Chapter 13:
Wicked Reunion
The distorting cave created an innate relation between most of them. A common goal networked through the tunnel, and through one another. Completely birthed through circumstance. They searched for one another and the light at the end of the tunnel, their way out. Whilst most of them searched for their allies, no matter which, a couple differed. Finding the exit with your allies intact was the current final goal for the majority. Geoffren’s “exit”, however, was a person. His “light at the end of the tunnel” was the energy he had latched onto at the start of their trek. The pillar of barbarity they called Ebnus -unwillingly- lead Geoffren’s actions and all to come after. Each move he made was to his goal, the ensured safety of Ebnus Benwikere. His goal met the hindrance of the cave itself. Trapped in the dark with no real sight of anything, just the sense of his energy. Sensing it was like imagining it, though you could feel it's real presence.
He had followed this energy for hours straight though as he honed in. The circulating noises throughout the cave went mute in his focus. Water dripping, bugs chirping, and his own footsteps echoed all throughout, but he was none the wiser. With the intense focus he gave his goal he would forget about his smoking addiction. Not even his vices had a hold on him when it came to his goal. Hunger, thirst, and tiredness failed to reach him in his obsessive state of mind. In the darkness his eyes had begun to adapt and the faintest of differences would catch his eye. Around the corner he traversed was a faint pink glow with the same energy as before. Geoffren internally rejoiced, the light at the end of the tunnel seemed real. His imagination appeared to become a reality prompting him to sprint around the corner. All his focus and dedication had seemed to pay off.
Around the corner he was met with pink crystals scattered all across the cave walls and floor. The water was stained with the blood and pieces of a human being. Truly the pink and bloody vestiges of a bedlamite. Geoffren hurriedly checked the dismembered corpse, hoping for the best. The feminine anatomy and confederate tags were telling enough for him, this was not Ebnus. He sighed in relief, and defeat, realizing the energy he had been sensing was from this area all along.
“Could I have been any more foolish?? He thought to himself as he focused harder. Geoffren assumed his focus and dedication would lead him to Ebnus before anyone else, though he was wrong. Focus and dedication will always lose to chance.
Raygal and Bullus silently explored the cave, looking for any signs of their allies they could find. Raygal stiffly led their way, still sore from being frozen. The surprisingly quiet conversation indicated that Raygal was not pleased in the slightest. Bullus frequently tried to break the silence but was only met with it. Every joke he cracked came back colder than Raygal’s body. Raygal stared down at the kind blue cave water glow, refusing to look up and talk. As his eyes stared at the cave water, a pink glow beneath it arose. The emergence
immediately filled him with rage. He looked forward to see Ebnus Benwikere, unconscious in the cave water. Raygal paused before angrily stomping through the water towards him. He was floating on his back, clearly suffering from blood loss and his previous fight. Raygal’s mind flooded with ideas to punish Ebnus, it all mattered on which he liked the most. Bullus slowly came from behind him, grabbing his shoulder. “Be calm, Firecracker…” He tried, but Raygal had thought enough. He took his knife and waved it through the air, giving it some heat. He pressed it against Ebnus’ chest, springing him to life.
“Ahhhh what the fuck??” He shouted. Bullus watched in anticipation, worried for all of their safety.
“Can’t lie, I’m torn seeing you alive. But since you are…” Raygal said softly. Ebnus groaned as he was rigidly ripped out of the water and slammed against the cave wall. Both of their damaged bodies weakly struggled against each other as Bullus watched. Their combat filled with slow moving pushes and pained gasps between the two.
“Get off of me! What’s the matter with you?” Ebnus yelled.
“Don’t play thick! Do I need to remind you?” Raygal said, genuinely angry. Bullus watched for a good time to break it up, but decided to let Raygal rectify for himself. “You almost killed us, twice!” He continued.
“You nearly killed us at the fortress and because of you they found us here and attacked us. This is all your fault! I swear if the general is dead because of this!” Raygal said. Ebnus suddenly had a change in demeanor. His angered face changed to a smirk, which then evolved into laughter. Raygal changed as well, from irate to shocked. Bullus however, was not surprised, brandishing a face of expectation.
“A couple of weaklings were caught in my crossfire? You were made to be casualties of war. Know your place, because it’s not anywhere around me.” Ebnus said with a sly smile. Raygal was immediately replenished with anger, squeezing Ebnus harder.
“You uppity shit–”
“Accelerators do nothing but blame projectors, it’s sad, take some responsibility for your weakness. You willingly followed your commanding officer, too afraid to object to something so idiotic. Whatever happens to you now, is on you. You can’t properly defend yourself, that’s your fault, not mine, frosty.”
“The real one at fault is you! Something so simple didn’t have to come with so much backlash, we’re in this cave because of you! I found you bleeding to death in disgusting cave water, you could have died if I didn’t. Imagine…you killed me back at the fortress…or you were more modest at the fortress, this is all because of you…”
“But. You’re here right now, because of your idiotic commanding officer. Blame him!”
“Do not talk about him like that! I don’t know why he cares about you so damn much, it honestly infuriates me, but he does. If it were up to me I would kill you right here.”
“You’re free to try…” Ebnus said with a smile. The challenge ran through Raygal as his fist traveled towards Ebnus. The usually quick and simple journey, however, seemed to be taking longer. His fist wasn’t pleasured with the feeling of soft skin but rather one equivalent to silk. Raygal’s fist had been caught in a pocket of air before connecting with Ebnus. The three men stood bewildered, lost as to what happened before all simultaneously putting it together. Geoffren calmly stepped out of the cave’s crepuscule and approached them. His influential demeanor infected Raygal with a new found guilt he had never felt before. His look, his walk, his presence all led to a success over the impressionable Raygal.
“Let go…” Geoffren ordered. Ebnus fell from his grasp immediately, grunting as his wounded body plopped into the water. Geoffren walked over and helped Ebnus up, “Like I’m a flower you old piece–OW!” Ebnus said as he was lifted up. Geoffren carried him off into the eclipse of the cave, beginning to leave the other two behind.
“General! He caused all of this!” Raygal shouted with one last effort.
“Raygal, he is bleeding out. He needs assistance despite what he did.” Geoffren said.
“I do too!...And I didn’t make any mistake!...Won’t you help me?...” He pleaded. Geoffren looked at him for a second but kept his grip on Ebnus.
“You don’t have to be here, but you listen to people. You’re a weak accelerator, letting people dictate your actions.” Ebnus said.
“I follow orders to better my country, Geoffren told me Zultor needed us to kill Jetro so I will do it! I wouldn’t be here otherwise!” Raygal screamed.
“Zultor ordered you to?” Ebnus confusedly mumbled under his breath. Geoffren panicked and took Ebnus away into the darkness without another word, hoping to cease any conspiracy they had. .As he left, Raygal felt a sack full of emotions. Shame, guilt, and anger were only a few of the emotions that battled inside of him. He ceased all movement till it concluded, the world stopping with him. The fight was almost physical, feeling as if the ensuing battle would blow his chest open. Once the winner had been decided, the tears began to roll. He fell to his knees in a breakdown. Tears plunging through the beautiful fluorescent blue of the cave water to create blotches of darkness. Bullus awkwardly patted his head too hard before leaving to catch up with
them. Raygal was left at the end of the chain, the chain where none of the links will ever reach one another.
The blood left a long trail as it snailed down his hand and jumped from his fingertips. Geoffren tended to Ebnus at his own expense, practically volunteering to drench himself in another person’s blood. Despite being a little relieved he found Ebnus alive, the feelings of surprise stayed with him. The surprise came from how light Ebnus was, and the fact he was letting him touch him. The physical contact was polarizing, the energy Geoffren had yearned to meet felt poignant to the touch, a slight sizzling sensation with each second of connection. Nonetheless, Geoffren was comfortable, grateful. The prize of touching gave Geoffren hope of another prize and went for a calm conversation.
“Are you good on ener–” He asked.
“Shut the fuck up.” Ebnus said, cutting him off. Bullus caught up to the duo and continued behind them, whistling at the sight of Geoffren’s stained clothes.
“I don’t think we brought any extra uniforms!” Bullus said jokingly. “You sure like to make messes, Pinky.”
“Don’t call me Pinky…” Ebnus responded.
“Who’d you fight down here, general?” Bullus asked.
“No one, I was too busy searching.”
“Oh you went searching for us? I’m flattered!” Bullus said. Geoffren gave his usual telling silence, a prime indication of the truth, but Bullus was no fool, he had already known. No exit seemed to be coming quickly so the three walked through the cave hoping to happen upon one. Each deadend, familiar parts, and terrible smells created a famine of the mind. Ebnus created a small crystal for light, though it only did so much. The pink lighting was only a sour reminder they were trapped in this cave. No sunlight, blue sky, or fresh air was affiliated with his light, it was more negative than anything. Ebnus cursed under his breath as they hit another dead end, squeezing Geoffren’s shoulder harder, taking his aggression out on him. They turned around and headed another way, being met with another light at the end of the tunnel. The stationary light shined bright, it had to be outside. They moved towards it, praying it to be real and not some sick joke by fate. The light was accompanied by sounds of two men arguing. The three sighed and contemplated approaching it any longer but did. Evanglow and Kelnick were caught in a screaming match on which way was the correct way out.
“I was just conveying it’s familiarity!” Evanglow shouted. “I have the eyes for this, if you can use them better, then take them!” Kelnick shouted back. Their attention immediately went to the others, one showing a rejoiced smile, the other showing a face of neutrality. Evanglow healed
Ebnus, his scratches closing before their eyes. Once fully healed, Ebnus grabbed Geoffren’s hand and threw it off of his shoulder, continuing to walk down the cave’s path. The others awkwardly stared at Geoffren’s rejection.
“Let’s hurry…” He said as he began to follow Ebnus. The group endured against the constant trial and error the cave brought upon them. Highs and lows of perceived freedom plagued them.
“This way?” Evanglow suggested.
“No, we’ve been here.” Bullus said back. The group stood together against the constant trial and error the cave brought upon them.
“Wait, what if we went left here?” Bullus proposed.
“We shouldn’t, I remember that strange rock.” Kelnick said.
“Most rocks in this cave are similar.” Evanglow retorted. “Ok but I remember that one!” Kelnick screamed, the others walking past them as the argument flourished. With the growth of tension, came the growth of hopelessness. Evanglow, Kelnick, and Ebnus ran out of energy one by one, eliminating every possible source of sight for the group. With the light gone, the dark truth set in for the group. A malignant acceptance spread throughout them like an infection. Just as they had begun to give up, the cave briefly shook. They all looked at each other with faces of concern. Right after, another came, and another, the cave having bouts of explosive shaking. The group began to blindly run with no real destination in mind, anywhere but here.
“Is something coming?! Or is the cave crumbling?” Bullus shouted.
“I dont know! But we should pray! In case!” Evanglow said, clasping his hands. Unknowing, their panicked running was closely followed by the rumbling. Backed into a corner, the group waited in anticipation.
“It’s right on top of us!” Kelnick said, gripping his rifle. “A gun? You think your gun will protect you from a collapsing cave? Pray with me!” Evanglow said, grasping at his hands. The cave wall in front of them exploded, sending rocks and dust everywhere.
“Ebnus! To me!” Geoffren screamed.
“Don’t touch me!!” Ebnus screamed. The dust finally settled, the group waiting for its reveal. None of them knew what to believe, an enemy? A natural disaster? Or something worse? As the dust settled, Raygal walked before them with his heated sword. He was dripping wet from the ice melting off of him, and looked like he was on the verge of frostbite. The group observed
Raygal’s mundane look. He would usually look ecstatic to find them in a situation like this, though looked as if he couldn't care less. The silence was broken as Bullus began to laugh uncontrollably.
“BAHAHAHA! FIRECRACKER?!” He laughed. “We thought the cave was crumbling on us but it was just your wet ass!” He said, putting him into a headlock. Raygal stared at Geoffren, even in the headlock.
“I found the way out…” He said as he pulled himself out of the headlock and walked towards it. The group followed him, Geoffren making his way to the front to speak to Raygal.
“Raygal, do you mind?” He said, holding out his cigar. Raygal sighed as he lit the cigar with his sword.
“Excellent work, by the way. Geoffren said as he blew smoke. Raygal looked over at him, showing a small fraction of pleasure. A bright light glistened before them, they had finally found it. They all exited the thin cave entrance one at a time, all exhaling the rotten cave air. They were met with the deep forest, though it wasn’t dark and ominous like before. The shadowy trees that blocked the sun were gone, the forest revealed every particle of itself in the most beautiful way. The blue sky and sun peeked through the leaves, the wind blew and the animals frolicked, it was like they had entered a fairytale. The sunlight’s outline through the leaves created glassy sprites of light that hovered around them like faeries. The beautiful scenery washed the cave’s hysteria away. Geoffren touched the grass, feeling an almost living connection. The plants they touched, the animals they met, the air they breathed. All of it felt alive. He laid down in the grass, smoking, breathing in nature itself. With an exhausted exhale, just for a moment, he could feel what he thought was relief.
Ebnus walked through the woods, picking flowers he saw fit and neatly tucked them in his side bag. Bullus did something similar, eating the seeds he dug out of the soil. After a few minutes though, Geoffren sprang up and prepared to lead the rest to their destination.
“Enough playing, follow me.” He said. The sudden change of scenery not only dispelled their hysteria, but also their sense of direction. The area was like nothing they had ever seen before. So beautiful and teaming with life and energy, but also disorienting. Geoffren noticed the usual energy carried by plants and animals was generous here, much more than any he had ever seen before. His attention was quickly stolen by a heavy heat on the right side of his face. He looked to the sun but it’s beams dulled in comparison to the blistering he felt. His face felt as if it were melting off, the pain created images of what was happening to his face in his mind. His skin liquifying and splashing on the ground. His senses led him to his right, the weight of the heat caused his head to drop, pointing him directly at a specific flower. It sprouted tall above the other flowers, sharp red and orange petals bloomed like a flame, thorny and healthy. The flaming flower’s invoked presence was oddly familiar to Geoffren, feelings from a time before rushed
through him. He paused, focused on the flower, sweating from the heat. His breathing picked up as he dozed into his vault of nostalgia, the searing incommodious box he created some time ago.
“General! The compass, I think it’s broken.” Kelnick said, waking Geoffren. “...Let me see it.” He said, feeling his face. He checked the compass, the needles going haywire, spinning rapidly around inside. He shook it, hoping to do anything, but got the same result.
“It’s the area we’re in, it should work once we get out of this forest.” Geoffren said, tossing it back.
“But how will we know we’re headed in the right direction of Georgia? We could be in Kentucky or back in Missouri for all we know.” Kelnick responded. Geoffren looked away to think, the possibility hitting him.
“Walk straight ahead, that’s our best bet to get out of the forest. Once we’re out, we’ll find our way. Keep the compass out until then though, maybe it’ll start working again.” He said. Geoffren stared back at the flower one last time as they walked ahead. Almost as fast as lightning, Ebnus snatched the flower from the ground and pocketed it, giving Geoffren a dirty look.
“What do you know about this flower?” Ebnus asked.
“Nothing, it just caught my attention is all.” Geoffren said. Ebnus turned and followed the others, Geoffren watching him walk away.
It eventually became night, Geoffren laid down on his cloak deep in the tall grass. The blades caressed his cheeks and entwined into his hair, feeling like a person. The others slept near him, Bullus snoring loudly with each breath. The leaves on the high trees above created spaces in the sky for the stars to peek through, his eyes glued to them. He could not help but think about the flower and it’s connection to Ebnus, the emotion swelling in his face as he plucked it from the ground. He sat up to look at Ebnus’ sleeping body. He clutched onto his necklace in one hand, and the flower in the other. His hand bled from clutching the thorns, but he slept through it, not minding. Geoffren watched him sleep until a bird perched itself on his shoulder, a note attached.
“How the hell did it find us?” He thought as he took the note. Once taken, the bird blasted off of his shoulder, not awaiting him to respond. Geoffren feared Zultor’s intentions if he didn’t want a response. The note felt like a ton of steel in his hands, him not having the strength to lift it up and open it. Geoffren took a deep breath to calm himself as he opened it. He read each word slowly and carefully, like his life depended on it. As his eyes crossed the last word, he dropped the note into the grass. Standing for a second, contemplating everything. He looked towards the direction of the cave they exited from. His feet moved in that direction before hearing Ebnus snore. His foot stopped, turning to look at him. He looked at the flower in his
hand and the necklace he wore. Both reminding him of the past he so deeply wished never happened. In the moment he was forced to choose between his friend of decades, or a kid who never liked him anyway. Geoffren stood and thought about it for a moment, the note blowing away in the midnight wind. He walked back over to his cloak and laid down, slowly drifting off to sleep, and readying himself for the next day, ignoring Zultor’s beckons.