Cartio was getting used to the dying part. The worst part was really the coming back part. He never knew what to expect. This time was no different. As soon as feeling had come to him, pain shot through every pore, vein, muscle, and organ in his body. A sharp, crushing pain, like being slowly squeezed to death. Cartio opened his eyes. Water rushed over his eyes, causing a burning sensation that only freezing water can give. He blinked a few times and was soon adjusted to viewing the harsh conditions. Cartio tried to get a good concept of where he was, but could only see a blue-ish white. It surrounded him. Confined him. Hmm...Millions of ways to go, but only one way up. Cartio concentrated, calculated, and hoped for the best. He turned to what he hoped was up and kicked. Each motion of his legs was as painfull as death itself. Every movement of every tendon could be felt. The trek was just as painfull mentally as it was physically. All around him was the same water. Over and over like a mobeous strip before his eyes. And what if he was swimming the wrong way? He'd be wasting all of his energy and determination.

Cartio kicked for merely a minute or so, but the pain made it seem like days. He kicked and kicked and kicked until he was suddenly stopped. It was like a concrete wall had been built right in front of him. Cartio tried once again to focus his eyes. He could see the ice in front of him. And he could see the light beyond it. It was a beacon to him. His last chance of survival. He swung his arms at the ice. He banged on it with all the remaining streangth in his arms. It was to no avail. Not even a visible crack. Nothing? Nothing at all? There must be a way out of this. Cartio clawed at the ice above him and propelled his way under it. He slid along it until he came a hole. Freedom. A way out! At last! Cartio pulled himself into the hole. It wasn't a way out into land, but more of a bubble in the ice. He floated up into it and took a very large breath of air. Cartio's lungs filled with air, but, at the same time, filled with pain. Every internal movement caused Cartio massive pain. Still, he could breath.

Well, there's no way I'm going back in there, so I'd better start trying to find a way out. Cartio walked around the little cave of his and viewed the walls carefully. Nothing. Nothing at all. Again. Suddenly, the cave darkened. The visage of a man could be seen all around him, as if he was trapped in a diamond. As the man approached the cave, it became darker and darker. Cartio heard a light tapping sound. It bounced around the cave and echoed endlessly. Again and again it happened. Then a loud thud started to echo. Again and again it came, causing Cartio's ears to nearly bleed until...

Light. A small hole had been made into the bubble. Cartio could see the frozen wasteland that covered the area. Well, its not quite freedom. But it's better than nothing. The man looked in at Cartio.



What? The man pulled back the hammer he had used to drive the chisel into the ice and cracked it against the bubble. Repetedly. The ice cracked rather quickly, but held its form. After a few strokes there was a complex body of cracks covering the once smooth dome, similar to the skin of a reptile. The man gave Cartio one last look. Spit at him. And struck the bubble a final time.

The spit had frozen almost instantly and pelted Cartio in the face. That, however, was the least of his problems. The bubble crumbled into pieces and fell on him. Bruises, cuts, and broken bones were plentiful. He lied there, barely alive. The man with the hammer had already begun walking away. He heard Cartio's groans and began to maniacally laugh. Slow and painfull...but at least I'm dry. Just then the man with the hammer stomped the ground. The tremor shook down under Cartio, and the ice beneath him cracked. This is going to be bad... The ice gave out, and he fell into the icy water once again. Being completely broken and drained of energy, Cartio let himself sink. And sink. And sink...All was black once again.