Riley's POV

Riley stood frozen at the spot as the leopard dashed towards them. Not just any leopard but Uraza the leopard, Abeke's Spirit Animal who was taken away because of Zerif, because of the Wyrm. The leopard snarled, running right towards her, her eyes were blank and the twisting spiral moved into different versions of spirals. Riley couldn't move or think clearly as she stared at the leopard and the black twisting spiral in horror.

Just when the leopard was about to launch herself on her, someone had pushed her away from the side just in time. Riley fell to the side and quickly look up with a gasp. Ivan was on the ground, crying in pain as Uraza bit his arm. Then Navi quickly knocked into Uraza and the two leopards wrestled on the ground. Cabaro the lion quickly joined in as they alternated strikes and blows on Uraza who snarled and kept on attacking viciously.

Riley quickly rushed to Ivan's side who was clutching his arm tightly. Then Uraza disappeared and walking towards them was Zerif. His eyes had a wild light, his grin more wider, and the black spiral was on his forehead, twisting and turning.

"Looks like the Keepers decided to join us. More like half of the Keepers," Zerif spoke, "Well, you couldn't exactly call it a half since one of the Keepers died."

Riley and Ivan exchanged a look. They knew that Eilene was still alive.

"And looks like only two of the Heroes of Erdas are here," Zerif added.

"You won't get away with this Zerif," Abeke hissed with so much anger, "Once we defeat the Wyrm, we will stop you."

Zerif chuckled, "Stop me? It has only begun."

Just then, the Redcloaks had finally reached the shore and had surrounded us protectively. Shane and another Redcloak rushed towards Ivan and helped him up.

"Quick, get to the ship," Shane ordered.

They started moving towards the rowboat while Zerif just looked at them with a weird smile. Just as they stepped inside the rowboat, Riley felt it. The pain went through her, crushing her spine over and over again. She could hear the others crying in pain as well. It finally stopped and she looked around, her vision clearing. Abeke was looking at them in horror. She didn't look affected and that was because she didn't have a bond with Uraza anymore.

The Redcloaks kept on rowing the boat and they finally reached the ship. Riley helped Ivan unto the ship. When she looked at him, his eyes were wide with fear. He took a deep breath and slowly raised his sleeve where Uraza bit him. Right there was a black parasite, slowly making its way up.

John's POV

John's eyes were fixed on the huge spider that was running right towards them. He didn't know what to do. If he tried to run, the spider will surely get him and if he stayed, he'll die either way. Just when the spider was a couple of meters away, Eilene quickly placed herself in between him and the spider, her staff raised. John's eyes widened, she was going to get herself hurt. He tried to stand beside her but then, it began to shake. John looked up and saw roots starting to move

Then he felt the pain shot through him. He fell down, hunched up in pain. The others were screaming in pain as well. The pain finally stopped but it took a while until John's vision cleared. He's vision was still blurred but he managed to see Eilene shakily standing up to face the spider who had stopped to look up at the roots. The words were blurred to him but she was shouting something at Hope and Zoron. Zoron quickly rushed towards their side while Hope went to help George and Haley.

Then what Eilene did next made John's heart beat louder. Eilene rushed towards the spider, hitting it with the staff in the process. The spider's gaze snapped back towards her and it started chasing her as she ran further through the web. Zoron was at John's side, helping him stand up and walked towards the others.

"Wait...Eilene," John rasped weakly.

"You know her, she always makes it out alive. She'll be okay," Zoron reassured him but his voice was tight with fear and worry.

John took a shaky breath and collected the last of his energy. Then they followed Haley as they ran across the huge web towards the other side. They were about to reach an opening when John stopped. George noticed and looked at him questioningly. John gave him an apologetic glance before quickly grabbing Zoron's torch and running back to where Eilene was.

"John, get back here," George yelled but he ignored him.

John spotted the spider quickly gaining on Eilene who's barely managing to dodge the huge legs. His senses sharpened and he ran with a burst of speed. Eilene had tripped and was about to get stepped on the spider when John threw the torch right at the spider, praying that it would hit it. The torch hit the spider and had immediately caught fire. The spider tried to shake the fire off which was quickly spreading, lighting the strings. John quickly pulled Eilene up who was watching the spider in horror.

"Eilene, look at me," John yelled, shaking her to get her attention, "We need to get out of here."

Eilene's eyes refocused and she nodded shakily. John took her hand and together, they ran to where the others were. All around them, the fire was spreading and the strings were breaking. The others were waiting for them in the opening, shouting for them to hurry up. Just when the string was about to break, John and Eilene knocked into the others, panting hard. They watched in silence as the web slowly broke, the fire spreading quickly. John couldn't believe they had just survived that one.

John laid back down, "I thought we were going to die!"

"We thought you were going to die as well," Zoron nodded.

"This is the last time i'm ever going down here," Eilene panted.

"Well, we past that one," Haley said, "Now for the next."

John turned to where she was looking at. Right in front of them was darkness.

Oh no! Now Ivan is infected as well! And they barely survived at all! Please vote and leave a comment on what you guys think. Stay tuned for the next chapter!