When I awoke, I felt that I was far sicker than before.
I felt miserable as the agony set in.

I croaked a cry of pain before getting myself up.
It was dark, wet and cold in this place as I struggled to stand once again.

I recognized where I was as a cave even in my lucid state where th e walls and floors began to seperate and merge in a swaying motion.

I leaned against the wall for support, dragging my feet as I wandered aimlessly.

Eventually I found a small body of water in the cave, illuminated by something I could not determine.

I walked to the water's edge, kneeling down and scooping up some water.
I was dehydrated and not a single thought passed through my head other than the fact that I needed hydration.

I greedily sucked in the horrible water from the cave, aware it woule likely make me sicker but in the moment I desperately hoped it would sate the ache in my stomach and throat.

I began coughing uncontrollably as I shakily stood back up and made my way down the cavern. I knew I had been foolish when I threw up bioluminescent sludge into my hand and onto the floor.

I got a good look at my frail hands in that moment, feeling my chest... the porcelain was nearly finished covering what little flesh I had left at this point.

I was in such a state of agony and misery that I could no longer find the strength to continue so I ended up leaving a trail of blue glow as my gooey fingers slid along the cave wall during my trudge.

My legs eventually gave in and I was left laying on the floor, barely conscious.
It was what felt like forever before I felt cold claw-like appendages lift me from the ground and press me to an uncomfortable cage of sorts.

I didn't put in too much thought, I knew who it was but my mind questioned if this was possibly the end for me.
I welcomed it, too exhausted to fight and too pained to care.

I heard his quiet murmurs to himself though understood none of them, he carried me to a place in the cave that resembled a room but it was made of human skin.
Everything was made of the stuff and nothing made me feel sicker.
I felt myself getting ready to vomit again but he stopped it by forcing my eyelids close with his hand.

I would have protested under regular circumstances but admittedly I genuinely had no fight left to give.
I allowed it, soon being set down on something furry and musky.
I peeked open my eyes to see I was lain down on an animal fur, my lucid state was getting far worse.

I loopily watched the skeleton search his room for something I was unsure of.
I was fading in and out of consciousness but soon he found whatever it was he needed.
I struggled to hear him or look directly at him as my vision and hearing deteriorated and that was when I felt a horrible pinch then soon relief.

My eyesight returned to a relatively normal state and my agony subsided. I breathed in a hefty helping of oxygen before shakily trying to get myself away from him and out of the room.

SkinTaker stood before me, his typically unreadable expression faced me and left me confused as he grabbed my face and inspected it with his bulging blue eyes.

I shuddered in his touch but he did not appear to do anything more.
Snapping his fingers next to my ear I flinched.

He nodded as though satisfied by the results, releasing me and staring me down. "We tend to meet under the most peculiar of circumstances, now don't we Pearl?"

I slowly blinked, trying to filter out what I had heard.
"...I..." I began then had to think back.
"I guess. Are you going to kill me?"

SkinTaker muttered something I couldn't catch and shook his head then said. "Not this time. Another time perhaps, but not today. I have reason to keep ye alive for now." He then went to his desk made of human remains.
Seating himself on a chair made of skin.

"What do you mean? Isn't it like your lifelong thing to end my life now that I'm in Percy's place? What's holding you back?" I challenge with my aching throat.

SkinTaker writes with a quill made of what looked to be a finger and does not look away from it.
He remains silent as he faces away from me.

"And why did you take me? Why did you help me with my sickness?"
Still no answer as the scribbling continued.

I then pondered and asked gently.
"Why were you stroking my hair before you took me away?"

He stopped dead in his tracks. He still did not face me, the room was quiet.
He took a moment then sighed before continuing his writing.
"It is none of yer concern why I make the decisions I make nor why I do what I please. Ye should be more concerned with ye life."

It took me a moment to take in that answer, that annoyed the hell out of me.
What did he mean by that? "So you ARE going to kill me, huh?" I challenged as he wrote without glancing at me.

I forced myself to get up and get off the fur he set me in.
Trying to stand up from the floor I landed upon.
He growled a warning. "Ye play a Very dangerous game with me woman.
Do not test my patience you will not be fond of the outcome."

I could not find the strength to get up from the floor so I dragged myself over to him with my hands.

"You don't scare me you skeletal bastard-" I croaked the reply.
He stopped writing and seemed to be listening.
"Ye should be... ye should be terrified.
Do I have to give ye a reason to fear me? Knock some godforsaken sense into yer skull?" He questioned as his head turned slightly.

I grabbed the bedpost and tried to steady myself as I forced myself to my feet.
"Bite me-" I hissed in response.

Never have I seen such a speed from anyone.
One second he was sat in his chair and the next I was staring into those horrible eyes of his with his talon-like hands gripping my wrists.

I couldn't find the words in my throat as he gritted through his jaws.
"I do not think ye quite understood me. I. Am. NOT. Merciful... and I certainly can find it in me to kill you as I can find it in me to SPARE ye... so take my advice...
Shut yer damn mouth and return to yer spot or I am going to have a lovely new handle to me sword.
Do I make meself CLEAR?"

I could only manage a nod as he lifted me up from under the arms and set me back on the fur he had lain out on his bed.

I asked no further questions until much later that night when he seemed to be busy with a map.
I could not help my self as the fear tugged my heart.
"...Is Milo okay?"

SkinTaker stopped, likely contemplating wether or not he should give me an answer or kill me for asking but I guess he was in a better mood as he continued his reading and stated.
"He be alive if that is what ye were wonderin. May not be in th best a shape but he lives.
I'd have killed him but I supposed you'd grown fond of th bastard as fond as he to ye."

He then remained silent, I was relieved. Milo was alive and I guess okay enough.
It was almost all I needed I opened my mouth to ask another question but SkinTaker pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"And before ye ask, he will not be killed.
Not yet at least, he has been spared another day despite him helpin ye when I had planned ta kill ye.

Now enough questions before you two become two of a kind an I beat ye to a bloody pulp."

I shut my mouth, after a few more hours I finally accepted my sleepy fate and allowed myself to be taken by dreams.