Gilligan reluctantly pulled himself up through the opening in the ceiling. The trapdoor, once again, opened up into the familiar stone hut. Everything was exactly the same as it was before. Well, almost everything anyway. The light outside was shining at a different angle.

The breeze blew gently as Gilligan stood outside in order to take stock of things. The sun was quite a bit past half-way accross the sky. Gilligan surmised that it was sometime in the mid afternoon. The amount of time he spent down in the dark dungeon surprised him greatly. But in a place like that, it was easy to lose track of time. Besides the surprising time of day, everything else was exactly the same. The trees, the surrounding countryside, everything. As mundane and as pleasant as ever.

Gilligan issued a sigh of resignation. He wondered if he would ever conquer that dungeon.

He walked back inside the stone hut to consider his choices. What he discovered in there was more frustrating than shocking at this point. The trapdoor was gone. There was only stone floor where the trapdoor had been. Almost like it never existed.

Gilligan went down on all fours to try to find any sign of the trap door. Perhaps a secret latch or mechanism. He searched the whole floor, but came up with nothing.

"Of course." Gilligan said to himself.

He walked outside the stone hut once more. He then leant against the outside wall, to the right of the doorway. Gilligan resigned himself to his failure. That dungeon had gotten the best of him. He questioned whether he even had what it took to be a hero. Maybe he just plum didn't have what's it took. Pessimistic thoughts swirled around in his head like a sour whirlpool of self-pity.

Gilligan quickly realised that moping around wasn't going to help any. He had to make a choice. He considered his options once more.

There only seemed to be one obvious decision though. To go home. To call it a day. But obvious choices weren't always the right ones. Gilligan pondered a little more before making his decision.

Gilligan was in a sour mood on the walk home. What was worse was he didn't really know why. Gil was no stranger to failure, or quitting, he probably did both at least 12 times a day. And he never felt a thing afterwards, even when he let down Godwin. Yet this felt...different. Maybe because for once he failed in something he wantedto do.

He was half way home when he came across a flock of sheep, grazing peacefully in a glen. Seeing no way around them he strode through the heard and the afternoon glow. He listened to the gentle bleating and felt extremely drowsy.

"Well... there's no one waiting for me at home." he said unbuckling his gear and resting his head on a resting sheep. The critter let out a curious bleat, and Gil spoke softly, "No, no, don't get up. Were not going anywhere."

The creature lowered its head and Gilligan continued mumbling as he tried to drift off into an afternoon nap. "So... I don't suppose you know anything about magic doors?"

A scream was what Gilligan received in response to his innocent question. It was quite a blood curdling scream. One that shocked him to the core. Gilligan leapt to his feet in a single motion. His right hand instinctively went to grip the hilt of his sword, though it wasn't there. He dropped it on the ground with the rest of his stuff before.

He quickly found the source of the terrifying scream. It came from a goat that was standing nearby. Odd, Gilligan thought, he never noticed it there before. It was one of those stupid screaming goats. The grey, shaggy goat let out yet another scream.

Gilligan let out a burst of laughter. Those kind of goats always cracked him up as a kid. They still did. He wanted to raise a flock of them one day, if he ever got the money. He wouldn't be very popular with the neighbours though. Those things were always as noisy as heck.

Unfortunately, the sheep he was resting his head on wandered away. Gilligan once more considered his choices.

He could try to sleep here in this meadow for the night, though he did have to do something about that screaming goat. Shoo it away maybe? Perhaps slaughter it then boil it in a stew?

Besides, this was probably some farmers land. And those animals probably belonged to a farmer as well. Farmers wielded pitchforks, and they weren't afraid to use them against intruders and possible livestock rustlers. Though it should be noted that the glen wasn't fenced off from the road, so there's a good chance it wasn't private property.

Or maybe Gilligan could stop being so lazy and take his defeated butt home. The choice was his.

Gilligan starred at the goat for a few moments before getting up and telling the animal, "You ass. Can't even share a bit of grass?" looking at the critter with its long goat beard and wideset eyes. Frankly it reminded him of the tax collector, he also had a scraggly chin beard and seem determined to ruin Gil's life of ease. He took his leave of the herd and continued on his miserable walk home.



Gilligan stumbled home in the onset of dusk and was in a sour mood as he ate a cold dinner of the boiled eggs he brought with him to the dungeon. His mood lightened a little knowing he still had time, the tax collector didn't come for another 13 days. Still if it took him this long to get through the first room...

Gilligan did his best to put these thoughts out of his head as he sat in the villa garden watching the sun lower over the gentle hills. Once the sun had sunk under the horizon he returned to the house and upstairs to his bedroom. He noticed once again the closet and his father's sword sprawled across the ground.

"I should... Another time... Tomorrow for sure." he promised the empty room as he undressed and went to bed.

Gilligan tossed and turned in his sheets. He found it difficult to keep still for long. Truly, he was as comfortable as he could possibly be. But it wasn't physical discomfort that haunted Gilligan. Rather, it was that of the cerebral kind.

Something seriously bothered Gilligan, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. The darkness in his room seemed as thick and as oppressive as the darkness down in that dungeon. The rays of moonlight that shone through the window pierced the shadows it touched, though they did not alleviate the inky darkness of the shadows nearby. Gilligan never noticed how truly dark it got at night before. It made him feel uneasy. Like something wasn't right.

Perhaps, Gilligan thought to himself, his day in the dungeon got to him. It is said that long bouts of sensory deprivation have been known to have adverse effects on the human psyche.

Gilligan realised that sleep would forever elude him if he continued to persue it so. And so he picked himself up from his bed. He wished to leave his room. The darkness made it a slightly awkward proposition. Gilligan knew his room well enough to navigate it with his eyes closed though, so the inky blackness hindered him none.

Just outside his bedroom door, he left a torch burning in a wall sconce. Just in case he couldn't sleep at night. Gilligan picked it up with his left hand, then proceeded down the wooden stairs.

He entered his living room, his favourite room in the house. Whenever he couldn't sleep, but didn't feel like sleeping outside, he slept here. The bearskin rug in front of the fireplace was his favourite place in particular.

Gilligan knelt down, pushing his torch into the kindling of the fireplace. A roaring fire came to life in a matter of moments. The blaze overpowered the darkness, illuminating the entire room. Like a knight, dispersing the demons that threatened the good folk of the world. Nothing was better than a roaring fire in ones own personal fireplace.

He then placed the torch on a nearby wall sconce.

Gilligan flopped himself down onto the rug, with the grace of a sack of potatoes. Laying spread eagled. Feeling the fur on his skin.

He let out a satisfied sigh. Gilligans anxieties that the darkness awoken in him quickly dissipated. Perhaps, Gilligan thought, everything's gonna be alright.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

There was a knocking at the front door. Who could be visiting at this time of night, Gilligan wondered. Did he dare answer the door or did he meekly wished to ignore it. The choice was his.

Gilligan groaned on hearing the knock, knowing this was most likely an end to his night of rest. He ran upstairs and stumbled in the dark until he found his jacket and some pants. He almost left the room but as a product of his earlier paranoia, he picked out his sword he had taken out to the dungeon, this he grabbed and took downstairs with him.

Gil went to the front door and placed the sword on the side of the doorway, out of sight but not out of reach. He then opened the door, asking without noticing who it was, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Gilligans words faded as he beheld the wonder before him. There stood what could only be described as vision of elegant carnality. A woman draped in a tattered silk evening gown. A garment that was held together seemingly, by decency and modest alone. Though truly, the modesty itself was left wanting. The thin evening gown accentuated her feminine curves in a way that purposefully drew the eye. Her skin, pale as ivory, glowed in the moonlight. Her long blonde hair blew freely in the evening breeze. She held herself in a way that bespoke both vulnerability and confidence.

"Sorry to trouble you kind sir. My carriage was attacked by a pack of wolves in the middle of the night. I have but no other place to go. Would it trouble you so if I were to stay the night?" she asked.

She batted her eyes at Gilligan in a slow and suggestive manner. Her eyes, Gilligan noticed, were of a bright shade of jade. His heart began to beat rapidly.

Was Gilligan willing to extend his hospitality to this mysterious stranger?

"Ummm.. Uh uh..." Gilligan was completely flabbergasted. He had fully expected some drink from the village, begging for money he didn't have. Instead wash a young lady in need, who happened to be rather sexy. Gil finally found control of his tongue, but not his brain, as he said the first thing that came to mind, "Do you like bread?"

He mentally beat himself over and over again after saying something so stupid. He composed himself a little and stood aside, "Sorry! I don't get a lot of visitors. Please come inside. I'll go get... some bread." He told the women as he went to the kitchen to God his shame. He got out a two day old loaf and the bread knife when he finally started to use his head. "Wait a second. Where's the rest of your caravan?" he asked the women, not letting go of the bread knife.

"Oh, I wasn't travelling as a part of a caravan. Rather brash of me I know." said the mysterious woman. "In truth, I am on quest. A secret quest. One that is most dire I'm afraid." she explained. She paused for a moment before continuing further. "I'm on a quest to find a hero."

"Now could you be a dear and direct me to your bathroom? I look a dreadful mess. And it's been such a long day." she asked. "Oh and never mind the bread. I'm not very hungry. But I would like a glass of wine. she added.

Giligain was perplexed by the woman's strange words. He pointed down the hall, "Bathrooms that way miss." He smiled at her her in what he hoped was a charming grin as she walked past him and towards the indicated direction.

He returned to the kitchen, and down a trap door into the cellar. Gil had never been a fan of wine, he found it required to much patient to acquire what was the correct flavor. Why should he have to work so hard for the perfect sip when ale and mead gave it away for free?

Regardless, In Godwin's few moments of free time, he liked to make his own wine from grapes and berries grown in his own garden and in the countryside of Roselake. The bottles had gathered dust over the years, but he selected a chokecherry wine that had never been open.

He returned to the kitchen and poured two glasses. He nibbled on his bread while he waited for the woman to return. He had a few questions for her.

Several minutes passed before the mysterious woman emerged from the bathroom. No more than ten at the most. A rather short amount of time for a lady to spend in the bathroom, especially after a long day. Though such a thought did not strike Gilligan, for he was distracted. And what a distraction it was. Wrapped in a white and almost paper thin towel that ended quite a bit high of the knee. She was the embodiment of temptation itself.

"There were no womens clothes around and mine are dreadfully soiled. So I hope you don't mind if I were to just wear this, for now." she said.

She strode over to the bear skin rug then daintily placed herself down, facing away from the fire.

"Ohh this is nice. I love this rug. It's so soft, so inviting." she commented. The seductive tone of her voice was hardly subtle at this point.

"Now dear, about that wine." she said. A coy smile parted her lips.

Gilligan stood in pure idiotic silence for a few moments, stunned by the beauty and suggestive nature of this strange woman. He watched her for a few moments while he tried to remember his words and questions, when he did find his words they were quite and shaky, "The towel is no trouble at all miss." he returned her smile as best he could and picked up one of the glasses and handed it to her. "Chokecherry. Mind the sourness." he said sitting next to her and taking a sip of his own wine to try and sooth his nerves.

He finnaly remembered the question he should have asked at the door. " I'm sorry Miss but I never caught your name."

"Why thank you." said the mysterious woman.

She took the wine glass from Gilligans hand and promptly took a sip. She let out a soft ahh sound.

"My this wine is rather sharp. But it's heady, fragrant, and it possesses a rich aftertaste. You know how to please a lady." she complimented.

She gave Gilligan a wink before continuing.

"Oh, and my name is of no consequence." she dismissed.

"Now come, sit, join me. I have so much to tell you." said the mysterious woman.

She patted the bear rug right next to her.

"I'm sure a strong, handsome man like you won't keep a girl waiting."

A mischievous grin lightened up her face.

"You know how to please a lady" Gil took another sip and thought pessimisticly to himself, "I assure you miss I don't." when offered the seat on his own rug he took the invitation and sat down next to her.

The night and this woman was growing more and more curious, especially since she refused to give him her name. Still beautiful women, secret quest... bread, it was nothing if not interesting.

He returned her grin and said, "Well miss, what trouble do you have planned for me?"

"Whatever trouble you want, big boy." said the mysterious woman.

She giggled softly and mischievously to herself for a moment.

"Aww, you don't wanna come pway?" she asked in a baby voice.

The mysterious woman made a sexy pouty face.

The woman began to tease Gil and suddenly he had a extra limb. In he most suave seducing voice, (whitch truly wasn't either of those things) he said inching closer to her on the rug, "Ummm... Ya I can play. Depends on the game."

A devious smile spread across the mysterious woman's face.

"Could you do a little something for me first baby?" she asked.

A small glowing blue bottle appeared in her right hand like magic. The heck Gilligan knew where she kept it on her person.

"Drink this. It will make you strong. It will make you powerful." she said.

She brought the mysterious blue elixir to Gilligans lips.

"Drink this and you'll have everything." she urged.

She pulled down at the top of her towel. It fell gracefully away, revealing her naked body. Gilligan struggled not to look down, away from her face. To marvel at something that was no doubt lovely to behold.

"You're the hero I've been looking for." she whispered.

"Listen miss I can't just drink whatever you ask me too even if you are..." and then the towel fell. sexy he thought, yet was unable to say. He was frozen not only by the women's beauty but also of the pure strangeness of the situation. He found himself unable to react as the elixir was gently poured down his throat, and he began to feel it's stange effects on his body.

The strange glowing blue elixir tasted like watermelon flavoured vodka. Sweet and intoxicating. But as the liquid passed his esophagus, its true intent was revealed. Radiating from the liquid itself was a bitter coldness. Like a blizzard in liquid form. So cold that it burned.

Gilligan barked out a couple of coughs. The mysterious woman looked at him wide eyed. She was visibly concerned.

"Don't worry sweet thing. That liquor of yours is a bit strong for me." placated Gilligan.

All of a sudden, the coldness and numbness started to spread throughout his entire body. It was like his whole body was going numb. It was at this point that Gilligan started to feel concerned, to put it lightly.

Gilligan stood up from the bearskin rug then staggered away. Bumping into his couch and knocking over a small table in the process. He tried to get himself to the kitchen for a cup of water, but his legs failed him. He lost all sensation in them. Gilligan fell to the floor in a heap. He could no longer walk.

"Out of all my victims, you're the one who's put up the most fight against my toxin." said the mysterious woman.

She stood over Gilligan with that very same devious smile of hers. She was as menacing as a beautiful naked woman could be.

She knelt down beside Gilligan and whispered into his ear. "You're my favourite. I can't wait to add you to my collection."

All of a sudden, Gilligans heart began to beat rapidly. Much more rapidly than it had ever beaten before. It beated so rapidly that it thundered in his ears. His heart then emitted a strange heat. It radiated out of his heart and into his circulatory system. It felt like a warm fire in his veins, driving away the bitter coldness of the elixir. Seconds after the commencement of this bizarre phenomenon, Gilligan started to sweat profusely. He felt awake, he felt alive. He felt down right sanguine. His energy was peaking. He felt like he could run a marathon. All these sudden and extreme changes shocked Gilligan, though he felt much too lively to care.

The mysterious woman recoiled away then took a small hop back. She was quite taken aback by these sudden turn of events.

"What!? This cannot be! This is impossible!" she cried.

Gilligan stood up from the floor, drenched in sweat. His head was buzzing like a small child on too much sugar.

"I'm afraid not sweetheart. It'll take more than a sweet drink and a nice pair to take me down." Gilligan declared.

No doubt it was his most badass moment to date. He took a mental note to high-five himself later on. He also took a few mental pictures as well, purely for research purposes of course.

The mysterious woman emitted an ear splitting and demonic screech. Gilligan cupped his ears to block out that painful and abrasive sound.

Her hands and feet then began a strange metamorphosis. They became extremely muscular and grew to triple their size. Her fingernails transformed into massive, dangerous looking, and doubtlessly razor sharp talons. Her eyes transformed as well. They became yellow with elongated vertical black pupils in the middle. Much like the eyes of a lizard.

She then lowered herself into a pouncing position. She was ready to attack.

Gil stared down the woman as she began her transformation. "Cool" he thought as she entered a crouching stance and hissed at him, as she creeped towards the kitchen. Gilligan's eyes darted around the kitchen looking for weapons. Closest to him was the bottle of wine, he looked back to the woman to see her pounce, rage filling her reptilian eyes.

Whatever strange energy that had helped Gil overcome the poison still coursed through his veins and despite being taken by surprise he was able to react with surprising speed. He ducked her leap as he charged the counter. The woman sailed over him and crashed into the wall behind him as Gil grabbed the neck of the bottle. The woman recovered and snarled. "Say something cool. Godwin would say something cool." Gil thought as he gripped the bottle, "Choke on these cherries bitch!" Rip screamed as he smashed the bottle in a backhand motion across her face. "I am the worst hero every!" Gil thought, groaning at his battlecry.

The bottle shattered across her face embedding glass into her and splashing the two of them with the remaining wine. Gil was left holding the jagged end of the bottle, but despite the pain the stranger lowered her stance and shoulder bashed Gil into the nearby counter, battering him and causing him to slump into a sitting position. From his sitting position Gil swung with the neck of the bottle and sliced open his attacker's knee, causing blood to seep out of the wound.

She howled in fury and pain as she struck out with her talons and raked deep furrows into his arm. Gil cried out in pain and dropped his weapon. He had little time to savor the pain as he was forced to duck as a clawed foot kicked at his head. The attack missed and her talons got stuck in the wood were his head had been moments earlier. From his prone position Gilligan punched upward with his knuckles into the soft muscle of her thigh hoping, dispute how cheap it was, to give her a charlie horse.

As he finished his punch he rolled to the left, towards the front door were he left his sword. His roll took him out of the kitchen, yet the awkward roll left him clumsy and he fell flat on the floor.