**EXTREME HORROR WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT STILL ACTIVE**
Reader discretion still strongly advised.
Days pass in darkness – Mark loses track of time, hope fading...
His body weakens, skin pale from lack of sunlight, chains rusting against his skin...
Memories of Hana haunt him still – bittersweet reminders of what he's lost...
Mark's mind numbs, thoughts blurring together – survival instinct fading...
He whispers his last coherent thought: "Is this my grave...?"
Suddenly, silence is broken only by his slow, labored breathing...
Then, even his voice fades away...
Complete darkness claims him – Mark's mind had almost surrendered...
But then, faint echoes disrupt the stillness:
* Soft footsteps scraping against stone
* Gentle rustling of fabric brushing cave walls
Mark's heavy eyelids lift slightly, hopelessness etched on his face...
He knows that sound – someone (or something) is returning for him...
No spark of defiance remains; only bleak acceptance of his fate...
Mark's voice barely audible, he whispers in he's mind: "It's come back...
I'm not escaping..."
His body remains limp against the chains, resigned to suffering again...
The footsteps stop right outside his cell of chains, breathing audible...
Mark's gaze lifts slowly, meeting the figure's faintly illuminated face...
He notices something shocking -
* Pale skin marred by dark, vicious scars
* Eyes sunken, once-glowing complexion now dull and wan
* Lips cracked, bleeding slightly
The air is heavy with tension as the cave around them seems to...
* Groan and shudder, stones creaking softly
* Torches flickering wildly, casting eerie dancing shadows
* Dust drifting down from the ceiling, as if the weight above was shifting
* A massive iron bell, hanging from the dark vault above, swings slowly...
Creaking ominously, its low tone echoing through the cavern
Mark's resigned expression twists into confused horror...
The figure rushes closer, scars seeming to stretch across her pale face...
Her eyes burn with an otherworldly intensity as she whispers urgently:
"I need... replenishment. Immediately."
Her bony fingers grasp for him, closing around his waist with unnatural strength...
Mark's body remains frozen in terror, unresponsive to her twisted desire...
His mind screams in revolt as he realizes what she's trying to exploit again...
His physical form seems to shut down, refusing to cooperate with her dark demand...
The Dryad's face contorts in rage and desperation as she realizes...
Her grip tightens painfully as she hisses: "Your body will obey me..."
But still, Mark's physical response remains stubbornly absent...
The Dryad's eyes flash with fury and desperation, her gaze shifting suddenly...
Her attention fixes on Mark's right arm, chained helplessly at his side...
Mark's eyes widen in terror, silent screams trapped behind frozen lips...
He tries to jerk his arm away, but the chains hold tight...
The cave continues to shudder and groan around them:
* Stones crumbling from the ceiling
* Torches flickering wildly
* The iron bell swinging ominously, its low tone growing louder
* Dust choking the air as the ground trembles beneath their feet
Mark's face contorts in mute horror as her bony fingers wrap tightly around his forearm...
Her nails dig deep into his skin, drawing blood...
Mark's eyes roll back, mind racing with impending doom...
His silent scream is a twisted, soundless agony behind frozen lips...
Blood trickles down his arm, dripping onto the dusty cave floor...
The Dryad's grip tightens further, her fingers like a vice...
Mark's vision blurs, darkness creeping in from the edges...
Suddenly, his eyes snap back into focus – fixed on her mouth...
It's opening wide, revealing razor-sharp teeth...
Her jaws descend, teeth tearing through flesh and bone...
Mark's right arm separates from his body, leaving a bloody stump...
He screams silently, mouth open wide in tortured expression – no sound escapes...
His face contorts in mind-shattering horror, eyes bulging with agony...
The Dryad turns her back to him, still facing the darkness behind her...
She eats his severed arm, chewing slowly with malevolent relish...
Her back to Mark, her head slightly tilted upwards, eyes fixed on something above...
The giant iron bell, suspended high in the darkness, seems to be swaying wildly...
Its ominous clangs grow louder, heavier – as if it's about to break free...
The cave around them continues its apocalyptic shudder:
* Stones crashing down, barely missing them
* Torches flickering wildly, casting eerie glows on the bloody scene
* Dust choking the air, visibility dwindling
Mark's silent agony is frozen on his face, his body slumping against chains...
The Dryad turns to face Mark, her mouth still smeared with his blood...
Her eyes gleam with twisted hunger as she hisses: "I need... MORE."
Mark's silent horror shatters into silent, racking sobs – tears streaming down his face...
He tries to scramble away, chains clanking wildly, but his body betrays him...
His missing arm leaves him off-balance, causing him to collapse sideways...
The Dryad's gaze fixes on his remaining limb, her voice dripping with malevolence...
Mark's mind splinters with fear as he realizes her next target...
His silent wails turn into barely audible, despairing whimpers:
*"Noooo...anything...but that..."* (though still barely audible due to the spell)
His body trembles violently, tears mixing with dust and blood on his face...
Mark's eyes lock onto the Dryad's, a silent plea for mercy that he knows won't come...
But fate intervenes in brutal fashion...
The giant iron bell, suspended high above, suddenly plunges downwards...
Its massive weight crashes down upon the Dryad, crushing her twisted form...
The bell's rim bites deep into the stone floor, trapping her beneath...
Only the Dryad's head remains visible, protruding through a small crack in the bell's rusted edge...
Her face is contorted in agony, skin pale, eyes gleaming with malevolence...
A faint, raspy voice escapes her lips:
"...Want...to...eat...you..."
Mark's blood runs cold as he stares back, tears of fear welling up again...
His mind screams – she's still alive, still hungry, still wants his flesh...