by Eden Redd
“Yea, I’m not going to take any chances,” Will whispered to himself before pulling out a stone and sealing the hole.
Inside the shelter was pitch black. Will fumbled through the darkness for three feet before his shin hit the edge of the bed. Grunting from the sharp pain, he laid down, placing his weapons beside the bed. Pulling the blankets over him, he tried to get some sleep while strange muffled moans made it through the stone walls, letting him know monsters prowled just outside. Sleep eventually overtook him, falling to dreams while the moons rose higher in the night sky.
Shadows smiled and howling filled the night. Before long, Will woke up, but it was still dark in his shelter. Pulling a pickaxe from his inventory, he brought it down on a stone block and the block shattered from several strikes. The moment the block was sucked back into his inventory, a thick shaft of sunlight shined in. Will looked out, seeing no monsters or ghouls. With a smile, he began to break down the shelter, putting the blocks and materials back into his inventory and sliding his hammer over his back and sword into its sheath. Walking, he began his trek once again to a mysterious tomb.
Will pondered on what he might expect when he arrived. A voice in the back of his mind told him the tombs were important, but he wasn’t sure why. The haze was thick beyond the first morning he awoke on the beach. The mystery deepened and took up his thoughts as he walked. Checking and rechecking his map, he corrected his course and marched on. The importance of his quest faded as he remained alert. Remembering the Stalker by the lake, he didn’t want to be ambushed by another one.
Stepping along over thick tree roots, the player froze when he came across shards of wood. Will looked around, seeing that the area was littered with shattered wood bits and when his gaze rose up, they widened in disbelief.
Trees were bent and cracked, but beyond them, a path of destruction stretched on. Will stepped closer, drinking in the destruction. Stepping onto the destroyed bits of trees, he looked to his right and then to his left, the destroyed section of forest stretching on farther than the eye could see. Something big had walked or slithered through here, snapping giant trees to kindling.
Will knelt to the floor, inspecting the path. He looked for blood or maybe fur, but there was nothing but broken trees. Standing up, he guessed that whatever came through here was the size of a house and seemed to not care what it did to the forest. Not wanting to stick around to find out, Will quickly moved on, walking across the destroyed path and stepping into the shadowy forest on the other side. Picking up the pace, he wanted to be long gone if whatever made that path came back.
The rest of the day carried on. Hiking through the forest, Will felt like he was walking through an endless wood with no end in sight. Checking his map, he saw that he wasn’t very far from the first tomb and when the sun hung low in the sky, he emerged into an open field with a large object in the middle.
The clearing was wide, but standing in the center of it was a small pyramid with standing stones ten feet from each corner. Sunlight touched the top of the structure and the four tall standing stones, coloring them in dim orange light. Simple runes graced every stone and a dark foreboding entrance stood facing him, inky shadows obscuring anything that might be inside.
Will stepped from the tree line, admiring the pyramid. It seemed alien and natural at the same time, vines running along one side, clutching to worn down stone. It looked ancient as he approached, drinking it in before he stopped before the entrance. Squinting, he could not penetrate the dark entrance. Pulling his hammer from over his shoulder and a torch from his inventory, firelight danced, pushing the shadows further back.
Will looked to the sky, seeing the sun sinking low and touching the horizon. In less than an hour, the sun would be gone. He had to hurry if he was going to set up a shelter for the night. A thought touched his mind to stay within the pyramid, but he had no idea who or what was inside. With a cautious step forward, the player stepped into the tall entrance and entered the pyramid, torch and hammer in hand.
Shadows pulled back as flickering torchlight kept them at bay. The corridor wasn’t very long as Will stepped into a large chamber. Alcoves ran along the walls while a large stone block took up the middle. Dirt and dust nearly covered everything. Will lowered his torch, checking where he was stepping until he noticed shapes along the thick layer of dirt and dust on the floor. Peering closer, he saw three-toed footprints and they crisscrossed in all directions. Glancing around, the shadows stayed to the alcoves, writhing against the light of his torch.
“Is there anyone here,” Will said out loud, his voice echoing along the large chamber.
Nothing stirred.
Will stepped further in and toward the large stone, senses dialed to eleven. Torchlight touched the stone in the middle as carvings appeared. Looking down, Will’s brow wrinkled as he saw crude angel wings carved into the stone. The rectangular stone was smooth for the most part except for the crude drawings. Mentally comparing them to the carvings on the outside of the pyramid, these didn’t match the detailed work. Pointing a finger from the hand with the torch, he was about to touch the odd carvings when something jammed into his shoulder, sending a shockwave of pain through his body and dropping his torch.
You have taken 1 damage! You have 9 Hearts remaining.
Will spun around, hammer at the ready. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a small spear sticking out of it. Left hand reaching over, he pulled it out and threw it aside as three small shadows hissed and charged toward him. Both hands now gripping the large hammer, he readied himself as the small shadows leapt into the air, the shine of spear points gleaming in the torchlight.
Oval lizard-like eyes bore down as teeth flashed. Will swung his hammer, striking one against the side and sending it flying. The little lizard creature’s bones snapped as it flew while two others stabbed spears into Will’s thighs.
You have taken 1 damage! You have 8 Hearts remaining.
You have taken 1 damage! You have 7 Hearts remaining.
Will grunted as he swung his hammer around, bringing it down on one of the creature’s heads and splatting it into paste. The last one hissed as it pulled its spear and tried to stab again when the large copper head of the hammer came around again, striking the creature on the side and sending its broken body skidding across the floor to a full stop.
Will heaved as he saw the two bodies of the lizard creatures not moving and his gaze moved to the one that was nothing more than blood, broken bones and skin. Blood spread out as the remains quivered before not moving. Will took a step back when he felt a presence behind him. Turning his head, he saw a lizard creature slightly bigger than the ones he just took down in mid-air, spear point aiming for his chest. Turning his body, he managed to parry the blow before throwing his shoulders into the creature and sending it flying back.
The lizard creature turned midflight, planting three-toed feet against the stone block in the middle of the temple and pushed off. Like a bullet, it shot forward with determination in its eyes, spear aiming for Will’s chest again. The player grinned as he turned his hammer shaft sideways, knocking the spear point away and kicking upwards. The end of his boot hit the creature in the stomach. Eyes bulged as it went flailing through the air and landed on the stone floor a few feet away. Will rushed it, eyes on the spear a foot away from the creature and kicking it away.
The little lizard humanoid looked up before scrambling to its feet. Will’s brow formed a hard V as he glared down at the creature. It eyed him, claws flashing in the torchlight. The two waited, studying the other. Will was impressed by the strategy they used, three of them attacking while the slightly bigger one made their way around to attack from behind. It might have worked if there was more of them.
“Run,” Will growled, hammer at the ready.
The little lizard creature’s tail trembled, but Will didn’t think it was out of fear. The serpentine eyes held a determination he couldn’t shake. If Will didn’t know any better, he would swear it was preparing to
attack.
The lizard creature screeched before launching at the man with the hammer. Will brought his hammer up and swung hard. The creature spun its body, the hammer missing it by an inch. Will’s eyes widened as a clawed hand slashed for his face. Pulling back, small claws missed his nose by an inch. Gravity took hold and Will lost his balance. Falling, he landed on his back as small feet landed on his chest. It growled as it swiped at his face again until a fist rammed into its side and it went spiraling to the floor.
Will turned and rolled back to his feet, hammer in hand. The lizard creature dove for a spear, grabbed it, rolled and threw it. The player brought the shaft of the hammer up, knocking it away when a shadow touched the corner of his gaze. The lizard creature was hurtling toward him, little claws flashing.
“No,” Will growled as he swung his hammer and struck the creature from the air.
The thing screeched as it slammed into the stone block in the middle of the temple. Bone cracking, it slid to the ground, leaving a bloody streak after it. Will stepped closer, ready for any surprises when the creature reached up with a bloody scaled hand and touched one of the angel wing carvings.
Will stopped his advance, eyeing the little creature as it made a pitiful sob and slumped to the floor, no longer moving. Body melting away, a soul stone lay on the ground, glowing with iridescent light.
Will looked down as the other bodies melted away. The heat of the moment dying down, he stepped over to the soul stone and picked it up. Whispers touched his mind, telling and not telling him that the world of Jova was a savage place. He had no idea why he tried to give the lizard creature a chance to run when he knew it wouldn’t. He killed others of its kind and the last one might have had nothing else to live for. The image of the bloody claw touching angel wings cast a gloomy doubt in the player’s mind before he pushed it away.
Stepping to the rectangular stone in the middle of the pyramid floor, Will reached out and pressed a hand to the same bloody angel wings the creature touched. The moment he made contact, the temple shuddered and lines of light ran along the stone surface.
Will stepped back, hammer at the ready. Lines of light ran along in arcane patterns until they met. The light died and something clicked and chattered. Grainy stone shifted on top, sending dust into the air. A lid popped up an inch and it slid sideways. When the heavy stone slab tilted and crashed onto the floor, cracks appeared.
Will moved closer, the edge of the stone block just below his chest. Peering down, shock colored his eyes as a beautiful woman lay within, arms crossed over her chest. Roses and tentacles of rosy thorns wrapped around much of her body as she lay peacefully, her face a mask of divine sleep. Alabaster skin glowed in the torchlight as short hair graced her head. Bright crimson colored lips were sealed. Will’s eyes scanned the woman as she lay. Under the thorny vines, she wore what looked like black leather with red accents along her collared neck and down her top from her exposed white cleavage. Covered thighs had red running along the sides to impeccable black leather boots.
Will looked to her chest and saw that it did not rise and fall. She seemed like a corpse in her final resting place. The vines filled the sides of the woman in her sarcophagus. Thoughts filled Will’s head as he wondered if her body was covering some kind of treasure or scrolls underneath. He knew it was important to find these tombs, but he wasn’t sure exactly why. Looking to the woman’s pale face again, he wondered if she died recently. No signs of blotchy bruises showed against her flawless skin. There was something more, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Putting his hammer over his shoulder and into its sheath, the player drew his copper sword. Stabbing it into the thick of the vines at the body’s sides, he began to cut. The thorny vines sliced away easily, a moment later turning brown and crumpling away. When the majority withered to dust, the roses on the woman’s body turned from blood red to white and then black. Will made the final slice and when the last red rose turned black, the woman’s eyes opened.
Will took a step back, copper sword in hand as the woman’s upper body sat up and she turned her head to the man with the sword. Eyes regarded the man before looking to the sword and back to him. A dreadful silence hushed everything but Will’s heartbeat, the woman listening to the rhythm like a sweet song in the middle of the night.
“Who, pray tell, are you?” the woman asked with an annoyed gaze and breathy tone.
Will stared, unsure if he should simply state his name or get ready to fight. She didn’t act like any of the savage monsters he had encountered. Her speech seemed like she was educated and she had the presence of mind to ask questions first. Not knowing how strong or skilled she was, he decided a peaceful approach might be needed.
“Will Asher,” the young man said, sword still in hand.
The woman eyed him with a curious edge before red lips parted, “Hello, Will Asher. My name is Val Alucard. It would be so helpful if you told me what I’m doing in this sarcophagus?”
The pale beauty looked past Will and to the temple around her. “And would mind telling me where the hell I am?”
Seven
Cool air drifted into the temple as Will looked to the pale woman in black leather. Val eyed him, her expression a blank mask. The two were silent for a long moment. Will wasn’t sure how to answer her questions. He had so many of his own that it felt like the blind leading the blind. Beyond the last number of days, he probably knew about as much as she did.
Val looked past Will to the entrance, the outside world dark. Eyes taking in hints of light in the inky distance, pale figures emerged from hiding spots, lumbering about. Some moved toward them, eyes searching. Others lumbered toward the temple entrance, thin holes for noses picking up a scent of the living, the same scent drifting off of the young man just a few feet away.
The pale woman stood up, hopped and hit the stone floor without a sound. Will kept himself ready before she checked her nails.
“I take it, the others outside are not your friends,” Val said while looking over her perfect nails.
Will raised a confused eyebrow until cold realization washed over his spirit. Turning, he looked to the large entrance. The sun had already set and a faint moan rose up, echoing through the temple. Several pale figures appeared from the evening darkness, their bodies like white shadows.
“Shit!” Will cursed before he ran toward the entrance and pulling stone blocks from his inventory.
Val watched with amused eyes until Will reached the entrance, the pale figures beyond it noticing him. They broke into a run, slathering and growling like feral animals, charging the entrance.
“They’re ghouls and if I don’t block this entrance, many more are going to follow!” Will shouted over his shoulder as he placed one stone block down.
Val put her hand down to her side. “They don’t smell dangerous.”
Will put another block down as three ghouls rushed the entrance.
“They are in greater numbers,” Will said as he whispered a curse and drew his hammer from over his shoulder.
The first ghoul launched over the pair of stone blocks on the ground and was greeted with a hammer strike to the side of its head. Two more jumped as Will changed the direction of the hammer and swung it into one of the flying ghouls. The ghoul grunted as it smashed into its fellow ghoul, both hitting the ground and not moving.
Will still held small stone block in his hand when several more appeared out of the dark forest and raced toward the entrance. Behind them, howls, moans and screams vibrated along the forest, alerting others of fresh meat.
“We need to block this entrance!” Will shouted over his shoulder again as he readied for the next wave of ghouls.
Val looked beyond the entrance again before a fog of decayed scents struck her senses. There were dozens and dozens of them, turning and rushing toward the temple. The number grew as the forest became alive with monsters and growls.
The pale woman in black and red leather rushed through the temple. Will was standin
g at the entrance, no time to continue building a barrier to keep the ghouls out. He hoped there would be a lull so he could finish the wall. A figure darted past him and stood ten feet outside the entrance. Ghouls rushed along, claws and mouths open and ready to rend flesh.
Val was still as a summer pond, fingernails growing longer, sharper and stronger. They grew about a foot long and when the first ghoul leapt toward her, she slashed across their neck, separating the head from the body. Left hand up, she knocked away the headless corpse before slashing at another ghoul that moved too close.
Will stared for a long second, seeing Val slice with the accuracy of a chef’s blade, cutting ghouls down. The forest edge rippled as a swarm of ghouls raced toward them. The player looked down and began stacking stones while Val slashed ghouls in quick succession, foul blood spraying in arcs.
“How’s it coming,” Val said with a growing edge as the swarm charged closer.
Will had nearly made it three blocks high, making it 9 feet tall. He created a gap in the middle so Val could retreat back.
“Pull back!” Will shouted.
Val took a step back when several ghouls rushed her. Claws slashed, but a grunt rose up as ghoul bit her arm, sinking teeth into flesh and not letting go. Val’s hand landed on the pale creature’s head and pushed, but her own flesh began to tear. Elbowing another ghoul from biting her, she was ready to drive her claws into the ghoul biting her arm when another ghoul grabbed it. Teeth sank into her other arm and she let out another painful grunt.
A copper hammer swung down, shattering a ghoul’s skull. Val turned her head just enough to see Will side step and bring his hammer across the other ghoul on her other arm. Now free, Val turned and pushed Will back to the gap. With a hard shove, she sent him to the stone floor before turning back to the advancing ghouls.
