A Series of Fortunate Events (G)
Characters – Eric
Prompt – Deathfic #30 Goodbye
Word Count – 1506
Warning – Character Death!!
Summary – One of these days, his luck was going to run out.
A/N – It’s really, really cruel of me, I know.
= = =
A Series of Fortunate Events.
The massive five-headed Dragon charged towards them, and Eric bolted to the left as the river of fire blasted past. The heat died away, and Eric let a tiny smile cross his face.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out.
= = =
There was a rumble like thunder and the top of the mountain began to move of its own accord. Instinctively, Eric ducked under his Shield, raising it high and hoping that it would be enough to protect him; and the others as well.
Each thud of rock made his arm ache even more, until finally it stopped.
He realised he had his eyes closed.
And he realised he was still alive.
He wasn’t dead!
He hadn’t been crushed! The Shield had saved him!
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out.
= = =
On his own again! Running for his life, again!
He didn’t even see the crack until he was falling.
But inside of sudden pain and cold stone, he hit something else. Or rather someone else, a strange man with a weird helmet and a nasty-looking sword.
Close by he saw Venger, which was bad, but skulking behind a big white stone was Presto!
Without stopping to think, Eric was up off the floor and ran straight to beside his friend.
As the Magician spoke, Eric had a chance to breath a sigh of relief.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out.
= = =
The earth beneath his feet started to move, and Eric did the only thing he could; he leaped towards the crumbling rock, scrabbling for a handhold.
His fingers touched a branch or a root, and he grabbed it with all his strength while the ground fell away beneath him.
From above, he heard someone speak.
‘It’s ok, he’s ok.’
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out.
= = =
The lightning struck with a vicious crack and the next moment he was tumbling through the air, arms flailing.
His mouth was open in a silent scream. He was falling with no way to stop himself.
Suddenly, with a whump he hit the wall of the valley, knocking what breath was in him out with an oof.
But he didn’t slid or slip.
His foot had caught on one of the broken pieces of wood. He was dangling over a two hundred foot drop, but he was caught fast.
Eric smiled.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
The phone box collapsed around him and he turned to face his worst nightmare: His literal Nightmare as the horse itself is standing there, watching him.
Venger was watching him too.
The decision was made in less time that he believed possible, and he ran back to the ride and the others. The car was moving and he had to leap from stone to stone, hoping he can keep up. He was running out of time, he didn’t have any choice. He had to jump. He had to…
He jumped.
He landed in the car, without even getting a scratch!
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
The Maze was very quiet, except for them. Eric’s tired, hungry, and miserable as well. They had been there for days already, and this place seemed never-ending.
Then he takes his eye off the path for just a moment and the ground gives way beneath him. He wavers, but Bobby pushed him back with the Club.
But for a fraction of a second he was falling, falling forward…
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
The tentacles wrapped around him tightly. There was no way of escape, he could barely even breath. He was going to get eaten by Demodragon.
It surprised him that he wasn’t more frightened.
‘At least I hope we give him stomach ache!’ he said aloud.
That surprised him as well, that he could quip in the face of death.
And then…
And then nothing!
The next thing he knew the pressure of the tentacle was gone and he was on the ground, with Diana pulling him back.
Demodragon was gone.
Eric glanced at Uni, putting two and two together a few moments behind everyone else.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
Even being Dungeonmaster didn’t help! He was hurtling towards the ground at a phenomenal speed.
But this was it!
This had to be it!
There was no way he was going to get himself out of this one!
Eric barely even registered the whoosh of the arrows as they whistled past. He certainly didn’t see them hit the ground and bend over to form a platform.
It came as a great surprise that he bounced. It took him a few moments to realise he was safe.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
It was going to be a terrible day. He could tell already!
As if the sight of a way home going up in smoke wasn’t enough, the huge glaciers closing around him made him almost freeze with fear. He only had a few seconds before he (and everyone else) was squashed as flat as a pancake.
He didn’t think, he just reacted, raising his Shield just in time.
The glacier shut around them with a sickening crunch, but they were safe, inside the protective zone of his Shield. They were safe! Once again!
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
There was no chance of escape. Not this time. Not after what he’d done. He’d opened the Box of Balefire. He had to face the consequences.
The giant worm reared up to strike one last time. Eric looked left and right, there was nowhere left for him to jump. He had nowhere to go. And his Shield was useless.
This was it.
Even as the worm moved, he felt the tingle of magic.
A moment later he was in the grotto, looking around in surprise.
No worm!
No worm anywhere to be seen! He was safe!
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
Hank’s words haunted him. He’s a prisoner here too!
What if Hank was right? What if this was the only way home?
The decision, like so many others was made in a split second, and it could have gone either way.
He darted forward, somehow managing to avoid all the fire and magic from Venger.
He just ran, barely even seeing the Cenotaph ahead of him, his whole mind focused no just keeping moving and keeping away from Venger.
Suddenly, the light and the heat stopped.
He was there, at the doorway, with the key in his hand and the fate of the Realm hang in the balance.
But Eric gave a tiny smile.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
= = =
Today was a good day.
Eric shut the door with a click and started the short walk to college, unable to take the grin off his face.
He was home, back in sunny CA, and every day he was grateful for getting here.
Even more than that, she’d said “yes” to the idea of a date, and he’d been trying for months to pluck up the courage. They were going to see a film tomorrow, and have some pizza, maybe not the most earth-shattering of ideas, but they had saved the Realm together and after that they could both do with some normality.
Eric grinned more widely.
He even had something to look forward to tonight, as Presto was coming over later, for the first time since he’d left home. He was looking forward to showing off his new place, rented with his own money; with his own earnings! That was what made the difference! The word earnings had a funny sound to it, and it was a sound that he never thought he’d like.
Yes, today was going to be a good day.
Then there was the screech of rubber on tarmac.
And the little voice in the back of his mind said: one of these days your luck’s going to run out!
He turned just in time to see the car try to swerve.