The Battle in the Dark

The dark figure stood over me. The figure darkened the sun as he stood over the top of me. A laugh erupted somewhere in the distance. There was a flash as the figure lunged at me. Then, dark.
 
I awoke in a black-as-pitch room smelling of dead fish and salt. The pounding in my head would be a long-time subsiding, but I knew that the pain would have to wait. The physical damage was minimal, as was evidenced by the small trickle of blood into my left eye. Unconsciously I wiped it out; though it would do no good because I still couldn’t see.
 
I would find who did this and make them pay…. How to get out of here, though. That was the real question.
 
I forced myself to stand, pain shooting through every part of my body.
 
“No time to sit here and rot.” I muttered to only darkness. Slowly, I made my way to my feet, feeling my way along walls in the darkness. There was a sensation of descending, like the agents of Hell were slowly carrying me to my final resting place.
 
I would have to find my way out soon.
 
I located a door (or what I sincerely hoped was a door) and shoved with all the might that my pain-lashed body would allow. I felt it shudder, then give – I was greeted with more darkness. An empty abyss from which there seemed no escape. Though the dark was crushing, I made my way slowly through the endless hallways, always turning right and always making my way up. If this was a level of Hell that my Theological background failed to tell me about, I figured it was best to keep moving. At any time, the denizens may discover my presence and make me a permanent resident.
It must have been hours one hand on the smooth-hewn walls, covered slightly with seaweed, or some other such plant. At least, that’s what my mind told me it was… I stumbled more than once, falling to my knees in the remaining salt water left when the cavern drained.
 
Finally, I saw a light. It was dim at first, but slowly grew brighter. “Well, if this is Hell,” I mused to myself “I think I have found the furnace.”
 
Before me was a room made up of mostly volcanic vents. Spirits of long deceased flame spirits burst from the walls, vomiting gasses that aren’t acceptable in most decent company. Well, no turning back now. I would have to press through. I stood for what seemed like hours. Judging time between the volcanic spirts. What that a 5 second window, or was it 10? Either way, push through…
 
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If that is what a lobster boil feels like, I don't know that I'll ever eat 'em again. While pushing through steam that equates to the bowels of Hell, I got my timing off, just slightly and singed my left arm.
 
Back into the oppressive dark - not that I minded after the last room with light that I went into. Slowly, I trudged through the darkness, ever so slightly upwards. Once, an old man told me the way through a labyrinth is to always take a right at any intersection - wise advice. With my hand on the right wall of the cavern, I consistently veered right at each intersection, not knowing if there was a foul beastie waiting in the next zone of dark.
 
Was it hours, or days that I wandered in the maze? Time seems to lose all meaning when you are in the crushing dark and silence. The sensory deprivation is enough to make one lose his mind. Still, not seeing critters dancing in the dark, was a good sign.
 
Finally, I breached the darkness. A light, small at first then growing brighter drew me like a moth to the flame. I chose not to consider that it is often not too great of an end for the moth...
 
I stood on the edge of a precipice at least 150 feet tall. The spherical room below me was the control room, though devoid of all water. The worst part of it - there was no way down. Here, finally in the light, I was just as trapped as I was in the dark. Or was I? Across the room, about 50 feet away, were the bowls that held the water. If I could hit one and knock some water out, perhaps it would fill the room up enough to make the jump. It was worth a try and certainly better than going back down into the dark. There was also another motivator - I felt my wands pulsing with power and they were close.
 
I pulled out my trusty boot knife, not much more than a toothpick, but it was all I would need. Thank God for many late nights playing darts in the bar. Uttering a short prayer, I threw the knife and watched, almost in slow motion, as it cut through the air. My aim was true and the smaller of the two bowls took a hit and slowly tipped over.
 
A sound like a thousand demons emitted through the chamber as water rushed in from the lowest doors. I heard voices - distressed voices - and saw the SOB's that had hit me in the head. My bag was on one of their backs...
 
Well, the plan was to use the water to slow my fall. Now, a new idea presented itself. Without a weapon to speak of (I didn't even have my boot knife), I had to make the best of my resources. One doesn't survive long without thinking outside of the box. Gravity works, and I decided to use it.
 
Flinging myself into the air, I began the long fall into water below. Silently, I cut through the air and "aimed" directly for the leader. There was a sickening "crunch" as my elbow smashed the top of his head.
 
Falling 100 feet and hitting a solid object doesn't do too well for your anatomy. Sharp pains coursed through my body, but I'm used to it by now. As we both sank to below the water, a glint caught my eye. He had my wands! Finally, I snatched them up and swam to the safety of another cavern.
 
The two remaining were no longer surprised. I saw the fear, anger, and desperation that, just momentarily, shadowed their normal features. Vengeance waits for no man. I opened up with my wands, using the cavern for cover. Several shots hit their mark and the girl fell limp in the water.
 
The man, on the other hand (or rather on the other HANDS). Turned to be less than "normal". Carrying each companion in two hands - yeah, you counted right, that is four - another two hands continued swimming. Now, momma always told me not to mess with anyone with multiple appendages - advice I tend to hold near to me.
 
Finally, my traveling companions joined the brawl. Serros (at least I prayed that it was Serros) crawled across the ceiling as a gigantic spider - carrying a rope that allowed Lucious to plummet into the cold waters to continue the fight.