Chapter: 108 Day 25 - To Leave, Is To Live
Why, why the FUCK is this happening to me?
It's been…shit, 28 days in a row now? It's hard to keep track, waking up with a brain splitting migraine every single day. This hellscape of dark fur and jagged teeth just loops over and over again, marginally worse every. Fucking. Time. The mist from day 2 was replaced by a swamp, stretching from just outside our settlement to the treeline. The rats they…they swam. They swam faster than any fish I'd ever seen, even faster than Steve. I was able to use the swamp as a conduit, burning much of the death in the waters. Yet, no matter how much lightning mana I exerted, the death mana and filthy undead rats flooded in twofold.
A day became a week, a week of watching everyone die one by one, the horde always saving me for last. Phoebe pulled in two by telepathic undead rats, playing her final guttural scream as she bled out in my head over, and over, and over, and over, and over, an-
*knock knock*
…what?
Confused, and having never been even acknowledged by anyone or anything other than rats in 17 days, I jumped out of bed and beelined for the door.
Finally, finally some fucking help getting o-
As the door open, an overwhelming pressure blasted into the door, throwing me against the wall at my side. Immediately, thousands of red-eyed, blood soaked rats poured into my bedroom, almost immediately swarming me before I could even get to my feet.
"NO! NO NOT HE-" my throat ripped clean off by a feral, stray rat before I could beg for some sort of sanctuary from this unending nightmare.
"You let us die." Cassi's voice echoed through my mind as my vision was consumed by dark fur and gnashing teeth.
"You never fought for us." Derrick's voice cut in.
"You fought for yourself." Phoebe's voice added, overlapping Derricks.
Stop.
Their voices sliced through the internal squelching as the rats ate through my neck, feeding into my belly and into my skull as I began to fade.
"I thought you were different. I never had to save you, Tom." Korbin's voice cut in, as I felt the last flicker of life escape a final breath.
…
*GASP*
I shot out of bed, immediately sprinting toward my door and pressing my shoulder hard against the dark wood.
"NO! NO MORE, NO MORE!" I screamed to the sky, my hands shaking with rage and panic as I awaited my violent, furry demise.
How the fuck did I get here?! The FUCK did I do?! What did I do? What did I d-
The hinges holding my door shut crumbled under the constant pressure I exerted, only now noticing the crackling lightning mana radiating from my skin. I fell forward, tucking my head and landing on all fours, ready to slap away a dozen disgusting vermin in one sweep. Instead, however, my hand felt stone. Cold, cracked stone, covered in runes that looked ancient. Looking up, ruins of a crumbled cathedral stood, barely. At the center sat a stone statue of a man in a suit. Well, half-man, by the horns and long tail looping in the air behind the towering figure.
"What the hell is this?! Huh?! What now?!" I screamed to the sky, refusing to move from where I stood. Then, yellow runes lit across the floor, creating a glowing path that radiated a soothing warmth.
…this…this is nice.
Slowly, I made my way toward the stone, crawling up to my feet and walking upright, scanning my full surroundings as I approached the slab at the foot of this demonic-looking statue. As I stepped atop the final cracked step leading to the statue, strange characters I didn't recognize lit up with burning orange energy. The glowing characters spoke, saying different expressions each time I scanned back to the beginning of the texts.
"Blessing of Beloris, calming reprieve."
"Beloris's Blessing Of Temporary Comfort."
"Beloris's Final Offer: One hour of True Warmth."
'True Warmth'? What does that even mean?
Curious, I focused on that phrase, sliding my hand across the dirty glowing text hoping to reveal an explanation. Instead, a powerful surge of orange energy erupted from the texts, channeling through my palm and filling me with what I can only describe as a hug to every single molecule. My eyelids clamped shut, as the faces of my friends manifested as clear as day. Not bleeding, not being over run, not laying lifeless and staring to the sky with hollow eyes and grey skin. No, these were memories, real ones.
Cassi, punching me in the arm as she herself fought back a smile. Derrick's glowing smile after finally extending his maximum teleport range during sparring. Steve, pulling me from the depths of the ocean and gaining his flight. The plans we made for after the conquest to spread his own oceanic kingdom between shooting verbal jabs at one another. Korbin, grinning nefariously helping me up after sweeping my legs out, only after I landed my first hit on him, ever.
"Say, 'hi House-Cat!' Hyah!" The image of Korbin, lifting up Anna as she extended her little foot and pressing into my chest. I dramatically flew back, nearly breaking my glass of milk with my elbow overselling it. Ana and Korbin broke out in identical cackles, instantly killing all inspiration to defend my pride. Instead, I joined in the laughter, struggling to keep my eyes open as I cleaned up my mess. We were…I was home.
"Ahhh, take it easy, take my wallet instead!" I yelled, dropping my wallet with my hands high. Anna cracked up, squeaking her little chuckle as she flailed her arms in triumph.
"We sparring today?" Korbin asked, placing Anna in her little dinner chair atop the counter. Looking down, a double layered peanut-butter and honey sandwich over honey wheat sat atop a paper towel, a staple of my handwork. For the first time in a long time, I felt hungry. Smiling, my hands wrapped around the triple stack of perfection, gripping an entire gallon of milk to wash it down. Scarfing down the greatest sandwich arguably in human history, I turned to Korbin, wiping away my milk-stash and nodding.
"Hell yes, I couldn't think of anything better." I said, immediately darting down the hall to grab my shin guards and hand wraps. I hopped over the baby gate, snagged my gear, and damn near broke my neck trying to hop back over.
"Woah woah, what's the rush? We got all day Tom." Korbin said, but it'd felt like years since I last had an old fashioned, non-magical, 60% speed sparring.
"Yeah, yeah I just want to train. I've got a few ideas to try out." I said, strapping my shin guards tight around my calves.
"Well don't just whip that shit out at random, your elbow can't handle another surprise." Korbin teased, wrapping his hands while also feeding Anna sliced fruit. Anna clapped in anticipation for her semi-daily exhibition of controlled violence.
"Okay okay, I want to try using the Water Step omnidirectionally, set up my lightning strike punch better." I explained, finishing my final handwrap.
"Wow, the confidence to combine symbolic concepts that represent thousands of years of differing forms stemming from a myriad of disciplines on a whim is almost impressive. Trying it against the guy who literally showed you everything you know? Now that, my friend, is undisciplined stupidly." Korbin said, shaking out his muscles before getting in his fighting stance. Well, one of them, I recognize this as a stone stance meant to disallow any retreat.
"Wow, your response is to metaphorically shell up?" I replied, with a smirk.
"That depends Tom…how long do you think you have left?" Korbin's voice sank into an uncannily deep voice.
"…come again?" I asked, looking him up and down.
"You know this can't last, you've stumbled into quite the miserable accident, haven't you Tom?" Korbin continued, his feet lifting from the tile floor as he hovered toward me.
"K-Korbin what are you.."
"Don't worry about him. Don't worry about any of them. You need to worry about yourself, Tom. More than ever." Korbin replied. His arms suddenly ignited, flames raging from his shoulders and spreading rapidly down Korbin's whole body.
"You…you're not…this isn't.." glancing around the room, the walls themselves slowly morphed into molten rock, bubbling and leaking with magma. Anna disappeared, replaced with a strange winged little devil strapped into a high chair.
"Hold onto this moment, Tom. Do NOT let go of y-"
…darkness. Like I'd been deleted from existence, dropped into limbo itself.
*pitter*
"No. No, no, no not again."
*pitter*
*pitter*
Tiny paws ran over my legs, though my arms and legs were completely unresponsive to my request. Slowly, a familiar hollowness manifested in my belly.
Is this…am I losing mana?…no.
Several sharp stabbing sensations shot across my body, my vocal chords failing to allow none more than a squeak. The hollowness rapidly evolved into emptiness that ached more unbearably than the constant chewing of my skin.
I…I'm so…so…
My mind slowed, my thoughts dwindling down from full cohesive sentences to mere words, and feelings.
Cold…together.
Movement stirred all around me in the darkness, as if bodies bounced and sprung off of me. Then, a piercing light emerged overhead.
Light…climb.
Slowly, I made my way toward the darkness, crawling up the soft dirt wall. My head emerged, finding myself at the edge of a forest. A strong pressure launched me from my little hole, as thousands of my brothers and sisters sprang from our place of rest.
Movement…so…
My feet puttered across the sands, shoulder and shoulder with bodies. Amaciated, teeth gnashing bodies.
*sniff*
*sniff* *sniff*
*sniff*
A euphoric aroma filled my pallet, causing the hairs on my back to stand on edge as my pace tripled.
So…empty.
*BOOM*
Dozens of my brothers disappeared in a thunderous flash, worthy sacrifices.
Movement…warm.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Heat surrounded me, filling me, and leaving me.
Food…so…
My attention locked onto a frantic, wide eyed meatsack wearing metal armor. A stick, a shaped, shiny stick, too. Orange heat shot out of its stick, sacrificing more of my kin.
More…warmth I'm…so cold.
Climbing atop another fuzzy warm, I leapt up, patching my jaw around the meatsack under its teeth. Warmth filled my stomach, and filled, and filled.
But it's never enough.
So…so hungry.
"CASSI RU-"'
Chew. Swallow. Chew. Swallow. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.
…quiet.
Empty.
Cold.
*BOOM*
Movement.
*BOOM*
Warmth.
*BOOM*
——————————————————————
"What? You destroyed all life on Apouti just to show me how feeble it was? No waaay!" I proclaimed sarcastically, rolling my eyes and immediately making my way toward the nearest building.
"I haven't spoken, and yet you mock me. Why?" The voice said. My hands began glowing with infernal energy as I grasped onto a bent steel bar. A shattered window under me reflected a blue eyed, blonde haired version of myself. I ignored the false reflection, and began scaling the building.
"Because it's not new. You've done this before. Like, less than 2 hours ago." I replied aloud.
"You know nothing of my work, and last I checked I was still stuck here watching your squirming disguised as a conquest for peace 2 hours ago." The voice shot back. I sighed, growing increasingly annoyed at his ignorance.
"How the hell can you take over my entire body and wipe out an entire planet, but can't remember you've already done it?" I said, pulling myself up and over the edge.
"You must have had your mind scrambled while you were visiting my temporary cage, Korbin. I've never done this befor-, hey what are you doing?" The voice said as I stepped onto the ledge.
"Unbelievable. It's almost poetic y'know? I mean, if I wasn't the one suffering the consequences, I might appreciate it."
"Korbin, what is the meaning of this?"
"In here, you can free yourself can't you, big guy? And yet-" I leapt off the side, my arms spread wide doing my best airplane impression.
"What the hell are y-"
"-you'll never remember what freedom feels like. You'll get a taste, over and over, but because you can't remember? It means no-"
…
"The council is ready to see you, Sir Erickson!" Ehtani said in his typically chipper tone. I sighed, a deep, long sigh as I walked ahead of him.
"Not even a 'hello'? I thought you enjoyed these people's blissful ignorance?" The voice said, as bitter as ever.
I did, the first 2 times.
"What?"
"Sir Erickson! You'd be pleased to hear the combatives courses you implemented into the academy has yielded incredible results, those very courses are actually why I'm he-"
"I don't care, Ehtani. I genuinely, truly, with every fiber of my being, could not give less of a shit about your record beating up recruits at the academy." I said. Ehtani froze, but I didn't bother turning back to acknowledge him. Instead, I strolled into the mana lift, and smashed the lift activation before Ehtani could catch up.
"…everything alright, Korbin?" The voice said inquisitively.
"What's your name?" I said aloud, fighting every urge to tell this smug forgetful prick in my head to just shut the fuck up and let me think. I remember everything, so my personal awareness clearly isn't the secret to escaping this layer of Escaping Fate. This fucker, though, can't recall arguably the best day of his painfully annoying existence. Maybe I just got him to believe me.
"…why do you ask, why now?" He replied, hesitantly.
"I think I have the right to know who's backseat-thinking me 24/7. Or should I throw myself off the nearest building?" I said aloud, as the mana lift hummed to a stop. The doors shot open, as I stepped into the top floor hallway.
"That is probably the most insane ultimatum you've attempted to provide me yet." The voice replied.
"You got 15 seconds to answer or I'm literally jumping out of that window." I threatened in a deadpan, pointing toward the window along our path to the council chambers. Step one of our trust building.
"This is by far your worst bluff. If I've learned anything of you, it's how much you think your continued existence is necessary."
"Your. Name." I insisted, halting beside the window.
"I don't take kindly to threats, Korbin. This is your only warning."
"…okay." I said, shrugging my shoulders casually, and throwing my body through the window.
Step two.
"YOU FOOL!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"Your name. 6 seconds." I said, the wind rushing around me muffling my own voice. Still, I knew he heard me.
"YOU SHALL KNOW SOON ENOUGH WHEN I FIND YOU IN THE SPIRIT PL-"
…
"The council is ready to see you, Mr. Ericks-" I shoved past the pompous guard.
"Shut up, Ehtani."
"Wow, I thought you like these ig-"
"You too, you forgetful fucking pompous piece of shit. You know you got a lot of GULL to act so mightier than thou for someone so feeble to a mere quarterly event. Tell me, did you get stuck at yours during your integration too? Or are you truly worthless mental dead weight with a rampant spiraling ego that's been locked in whatever spirit realm your misery could fi-"
…
My eyes fluttered open, glancing around the fire covered rubble surrounding me.
"…that's fair."