Chapter 27: The End of an Era
I stood up, my armor stabbing into the ground to help up. I willed it into spines over my back and chest, and it did so without resistance. Holding them there, they no longer snapped back. I urged a grin from the helt, and it listened to my command. Retracting my adjustnts, I closed my eyes and searched for anything else.
I found sothing, a presence in the back of my mind. Within and around it, an eerie sensation snarled in the back of my mind, a hunger both liquid and palpable. It seized , starvation, bloodthirst, all ending consumption roared out. I snapped back to my senses, that primordial being entrenched in my mind. It no longer rested on . It rested within, an extension of who I was.
And who I would be.
I turned towards Torix, “Yeah, the armor’s just, I don’t know, stronger?”
Torix widened one eye and narrowed the other, “Is there any differences within your system updates, perhaps?”
I opened my status, and no changes showed themselves. I raised my hands, “Uhm, just step back for a bit.”
Kessiah and Torix did, and I activated Oppression. It no longer snapped on like before. It crept out, the aura alive and thriving. I furrowed my brow, able to adjust it so. I looked down at myself, the armor more organic and less plated. This was now. I thought fear would race up my spine at that or maybe disgust. I stepped away from humanity at that mont.
And I liked it. No, I loved it.
The joy sprung from deep in my chest. It overflowed, a smile forming over my face. Torix’s fire eyes narrowed, “Are you alright, Daniel?”
I t his gaze, cool and easy, “Absolutely. Better than fine.”
The lich leaned back, “If you say so.” Torix gestured at the walls, “Then it’s ti we leave this place. I’ve seen with my own eyes what my son’s work has spawned, and I’m satisfied. I believe we need to destroy what remains.”
Kessiah pushed herself up on quivering knees, “You…You did record the runes, right?”
Torix nodded, and Kessiah let out a gasp, “Alright. Let’s get rid of this ss.”
Torix tilted his head at her, “I thought you were so eager to open the rip in dinsions? What happened to your gunho display of enthusiasm.”
Looking hungover, Kessiah dragged her hands down her face, “Oh shut up already.”
Torix cackled, walking towards the edge of the stadium. As he did, he ford a walkway from his mana once more. Once up a step, he turned to , “Are you coming, disciple?”
I jogged forward, “Of course.” I ran up the steps, finding myself gazing down at BloodHollow’s center. Stuck in place, I peered at it for the last ti.
The runes, ancient and old, carried their archaic power from the ritual, still ebbing with energy. Minions of Torix, most of them denizens of the cave, carried mana thread across the cavern’s edge. This place, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Baldag-Ruh’s hissing, my first fight with the bat and bears here, even the stomach sinking loneliness, it all piled up in that mont.
But so did the good tis.
The victories here. The laughing with Torix and Althea. The monts of absolute peace. They ant sothing to . Since Schema’s system arrived, I made more friends than I’d ever had, Michael and Kelsey were still alive, and I owned power that I earned. Maybe not all on my own, but for the most part, yeah. And it was mine. It wasn’t chained to soone else. It was the first thing I could call my own.
Owning sothing like that felt good.
This place both stood as my biggest obstacle and greatest ally to this new life of mine. I put a hand on a wall covered in strange etchings. Hitting it with my fist, I gave it a begrudging nod of respect. It was ti. Turning to Torix, my eyes watered a bit. Torix spread out his hands,
“What’s going on with you?”
I grinned, “Man, hell if I know…Let’s get out of this place.” I murmured, “It’s about damn ti I leave for good.”
We all three walked out, and as we did, Torix kept the glowing thread of mana connected to his finger. He sent many minions down various corridors. They held dozens of these crystals. While leaving, Torix gestured at the walls,
“This is for destroying evidence. The mana in the crystals is volatile, and they will detonate with a trigger. I used them extensively before this.”
With that mystery cleared, we left BloodHollow for the last ti. I checked my status screen again. Oddly enough, I gained no levels or ambient mana for my armor. I didn’t even gain any skills like I thought I would. Feeling the armor across my skin, it writhed under my instruction, the living tal terrifying yet awe-inspiring at the sa ti. It was more than enough.
Stepping from the place for one last ti, we approached the Sentinel. He stayed a tall, standing figure beside Schema’s doorway into this place. Knowing I could, I checked out his status.
Sentinel of Monolith | Lvl 5,000 – A Sentinel sent by Schema to guard a volatile rift for a planet newly assimilated by Schema. They carry dinsional slicers that can cleave apart dinsions, their armor is unbreakable, and their minds are infallible. They are protectors of the most dangerous rifts, and they serve only Schema.
[Fighting one is death]
Giving the guy my regards, I raised a hand, “Good luck, Sentinel. Just so you know, so guy nad Yawm’s coming here. You may want to bail.”
The Sentinel stated, “I may. Goodbye. Please, never co back.”
What a heartfelt goodbye, but I never intended on seeing him again. Anyway, we stared at BloodHollow through the magical doorways of Schema’s dungeon. Torix raised his hand with the thread. His eyes flared red, and he whispered to himself,
“Goodbye, Alfred.”
Torix pulled, and the entire dungeon quaked. A cacophony of detonations roared in, and Torix spawned a forcefield over the Sentinel. The dust plu rose in the distance of the cavern, bats tumbling and howling in the pyroclastic flow. This heated dust cloud slamd into our shielding, roaring past us along with deafening blasts.
When Torix pulled his shielding down, he turned away without a second glance. I stared at the tumbled boulders, stunned by the lich’s strength. I followed the necromancer and remnant as they stepped out into the world, the green turf soft and inviting on our feet. Althea walked out from one of the trees framing the view in BloodHollow’s exterior.
She smiled at us, a sunset hitting her just right. My heart skipped a beat before I scoffed at myself. She and I? Yeah right. We t up before all of us sat down, having a al under glowing oranges and flowing purples of a day’s closing. Torix and Kessiah gazed at the sight. The necromancer murmured,
“Hm, perhaps this dirtball isn’t as bad as I thought.”
Kessiah nodded, “Maybe so.”
We stared for a while, just enjoying the view. After a few minutes, the silence stretched out into a long, awkward pause. I peered around, wondering why no one else said anything. I snapped my fingers, “Hey, you guys awake?”
No one replied. I turned my head around, finding nothing moving at all. The sun in the distance stood still. I blinked at it, my thoughts racing in my head. I tapped Torix’s side, “You alright? Anyone?”
I stood up, grabbing the sides of my head. Ti froze in place outside of , and I couldn’t explain it. A surging panic thundered up my chest. I took heaving breaths. I’d be alone again, just like in BloodHollow. The presence in the back of my mind reminded otherwise.
But so did sothing else.
A void, spawning from sothing far beyond the stars, cracked into space. From within the dark portal, a single eye opened. Sothing from the other side gripped my arms, pulling inside. As I slid into the depths of darkness, a voice louder than ti and stronger than planets quaked into my ears,
“Co, Harbinger.”
I ripped through the portal, everything around blacker than coal. Schema’s HUD disappeared, and its presence dampened to nothing. nu screens ceased opening. My health and stamina bars disappeared. The general structure Schema offered split from . Amid a maelstrom at sea, I spiraled in confusion.
My only anchors amidst the primal chaos latched onto as two firm, formless tendrils. They pulled through this unending ocean. After minutes of being dragged, I swooped through the cloud. Space changed. Ahead of , a floating eyeball with two limbs floated in space. Literal space. Surrounding , asteroids hovered in every direction, planets and stars floating in the distance.
They existed in pristine clarity. Countless galaxies floated in the distance, even their tiniest lights visible. No atmosphere stood in my way, and my enhanced eyes took it all in. It left unable to move or breathe, the vastness both haunting and beautiful. I gawked at it, frozen in that mont for a few seconds or an eternity. In that place, I couldn’t tell the difference.
Frozen in place, I stayed inanimate. The voice from before radiated out with a quake through ti,
“I understand you are curious, little one. Ti does not exist here as it does where you ca from. This is to your benefit; this vast void would kill you otherwise. I learned this from other summoned mortals. They did not fare so well without this precaution.”
After he spoke, I moved again. Without gravity I only looked around. After a mont, my eyes t the basketball sized eye. The two arms shifted in an awkward, unrealistic way. Their forms carried no tangibility, yet holding , their strength proved unknowable and unbreakable. Pulling against one, they resisted and yielded at the sa ti, as if these lingering shades were mories of what they once were.
Describing that place required more than words. The whole place made feel…Off, unsettled, but most of all, I was insignificant. I tread into a domain that I’d never equal in my life, and whether by luck or misfortune, sothing pulled here.
I narrowed my eyes at the basketball-sized eye, “What are you?”
Its voice pulsed through space and ti alike, “I am Etorhma.”
I trembled at the voice, but the tiny creature lacked impact. I frowned at it, “I thought you’d be bigger.”
The voice shook my bones as it spoke, “Glance upward.”
I peered where my up currently was, and my whole perspective changed. Up was now forward, and Etorhma lounged in the distance. Larger than a moon, Etorhma floated like a behemoth in space. Imagine a white mountain that took up your entire view. Now imagine it had split into several large chunks, with a reddish glow ebbing from between the crevices. As you looked deeper into the cracks, a fleshy, red skin led towards the unseeable center.
All these cracks converged towards a base below it, shrinking until they converged into a ball with a thousand limbs sticking from it. The reddish flesh slowly changed to a purple hue on these limbs, which were basically dozen jointed fingers. The ends of these things blended into the black space behind them. They shivered in my sight, my brain struggling to comprehend them.
My sanity tread upon that fine line, my ignorance a blessing. I glanced back and forth before saying, “Uhm…It’s good to et you?”
“You as well, Harbinger. I’ve summoned you. You would like to know why, would you not?”
I blinked, shocked by his normal way of speaking. Etorhma, being an Old One, carried stories of his madness across space, according to Torix’s books at least. I believed Etorhma would be abominable, an endless evil that destroyed planets. His na said as much. What I t here sounded less terrifying then that. If anything, its deanor acted as an invitation.
That comfort scared .
I blinked, and I fumbled out, “Uh…Yeah. Y-you read my mind.”
“I did not. I respect the privacy of thought that your dinsion has. It’s an interesting rule to work around. It is ti, or a semblance of it, to discuss why I called you here.”
The light between the mountain’s breaks brightened as Etorhma spoke, “There’s sothing I need you to do. That extension of you, it has changed. It may now devour many permanent, unyielding objects, even concepts and ideas. Despite the impossibility of it, that armor has even eaten parts of myself, though infinitesimally small.”
I gulped before murmuring, “You an…Through Althea?”
“Yes. What a quaint na for what she is. This Althea is close to the center of this ss I’m sending you to clean up. As you may imagine, you are not the first I’ve called here. You will not be the last. Many of those I’ve touched roam your universe. One of them you know, Yawm of Flesh.”
My eyes widened, Yawm sounding worse by the minute. One of the multi-jointed limbs jerked before Etorhma let out a thunderous whisper,
“He was a loyal servant of mine. He lost sight of sanity long ago, I’m afraid. He believes in an unholy union of the old and the new. That thing you know as Althea was his creation. He found one of my other Avatars. Yawm killed him and used to create Althea thereafter. In the end, you are much closer to what he is trying to create than anything he made. That hivemind that made you was talented, to be sure.”
Baldag-Ruhl’s reputation kept spiralling upwards. Etorhma ebbed, “Yawm of Flesh will bend you, if you allow him to.”
I frowned, “Yeah, I’m not letting that happen.”
“Good. You do not share his twisted vision. Yawm wishes for your kind to be lded with mine. He wishes for a new flesh, one that is neither old nor new. What he creates will rupture the fabric of all that exists. Even I and those like will be torn asunder. You will stop Yawm for . You will devour him.”
I sputtered, “I an, I can try…But, you said the fabric of everything? You can’t honestly have put this on my plate. There’s got to be better candidates out there.”
The unknowable being let out the lightest chuckle, and my entire being quivered out in fear. Etorhma echoed, “Do not fret, for there is ti, at least in your dinsion. I am rely informing you of what you’ve been tasked with. I would interfere, but that is…Difficult for . While I am beyond your dinsion, its limits still capture when I choose to dabble there. My tools turn to mush and muck and ash.”
My deep frown turned into a deeper grimace as Etorhma continued, “It is innate in you, however. Destroy Yawm and the others who believe in his ideology. Hunt down their fragnts once he has perished. Decimate all that he stood for. You are the Harbinger of Cataclysm, a sign of what is to co. As Harbinger, you are the only one who knows how to stop the ensuing cataclysm that Yawm shall bring.”
Both inspired and confused, I listened as Etorhma rumbled, “Stop the cataclysm you on. Show them the might of your ttle, and the wrath of your will. Obliterate until they are but pieces of oblivion, a mory for only those left living after their ends.”
I tapped the edges of my legs with my hands, “That’s uhhh…A lot of pressure. You sure there isn’t so other dude who’s willing to do all this?”
“There are many who are willing. There are none who are able. Besides for you. Rise or fall. The fabric of ti depends on it.”
Thoughts tumbled in my head like food in a blender, and I mirrored a blender as I spoke. Mush ca out,
“Alright. It doesn’t look like I have much of a choice.”
I blinked at myself. What the hell was I even saying?
Etorhma resounded, “What a fragile concept choice is. Despite the vast power I wield, you have far more freedom than I in this matter. Your choice will decide whether we will retain existence, or sothing new will co to replace us. Be ready, Harbinger.”
Everything went black for a fraction of a second before my eyes popped open. Torix, Kessiah, and Althea were beside . Not a second passed during my journey into Etorhma’s domain, yet my bones ached and my mind throbbed. Sweat dripped off , and my entire body shivered. The three here turned to , and Althea frowned, “Are…Are you alright?”
I tried lifting my arm, but it refused my command. I mumbled, “I…Well, maybe not.”
Torix’s fire eyes narrowed, “Your entire bearing has changed. Sweat. Shivering. Even your mind is a jumbled ss. Tell us what just happened?”
Feeling returned, and I moved a finger. Relief passed over , and I murmured, “I think I just t Etorhma.”
Kessiah leaned over, her eyes narrowed, “You’re sure about that little man?”
I narrowed my eyes at her, unable to move my head yet, “You tell . I have no clue.”
Althea chid, “Sothing happened to you. You stepped off this plane and onto another one. It was a blip at most, but you’re not wrong about it.”
My fingers and legs moved in slow motion, “Man…Etorhma can control ti.”
Kessiah gasped, “You…You actually t Etorhma?”
I rubbed my temples, trying to massage out a headache, “Uh, yeah, and I’ll be honest, he isn’t even that bad a guy. Or a girl. He’s more a thing, really.”
Althea stamred, “W-what did he sound like?”
I tried rembering the events hazy and jumbled, “Like…Like he was talking to my entire life instead of just . He spoke through , but I heard the echoes.”
Torix’s eyes flared red, “Why would Etorhma contact you?”
My face wrinkled, “To kill Yawm.”
Torix raised a hand to his chin, “Really now…That ans Yawm is associated with Etorhma on a personal level. Is there anything that was said about their history?”
I rested my face in my hands, “Uh, my head…I think they ntioned Yawm taking one of Etorhma’s Avatars out or sothing.”
The three silenced. As my entire being settled back into this plane, I let out a deep breath. Feeling back in ship shape, I frowned at everyone. Kessiah and Torix peered down. Althea peered at them with concern. Torix’s eyes flad a pure white, and Kessiah’s breathing beca uncomposed.
Kessiah scratched the back of her head, “Alright, I’m done. Get out of here, Torix. Now.”
A jagged edge slid into her last few words, her deanor turning desperate. Torix raised his hands. They shook as he spoke,
“Now, this isn’t…This doesn’t an we can’t escape.”
I raised a brow, “Escape? I thought you guys wanted to kill Yawm? That’s what you made it sound like.”
Kessiah and Torix stared at like I killed their families. Kessiah’s brow furrowed, “Gah, this world is so backwater.”
Torix pinched the bridge of his nose, “Daniel…Avatars of Old Ones are so of the most powerful, defiant presences within all of Schema-owned space. They define eras. They decide epochs. We are not their equal in any way. If Yawm has managed to kill one-”
Kessiah snapped, “We don’t stand any chance of killing him. None. Nada. Zilch. We’re going to die. Your entire planet is dood. It’s over.” Kessiah stood up, her fear infectious. She pointed into the distance, “Now Torix, get the hell out of here. We had a deal.”
I sat up and snapped, “What the hell happened to you guys and your big talk earlier today? We took Althea. You guys just ripped open dinsions too. You honestly think Yawm is just going to stop chasing us? I don’t think so.”
Torix stood and placed his hands on my shoulders, “The situation has changed. We’re no longer in a position to fight Yawm. He’s beyond us.” Torix lowered his hands, “Kessiah, I’ll begin the warping ritual imdiately, as I promised.”
I pointed at my chest, “What about finding my friends, huh? Let know where they are at least.”
Torix raised a finger towards Kessiah, “Let handle this situation, then I shall handle our arrangent.”
Kessiah propped her weight on one hip, displeased but not outright livid. Torix raised an arm, spawning a portal. A deathknight walked out. Torix gestured to it, “Take Daniel to projects forty and forty one. Ensure my disciple uses a safe route outside of the town nearby. I don’t wish for any accidents.”
I leaned back, “You’re not coming with ?”
Torix scoffed, “? Why would I co with you?”
A nervousness crawled up my spine at the thought of eting my friends alone. I scratched the back of my head, peering off, “Er, you’re my master, right? I just thought you’d want to get to know them.”
Torix crossed his arms, “Hm…How to say this. You see, I’ve been keeping an eye on them for well over a week now. You’re more than welco to et with them, and I wouldn’t dream of stopping you either. That being said, they aren’t ready to see soone like or Kessiah. They will panic at the sight of us.”
I furrowed my brow, “I an, maybe at first, but they’ll warm up to you guys. Michael let go on family trips, and Kelsey’s family even paid for my lunch. They’ve been good friends, and I’d like them to et you guys.”
Kessiah smirked at , “You honestly think that a bunch of green, backwater savages will be fine with us?”
I scowled at her, “Yeah. I do.”
Kessiah jeered, “You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.”
Anger flooded in. I muttered, “So do you. About and where I co from.”
Kessiah blinked before her cynicism waned. Pity spread over her face as she mouthed, “Oh…You’re serious.”
I shouted, “Damn right I am.”
Kessiah and Torix turned to each other, each of them saying a lot with a look. Not being a part of the conversation, I spread my hands out wide, “What is it? Got sothing to say?”
Torix raised a hand, “I think it would serve you better to go alone.”
I snapped, “If that’s how you guys want it, then alright.”
Althea tapped my shoulder, and I glared at her. I grunted, “What?”
She made herself small, “Uhm…Can I co with you?”
My animosity tapered off, “Oh…Really?”
She grabbed her hands behind herself, “Yeah, sure. I want to see this place. It’s Earth, right? It looks pretty lush with life.”
My eyes widened and my brows rose, “Well, er, thank you.”
Torix sighed before shaking his head, “Do as you wish. Please, at least introduce yourself before showing them any extraterrestrials. Your friends may be less welcoming with Althea than you’d imagine.”
Rembering how soone shot , I recoiled. I peered away, “Yeah, ok, I can do that. It’s to keep her safe.”
Torix waved a hand, “Speaking of safety, I’ll have a shadow elental follow you both. It will assist with your secrecy, and it shall give each of you ti to escape should one of Yawm’s summons find you.”
Surprised at his goodwill, I nodded, “Thanks.”
Torix’s eyes brightened, “You are my disciple, after all. It does well to keep you alive. Good luck to each of you.” Torix flashed his grimoire, casting a spell in an instant. A muffling aura spread over Althea and before Torix murmured, “That shall silence you both. It shall wear off within an hour, but that should be enough ti to arrive at your friend’s residence.”
Torix turned to Kessiah, “Now, about this warping. I’ll need sowhere with a lot of stone, preferably sowhere with soft rock like marble. That is the easiest place for the required carving.”
Feeling a bit bad about my outburst, I raised a hand, “Guys, I know where I place like that is. Co on, let show you.”
Kessiah frowned, “I thought you had to find your friends?”
I shook my hands, “That can wait. I know Torix is keeping them safe anyways.”
Torix swung out an arm while tilting his head, “Then show us the way.”
Our resident necromancer cast silencing magic over us all, and we crossed through the forest surrounding Springfield. Before nightfall, we got a view of Springfield, the leaves changing color with the coming of autumn coming soon. Trees in the distance, especially close to the city’s center, shifted color early. Reds, oranges, but especially yellows crisscrossed those towering spires near the heart of the town.
As we passed, I pointed out a few herbs and other species along the way, selling Springfield a bit to them.
I grew up here after all.
Passing towards the opposite side of the small town, we kept our distance from other people. Given how Yawm hunted for Althea, we wanted no witnesses of us passing if at all possible. Having loose ends would’ve made a complicated trip even more so, but worrying about it proved pointless. Few, if any, people littered the town’s outskirts. It left a little confused but more concerned than anything.
People still road around in chaos, no group having ford or rallied here. Even worse still, the shambling, robed summons of Yawm road the countryside at random. We avoided them for now, but the sheer presence our enemy cast left a sinking feeling in my chest. That worry rested in my stomach like an anchor ready to pull through the ground.
But, it wasn’t all bad. Far out of the townscape, people found refuge in random houses darting the countryside. Campfires popped out here or there, the endless green hills draped in night. Those bonfires signalled people were alive, and I took solace in that. We avoided their paths, crossing creeks and tearing unturned turf. An hour later, we neared the abandoned quarry. It rested far from the city, having been left after the turn of the century.
Burrowed into the side of Mt. Verner, the quarry’s white marble glistened in the moonlight. Large slabs of unharvested marble laid out, reflecting so of the sunset. The orange clay dried out from the lack of rain. Trees bordered the entire expanse, caging the sky in at the bottom of the pit. At its base, the last few patches of harvested rock made a tiny cave.
It was like a hideout. That’s probably why Kelsey, Michael, and I had hung out here sotis. Kelsey drove us here a few tis since she had a license while Michael and I didn’t. I smiled at the familiar place, graffiti of all kinds covering the nearby shacks and blocks of marble. We weren’t the only kids visiting this place, the quarry being a hangout for many.
When we reached the inside of the quarry, I leapt into the bottom the pit. My feet sunk deep into the clay as I landed, squatting down. I spread my arms to Torix, “This should be perfect, right?”
Torix hovered down, inspecting the slabs, “Why, I do believe so. This is better than what I’d hoped for. You’ve done well.”
Althea hopped down with high leaps, her steps making almost no sound. Even the dull hum of nearby cicadas overwheld her landings. As a burst of wind pressed from all sides, I grinned at Torix, “We’ll leave you both to it then.”
Torix reached out, snapping several torch stands into existence. He sparked bluefires into them, making this place lit and homier. Kessiah lifted her hands, “Gah, I’m tired. Going to bed.”
Kessiah pulled a glass sphere from her pocket, a ring of tal surrounding the device. She fiddled with it before a white sphere wrapped around her. I gawked at technology, but I silenced my curiosity. I had waited on finding my friends long enough. I waved at Torix’s death knight, “Alright. Let’s go.”
Heading out, Torix gave us one last round of silencing magic. Althea never needed it, her traveling and movent both flawless and graceful. I trudged through the dirt with heavy stomps by comparison, so I appreciated the cover of quieting magic. Into the night we ran, traversing more greenery and underbrush. Half an hour passed as Althea and I crossed empty roads.
Smothered by empty cars, the tal covered wasteland ran beside many empty houses, each a husk of its old self. This left cicadas and grasshoppers dominating the soundscape instead of the highways. Despite the desolation, the stars shining brighter than I’d ever seen them glow. Staring up at the sky, I breathed in a deep gulp of air. It tasted better, the lack of smog and light unveiling our planet’s beauty. It also ca with a creeping loneliness.
One I aid to end soon. We approached where Michael and Kelsey hid themselves, the both of them embedded within a log cabin out in the woods. No light leaked out, but a few fires and oil lamps lit the house’s insides. The two story building showed no signs of decay, maintained by the humans within it. From the garage, the light sll of gas drifted into the wind. Peering from afar, I found gas kegs lined up along with a muddy, battered jeep.
I grinned. They used an offroad vehicle and siphoned the gas out of other cars to make their way around. They hunted too, a butchered deer hanging upside down on athooks in the garage. Its blood drained into a bowl. Outside the garage, Michael’s family owned a garden, one with new patches of tilled soil for winter vegetables. They even dried food rations for later.
Althea whispered, “Why are they hanging an animal like that? It’s going to attract eldritch.”
I murmured, “The blood makes the at taste worse, and hanging it makes the at more tender.”
Althea furrowed her brow, “That’s not worth the risk.”
I frowned at the cabin, “Maybe not anymore, but they don’t know that. Not before I tell them.”
I stood up, ready to walk up to the cabin. Althea put her hand on my shoulder, “Rember what Torix said? You’re going to get attacked if you walk in like this.”
I facepald, embarrassed by my impulsivity. I took a breath, “Yeah…Thanks for the reminder. Almost ssed up there. We’ll wait for the right ti. I don’t want to ss this up.”
Althea nodded, and we walked over towards a cove to rest. Even out in the open without cover, I remained comfortable. The elents no longer bothered . By comparison, Althea shivered, so I took a few minutes building a shelter for her. I piled dead wood in a circle, staggered the large branches, then piled pinestraw and leaves over the crisscrossing twigs. The entire ti, Althea helped and asked what each plant was, how it got here, and what happened to it.
We spent a few hours explaining all of that, and it kind of surprised how little Althea knew about, well, everything. It reminded where she ca from; a lab with only concrete walls and surgery tables to keep her company. Rembering that gave more appreciation over my own situation. Despite the trails, I at least got to see the open world. Althea hadn’t.
Protecting us from that open world, I got the shelter fixed up to a decent standard. It protected us from the wind while we both laid out in the darkness. Painfully aware of her presence, I couldn’t fall asleep beside Althea. Her breathing kept awake, along with other, ahem…thoughts. Trying to get so sleep, I paced outside and fell asleep after a few minutes.
As I laid out under the open sky, Althea’s voice whispered to ,
“Uhm…Am I making you uncomfortable? You can have the shelter if you want it.”
My eyes popped open before I raised my hands at our hut, “Wait…What? I was asleep.”
She murmured, “I was wondering why you’re out there instead of in here.”
I lied, “I prefer sleeping under the stars.”
An edge of disappointnt leaked into her voice, “Ok. I get that…So, for , it just feels safer when you’re in here. That’s all…Sorry for waking you.”
Althea knew nothing about Earth, so she might assu the worst. I ntioned bears and wolves before, creatures she familiarized herself with via dungeons. Those stories painted a grimr picture than our actual reality showed. Knowing I caused this, I crawled back into our hut. I flopped down, “Feel better now?”
I couldn’t see her face, but her voice lightened so, “Heh. Yeah…Thanks.”
I turned to my side and closed my eyes. Half asleep, I murmured, “No problem.”
Thinking I’d be unable to sleep, minutes passed before I fell into that familiar abyss. My eyes snapped open. Daylight leaked into our hut as I woke up. Althea nestled under a bunch of leaves on the other side of the enclosure. I snuck out, watching out for dry, cracking branches that might wake her. After sneaking away, I spied on the log cabin again.
Activity sward in the inside of Michael’s ho, people active, voices laughing, and everyone having fun. I wanted to run in and say hello, but I waited for Althea to wake up first. A long and boring hour later, Althea did. She rubbed her eyes while muttering, “Gah, it’s so early. Why is the light attacking ?”
I gazed at the enclosure, my eyes razor sharp, “You didn’t sleep well?”
Althea peered up, “I did…Considering we’re on the ground. It’s better than the cave in BloodHollow.” She got beside , and she squinted at the cabin, “What are you waiting for?”
I sighed, “I’ll go in after the hunters leave. I heard them talking about it earlier.”
Althea turned to , her brow raised, “Oh, you’re using your head this ti?”
I lifted my hands up in mock surprise, “I know, I know. Stunning.”
Althea let out a laugh before we waited. A few minutes later, a group of people I didn’t know walked out of the house. They held their rifles in hand, carrying large bags on their shoulders, and knives on their sides. After packing up into a jeep, they headed out. Without that group of gunners able to kill , no more obstacles stood in my way. It was ti to head out and et my friends. Having soone to talk to would make this so much easier.
Looking forward to that, I willed myself to stand, but my legs stayed where they were. I looked down at them, surprised my hands shook a little. I blinked, squeezing them into fists. I gritted my teeth, ashad of my fear. Doubts raced in my mind. What if they hated now? What if they changed and we were no longer friends?
Those fears grounded themselves in nothing, yet they surged under my skin like maggots in a corpse. I leaned my head onto a hand, disappointed in myself. I an, I faced death and smiled. Why was seeing my friends this damn hard? I fought a sinking feeling rising in my chest. I breathed faster, my frustration mounting by the second.
Althea whispered, “Daniel. Er, what are you doing?”
I muttered, “Getting ready.”
We stayed there for a few minutes. Althea frowned at , “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”
I scowled at her, “How would you know?”
She raised a brow, “Oh co on. Your hands are shaking. I can hear your heart beating like a drum in your chest. It’s obvious.”
I grabbed the sides of my head, “Oh man, maybe it’s better if I just leave. They’re doing fine without .”
Althea smacked my shoulder, and I turned to her. She chided, “I’m not coming out this far just so that you can back down right here and now. Go be the brave idiot who likes to fight all the ti, ok? If not for you, then for . I want to et so people…Geez.”
I stared at her, stunned by the outburst. I gave her a nod, “Alright, alright. I’ll go get tit done.”
I stood up, and Althea gave a pat. Her hand landed heavy on my back, and I used the montum to slide down the hill. I passed through the front yard, my tal boots clanking on the concrete driveway. They banged louder than I thought they would, and after a few claps, a voice sounded from within the ho. I sprinted back towards Althea, tearing the yard’s grass apart. Getting beside her, Althea frowned at ,
“What was that? Not exactly brave.”
I frowned, “Just shut up and watch.”
Michael stuck his head out of the house. Scars traced his pale cheeks, neck, and arms. His brown hair matted onto his head, his face sinking in since the culling. In general, the guy leaned down a lot since I last saw him. He glared around, his eyes hard.Michael shouted, “Who’s out there? Co out.” He pulled the rest of himself out.
He hobbled together several beast shells over his shoulders, back, and chest, lacing them together with rope. A potion stayed on his right side, several knives across his chest in leather satchels. Even stranger than the makeshift armor, a visor covered one of his eyes. It ca from a dungeon, its worth exceeding everything else he owned. Rifle in hand, Michael yelled,
“Hands where I can see them.”
I shouted so he could hear , “Hey man. It’s . Daniel.”
Michael’s eyes widened, and his jaw slackened. He stamred, “W-which Daniel?”
“Daniel Hillside. You know, your friend.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)