The Beholder(Alex)

Silently, she moved through the corridors, careful to avoid the more populated ones. As a group of green things passed by, she ducked into a crevasse allowing the shadow to hide her. Stepping out she had a funny feeling that she was being watched. Looking down the passage she was relieved to see it was empty. ‘Must be getting paranoid in my old age,’ she chuckled.

She hadn’t even taken two steps when a thunderous voice boomed, “hold it right there, human.”

Turning around she was startled to see a very large creature standing behind her. How could she have missed such a large character baffled her. His legs were the size of tree trunks, and his feet were as long as she was tall. His muscled torso looked as though it were made from stone, solid and strong. Resting atop his shoulders were two large heads each containing only one eye.

“We’ve been looking for you, human.”

Alex had done a lot of stupid things over the years and fighting with this giant would not be one of them. She hung her head submissively, allowing the giant to scoop her up in his large boulder like hands. He carried her as if she were a mere rag doll.

On her way to wherever, Alex tried to study the tunnels, looking for a way out, but everything looked the same – dark and rocky with caverns here and there. She had a sinking feeling that she would never see the light of day again.

The two-headed giant stopped in front of a large ornate wooden door. It was being guarded by two of those winged skeleton creatures she had encountered the day before.

“State your business,” droned one of the guards.

“I’ve brought the human as the Beholder wished.”

“Enter.”

The giant passed through the open doors, entering into a large circular cavern. The giant placed Alex on a triangle that was drawn on the floor and then quickly backed away. Looking around, she was surprised to see that the place was covered ceiling to floor in highly polished black marble. There were five torches that hung on the wall in various places, casting eerie shadows and reflections around the room. In the center of the room hovered a large black drape that stuck out at odd angles but was not supported in any way that she could see.

A knot of fear formed in Alex’s stomach as she realized that this must be the creature that lurks at the center of the mountain. She waited with apprehension for what would be revealed to her.

“Leave us,” spoke a cold icy voice.

Alex shook her head for she thought the voice came from within her head but how could that be. The two-headed giant left the room, simultaneously the black drape fell. Alex clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the scream.

There in front of her was a floating eye the size of a large steer. The eyelid was lined with seven long tentacles, each containing another eye. These tentacles moved about in various directions, the eyes never blinking.

“You have caused quite a stir since your arrival to this dimension.” Again the voice seemed to originate from within her head. “Let’s have a look at who you were before arriving here.”

All the eyes focused on her and she felt a searing pain in her eyes, as if somebody was burning them. She tried to close her eyes but they would not budge, desperately she tried to look away but her eyeballs would not respond to her bidding. Images began to flash through her head so quickly that she couldn’t catch what they were. Babies, people, voices – they all went by so rapidly. But it was the image of the house burning that caught her attention; then she knew that these flashes were her life.

“Interesting. You have a lot for me to feed off of – loneliness, bitterness, sadness, hatred – you are a cesspool of negative emotions. I especially like this one.” The image of her father being shot down played out over and over again in her mind.

“Stop!” screamed Alex. A sickening laugh reverberated in her head, branding it as if she were cattle. She gingerly touched a hand to her head, half expecting to find it singed and raw but she felt nothing but her hair.

“You humans are all the same –you allow your emotions to ensnare you. You think you’re better than the dark side? You are the dark side.” Again the hideous laughter rang out in her head.

“Why are you doing this to me?” She whispered, tears running down her cheeks. Her will to fight, to live, vanishing into thin air and all that was left was despair.

“You have the mark upon your head,” spoke the voice within her head, “very dim, but there all the same. I will not kill you now, you have too much power for me to absorb. I think we will put you in the pit with the others. Good – bye Alexandra Fields.” The drape reappeared and the room was quiet once again.

Alex stood there in a daze, void of all hope. She didn’t hear the two-headed giant slip back into the room, didn’t notice him picking her up once again. They exited through the doors and trekked further into the mountain. She no longer had the desire to try and map out an escape route. She no longer had the desire to live nor did she care, but something told her that these sick creatures would not let her die.