Chapter 5: First Trial
The stinging smell of metal was the first thing to reach Riven's nose. His stomach churned; the smell clung to the back of his throat. His eyes opened.
When they did, he found himself in a dim, circular hall, with two torches burning at opposite sides, flickering from side to side, though there was no wind.
Small gutters lined the stone floors, dug in a fine pattern. Dark red blood flowed through them. The metallic smell hit him once more, harder this time. His stomach churned harder, and the sight of blood almost caused him to throw up.
His breaths instantly got heavy, his throat closed, his mouth opened, sucking in air desperately. His eyes darted around furiously, his entire body already covered in sweat.
What was this place?
Then suddenly, the torches went out, and immediately fear gripped Riven. He felt like a massive danger was looking over his neck; his legs felt like noodles, buckling in on themselves.
A few seconds later, a spotlight came on, shining on something he didn't spot before. A massive iron maiden stood at the wall, standing at twenty feet tall.
Chains as big as an arm bolted this iron maiden to the wall, and large talismans were stuck to the chains and the iron maiden.
From the eyehole of the iron maiden came a red glow, and as Riven looked at this red glow, his heart screamed with fear, beating at an unbelievable pace.