Chapter 2

・Inevitability・

Athena felt the soft touch of a quilt on her skin as its cloud-like cushiony warmth wrapped itself around her. She snuggled against it as the scent of freshly cut grass entered her lungs through the crisp air. The twittering sound of birds outside slowly brought her to her senses as she squeezed open her heavy eyelids, feeling the gaze of the sun resting comfily against her like an old lapdog as it swayed in through the open window.

Sitting herself up and peering around the room, Athena found its atmosphere comforting. Shelves with books all neatly lined up in their place, a scenic painting hung on the far wall and to the left of her bed sat a desk where someone had left a bouquet of blooming flowers, arranged satisfyingly in a ceramic vase. The room’s colours were easy on the eyes, beiges and browns plastered the walls, making for an ambience of warmth that left her mind clear and tranquil.

“Where am I-” She muttered to herself before suddenly, she felt the venomous tightening of fear course through her body like lava.

“My arm!” She shrieked with a gut plunging gasp, scouring down to her arm that had been ravaged to pieces yesterday only to find that-- it was completely fine.

Athena sat frozen like ice as Nate’s words echoed through her mind.

“Demons, no matter the injury, will regenerate all and everything as long as they have blood and a brain.”

“I’m-- A demon…?”

Athena felt her world begin to melt with each word that left her mouth as a dark, distasteful shadow began to emerge from the corners of the room, slowly wrapping its long detestable arms around her, squishing her body tight as its weight hung down over her.

‘No, that can’t be right… I’m dreaming! I’m on my way home from karate class—I fell asleep on the bus, on my way to the train station and I’m- ‘

Just then, the heinous memories of her past exploded through into her mind like lightning. The blaringly bright flashing headlights of a train blasted her eyes wide open. Her ears bleeding from its excruciatingly loud, thunder-like horn that shunned all other sounds from existence in its quake, all apart—from one…

This-- gremlin-like giggling from behind her. Each cackle driving hundreds of daggers into her spine; fiendish snickering that incapacitated her ears, her mind, her body and soul with its high pitch car alarm like tone. It mocked Athena as she tried everything, she could, to turn behind her but no matter how she attempted to twist her body, in every which way, whatever she tried-- was meaningless.

Her brain tightened in irritation as the corner of her eyes twitched and her temples pulsed in pain. But within all this infuriating anguish, Athena’s mind leapt through heaven and earth as she came to the upmost abysmal realisation.

“I-- Died…”

-Knock - Knock - Knock-

“Co- C- Come in!” Stuttered Athena, fumbling with the sheets a little, as the door handle turned and the darkness that once dwelled scoured away back into the corners of the room.

“Sorry to intrude…” Said a smooth female voice. She spoke like caramel cream, as this thick silky tone that reverbed around the room. Emerging from behind the door was a tall, brown-haired woman. Her eyes were heavy with jet-black ink smears hanging down beneath them. She wore a surgical mask that covered most of her face but apart from that, she wore normal clothes: A brown cardigan with a puffy-ish white undershirt and black skin-tight jeans with beige slip-on shoes.

“I thought I heard something, so I thought I’d check to see if you were up.” Said the woman.

“Uh, yeah… I’m up.” Muttered Athena as she rubbed away the drowsiness from her eyes.

“I don’t mean to push this on you as soon as you’ve woken up, but-- we really need your help. That man who brought you here last night said you would be able to?”

‘That man…? Nate?’

“Down this hill is a village of which the townsfolk have been infected with a plague.”

‘Ah, that’s right…’

“Can you?” Asked the woman.

“Yeah… I’d like to if possible. What do you need help with?”

“Well, you see. This village is infected with an unknown disease that has slowly been picking people off. I’m the only doctor here and I’ve spent the past few days coming up with a cure. However, there is one problem. The cure that I’ve theorised requires a specific ingredient that no one in this village is capable of collecting at this moment.”

“What ingredient?” Asked Athena.

“A blue flower that grows at the entrance of the north cave in the forest, it’s called a Doux Flower, it will be around a 30-minute journey in total. Are you okay going to collect that for me?”

“Uuh, sure. That sounds easy enough, I guess. What kind of disease is this anyway?”

“The disease will lay stagnant in your body for 3 days before you start to feel symptoms. Meaning you have 3 days to collect this material for us. And oh! I’ll give you a portion of the money I earn for creating the cure, if that sounds good to you?”

“Sure. That sounds fine with me.”

“I’m sure you can handle it. I’ll go get your sword for you, that man left it with me before he left last night.”

‘Wait… Sword?’

“H- Hold on!” Yelled Athena, jumping up from bed, after the doctor.

“Hm, what is it?” She asked as the two walked down the coffee-coloured hallway towards the front desk.

“What am I going to need a sword for? I’m just going to collect some plant or something, right?”

“Well-- yeah but the forest is filled with Demon Remnants.” Said the doctor in a questioning tone.

“Demon—remnants…?”

“You don’t know? Animals that have been mutated due to demonic energy. That guy yesterday said they’d be no issue for you…”

‘Demonic animals?’ Thought Athena, her face drooping as she glanced away into space, sighing softly to herself.

“Okay… I guess.”

“Cool, here’s your sword by the way.” Said the doctor handing Athena a black sword with golden patterns tailored around it that she had picked up from behind the desk. Athena recognised it as one of the swords from the shrine yesterday.

“Thanks…”

As the doctor walked Athena out the building, she pointed her towards the entrance to the forest and the direction of the cave.

“Once you get around 25 minutes in, you’ll see a signpost pointing you in the right direction, it’s practically a single path so, you can’t get lost.”

“Thanks, I’ll do my best.” Said Athena. “H- However, there is one issue.”

“Issue? What is it?”

“I haven’t eaten yet, is there a restaurant or something?”

The doctor froze making an “a” noise as she stared off into space for a moment before lightly chuckling at herself.

“Uh, yeah, sorry. There’s a café just down the road.” Said the doctor pointing down one of the desolate streets ahead to one of the several buildings.

The streets themselves were compact with most the buildings being primarily constructed with dark, thick, oak wood beams and beige coloured walls that reflected the sun with a blooming glow. The roads, however, were a bumpy, uneven cobblestone that sat layered with a grimy moss. Athena struggled to spot a point on the road that didn’t have litter brushing against the curb. And the pavement, although smooth, was lathered in dust with rigid pebbles kicked against the buildings.

“Thanks.” Said Athena as she began strolling towards the café; checking her pockets, Nate had left her with some money along with, of course, a sword that Athena latched to her hip and one of his red earrings that he attached to her left ear while she was passed out.

‘I can’t believe I’m really in another world…’ Thought Athena, the atmosphere felt so different, breathing was like inhaling the scent of heaven, so refreshing and clear like taking the first sip of a cold cola on a hot summers day and feeling it’s chilly, caramel, texture slither down your throat.

‘I’m rather excited…” She thought, pushing open the heavy café glass door as it let out a slinky jingle announcing her arrival.

‘I’m sure I should be feeling some regret about my actions from my life but, there’s something so refreshing about ignoring it…’

Athena sat down in the café, ordering a fancily named chocolate cake that caught her eye from the menu.

‘Should I be upset that I’ll never see my family again? I don’t feel upset… In fact, I feel happy, happy that I finally have an excuse to escape from them. An excuse in death. An escape in death…’

Athena sighed.

‘I guess It was going to happen one way or another…’

The waiter brought out her cake, it was square shaped with powdered sugar dabbed atop its thin, crumbly, first layer with the rest being a chocolatey sponge. Athena cut into it as melted chocolate seeped out, coming to a stiff stop upon the crumbling sponge of the cake.

‘Some things really are just inevitable.’

Athena let out a soft smile as she glared at the glistening chocolatey syrup that trickled out the spongey hole as a boy stood patiently behind her, trying to get her attention.

“Uhm, are you Athena?” He asked, Athena turned to him in moderate surprise, pulling her out of her deep thought. He appeared to be 15 or 16, with a black bowl cut hair style and deep, green eyes. He wore a long sleeved, black v neck sweater and black pants.

“Hm? Yeah, can I help you?” Asked Athena with an eyebrow raised, smothering a small slice of her cake with the thick chocolate sauce.

“Uh, yeah Miss Lynn told me you were going to fetch the materials needed for the antidote, right?”

As Athena went to put the slice of chocolate coated cake in her mouth, she paused.

“Miss Lynn?” She asked before continuing to prop the slice in her mouth.

“Uhh, the doctor…” Muttered the boy, his eyes defocusing from Athena as he spoke.

‘Hmm, come to think of it, she didn’t tell me her name, did she?’

Athena’s eyes wavered off into the distance for a moment before snapping back to the boy.

“Uh, sure, what about it?”

“Well, girls are weak and are scared of the forest. Want me to protect you? Just do as I say, and I’ll make sure the demons don’t-”

As the boy spoke, Athena heard the dark spectre-like tone of a man reverb through her head.

“Do whatever I tell you, and I’ll make them stop.”

Suddenly, Athena exploded upwards with a fierce glare, unleashing a blitzing sucker punch into the boy which sent him tumbling backwards, shattering through the front window of the café.

Athena felt the cold shower of instant regret being dumped over her like a bucket of icy water as her face turned ghost-like upon the sight of the boy lying stiffly on the ground, outside.

‘Ah, w- why’d I do that… That-- wasn’t like me at all…’

“Hey! What the fuck are you doing!” Exclaimed the café owner in a blaring tone that was, however, nothing-- compared to the drowning echo of Nate’s pompous words that soared throughout Athena’s head.

“If you kill, albeit on accident or intentional, even a single soul, I will --in turn-- kill you.”

Ignoring the café owner, Athena staggered her step rushing past him to the boy’s aid, hopping through the shattered front window as she bent down to him.

“H- Hey— Are you okay?!” Asked Athena to the boy who peered up at her with a frozen glare.

“Uh, yeah—I’m good.” He muttered as he pushed himself back to his feet.

“Oh, thank god-”

“HEY!” Roared the café owner, making Athena and the boy shiver with fear as he ran over to them.

“Run.” Said the boy forcefully grabbing Athena by the hand dragging her up to her feet and sprinting through and out the village towards the treeline.

The two dashed through the trees and into the forest. It was peaceful. The trees sung a relaxing hymn as the wind brushed through them and the sun beamed down through excess space between the branches, lighting up the dirt path that was surrounded by beautiful emerald, green moss and floral appendage as the garnet embers of the forest began to discreetly sprout in upon the leaves.

The two came to a panting halt upon the dirt path. “I think we got away.” Said the boy breathlessly glancing over his shoulder.

“Yeah.” Muttered Athena.

The boy chuckled. “Looks like we’re in this together. I’m Benji, by the way. I don’t think I told you.”

“Nice to meet you, Benji.” Said Athena with a gleeful smile. “let’s get this flower and make some money then pay that guy back for breaking his window.”

“Sure. Let’s do it.”

Just then, an almond-coloured leaf fluttered down to the ground between them.

“hm, looks like it’s starting to turn Autumn; hasn’t quite set in yet though.” Muttered Benji, stretching his arms up in the air.

“Hasn’t quite set in, huh? Hey… I’m—uh sorry for hitting you by the way.” Said Athena, Benji glanced over to her. “I’m sorta new here and just don’t want to be pushed around again.”

“It’s fine… What I said was out of line and-”

“No.” Muttered Athena, stopping Benji in his tracks as he glared blankly at her. “You were right, I’m weak. I’d appreciate you looking out for me.”

Benji stood silent for a moment before bursting into a chuckle. “I don’t know what person sends another flying through a glass window and thinks of themselves as weak. You crack me up, for real!” Exclaimed Benji, bending over himself in stitches. “Don’t worry, the demon-remnants here aren’t that scary as long as you keep on your toes.”

Athena smiled warmly. “But if you don’t keep on your toes-” Chuckled Benji, imitating monster claws with his hands. “-they’ll get you! oOoOoo.”

Athena burst into a light chuckle, playfully digging his shoulder with a wide smile on her face. “Come on, let’s get this damn flower already.”

Benji chuckled as he reclused slightly, peering at Athena through the corner of his eye with a cheerful grin sitting on his flushed face.

Just then, as they started walking, Benji suddenly changed expression entirely. Abruptly tensing up all of a sudden with an electrifying gasp.

“Hm? W- What is it?” Asked Athena, turning to him in weary confusion.

“I can sense something coming.”

“Sense?” She questioned.

“Mhm—My Spirit Ability allows me to sense living things with malice. Usually, you would have to touch the individual and imbue some of your soul energy into them to sense theirs but with my ability I can sense anything that has murderous intent.”

“Spirit ability? That sounds pretty handy.”

Benji looked at her in awe for a moment before tensing up again. “Th- Thanks. Here they come! It feels like 4!” Shouted Benji as he glared out into the treeline.

“4?” Eeked Athena before suddenly, 2 large beast-like wolves came soaring out from the treeline where Benji was looking.

“Where’s the-” Muttered Athena before suddenly, she felt herself being thrust to the side. Twisting her body to look behind her, Athena felt her blood reverse in her veins upon the sight of Benji’s arm being squelched into by the shimmeringly sharp vulturous fangs of one of the wolves.

Athena felt a tingle run down her back as the faint sound of growling from behind her entered her ears.

Shock wore off as Athena snapped her hands to her hip, landing on the dusty forest floor. Then, whirling around, Athena unsheathed her sword, slashing through the thick coat of the 4th wolf that tried to sneak behind her, Its blood burst into the air like an array of succulent thirst-quenching cuisine as her glistening, silver blade slid out through the other end of its neck, lathering the ground in its vivid red fluids. Athena twirled her sword around, forming a spiral of blood that splattered upon her insanity basking face, as she grasped her blade in a reverse grip and headed directly for the remaining fiends with an ecstatic grin.

The sudden thud of the 4th wolf hitting the hollow ground alerted the two closet beasts that were focusing on Benji, who had been pushed far back, away from Athena by the 3 wolves after managing to free his arm from the confines of their gnarly fangs.

The two wolves began charging at Athena who leaned forward into her sprint, shoving her balance across herself. As the first one pounced up at her, Athena lunged her weight up, driving her sword through the right side of its neck and out the left. Its blood splattered the sky, shimmering silver-like sparkles in the light of the sun as its juicy texture plunged down through the air, wrapping itself around Athena with a splash as she leapt up through it as if it were a gushing waterfall.

Making an X with her arms as she spun in the air, gyrating her sword around swiftly with a thip, holding it back in its normal grip, as she moved with the flow of her momentum into a heavy, snapping, slash that just barely grazed across the left side of the beast.

Athena clicked her tongue as she landed on the ground in a combat roll before lunging herself up and turning to face the beast as she skidded across the dusty floor.

Athena’s mind dwindled for a moment as she glanced out the corner of her eye at Benji, who was a few meters behind her. Athena’s heart tightened as she saw the horrifying sight of blood sop to the ground from his arm.

“Ben-“

Athena paused as the sound of paws stomping on the dense ground alerted her senses as she turned as the frothing jaw of the-

-SPELCH-

Blood gushed out of Athena’s arm as she bit her lip in pain before gritting her teeth and slamming the wolfs body across a nearby tree, ripping it’s head off its shoulders as its body contorted against the trunk.

Athena slackened the latched of the wolfs jaw, ripping it off her arm as she shot around towards Benji but then stopped dead in her tracks.

“I- I got this one!” He yelled, a sudden air of seriousness encompassed him as he glared forward, steadying his breath as he positioned his sword downward at his left hip.

In that moment, for the first time, Athena noticed it. The radiating, purple, flow of the soul that encompassed the human body. Her endorphins ran wild as she set her glistening eyes upon it for the first time. A burst of euphoria enveloped her as tension scattered out her body. Her mind was filled with a fuzzy sense of pleasure as her muscles tingled warmly, sending satisfying shivers up and down her spine as she felt her breath being whisked away.

And then, Benji suddenly snapped forward, slicing the head clean off the wolf. As he did so Athena gulped as the gentle, relaxing flow of energy spiked like the burst of pressure that happens when someone slits a needle sized hole in the side of a shaken can of cherry cola.

The headless creature dropped to the floor with a thud, and just like that the ecstasy evaporated from Athena leaving her with a sense of fulfilment and weightlessness.

“Benji-- what was-” Athena stopped as her eyes slowly focused upon the pool of blood beginning to form under Benji. His arm had been massacred by the fiend’s razor-sharp teeth; parts of his muscle dangled in their place as velvet-like blood gushed from his wound; deep enough for the whites of his fractured bone to be clearly visible.

“A- Are you okay…” Muttered Athena, her face turned plastic, completely stiff, as she stared at him, shell-shook.

Benji exhaled softly. His eyes appeared heavy as he began to sway side to side.

“Sorry…” He muttered quietly with a gentle smile as he began to lose his footing and fall back, drifting away into a state of blurry unconsciousness as he hit the ground.

“B- Benji…?”

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“Why did I join them?” Benji asked himself.

“Why did I join the Infinity Cult?”

The muffled sound of drums began to come into focus as Benji found himself standing in the cold night air, blankly glaring ahead at the dark forest path; lit up by the dim glow emitting from the flickering flames of torches that were hung upon the trees. Each strike of the drum sent vibrations through his shivering body as he felt each thump, rumble in his fingertips.

“You cold?” Asked a dark, gritty voice from behind Benji as he felt a hand gracefully land on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the old shimmering, smiley, face of his master, Benji felt an intense sense of Déjà vu as the crackling flames behind him that were once background noise suddenly burst in intensity as he found himself staring at his master’s now soft face, crouching down to see eye to eye with him.

“What’s your name?”

“Benji…” Muttered a young boy, staring solemnly at the dark, grassy ground below him.

“Benji…? And where are your parents?” He asked, glancing behind him, with a sour face, at the blitzing flames that ravaged through the nearby village.

“I don’t know.” He muttered, hollowly staring into space.

The man sighed. “Well, Benji, my name’s Hugh.” He said with a soft, gleaming smile. “I’m going to go for a walk. Want to come with me?”

Hugh held out his hand to Benji. Hesitantly, Benji lifted his tiny hand and placed it in Hugh’s palm. As he did, the thud of a drum being struck snapped him back.

“Go on Benji, it’s your ceremony day, it’s your turn to become one of us.” Said Hugh with a great smile beaming across his face.

“Master, Hugh. I’m scared…” Mumbled Benji, tightening his posture at each bang of the drum.

Hugh chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry Benji, you’re going to get your special power soon and you’ll be just like me.”

Benji looked up at Hugh.

“After today-- you’ll be special.”