Victor walked into the foggy room. His head swiveled as he tried to take in the space. As he looked up, he was greeted with a large green canopy of vines that almost seemed to move towards him. Even with no breeze, the vines swayed. Victor’s nose soaked in the thick sweet smell of something. Something utterly delicious. Victor felt something off, but couldn’t, or wouldn’t say anything or alert his party members. 

Auryn’s long strides seemed to guide her to the center of the room. Or what she hoped was the center. Her tongue licked the sweet air, taking it in. She sighed with relief and content. “It’s wonderful isn’t it Calista?” Auryn asked, gesturing to her younger sister. 

Calista nodded, drinking in the air. “Yes.” Calista nodded. It was almost like letting the room eat her alive, as if the room itself was alive.

Lucky trotted through the room, his head held high, high enough to brush the lowest vines. He sucked in the sweet, thick air. With a sigh, he grabbed a vine with his teeth, and started snacking on it. His lips smacked as he ruthlessly and mannerlessly ate the vine. The vine, like the air, was also sweet. It filled him with this odd warm feeling, that he had to admit was weird, but comforting.

Everyone seemed obsessed with the air. Which was odd on so many counts. For one, the air in the dungeon almost always smelled like shit, death, or fire. Secondly, the air was much thicker than normal air, even in the deepest parts of the dungeon. Lastly, it was just odd. 

Victor’s eyes caught a glimpse of something. Something shiny? No, it was glowing. Victor worked his way through the foliage, glancing back at his party members. Maybe he could steal whatever this treasure was and run. With no one looking at him, he quickly reached for the glowing item. It was a box, and felt hard and heavy in his teeth. Before he could move, the vines around him snapped to life. 

Vines encased his legs and neck, prohibiting movement. His party member’s heads snapped around. Looking at Victor in horror, then to the box on the ground.

“You were going to steal us?” Lucky snapped, marching over. 

Victor didn’t feel the kind of shame he normally would. “Hell yeah!” Victor snapped back. 

“What happened to the deal?” Auryn’s voice boomed. Victor rolled his eyes. Auryn pounced. 

The vines tightened around him as Auryn bit, kicked, and shoved him. He couldn’t find it in himself to cry out in pain though. He took it, not feeling an ounce of fear. 

Calista joined in on the cruel beating. She dug her teeth into Victor’s flank. She felt her rage reach an alltime high. An almost deadly high.

Eventually the vines pulled Victor to safety, far from the reach of his party members. He was bloodied and bruised, but had never felt better a day in his life. He smiled and laughed as he watched Coursers, he’d called his friends just hours ago, do everything in their power to reach him. Alas, the vines, for some odd reason, kept him safe, shielding Victor from any attacks, and forcing his party members to the floor when they found a way up.

Eventually, after a very long time, his party members decided to leave him to die in the vines. 

Lucky’s eyes blazed with an indescribable amount of hate.

Victor eventually got down from the vines, and with the box in hand, left the room. He heard growling, and what sounded like fighting from behind him, but decided it was none of his business. 

Eventually Victor found his party mates. They were all bloodied and bruised, as if they’d also gotten into a fight. Victor, Auryn, Calista, and Lucky were all severely dazed. Victor couldn’t help but wonder if the air in the room revealed everyone’s true heart, or if it was just laced with something to make them violent. But even so, he hadn’t been violent, he’d been the quite opposite. So what was the truth?

Victor thought back to his past. He shook his head, refusing to think of such awful memories. But, if he doesn’t know his history and study it, isn’t he doomed to repeat it? He remembered the box tucked deep inside his pack. “Best to share it.” He whispered to himself, pulling it out.

“This is for us to split.” he announced, holding the box. Everyone seemed happy, excited even…