As I take a slow waking breath, I'm very careful not to move. The last few times I did so, they instantly rained down those accursed sleeping potions. Their trick of making me react to a cow's moo is so not gonna work anymore either, I prefer to stay awake. So I can actually think about what's happening and, hopefully, how to stop it.

I can fly, which I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around. Literal flying, or maybe it's actually hovering? I don't know, but I did it. I haven't been weightless like that since the Wither Storm, but this time I can actually control it.

Well the monster can, I definitely don't know a single thing about it. Although if I'm only ever going to be flying towards prey, and I barely feel any disgust at the thought of what I did, then it's not super helpful. But if I can fly and break these chains and punch the wall hard enough...

The monster crackles mischievously, both it and I have been getting along recently. I'm not sure how bad that is, but I don't really have a choice about it anymore. Part of me is still worried about doing something I'll regret... since I don't really want to eat anymore people... but I'll just come to that when it comes.

Besides, it's a huge advantage to be using the monster's strength instead of fighting against it. I won't exactly be stunned, totally vulnerable to anything, when that devil man tries to have the two of us fight each other. It's a surprise I can't wait for him to see.

Wicked, but energizing, vengefulness emits from the monster, as it fades away to do some work. I resist the urge to shift in anticipation, I have to remain completely still. Since these demons have been using the same potions on me over and over again every single time I wake up, I've built up quite a resistance. But not immunity.

The skin on my arms and wrists thicken, and now I have to resist the urge to smile. I only have shot though. If what that devil man said was true, then my friends might have already been punished for what I've done. And if they haven't, this will probably be crossing a line.

My heart beats stronger, making it hard to not pant obviously. Just deepen my breaths, I have to deepen my breaths and I'll get the oxygen I need without making it seen. Deep breaths, deep breaths.

But if I'm right about how strong I am against the potions, how quickly I'll break these chains, and how much time it'll take to break the walls, what then? How do I find my friends and how do I get out?

The monster gives a light screech, voicing its dislike about all my human thinking. If I could, I'd roll my eyes at it. The goal here is to escape, and all the brawn in the world can't do anything if there's no brain behind in.

I feel my heartbeat become steady again, the skin on my arms relaxing a bit. A mixture of relief, pride, happiness flows through me at the thought the monster responded to me and my goals, not the other way around. Finally, finally I'm not at war with myself.

Still though, escape. Depending on how fast the potions are dispensed, which will probably be as fast as possible, I'll have a few minutes. If I manage to get out though, my strength will be zapped and waning.

Particularly if they've taken crazy countermeasures to keep me in here. They've already enchanted chains, maybe the obsidian bricks too? Have a thicker wall? I don't know, that's killing me, and I only have one chance to break what I have because they're going to make it stronger after my attempt.

If only I could have some sort of shield against the potions, like how I used the cow to block some of it off. If I could do that again, I could greatly increase the amount of time I have to get out of here.

A light bulb goes off in my head, and I immediately refrain from letting it show on my face. I don't need to have a shield at all if I just break the dispensers! That away I'll have all the time in the world! Plus, if they want to fix their machine, they'll have to open the door. And it's so nice of them to open a door of opportunity like that.

The monster wails in excitement, buzzing to get started on this plan. With a streak of hope and triumph running through me, I let it do its thing. Fighting to keep my grin down as I know soon my skin will be thickened tougher than armor and I will burst out of this cage. Those extra bites of cow I snuck in will be paying their price in full as I'll have to use everything I have.

Well, maybe not. Since these demons have shown it's much easier to put people asleep than fight them, perhaps I'll use their tricks against them. There's probably plenty of sleep potions in the dispensers, which can all be thrown right back at the demons. It's time I turn the tables on them.

My skin gets tough everywhere, especially around my wrists, but this is it. This is when I get out and stay out. This cage can't hold me. Isn't that funny though? The only reason I'm strong enough to break out of this cage is because of the same people who put me in it.

Gravity's hold on me lessens and lessens, almost to the point where it feels like I'm floating on the ground. Energy and excitement quiver through my muscles, ready to launch at rip these chains right out of the wall.

I'm off the ground now, only really a centimeter, but off. My heart pounding in a determined rhythm, my monster coiled up with so much strength begging to be released. Muscles tightening and the skin on my wrist somehow getting even thicker.

I release my monster, my eyes snapping wide open and a vicious wail cries from my throat. I float up, my legs swinging under me and pushing against the wall with all the strength they have. Every muscle in my body taunt with effort to break these accursed chains while adrenaline makes sure I can't feel any pain.

They creak loudly when the first wave of potions descend form the ceiling. The monster crackles in delight when it barely makes a dent in my state, my own smile springing on my face. The thickened skin gave me even more protection from these potions.

With a final creak, the chains snap. Without a moment to lose I shoot straight up to the ceiling. For one heart-stopping moment, the energy it takes to fly multiples. I shake it off and uppercut the dispenser above me, a crack forming in my impervious strength already.

The dispenser shatters apart, and I quickly catch the potion and hold it with my mouth. Before absolutely going berserk on the dispensers. Spinning wildly and punching every single one I can, even twisting to kick them.

It takes mere moments for me to smash all of them, and unfortunately, most of the bottles smashed against the ground. I immediately float down to the ground once I'm done, setting the three bottles I managed to save carefully on the ground. Apparently the higher I fly the more strength it uses. I guess Withers are more of a hoverer than a flyer.

With my warped animal-like feet, I grin like a manic as I walk up to the wall before me. I flex my talons before forming tight fists, careful not to cut myself, bringing my right one back to deliver a powerful blow on the obsidian.

Screeching in a determined frenzy, I punch the obsidian. And then again with my other hand, nailing into the wall with more fury and adrenaline pumping through my veins every moment. The broken chains rattling and shaking as I snap my arms forward and back again.

The first obsidian layer shatters, and I move onto the next block with even more strength. This time it takes mere moments for it to break under my strength. Wailing happily, I drive into the next layer. I can practically taste my freedom, and maybe a bit of the demons blood as well.

The next obsidian block cracks apart, and my inhuman laugh bursts out of me as I see there were only two layers to my cage. I quickly though snap back into the cage, as an arrow from the herd of demons out there flies right by me.

I keep shrieking with my laughter, the high pitched crackling not disturbing me at all as I pick up one of the potions. Giving it a kiss of good luck with my mouth full of razor sharp teeth before tossing it out there.

Only one second, I'm only one second behind it and slam my fist into the last obsidian block. My laugh fades as my energy pours into destroying this block, I only have a few moments before the ones that weren't hit react.

It shatters, but against the screech of my monster, I hop back into the cell. I'm already lucky I got enough time as it is, but I'm not wasting my chance at freedom because I was a bit too impatient.

I pick up one potion and delicately hold it in my mouth, for a fleeting moment wishing I had my armor with all of its pockets. The other potion I hold in my left hand, ready to throw but giving my right fist plenty of opportunities to either punch or claw if the potion's unnecessary.

My monster whines, my body shaking with need to go back out there and finish them. To kill all the demons and escape the hell they threw in me. I can just smell the fear radiating off of them like a beautiful odor, I need to hunt them. It doesn't matter if they're prepared for me because I'm so much stronger than they are.

Screeching a muffled battle cry, I burst out of the hole in the cage. An arrow bouncing right off of my though skin. I instantly pounce towards the closest demon there is, slicing at his neck before he has a chance to turn away.

His body doesn't even hit the ground before I leap at another one, more and more arrows just falling off my skin. Unable to penetrate my coarse black skin as my fist slams right into the forehead of one of the demons.

Like a sack of potatoes he falls, and an arrow tip gets about an centimeter into my skin before falling harmlessly to the ground. I whip around to the other demons, my shriek at them muffled due to the bottle.

"CODE RED! CODE RED! SUBJECT OUT OF CONTROL! LOCKDOWN AT ONCE! LOCK-"

Seething with rage and adrenaline, I chuck the sleeping potion in my left hand at them. It shatters, their moans filling the air before their bodies thud against the ground.

I snort as the echo of the weakling's shout soon is drowned out by blaring alarms. My ears quickly adapt and I spit out the bottle onto my hand, setting it down as I walk over to the unconscious bodies.

Picking one up effortlessly, my clawed fingers engrave themselves into his scalp before I yank my arm back violently. The head snapping off at the neck, and I raise it above my mouth to try and catch the blood pouring out.

When all of it flows back, I carelessly fling it behind me. I just needed a quick drink, I'm not hungry yet. I still have plenty of energy to use before I need to eat and I don't have the time to digest.

As quickly as possible, I silt the throats of all the demons. My raspy chuckles filling the air as I breathe in the thick glorious scent of blood. Alighting more energy and strength within me, more need to kill more demons.

I wail louder than the alarms before I put the potion back into my mouth, sprinting down the hallways. Not caring which way I go, as long as it's a step closer to my freedom. A map in my mind quickly forming so I may get out of here as efficiently as possible.

My feet, perfectly suited for fast long runs, sends me flying down these halls. The weaklings must have completely evacuated, there's nothing for me to hunt down these hallways. My claws are burning to slice through more tender and warm flesh.

But for a moment, a very brief moment, I slow down. Tilting my head at the whisper I barely picked up under the blasting alarms. Shaking it off as nothing important as I pick up my pace again, eager to get out.

Although, it goes off again, above me, an explosion? And it gives me the faint thought of something. But still, not important. Escape is my priority, and nothing can stop me now.

****

Did that get your heart racing? Did it totally flip upside down any predictions you had about what was going to happen? Are you cursing me for ending the chapter so soon?

These are legitimate questions, since through all the stress I just put you through, is personal growth for me.

But yeah, I am pretty terrible. I mean, another five days until you get to figure out what happens next. And since this is a pretty big and important scene, I can grantee you won't be happy with where I end that one too.

But hey, at least you know Jesse will probably be able to escape.

Well, I guess I'll see you again in another five days!