Chapter 16: Dread

"They're coming."​

You're trying hard not to show how exhausted you are. Now is not the time. Taking hold of your holy symbol in one hand just streaks it further with blood and bile. You try and wipe the bulk of it off onto your robes, and place a hand on Ray. His breathing seems to be mellowing out now that you're all in clearer air. The sorceress in your company still seems enormously dissatisfied. You lean against your hulking dog for support while asking, "are either of you hurt?"

Ofelia clears her throat. "Nah. Throat's a bit sore, but I'll be okay— so long as we can get going. I've had enough of this."

The halfling grabs hold of her companion’s arm. Celegwen eyes you as she's pulled away— while still failing to answer your question. You suspect she's hurt in a way that you can't heal merely with prayer. With a pat for Ray on his back, you motion to move. He looks up at your deep frown with concern.

If only everyone was as understanding as my dog.

"Come on, Ray."

Ofelia carves a winding path through the network of debris. It slowly opens out from the ruined corridor, and into the gray light of the demon's lair. Countless speckles of shadow move in the distance. Not only can you hear them— you can now see a great number of imps emerging. Their small bodies are adorned with pieces of trash. Horns peek out through rotting helms. They pick through the debris on just as high of an alert as your company. They know you've killed their master.

The rogue curses under her breath, then motions to you all to keep silent. You gesture to Ray to not make a sound in turn, while pushing yourself to keep up with the girls' pace. Despite Ofelia's shorter stature, she is moving as if your lives depended on it. It seems she's primarily pulling along Celegwen so she doesn't stray from your weaving path.

The four of you snake deeper into the cavern. Slipping behind countless pillars of debris, stone and larger fragments of metal jut out into view. Scarcely hidden behind the highest buildings and mounds of trash is a small division of imps. From some unseen source, they're filtering into the disgusting labyrinth you all occupy.

Celegwen could not look any more irritated. She eventually pulls away from Ofelia to better sneak behind her. You all take great pains to dodge and weave through cover, out of sight of the ever-increasing enemy. Ofelia's keen eyes and Celegwen's acute hearing make it readily apparent how these two women have survived for so long within the ruins. The halfling seems to spot movement far beyond what you can even begin to identify— and the sorceress no doubt is hearing footsteps lighter than anything you can notice.

You hold your holy symbol tightly— grateful beyond words to have their aid as you all slip between the shadows. After what feels like an hour of slinking around rubble— and evading all detection— Ofelia moves to slip even further into darkness. You're starting to seriously have trouble keeping up with her.

Both women vanish.

Before panic can properly set in, you're pulled firmly by the back of your robes. You stagger backwards from the motion— nearly pulled off your feet— and slip in between the stones directly behind you.

Gray light barely filters into the ruined building you stand in. There's piles of trash and debris stacked to the ceiling, blocking off view of the outside. The windows are boarded fast. Only a thin doorway before you seems to be unblocked. You urgently lean out to the street. to see Ray spinning about in distress. He's led inside before even turning to see your other companions.

Both women are terrified, and are worn to the bone. You hadn't even noticed, but Celegwen had been carrying all of your things this entire time. The elf shoves the backpack, shield and mace into your hands before crossing her arms, and taking a step back.

You look down at your things with dismay. Dust, blood and crushed maggots cake the sides of the pack's fabric. You brush everything off as quietly as you can, then slide down to the floor. Exhausted, you keep your back and head against the wall. Trying to listen as closely as you can for movement, it's easy enough to make out the sound of imps sweeping the cavern. Celegwen moves off to the rest of the building, examining for any other ways your pursuers could enter.

Seeing the chance for respite, Ofelia drops down beside you and makes a motion with her hands as if she's writing. You fish out some parchment and ink, and hand it to her with an apologetic look. She offers you a pained smile, and scrawls something rapidly.

The paper is handed back to you. It reads, 'I don't want to die down here. What are we going to do?'

You give Ofelia an apologetic look, and take the parchment from her. Rather than write a reply back, you begin to pen a request to Celegwen. It's unbelievably frustrating to try and keep your hands steady with how badly they're shaking. Tedious as it is, you force the digits to produce your usual, neat handwriting. The message is consequently short. 'I want to explain. Can you dissipate the sound around us all?'

You get Ray's attention before you stand, and silently put a finger to your lips to keep his whining down. The mastiff hasn't made a sound— clearly shaken from recent events— but you want to be careful. You pat him on the head, scratching behind his ears for a moment before getting to your feet as silently as you can.

The sound of imps running just a few feet away is a constant reminder of how much danger you're all in. Ofelia gets to her feet as well, and follows closely behind you.

Does she not want to be the closest one to the exit? Or is she just that worried about me?

The walls and rotting furniture are all sticky with decay. Celegwen is standing off in what was once a small living area. You don't dare to touch the elf, and settle on holding the note aloft instead.

She immediately notices it, and takes the parchment without a second's hesitation. As she reads, her eyes light up at your suggestion— though she still seems aggravated.

With a look around the building, the elf gestures for you all to come closer. You kneel down— waving to Ray to come and join you— and the mastiff promptly complies.

Everyone backs against the furthest wall of the building as the sorceress among you whispers into the end of her staff. As she holds the knotted and twisted wood close, a small bubble of space coalesces from her lips. Within seconds, a transparent sphere expands around you all. There's a complete absence of all light and sound.

You hold Ray close against you, trusting him to not panic. The darkness dissipates entirely. Gray light can be seen once more through the cracks and holes in the nearest wall.

Celegwen says, "stay close. I produced the effect in a very small area to save my strength." The sorceress sticks a hand out in front of her, waving it only a few feet around you all in a radius to demonstrate. "Anything beyond here can easily be heard."

Equal measures of appreciation and impatience are being pointed at you. It's making you terribly uncomfortable. "Thank you," you murmur, keeping your eyes downcast.

Ray conveniently gives you someone else to look at, as you continue to hold him close to you. You issue a few commands, now that you can speak. Better to not take any chances. "Sit, boy. Stay. Good boy, Ray."

Your eyes stay lowered. "I wanted to explain what— I wanted to explain what happened."

The elf bristles. You can feel her staring at you expectantly. Ofelia simply draws into herself in fear.

They both have the decency to not interrupt.

You nervously wring your hands around the gold over your heart. Your voice is much more confident as you speak of the Gods, but your anxiety is plain to see. "You've both seen me pray to the Gods before. I— I do not control Their will. I am a vessel through which They work. It is my choice to use Their gifts, but they are not given freely. It is Their divine right to use Their gifts as they see fit." You look at Celegwen— as uncomfortable as it is— to stress what you're about to say. "I didn't mean to offend you— and I certainly never— and I certainly never meant to endanger anyone. I was trying to save your lives."

The elf shifts— clearly wanting to say something— but you continue. "Your interference could have killed all of us. The God of Flesh granted me strength while I contended with that minor demon. Taking hold of me while Flesh was working through me is a terrible offense. I am to use my own weakness—" The slip has you blush with embarrassment. "—His strength, I mean— when He sees fit to grant it."

You cast your eyes down, ashamed of yourself. "You took that from us. It's nothing short of a miracle that Flesh permitted me to stay with Him. I've neglected His teachings." As you draw closer into yourself, your bones are prominent against the pieces of cloth that hook and hang over your emaciated frame.

Nothing can stop the determination that takes over your low tone. "I intend to correct that." Both women seem to be at a loss for words, so you continue. "I know you made a promise to me. I never meant to betray your trust."

Celegwen's expression finally softens, but she doesn't reply.

A few more moments pass by before you ask, "would you permit me to pray for a moment to Mercy? For all of us. I'm unfamiliar with how long your sorcery can stay in effect, but I only need a few more words. I— I would like to keep our hunger and thirst at bay."

The heretic remembers herself. "This effect will last so long as I keep it in place. Time is merely an issue for you two. I'm sure Ofelia will appreciate the effort— but, Father— this is all deeply troubling."

Ofelia's usually rosy complexion is pale and haggard from stress. "Ya' mean well Richard, but this is… a little much."

You pull into yourself further, while trying to repress the hurt that you desperately don't want to be seen across your face. Mercy does not need to hear your words outside of the spell. She is always with you.

Your words to Her are soft— barely a whisper— yet your holy symbol responds in turn with heat and intercession. The gnawing hunger fades. The ache in your throat and mouth dissipates.

Ofelia looks to you with extreme relief as you lovingly whisper your gratitude to the Goddess— then breaks out into nervous laughter. "Somethin' weird isn't gonna happen to me now, is it?"

Unable to offer her a smile in return through the offense, you cringe. "No, Ofelia. Mercy and I have a very close connection. She does not see fit to judge me for such a small request. No matter how we feel now, we will still need to eventually eat and drink. This is simply to keep our strength up." You are still desperate for accountability. "Celegwen. Can you please remind me to find us some food and water, just as— just as soon as we're able—?"

Her silver hair bobs as she nods. Contrary to Ofelia's disheveled hair and dirt-stained skin, the elf still looks impeccable. "I assume you both need to rest. I can keep an eye out, but we will need to move quickly."

You almost smile. She seems to have come around— at least, so far as you can tell.

Ofelia makes an exaggerated yawn, with her a voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh yeah, sure, let me just take a nap while this place is swarming with monsters."

Looking down at your arms again— robes hanging inches looser than before— the start of your smile vanishes. You say with no small measure of difficulty, "I do need to rest. I— I would greatly appreciate it if you both could keep watch. Please wake me if you suspect anything is amiss. Anything."

The two women exchange glances.

"I'll do my best. You sleep like a rock. You know that?" Ofelia punches you gently on the side of your arm. The strain on her face is evident, but she's trying to stay chipper.

Celegwen seems disgruntled, but nods her head. "It would be wise to let the search die down. Perhaps the imps will assume we fell down the precipice. I will set up an alarm in case they find another way in here."

A few moments pass with both women glancing at you. They're clearly waiting for you to rest before moving.

The gnawing sense of discomfort at the back of your mind is forced front and center. You can't ignore it any longer. "Celegwen. Ofelia. I didn't mean— I didn't mean to frighten you."

Their silence stretches on for an age.

"I know." Ofelia darts her eyes away.

Celegwen shakes her head. "There is madness in your race, Father. I see it in all of you. I understand that you meant well— but what you intend, and what we see can be entirely different things."

The rogue balks. "What the fuck kind of thing is that to say, Gwen?"

Silver eyes lock onto you. "I made a promise to aid you, Father— and to stay by your side for as long as I can. I intend to uphold that promise— but I will not silently abide by reckless endangerment of my friend's life. Nor of my own." Celegwen unstraps her short sword from her back. Wielding it with one hand, she keeps her staff within the other.

Looking towards the exit, she moves to leave the ring of silence around you all. "We will see how we fare with swarms of imps and the ruins on high alert, now that the minor demon is destroyed.”

Turning her back, the elf leaves you, Ray, and Ofelia within the orb of silence. “Get some sleep, Father. I'll see to the watch."

Crossing her arms, the blonde beside you huffs in frustration. "I know you didn't mean nothin' by all the fuss, Richard. That whole mess took a lot outta you, didn't it?"

Blood and bile streaks most of your hands, robes and face. It's difficult to not take Celegwen's comments to heart. You're painfully aware that you likely do look like a madman, and only manage to shrug.

"I know we'll be alright. Just give her a little time. The old hag is really slow on the uptake, sometimes.” A rag is produced from her backpack. “Here—"

"Thank you." A brief effort is made to wipe off the worst of the gore from your hands and face.

"Get some rest, 'kay? I'll probably join ya' soon enough. Gonna try to calm down Gwen a bit. Ray will look after ya', right?"

You nod, and permit Ray to lick at your cleaner hands. There's no use trying to get all the blood out from under your nails. Adrenaline and chaos was keeping you on high alert— but as soon as you try to relax, you slip deep into unconsciousness.

You're awakened by Ofelia.

"Richard! Richard!! RICHARD, GET UP, DAMMIT ALL—!"

Sleep hangs off of you like a lead weight as you bolt upright. It's unbearably dark.

Ofelia is shaking you hard. "RICHARD!"

Pulling away slightly, you murmur with as much urgency as your sleep-addled mind can process. "What's wrong—?"

"Fer fuck's sake Richard, get up. They've found us. Those imps— they're surrounding the building—!"

Ray growls from beside you at the unseen threat. You get to your feet as fast as you can. Staggering slightly, you register that Celegwen is standing just a few feet away. Her face is slick with sweat. Staff and sword in hand, she's glaring at the opening you all initially entered from. Starlight is flooding out of her weapons to hold the enemy at bay with a solid wall of arcane energy.

Ofelia tosses you your gear. You catch them with a little difficulty, and rapidly strap on your backpack and shield. Your mace weighs heavy in your free hand as the rogue stammers. "Richard, we don't have any way outta' here. I've been searchin' the buildin' for a long while, but it's all debris. This whole place is really unstable, and there must be fifty— no, sixty of 'em out there at least!"

You can handle a dozen imps, but this is too much. "Where— where is the building the weakest?"

Ofelia gives you a downright demonic grin. "Suicidal as always, Richard." Without waiting for a response, she gestures for you and Ray to move towards the back of the building. "Come on, over here! Quickly—!"

"Hold on, Celegwen!"

There's no reply to your attempt at reassurance as you run to follow Ofelia. The rogue slinks behind a pile of rubble, and disappears entirely into the shadows. "In here. There's a huge break in the stone. Looks like it could come down easy."

You slide in sideways between the debris. You don't quite thank Agriculture, but you're grateful for how little there is of you to get between the stone and rubble. Surely enough, you can see the gray light of the cavern beyond a large crack in the wall.

You call out to Celegwen, and turn your mace around. "GET READY TO RUN!"

From a pivot of your feet, up through your torso, and into all the strength your arms possess, you drive the back end of your mace into the opening. It takes no further effort to drive apart the building. With a hard twist of the handle, the stone instantly begins to crumble and break. You don't have time to deliberate over the lack of pain from your shout, and swing your shield overhead.

Guarding yourself, Ofelia, and Ray as best as you can prevents every large chunk of stone overhead from crushing or maiming you all. You don't want to wait a second longer than necessary. Your arms instantly ache from the downpour of rock. Fighting to keep your balance, you brace against the edge of the opening at your back, and kick the wall out in front of you. A passage is made just wide enough to escape through.

"Go!" You practically shove them outside. "Run! To the library—!"

Your command is cut short as you deflect a series of even heavier stones. Ofelia's and Ray's small figures disappear from sight as they run off into the cavern beyond. Celegwen comes up from behind you, and practically dives into the opening you've created. At the last possible moment, she reaches back, and pulls you by your robes to follow. You nearly hit your head as you break out of the collapsing building. Dozens of imps screech and skitter as they see you escape.

A torrent of demons pours out from inside and all around the building. Several more are hot on your heels just from the opening you created.

You run for your life, while tossing aside the stone and dust that had collapsed on your shield. Daring a look back is out of the question, so you make a quick inspection of your companion. Celegwen keeps the pace. She's unharmed, but looks more exhausted than you've ever seen her.

"You sleep far too heavily, Father—"

Nothing further can be said as you both catch up and overtake Ofelia and Ray. Both your's and Celegwen's imposing strides are double that of the halfling's.

The elf groans as she realizes what needs to be done, takes the lead, and grabs the small woman's hand to pull her along. You all sprint further ahead with renewed effort. A stampede of imps overflows from the debris behind you all.

Ofelia lets out a small shout. "Th-this way!"

Shield in hand, you dive to the left, and deflect an arrow as it streaks by. It slams into the wooden defense— rather than into your friends— and nearly knocks you off of your feet.

All the stamina you possess goes into a mad dash behind your friends, while keeping your shield held high. Ofelia guides you all through a series of stone pillars and towering debris. Her haphazard course and use of the environment keeps most of the imp's ranged weapons at bay, but you're rapidly losing steam.

Unused to pushing yourself so hard in such a weakened state, Ray literally pushes you ahead when he can. You pour yourself into the flight with renewed effort with his encouragement.

A number of remarkably tall buildings leer ahead. Their windows are darkened, and not a soul can be seen. The light suddenly shifts hard from gray to black.

You almost stop in place, but Ofelia calls out, "keep moving!"

The elf holds her staff aloft— still keeping the lead— and shouts in a fluid, bright language beyond your comprehension. Light appears from the end of her weapon, and takes in a small radius of the darkness ahead. The occasional arrow streaks past you, but the aim rapidly becomes more haphazard. Before long, it stops entirely. Every attempt to look behind you is futile. Darkness is all-encompassing, save for the faint radius of dissipation Celegwen has maintained.

Your footsteps and everyone's hard breath becomes the only source of sound.

The ground slowly shifts from a rocky plain to smooth and polished stone. It's harder to keep your traction— scuffed as your shoes are— but you push yourself to keep the gradually slowing pace.

You're relieved beyond description when everyone comes down to a walk. Celegwen mutters something under her breath, and shrinks the radius of her spell to just barely cover your bodies. Ray whines as shadows close in on you all, but you shush him.

Something pierces the silence. There's a strained sound up ahead. It’s akin to a human's voice— and almost sounds like screaming. You strain your ears, and can make out the noise.

It's a nauseating blend of sobbing and laughter.

Something mad lies ahead.

Celegwen turns to you slick with sweat and dust, and as pale as a ghost. She gestures to the darkness beyond. It's nearly impossible to make out, but there is the faintest outline of a building that extends up from the shadows. No windows can be seen on its face. There is no light to be found. The only evidence of life is the echo of countless humans in a fit of insanity.

"Do you see it?"

You nod, kneeling down to keep Ray steady. "Yes."

Ofelia's voice is low, out of breath, and deathly afraid. "Keep your guard up. There's humans ahead."