Sorry :(
Chapter 8
Panic is what motivates me up the
steps from the Last City to the top of the crater. I thought after firing my
gun in an unsuccessful assassination attempt at Yosho I may’ve forfeited my
life right then and there. Instead he reduced my head start time to twelve hours. Yosho plans on hunting me along
with his two trusted guards; Antigone, a woman who recovers from gunshots in
seconds, and Alexis Fe Fantum who seems like Valentine lite. Both have some
sort of connection with Valentine that I’m not too clear on, but knowing that I
didn’t waste any time leaving the city. Of course when I arrive to the top of
the crater, I realize my horse is gone. Cressidra probably took both horses
with her back to the tavern, or at least I hope she did. I would feel bad for
Winston considering I’ve lost the majority of his stuff already.
The ground near the crater is burnt
dirt signifying where one of the main battles of Atrocious was once had. If I
feel adventurous I can head for the mountains in the opposite direction of the
tavern in hopes of finding some cover by the time Antigone and Alexis come and
find me. The other option is walk along the flatlands and hopefully find the
Forest of Tears before my hunters find me, if I’m lucky maybe Cressidra is
riding the horses slowly and that’ll catch up with her if I hurried. I started
to run towards the tavern.
In P.E. I was never a good runner. I
would never complete the mandatory fifteen minute run that we needed to do
every term because I thought it was stupid. Outside of sports and catching a
bus, when would I need to run? Well present me is paying for my slothy ass back
in middle school. Sure in the past few years I’ve cut some weight, but I never
did work on my cardio. By the fifth minute I’m already breathing through my
mouth, then several minutes after that it becomes harder to swallow. Shortly
after that I stop and realize this method of running isn’t the most effective
way of transportation. I find it sad that I may be dead in a handful of hours
and I’m spending the last bit of my life running. Taking a break I leaned over
the side of the road to catch my breath, then I start doing some more running
but this time mixing in jogging and walking so I can keep a pace without
crapping out every fifteen minutes.
After a few hours I start to feel
dizzy. At first I thought the ground was moving but it was my head feeling
heavy and light. I kept pushing though, I made it so I’m unable to see any of
the scorched earth that leads up to the Last City, but haven’t made it far
enough to the Forest of Fears. My legs give in and I fall on the side of the
road into the tall green grass. I roll to my side and look up at the purple
sky. Breathing deeply I catch my breath when I hear my problem, my stomach
growls. I haven’t eaten since last night, and we left Winston’s backpack on one
of the horses. This sucks, I’m going to die while running and my last meal was
two day leftover stew. Not the glorious of last meals.
It takes a few minutes but I do
manage to get myself back up on my feet. Looking around I notice a building
towards the direction of the tavern, a building that wasn’t there a moment ago.
The building looked like a small house converted to be a corner store back
home. Bars on the windows on the first and second floor to prevent people
coming in, light blue paint on wood, and a Neon Sign hanging from the front
porch that reads Saul’s Tinniest Biggest
Shop of Mysteries. While it magically did appear in the area, I can’t be
choosey when it comes to help. At worse I waste a few minutes, it’s not like
two minutes at this point will determine if I live or die.
The building gives off a comforting
vibe. I know it’s weird because it suddenly appeared, there is a neon sign
that’s working in a place that I don’t think has electricity, and the fact that
I am a mere few hours away from being killed that I should be worried about
this, but I’m not. Walking on the three steps to of the house to the porch I
look at the wooden door. On the wooden door is a sign that says Open, besides the door is a window for
the shop. The items on the shop are small but did catch my eye like post cards
from exotic destinations like Paris or London, toddler toys, and a small
display of folded up t-shirts belonging to old bands I listen to. I find it
odd, and didn’t really find it useful on what kind of shop this place is. I
opened the door and walk inside.
Lights, fluorescent lighting
brightens the room. It’s been years since I’ve been a properly lit room. While
candlelight seemed awesome in the tavern for the first few days, it was tiring
lighting everything, switching the candles, and even then there is always a
nook or corner that is unlit. It wasn’t a big deal of course, but electric
lighting is always brighter it seemed to. The store was configured like a
supermarket. No till up front but four aisles filled with stuff. Through the
aisles I can see a counter without an attendant. The first aisle seemed like a
grocery store with pre-made Cesar Salad kits, ready to eat sandwiches, fast
food cards from back home, and raw meat. I decided to grab one of the
sandwiches, carrying it in my hand as I browse the second aisle.
The second aisle is different than the first. Instead of food it was odd stuff.
A collection of fancy gold rings, black suits, vacation vouchers, and cards for
invitations, announcements, and congratulations. I looked at some of them but
didn’t pick anything up, although a nice ring may’ve been a nice thing to get
Cressidra. One thing I missed from the first aisle is none of the items have a
price tag, just a tag that says for sale.
I looked up and down the aisle, still not seeing anyone from the store. Although
behind the counter in the back there is a door. I didn’t bother looking at the
other aisles and head towards counter.
“Hello?” I asked, looking at the
counter. There is a till there, an old cash register that isn’t computerized.
The counters are glass and inside are filled with stuff I recognize from this
world. Enchanted weapons, jewelry, and rare alchemist books. Beside the cash
register is a bell with a sign that says Ring
for Service. I wait a few seconds to ring it just in case the person heard
me and is on their way. I end up ringing the bell, a lively male voice can be
heard from the door.
“Alright, alright. I’m coming. I’m
coming.” The man said.
The door to the backroom opens. The
man is barely a man, and his sight is unsettling. The most horrific thing about
him is his eyes, he has none. He has an eye socket, sort of. The eye sockets are
horizontal and reminds me of grey aliens in movies back home, except for where
the eyeball should be its just blackness. Starring into his eyes makes it seem
the man’s body is hollow. The next thing odd about him is his skin, it’s really
old and leathery looking and at times it looks like its uncarved wood just
without the rough texture. The man’s bald head is elongated, a very different
and odd looking head by human standards. He wears beige dress pants along with
a stripped sweater and a grey vest over top of his tall, bony looking body. He
walks the six or so steps to his counter slowly and looks me over before
greeting me.
“Hi, welcome to Saul’s Tinniest
Biggest Shop of Mysteries, where everything we have here is catered to your
desires. How can we help you today?” He asked, smiling revealing no teeth
inside of him just blackness.
“Uhh can I buy this?” I asked,
putting the sandwich on the counter. Saul looks at the sandwhich.
“Sure you can have it no charge.” I’m
confused, but I wasn’t going to ask twice. I opened up the sandwich and started
eating it. It was roast beef and cheddar with horseradish. I haven’t had
anything like this in years, it tasted like home.
“This is good, where did you get it?”
I asked curiously.
“Around. Say you wouldn’t be Blaze
Atrocious would you? Or do you still go by Jamie?” He asked, looking behind the
counter lifting up a book. The book is large, leather bounded with a crow on
the spine of it. The crow’s wings reached out to both sides of the book. I
looked at Saul flipping through the pages. He starts to read from it.
“It was then when our hero found
shelter from the oncoming hunters. He wandered the shop, looking for a weapon
or something to help him fend off the vampire and assassin. He came upon the
shopkeep and is offered a vile of Demon’s taint to drink.” Saul reached into
his pocket and put a glass vile filled with black liquid on the counter.
“Blaze will then bicker with the
shop keep about it, but during their discussion the assassin and vampire
stormed into the store and killed Blaze.” The shopkeep finished. He put the
book down on the counter.
“What was that?” I asked. I attempt
to grab the book from the counter, only being unable to grasp it.
“Now we can’t have you reading your
own story? Right. Spoilers. It’s a book I was given, telling me a man or well a
boy will come here searching for me and help. I am help, if you wish to survive
drink the vile.” Saul barely explained.
“Why should I trust you?” I asked.
The cover on the book had Blaze Atrocious
on the front in white lettering with a black cover. I try grabbing it again but
I was unable to actually hold it.
“You shouldn’t. But I know at this
point in the story you’re angry and you want revenge. You also want to go home.
Destroy Yosho, destroy this realm, and you go home. The realm needs Yosho to
live. If you let Yosho live he’ll go after your Sister next and your world. The
way I see it you die in the next five minutes or you drink this and get your
revenge. It’s demon’s blood, the same blood your Father took when he killed
Atrocious. You’ll be able to manipulate the realm just like him.” Saul said. I still
don’t trust him. It’s partially because he isn’t human but the way he knows
things about me.
“If you know me. Who brought me
here?” I asked curiously.
“Time is ticking. Drink it. I added
something to the mixture that will stop the Demon from fully merging with you.
The spirit of the Crow. I’ll explain it later.” Saul said. I don’t know why,
but he must be crazy thinking that I would drink something he just put in front
of me, never mind that it’s demon’s blood from the same demon that has
corrupted my father. I shake my head and laugh.
“Can’t I just buy those daggers?” I
asked pointing to the glass cabinet. Inside the cabinet was all sorts of
weapons, but the daggers has a crooked blade, one is tinted green the other is
purple.
“Out of your price range. Like I
said, I was told to offer you this by someone.” Saul said. The door to the
store opened, Antigone and Alexis walked in. Saul went towards the back of his
store, closing the door behind him. I attempt to jump the counter but I’m
unable to, as if an invisible was prevented me from crossing. Antigone nor
Alexis noticed me while they looked around the store. But I knew it was them based
on the story Saul just told.
I look at the vile, taking it and
drinking it without a second question. I scream as it taste like hot fire
poured down my throat. I kneel over, puking onto the wooden floor of the shop.
I can hear their footsteps approaching the back of the shop.
“Hello?” Alexis asked. My eyes
partially close as I finish puking. I’m not sure what I’m puking but it seems
to be clear liquid. When I’m finished puking I look up to see Alexis and
Antigone looking at me.
“Being sick isn’t going to help you
kid.” Alexis said with a smirk. Antigone looked disgusted, she is covering her
nose as if she is smelling the foulest scent imaginable. Alexis doesn’t look
phased by the smell, and I don’t smell anything.
“This one is yours… I lost my appetite.”
Antigone said. Alexis laughed, tapping his cane with his foot revealing the six
inch blade that pokes out of the bottom. I can see him smile, I’m still hunched
over but the puke has stopped. Alexis doesn’t waste time as he charges me with
his cane, looking to stab me with his cane in my side. The blade connects with
my side and I scream, black blood starts to pour from the wound and Antigone
turns around puking. Alexis takes out the blade and stuffs it in my side again.
I don’t feel the blows Alexis is
landing with his blade. I can hear the blade go into my stomach, making a sound
like rocks going into water. I grow angry, my body heats up. Still on my feet
while kneeling Alexis still slipping the blade into my side, I turn around with
my left and connect with my left fist with Alexis face. I didn’t feel any
contact or amount of force upon impact, but I hit him hard.
As I turn my body to punch him with
my left hand, my hand was on fire. The punch connects to Alexis’s face, the
right side of the man’s face melts off and the punch dislocates Alexis’s jaw.
Alexis screams, dropping his cane feeling the right side of his face touching
nothing but bone. My right fist swings right after the left, doing the same to
Alexis’s left side of the face. The right side seems to melt as soon as my fist
connects with the side of his face. Alexis’s face looks partially like a
skeleton at this point, 3rd degree burns outlining where I hit him
on his face.
Alexis fell to the ground, his
lifeless body lying on the wooden floor. Antigone didn’t wait and left the shop
as fast as she could. I look to my stomach where Alexis was stabbing me seconds
earlier and it completely healed. I take a few seconds, breathing in and out
and my body feels cool. During the fight my body felt like it was in a sauna
and my hands appeared to be on fire.
“What…” I ask myself, leaning on the
glass counter. Saul walks out a few minutes after the fight.
“Well then, it seems like your story
has changed. You don’t die here. You’re now connected with the realm. You have
your chance now.” Saul said. I look up to him, my body still feels like it’s
changing.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Your body is changing. It’s
developing, and the Demonic power is transforming you. The demonic force will
never have hold on you like it does to your father thanks to the spirit of the
Crow, and if you die the Crow will take your soul away from your body so the
demon won’t possess and trap you like your father. You’re going to feel light
headed at the moment, but it’s going to be ok.” Saul reassured.
My body feels nauseous, like its
sick. I start to sweat and my legs start to give way as I tumble to the ground.
Blacking out.
Waking up, I find that I’m in my bed
in the Shadows Tavern. Looking
up I can see Cressidra sitting on a chair at my bedside.
“Hey…”
I said with a smile. I never thought I would see her again. Her blue and green
eyes, her smile looking down at me. I studied her, she looks worried but
something else about her has changed. Her hair is dyed white, she is still wearing
black dress with a head scarf. Her body is more developed, as if she’s aged a
few more years since I’ve last seen her.
“You’re
up. About time. I went back to see if Valentine and you were ok… but I only
found you outside on the side of the road. What happened?” She asked curiously.
I
didn’t know where to start. It felt foggy, almost like a poorly written segment
in my life. I couldn’t tell her what exactly what happened with me. I sit up
onto my bed.
“I
don’t know… I ran into someone… He looked hallowed, he was a store keeper and
he knew everything about me. He told me to drink this vile…” I said, trying to
remember everything that has happened. I didn’t feel any different now, I felt
fine.
“He
mentioned something about a crow, a demon… I don’t know. I think I killed
Alexis.” I said. Cressidra nods, not sure what to make of this but she knew
part of this story I’m telling is true. I move the blankets and crawled out of
bed. Standing up. Cressidra looks at me and smiled.
“So
you might want to find a mirror…” she said.
I
walk to the window, to see if I can spot my reflection. From what I can tell I’ve
grown muscle with what little fat I had on my skinny body. Abs have developed
around my stomach. My skin went from a pale white to a white-greyish colour. My
eye lids are darker around my eyes, with a bright red iris. I looked pretty
scary. My hair has turned reddish in colour.
“What
the hell…” I said to myself. Cressidra laughed.
“The
changes happened in course of a year you’ve been sleeping.” Cressidra said. I’m
not sure if I heard her right but she said a year.
“A
year? I’ve been like this for a year?” I asked. Cressidra nodded.
“Well…
did I miss anything?” I asked, wondering what has happened in the time I was
out. I wasn’t surprised after what happened. I remember falling over in Saul’s
shop and then waking up, I didn’t dream or anything.
“Uh..yeah
that tattoo….” She commented. She gestures for me to run around. On my back is
huge tattoo of a Crow with its wings spread like it’s coming out of my back. I’m
shocked and confused what it meant.
“I
meant… did I miss anything important news wise.” I commented, looking at the
window from behind my back to see if I can make out any more detail about the
tattoo that suddenly appear here.
“Your
father is looking for you. He sent some people looking around the area, but
haven’t found out about the tavern yet. It’ll be dangerous for you to adventure
outside for a while.” She comments. I nod, thinking this is just great.
“Did
I have this tattoo when you found me?” I asked, she nods her head.
“Great…”
I said to myself.
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