It's getting faster! s.h.i.+t... I can't outrun it this time!! It opens its large mouth and lunges forward, snapping at me in an attempt to eat me! When it opens its mouth the second time, I see liquid fire building in the back of its throat.

Time seems to slow as I dig my front claws into the ground and spin around. As soon as I'm facing the large dragon and his open mouth, I dig my back claws into the ground and take off! Time really does seem like its slowed down as I charge straight at the large Dragon.

It sees me charging and opens its mouth even wider, preparing to eat me whole. Maybe this is what it's like for anyone who faces death... Right before something bad happens or right before you hit the ground, time always seems to slow down and I have no idea why...

If I die... I choose to die fighting. As I run straight for the Dragon's mouth, I turn at the last second and jump. I push off the wall and twist my body around so that I land on the side of the Dragon's face!

As soon as I hit, I dig all four claws in and start climbing up the side of its face. It roars so loudly, I feel my very soul shake! It whips its head back and forth before slamming its face against the wall, trying to crush me!

It's so large, every time it jerks and flails, it hits the tunnel walls causing more dirt and stones to fall but I hold on. When it jerks back, I almost lose my grip! I lean forward and bare my teeth before sinking them deep into the side of the Dragon's leathery face.

I unhook my front claws and begin climbing up the las.h.i.+ng beast. I hold on tight and mentally tell myself that it's just like a rodeo... a rodeo with a Dragon... instead of a bull. It's practically the same thing!

Suddenly, it raises its large head and roars!! I hold on for dear life but when I feel its head heating up, fear and horror wash over me. It's going to blast this entire tunnel with his flames... I'll never be able to run away in time... I'll be cooked alive!

I feel the fire building in the back of its throat before bright flames begin erupting out of the Dragon!! I retract my claws and fall to the ground. When I land on all fours, I only have a few seconds to think of what to do!

I grit my teeth and quickly roll under the Dragon as the fire begins engulfing everything in the tunnel. When I come to a stop under the Dragon, I grit my teeth and lay my head back on the ground. Is this really how I'm gonna die!?

When something s.h.i.+ny catches my eyes, I squint and look closer. There! The Dragon's heart... in my mother's book... it said the softest spot on a dragon was the dragon's heart... The oxygen in the air is quickly being depleted by the raging fire so I gasp in as much of the hot air as I can before digging my claws into the underside of the Dragon.

Its scales are thick and tough, I doubt it'll even feel me doing this... I quickly pull myself over to the golden scale before pulling my teeth back and biting into it. Enzo said the beast would devour me... well now I'm going to devour it! Eat, or be eaten!

My s.h.i.+fter side roars in delight and lends me all her strength to bite into the soft, golden scale and pull out its heart. The Dragon roars in pain, momentarily giving me relief from the burning flames. I'm pretty sure I'm smoking...

I dig into the Dragon's heart and when I feel the thing beating, I tear it out! I chop on it over and over, eyes blazing with determination as the Dragon tries to crush me. I ignore the burning hot blood rolling down my throat as I devour the heart.

The Dragon roars once more before falling down completely. I struggle to wiggle out from under it in time but I still get caught. I fight with everything in me to crawl out from under the huge Dragon and when I finally make it out, I stand on shaky legs.

This time I roar as I feel the rush of the kill and the rush of victory! I slowly turn to look at the Dragon and find myself surprised when the Dragon stares at me with open eyes. After a few seconds, I s.h.i.+ft back into my human form and say "I never wanted to fight you... I really didn't want to kill you. I'm sorry it came to this..."

Golden blood covers me from head to toe... the Dragon's blood. It struggles to breathe before locking eyes with me. Suddenly, I feel like I'm being sucked in!

When I land, I find myself in complete darkness. What the h.e.l.l is it now? I slowly stand and try to see but nothing works. Not even my demon vision... Suddenly, a deep voice says "You are a worthy warrior, young one. What is your name?"

I turn around to look but everything is still pitch black. I hesitate for a moment before saying "Eris..." The Dragon says "Hmmm. Young Eris, what is it you seek from me?" Confused, I continue to look around before saying "I don't want anything... I didn't even want to kill you! I only had to because you were trying to kill me..."

Silence is all I get for several seconds before he says "You speak the truth... I only killed you because that was my purpose. I was bound to my master and I was to do his bidding. Now you are my master. What is it you want halfbreed?"

Waaaait a minute... did I somehow flip this whole situation and now the Dragon belongs to me!? My mind races with endless possibilities before I say "Honestly... if you lend me the power to return home... I will set you free."

Again, silence is all I get for several minutes before I hear "It will be done." Pain, unlike anything I've ever felt tears at my soul, and right before everything changes, the Dragon says "You must share your soul with me in order for us to leave." I grit my teeth in pain and allow him to enter.