't do anything other than roll around the ground in pain. Opening his eyes for the first time since the beginning of the fight, his surroundings had changed.

He wasn't lying inside the wide-opened cave as before instead it was a narrow tunnel filled with spikes on the side, a trap designed to kill anyone that enters it.

Switching his focus back to the monster, he saw its true form for the first time, or what remained of it. Staring at the creature, it was a mass of wood pressed into a human-like form; instead of arms, it had two long wooden whips.

It also didn't have any legs, only small roots, which seemed to be the way for it to move. But there was one detail that shocked him the most, towards his lower, not burned, half, there were growing flowers, which seemed to be in the shape of mouths.

Until one of the mouths slowly started to move again, sending out pollen towards him.

It was still alive, his final strike wasn't enough to kill it. Vinces wanted to run, he had to focus again, but there was not enough time. Trying to move his legs, the injured one instantly gave up any movement.

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Using his arms, he started to crawl his way, but the tree monster also had recovered from his blow and started moving forward once more.

The pain and poison in his blood made his vision once again blurry, he had to move, no matter what. Stretching his arm out once more, he managed to grab another small stone, pushing himself forward.

The creature was slow, but he was even slower, only having a small advantage in distance against it.

Staring towards the entrance of the cave, he would have to crawl several meters before reaching it or the tree reaching him.

Time seemed to slow down as they both were moving forward, their distance shortening each second.

He didn't have enough time, if he wanted to leave here alive, he had to find some way to get faster.

Forming a prayer in his thoughts, he hoped once more for the support of the world. But it ignored him, crushing his hope of escape. He tried again and again, but it was to no avail, it felt like he was left behind, with his only function being to die here and now.

As the monster reached his foot, Vinces was still around a meter away from the entrance. Even without its whip-like arms, it was still able to damage him. By simply letting its small roots pierce his legs.

As the wood drilled into his calf, he was pinned to the ground, not able to move even with all his power.

The pain was unbearable, his body didn't even feel like his own anymore but rather a living torture machine.

Sending another prayer out to the world, the faint memory of their handshake finally flooded his mind. As space seemed to warp around him, the distance to the entrance shrinking each second until he seemed to go past it.

He had returned to the garden, having left behind the cave, but also the tree monster seemed to have gotten with him, still towering above him.

This time no immediate pain shot through him, which gave him the feeling of the price being much worse than he could predict.

He wanted to continue crawling, but the monster just wouldn't let go of him, slowly moving up his body, destroying everything in its way.

His consciousness was slowly fading, the poison and blood loss from all his wounds were just too strong for him. As the world slowly began to spin and his ears began to thrill. He could see a figure appear just in front of him.

"Lysandra!" he called out, but before he could even finish his sentence, he raised her hand. As something shot out of it with the speed of a lightning bolt, he couldn't even perceive it.

It hit the body of the tree on top of him, instantly sending it flying away. Vinces turned towards the tree once more, staring at its body.

A gigantic hole filled its chest, Vinces couldn't believe it. Lysandra was able to kill this being with just a single strike.

He wanted to turn back to her, but his body wouldn't move. As the world finally turned dark around him, he started to close his eyes.

But before he could finally find some rest, a way too annoying voice called out to him.

"Wake up, Vinces; don't die yet. You have to keep your promise.'' Even though he heard her words faintly, he couldn't resist the pull towards the final rest.

Closing his eyes, a person stood in front of him in the dark space. Matthew was staring at him disappointed; Vinces wanted to go towards him. But instead Matthew acted first, shoving him back.

As he started tumbling, Matthew continued to hold him back until they reached the end of whatever place they were.

Giving him a final push.

"It's not your time yet." His voice echoed through the room.

Vinces felt like he was falling down a cliff until he finally hit the ground.

Opening his eyes towards the blue sky, he gasped for air, unsure if it might be the last he would ever get.