The Inferno

Black, Pyro, and the kids escape the burning forest. Their hoverbike is destroyed, so they continue on foot. They plan to cross a canyon to reach the fiery plains where they can hide. They walk for hours, encountering wildlife and hearing the hum of a hellhound engine. Eventually, they reach the beginning of the Scar, a deep canyon inhabited by Ahuls and dragons. They plan to cross the canyon and reach the village of Mightshire. The Inferno, Black. As Black left the gruesome scene, he'd picked up his pace into a sprint towards the direction the kids had gone as the cries of Pyro and the snarling of the wolf was drowned by the roar of the flames all around him. The man died too quick, but he appreciated the help of the Fethuwit and hoped that Pyro would make up with his brother in the next world, whichever one they both went to. This was really starting to get out of hand. Sletzar had every chance to ignore him and take off after the children, and yet she allowed them to escape in order to fight him. Tank was the same way. He had killed Pyro only to stop the hunter from throwing any more fire onto the forest, which would soon no longer stand on this world. As he watched the burning embers dance and tumble around him like falling leaves of autumn, Black felt the grief the forest felt, and all that lived within. As he ran across the river that separated the flames, he noticed something, a feeling of something following him. He felt a disturbance in the earth beneath him, and shifting his eyes toward the ground, he saw the rippling in the earth beside him, passing him with such speed, the rift that stretched like a tear in a once great tapestry cut through the forest and disappeared somewhere within the inferno up ahead. Whatever was beneath the earth, it was not of this world. He felt darkness, a cold intelligence that seemed to rake their claws upon his mind, telling him to stay away. Despite their threats, Black's eyes narrowed in determination as he quickened his pace. He had to hurry. That witch must have another trick up her sleeve for those children. He eventually caught up with the rippling earth, and a strange and alien conscience reaching out to him screeched like that of a demon, telling him to turn back. He did not allow their words to deter him, however, and both he and whatever was tunneling beneath the ground continued on until they both made it out of the line of trees. The forest continued to burn behind them, however the rift suddenly banked around and started towards Black, who leaped away from the rippling just as the dark hand shot out from the earth and tried to claw at him. It was inhuman, the owner hissing with rage as it continued on its way and sank deeper beneath the surface. Stay away, Oathbreaker, the voices hummed in unison within his head again, buzzing like a swarm of mosquitoes. Stay away, or she will die. It then continued to turn and circle around the burning forest, leaving Black behind as it seemed to now be hunting something, and Black knew exactly who they were looking for. They, not it, as he realized. With a groan from the burning pain in his lungs and the ache in his leg, Black took off running again. He had to hurry, and fast. As he ran, he kept an ear open for the hum of the hellhound. If he ran into the twins, or if they caught up to those kids first, then there would be trouble. Damian Black was losing time. He had to hurry. Marcus When he was able, Marcus looked back to see the black smoke rise up from the burning forest. They had just broken through the tree line, and though they were safe from the infernal that continued to devour the once immense forest, dread still clenched his heart as the smoke continued to rise into the clouds, to the point where it was almost impossible to tell where the sky began and ended. Ashlyn and Ruth were looking as well, with horror-stricken faces. Now that they were all free, all they could do was watch, as whatever wildlife remained escaped the woods and fled into the snowy hills. Many were terribly hurt, having been trampled by bigger beasts, and some were even on fire, rolling in the snow in a desperate attempt to quench the flames that ate at their hides. One of the fullest-grown forests in the northern wastelands that took thousands of years to regrow would soon be reduced to a smoldering scar on the earth. The entire ecosystem that lived within driven from their homes without any warning. All the horrors around them, it felt all too much, closer than it did when the whole forest was teeming with life. Marcus sighed and kept forward. We can't stop, he said, regretting the words as soon as they passed his lips. The hoverbike began to sputter and cough, and they were starting to decelerate at an alarming pace. Oh no, he whispered, looking at the fuel gauge which read empty. No! Dammit, not now! No! Mark! Ruth's voice screamed, and he turned just in time to see something heading their way, coming fast and belching smoke and fire behind it as it followed close behind. Realizing what it was, Marcus grabbed ahold of the girls. Get off! he shouted as he shoved them to the side, and once they both fell into the snow, he grabbed their bag and then bailed just as the rocket struck the rear of the hoverbike. The blast propelled him forward and made him tumble across the snow as smoking pieces of shrapnel rained down around him. Though he was unhurt as he dug himself back out of the snow, Marcus did not want to look at the wreck. He kept his back to it as he trudged back to the girls who were just trying to get out of the snow. As if being low on gas wasn't bad enough, now they had absolutely zero transportation to take them across the wastelands. Damn it! he swore under his breath as he helped Ruth to her feet. After making sure she was okay, he checked on Ashlyn. She was a little roughed up, for she took most of the fall when she and Ruth fell together, but there was nothing serious that he needed to worry about. With them all out of the snow, Marcus plopped down onto his butt and rested his head in his hands, deep in frustrated thought. I need to pull myself together. Okay, he said finally after minutes of tense silence. He looked at Ashlyn and Ruth, who had huddled together in order to give them the space he needed. He was grateful for that. He felt that if he had tried to speak any sooner, he would have snapped at them, which was the last thing they needed as of now. Sorry about that. We have no bike now, so we're going to have to continue on foot. There was no point in turning back, not now. Their priority would have to be to just get as far away from the fires as possible and find some shelter before nightfall, or better yet, make it to the fiery plains where they could hide from the hunters and god knows what out here in the wastelands. He turned to Ruth with a somber gaze. Think you can make it, sis? His sister shrugged. I'll have to, while still worried about her last coughing fit as well as what they could possibly encounter next without their bike. Markus nodded. Okay. He turned, so he was facing both her and Ashlyn again. We'll take it easy. We'll have to move soon. If we follow the canyon... He fished out his blade and lit the crystal again, bringing up the map in his mind. Reassurance washed over him like a flood, telling him the way. Yes, if we follow the canyon there will be a break in the gap that we can cross. From there we can head straight for the plains. I wanted to just fly the bike over there, but the break is the only way across now. All of this that Markus saw, the girls did not, but they did not question him, even when he began pointing at nothingness in the air. He felt silly when he realized it, though he couldn't blame them if they thought it was strange. It was bizarre, even for him. Do we need to worry about anything when we cross the canyon? Ashlyn asked, while shouldering their last pack. Other than the heat, there shouldn't be anything in the plains. Markus said, putting away his dagger. Hopefully. It's all just the heated crust that's been exposed. Nothing can live there, even the trees that used to grow there wilt under the intense heat. It's not as bad this time of year, cause of the cold, but it is still a desolate place. I don't think we'll run into trouble. Heat? Ashlyn said almost dreamily, I hope we don't run into trouble. Ruth said, tightening her coat around her shoulders. She coughed into it before looking back towards the black smoke that continued to rise above the dark forest. I'm sad about the animals. Markus looked back, towards the burning inferno. Despite having almost been killed by a majority of the wildlife they have seen thus far, he did feel a little bad about the forest. Nothing we can do now, he eventually said while standing up. Let's go. If we can make it to the breaking point within the next hour, we can rest, and then keep going for a few more. We'll keep taking breaks until we get out of the plains. Sounds like a plan, guys? We'll follow you anywhere, Ashlyn said smiling. Right, Ruth said standing with them, weakly but determined. That made Markus smile. Let's move. The three continued to walk for what felt like hours. Ruth had two coughing fits, but not bad enough to spill blood. They all drake from their canteens scarcely, so that they wouldn't run out before they made camp and boil some snow down. The fact that the weather seemed to be on a standstill made it easier to transverse through the snow. It was Markus leading Ruth while Ashlyn led the way. Markus had heard the hum of a hellhound engine, but every time he looked up into the sky, he couldn't see anything. If the hunters were nearby, they weren't too close. It was all more reason to keep on going. Eventually they had reached the beginning of the Scar, a deep canyon that stretched a good couple of miles further to the north. The canyon that now separated them from the fiery plains on the other side was a thing of immense beauty, being told to be three miles deep and home to many Ahuls and dragons living within the canyon walls. Further north was the village of Mightshire, who lived inside the Scar, within the walls as well. They had built a massive mining system that produced many of the iron ore for the capital, as well as have made bridges that criss-crossed across the abyss far below. Markus sometimes wondered what it would be like to live there, but he couldn't think about such things at a time like this. If he and the girls could make it to the plains by nightfall, they wouldn't be followed. In fact, Markus didn't even think the hunters would even consider looking. If the fiery plains was a desolate, as travelers say, then no one, man or beast, would venture in there. What was the point? With any luck, the hunters may just give up. At least he hoped so. A jackalope bounded past them as they were walking past an old car which seemed to have been melted into a large tree just alongside the Scar. After the fall, many cars were scattered across the cities and other areas, now burned or reduced to scraps. After the fallout, the human race was able to rebuild some of the cars and hovercraft they once used. Mankind had come so much further in technology at that point in history, only to be reduced straight to poverty and starvation caused by corrupt leaders carried for one thing—control. A world of complete control and surrender under their watchful eyes. Baron Ovid being one of the many who seeks to take control over the continent was not the most ruthless in history, but he was definitely just the kind of scum no different than those who led mankind to the conditions it was in now. The sheer thought of it sickened Marcus. He turned his head to look at Ruth, who offered a smile when she saw him. People like her should never have to struggle like this. He smiled back and looked at Ashlyn, who was watching her feet as she took each step in the snow. Amazing! All that has happened to us in this awful world of ours, and we still made it out. We are still breathing and surviving. Should we have been able to do this under better circumstances? Probably not, he decided. Because if life was good and easy, Marcus believed that they wouldn't have strived for a better life, a better future, a better chance, and even now as they crossed an entire region looking for the ancient city of angels, they still pushed on. Maybe we don't know exactly what we are getting into still. Maybe we're not going to find anything. And then, here they were, still pushing on. And to be honest, it's a good chance to take, all in all. I'd like to think the chance to be at peace, the chance of Ashlyn being safe, and the chance for a cure for Ruth is worth more than anything we had dealt with so far. Ashlyn had pulled back and began walking alongside Marcus. She then spoke up after a few steps of silence, breaking him out of his thoughts. Hey. Hey. He looked back to Ruth, who followed behind them, but a little further than he had seen earlier. That? And she was smiling. What's up? Marcus asked skeptically, curious as to what was going on, just thinking. She looked down at her boots again. She was quiet until she spoke again. I never thanked you. Marcus looked at her. For what? For not leaving me. With the spider. I mean, and for taking care of it before it came down on us. He blinked at her. Well, I couldn't leave you and Ruth up there. He rubbed the back of his head nervously. It was either let the Luserta catch us, or let the giant spider get you, or Ruth first. Ashlyn chucked humorously at that. Either way. Thank you. He smiled at her. You're welcome. I hate spiders, she said frowning. Marcus chuckled. She really was a normal girl after all. I'm sorry. It's a dumb thing to be scared about. I know. Hey, I was scared too, Marcus said, offering some words of comfort. I mean, that thing was freaking huge. That's what made it worse. I never liked spiders. I've always been afraid of them since I was a little kid, and the fact that one we saw back in the forest was as big as a freaking truck, it made me so much more scared. Yes, you told us not to leave you, and then to leave you, Marcus pointed out. You wanted that huntress to take Ruth and I, and leave you up there with that spider? Yeah. He looked at her with a softer expression. Why would you sacrifice yourself like that? Especially with the thing you are most afraid of. Not that we could ever allow you to make that kind of choice, even for our safety anyway. But still, why? Ashlyn bit her lip and thought, then, Ruth means a lot to you. The world, it seems. I wish I had a brother like you. She paused for a moment, leaving Marcus in deep thought. She continued, If Ruth were to be killed by that monster, you would be hurt. I couldn't bear it if either of you got hurt, or worse. Her words gladdened Marcus, but at the same time, made him sad. She cares that much for us? Two strangers she hardly knew, and went along with them on this crazy suicide journey? Why? Cause you care, and you would have done the same for me, Mark. I almost shot you, though, he reminded her. But you didn't, did you? They walked in silence after that. Marcus didn't shoot her, that was true. And he had told her he wouldn't have, if Ruth hadn't stopped him. But why would she think she'd owe them something in return for helping her? Is that what human nature is? Give and take, and give and return? No. It was given because you cared. Take when necessary, yes, but you gave and helped others because you can. Because you care. That's what makes us human. That was why Ashlyn is now unofficially mine and Ruth's family now. She is now with us, and she seemed intent on staying. But for how long? He wondered this as they continued their journey. The scar seeming to never once change in length, despite how long they had already walked alongside it. When they finally arrived at the breaking point, which was a thin crevice, breaking the scar in the earth, almost like a bridge of stone, Marcus and the girls stopped to rest and drink some water. Seeing this one spot in the canyon, after seeing what felt like miles of an endless pit of darkness, made Marcus curious as to how the canyon was made. But he pushed the thought from his head. The important thing was, they had made it. And after they rested, they would soon cross. And after a few minutes of walking, they would be in the fiery plains, safe from danger for the time being. They would cross the plains, and then from there, cross the valley beyond the mountains. And hidden among them, the City of Angels. Hopefully. Marcus was studying the bridge-like break when Ruth began to cough again, this time spitting blood. The canyon had quickly jumped up with the canteen and made her drink. The water seemed to soothe her throat, but it did not by any means stop the coughing, and she ended up hacking all of the water out. Marcus immediately began to panic. Hey! He said, scooting over to her. Sis? Coughing was her only response. Why now, of all times? We'll wait then, okay? We'll leave. Later. Just relax and try to... But we should get there soon. Ruth argued, trying to hold her coffin. Her face looked so strained it looked like it might erupt if she held it in for too long. So we don't get caught out here at night. It's not worth you getting worse, Ashlyn insisted. Marcus shot her a glance of thanks. We'll wait for you, Ruth. Okay, she said unconvinced. She coughed once more, this time without any blood spilling. Take your time, Marcus said, pushing her gently back down to sit. Please, time's up, the voice said behind him. Before Marcus turned, he felt something strong clock him right across the face. He felt himself sail through the air, only to stop a sheer foot from the canyon's edge, a mere twelve inches from falling to his death, dazed and bleeding from a cut in his cheek. Marcus raised his head to see Ashlyn floating up by her arms. She was kicking and screaming as she reached for her knife and plunged it into nothingness. A snarl sounded as she too seemed to be thrown aside, leaving Ruth cowering into a ball. And then suddenly, materializing from the very air, Marcus watched as something began to shimmer into a form of the Lacerta from earlier. Scales flipped and shifted to reveal the dark green skin, covered in bruises and multiple cuts. A monstrous lizard was soon visible before the three, grinning from ear to ear with jagged teeth. You... Marcus groaned as he attempted to push himself back up and reach for his weapon. Well, most of me anyway. The lizard growled, showing off her left hand, which was a mere stump covered in dirt and twigs to stop the purple blood from spilling any more than it already was. The hunter took a couple fingers first, but nothing that I'll miss too much. He put up one hell of a fight, though. She then looked down at Ruth and chuckled. However, this little game of tag ends here. She reached down and grabbed Ruth by the scruff of her coat, making her squeal. You and your brother are coming with me, she snarled. At that moment, Marcus' staff was extended and aimed right at the beast. Put her down, he said in a low voice, while getting up on one knee. Now! Or what? The lizard hissed with laughter. You ain't got enough juice in there to hurt me, kid. She then turned so that Ruth's small body was in front of her chest. But just enough to cook your sister. Do you really want that? Anger seemed to flow through Marcus' blood like adrenaline. Seeing that monster taunting him with his sister in her claws made him so angry he wanted to blow a hole right through that ugly face of hers. Don't you dare hurt her, Marcus said between clenched teeth. I'll kill you, the lizard hissed again with laughter, amused at his threat. Go ahead, show me that you can. And then, raising her thumb in the same hand she held Ruth in, she pressed an extended claw against her throat. Ruth gasped as blood began to seep slowly from the puncture. The lizard removed her thumb, and with a long purple tongue she licked the blood from Ruth's neck. Tasty. Maybe I can have a taste of her once in a while on our way back to the ship. Do you want that, boy? Marcus began to scream, and what happened next was too unbelievable to explain completely. A bolt of bright blue lightning seemed to shoot through Marcus' body as if he was being stuck in a storm. He felt all of his hair suddenly stand up from the energy flowing through his cells. It did not hurt in the slightest. In fact, he didn't feel anything but rage. As this newfound energy coursed through his body, Marcus soon became aware of everything. The energy auras of the Ahuls in the canyon? The poisonous aura of the Lacerta? No, Slitzar? He knew her name. Marcus could see inside her. She was an opened book, and he the reader. He was suddenly capable of reading her history, which was dark, cloudy, and most disturbing. Same went for Ashlyn and Ruth, who were overwhelmed by fear, except for Ruth's, was also slightly clouded by the sickness eating the very breath in her lungs. Marcus' eyes burned bright with the new sense of life, knowing all living things around him. What is this? His eyes lingered to his staff, which was suddenly at full power. He then cried out as he released the energy at Slitzar's face. Instead of shooting out a beam of light, her face suddenly went up in a brilliant flame of sapphire. It was as if someone had dumped gasoline on her head and lit a match. Marcus watched as Slitzar screamed and reared back, dropping Ruth into the ground beneath her. The Lacerta clawed at her face, desperate to get the blue flames off her scaly face. As she did so, Marcus found himself charging at the creature, closing the distance between the two of them, and then leaping up. He kicked her in the chest with both feet, setting her sprawling across the snow and away from Ruth. Such a feat would have been impossible for a normal human being, and yet Slitzar went flying. Immediately upon landing, Marcus felt the overpowering energy disappear from his body, as if the lights were shut down in heaven, and he was left alone on solid ground. He collapsed at the sudden tide of exhaustion. He felt as if he had just run a thousand miles, and as he fell into the snow, steam seemed to seep from his pores. He managed to catch himself on his hands and knees, panting like crazy. Far ahead of him, Ashlyn and Ruth were half crawling, half running back to him, calling his name as they eventually reached him. Far beyond them, Slitzar was sitting up, her face smoking and covered in soot from the scales eaten away by the strange flames. She was shaking her head in pain. Marcus could see it even from this distance, that she was hurt very badly. Her ribs were cracked and her arm had broken during the impact, but she was alive and very angry. What was that? She growled as she got up, hugging her side and trudging towards the three. Ashlyn and Ruth were now crouched beside Marcus as Slitzar cleared the distance between them, wincing at each step she took. That was interesting. I've never seen someone use a crystal with such power. What? Marcus croaked. Doesn't matter. Slitzar growled. I'm not letting your breath get away again. I'm gonna make you pay for that. But then something awful happened. They all saw it. There was a large ripple in the ground, coming for them as if something was tunneling beneath the surface of the earth. Slitzar turned at the sound and began to ask what was happening. The rippling came right for her suddenly and her feet disappeared into the cracks. Crooked hands shot up from the ground and seized her, making her scream in terror as they began to drag her under. She flayed out with her claws, raking the ground around her for something sturdy to grab onto. But she kept on sinking, and fast. She roared as she clawed at the dirt now around her thighs, but then her good hand was caught by another inhuman hand and sinking rapidly. She screamed out, holding a hand out to the sky as if beckoning the angels to save her as her body sank up to her shoulders. Soon her chest went beneath the crust, as did her neck. She still screamed out, holding that hand up as her head went under, then her arm, and then finally her hand, which opened and closed before it disappeared into the soil. The girls and Marcus were gaping at the mound in horror. Slitzar was gone. Marcus could tell because the aura he felt surrounding the Laserta had gone out, like the flame of a candle. It was no longer there. It was like a pair of fingers simply snuffed it out. But what frightened him more was the life-essence that he could now sense coming up through the snow. A hand shot out of the earth like a flower, however this hand was unlike any normal hand. Human, mutant, or android. It was human-shaped, but it was roped and knobbed with what looked like bark. No, not bark, roots. The fingertips were sharpened to points. The small green vines wrapped around the wrists like veins. Following the hand was an arm of thicker roots, then a gnarled shoulder like a branch, and then the bulk creature crawled out of the ground. It was hideously humanoid and completely made of roots and bark. Its face was covered in a veil of thin moss, but a single slit was open where a mouth was screaming with sharpened teeth of stone. Behind it, five more of the monsters shot out of the ground, crying a similar shriek. Marcus soon saw two red orbs glow behind the veil, which had to be its eyes. And his heart stopped dead in his chest, even as he gripped his staff tighter in his hand. What are those things? The creatures began to move forward, their fingers curling as they chuckled, the sound being like twigs tapping against rocks. Little ones! He then suddenly heard, hearing the hissing voices that seemed to be engulfed in pain and hatred. It was like an overwhelming cloud had shrouded his head, becoming worse as the creatures moved in closer. Come here, little ones, little ones, we won't hurt you. Marcus tightened his grip on the staff. Whatever he was hearing, he didn't believe the inhuman voices, and was ready to fight for his and his family's life. Despite his bravado, however, he couldn't quench the fear he felt in his heart, nor the doubt that thundered in his brain as the voices continued to speak to him. Come to us, or we will bury you alive.