Chapter 109 – Runaway

[Sarah]

Sarah watched Jack and Hannah storm out of the room. Gideon let out a sigh and got up to leave as well, and Sam trailed off after him. Rodeo had lingered for a bit, but left after he saw no one willing to engage with him. She looked over at Devin, who was massaging his temple and had an annoyed look on his face.

“That wasn’t what we discussed. Throwing him in jail because you aren’t getting your way?”

“He’s a criminal, Sarah. I know you’ve been defending him, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s a cold-blooded killer.”

“We’re all killers at this point.”

“Because we have no other option. We are at war. The difference is none of us were running around like psychopaths back on Earth killing people for money.”

“I don’t see you saying the same things about Rodeo. He’s the one we should be suspicious of, not Jack. He has literal mind warping abilities.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I just think that maybe we’re moving a little fast and trusting the wrong people. You need to discuss this with me fir-”

“I don’t have to discuss anything with you,” Devin said, slamming his fist down on the table. “I’m doing everything I can to keep what little society we have left from collapsing. If we don’t complete this dungeon, open up the portals and reconnect with the rest of humanity, then we will never have a place to call home.”

“I seem to recall you very decidedly losing a war until me and Gideon showed up to help you. If you try to pull something like that again without discussing it with everyone first, I’ll-“

“Sick your pet dragon on us? That threat only works so many times.” Devin interrupted again.

“Devin,” Sarah said, her tone shifting to concerned, “you’ve all but won the war, you’ve done a good job giving everyone something to unite behind. Don’t ruin it now by turning into a dictator who burns every bridge and blocks everyone out. You can’t honestly tell me you think trusting Rodeo is a good idea.”

“I don’t think trusting any of these people is a good idea, but I’m doing what I have to do, and I expect the same from everyone else,” he sighed. “Why on earth did Gideon vote no, anyway?”

“I don’t know,” Sarah said, chewing on her lip in thought.

“Will he be a problem now, too? I can’t keep track of Rodeo, Jack, and Gideon.”

“I don’t think so. He states his opinions and makes sure his objections are known, but he tends to go wherever the wind blows.”

“Can you go talk to him and make sure?”

Sarah nodded, getting up from the table and leaving the war room to go find Gideon. He was, of course, waiting for her just outside like he usually did. She gave him a small smile as she approached.

“How’d it go?”

“Would have gone a lot better if you had been on our side in there.” Sarah responded.

Gideon nodded in response as the two fell into step beside each other, making their way through the castle corridors towards the dining hall.

“So? Why did you vote no?” Sarah asked when Gideon didn’t offer up anything. She looked up at the dragon, who seemed wholly lost in his own thoughts.

“Because I’ll die if I go inside that dungeon,” he said automatically, like he wasn’t entirely paying attention to the conversation.

“Explain,” Sarah said, stopping dead in her tracks.

Gideon looked at her like he just remembered where he was, then let out a heavy sigh.

“Do you want to know why they call me Fatebreaker?”

“Why?”

“I’ve made a career of sorts out of defying impossible, unwinnable situations. Namely, those that should result in my death.” He said, plopping down lazily onto a bench that lined the hallway.

“Ok… Why are you telling me this?”

“It’s more than that, though. That’s just what people see. What they don’t know is being a Fatebreaker is so much more then just a nickname. It's my curse."

"You have a curse to? Like Jack?"

"Sort of. Mines of a different variety then his."

"What's the curse?"

"Every night when I go to sleep, I have a dream of how I'm going to die."

“Do you now?” Sarah said, sitting next to him with a small smile.

“Yes,” Gideon grinned back, “Every night I dream of my death. It’s actually the source of my power. I dream of how I’ll die, then I have to fight against it. If I survive, I grow stronger. That’s my big secret.”

Sarah stared at him for a long moment in disbelief.

“So how do you die this time?” she finally tried, still unsure if he was messing with her.

“A demon rips my heart out while I’m cradling you in my arms.” He said with such a casualty that it caused Sarah to laugh in disbelief. He fixed her with a sad smile that made her own heart sink a little.

“And this demon is in the dungeon?”

“Likely.”

“Then you just won’t go. Problem solved. How often does the dream change?”

“It changes every time I survive my own death, a new one always taking its place. Aside from that, it’s only ever changed once.”

“When was that?”

“A few weeks ago.”

“Well, if it’s changed once, we can change it again.” Sarah said matter of fact, already running through half a dozen plans in her head.

Gideon half winced at her in response.

“What?” she asked.

“This is why I don’t like to tell people, especially those involved. The fewer people that know, the easier it is for me to control the variables.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Running likely won’t work. If I’m to die in that dungeon, then fate will ensure I make it inside somehow. That’s just how it works.”

“You just told me they call you Fatebreaker, didn’t you? Just change fate. Or break it or whatever it is you do.”

“Were it so simple I would. I’ve been dealing with this exact problem for thousands of years. I’ve tried everything, explored every option. The only reason I get to defy fate in the first place is because fate allows it to happen at all. I’m not so arrogant as to truly assume I’m circumventing the domain of gods. My strings are being pulled, just like everyone else. Besides, If I don’t go in that dungeon, Jack is going to get everyone killed.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

That brought Sarah up short.

“What do you mean?”

“Jack’s hate for Rodeo is plain as day. I feel like I spend half my time making sure he doesn’t attack the man. Jack still doesn’t respect the consequences of breaking an oath. He’s survived once, so he thinks he can survive again. When he attacks Rodeo, it’s going to be bad, and if I’m not there to stop him, then we’re going to be in a world of trouble. We should have left him to his own devices and not made him swear that oath to enter the dungeon. I was half hoping he would make the smart decision and just disappear somewhere.” Gideon finished, an annoyed look on his face.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t. He’ll listen to me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. He didn’t seem too happy to be swearing that last oath.”

Sarah felt her heart sink a little more. She knew she was doing the right thing, but Jack had looked at her like she had betrayed him. This entire dungeon was getting more complicated by the second, and she was starting to think that maybe Jack and Gideon were both right. Maybe they should hold off.

“Is there anything we can do?” Sarah finally said.

“I doubt it.” Gideon sighed after a long moment, “you learn to read the signs after a while. Something big is happening. All the writing is on the walls. There have been too many oaths, too much happenstance and absurd coincidences. It’s all too complicated to untangle now, and the more we fight it, the worse it will get. If you ever wonder what it looks like when the Tower intervenes in a person’s life, then look no further. This is usually the sort of thing that happens when I try to run away from my dreams.”

“Whose life do you think it’s intervening in?”

“I have no idea. But it wants someone dead. Maybe all of us.” Gideon shrugged.

The two sat there in silence for a long moment, leaning against each other on the bench.

“Ya know I haven’t stopped thinking about what you told me.” Sarah finally said.

“What’s that?”

“Your whole soulmate pickup line thing.” She said with a small smile.

“And?”

Sarah chewed on her cheek. She wasn’t really sure what to tell the man. She felt something for Gideon. Something undeniable that pulled at the strings of her heart. The only problem was – he wasn’t Jack.

“And I still don’t know,” Sarah sighed, “I mean, you have to admit, it’s crazy when you stop to think about it. You’re my soulmate? What does that even mean? I feel like I’ve asked a hundred people at this point, but I still haven’t found a satisfying answer. Plus, you’re a dragon who is centuries old. I’m not even sure what to think about that. I mean, I don’t mind dating an older man, but you have to admit it’s a little much.” Sarah said, a little scandalized.

“I guess what I’m getting at is there’s so much I don’t know. So much I need to learn and experience, and I don’t know If I can do any of that with you at my side… I’m sorry…” she said softly.

The two sat there in the hallway, not saying anything to each other. Gideon grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.

“It’s ok. You’re right. The Tower is an experience unlike any other, and you need time to experience that yourself.” He said with a reassuring smile.

“What will you do?”

“I’ll do what I’ve always done. Wait.”

Sarah felt her heart break a little at the sad look on his face.

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[Jack]

Jack walked around the city in a sour mood.

“I swear to god if I find another tavern that’s been burned to the ground, I’m declaring war on the U.F.E. next.” He said, shaking an angry fist at the sky.

Hannah didn’t respond. She still wore a look of pure rage on her face as she trailed after Jack.

“I mean, you would think taverns were on the list of sacred places you aren’t supposed to burn down during wartime. Who would even do such a horrible thing? All that alcohol just getting burned up. It breaks my heart.” He continued.

“Jack, we need to talk.” Hannah finally said.

“Enough talking damnit. Every time I talk to someone, I find myself wrapped up in some sort of new soul oath bullshit. Now is a time for drinking!”

“What are we going to do about Sammy?” She asked, stopping in the middle of the road.

Jack let out a long sigh and turned around to face her.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, he keeps betraying us. Whose side is he even on anymore?”

“Uhh. Pretty sure he’s picked the U.F.E.” Jack said matter of fact.

“I realize that. How are we going to get him back? Should we kill Devin and all those other U.F.E. assholes?”

“Sure. I bet Sammy would forgive us for that. And if he doesn’t, we can beat the shit out of him, torture him relentlessly, and brainwash him until he works for us. That tactic sound familiar?”

“I would never.“ Hannah started, practically snarling in anger.

“Listen,” Jack said, “we both knew that Sam wasn’t in this for the long hall. Did he ever express any sort of interest in doing the kinda work we do back on Earth? No. He always got caught up in the pace of whoever he was working with because, well, he’s always been a pushover. Now, though, he’s finally making choices for himself. Even if those choices screw over his only friends at every turn...” Jack trailed off, a slightly annoyed look on his face.

“And we should just be supportive of that?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe? It's not like we aren't used to getting stabbed in the back, we're only surprised because he's holding the knife this time. Plus, we aren’t exactly the good guys here. As much as it annoys me to say it, has Gideon actually done anything that makes him a bad guy? If he actually can protect humanity and wipe out the Black Centipede doesn't that make Sam siding with him the right choice? The alternative is we kill a potential good person and hope to god the assassin organization holds up their end of the bargain. You and I have every intention of killing Rodeo, and maybe even Gideon, knowing full well it’s going to blow up in our faces and likely make things difficult for everyone else involved.”

“Meanwhile he’s voting against us even though we’ve warned him time and time over that Rodeo can’t be trusted, because he thinks he’s doing the right thing. He’s made other friends. Other allies. People he trusts. He’s changed Hannah, and we’ve been treating him like the same old Sam. He’s looking at the big picture and thinking about things beyond what he wants - because he's a good person. Us on the other hand? I’m still fine with the idea that we might doom humanity to satiate our own revenge - because I’m a bad person.” Jack finished with a grin.

Hannah smirked at him in response, and then her face turned sad.

“I just thought, I dunno, maybe he would come around at some point. If things keep going the way they’re going, we won’t be able to trust him anymore…”

“I know, and I think Sam knows that also. Notice he didn’t chase after us this time.”

They both glanced down the road, half expecting to see Sam trailing after them with an apologetic look on his face. He wasn’t there.

“So what’s the plan, then?”

“First, we drink.”

“I like it.” Hannah nodded, falling in step beside him, “but what then?”

“I don’t know. I was thinking we run the fuck away.”

“Think that will work?”

“Nope, not even a little. But I’m sure as shit not going to sit around and do nothing. If it works, great, we can use that time to kill Rodeo. If it doesn’t, then… well, we can still probably kill Rodeo. Maybe.” Jack said matter of fact.

“Do you think he was mind controlling anyone in that room?”

“I hope so. Sure would explain a lot,” Jack said with an eye roll. “Probably not though. I’m pretty sure Gideon's been keeping an eye out for that sort of thing and would have burned the room to the ground if he suspected anything.”

“And what about Sarah?”

“What about her?” Jack asked, instantly annoyed.

“What are you going to do about her? She didn’t exactly stop the soul oath from being sworn.”

“Why do you think we’re going to drink?”

“Are you really going to stop climbing and retire down here once this is all over with? What if Sarah keeps climbing? What if Rodeo gets away? What about me? Are you really just going to leave me hanging like you did back on earth?”

“I’ll make sure to buy a house with a guest room. You can visit on major holidays.”

Hannah punched him in the shoulder.

“You really want to keep climbing this fucking Tower, huh?”

“I mean, I know we’ve had a pretty tough go of it so far, but it’s magic, Jack. Real fucking magic. This is our life now. Can you even imagine what awaits us the higher we climb? I gotta admit, I’m curious about what’s up there. It’s bound to be better than any of this.”

Jack glanced upwards towards the sky. He just didn’t understand what was so enchanting about this place. He still didn’t know what he wanted out of life, but it wasn’t this.

“I don’t know,” Jack finally said, picking a random road and turning down it, “let’s just focus on killing Rodeo first, then I’ll figure out what it is I want to do.”

Hannah didn’t respond, and Jack was fine to continue the walk in silence as he searched out a bar. He eventually found a hole in the wall tavern that could only be accessed by walking through a dark dingy alley - the kinda place that Jack liked.

“Of course you would find the seediest bar in the entire fucking city.” Hannah complained as Jack swung the door open and stepped inside.

The world went black for a brief second, and Jack had his daggers out in a flash.

When the world returned, he was standing in front of an enormous door with large conduits pumping blue ethereal mana to it. Seven giant stone padlocks hung off of it. Runes big and small covered every inch of the door. A power radiated off it that made Jack sick to his stomach.

“What the fuck” Hannah said as a door slammed shut behind her.

“Told ya they would be here.” Jack heard Gideon say from somewhere to his left.

He glanced over to see Devin, Sam, Sarah, Gideon, and Rodeo sitting there, staring back at them. They looked like they had been waiting a while.

Jack let out a long sigh, dropping his daggers and staring up at the ceiling.

“Fucking. Tower. Bullshit.”