Chapter 5:
Pure Terror
The dark cavity of rubble housed the two as they waited for what they thought was nothing. They worried no one would be coming to save them, they were stuck here forever. Broken infrastructure and sharp debris slightly poked at them, a single movement meant impalement. Their waiting became panicking as explosions from outside shook the rubble. The destroyed infrastructure rattled and loudly caved in as more explosions rang out. Latrey grunted as her back was ripped open from a stake of wood. Evanglow used his powers to shine some light in their cavern, sight of the possibilities made the situation more bleak. They looked at each other as the walls began to swell. Evanglow shined his light blindingly bright as he hoped someone would notice. Maybe an ally, maybe an enemy, anyone.
“Help!!” Latrey shouted as the walls grew closer.
“Please! Anybody!” Evanglow followed.
“Lift Raygal!”
“I know, I’m trying!” Two muffled voices said. Evanglow couldn’t help but smile as the light finally broke through. Only given a crack to slip through, they both edged their way out as they were scraped. Evanglow’s white sash was no longer its radiant color and now held a distinct muddy tone, his blonde hair carried a similar color. Latrey’s short black hair carried specks of dust and dirt all throughout as the same specks freckled her face and uniform.
“You actually came back. Wow.” Evanglow said, smiling, walking towards them.
“Why wouldn’t we? You’re our medic.” Kelnick responded as he spaced Evanglow back. Kelnick doesn’t like touching or being dirty, two things he would have gotten.
“I’m here too, not just some sawbones.” Latrey included. Evanglow waved his hand over her back, hovering over it was a golden light that made her wound close up. His light encased her body as he switched to both hands, fully closing all of her cuts and wounds. He checked Kelnick and Raygal and healed them too.
“Severtodd went with Geoffren?” Evanglow asked. The two looked at him with completely different expressions. Kelnick glared with a mundane disposition while Raygal frowned, avoiding eye contact altogether.
“The general went to go take care Hastard, our job is to find and kill the other one.” Raygal said, quickly cutting to business.
“Was Severtodd gone quickly at least?” Latrey interrupted.
“Very quickly.” Kelnick answered, looking away. Evanglow wiped his eyes with a handkerchief as he wept for Severtodd.
“He was only a boy. This grief.” He said through the tears. Kelnick rolled his eyes in response to Evanglow’s show of emotion. His silent disgust was more visible than a full moon. Raygal walked over and picked up a musket from a corpse, and tossed it to Latrey. He pulled a revolver from the same corpse and threw it to Evanglow, who let it bounce off of his chest. Raygal took out his sword and threw it to him, Evanglow flailed as he dodged it.
“Hey! That’s sharp!” He yelled.
“Did you want a musket instead? I can give you mine” Raygal asked.
“I vowed to the lord never to harm a soul…”
“Can you tell him to look away just this once, please?” Raygal asked with a cheesy smile. Kelnick continued his brutal glare at Evanglow as the weapons hit the floor. Evanglow felt his gaze and looked up at him but he was already looking away.
“Do your thing Kel’” Latrey said to cut the tension. Kelnick’s eyes glowed green as his head began to swiftly turn and his irises rapidly shot around in his eyes. His neck almost turned 360 degrees in the process. Evanglow and Latrey watched quietly as he scanned the area for the enemy, Raygal watched in confused horror. Kelnick’s accelerated eyesight showed him everything he wanted to see. He could see enemies 60 miles away in perfect vision, his eyes were steadier and he could track fast moving objects heading towards him like miniballs or cannonballs.
“4 ½ miles southwest, he's hiding inside that giant overhanging rock right there. That’s out of my shooting range. He's attacking us from afar and doesn't want us to be able to fight back.” Kelnick said pointing at the giant rock. In the hideout was a small crack the enemy was using to breathe out of, Kelnick spotted the crack and knew he was hiding inside. The group understood they had to hurry and began rushing towards his hideout. They turned corners through the streets, killing enemies in front of them as they passed through. Giant rocks and corpses decorated the streets. They took cover behind a carriage to catch their breath until a faint noise caught their attention. The sound of something ripping through the ground was creeping towards them. Smoke popped through the cracks the mysterious rumbling made. The ground regurgitated a fountain of small jagged spikes of dirt into the air. The spikes flew through the air before falling back down upon them. Raygal tackled the rest out of the way as the carriage was shredded. The burst of spikes tore through the buildings making them crumble almost instantly. An arch was formed by the falling spikes that broke into clouds of dust as they smashed into things. Kelnick closely watched the stream with his rapid eye movement as he ran. Before they could lose all hope, Kelnick shoved them towards a carriage and forced them into cover. They all
knew stopping and waiting was a death sentence but this time it worked, the stream stopped just as they got down.
“I counted the amount of projectiles in the fountain, the number dwindled rather quickly as it continued, he was running out of energy.” Kelnick said.
“He’s probably waiting till he can regain it, we need to move fast.” Evanglow added.
“What if we entered the buildings, maybe he wouldn’t be able to see us and we could sneak attack him. That's my plan.” Latrey said as her nose began to bleed. She wiped it, confused, and now concerned. They looked around to see a cloud of dust was now surrounding them. The cloud made it hurt to breathe; each one felt like snorting needles. Raygal looked at his hand as it swelled up and began to leak. Latrey coughed into her hand, blood dripped in between her knuckles with each hack. They all quickly ran through the cloud in search of a building. Running only hurt more as deeper breaths meant deeper pain. Small cuts on their skin and eyes formed running through the cloud. Kelnick coughed up blood that created a trail as they ran. They all began to panic, the cloud was too thick it was nearly impossible to see anything. None of them wanted to run in one direction, everyone was circling in pure panic. The milky dense space felt like an infinite void full of affliction. The ruthless hellscape killed you faster the longer you lingered, a nightmare. Raygal covered his bleeding eyes from the pain as he blindly ran into a door. The others heard the slam and ran towards it. Raygal frantically felt around for the handle and ripped it open. The others piled in and slammed it shut behind them. Evanglow shoved his sash into the crack under the door to stop the cloud from seeping in. Kelnick and Latrey used every cloth in the house they could find to block other doorways. As they searched they all coughed blood while Raygal vomited some. Evanglow healed himself then began healing the others as they caught their breaths. Kelnick analyzed the blood with his glowing eyes.
“Fuckin’ knew it, that dirt created tiny shards of glass and rock that we breathed in, he was cutting us from the inside.” Kelnick said. He wiped the blood on his pant leg and laid down on the bed in the house next to Raygal who had beaten him to it. Latrey walked towards the kitchen, she stepped on a suspiciously hollow spot in the floor. She felt the spot and pressed into it as it folded in with pressure. Just as she grew more curious the spot immediately moved and felt full again.
“So what now?” Kelnick asked, grabbing Latrey’s attention.
“Well. I guess my plan.” She said turning back towards the group.
“He definitely wanted us in here, that was the point of the knife cloud.” Evanglow responded.
“If so, now it just comes down to whose plan is better, his, or mine.” Latrey said, smiling confidently.
“We’re ants in his anthill, Latrey. What plan would take us out of that scenario?” Kelnick added sitting up.
“My plan, Kelnick. Were you not listening?” She said. Kelnick got out of the bed and accidentally knocked Raygal to the floor. The group silently watched his cold body bounce onto the floor without response. Latrey’s eyes couldn't close at the sight, his head looked like a ripe raspberry, his neck and hands swollen to almost twice the girth. Evanglow quickly ran to him and began to heal him more. Evanglow squeezed Raygal as their entire bodies glowed, still no response. As he squeezed he felt ready to pop like a pimple, he was so blistered. His weak and bloody breath traveled only millimeters from his mouth.
“RAYGAL!!” Evanglow screamed as he clenched tighter. Kelnick and Latrey stood and watched as Evanglow desperately tried to save him.
“He was a key part of the plan I assume. This isn’t good.” Kelnick said quietly.
“Oh?! That's all you care about? He’s dying!” Evanglow said.
“It’s war, people die, you care too much.”
“Kelnick, you faux hard case just shut the fu–STOP TALKING!” Evanglow furiously responded.
“He has a heartbeat, he just isn’t waking up…I’m going to stay here with him. You two can go.” He said.
“Without you we’ll die.” Latrey said in a serious tone.
“Is that an ultimatum?” Evanglow asked without looking back at her.
“It looks like a lost cause is all I’m saying. No need to get hasty, corporal.” She responded.
“Let’s go. Evanglow does this to avoid fighting, it’s all a show.” Kelnick said, grabbing Latrey’s sleeve. Evanglow softly rested Raygal’s head before speedily getting in Kelnick’s face.
“We can talk about putting on shows, blowhard.” Evanglow reacted.
“You can never just act logically, it’s a problem you have. Let me give you some advice, bud. Think of us like eggs, our leaders shit us out and send us off to the kitchen where we’re
either cooked, or we rot. They crack eggs open, and a yolk falls out. It could’ve had a life but instead it’s used to further an agenda in a disgusting dish in a disgusting kitchen. You don’t feel bad when you crack open an egg right, Evanglow? Don’t feel bad here then.”
“Practice what you preach, Kelnick. I know the real you. And with half a mind I might as well inform everyone on who you truly are”
“I’m just sayin’, you let your emotions control your life. One of these days…they’ll end it.” Kelnick said as he got closer to Evanglow’s face, gripping his rifle. He turned around and walked towards the back exit of the house. The hardwood creaked from the footsteps as Latrey followed him. Evanglow clenched his fist as his body tensed up, his foot began to step towards Kelnick. His heartbeat raced, he took another step forward. He instinctively began to walk towards Kelnick until he heard Raygal’s labored groan. He turned back around and tended to him.
“STUPIDSTUPIDSTUPIDSTUPIDSTUPID” He thought violently punching his own forehead till it bled. Latrey and Kelnick used cloths to cover their noses and mouths and ran outside, slamming the door behind them. They sped through the streets enveloped by the cloud. The pain wasn’t any more bearable than before, it seemed worse this time. The thick cloud resisted their efforts, each step was a struggle. Running towards the south edge of town worked as they made it out of the cloud. They removed their cloths and breathed fresh air while wiping the blood from their faces. Kelnick activated his eyes again and stared at the enemy’s location, he was watching for movement in the air hole, but he was flushed with confusion as there wasn’t any.
“I can’t tell what he’s doing in that hideout other than watching us. Even when we’re inside the buildings he knows where we are too. How does he know?” He asked. Latrey thought the same thing, how did he know? Why was he always perfectly aiming at them, creating openings for attacks, and having them come in contact with multiple enemies? She didn't have much time to let the thought bug her as the ground started shaking again. The building they were near exploded with rocks and gravel flying towards them like shrapnel. Latrey grabbed Kelnick and pushed him out of the way while she was caught in the line of fire. Her back exploded with blood and dirt as she screeched. She fell to the ground, alive, but in serious pain.
“Latrey? Fuck!” Kelnick said, getting up to check on her. Her back dripped as Kelnick helped her up. He stood her up against a crate outside and began to concoct his own plan.
“Can you move? Fast?” He asked her.
“No, it’ll take me a while to get there unless you carry me the rest of the way.”
“Can you still shoot?”
“I won't hit anything like this.” She said, Kelnick took her musket and switched it with his.
“You will with this.” He said, handing her his.
“Kelnick, isn’t your rifle specifically designed for you?”
“Yes, but that’s because a regular rifle can’t keep up. I can’t miss with a regular one, just need to be in it’s range. You on the other hand have good enough aim that mine will be easy for you to shoot.”
“So the plan is, you move forward without me and I shoot him from a better spot in case?”
“Yes. Take your time and don’t miss.” He said as he ran towards the enemy’s hideout. He sprinted faster than he ever had before, he wanted to end this quickly. In his stride giant spiked rocks sprung from the ground. They ripped his clothes and scraped his skin but he was still moving. He outran them and took cover behind another house. He was finally in range with the rifle. He peaked around the corner and readied his eyes to hit directly into the peephole. With no hesitation he fired perfectly into it, the shot echoed as silence followed. The rifle dropped to his waist as he sighed, it was finally over. He began walking back towards his allies before sweat dripped from his head into his eye. He wiped it and continued walking. More sweat got in his eyes. He started sweating profusely, his nerves maybe? The ground felt warm, much warmer than before. He noticed his feet naturally shifting to avoid the uncomfortably hot ground, but it was all the same. A thick heat wave squeezed his face and tear ducts. His hand sweat stuck to his gloves, so did his boots. It grew to be unbearable and he ran inside the house he was hiding behind. He wiped his sweat while pacing in confusion, what the hell was going on?
His head pulsated as the heatwave suffocated him. He walked towards the stairs to go to the attic and escape the heat.
“The floor feels hollow, could it be from the lightheadedness?” He thought. Just when it ended a loud eruption echoed from outside. He looked out of the window to see geysers of magma splash from under the stretch of buildings. He ran upstairs into the attic as the magma quickly devoured the bottom floor. The little optimism he had left disappeared upon seeing the magma swallow the ground. He broke the attic window and climbed onto the roof to get away. The drapes instantly ignited from the heat and pressure. Each building melted and bursted with flames, the magma molding into a conjoined mass set on eating the southwest side of the town.
“This fucker is crazy!” He thinks. The magma’s steam rose to the top and burned his hand. He yelped as his glove melted into his hand. The houses began to combust into flames, he ran towards another rooftop to avoid the fire. He cursed while jumping across the rooftops as each house liquefied and burnt to cinder. Each house crumbled into the magma as he lept off of them. He landed on the last house in the stretch and paused to catch his breath. In his moment of
stillness another eruption occurred in the center of the roof behind him. His swift turn stopped by a singular protuberance edging out of the eruption. The blood spilled onto the rooftop as it punched through the smoke into visibility. The thick gray smoke hid most of the sight, but the magma’s soothing orange glow revealed just enough. A spiked rock floated in the concealment, jammed right above Kelnick’s heart. The flame’s popping and crackling were much more audible since his heavy breathing stopped, the utter shock stifled him. He stared at the rock before looking forward to see his attacker who’s evil smile was illuminated by the orange light. He backed off of the rock slowly as more blood dripped out. Just as it exited him he fell on his butt and held himself up with one arm. His attacker walked forward through the smoke, revealing a short man in a black cloak with short black hair and fair skin. His eyes were wide open and demented with his teeth going astray. Kelnick’s awed mouth oozed blood as his breathing started again.
“You fucking pissants! You give me the run-around for all that time just to make me melt half the goddamn city!” He shouted. They both looked around to see smoke and flame blanket almost everything. The screams of people and buildings paired with the smell of a multitude of things burning was enough to think they had gone to hell. Kelnick’s mouth spat blood as he formed his response.
“Where…where were you?” He asked.
“Not there.” He responded pointing to the hideout. He moved his finger to point at the ground as Kelnick’s eyes followed.
“I followed you guys underground the entire time, that shit shack I created was just to trick you. Seems like my plan was better after all, huh?” He said.
“That hollow spot on the floor…was you?”
“Smart as a whip, aren’t I? You little friends fell for it too. I couldn’t feel their reverberations underground after all that either, meaning they’re dead too.” He said. Kelnick’s hand lightly shook upon hearing that until he stopped it. His eyes began to glow a strong green as his breathing intensified. He quickly pushed himself up and pulled his hunting knife from his pocket. The enemy backed away as his smile disappeared. He saw an angry and disheveled man with a mouth full of blood and a knife in his hand. The lethality emanated offf of him like the flames. Kelnick’s determination to finish this mission was greater than it had ever been. He only wanted this, nothing more.
“What’s your name? So I can write to your ugly family after you’re gone.” Kelnick asked.
“I didn't know you had that much respect for me, it’s Terreir. You?”
“I don't respect you, I just want to let them know how much of a parlor you were. Kelnick.” He responded. The flames around them flared as Kelnick rushed in with his blade. He swung at Terreir’s eyes as he dodged. Terrier created a sharp edged rock from his hand and swung back, slicing Kelnick’s leg open. Kelnick ignored the cut and kicked Terreir in the stomach with the same leg, making him curl over. Kelnick followed with an uppercut sent from hell. Terrier grunted as his jaw popped. As he reeled back he used his ability to elongate the rock until it stabbed into Kelnick’s foot. He ignored the pain and slashed across Terreir’s stomach, sending blood across the rooftop. Terreir seethed in pain as he tried not to scream. Kelnick pulled the rock out of his foot and broke it off. He threw it like a javelin at Terreir’s head.
“Idiot.” Terreir said as the rock exploded into dust before it could reach him.
“Almost worked.” Kelnick responded. Terreir created a stone hammer and began to swing at Kelnick’s head. Kelnick dodged each swing until Terrair slammed down onto the roof. It shook harder than the earthquakes before as it crumbled even faster into the lava. The fall sent both of them to the ground. Kelnick kicked Terreir in the face before standing back up. Now being on a lower level, the flames now surrounded like a cage. Kelnick tried to be faster and grabbed the hammer while holding the knife in his mouth. As Kelnick swung at his head Terreir shrunk the handle making Kelnick lose grip and send the hammer flying out of his hands. As it spun through the air Terreir stretched the handle long enough to reach him so he could catch it. Once he caught it he smiled and swung at Kelnick’s head. He ducked under the swing and in the moment of weakness rushed Terreir, taking a gash out of his arm. Kelnick followed up with a spinning back fist making Terreir drop the hammer and spurt blood. Terreir retaliated by throwing a punch that Kelnick caught and used to pin him to the ground. He raised his knife and slammed it down into Terreir’s neck. The usual feeling of piercing skin wasn’t there, in fact, his blade immediately stopped once he tried to stab him. Terrier’s neck was covered in the rocks he used to block the attack. Kelnick improvised and frantically stabbed Terreir’s upper body. Rocks filled every spot his knife landed, it was infuriating. Kelnick yelled with rage as everywhere he stabbed was protected but he kept trying until being thrown off. He got up and retreated from Terreir who stood back up with a new found confidence.
“Hide behind more rocks. ” He said.
“Don’t fancy the new duds?”
“No, they suit you. Accentuates how poorly you fight.” Kelnick retorted. Terrier grunted as he charged in. Kelnick dodged before slipping Terreir’s punch and using the momentum to throw him over the lopsided house. Terrier tumbled before catching himself. Just as he did, Kelnick drop kicked him in the face to push him off fully. Terrier fell but built a rock pad to catch himself.
“How the fuck is he not out of energy yet??” Kelnick questioned. Terreir ran up the descended edge of the rooftop towards Kelnick. With each step from his heavy armor the roof shook and lost reliability. Kelnick used this time to analyze Terreir’s armor.
“He’s low on energy so his manipulation won’t be as refined or precise. I can see just above his left eye there's a crack just big enough for my knife to perfectly slip into.”
Kelnick thought. He blocked a heavy kick that fractured his wrist and sent him sliding. Kelnick grabbed his leg as he slid and took him off his balance. Kelnick palmed his chest and cartwheeled over Terreir as he got up. Kelnick stabbed at his weak spot right when he turned to face him. Terreir noticed and counter struck by shooting all the rocks covering his right arm into multiple directions at highspeeds. The rocks stopped Kelnick’s attack and tore through his clothes and skin. Kelnick defended just fast enough not to be penetrated but he was covered in lacerations. What was left of his clothes were soaked in blood, he nearly slipped on it backing away. Kelnick wasn’t in fighting condition, the heat, the bloodloss, and the pain all finally got to him. No amount of determination and pettiness could push him forward. Terreir stood up advancing on the retreating Kelnick.
“Finally, you stopped. Almost took a town.” Terreir said. Kelnick vomited from the vertigo. His arms were to his side and limp from the excruciating pain and suffering. Blood decorated his body like the flames did the town, two disgusting scenes.
“I’m running low on energy too, so good thing I finished it when I did.” He continued.
“Have you any last words?” He asked. No response came from Kelnick who just stared at the ground in a daze. Kelnick felt nothing at this moment. His head was empty as his eyes moved through autopilot in latent response to what was said. When looking he noticed his right hand was still exposed from his previous attack. Kelnick’s swaying paused as his hand deliberately thrusted the knife towards Terreir. They exchanged blows, Kelnick’s knife hitting its mark and Terreir’s rocky fist crashing into Kelnick’s right side. Terreir grunted as his hand bled, but loved the feel of Kelnick’s cluttered ribs. He looked down at the fist, let out one last bloody belch, and fell flat on his back. Terreir’s armor dropped to pieces, relieved. He groaned in pain as he pulled the knife out and looked around. The chaos he caused was only a testament to how powerful he was and it excited him. He took a deep breath of the smoke only to laugh alongside his hearty cough. He was victorious over Kelnick.
