Chapter 50: Game Start
He ran like hell itself was on his heels. As soon as he had leapt through the door all light had disappeared. Whereas outside was white in every direction, here all was black. The darkness was so complete he could see nothing, as though he were running through a pitch black cave and the sun had never seen this place. Even his own body was nothing more than his heart beating and his labored breaths filing the vacuum of nothingness. All sound was gone and nothing, not even a speck of light, were around to guide his blind footfalls.
Where am I? Thought Chase. This was like no place he had ever heard of before. The chasm creature had come from here, what where was here? All he could do was place one desperate foot in front of the other and hope that an exit would reveal itself.
“Emissary! Is that you?” Chase stopped his running and looked around uselessly. “Where are you?”
“It’s a long story, Emissary,” said Chase. “Where am I? Can you get me out of here?”
“Xem sent me,” said Chase. “Well, I escaped her and came inside here.”
“Emissary you…you tried to warn me, didn’t you?”
“I wish I had heeded your warning,” said Chase forlornly. “My guild is in trouble right now. Can you help me save them?”
“Are they okay?”
“Please!” Chase got on his knees, though he could not see her. He shouted into the darkness. “Help me! Show me the way!”
Chase waited. And he waited. Though the void area had no discernible hot or cold he was sweating all the same. All he could do was listen to his labored breaths and pray that Amelie was okay.
“Emissary!”
“Just send me! I have to be there for her.”
Chase felt a sense of resignation fill his mind, and knew that it was the Emissary’s and not his own emotions which he was feeling. He sensed that what she was about to do would cost her dearly.
“Will you be okay?”
Damned if i do, damned if I don’t, thought Chase.
“What of the others?”
“Why?”
The emissary seemed to want to say more, Chase thought, sensing the conflicting emotions swirling within her.
“I promise,” said Chase, coming back to his feet. “I promise on my life to protect her. And all the guild.”
“Thank you, Emissary.”
A pin point of light appeared before Chase. It was the first light source he had seen yet it illuminated nothing, the radiation from it was only heat, and Chase had to take a step back.
“It’s hot, Emissary,” said Chase.
“Will it burn me?”
Chase sighed.
“I’m ready.”
The light grew larger until it was the size of a baseball. The heat intensified and within its brilliant depths Chase could see a shadowy figure holding a slender object.
Chase seized the light.
His screams stretched into the nothingness of the void, and he felt as though he were being pulled though a tube many times smaller than himself at impossible speeds. His hand burned with the pain of touching the sun, and his thoughts were obliterated from his mind. His life pass before his eyes. He was Spade, drinking with the Old Guard after a quest. He was Chase, showing Alex how to swing a sword. He was Spade, infiltrating another guild stronghold, slicing the necks of the sleeping guards. He was Chase, meeting Thomas for the first time. He was Spade, holding Christie the night before their wedding. He was Chase, leading his new guild to Lazerpail. He was Spade, whispering to Solomon of last stands and battle plans. He was Chase, he was Spade, he was Chase he was Spade he was…
Standing before a stone pedestal, watching Amelie about to take her life.
Thunder sounded, and lightening illuminated the small stone temple. The light case an anguished Amelie in shadows, her face long and drawn as the held the blade before her.
“Amelie!” Shouted Chase, trying to grab her. His hands passed through her arms as he tried to wrest the sword from her. She could not hear him, it was as though he were a ghost.
“Fall upon the blade, Amelie,” Xem said. She sounded like a mother trying to smooth her child into taking medicine. “It’s the only way to save Alex.”
“I know,” said Amelie, she sounded close to tears.
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“You won’t do it, will you?”
“I…I don’t…I,” stammered Amelie.
“Foolish girl,” laughed Xem. “But it’s not more than I expected. All of you are the same. Desperate to save your own skins at any costs. Actually, its the one thing I like about humans. You’re need for self preservation.”
“Can’t you just release him?” Pleaded Amelie, looking around for Xem. “All this just for an inn? Why does it matter if I don’t want to die?”
“Oh, Amelie,” chided Xem. “You should have known better in the first place…well, I suppose you can’t be blamed for it. How does it feel to be human? You’re so helpless its adorable.”
“Being human has nothing to do with it!” Shouted Amelie. She was getting angry in a way that Chase had never seen before. “Now let us out this instant. Bring back Alex, and Chase and Claire!”
“Easy. As soon as you fall on that blade I will bring them all back. I have decided that you’re the only one I want today. Kill your self, and save your friends.”
“Amelie!” Said Chase, feeling helpless. What Xem was asking was by far the most cruel thing he had ever witness.
Why didn’t she ask me to do this? Thought Chase. Why Amelie? She was the most innocent member of their guild. She least of all deserved to experience this.
“You promise?” Sniffed Amelie. She lowered the blade until its tip touched the ground. The lightening flashed again, sending a streak of light up the sword.
“You’re really going to do it?” Said Xem, sounding doubtful.
“Only if you promise they won’t be hurt.”
“I already made that promise,” said Xem, frustration leaking into her voice. “But, fine, I will send them all back to the inn. Now do it! Or I win, and all your friend’s will be dead.”
“Alright,” said Amelie.
“No!” Cried Chase. He tried to grab her, the blade, anything at all, but his hands continuously passed through her body, unfelt and unnoticed. “Don’t do it, Amelie! It’s the Antagonista! She is tricking you!”
“Shut up, Chase,” said Xem, suddenly in his mind. “Once this is over I’ll deal with you, and that pesky Emissary who let you out.”
“This isn’t fair,” said Chase, watching in horror as Amelie turned the blade around, its hilt resting on the floor, and pointed the tip at her chest. “This was never the deal.”
“I don’t play fair,” said Xem nastily. “Seems that stupid old man isn’t the only one who underestimates me.”
Amelie took a gulp, and a single tear streaked down her face, causing a line in the dust and the grime upon her fair face.
“Well, here it goes,” she said. She closed her eyes. “It was good getting to know everyone. I’m grateful for my time here, as short as it was.”
Chase felt a tingling on his hands. He looked down and saw they were glowing with a soft light. Chase looked up again and saw that Amelie was bending over the blade, about to impale herself.
“Do it now,” hissed Xem.
Chase took a step forward and grabbed the sword by the blade, his other hand pushing Amelie back. Her eyes widened and she tripped, falling backwards onto the ground. Chase threw the sword aside.
“Amelie! Can you see me?”
“Chase?” She blinked, seeing him for the first time. “Is it really you? I mean the real you. You look like Chase.”
“Yes its me,” he said, kneeling beside her. He took her hands in his which were no longer glowing and held them. “The real me, whatever that means. The Emissary sent me for you.”
“Really?” Amelie tried to smile but sobbed instead.
“Really,” said Chase nodding. He didn’t want to let her hands go but thought if he touched his own face his fingers may return damp. “I’m here, and we can face her together.”
“Thank you,” said Amelie. She threw her arms around him and held him tightly. “You’re the best guild leader I could ever ask for.”
“So frustrating,” said Xem. “I guess I will…just have to finish this myself.”
Chase spun around. Xem was there in the flesh, sword in hand. A maniacal grin on her face, and her eyes flashed with fury. She raised the sword high. The thunder sounded above.
“STOP,” came a mighty voice from all around.
Xem froze, and then looked around. There was a sheen of sweat upon her brow.
“Old man? What are you doing here?”
“SHE HAS PASSED YOUR TEST, XEMNARA. RELEASE THEM ALL.”
“The rest of them failed,” shouted Xem to the heavens. “I demand her life and you can have the rest. You can have the inn, I don’t care!”
“THAT WASN’T THE DEAL.”
Chase held Amelie close, too shocked to say a word. Every time the voice from above spoke it shook the ground beneath them. Lightening flashed and Xem seemed to only be growing more and more angry as she argued with the voice.
“Too bad, old man! You’re little plan didn’t work!” She pointed the sword at the both of them. “You’ll have to defeat me another way. This one is mine!”
“DO NOT TEST ME, XEMNARA.”
“Try and stop me!” She wailed. She raised the sword high once again.
A bolt of lightening burst from the heavens and struck the blade, electrifying Xemnara, and everything about them. Golden light flashed across the temple and the sound of a thousand horns blew in their ears. The world felt like it was ending, but when Chase saw Xem the power was only holding her at bay. She was in pain, her face constricted in agony, but still she came forward, wrestling with the power from above.
“You..can’t…beat…ME!” She said, spitting each word. Her eyes bulged and she was no longer the beautiful women from the inn. Her skin was cracking and smoke rose from her pores and her raven hair was now aflame.
“ENOUGH.”
Another bolt came from the sky, and this one did end the world. The last thing Chase saw was a incredible flash of yellow, and then white, and then nothing. Amelie slipped away from him, and he from her.
It was the end of everything, and everything ended.
—————
Ghelion flew as fast as he could, flapping his wings as hard as he was able. He had received Chase’s message only a hour before the Dream Emissary had delivered a fevered communication to him through a dream. She had sounded hurt, and the unprecedented nature of a direct communication between her and an Advisor had shaken him to his core. No sooner had he awakened then he had transformed and left the island, to the bewilderment of those who saw him.
Hang on, old friend, thought Ghelion. He had crossed the sea between the island and Moon town soon enough, and made his way across the sky towards the forest. He knew where Lazerpail was, but the outpost where Chase had sent his message was not one he had ever visited. After a couple hours of flying and circling the road leading out of the forest finally he found a curious sight: a dozen bodies laying on the side of the road.
“Chase!” Ghelion yelled as he touched down on the road. His wings twisted and folded themselves away and he ran to the first body he found. It was a player, no doubt, but not his player. He checked another one, and another. None of them where his players, but none were dead, either, they seemed to be asleep.
“Ghel?” Came a weak voice.
“Chase, is that you?” Ghelion looked around, and thought the voice was coming from a ditch off the side of the road. He stumbled towards the voice, nearing tripping as he cleared the side of the road.
“I’m here, Ghel.”
Chase was laying on his back, and around him were the guild. He was holding Amelie’s hand who was also in the ditch beside him. Thomas, Claire, Brent and Alex were also there, all seemingly asleep.
“What happened?” Said Ghelion as he came beside his friend. “I got a message from the Emissary that the Antagonista was near. Where is it?”
“She,” said Chase. He coughed and tried to sit up. Ghelion helped him up. “The Antagonista is a woman, I guess. She did this to us. Say…where are we?”
“A woman? I see,” Ghelion sighed with relief, but could not suppress his panic. “So you saw her? What did she do to those other players on the road?”
“Other players?” Chase looked around. “We were in an inn, actually, surrounded by gravestones. We met Xem and she got us into a game. She wanted an inn…or something. There were talking animals…”
Suddenly Chase’s eyes opened wide, and he tried to get to his feet.
“Amelie!” He saw her laying there, and then noticed his other guild members. “They’re asleep. Are they okay?”
“I think so,” said Ghelion. “You’re lucky you survived. What happened?”
“What happened,” came a voice from the road. “Is they passed the test.”
Ghelion looked up, shading his eyes from the sun. It was an old man looking down on them.
“You get to keep the inn, eh?” Said Chase, smiling. “That’s good to hear. Don’t know why Xem wanted that place in the first place.”
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
“The inn was only a metaphor, Chase. The stakes were much higher than a simple place of business. But you and your guild performed exemplary, even though she tried to cheat.” He looked over the sleeping guild and grinned. “You chose well, Chase. I guess the second time’s the charm.”
“How do you…” Ghelion stood up and clambered out of the ditch. He stood in front of the old man and studied his face. This was no normal NPC he could tell. But who was he? Was he apart of the event? But if so, he was acting very odd.
“How do I know he’s a respawn?” Said the old man. “Ghelion, you more than anyone should know the answer to that one. I’m the one who allowed it to happen, after all.”
“You…” realization dawned upon Ghelion. He threw himself to the ground, bowing so low that his forehead touched the ground. “My lord!”
“What the,” began Chase.
“Bow you fool!” Snarled Ghelion. “This isn’t some NPC we‘re talking to!”
“Who is he?” Said Chase, stifling a yawn.
“He’s—.”
The old man laughed a deep belly laugh. Ghelion looked up sheepishly.
“Don’t trouble your friend, Ghelion. He’s been through quite a bit.”
“But, my lord…”
“Relax, Ghel.” Said the old man. He gestured to the other dozen sleeping players on the road. “These are the missing players you’ve heard about. I am sure their Advisors will be delighted to know they are safe and sound. Xemnara had them under an enchantment after they failed her test. When your guild defeated her it broke her spell. Looks like she placed all her chips on the wrong number, if you know what I mean.”
“Yes, lord. I will inform their advisors.”
“Good,” said the old man. He smiled. “Well, I really have to be going now. Bye bye!”
He spun around and began to walk off, whistling a tune. Ghelion raised his hand and then dropped it, unsure what to say.
“Hey you,” said Chase.
The old man turned around, eyebrows raised.
“Yes?”
Ghelion was staring daggers at Chase.
“Couldn’t you have just saved the players themselves?”
“Yes,” said the old man with a wink. “But then they would never have learned.”
“Did they really need to learn?”
“They sure did,” said the old man. He looked back over the Seven Banes and his face seemed to soften. For a moment Chase thought his gaze lingered upon the dozing Amelie. “You’re guild is something special, Chase, I hope you know that. You are too underpowered for the events which will come but you need to stay strong for them. When Esem was created I always knew something like this would happen, and I had my reservations, but created it was, and we will all have to deal with the consequences now.”
Chase didn’t seem to know how to respond to that, and Ghelion only hoped he would keep his mouth shut. Chase opened his mouth and then closed it, and then pfft’d into the air. He said nothing.
“Stay safe, Chase. I wasn’t too keen on you respawning, but Ghelion convinced me. He only trusts the good ones, it seems.”
“But you allow the ‘bad ones’ into Esem, correct?”
“It’s all about free will, Chase. One day you will understand that.”
“I guess,” said Chase sarcastically. “Well then, see you later.”
“Bye bye,” said the old man again. And by the time the final word was out of his mouth he had disappeared.
“Shorter than I thought he would be,” muttered Chase as he turned around to look at his guild.
“Chase!” Seethed Ghelion as he stood up. “You can’t talk so…so…flippantly…to—.”
“Relax, Ghel. He seemed cool.”
Ghelion slapped his forehead with his hand. Sometimes Chase was so incorrigible he really wished he had never signed him. Just then, one of the players on the road, a large man with a battle axe strapped to his back, sat up.
“Who was that?” Said the man. He seemed disoriented and trying to get his bearings. “That old man…”
“That was AION,” said Chase before Ghelion could speak. “Playing his cheeky games, as usual.”
“Oh,” said the man, before laying back down. “That’s nice.”
Soon he was snoring peacefully.
“Is it over?” Chase asked Ghelion. “I really want to go back to sleep for a while. That was quite the night we all just had.”
“It is far from over, old friend,” said Ghelion. “It has only begun.”
End of Volume 2