Chronicles of Myth Volume Two: Into the Nightmare

Scene 2

Before we continue, I'd like to apologize if the story seems rather choppy here and there; kids these days should know what I'm saying, like scrubbing the timeline in a video to get to the juicy bits of awesome and having no idea what the preceding context was; so I'm going to put this out there, if possible I'll try to keep the main points as accurate as possible if doesn't happen, don't hope for much... my memory and the memory of others are quite lacking when it comes to fleshing the little details, now where were we ?

I pulled on the door, and it refused to budge; I saw a red x between the twin steel bars; sweat beads formed on my paling skin, I'm far too out of it now... I need to end it now, "The match isn't over yet". Ashton told me as he went to his corner and brought back his swords; I went to the opposing bench next to the safety door and sat down, my heart raced and I felt like vomiting, I bit off too much already... taking a deep breath I stood back up before entering the ring, putting on my poker face I let my feet sink into the plush canvas; Ashton drew his swords and held one over the other; "You're going to fight me unarmed"? "Yes", I flexed my mechanical hand... I could feel nerves in my body pinch as I walked forward; "Then don't come crying to me when I kill you". "Fair enough". I raised my arms in front of me, shutting off the sensation of pain, I forced my body into a second round of accelerated motion; I dodged the first swing tilting my body to the left, the sword swung down cleanly; I danced on the canvas, letting my body flow into the groove, I closed my eyes and dodged the coming attacks by imagining them playing out in my head. Then everything was still and in reaction I snapped the fingers on my left hand.

I leapt toward Damon, he still stood like a statue as I reached toward him; crossing the center of the ring I was suspended in mid sprint, "What did you say about killing me"? Damon walked toward me and wrapped his hands around my pajamas, I was flipped in place and my eyes pointed toward the ceiling, he snapped his fingers and I was on my back; I got back up, and was stuck in place again, "Stay there, would you; I need you out of my hair while I get dinner sorted out... another thing, surrender while you can still run that mouth of yours, it'll be the best choice for both of us". "Rewind", I felt my body rise into the air before I was suspended in place, tilting my head I saw Damon wave his fingers downward slamming me into the ground; bounced up again, I looked at him with my back pointed to the ground; Damon walked up to me and turned my body right side up, "I count to one then I get mad". He let out a frustrated sigh, "One". I was pushed into a column mat face first, "Rewind". I was pulled back to the center of the ring, Damon saw the scowl on my face; "You don't look like you're in the mood to talk... so fast forward x2". Before I could open my mouth, I was hurled into the mat and was warped back to the center of the ring, before being flung into the cushion at stacked acceleration, I peeled off the column before being slammed into the wall again. "I'm losing patience".

"Ne— "What was that"? I walked up to him and looked him in the eyes, he cried in pain as I clamped my hand down on the back of his neck and forced him to kneel, "In this field I am king, and I command you to quit". Ashton stood back up, "I guess we'll do this the hard way". Stepping back I caught both of his swings with my mechanical arm, I threw up my shield causing the blades to glance off, I dashed into him locking his body in time and drove my fist into his stomach, snaking around him; I stood up and gave a quick pinch to the back of his windpipe, the room fell silent as he passed out from the lacking flow of oxygen, I let go of the decaying field around the ring; I caught the back of head and let Ashton rest on his stomach guiding his body down, putting his face gently on the canvas I heard the safety locks built in the door open, I bent down and heard stable breaths, "You've been through enough of a beating today, just rest for now". I walked to the door and raised the temperature for the air conditioner, I looked at him before feeling a room temperature breeze; "at least he won't freeze to death now". As I closed the door behind me, I ran into a woman dressed in a set of grey sweats and fell into her open arms; she had a kind look on her face as she stopped me from falling over, "You're not such a bad guy are you"? She let me go and I rest my back against the doors, "Well people say I'm a bastard with a heart of gold". "I'm Elaine, nice to meet you". "I'm Damon, and might I ask why you're up so early this morning"? "To get my presents first", she said cheekily; I stepped out of her way, and went past her, as I set foot on the staircase out the living room, I heard Elaine push open the door; "He's out cold right now, you'll want to wait elsewhere". "I never said it would be anything carnal". I felt a tear in my eye, "He's in good hands. I hope that reckless idiot realizes how lucky he is". "I've almost lost him before, I don't want that to happen ever again". I turned around and faced her, in her eyes I saw a look that shot me in the deepest corner of my heart, I saw the same genuine love I have for my friends in her eyes as Elaine nodded at me with a smile before walking into the training room and I walked up the steps as silence fell between us, stepping into an empty living room; all residents except for us early birds were still asleep in their rooms, I walked through the recreational area and into the foyer, as I touched the door handle I felt a foreign hand on my shoulder; the presence behind me wasn't necessarily evil but it certainly all potential to wreak great havoc. "Let's get the menu sorted out", I said pressing down on the switch; "Even for a person like me", I could hear his sharp teeth grate against each other as he spoke; "Your protégé does she wish to come with us"? "Astoria you want to go for a morning stroll". I heard the sound of plastic cap touch the granite countertops, we heard the sound of gulping water before the glass cup was placed in the sink; the tap ran for ten seconds before a fragile looking girl with white hair walked in our view, she pocketed several vials of coagulated black blood in the bandolier around her waist; "Poor thing hasn't had a decent meal since leaving the underworld". I saw faint traces of red on her teeth as she smiled, "You've fasted with her, I'm guessing". The man smiled as he turned to Astoria, "It's a necessary evil". "Nolan, I'm lasting off the blood cocktails just fine". She stumbled forward into his arms, "But for how long, you can't last off the stuff forever; you need to eat something before you empty yourself of whatever's left inside". She stepped back shuffling her feet on the wooden flooring, "Considering how I felt after eating Nikolai, I never want to put raw flesh from a conscious soul in my mouth". "Technically he was made of dirt". He said back, she chuckled, "The point is, I'm against it Nolan". "Then what about the corpses and bones you binged on"? Astoria shuddered and walked up to him; she pinched his mouth shut, "Not another word". Astoria let go of his lips, "You're a smart man". Nolan said turning his head to me, "It's Damon, and the answer is no". "Aren't you going to hear out a desperate man"? "I'm the bastard with a heart of gold, not a charity worker". "Besides I want to hear from her personally". I answered Nolan, "Astoria is it"? I turned my eyes to the faint girl, she was practically skin and bones under her white armor; "Carrion shouldn't be your first option". I placed my hands on her shoulders, I guided her to the bench built into the wall; setting her down I sat next to her, "I know deep inside you know as well, you're going have to resort to getting a kill and eating the remains of a life wherever it might have come from, and I also know it conflicts with the beliefs you have, but be smart and set aside those ideals, the crazy bastard has a point and you should listen to him". "Would you believe me if I told you I dug myself into his hole"? Nolan walked over to us, "Astoria, I wouldn't look you any differently if you ate a respectable stranger of the streets or a hooker in a back alley, point being those corpses you've been eating won't satisfy your hunger after a while, in fact it'll make the cravings worse". She smiled at me, as she stood up; "Nolan you've been a good teacher to me and a better friend, thank you". "Could the two of you wait here for a few minutes, I forgot something important". Nolan hurried to his room and I heard the door open with a soft click, Astoria leaned against the wall and took a deep inhale; she let her legs dangle off the seat as she rested her head on the wallpaper; she looked at me and squinted her eyes; "you remind me of Ashton". "Why is that"? "Forgive me for saying but you and he are the wisest jackasses I've had the pleasure of meeting". "I'm guessing he say something like this: A happy life is made growth given by learning from stupid mistakes and the occasional success you just luck into". "Not even close, he'd probably say something like this". She cleared her throat, deepening her voice she tried her best impression of him: "Grab opportunity by the testicles, step forward regardless of the obstacles— "And punch the fuckers who won't get out of the way in the throat". I saw Ashton walk up the stairs out of the training room with Elaine supporting him with a second pair of feet to cover for the lack of balance he's current experiencing". They walked to the front door getting their coats of the wall mounted rack, Astoria chuckled seeing Ashton like this, "I've lived in a blur before I got here, this place is my home and right now I feel so happy that I can feel each day has its meaning... I finally feel like I'm living". I smiled at Astoria's statement. "Feeling better today, Astoria"? "What about the guy who just had his ass handed to him"? "Suck it up, you'll better after getting some fresh air". I leaned back on the wall, I heard sounds of a running sink and the soft squeak of rubber against the floor; Nolan and Ragnarok came out of their rooms, one with a wheelchair and the other with his boots, Nolan walked up to Astoria and lifted her into the seat; Ragnarok sat down on the bench, putting on his shoes he let out a yawn. "You remember what I said to you twenty years ago"? The sleepy look on his face changed in an instant to one of murderous intent, "I want to see you try as I rip the hope of victory from dying fingers as I mutilate the bloody pulp you'll become". He snapped out of his bloodlust and gave a timid expression as he pursed his lips and gazed at us as a crowd, "To my loving friends, I'm sorry you had to hear that; but this bastard and I have a score to settle and one more thing, who wants doughnuts"?