I was startled that a dog could talk. Although it felt normal considering everything that I had experienced since arriving in Limbo. The animal was sitting in the back seat licking its paws as I drove frantically through the war torn battlefields. The German shepherd had a red leather collar around its neck with dog tags that clinked when it moved. It was damp and the smell of wet dog permeated the car.

“What exactly are you supposed to be?” I said.

“I beg your pardon?” the dog replied.

The dog spoke perfect English, but had a heavy British accent. When it spoke it’s mouth and tongue moved. It looked weird, as if the animal was trying to bark or lick peanut butter off its lips.

“What’s your story? I’m not used to talking dogs!”

I avoided a group of Viking berserkers charging across the edge of a beach. The road had turned to sand and the car skidded all over the place. The Vikings were raiding a coastal village. Many of the Vikings looked gaunt and haggard.

“Patrick Fletcher Douglas III at your service!” he replied.

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[Side Quests]

1. Release Trapped Spirit : Captain Douglas released from within the Sepulcher of the Red Rider of the Apocalypse. [Completed]

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I struggled to keep my eyes fixed on the road while also keeping an eye on Bilé flying in the sky. I was still worried that he would veer off when I wasn't paying attention.

“But… you’re a dog!?” I said.

“Yes, that is a chain of unfortunate circumstances.”

I wanted to look inside my book to get more information on this dog, but I needed to keep both hands on the steering wheel. I’m sure the Book of Uriel would have provided me with more insight. But I was compelled to chat with the dog to get additional information.

“Are you a spirit or some kind of creature living in Limbo?”

“I’m a captain in his majesty’s army… British army to be precise. I have no idea where I am to be honest!”

“You are in Limbo… the afterlife.” I replied.

“Yes, yes, I realize that," he said. "I’ve been running around these battlefields escaping death for what seems like days.”

“How did you get here?”

“I was on the beaches of Normandy. We were invading the French coastline and attacking a German bunker.”

“You mean in World War II?” I asked.

“Yes… blimey girl, look out!”

I narrowly avoided a Cherokee on horseback by swerving the car at the last second. I hit a rock and nearly crashed down the side of a sloping hillside. Arrows chinked off the windshield as I drove past. The Cherokee were engaged in fighting a bunch of American colonials. They fired arrows in an arc through a forest clearing. Many of them were standing alongside the road.

“Thanks!” I yelled.

“My pleasure! As I was saying, I was leading my men on Sword beach as we invaded the German forces along the Normandy coastline. I was helping a mate of mine when a bomb landed on both of us.”

“But, how did you become a German shepherd?”

“I beg your pardon! I’m no bloody German, shepherd dog or not! I am an Alsatian from the United Kingdom.” he said.

“My apologies… I meant no disrespect!”

“Oh course dear, I’m a bit barmy at the moment.”

We came upon an open crossing in a large marshy area that had primitive men and women fighting with clubs. They appeared to be Neanderthals, but I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t understand how the road could continue through all these battlefields. The path I followed was the only constant in this whole craziness. It was akin to a major artery passing through the human body.

“So, how did you become an Alsatian dog?” I asked again.

“I wish I bloody knew the answer to that question! The whole situation is wonky! There was an Alsatian military dog with a medic pack beside my mate when the bomb blew up. When I woke up in Limbo my body had been replaced by the dog’s.”

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“How long have you been in Limbo?” I asked

“I don’t rightly know! I feel as though I’ve been here for a long time, but in other ways it feels like only yesterday. Time seems to pass differently in this place.”

The animal placed its front paws onto the back of my seat to brace itself as the car slid around. When the dog wasn't speaking he looked like any normal canine. Tongue wagging and all. The road had become rough as we passed through a war torn modern Asian city. There were signs written in Chinese; that was the only way I knew somewhat where I was, otherwise I had no idea. Off in the distance I could hear the sounds of wailing children. Many of the buildings seemed to fade in and out of existence as we drove past.

“Since arriving in Limbo I've been roaming the French countryside. I'm not sure for how long, but it has probably been a long time. Recently I ended up in this crazy place. I noticed you and your futuristic vehicle driving through the maelstrom of destruction. So I thought that you could help me escape.”

“Well, I’m as clueless as you are my Patrick… um… what was your full name again?”

“In the military I’m called Captain Douglas, but you may simply call me Patrick if you wish.”

“Nice to meet you Patrick. My name is Hannah Jones. I’m from the USA, or at least I was from there until recently.”

“The pleasure is all mine Hannah! Do you know where you are going?”

I pointed out the window.

“I’m following that archae up in the sky. It is a myrmidon for the red rider.”

“What is a red rider?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure how much I could confide in my newfound companion. I had no idea what his reaction would be about traveling into the dominion of a horsemen of the apocalypse. For all I knew Patrick could also be lying to me, so it was best to keep my cards close to my vest. I’m sure the book of Uriel could have told me more about the dog, but I didn’t have the ability to search inside it at that moment.

“The red rider is an infernal that lives in Limbo. He is going to help me speak to an Oraculum that might be able to help me. The Oraculum might be able to help you also.”

“Well, I’d really like to get out of this dog’s body - if at all possible. I’ve caught myself a few times unconsciously licking my own canine genitalia. It’s quite unsettling!”

I stifled a laugh. Patrick’s predicament wasn’t anything too serious, but I realized that I’d also want to escape that same situation.

“Well, Captain Douglas, I think we might be arriving very soon.”

The road opened up and we came upon a large clearing. A long way off in the distance I could see what appeared to be an enormous floating castle in the sky. Below was a huge dark pit that was big enough to swallow a small town. The pit seemed bottomless as it disappeared into darkness. The castle wasn’t a normal stronghold either as its bricks were colored blood red. There were no wall towers or gates either, but there were ramparts. The massive structure floated in the sky. The series of buildings in the center jutted out from both the top and the bottom. Each side was a mirror of the other side. Like a double-sided coin. Somehow the castle defied gravity. Nothing was holding it up in the sky, so I assumed that it was floating. No road led up to the castle either. There was however a series of large glowing chains connecting the castle’s outer walls to the ground. In the center of the castle was an enormous hexagonal building. Above the center was a procession of glowing lights that floated in the sky. I assumed that this was the very center of the horseman’s domain.

Bilé swooshed down out of the sky to pass over the top of my Plymouth Satellite. He looked straight at me as he circled around the car. The myrmidon seemed to be signaling for me to follow him more closely. He moved away, but stayed close to the ground. About ten car lengths in front of me.

When I looked to the side I noticed that we had left the bulk of the fighting behind. The way forward seemed clear, but the roadway would soon end at the edge of the huge pit. I didn’t know where the Archae was headed.

Suddenly, sparks shot out from underneath the bottom of the car. I felt the vehicle grip onto something, like the car was being pulled along an automated track - like a monorail. The sparks continued for a time and Patrick spun around in circles in the back seat. Then the steering wheel went slack as if the tires were no longer touching the road. The sparks ended and I felt somewhat lightheaded.

“We’ve lost the plot my dear!” Patrick said.

I looked over the side of the car and realized that we were no longer on the ground. The car was driving along some kind of ghost-like bridge that was linked to the horseman castle.

I immediately freaked out and clutched the steering wheel tightly.

“We're driving in the air!” I yelled.

“It would appear so, and we’re headed right for that castle.”

The steering wheel felt really loose and I realized that the ghost bridge was guiding the car along. Nothing I did to the steering wheel seemed to matter. We were headed for the center horsemen’s inner dominion.

We climbed high and soon I could see what appeared to be an inner courtyard inside the castle grounds. The Plymouth reached a zenith and then descended quickly. We were headed for a large open area with Bilé leading us toward it.

As we got really close I realized that we were about to crash down hard.

“Captain, you had better lay down flat! It looks like it’s going to be a bumpy landing!”

“Smashing!” he replied.

The car crashed down hard onto a rock tiled courtyard. My vehicle seemed almost impervious to the crash landing. Most cars would have taken heavy damage in that situation. We kept going after we hit the ground. The car was going full speed towards a large water fountain. I hit the brakes and stopped just in time. Captain Douglas ended up on the floor of the backseat and I heard a yelp.

“Are you okay Patrick?” I asked.

“Bob’s your uncle!”

I laughed.

“You’ll be alright!” I said.

Captain Douglas hopped up onto the seat and stared out the car window. I looked to see what was grabbing his attention.

“That’s a fright!” the dog said.