I can't kill that thing.

Aaron looked over the scorched and bloodied body of the all-too-vital mutated chimpanzee. A wheezing breath escaped the beast's mangled throat, full of fury and raw hate, and it pressed Aaron back.

"What?" he whispered. Stupid. He doesn't have functioning vocal cords.

The Magister wheezed and made a tactical hand sign. Danger. Retreat.

For a brief moment, Aaron looked at the blade that rested in a pool of blood a few steps into the room. The demonic eyes followed his gaze. Okay. Retreat sounds good. That thing ate like a dozen spells.

Aaron looked at the Magister. Then he glanced at the sealed gate—ominous, locked. Right. Too secure for help. Aaron used his good arm to wrap around the bloody throat of the Magister. It felt disgusting, like grabbing spaghetti bolognese.

He looked up. I walk back, keep staring it down, and try to use the cantrip if I need to stop him? Not great, but whatever. Quetzy, got any ideas?

'OneOrTwoUses. SpeedOfThought. ThenUnconscious.'

Aaron groaned—half from the effort of dragging the heavier-than-he-looked Frankenstein over the floor, half from exasperation. Won't help. Cognition's fast—body's not.

Step. Pull.

Step. Pull.

Step. Pull.

Aaron kept staring down the monster as he retreated. Then it bared its teeth. Nope. You don't.

Aaron closed his eyes for a heartbeat. Imagined the coin and flicked it while spitting toward King Kong. The ape froze mid-step. It looked around and used one scorched hand to actually scratch its head. That's right. You're dumb and don't know what's going on.

Then the chimp's gaze fell to a female writhing on the ground—the one Aaron had stabbed in the groin. The one who had protected the chief ape first. But the confusion didn't last. The beast's blood-red eyes locked onto her and he advanced to run his bloody finger across her fur. She curled up and whimpered at the touch.

Aaron managed to take nearly fifteen steps. A quick look back showed him he had thirty to go. Then his adversary chimed up and screamed his lungs out. The noise was loud enough to make Aaron's ears ring.

The chimp disappeared to the side, toward the broken cage. Aaron took a few quick steps as he heard wood splintering.

Then the chimp reappeared, holding a bamboo rod like a spear. Oh fuck.

The beast charged, an avalanche of fury, blood, and a too-pointed lance rushing toward Aaron.

His breath caught. I'm fucked. Unarmed against a spear.

His eyes darted around the narrow corridor and fell on the only other item. The Magister. You got yourself into this mess, buddy.

Aaron stopped, waiting for the charging ape.

Ten steps. Its feet fell like the hooves of the Pale Rider.

Five steps. It lowered the spear toward Aaron's gut, a manic grin decorating its demonic visage.

Two steps.

Aaron yanked up the magister's body with all the might his broken body could muster. The shoulder and back pulsed with terrible pain. Then he stepped back from the force of the impact.

The Magister's body crumpled around the spear.

The chimp met Aaron's eyes, looking dumbfounded. Suits you.

The Magister screamed and spat out blood.

"Sorry," murmured Aaron. Aaron's muscles twitched. Should I try to grapple? But then he saw the monstrously enhanced muscles. How about no?

The chimp let go of the spear and took a step forward. Malice glinted in its eyes. It bored its teeth. Then screamed in pain as the corridor filled with another bright flash.

It stumbled back, its left thigh looking like burnt steak. The delicious smell of fried meat filled the air. The chimp howled and ran.

Adrenaline still spiked, he shook the man, begging for more magic. "Again! Get his head!"

He was answered with a wheeze. A hand signal flashed. No. He didn't know the next one.

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A hollow hand—like a bowl. Rhea had shown him this one. Food? No. Supply.

He's out of mana?

Aaron resumed his staggered retreat, and the chimp dodged around the doorway's corner. Three steps passed. The door was getting close. The Magister began fumbling with a pouch in his robe.

Aaron barely noticed it in his peripheral vision—his eyes glued to the doorway the chimp hid behind. Its head shot into view and retreated around the corner. He's checking for incoming spells. How smart are those fuckers?

The Magister kept struggling as the chimp carefully inched around the doorway. He made frantic hand signs, accompanied by rapid wheezing.

The man kept pointing at the pouch. Mana potions?

Aaron dropped the man and tore into the bloodied bag, fingers slipping on soaked leather. The spear stood in his chest like a flagpole. Sorry again.

Aaron opened the bag and found rubbery injection sacks. A hose of the same rubbery material was attached to a nasty-looking needle. A clamp held the hose closed.

The chimp had lowered itself on all fours and was steadily advancing into the corridor, vigilant for any danger.

Aaron looked at the infusion bag. I guess it's a low-tech syringe?

He looked at the Magister. You put them into the muscle, right? Inside of the elbow. Or the ass, if I remember correctly. What can be so hard about giving someone an injection?

He clamped the needle like a dagger. Big as a matchstick. Not much time.

Without further hesitation, he jabbed the needle into the inside of the man's elbow at an angle and pressed the rubber ampule hard.

Magister Charos screamed like a dying horse. He yanked his arm back and took a swing at Aaron with the bloody hand that had kept his air supply going.

Aaron scrambled back. The chimp cocked its head, confusion flickering in its bloodshot eyes—a predator stalled by thought. Okay. So maybe there is a reason why medical personnel need training after all.

The Magister shuddered on the ground, but brought his finger back into his throat. He glared at Aaron, who shrugged apologetically.

The injured man angled his leg, pointed at another syringe and removed the tunic from his thigh. Aaron smiled sheepishly an nodded.

The chimp picked up speed as Aaron got the next ampule ready. He held the needle like a dagger, ready to stab the chimp. It's better than using my hands.

The Magister patted frantically on the ground as the ape began its charge. Then a blast of light tore through the corridor. The chimp stumbled back, screaming in rage.

Aaron clenched his teeth and scrambled next to the Magister again. Jammed the needle in and pressed once more, eliciting a shudder—and a slap.

"What is wrong with you?! You told me to inject you, asshole!" Aaron sneered.

The chimp ran his hands over his body, as if looking for something.

Then Aaron noticed the lava dripping off the ceiling a dozen steps behind the chimp. He glared at the Magister, preparing another injection and angling it like a dagger. "Try to hit it, maybe!?"

The man let out a shuddering wheeze of air, then raised a trembling hand toward the charging chimp.

Aaron was ready.

The flashes erupted in rapid succession this time, drawing pained yelps. As Aaron blinked the brightness out of his eyes, he saw only the backside of the ape darting back into cover. Yeah, scadaddle you fucker.

He put the pouch between his teeth and resumed dragging the invalid Magister toward the exit.

The monkey showed its head two more times, but the Magister sent it scuttling back with bursts of searing energy. Is this protomancy using packets of accelerated protons? Whatever.

Aaron sighed in relief as his back collided with the door.

"Okay, open the door," he instructed impatiently, then looked toward the handprint plate and the Magister.

The unconscious Magister.

The ape stuck its head around the corner. Oh fuck. Why doesn't this stop?

Aaron pulled up the man's hand and slapped it to the hand scanner. He felt several needles prick it. His eyes scanned over the unconscious body. Where the fuck is the token?!

His heart started beating faster as the chimp took two careful steps into the corridor. Aaron frantically searched the bloody robes. He ripped open half a dozen pouches. The chimp accelerated and reached the middle of the tunnel.

Then, Aaron found a purse with engraved gemstones. And the token.

He fumbled and nearly dropped it. Shitshitshit.

He leapt forward, grabbed the token, and slammed it into the slot. The chimp was twenty steps away and closing in.

Aaron yanked the Magister by the arms, pain exploding in his shoulders just one more time. He dragged the man through scattered gear and slammed his bloodied hand onto the locks plate. I could have left the bastard behind. But that isn't who I am. Not yet.

The chimple ran at full tilt. The door began to slide closed. Aaron was about to sigh in relive. Then it jumped. And said through the doorway.

Aaron saw the jaws flying toward his face, teeth bared. He froze. This is it. My first death. Then the gate bit down and the chimp was yanked back.

Aaron stared.

The gate had closed so far it couldn't bring its hips through. The chimp scrambled, caught, undulating like a stuck snake.

Aaron began laughing. "Take that, you fucker! Get crushed!"

With a depressed snarl, the chimp got its skull inside. But the stone slid closed on its arm.

Aaron wiped blood from his face and laughed—dry and sharp. "Whoo! I win again! Yes!" Then he sobbed, just once, like a hiccup he couldn't swallow.

The chimp's pitiful screams of agony stopped. Like a favorite song cut off all too soon. The door closed on a pile of blood and minced meat.

And a hand, lying in front of Aaron. Looks like I got a monkey paw out of this.

He leaned against the door, next to the unconscious and impaled Magister. I got out.

Aaron looked into the darkness. But not in. I'm lost in the catacombs. And all the Magister's supplies are inside.

Aaron closed his eyes and let the pain wash over him. Victory tastes like copper and rot.

And I've got nowhere to go.

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