There wasn't a possibility that Hope had awoken, trapped, where the stench of rot and coagulated blood churned her stomach. A worm had certainly not been fed to her eye by a grotesque face of squirming tentacles. She didn't feel the worm now, writhing in her head.
No.
It wasn't real — it couldn't be real.
Hope placed her hand flat against the smoothed surface of the pod. Its thick and translucent appearance was similar to glass but reinforced by something stronger. Seemingly impenetrable. Her body was nestled comfortably; she didn't seem harmed in any other way, only the headache after the horrific procedure she'd undergone.
Was it too much to hope it had been some lucid nightmare or some terrible prank gone too far?
Slamming her palm against the pane that separated her from the horrors beyond, but if she didn't get out now…it was sure to become her coffin. Hope reeled back as much as she could; she struck the surface. Again, and again. With each pound of her fist, the more she sweated, and the more panicked she became.
Breathing fast, Hope shut her eyes and squeezed them tight as she pressed her forehead against the surface. She didn't know what might await her, but she couldn't let this be the end.
Did she still have her magic?
Opening her eyes, Hope looked up and down, observing the ellipsoid container. There had to be a way. Something to loosen the integrity of this thing. She placed her hand against the pane again and desperately prayed for this to work, that she wasn't magic-less in an unknown place.
It was then that, from the corner of her eye, she saw it. A control panel. Surely it had something to do with the pod she was in, and if not, then where was the harm? Unless, of course, in its destruction, she was caught in its throes.
Oh, well. Beggars can't be choosers.
Pivoting in the direction of the panel, Hope lifted her hand, concentrating her magic as the incantation left her parched lips.
"Fiate fulguris."
A strike of lightning crashed down on the panel, and in the same instant, it sizzled. The pod opened and stumbled out. She grunted as her knees slammed the ground, but there wasn't time to pay attention to the throb that radiated up her legs.
Hope stood slowly, taking in the room of webbed matter she couldn't put a name to. She wasn't so sure she wanted to know. What was this, a sector from War of the Worlds? She supposed they used tentacles to do their bidding as well, though arguably more technical than organic.
Focus Hope. Find a way out.
Ghosting through the shadows, past the other pods (all empty), she slipped through the veil of maroon. It felt as though she were inside of a stomach — some living, breathing thing that was ready to digest her. The biggest question remained: Where were the said beast's teeth? Surely there was some exit; whatever brought her here would have had to come in some way.
It was then that the circle seemingly embedded in the wall opened. There, beyond the threshold, a tentacled brain squiggled past. Hope jumped back, eyes wide as she narrowly avoided its scurries to get past. She didn't even see the armor-clad warrior before the sword was already drawn and pressed against her throat.
Her breath stilled, eyes wide, staring. With yellowed skin and dark markings, she was unlike anyone she'd ever met.
Hope held her hands up, her fingers tingling with magic she didn't dare use yet.
"You," came a hissing voice, "an abomination — you will meet your end by my hand!"
Honestly, she'd been called worse, but who was she to make such an assumption? Suddenly, an all-consuming vision washed over her. Dragons and swords on a bloody battlefield, but more importantly, a flash of her own face. Worn and a bit gray. She pressed her hand to her forehead, the surge bringing without a squirming wiggle, reminding her that she did, in fact, have a worm in her brain.
Lowering the sword, her eyes widened, blinking in surprise as she said, "You are not…" She trailed off, shaking her head as she lowered her sword and relaxed it by her side. "We need to get to the helm so that we might escape this ship. If only to cleanse ourselves."
Hope's brows raised, "To do what now?"
"Have you forgotten yourself?!" She hissed through clenched teeth, eyes sharp. "The parasites that rage through our bodies now will no doubt twist us, body and mind. Turning us into Mind Flayers in a matter of days."
"You mean…" Hope started, swallowing dryly. "We're going to turn into the things that put those things in us?"
"Not if my people can cleanse us. We must go now. The imps are blocking the path. Once we pass them, we'll be able to take the helm."
There wasn't a moment to gather herself. Not even as her mind spun, numbly following…she stared at her back as she took the first few steps.
"Who are you?"
"Your only chance for survival." She tossed over her shoulder and continued forward.
A distant cry for help called out, and Hope spun. "Someone else is stuck."
"It doesn't matter," she said curtly, "we need to move. We don't have time for stragglers."
Oh, shit. What if it's Chloe?
Despite the warning, Hope took off in the direction of the voice. She didn't dare yell out as she cautiously, but swiftly, entered each room. With her new alien comrade on her tail, uttering curses as she followed.
Hope ground to a stop, each area seemingly identical, as she watched a woman who was not Chloe bang against the inside of an unopened pod.
"Get me out of here!" She cried out as Hope jogged toward her. It might not have been Chloe, but there was a panel next to the pod similar to the one that had housed her only minutes earlier.
"Give me a second," Hope called back to her as she quickly moved to the panel. It was well within her nature not to showcase the cards in her deck, and it was a habit she kept now as she asked, "Can I borrow your sword?"
"No." Came the dry reply.
Hope rolled her eyes, "Fine."
It took but a moment to find a decent enough short sword that she, holding in a firm grasp, approached the panel with intent. Hope brought it down overhead. Once, twice… the third time, it shattered the panel and released its victim.
Gasping deeply, the petite figure stood to her feet and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you…"
"No time for pleasantries."
The woman just released sneered and, not taking her eyes off her, said, "You certainly keep interesting company."
Hope glanced between them and pursed her lips. "I take it you know each other?"
"Not directly," she continued, "nor do I wish to."
She turned her attention to Hope as the other curled her lip in distaste, "I'm Shadowheart, but let's not dally on small talk. We need to find a way off this ship."
Nodding, Hope said, "We plan to take the helm. There's just one more thing I need to do. I was with someone when we were taken. I can't leave here without her."
"You will not decide my fate," the other hissed. "We've stalled for enough time, and I will not entertain anymore. We leave now."
"I am not just leaving her to die," Hope snapped back, gritting her teeth as she quickly scanned the pods around the room. None of which held Chloe. "I'll only be a moment. Find the helm, and I'll meet you there."
"We will find the helm," she glared through ochre eyes. "We will not wait for you."
Licking her lips, Hope sighed and nodded. "I have to try at least; I'm the reason she's here in the first place."
With another steely gaze, she turned on her heel and left them. For a moment, Hope thought Shadowheart might stay to help her look, but with a final glance of hesitation, she followed her through the door.
Be quick.
As fast as she could manage, she bolted through the ship. Avoiding crawling brains and pools of blood as she went. She ignored anyone who wasn't obviously Chloe; most were incoherent anyway. Then, when her heart was in her throat from panic that she might not find her at all, she heard her call out, "Hope!"
Turning in the direction of the sound, Hope grinned with relief and dashed toward her. Her blonde hair was stained in blood, and she had nothing more than a few superficial wounds on her cheek and shoulder. Aside from the likelihood she too had a parasite in her brain, she looked relatively unscathed.
Chloe grinned, hands against the inside of the pod as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You're here," she shuddered, "I thought I was going to die."
Smiling, Hope shook her head, "I'll get you out, don't worry. I've found two others: They're going to the helm now to take over the ship. We can get the hell out of here."
"Where is here exactly?"
Hope frowned, "I honestly don't know, but we have to hurry."
She looked around in search of a panel she could destroy, but she froze when she saw it. Blackened, it was bunt to a crisp…already destroyed. Furrowing her brow, she drew closer and tightened her grip on the sword. Crashing down with it, it crumbled with one strike, yet…the pod did not open.
Glancing up at Chloe, who watched with parted lips, timidly asked, "What's wrong?"
Hope swallowed, "Killing the panel is supposed to open it."
"But it didn't open."
"I know." Hope snipped and rubbed the back of her neck. So much time had already passed; surely the others had found the helm by now. Looking up at Chloe and her frightened eyes, she swallowed a wad of disgust and said, "Put your hands over your face."
Chloe did as she was instructed, and Hope slammed the hilt of her sword against the pod. She slashed at it with the blade…smashed her fist against it with all the force she had. Again and again, but to no avail. Whatever material it was made of, she wasn't strong enough.
Breathless, Hope looked up at Chloe, whose face was now uncovered as she stared down at her.
"Use your magic."
"If I try, it could kill you inside."
"I would rather that than to be left here alone!" Chloe cried out. "Please! Please don't leave me alone. Please!!"
"Okay, okay…" Hope swallowed and placed her hand against the pod. "I'll try, but if this doesn't work."
"It will!" Chloe nodded, sniveling expectantly as she pulled her hands back to her chest so as not to touch where the magic would spread.
Hope closed her eyes, but the moment she tried to concentrate her flow of magic, she was slammed with another vision. A ship of tentacles, the Nautiloid, she came to realize.
It was going to fall.
"You're not trying hard enough!" Chloe shouted as Hope pulled her hand back from the pod.
Blinking, Hope shook her head, the twisted terror of her face etched into her memory as she softly said, "I can't…I have to go."
"You can't leave me here!" Chloe screamed, smacking her hands against the pod repeatedly
"I'm sorry…" Hope whispered, took another step, and then another, before turning and jogging back through the door she'd come through.
"DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T LEAVE ME! HOPE! HOPE!"
Tears rolled down Hope's flushed face as she dashed through, leaving behind Chloe's desperate sobs.
Hope was sure she'd reached the entrance to the helm when the ship lurched beneath her feet. Eyes wide, she dived through the door, only to find a vicious, sucking wind grab her up with no effort and sling her out like a ripping whirlpool.
Falling.
She was falling into open air, plummeting down, down, down.
The last thing she remembered was the heat of the flames from the explosion.