27 The End of an Era

I stood up, my armor stabbing into the ground to help me 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 helmet, and it listened to my command. Retracting my adjustments, I closed my eyes and searched for anything else.

I found something, 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 me, 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 me. 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 some. I looked down at myself, the armor more organic and less plated. This was me now. I thought fear would race up my spine at that or maybe disgust. I stepped away from humanity at that moment.

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 met 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 time 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 mess.”

Torix tilted his head at her, “I thought you were so eager to open the rip in dimensions? 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 formed a walkway from his mana once more. Once up a step, he turned to me, “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 time.

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 moment.

But so did the good times.

The victories here. The laughing with Torix and Althea. The moments of absolute peace. They meant something to me. 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 someone else. It was the first thing I could call my own.

Owning something 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 time. 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 time 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 time. 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 metal terrifying yet awe-inspiring at the same time. It was more than enough.

Stepping from the place for one last time, 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 dimensional slicers that can cleave apart dimensions, 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, some guy named Yawm's coming here. You may want to bail."

The Sentinel stated, "I may. Goodbye. Please, never come 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 plume rose in the distance of the cavern, bats tumbling and howling in the pyroclastic flow. This heated dust cloud slammed 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 met up before all of us sat down, having a meal 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. Time froze in place outside of me, 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 me otherwise.

But so did something else.

A void, spawning from something far beyond the stars, cracked into space. From within the dark portal, a single eye opened. Something from the other side gripped my arms, pulling me inside. As I slid into the depths of darkness, a voice louder than time and stronger than planets quaked into my ears,

"Come, Harbinger.”

I ripped through the portal, everything around me blacker than coal. Schema's HUD disappeared, and its presence dampened to nothing. Menu screens ceased opening. My health and stamina bars disappeared. The general structure Schema offered split from me. Amid a maelstrom at sea, I spiraled in confusion.

My only anchors amidst the primal chaos latched onto me as two firm, formless tendrils. They pulled me through this unending ocean. After minutes of being dragged, I swooped through the cloud. Space changed. Ahead of me, a floating eyeball with two limbs floated in space. Literal space. Surrounding me, 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 me unable to move or breathe, the vastness both haunting and beautiful. I gawked at it, frozen in that moment 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 time,

"I understand you are curious, little one. Time does not exist here as it does where you came 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 moment, my eyes met the basketball sized eye. The two arms shifted in an awkward, unrealistic way. Their forms carried no tangibility, yet holding me, their strength proved unknowable and unbreakable. Pulling against one, they resisted and yielded at the same time, as if these lingering shades were memories of what they once were.

Describing that place required more than words. The whole place made me 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, something pulled me here.

I narrowed my eyes at the basketball-sized eye, "What are you?"

Its voice pulsed through space and time 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 meet 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 name said as much. What I met here sounded less terrifying then that. If anything, its demeanor acted as an invitation.

That comfort scared me.

I blinked, and I fumbled out, "Uh...Yeah. Y-you read my mind."

"I did not. I respect the privacy of thought that your dimension has. It’s an interesting rule to work around. It is time, 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 something 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 mean...Through Althea?"

"Yes. What a quaint name for what she is. This Althea is close to the center of this mess 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 me 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 melded 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 me will be torn asunder. You will stop Yawm for me. You will devour him."

I sputtered, "I mean, 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 time, at least in your dimension. I am merely informing you of what you’ve been tasked with. I would interfere, but that is...Difficult for me. While I am beyond your dimension, its limits still capture me 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 fragments once he has perished. Decimate all that he stood for. You are the Harbinger of Cataclysm, a sign of what is to come. 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 omen. Show them the might of your mettle, and the wrath of your will. Obliterate until they are but pieces of oblivion, a memory 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 some 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 time depends on it."

Thoughts tumbled in my head like food in a blender, and I mirrored a blender as I spoke. Mush came 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 something new will come 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 me. Not a second passed during my journey into Etorhma’s domain, yet my bones ached and my mind throbbed. Sweat dripped off me, and my entire body shivered. The three here turned to me, 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 mess. Tell us what just happened?”

Feeling returned, and I moved a finger. Relief passed over me, and I murmured, “I think I just met 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 me. I have no clue."

Althea chimed, "Something 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 time."

Kessiah gasped, "You...You actually met 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 stammered, "W-what did he sound like?"

I tried remembering the events hazy and jumbled, "Like...Like he was talking to my entire life instead of just me. He spoke through me, 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 means 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 mentioned Yawm taking one of Etorhma’s Avatars out or something.”

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 flamed a pure white, and Kessiah’s breathing became uncomposed.

Kessiah scratched the back of her head, "Alright, I’m done. Get me out of here, Torix. Now."

A jagged edge slid into her last few words, her demeanor turning desperate. Torix raised his hands. They shook as he spoke,

“Now, this isn’t...This doesn’t mean 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 me 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 some 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 doomed. It’s over.” Kessiah stood up, her fear infectious. She pointed into the distance, “Now Torix, get me 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 dimensions 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 immediately, as I promised.”

I pointed at my chest, “What about finding my friends, huh? Let me know where they are at least.”

Torix raised a finger towards Kessiah, “Let me handle this situation, then I shall handle our arrangement.”

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 me?”

Torix scoffed, “Me? Why would I come with you?”

A nervousness crawled up my spine at the thought of meeting 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 welcome to meet with them, and I wouldn’t dream of stopping you either. That being said, they aren’t ready to see someone like me or Kessiah. They will panic at the sight of us.”

I furrowed my brow, “I mean, maybe at first, but they’ll warm up to you guys. Michael let me go on family trips, and Kelsey’s family even paid for my lunch. They’ve been good friends, and I’d like them to meet you guys.”

Kessiah smirked at me, “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 me and where I come 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 something 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 come 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.”

Remembering how someone shot me, 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 elemental follow you both. It will assist with your secrecy, and it shall give each of you time 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 me 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 me before Torix murmured, “That shall silence you both. It shall wear off within an hour, but that should be enough time to arrive at your friend’s residence.”

Torix turned to Kessiah, “Now, about this warping. I’ll need somewhere with a lot of stone, preferably somewhere 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. Come on, let me 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 me a little confused but more concerned than anything.

People still roamed around in chaos, no group having formed or rallied here. Even worse still, the shambling, robed summons of Yawm roamed 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 me 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 some 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 sometimes. Kelsey drove us here a few times 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 overwhelmed 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 metal 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 movement 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 metal 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 came with a creeping loneliness.

One I aimed 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 smell 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 meathooks 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 meat taste worse, and hanging it makes the meat 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, “Remember what Torix said? You’re going to get attacked if you walk in like this.”

I facepalmed, embarrassed by my impulsivity. I took a breath, “Yeah...Thanks for the reminder. Almost messed up there. We’ll wait for the right time. I don’t want to mess this up.”

Althea nodded, and we walked over towards a cove to rest. Even out in the open without cover, I remained comfortable. The elements no longer bothered me. 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 time, 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 me how little Althea knew about, well, everything. It reminded me where she came from; a lab with only concrete walls and surgery tables to keep her company. Remembering that gave me 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 me awake, along with other, ahem...thoughts. Trying to get some sleep, I paced outside and fell asleep after a few minutes.

As I laid out under the open sky, Althea’s voice whispered to me,

“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 disappointment leaked into her voice, “Ok. I get that...So, for me, it just feels safer when you’re in here. That’s all...Sorry for waking you.”

Althea knew nothing about Earth, so she might assume the worst. I mentioned bears and wolves before, creatures she familiarized herself with via dungeons. Those stories painted a grimmer 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 some, “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 swarmed in the inside of Michael’s home, 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 me?”

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 me, 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 me, her brow raised, “Oh, you’re using your head this time?”

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 me, no more obstacles stood in my way. It was time to head out and meet my friends. Having someone 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, ashamed of my fear. Doubts raced in my mind. What if they hated me 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 mean, 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 me, “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

I scowled at her, “How would you know?”

She raised a brow, “Oh come 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 me.”

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 time, ok? If not for you, then for me. I want to meet some 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 me a pat. Her hand landed heavy on my back, and I used the momentum to slide down the hill. I passed through the front yard, my metal 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 home. I sprinted back towards Althea, tearing the yard’s grass apart. Getting beside her, Althea frowned at me,

“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? Come 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 came 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 me, “Hey man. It’s me. Daniel.”

Michael’s eyes widened, and his jaw slackened. He stammered, “W-which Daniel?”

“Daniel Hillside. You know, your friend.”