↢ Downpour ↣

My feet slam hard into the floor, causing the carpet to ruffle beneath me! My calves burn as I shuffle back upon them. I’d been running for a good while now, though not in any set direction, just needed to get away.

A strike of lightning forces a jolt from my shoulders. However, a sense of relief that that is all it was.

Just lightning… only lightning…

Without a second thought, I slip into one of the many rooms and quickly lock it behind me. My breaths come in rapid, uneven successions while I press my back to the wood. And without my control, my body lowers as I press an ear against it.

Yet… I hear nothing. Everything is almost completely silent other than the rain.

A welcomed sigh leaves my lips as I turn to the somewhat large room I’d put myself within. And thankfully, I’m alone.

I need to go back… don’t I? There’s still a chance… I might be able–

My hand falls to my hip as the thoughts begin to cover my mind. Yet, I’m displeased to find nothing there. My potions and gems were to be saving graces in instances like this…

Without much in the way of choices, I pull myself up.

Can’t stay here forever.

A short groan hits my lungs as the thought passes. That is until I force its silence while cracking the door. And to my liking, the hallway on the other side appears empty.

Then with another flash of lightning, I bolt down the corridor. Trying to silently retrace my steps as quickly as possible.

Arnold won’t be waiting forever. The statement reverberates around my head as I swiftly round corners.

My arms glisten their blue as my steps begin to muffle with every thump of my feet. And yet the cast seemed completely useless upon finding that I’d already made it back.

A streak of discoloured red leads me right to where he’d dragged himself. He’d not made it very far as I find him slumped against one of the hall's many pillars.

Arnold’s face had already gone pale, and the colour in his eyes was ever so faded. Yet, the small quiver in his chest gives me the hopeful answer I wanted, needed to see.

Then, with little hesitation, I kneel before him; sifting my mind for the information I needed for this moment. However, I’m only met with the shift of his head.

His eyes widen, even if by a small margin, upon landing on me. Though he immediately looks down to his abdomen. The wound was below the sternum, and as soon as he releases the pressure over it, what little blood he had left begins to ooze.

Without a thought, my arms glow. I press against the tender flesh, making him wince in response. And with every fibre in my being… I hope to save him.

However, the one thing I needed, the one thing that could make this so much easier, was taken. The potions and medical equipment in my belt could do so much for this situation. And yet, I sit holding the wound praying for it to heal.

This will only prevent the inevitable…

A thin sheet of ice glosses over the puncture. It was all I could do… and it would have to last. Even though I knew it couldn’t.

“I... c-can’t–” before I can finish my wording, Arnold grabs my wrist.

With the shake of his head, he tries to breathe, “Don’t… worry– about it… Find Freya… make sure Rose is– safe. I’ll be– fine…”

His hand slowly tightens before he gives me a weak smile. I can only stare at him, unable to respond. I couldn’t leave him in this state, however, my hands lift off the icy wound.

He slowly nods once before releasing his grip. And yet, I can only stare at the man; wanting to help, but not knowing how to do so.

So, I follow his order.

My feet begin before I do, pulling me down the corridor to where I’d last seen Freya. Being careful as to not be seen by anyone, although the keep itself seemed more empty than one should.

That’s when I begin to realise, I could hear the city warring with itself. Amongst the strikes of lightning and rain, the clashing of blades and screams were there.

I shake the thoughts forming in my head, turning my gaze back to the hall ahead of me. Although all I find is a bloodbath.

And in the middle of it stood a lone figure.

Freya’s dim red eyes fall to me before I can even think to utter a word. “El? Why are you… where are the others?”

I freeze upon her question as the realisation flowed through me. “Arn-nold…”

My eyes fall to the carpet under my feet. How can I tell her…

“Lead me to him,” is all she utters as she steps in front of me.

I instinctively nod before turning back to where I’d come. And although doubt creeps at the back of my mind, I know we can make it back to him. Though making it back in time and saving him are two different matters.

A single, shaky breath leaves me as I begin to retrace my steps. And even without any of the casts I had used earlier, we make it back faster than I had left.

And yet, my body still halts for a moment as we step up to him. His face appears cold, and his chest moves even less than it did before. Thankfully, this meant he was still alive.

Freya moves before I can react. Wrapping her hands around his face, tears already leaking down her cheeks. I grab at the knot in my chest, yet remain unmoved.

“Arnold… what happened? No, don’t tell me… We need to get y’–”

Before she can finish her statement, Arnold cuts her off with a shake of his head. “The wound’s too… He got me good, haha-ha…”

A small chuckle left him before he lifts his hand. My ice seemed to be holding firm, however, I could tell it was already growing week. I think even he knew before we arrived.

Freya hesitates for only a moment before turning towards me. “Can y’...”

My eyes fall to my feet again. Even with the right kind of medical potions and procedures… I still don’t even know if I could.

I want to speak my thoughts, I want to tell her I could if she got me the right things, I want to tell both of them it will be alright… But I couldn’t manage any of them.

Nothing I can say would be true…

“But we could–we can still–”

“Freya… it will be okay… I’ll be okay. Just find– Rose. Make sure she’s safe… then come back for me.” He tries to rub away a tear only to smear it with his blood.

Freya takes hold of his hand while nodding to his request. However, I could still see the resistance to move within her grimace as she pulls herself away from him.

“I won’t leave y’ here… Know that I am comin’ back for y’,” her words carry a heavyweight with them as they escape into the otherwise empty hall.

And as she rises to fulfil her mission, I look down to the happiness of a dying man. I put a hand over my heart before bowing to him. Honour in death… as Karter puts it.

Yet all he can give in response is a small head bob and a quiet, “thank you.”

↢ ⬦ ↣

My feet almost can’t keep pace with the fleeting woman. A scowl running alongside the tears still in her eyes lay firm on what was ahead of us. And yet, I remain silent beside her.

I was trying to give her space.

Another strike of lightning illuminates the shadows within our hall. A chill grabs at me as I watch them move. They seem to dance before the strike fades and the corridor returns back to its dim glow.

On instinct, I try shaking the sight out from my mind. Can’t be hallucinating now…

Before we can even get to the ‘grand’ entrance, a howling screech ripples the walls!

Both of us solidify as the realisation washes over us. How… that can’t be…

Freya is the first to move, immediately reaching for her side. However, her hand lands only on her belt. A long breath escapes her while she grabs the bridge of her nose.

“Wh-what d-did y-ou l-ose?” I question through the, now eerie silence.

“Seems our fail-safe has been set off,” she whispers through her palm before turning towards me.

“F-ail… s-safe?”

“I’m going to have to ask another favour of y’,” I nod before she continues, “the shade y’ two captured, we need to take it down before…”

My eyes widen as my hand reaches instinctively to where my dagger would lie along my waist. And just like Freya, my hand lands only on air.

Right… I bite the inner of my lip as the thoughts run in my head. Now, what am I supposed to do…?

“It might not be the same, but here.” Freya spins the handle of a knife towards me.

I only give her a slight dip of my head before taking the weapon. And although it wasn’t that I needed one, I still appreciated the gesture.

That’s when the grinding of steel brings us back into focus. There’s a monster to hunt, this is my duty after all… right?

Our feet move before the grumble in my lungs can get the chance to leave. Although it isn’t long until we enter the ‘grand’ entrance.

The sight makes my stomach churn. I immediately cover my mouth as I can feel the bile within me rise.

However, Freya only looks to me with sympathy. Then with a quick motion, she pulls me away from the room. And before I can react, she

quietly states, “can’t have y’ gettin’ sick.”

I give an agreeing nod as we make our way up the arching stairwell, trying not to peer over the railing. Though I still couldn’t escape this foul aroma wafting over us.

Screeches pull my attention, and I come face to face with another one of those damned creatures. A faceless shadow crawls out from the wall before darting away from us. This forces a raise to Freya’s brow, however, a narrow to mine.

“F-ollow,” I mutter before taking the lead. My arms begin their glow as I ready myself for the imminent battle.

Yet, I’m halted before I can even get close to fight. A pair of daunting eyes peer over the clashing of blade and mist, and their haunting red glow strikes my core. There was something within them that felt off, something I didn’t want to know, but I knew exactly what it was.

It remembered me.

A sharp hiss escapes it, and several spawn leap at whatever it was fighting. Then with soft, almost silent steps, it creeps towards me. And for a moment, I swear I could see it smile.

“I’ll take lead, wait for my openin’,” Freya’s voice almost misses me as I stare at the advancing silhouette.

However, I manage to respond back with a quick nod before she blocks my path. The memory of days prior plays in my head as the scene seems to replay itself.

“Th-the f-ingers… c-cut off its– fingers!” I try to shout, though the words still come out harsh and more hushed than intended. An ache forces my hand to the old scar tissue running down my neck.

Still a small bob of her head is enough to give me a small grin. I need to start before it can create any spawn.

I kneel while placing my hands on the ground, the lack of water will make this tricky, but I can still do this. I have to.

The hue of my arms illuminates the darkened corridor around us as the floor under me begins to freeze. And as my lungs start to burn, I can hear the Shade’s howl. It is only a matter of time till the spawn come to stop me.

Then before I can even mutter my displeasure, the shatter of glass forces my gaze!

I’m stunned for a moment, only enough to halt my cast but not enough to dissolve it. Someone just bought me time.

The feeling of rain collecting around me brings with it a sigh of relief. Then within seconds, the droplets orbiting me gradually form into needles. And with the rapid growth to my arsenal, I become more equipped than needed.

I raise my head to the clanking of metal and ready once more.

Freya slams an axehead through one of the Shade’s hands, slicing two claws free! It growls before swinging its other hand directly into the path of a short-sword! Its screech pierces my ears as Freya twists the blade, forcing the beast to the ground!

Without hesitation, I release my cast. Allowing the shadows to retake, and with them, fresh spawn begins to seep out of the crevices. Yet, their bodies melt as the needles around me launch into them!

As soon as the shards around me fly free, I raise a hand up to the Shade. A line of ice runs towards it faster than anyone can react. Then within an instant, three jagged spikes pierce through it!

It wouldn’t hold forever, but this would give us time.

Without a word, Freya rises to meet the next opponent. And in return, a pair of snickering blue eyes turn to greet us. Blood still lingering on his chin, and on the sword in hand.

“So it wasn’t enough after all… Y’ really don’t know when to quit, do y’?” His voice runs in my veins like fire.

And without a thought, I immediately step forward. I want to rip his head off, I want to tear him apart, I want–

Freya reaches out her arm, stopping me from progressing further. “Finish the Shade, I’ll deal with him.”

“Y’ think… y’ can beat me? Even in a weakened state… I have never been bested!” the warrior shouts over us before pointing the tip of his blade at Freya, “but go on, try y’r best, vermin.”

However, she only raises her weapons in response. “For my love. Honour be his embrace.”

↢ To be continued ↣