[ Chapter 6 ] Death

On the other side of the group. Len, Hearts, and Anathea make it further into the cave. The further they go the more Anathea begins to hear a sound. Moving further into the endless hall, Anathea´s ears perk as she hears more sound. Anathea´s eyes spark in uncanny and alertness. Anathea turns to Hearts and Pin, her voice urgent.

[ Anathea ] ¨I hear a voice! It´s further in.¨

Anathea rushes forward Pin and Hearts follow behind but are soon left behind due to her speed.

[ Pin ] ¨Hey! Wait up!¨

Running into the darkness, following the screams of what seems to be a woman. Anathea keeps running and running till she reaches a large open area. A young woman's clothes are ripped nearly naked, pinned down by many goblins, as they get ready to rape and torture her. Anathea takes in the sight, her eyes in disbelief and disgust.

[ Captured Woman ] ¨No! Stop! Stop! Stop! Please! Ahh! NO!¨

The goblins pinning her down, stab her through her hands with their daggers, the daggers going into the floor to keep her unable to escape. The woman releases a gut-wrenching primal scream. She tries flailing her body to escape.

[ Captured Woman ] ¨AHHHHHHHHH! STOP! IT HURTS!¨

The goblins all laugh at the amusement they get from torturing her. Some of the goblin's faces distort with libidinous. The woman's face forms into an apprehensive and terror structure.

[ Captured Woman ] ¨PLEASE! ANYONE! HELP ME!¨

Anathea took in that sight but for some reason, she couldn´t move. Her body just didn´t let her. Was it anger? No, it was fear. Anathea began to shriek at the sight, wanting to do something but not taking action.

[ Anathea ] In her mind ¨Why…? Why can´t I move? I´m scared. I- I… don´t want to fight. I need to run… Run!¨

As Anathea´s body slowly turns around, ready to leave, she hears a voice in the back of her mind. It screams at her. She doesn´t know this voice, but it feels so familiar to her. A female voice is heard in her head, which is slightly deep and stern.

[ Voice in head ] ¨Move! Are you just gonna stand there and let her die?¨

Anathea finds herself in her head staring down a figure of a woman. The area is a hill, with flowing wind, cliffs, trees, and a sunset. The figure is completely filled in black, except for its mouth in white showing it´s speaking.

[ Voice in head ] ¨Are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna do something?¨

The figure walks closer to Anathea. Although unable to see emotions, the demeanor of how the figure walks shows a solemn attitude. Anathea walks back as the figure approaches her.

[ Anathea ] ¨Wh- Who are you?¨

[ Woman Figure ] ¨You don´t recognize me? Oh, how disheartened I am. But, that doesn´t matter to me. Are you just gonna stand there and let her die?¨

(Authors Note: Woman Figure and Voice in Head are the same person.)

Anathea´s eyes shine and her voice sparks in a heedful tone.

[ Anathea ] ¨No! I don´t want her to die. I´m just scared. Blood is terrifying. I can´t stand it!¨

The figure closes the distance between them. The figure's face in front of Anathea.

[ Woman Figure ] ¨Why are you scared? You can beat those goblins. Do you have a reason to be scared?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨I– I can´t… I can´t find myself able to move. I don´t know why.¨

The figure backs up her face giving some distance. The figure puts its hand on her chest.

[ Woman Figure ] ¨Do you want her to die?¨

Anathea flinches at the response. Her voice goes a bit higher as she responds.

[ Anathea ] ¨Of course not… I just-¨

[ Woman Figure ] ¨No buts or just! If you don´t want her to die, then steel your resolve and save her. You have the power, you have no reason to be scared.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨I- I-¨

The figure pushes Anathea with the hand on her chest, she falls not realizing the cliff she is on. Anathea falls down the cliff scared and trying to brace herself, she then looks back at the black woman figure.

[ Woman Figure ] ¨Save her if you don´t want her to die. ¨

As Anathea continues to fall she sees the figure turn around walking away.

[ Woman Figure ] ¨Being the one who [redacted] you shouldn´t have any trouble. You´ve changed… Anathea.¨

The figure walks away disappearing. That word seems to have been blurred out as Anathea continues to fall. Leaving her confused and unclear. Right when Anathea is about to hit the floor she screams, and then with a quick zoom, she finds herself back to reality.

Staring back at the scene of the goblin's torture. Anathea´s eyes shake in horror as she takes in the sight again. Anathea begins to turn back, she thinks of the figure's words. She finds herself not being able to move again, not being able to decide. Anathea then hears the voice again.

[ Voice in head ] ¨Are you going to let her die?¨

Anathea listens to those words, she clenches her teeth and her hands on her staff with her body trembling. Looking down at the floor,

[ Anathea ] ¨Of course, I don´t want her to die… I´m just scared…¨

[ Voice in head ] ¨So, are you gonna let her die?¨

Anathea stomps turning back, looking at the scene of the goblins' actions. Pointing her staff at the goblins pinning the woman. Her resolve is set and ready to fight.

[ Anathea ] ¨No. I will save her.¨

[ Voice in head ] ¨Good. Show me your resolve.¨

Anathea´s staff begins to shine, as she prepares an attack.

[ Anathea ] ¨Will of Light, Eraser.¨

A single ball of light appears beginning to shoot out towards the goblins. It zigzags into the goblins piercing through each goblin it passes through, like ricocheting off each goblin. Leaving holes like being erased with each goblin it shoots through. All the goblins around the woman dropped like flies all dying before her. Anathea lowers her staff, her eyes dead serious. Her doing her skill alerted all of the goblins in that area.

Hordes of goblins begin to rise and look at her. Anathea begins to raise her staff again, ready to do another attack at the horde. Right as she does a hobgoblin appears to the left of her, with its giant club, it swings at Anathea. Anathea moves her staff pointing it at the hobgoblin.

[ Anathea ] ¨Will of Light, Barrier.¨

A light screen gets summoned blocking the attack, it covers Anathea's whole front side.

The hobgoblin gets visually angered and keeps repeatedly attacking the barrier. Goblins from the horde come rushing towards Anathea. Anathea points her staff ready to do another attack at the goblins rushing to her but in exchange her barrier drops. The hobgoblin swings its giant club at Anathea, as it sees an opening. But, Anathea doesn´t bother trying to defend.

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[ Anathea ] ¨Eraser.¨

As the ball appears and begins to shoot out toward the horde of goblins, the giant club is about to hit her head. Anathea's eyes look at the club as time seems to slow down.

Footsteps are heard, and the next second Hearts comes in doing a jumping sidekick to kick the club away from Anathea.

[ Hearts ] ¨Wahhhhh!¨

Hearts kick the hobgoblins club away, and Anathea Eraser shoots out killing all of the goblins that rushed towards her. Pin also arrives stabbing a goblin Anathea missed into the wall and slashing out of its body.

[ Pin ] ¨You alright?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨I´m fine, let´s kill these goblins.¨

Pin and Hearts see the woman who was still pinned onto the ground due to the knife stabbed through her hands. The hobgoblin swings at Hearts, but she blocks and catches the club, her strength matching the hobgoblin.

[ Hearts ] ¨How dare you goblins!¨

Hearts begin to freeze the club onto the ground, the hobgoblin tries to break the club off the ice. The hobgoblin tries to punch Hearts, but she quickly jumps on the club dodging it. She begins running on the club and up the hobgoblin's arms, as she quickly reaches the hobgoblin's face, she punches its face pushing it down.

Hearts fall with the hobgoblin, as it plants on the floor, Hearts stands on its neck. She fixes her gauntlets, summoning a sharp icicle and stabbing the neck of the hobgoblin. Blood gushes out but it is still alive.

[ Hearts ] ¨This is for hurting an innocent girl!¨

Hearts punches the hobgoblin's face, direct. She then punches its face again, then again, and again. Alternating each fist, going faster with each punch. She keeps punching its face faster and faster till her fists are afterimages. Not stopping the onslaught of punches on the hobgoblin. Blood with flesh bits flies everywhere and bones are heard breaking.

With one final destructive punch, the hobgoblin's body stops moving. The face of the hobgoblin is caved in and a blood pile. Hearts look at the hoards of goblins to the side. Many of them cower at her. Hearts rushes at the goblins determined to kill more. Pin looks over to the woman and then back at Anathea.

[ Anathea ] ¨I´ll keep them at bay, go get her.¨

Pin nods, Anathea points her staff and does another Eraser killing the goblins around the woman. Pin rushes next to the woman, reaching her.

[ Pin ] ¨I´m here lady, I got you.¨

The woman's eyes light up in relief and nearly begins to cry.

[ Captured Woman ] ¨Thank you… so much… I was so scared.¨

Pin grabs the knife that is stabbed through her hands.

[ Pin ] ¨This is going to hurt.¨

Pin pulls out the knife, and some blood spurts and spills out. The woman releases a loud grunt. Pin throws the knife to the side picking her up in a fireman carry, towards Anathea. Anathea shoots more Eraser killing all rushing in goblins. Pin reaches Anathea and goes back into the room's entrance, putting the woman down.

[ Pin ] ¨Anyone else?¨

The woman shakes her head no. Pin looks at Anathea.

[ Pin ] ¨Alright, we got the woman. Let´s kill these goblins!”

Hearts jump back towards Pin and Anathea, pointing over to the horde of goblins.

[ Hearts ] ¨Another hobgoblin.¨

The hob shows itself, its weapon is a jagged axe. The hob roars making the goons of goblins rush over to the three. Hearts look at Anathea, she kneels and puts both hands on the floor.

[ Hearts ] ¨Will of Ice, Field of Frost.¨

Hearts freezes the floor all around the horde of goblins rushing in, making them slip and fall over. Then spikes of icicles explode out stabbing tons of the goblins. Hearts look at Anathea.

[ Hearts ] ¨Finish them.¨

Anathea points her staff at the horde, her staff begins to shine.

[ Anathea ] ¨Eraser.¨

The ball of light shoots out killing all of the leftover goblins. The horde of goblins all fall dead to both of their attacks. All that stands is the last hob.

[ Pin ] ¨I barely got to do anything.¨

The hob clenches its axe and begins to charge. Anathea points her staff at the hob.

[ Anathea ] ¨Will of Light, Sacred Shine.¨

A blinding light shines bright, blazing into the eyes of the hob. The hob blocks its eyes screaming and swinging its axe. Pin runs to the side around the hob.

[ Pin ] ¨I want some action too!¨

As the hob is blinded, Pin rushes to the legs of the hob, slicing the hob heels causing it to scream in agony. The hobs heels gush out blood as it begins to fall backward. Hearts runs and jumps next to its head.

[ Hearts ] ¨Wuahhh!¨

Hearts grabs the hob's face pushing it down faster to the ground for a slam. As Hearts slams the hob onto the ground, she grips the hob face harder. Ice begins to form on her grip, quickly freezing the hob's face. Within seconds of the freezing Hearts completely froze the face of the hob. Hearts cartwheels back to gain distance. Anathea points her staff at the head of the hob.

[ Anathea ] ¨Will of Earth, Stone Coffin.¨

The floor below the hobgoblins head breaks into 2 halves folding onto each other to crush the hobs head. A loud thump was heard. Bones, ice, and blood flew everywhere. Anathea takes a deep breath out, then drops to her knees holding her staff. Anathea takes many deep breaths to recover.

[ Anathea ] ¨We´re done…¨

Hearts comes over to help Anathea up to her feet. Hearts has one Anathea´s of arms on her shoulders.

[ Hearts ] ¨I got you. You did an amazing job, Ana.¨

Pin walks back to the woman.

[ Pin ] ¨You´re safe now, we can return you home.¨

The woman begins to tear up, her eyes swell in appreciation. She grips onto Pin´s shirt. Pin looks over at Anathea.

[ Pin ] ¨Care to give your coat to her?¨

Anathea puts down her staff and removes her coat, giving it to Pin. Pin takes it, then gives it to the woman for her to wear. Pin stands up looking at the way back.

[ Pin ] ¨Let´s go check on Len and Ien.¨

Pin takes the lead first, and Hearts and Anathea soon follow along with the woman. They make their way back through the cave. Hearts nudges Anathea with her elbow.

[ Hearts ] ¨Your light Will is amazing. I did ´t know you had Earth and Light!¨

Hearts eye shine an eager tone. Anathea is taken aback by the compliment.

[ Anathea ] ¨No no, if it wasn´t for you stopping that hobs attack, I probably would be done for. And that field of ice you made, you took out such a big horde.¨

[ Pin ] ¨You both did an amazing job, okay. I wonder what Len and Ien found.¨

Hearts look at Anathea, making a curious face.

[ Hearts ] ¨You looked so serious when you were fighting earlier. It´s like you were a different person. Even at the beginning of the cave, you didn´t act that serious.¨

Anathea thinks back to the Woman Figure´s words.

[ Anathea ] ¨Yeah, It seems so. I just had to. It was to save someone. ¨

Hearts pats Anathea´s back and gives a warm smile.

[ Hearts ] ¨Thanks to that she´s saved now, because of you.¨

Anathea smiles but remembers how she faltered at the first sight of the goblin's action. Soon, the group reaches the fork again where the group originally split off. Anathea´s ears perk.

[ Anathea ] ¨Goblins! Where Len and Ien are at!¨

Pin's eyes spark in adrenaline, He sprints in their direction. Hearts and Anathea follow along with the woman.

[ Pin ] ¨Len! Ien!¨

Pin continues to sprint, and then reaches the room. He sees tons of goblin bodies. Blood everywhere and signs of a gruesome battle.

[ Pin } ¨Ien! Len!¨

Pin walks past the goblin bodies all over the place, he looks around desperately. Pin's eyes glaze over, his eyes widen, staggered, and jolted.

[ Pin ] ¨Len…¨

Len is sitting down next to the wall, an arm missing, his bow broken, bleeding profusely, and unresponsive. Pin begins to tear up, running to Len with urgency.

[ Pin ] ¨LEN! LEN! WAKE UP! PLEASE LEN!¨

Steps are heard, and Pin looks over to the side. A few goblins come, holding what seems to be a head of a person. As they move closer to Pin, the light from his torch shows what they are holding. A goblin is holding the head of Ien, blood pouring from his neck.

Pin eyes shatter, and the goblins all laugh. Pin goes dead silent, tears running down his face. He looks around seeing how much Ien and Len fought, leaving only a tiny group of goblins left from the massive hoard they fought.

[ Goblin ] ¨Kwyahahahaha!¨

Pin grabs his small sword, looking at the leftover group of goblins, seeing in the back Ien´s body filled with tons of daggers in his body.

[ Pin ] ¨Will of Speed, Tempo.¨

Pin begins to step forward towards the goblin holding Ien´s head. As he takes a step forward, as soon as his foot hits the ground. Blood flies onto his face. All the goblins that were left standing in front of Pin, all their heads were gone the next second.

All of the bodies of the goblins fall, and Ien´s head falls and rolls over to Len´s body. Pin´s face is nonchalant, he hears sobbing. Pin jerks his head seeing a woman in the corner. It was the Tortured Woman.

[ Pin ] ¨They´re dead.¨

Hearts and Anathea arrive at the scene. They both see Ien´s head and Len´s body. They both gasp in horror.

[ Hearts ] ¨They… are both dead…¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Pin… are you…¨

[ Pin ] ¨No… I´m not.¨

Pin walks over to the woman crying.

[ Tortured Woman ] ¨Who are you?¨

Pin helps her up not answering, leading her to Hearts and Anathea. Pin's face in Saudade not showing any big emotion. Hearts takes her holding her safe.

[ Pin ] ¨Just… let me be here for a little bit. Alone.¨

Hearts and Anathea nod, taking the Tortured Woman with them and walking out. Hearts and Anathea walk with 2 other women, towards the entrance of the cave.

[ Hearts ] ¨Lets… just leave. He´ll come soon after.¨

Anathea nods looking at their path.

[ Anathea ] ¨Yeah… let´s give him some time.¨

Anathea and Hearts both walk with the 2 other women till they reach the fork in the road again.

[ Hearts ] ¨Let´s wait here for him.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Yeah.¨

A few minutes go by of Hearts and Anathea waiting. Anathea thinks about how Pin is feeling at the moment.

[ Anathea ] In her head ¨I hope he´s okay.¨

Anathea´s mind begins to wander off.

[ Anathea ] In her head ¨I feel like… I felt this feeling before. Why…?¨

Anathea begins to shed a tiny tear. Hearts sees this and she looks over to Ana.

[ Hearts ] ¨You okay?¨

[ Anathea ] Wiping her eyes ¨I´m fine, just thinking of something.¨ In her mind ¨Why am I crying?¨

As soon as Anathea wipes her eye, her ears perk as she hears a sound. It was the sound of a tiny grunt, it was low but enough for her to hear. The grunt was what could be made up as pain.

[ Anathea ] ¨Hearts… Let´s go check on Pin.¨

Hearts hesitates for a moment but complies.

[ Hearts ] ¨Yeah… I´m sure he needs comfort.¨

Hearts tells the 2 women to stay there and wait. Anathea and Hearts walk back to where Pin is at, not saying much. As they reach the entrance to the area where Pin is, she sees Pin on his knees next to Len´s body and Ien´s head.

[ Anathea ] ¨Hey Pi-¨

Anathea's eyes widen, as she sees the scene dropping her staff. Hearts also sees the scene gasping loudly.

[ Hearts ] ¨PIN!¨

Pin´s body was limp and unresponsive. Pin had his sword stabbed into his stomach. Blood streamed from his gut, spilling into the ground and the sword. Pin still had tears dropping in his eyes with his pale eyes. Pin killed himself in front of his two best friends.

[ Anathea ] ¨Why…? Pin… WHYYYYYYYY!¨