Chapter 6: Father

Hey guys.

Chapter six was rough. I re-edited it like a thousand times when I got to that point where the antagonist met with the protagonist. There are hundred different ways I had explained it but yeah... I think it shows but I'm find with it.

Chapter 6: Father

               Almost didn’t recognize Claudio when I turned around. He’s older, older than I am. He looks to be in his early twenties, he doesn’t look like the boy trying to play hero anymore. Dressed in the same blue & red stripped uniform the guards wear, he looks like the hero he always wanted to be. His face doesn’t look young, bags have started to form underneath his eyes. His body has been developed as if he spent years with the lifestyle of running, fighting, and surviving like I have but without the amenities of the Shadows Tavern. Cressidra isn’t certain what to do, she stands a few feet away from him with her scythe ready to strike. Claudio cleverly disarms himself by dropping his sword, smiling at me as if he found a long lost brother.  

                “Jamie. I didn’t think I will ever find you.” Claudio said, taking a few steps towards me. Cressidra moves her scythe slightly, threatening Claudio with it. He takes the hint. I’m standing by the windowsill with the loaded sniper rifle in my hand. I freeze, confused on how Claudio could’ve gotten here.

                “Who’s Jamie? Blaze, who is this guy?” Cressidra asked, she looks at me waiting for answers. She’s looking for guidance on what to do with Claudio since I yelled at her not to kill him. Outside the commotion from the gunfire can still be heard, guards screaming at each other that the city is under attack.

                “Blaze? It’s funny when you think the character you made up is you, or was it the other way around? Were you always Blaze and you made up Jamie?” Claudio asked, he didn’t move. He was careful of Cressidra like he knew she was already dangerous. Confused by his question, I decided to calm down Cressidra.

            “Cress, he’s fine. He’s a friend from home.” I said. Moving from the window so I’m between both of them, I turn my back to Cressidra to study Claudio more. Brown hair reaches down to his shoulders, scruffy beard along his face, and wrinkles around his eyes. He’s aged more than I thought at first, and he’s older than me now. He didn’t look like the same kid I bullied around with a foam sword all those years back, and he certainly doesn’t present himself like a man who is submissive.
 

“You’re older…” He didn’t seem concerned by the revelation.

            “Well it has been nearly ten years since we’ve seen each other last Jamie.” He gives me a hug, and I embrace him back.

“Five years, for me. It’s been five years. How is that possible? I jumped in before you… right?” I asked, I was clearly confused and I was missing something. Something he knows that I didn’t.

“Yes, I saw you jump in. I followed you.” He answered. Pressing for more information I start to talk but was cut off by Cressidra.  

“How did you find us? How did you know we’ll be here?” Cressidra interrupted. It’s not hard to tell she’s concerned by the scenario, every moment we’re talking to Claudio we’re wasting time from saving Valentine. It’s also crossing my mind that he’s wearing the same colours of the guards we just killed, the surprise of seeing me again will only stall him for so long before he needs to decide how to react. 
 

“Gunfire. It sounded familiar and of all my years here in the Last City, I’ve never heard of a gun being fired. I didn’t know guns existed in this place. So, while the guards were wondering what’s going on, I started looking at windows. It wasn’t like Jamie was being stealthy with his position at the window.” Claudio paused, looking at the sniper rifle in my hand.

“That looks a lot different than a foam sword. Where did you pick it up from?” Claudio added, curious about my gun. He hasn’t noticed my revolver hiding underneath my shirt, stuffed into my pants as if I was a hoodlum in a downtown neighborhood back home.

            “Have you not run into people or objects from our world?” I asked him. It may’ve not been as common as I thought, but I did hear Winston say a lot of stuff be it people or objects do get swallowed up into the Lost Realm. Cressidra bored of the discussion moves back towards the window where I was just shooting out of to check the scene.

            “Well yeah, but I mea—“ Claudio is interrupted by Cressidra.

“He’s stalling.” Cressidra yelled back to me from the window. I turn around to her and look towards Claudio for an explanation.

“Honestly, I didn’t know it was you up here. Like I said. I knew it was gunfire, I was just a distraction until they showed up.” Claudio said, sounding very apologetic. I move towards the window to see what Cressidra is looking at.  

            “What’s going on?” I asked. Looking out the window I don’t see anything that is too concerning. No guards rushing the building, people walking up and down the street minding their own business, nothing that would alarm me to troubling. 

            “Those two, right there. Antigone and Alexis Fe Fantum” She points to two people as she says their names. They walked together coming towards the building from way of the tower, how I missed them I don’t know but they blend into their surroundings masterfully. If Cressidra didn’t point them out I wouldn’t have noticed. Antigone looked similar to an older Cressidra, if Cressidra wore a dress. She wore a black short dress, had long black hair, and her skin illuminates in the purple horizon night. Alexis Fe Fantum is a man, wearing a black tuxedo with a top hat twirling a cane with his fingers as he walked.

           
            “Who are they?” I didn’t recognize their names, but by the way Cressidra called their names it’s something I should’ve recognized.

            “Valentine’s previous students.” She said dreadfully.

            “Cressidra, if I hold those two off, do you think you can get to Valentine and get out of here?” I asked. While I doubt I can actually win in a fight with two assassins, I do have a trump card and I hope Claudio would stop them before they kill me.

            “I don’t know. I don’t know where he is, I don’t know how to get him out. This was your plan.” Cressidra panicked. Never have I seen her like this, she’s always calm and collected even when Claudio saw us, but upon seeing Antigone and Alexis Fe Fantum, any confidence she has went out the window.  

            “Valentine is in the basement. Go into the tower, turn right and follow the stairs down. Fourth cell on the left.” Claudio spoke up, throwing a set of keys to Cressidra. She catches them with her free hand not gripping her scythe.

            “Thanks.” I said to Claudio. He chuckled.

            “It won’t matter. She’s going to die anyways. I thought I might as well do a small friendly gesture before she runs to her death. And you? You’re foolish enough to fight two of the deadliest people in this city.” The way Claudio spoke, didn’t sound like he was helping, more like he was enjoying us struggle trying to come up with a plan.

            “I can’t leave you here Blaze. They’ll kill you.” Cressidra pleads. I smile, embracing her in a hug. I kiss her softly on her cheek.  

            “Go. Save Valentine, I’ll meet you back at the Tavern. As soon as you hear me fire, you run as fast as you can. Kill everyone in your way, grab him and leave.” I ordered. Since she came back alone to the tavern, she hasn’t been acting like herself. She needed instruction, to be told what to do. I don’t think even if she stayed with me to fight the two assassins that we could win because she isn’t herself.

           

            I look towards Claudio studying his face trying to read him regarding the situation. I wasn’t sure if he was going to help me, betray me, or do nothing. There is some unresolved issues between us, I don’t know what exactly but he is hiding something. I turn around and kiss Cressidra again. Walking towards the door, I ready my sniper rifle. Positioning myself so I’m partially covered by the door, I point the gun towards the stairwell. Creaking sounds from the stairs can be heard as they slowly walk up the wooden stairs I turn towards Cressidra, signaling her to start climbing down. She does so. Claudio remains in the room watching how everything unfolds.  

            The first person I see coming up the stairs is Antigone. Firing the sniper rifle, the bullet managed to hit the right side of her arm as she walks up the steps. Taken back from the shot, she falls down tumbling down the flights of stairs, Alexis didn’t bother trying to catch her. Alexis runs up the stairs and turns towards me. Running down the hall, he smacks his cane along the wall and the bottom of the cane ejects a small precision blade that’s no longer than six inches. I throw my sniper rifle at him, the butt of the gun smashes his feminine face and his nose starts to leak blood all over his tuxedo and floor. His hands covers his nose to stop the bleeding.

            “You little fuck.” Alexis cursed, I guess he wasn’t expecting that. Claudio remained silent.

            Before Alexis could recover I rushed him. The first thing I attempt to do was lift him off the side railing of the building and throw him down five storeys all the way to the wooden flooring of the first floor. As I hooked my arm between his legs to lift, he delivers an elbow to the side of my neck. Letting go I stumble, my back hitting the wall. He throws a punch, I duck and thrust my leg towards his body. I got the desired effect that I wanted, the cheap construction of the building easily caused the railing collapse when a certain amount of force was able to hit it. Alexis went tumbling down, but I didn’t hear a thud when he hit the floor. I look over my shoulder, Claudio remained still.

            Antigone emerges from the staircase again. She doesn’t look happy. Despite her calm beauty outside, she looks like a monster. Claws form from her fingers, muscles flex causing her dress to rip, fangs form from her mouth form, and a look of scowl upon her face piercing into my body terrifying me. I consider jumping off the hallway onto the entrance floor below just as I sent Alexis to do a few seconds earlier but I wasn’t able to move. Paralyzed in fear.

            Her claws softly digs into my throat and with little effort she lifts me up from the ground, back still against the wall. I can feel the blood run from my neck and onto her hands. She laughs.

            “Well, what other surprises do you got little boy?” She asked squeezing my throat and I croak in pain.  

            “How delicious your blood smells.” She commented. Leaning towards me, her fangs exposed. I attempt to reach for the revolver in my pants but before I pull it out I hear Claudio yelling at Antigone.

            “Stop. He’s Yosho’s son.” Claudio yelled. Antigone stops inches away before my neck. I’m confused by that statement.

            “Well then.” She says, bringing her hand up and striking me with a first causing me to black out.

            Laying on my side, I don’t open my eyes. My hands and legs are tied behind my back in a way that if I was turned upright I would be on my knees with my hands resting just above my feet. I move my foot causing my shoulder to pull a little. My face still aches from Antigone’s punch. I can feel the revolver’s barrel digging into my legs, that’s a good sign I thought to myself. However, I realize I’m not alone. I can hear voices talk, so I listen to my surroundings.

            “Valentine left. He managed to escape with Cressidra.” A male’s voice that I don’t recognized spoke.

            “It doesn’t matter now. We got what he refused to give us, if Claudio is correct.” A different voice replied. The voice is harsh and speaks with authority uncaring what other people thought. He pronounces words slowly, dictating each importance. 

“Wake our guest up.” The voice ordered again. A hand grabs my hair forcefully, lifting me up just enough so I’m placed on my knees. I open my eyes, looking around the large circular room. Paintings on the walls, statues of warriors line up along a red carpet leading up to the extravagant looking throne made of bone. I see Claudio and Alexis standing to the right of the throne, and I glance behind me noticing Antigone gripping my hair with an evil smirk on her lips. As she catches me looking at her she pulls my hair forcefully again so I’m looking straight at the throne.


            The man sitting on the throne looks to be in his thirties, with short brown hair and eyes. He is dressed in a black robe with pale skin. It looks like he wears black eye shadow and eyeliner, which isn’t the attention grabber on his face. A red third eye is painted between his two eyes. His lips are greyish, looking like they’re dried. He speaks again, he is the owner of the authoritve voice.

            “So Claudio, this is my son.” Yosho asked, turning to his left looking at Claudio. Claudio nodded.

            “Yes my lord. He goes by Jamie Davis but Cressidra called him Blaze. I believe if asked, his last name is Atrocious as well.” Claudio answered. Before I blacked out he called Yosho my father, but the man sitting on the throne looked nothing like my dad. My dad in the real world is in his 40’s, my parents are an older couple. My dad is certainly not into the whole make up and occult part either.  

            “Is this true boy? You identify yourself as Blaze Atrocious? What is your mother’s name? Your sister?” He asked, turning his attention to me. I don’t say nothing at first, but with another hard yank of my hair I talk.

            “Jamie Davis. Blaze Atrocious is a character I made up for playing sword fights with Claudio.” I stated, unsure what lies Claudio may’ve told to Yosho. From what I’ve heard from his nickname The Mad Mage, he may not be completely sane.

            “You know, blood calls to blood. You use that name because that’s who you are. Jamie Davis is the alias, a fabrication. One that your mother made when she ran away.” Yosho stated. He seems convinced that I am his son, and I’m unsure if that makes him happy or not.

            “And why would she do that? If you were my father, why would she run?”

            “What do all mothers do? To protect their children.” Yosho stated with a smirk. 

            “The Prophecy of the Demon must not come, you’ll be culled to protect the Last City and the growing prosperity I bring.” Yosho ordered. I feel my hair being pulled again, lifting my head up to expose my neck. Fearing my throat being slit.

            “I don’t believe you!” I yelled, pleading for some sort of explanation that makes sense. Yosho’s hand waves in the air as if he’s telling Antigone to cease what she’s going to do. He gets up from the throne and slowly walks down the three steps it takes to get to the podium his throne rests upon. He walks slowly down the red carpet. Antigone lets go of me and backs away, I stay on my knees looking at Yosho as he approaches.

            I don’t know what evil feels like, but I bet it feels like this. I grow more terrified with every step Yosho makes towards me. I thought I felt terrified when I saw Antigone in the hallway after shooting her, but this is worse. The fear I felt with Antigone is the same fear a prey would feel towards a predator. The fear I’m fearing with Yosho slowly making his way over is one of pure evil. He is tall and intimidating, his pale hands hover on my forehead before resting three of his fingers on it. He unlocks a memory of when I was younger, that memory is when the demon attacked.

            The earliest memory returned to me revolves around me helping my dad, Yosho, outside. Yosho and I were in the backyard looking for specific kind of flowers, he called them Berry Flowers. The flowers looked like white daffodils but with red spots on them, he uses them to make ointment for the nearby town for medicine purposes. The house rests on top of a cliff, it looks like a small two bedroom house constructed of bricks. Below the cliff rests the town of Summerfell, a small town that is split into two by the Scar River, called that because it’s a river that stretches from all three kingdoms of the realm. The Red Kingdom, known for their mastery of fire magic, Blue Kingdom known for their mastery of water magic, and Green Kingdom known for their mastery of Earth Magic. 

My mother watched us from the porch, holding my newborn baby sister Scarlet in her hands. My parents looked young in their twenties. My dad wore normal clothing and didn’t have any facial markings. The scowl on his face was replaced with a smile. Instead of the fear I feel when I’m around him at the moment, I felt loved. My mother was young, lively instead of the shell that watches tv every night, and wore a sundress. Both my parents looked and felt different in my memory because we were happy, the place around us was happy. It was sunny, the sky was blue, and not a care in the world.

           
            The sky cracks open like a spoon tapping an egg. A tear through the sky stretches as far as the eye can see. Dark smoke like fingers poke through the crack, gripping the sky as if it’s tangible. The four fingers grip and pull the rest of the sky apart. A purple horizon where the sky once was can be seen. The planet shakes violently, I fall to the ground looking up towards the sky. Slowly, as if it’s being directed another planet moves into the atmosphere. The other planet was grey like a moon, no water or vegetation. It hovers for a few moments before bursting. Chunks of the planet came crashing down, some of it burned in the atmosphere, some of it crashed around us creating large craters. Smoke rises from the craters, and as it clears dark greenish orcs climb out of the craters armed with swords, maces, and other sharp weapons. They charged my family, trying to kill us. Yosho stopped them, with flames circling around his fists he shot spheres of fire towards each Orc killing them with ease. It wasn’t until later we learned it wasn’t just Orcs that were dropped onto the planet but other fiendish creatures such as Goblins, Elves, Vampires, and Giants. It was an invasion, and the exploding planet was their Trojan horse into our Universe.

            Falling to the floor, I shake from the memory coming alive in my head. The bounds keeping my hands and feet together keep me from flopping around the red carpet. I look up to Yosho, standing tall and over me.

            “If you’re my father, then why do you want to kill me?” I yelled at him. He smirked looking down.

            “Don’t you know, I’m mad.” Yosho said with a smirk. He moved his hand up and flicked his wrist away as if he was dismissing someone. My body flies from its side and goes flying into a nearby wall. My body thumps on the cement floor, still constricted to my bounds.

            “You’re not my dad… You’re a demon. You’re Atrocious.” I yelled out, but no one did anything to rise against him.  

                “The Demon King Atrocious is dead, I did kill him. But in his dying breath he cursed me said that I’ll be killed by my own blood. When I returned home and told my wife about this prophecy, she ran away with you before I can slit your throat. I let you be, but as the prophecy predicted here you are, in this tower trying to kill me. What do you have to say for yourself?” He asked, walking towards me slowly from across the room.

                “I wasn’t here to kill you, I was here to find Valentine.” I yelled back, trying to move further back as he walked.

                “You’re no son of mine. Look at you cower. I stood up against a Demon as he absorbed our world into his realm. I defeated him, and now I’m supposed to be defeated by you? Never.” Yosho threatened. Blue electricity coils around his right arm, he’s casting a spell. I close my eyes in fear of death. I hear a yelp, and my hands are loosened along with my feet. I fall to my stomach and realize I’m okay. Opening my eyes I see a man dressed in renaissance like clothing, fancy gold and brown shoes and dark brown hair. I get to my feet and I notice the gold and black stripped mask, Valentine.

                “Blaze, you okay?” He asked through his mask. In front of him Yosho’s stood with a dagger in his right shoulder blade, disrupting his electricity spell. Antigone, Alexis, Claudio and a handful of soldiers all rush to Yosho’s side. Behind Valentine and I are a set of stairs that leads down to the bottom of the tower.

                “You better leave kid, Cressidra is going to be waiting at the Tavern for you.” Valentine commented, pulling out four daggers with his right hand, each dagger in between a pair of fingers. I look at Valentine, he’s the reason why we came here. I look across to my own father, obviously the fight with the demon must’ve done something to his head but what I can’t understand is why people are following him.  

                “I can’t go. He’s my father. If I don’t help him he may hurt my family back home.” I argued back. Valentine didn’t argue back though, he jumped towards the group of people throwing his daggers. Yosho managed to stop three from hitting him by waving his hand, causing them to go elsewhere. The last one hits Antigone in the stomach.

                I watched as Valentine continuously pulled daggers out of his coat as if that’s all he had in there. Another dagger comes flying out but misses Yosho again as he casually waves his hand to the right manipulating the dagger to miss. Feet away from Yosho, Valentine brought out another knife, but before he can release it, the electricity spell Yosho finishes and a bolt of electricity bursts through Valentine. The lifeless body of the masked assassin drops a few feet away from Yosho. Blood pours out of the wound from his chest and soaks the stone floor. Yosho laughs.

                “That was anti-climatic. How about that son?”

                “I…” I stammered as the one man rescue mission Valentine was performing slammed to a halt.

                “Awe, don’t be disappointed. You know, I knew Valentine was hiding something. I had his old friend Alexis here try and talk to him, things got physical and here you are. Now, I’m just wondering why he would work against me? Why did he grab you?” Yosho snarled, stepping over Valentine’s body.

                “I just want to go home. That’s all. Please…” I say, walking backwards towards the door.

                “Claudio. Kill him.” Yosho ordered. Claudio looked stunned and froze.

                “What did you think I was going to do with him Claudio? Just keep him alive? Kill him.” Yosho ordered again, and Claudio stepped forward. I shook my head and turned around running towards the door. As I turned the door slammed shut. Pulling the door to open, it wouldn’t budged. I turned around to see Claudio approached me, pulling out a sword from his sheath attached to the side of his body.

                “You don’t have to do this Claudio.” I yelled at him.

                “I don’t want to fight you… please.” I yell again, but he continued walking. Yosho yawned walking back to his throne.

                “Wait.” He yelled, as he takes a seat. Claudio stops about seven feet away from me.

                “I honestly expected my son to be more vicious. So how about this. Blaze, if you happened to defeat Claudio I’ll give you a twenty-four hour head start before I send out my hunters after you. Ok? But you need to try.” Yosho said, mocking me. Claudio smirked, enjoying this and stepped back letting me get into some sort of position.

                “Do I get a weapon?” I asked. Yosho laughed, then the rest of the room joined in.

                “Really? A weapon? Life isn’t fair son. Sometimes you have to work with what you have. Maybe if you asked Claudio nice, he’ll make it a fist fight. Maybe that way the fight can last more than a minute.” Yosho said. I took a note where everyone was, the random guards went back into formation along the walls of the room. Alexis stood on Yosho’s right while Antigone went to his left.

                “So fist fight?” I asked. Claudio gave a chuckle.

                “Remember before this? How you would cheat. You said something along the lines of… oh yes, bad guys cheat. Sorry buddy.” Claudio said. Deep down inside a part of him was enjoying this. I groaned.

                “Ok. Ok, but you’re supposed to be a good guy and I was a bad guy in those fights.” I said, joking with him making some sort of banter to make him uneasy. Claudio shook his head and walked towards me with his weapon drawn and read to strike. I step back, putting my hands in my pants and grabbing the revolver Winston gave me. Before Claudio can properly react I fired a bullet. The bullet went cleanly through his upper chest, regardless of what armor he wore underneath he fell to the ground smashing his head on the stone floor. I then turn towards Yosho and fired the two remaining two bullets. Both bullets make contact into Yosho’s body, one in the chest and the other on the shin.

                Yosho didn’t act phased or hurt by the bullets. He simply chuckled. The bullets that found their way inside his body is pushed out and the entry wound healed by his skin in the matter of seconds.

                “Well that was unexpected I’m glad you have some fight in you. It would’ve been a shame to kill you without something from you. Now run, you have twelve hours now since you attempted to assassinate me in my own domain” He threatened.

I’m rattled. Unsure what to make of this situation I turn around and look at Claudio’s body. Somehow I feel that this is my fault, he was a friend of mine and I didn’t enjoy what I did. I walk towards the stairs, slowly moving down at first and then quickly picking up speed. I have twelve hours to get back to the tavern, the trip took three days on horseback. This isn’t a good situation I’m in.