The antechamber we entered was slightly different to the rest of the prison. The sound of machinery was louder now, and science-y looking equipment was set up all around. In the middle was a big glass tank, and there, suspended in a viscous gloop, was my sword. It was in it’s activated form, black and dripping with malice, enough to counteract 10’s pressure. For the first time since entering Sunki-Me, I could relax.
My sword felt it too. Alarms began to ring out, dials and measuring equipment began to go haywire. The sword began shivering in place, awaiting its master’s arrival.
Two Shades in black labcoats looked up. The colour drained from one of their faces as he frantically began pushing buttons and pulling levers but the other’s turned red with rage.
She stormed directly up to me and clocked me in the face.
‘You made me drop my donut, you bastard! Do you even understand what you’ve done!’ she cried. She drew back for another punch but 58 jumped in front.
’92, stop! We’ve got him now, it’s okay!’
92 paid him no attention. ‘It’s NOT! It’s so NOT!’ she screamed. I barely registered her whining. I jumped at the distraction she caused, and as soon as 58 released his grip, I bolted for my sword.
It’s time to come home, boy! Let’s tear this place up!
I pressed myself against the glass, and my sword darted forward to meet me. It’s tip hit the glass and a large crack appeared. But it didn’t break through! It was trying it’s hardest, forcing itself through, a spiderweb of cracked glass growing wider every second.
I know I’m fast. 58 was nowhere near my speed, the snail, and the two Shades in labcoats probably didn’t even realise what was going on. But 10… I turned to meet the face of a raksha, He was there, dagger in hand, ready to strike like a pit viper.
I slipped his first attacked, then offered my hands for him to strike. He caught my chains, shattering them but slicing me in the process. I pushed him away quickly and jumped back. Droplets of blood splattered the floor.
Come on! I looked at my sword, but it hadn’t escaped yet. 10 growled, his curved dagger brandished in front of him. His eyes were bloodshot and hungry. He’d been deprived of violence for too long.
We stared at each other, both watching the others next move. Was I really going to fight 10? Unarmed? I studied his grizzly form, looking for an opening. No matter where I looked, I could see his dagger unseaming me. But I had to make a move! 58 was near and he’d intervene soon. Unless I attack 10 first…then he’ll back off. I glanced over at my sword gnashing against the glass. Maybe it was the power seeping from the blade that spurred me, but I made my decision. I settled into a low stance, hands open. I can take him! I will defeat 10!
I dashed forward, making a grab at 10’s arms. I needed to disarm him fast! His reactions were keen however, and I only caught one of his arms, but I gripped it forcefully. The curved piece of steel in his other hand arced towards my back. With all my might, I twisted my body, catching his arm mid motion. I felt a sudden pain and blood ran freely. The tip of his blade had opened a gash in my side.
The sight of blood sent 10 into a frenzy. He began thrashing against my grip like a stuck beast, driven wild by bloodlust. The tip of his dagger stabbed my shoulder and arm repeatedly, sending dizzying waves of pain. I blinked away black spots from my vision and clenched my jaw. Summoning my strength, I pushed back and began sending knees into 10’s side.
One of them found its mark, knocking air out of 10. His overwhelming strength gave way, and as soon as he relented, I smashed my forehead into his nose. He stepped back, opening the way for me to grab his dagger. Take that you monster!
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I snatched at the ornate dagger in his hand, the blade stained crimson. Like a python coiled around its prey, his grip wouldn’t give! No matter how much I pried his fingers or twisted his wrist, or even bit down, his dagger remained solidly in his hand. I frantically worked at it, wrenching his limb in all directions. Impossible! This strength is impossible! An arm rested on my chest. My vision tunneled and my stomach dropped. No! Not yet! I’ve got some more left in me! Suddenly I couldn’t breathe. He was choking me! Twice in one day!
I wriggled around, making attempts to elbow him, but I couldn’t take my hands away from his dagger. Despite my efforts the wicked metal inched closer and closer. The world began to darken, blood pounded in my ears. My muscles screamed for relief, but my singular focus was staying on this mortal coil.
His face came near to mine. His beard was stained red from blood dripping down from his mangled nose, falling into his mouth. His face twisted into a smile, revealing rows of bloody teeth. All at once, a primeval fear spawned in my gut. Whatever bravado I had had, melted away in the face of this beast. I ceased to think. All that my body wanted to do to run. I pulled whatever strength I had left from whatever depths there were, and kicked back, doing anything get this lumbering predator off of me! We crashed through the glass tank and all at once, a great flood washed over us. Shards of glass cut into us, but 10 didn’t let up. As we fell to the floor, my hand slipped off his arm, and his claw tore into me. I felt no pain; all I saw was my lifeblood leaking out of me.
My sword lay just out of arms reach. If I could just…! But 10’s power was absolute, and my sword was just too far. The darkness of the sword seemed to open up and swallow me whole as I lost consciousness.
-
I woke up in the elevator. It was silent except for the sound of the elevator moving. I felt awful. My legs were shaking and it was a fight to stay conscious. In fact, I might have blacked out a couple of times, I can’t really remember. How much blood did I lose? I felt sick, my body was cold and clammy. Moving my eyes felt like moving through jelly.
58 was standing next to me, 10 on the other side. 10...That’s right! He just stabbed me in the belly! Neither Shade had realised I’d woken up. Vicious thoughts began building up in my head in place of oxygen. Through the fog I lifted my hand towards him. I’ll choke you this time! It was only then I noticed that that my hands were bound. Of course, I broke the last handcuffs...wait! These weren’t handcuffs! I was in a straitjacket. Strapped to a trolley!
58! I yelled. That’s when I discovered the gag. Let me tell you, the rage I felt overcame any blood loss. I thrashed against my restraints, cursing 58 and 10 out with every word I could think of; words lost, of course, to the fibres of the gag. I threw my body weight to and fro, the trolley teetering on the edge of it’s wheels. 58 turned.
‘Hey! 72, stop that!’ The handle whacked 58 on the head. ‘Ow!’ he cried and rubbed the sore spot. 10 threw a punch into my gut, right into the wound that he had made. Coloured lights flashed in my vision.
’10!’ yelled 58. ‘Back off! You’ve already nearly killed him!’ He grabbed the sides if the trolley and looked at me. ‘You knock it off too! I mean it, we’ve been delayed too much. I said stop! You’re acting like a child!’ That was in response to me trying to roll the wheel onto his foot. The elevator pinged, and I was dragged off. ‘This was exactly what I wanted you to see.’ We made our way through the same white corridors as before.
‘You wanna know why I took you to your sword?’ 58 said. I stared at him, though I was curious, so I raised my eyebrows to say Go ahead, humour me. He continued.
‘Did you get a look at it? Just as you remembered right? All jagged edges and that terrifying presence...’ He drew his own sword, a huge zweihander. It was a robust sword, well crafted and sturdy. The hilt was minimally adorned, but well taken care of. It had been polished and gleamed in the white light. The blade was rose from the crossguards, straight and true. ‘Not like mine at all! Not even in it’s activated form. Shade swords are special. The more we use them, the more powerful they become. Well, some say different. That we give the swords their power.’ I rolled my eyes. What nonsense!
‘Don’t believe me? That’s fine, I guess it’s all conjecture anyway. But I think there’s some truth. I mean, to activate our swords we breathe on them. Is it so hard to believe a little part of our soul takes root inside them? Can you honestly say that you don’t feel a kinship with your sword?’ I thought back to my sword floating in the tank. It had felt familiar...no, more than that. Like it was closer to me than my own heart. 58 continued.
‘Food for thought. All I know is that, if they take on the shape of the Shade’s soul, then I’m grateful mine looks like this.’