Chapter 31 Church Medallion

We knock as ice falls off the door.

"Who knew it would start snowing this early in the year?"

I ask.

"It's October and we live in Ciphia. I'm not surprised."

Shepherd says.

"But it was just raining yesterday."

Hayden opens the door.

He is delighted to see us.

"Got the bag?"

Hayden asks.

"Yes."

I said, holding it out.

He snatches it out of my hand excited.

"Come on, come on."

Shepherd looks at me and then I look at him.

We walked into the abandoned building.

Stepping into their laboratory.

Examining their environment.

I hear chemicals, steaming.

Arks written all over the floor.

"I cannot make out this pattern."

I said, pointing to the floor.

"Oh, they made it. I'm quite impressed, Shepherd, you managed to hold off Arthur."

A skinny bald man with a mustache walks up to take the bag from Hayden.

"Roy, it's nice to see you again."

Shepherd says as he smiles, walking up and shaking Roy's hand.

"This is the one you turned into a Vokrhan, Shepherd?"

Roy asks as he walks up to me.

Roy is wearing a lab coat with suit and tie.

Roy looks at my eyes using a flashlight.

"Hey, that's bright!"

I say.

"Sorry."

Roy says.

"Does he have similar abilities to yours with any shiny characteristics? How do you feel since you have been turned?"

Roy asks an abundance of questions.

"Why aren't you asking me any of these questions?"

I ask.

"Hey, we are not here for that. Remember, we have got your own project to be working on. We had a deal, remember."

Shepherd says.

Sinfield stands near the corner as I turn around to look over everything else a little bit more.

"Yes, yes, you are correct. There is one more thing I need to do to finish this ritual of mine."

Roy says he unzips the bag, pulling out a vial of blood.

"Excellent, you did a great job, you three. It must be fate that we all got together at the time we did. With this, it is almost complete. I've been waiting for this for years."

Roy says as he becomes ecstatic.

"I thought you would've died before it came to this."

Roy turns to us.

Shepherd leans on the table.

I walked into the lab further, crouching on the floor to look at the giant Ark.

"There is a special enchanted artifact only known in Ciphia. One that is so easy to find but hard to take."

Roy says.

"What is this artifact you need?"

Shepherd asks.

"It's a Medallion. The one who possesses it is granted great magic when wearing the artifact. It is kept in a nearby church."

Roy says as he looks at Shepherd.

"You want us to go get from a church?"

Shepherd asks, standing up.

"There is no more backing out, Shepherd, you're already in this. You fought Arthur head to head with the man who employed your service in the past. Do you think he is going to let that slide? You are going to need me."

Roy says.

Shepherd and Roy begin to stare at each other.

"Fine, but I'm not killing anyone who gets in my way."

Shepherd says patting my shoulder as he steps out.

"That's why you need me! You've always had a hard time being the cold-blooded killer despite the work you accomplish!"

Roy shouts as we leave.

We trench in the snow with light clothing.

As light shines near the entrance of the church down the street.

Shepherd holds his hand out, stopping me from going any further.

"Stop Faron, I smell blood."

Shepherd says.

"Let's go around the back from the top."

Shepherd says as he leaps out of a nearby window, climbing up.

I followed him up the small building.

We both get a vantage point from up top.

Getting a better view of the street, and in front of the church.

Blood paints the snow.

I pointed to the balcony of the church.

"Shepherd, let's just go, go grab the medallion. Whatever happens doesn't include us."

I say.

"Yeah you keep telling yourself that, Faron."

Shepherd says disappointed we both lunge.

Landing on the balcony silently, as possible.

But something else occurs.

I hear shouting.

Shepherd looked at me, as we both stepped into the Priestess's room.

The room is neat. Her bed is queen size.

"This room seems a bit too fancy for a church."

I say.

"Shh."

Shepherd points to a display case.

A blanket covers it.

"She isn't here. Where is she?"

I ask.

The floor creaks with each of our steps.

"Faron, I know that, but there are others."

Shepherd says.

"ROARRRR!!!!!!!!!!!"

Feeling the church shake a bit that roar.

The children screamed downstairs.

Ripping the blanket off the display.

I threw it down, smashing the glass.

Hearing giant footsteps moving too fast.

The beast's head towards the children's screams.

"Oh no."

Shepherd says as he steps out of the door.

Picking up the medallion, I put it in my pocket, following Shepherd out of the door.

The hallways are dark but I can see clear as day.

Shepherd is already there to confront the beast.

Catching up with Shepherd.

The beast towers over us. His white fur is coated in the blood of innocent people.

His one eye glows yellow.

While the other eye glistens with purple energy.

"Dale, don't do this! You're better than that. I don't know what they did to you in there, but I can help you."

Hearing a girl grunt, I turned to see her falling down.

A hooded figure stands over her, I see her pained expression.

I recognize her, it's Catherine.

He throws a dagger as it turns into an electric viper.

"NOOOOOOO!!"

Everything slows down, as I reach out for her to run down the hallway.

The wood breaks on each of my steps.

I grab the dagger as it hits the tip of her throat.

Catherine lies unconscious due to the shock of the attack.

Blood drips down her neck, I lose focus as I stare.

"Back from the dead?"

The figure asks. I slowly turned to him.

His voice sounds familiar.

He raises his blade.

"No!"

Preparing to slash Catherine, I hover over her, shielding her.

He continues to slash at my skin as I harden myself.

His attacks get faster with each swing.

"You're both traitors and pathetic. I can't wait to kill you myself!"

Eric shouts, as he imbues his next slash with magic.

"Agh!!!"

It was a successful attack. He slices through my skin.

Lowering my guard, I had to attempt to recover.

"Did you really think we were friends in some type of school? We are trained killers made to kill. We were not trained to develop emotional attachments!"

Eric shouted at me.

"Thorne did this to us. You don't have to keep lying to yourself!"

I shout.

"Your exhausted. I read the reports that we have all been keeping tabs on you and your new mentor. Looks like you can't heal as fast as usual, can you?"

Eric asks.

Blood continued to slide down Catherine's neck.

I began to focus on the blood alone.

"I'm going to finish what I started, I'm going to kill Catherine and make you watch.

Eric says.

"Don't do this Eric!"

I shout.

Turning around, I stood up to meet Eric's thrust.

As he pierces my skin covered in armor.

We both struggle.

Grunting as he twists and continues to push the blade deeper into my stomach.

"Agh.."

I groan, holding him back as much as I can.

"I wanted to do this for a long time."

Eric says smiling.

Shepherd then punches Eric.

Eric's body is sent into the wall, leaving a dent.

He groans.

I heard the beast roaring nearby.

"Let's go Faron!"

"The girl.."

I said, pulling out the blade.

Staggering, against the wall.

Shepherd picks her up.

"Let's go!"

He sprints, and I follow him.

We ran upstairs, Shepherd stepped behind me.

Smashing the steps with a stomp.

We made our way back to the balcony.

Jumping into the alleyway.