Chapter 93: Scream
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Chapter 93: Scream
Chances heart slammed in his chest, bucking like a runaway racehorse. Golden mist swirled off every footstep as he and Bella darted across the stone roof. Chance vaulted up a wall, digging his urumi into the top and pulling him over before reaching down to grab Bellas outstretched hand and yank her up.
Theyd been running for several minutes, and the hunched creature theyd seen in the doorway had yet to show itself again. Despite that, Chance couldnt shake the chill from his back or make his hair stop standing up.
Something about the shadowy figure evoked a primal fear from deep within his soul, one that made every single instinct he had scream to run for cover. Bellas eyes were just as wild as Chance felt, and her breath came in short puffs as she scanned the rooftops.
What was that? Bella demanded, backing up until her shoulder touched Chances. He was grateful for the reminder that he wasnt alone with whatever that creature was.
I have no idea. I dont see it anymore.
But I can feel it. Bella turned, her hands raised defensively in a fighting stance before her. That thing is wrong. It shouldnt exist. Nothing should make people feel like that. Like
Prey, Chance finished. We need to get off this island. The only way off is to locate the other transportation circle, though.
It might be at the top of the tower. Bella tore her eyes away from the rooftops and looked up, where the tall, broken spire rose up over the rest of the island. It was still a good trip away. The idea of having to get all the way up it while avoiding whatever the thing in the hallway was made Chance shudder.
If we run into it on the tower
Lets not think about that, Bella said. I take it youre in agreement about getting out of here as fast as possible?
Yesterday, if we could. Lets go.
They set off, moving as briskly as they dared without making too much noise. Now that Chance couldnt see the monster anymore, his only hope was that its hearing wasnt very good. Bella had the same idea, and they spoke little over the next few minutes.
The jagged rooftops slanted and pitched in odd angles, as if a massive earthquake had torn the island apart years ago. Many of the buildings were partially crumbled in, and thick purple vines covered the ground everywhere.
Theyd lifted some buildings completely from the ground, suspending them in the air like strange Christmas ornaments. Everything about the island felt surreal. Chance couldnt keep his neck from craning back as they walked underneath a several story building that was held in the air by a massive net of thorny vines, ripped into four pieces but still somehow connected by thin strands of stone and wood.
The spire grew closer, and they continued to weave across the rooftops, avoiding any further ventures into the open doorways that littered the buildings. No promise of riches was enough to convince either Chance or Bella to risk running into the monster in an enclosed space.
Chances goosebumps eventually started to fade. It had been over fifteen minutes since theyd seen the monster, and theyd crossed over most of the ground between them and the base of the spire.
He squinted at every shadow they passed, but the irrational paranoia that it had inflicted was fading away bit by bit.
Maybe we lost it, or it just didnt care about us at all. I guess we were kind of trespassing in its house, right? It could have just been trying to spook us. Yeah. Thats it.
Chances mental words of affirmation didnt do much to ease his nerves, but they were better than nothing. He and Bella finally scaled the last wall and arrived at the center of the island before the tower.
It stood in the center of what had once been an open stone courtyard. Enormous vines stretched out from it in every direction, breaking through the stone and winding deeper into the island. They were far thicker than any of the other vines that Chance had seen so far. Some of the thorns were half as tall as he was.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
If there was a doorway at the ground floor, it would be completely inaccessible now. The gaps in the jagged vines were few and far in between. Anything that jumped into the courtyard would probably be ripped to shreds.
It looks like this is where the vines originated, Bella said, looking over the edge of the wall they stood on into the mess of purple plants below. I wonder what happened.
Slowly but steadily, they continued to make their way up the stairs. The top of the stairwell came into view, stopping before a sturdy wooden door inlaid with metal. Beside it, the walls of the tower had been completely torn away and replaced with a thick cascade of vines.
Chance approached the door warily.
Metal lining covered its edges and wound through its center in a swirling pattern that didnt seem to have any purpose beyond decoration. There was no knob, but the hinges still looked functional.
He couldnt place it, but something about it felt off. It was certainly more intricate than the other doors theyd passed, but he would have expected that from the entrance to the top of what had once been a grand tower.
Lets go, Bella whispered. Even if there isnt a rune circle to get us out of here, when were at the top of the tower, well have a better look at the rest of island. Maybe well be able to spot it.
Chance nodded. He nudged the door with the hilt of his urumi. It swung easily. Mildly surprised, he pushed it open fully. A strong wind buffeted Chance, blowing his hair back and forcing him to squint.
The top of the tower was completely open to the elements. Something had ripped its entire roof off probably vines, if he had to guess and most of the walls had either crumbled away or were well on their way to.
The open space was larger than hed originally thought it was. It was easily the size of the Whiteheart House, maybe even larger. At the center of the open platform was a large throne. It was carved of the same material as the tower around it, but it was taller than Chance and covered with detailed carvings and runes. The throne faced away from them, looking out through a hole in the wall over the ruined island sprawling beneath.
Look! Bella whispered, thrusting a finger at the base of the throne, where a rune circle had been carved into the ground. It was difficult to tell if the circle was the same as the one that had sent them to the island, but Chance was just about ready to settle for anything.
He took a step toward it, a relieved smile crossing his face, then froze. His spine was so cold that it burned, like someone had poured ice down his back. An invisible static energy in the air slithered across his skin, making every single hair stand on end.
Bella took a step toward the rune circle and Chance grabbed her arm, yanking her to a halt. She glanced at him in surprise.
What?
Somethings wrong, Chance said.
He called on his Essence for comfort.
Where is it? What am I sensing?
The shadow cast by the throne twitched. Chances throat tightened and Bella drew in a sharp breath as it lengthened, rising up in front of the throne. The faceless monster unfurled to its full height, towering at more than twice their combined height. Even without eyes, Chance could tell that it was staring straight at them.
Chance and Bella stood frozen as the monster raised a gangly hand to its face and dug deep into its tarlike skin. It dragged a curved line through its face, digging a section out and leaving a jagged mockery of a mouth.
The discarded flesh splattered onto the ground at its feet. Its makeshift mouth widened in a soundless scream. Chances Essence quailed in fear and he shoved it into his third eye, shoving it open.
An empty void greeted him. There wasnt a single strand of Karma connected to the monster. It was a swirling mass of nothing, lacking all connection to life. Its mouth split even wider and a scream split the air not from the monster, but the tower itself.
Stones shuddered and creaked, desperately trying to pull themselves away from the creature above them. Vines peeled away from the walls, ripping themselves to shreds and pitching down to the island below. The air grew still as the wind itself vanished.
A wall of force slammed down on Chance and, with a pop, his Essence vanished. He fell to one knee, his eyes wide with terror as the oppressive presence wound around his chest and started to constrict. Bella fell beside him, doubling over and retching.
The faceless monsters mouth stretched wider still. And then only then did it start screaming.
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Chapter 93: Scream
Chances heart slammed in his chest, bucking like a runaway racehorse. Golden mist swirled off every footstep as he and Bella darted across the stone roof. Chance vaulted up a wall, digging his urumi into the top and pulling him over before reaching down to grab Bellas outstretched hand and yank her up.
Theyd been running for several minutes, and the hunched creature theyd seen in the doorway had yet to show itself again. Despite that, Chance couldnt shake the chill from his back or make his hair stop standing up.
Something about the shadowy figure evoked a primal fear from deep within his soul, one that made every single instinct he had scream to run for cover. Bellas eyes were just as wild as Chance felt, and her breath came in short puffs as she scanned the rooftops.
What was that? Bella demanded, backing up until her shoulder touched Chances. He was grateful for the reminder that he wasnt alone with whatever that creature was.
I have no idea. I dont see it anymore.
But I can feel it. Bella turned, her hands raised defensively in a fighting stance before her. That thing is wrong. It shouldnt exist. Nothing should make people feel like that. Like
Prey, Chance finished. We need to get off this island. The only way off is to locate the other transportation circle, though.
It might be at the top of the tower. Bella tore her eyes away from the rooftops and looked up, where the tall, broken spire rose up over the rest of the island. It was still a good trip away. The idea of having to get all the way up it while avoiding whatever the thing in the hallway was made Chance shudder.
If we run into it on the tower
Lets not think about that, Bella said. I take it youre in agreement about getting out of here as fast as possible?
Yesterday, if we could. Lets go.
They set off, moving as briskly as they dared without making too much noise. Now that Chance couldnt see the monster anymore, his only hope was that its hearing wasnt very good. Bella had the same idea, and they spoke little over the next few minutes.
The jagged rooftops slanted and pitched in odd angles, as if a massive earthquake had torn the island apart years ago. Many of the buildings were partially crumbled in, and thick purple vines covered the ground everywhere.
Theyd lifted some buildings completely from the ground, suspending them in the air like strange Christmas ornaments. Everything about the island felt surreal. Chance couldnt keep his neck from craning back as they walked underneath a several story building that was held in the air by a massive net of thorny vines, ripped into four pieces but still somehow connected by thin strands of stone and wood.
The spire grew closer, and they continued to weave across the rooftops, avoiding any further ventures into the open doorways that littered the buildings. No promise of riches was enough to convince either Chance or Bella to risk running into the monster in an enclosed space.
Chances goosebumps eventually started to fade. It had been over fifteen minutes since theyd seen the monster, and theyd crossed over most of the ground between them and the base of the spire.
He squinted at every shadow they passed, but the irrational paranoia that it had inflicted was fading away bit by bit.
Maybe we lost it, or it just didnt care about us at all. I guess we were kind of trespassing in its house, right? It could have just been trying to spook us. Yeah. Thats it.
Chances mental words of affirmation didnt do much to ease his nerves, but they were better than nothing. He and Bella finally scaled the last wall and arrived at the center of the island before the tower.
It stood in the center of what had once been an open stone courtyard. Enormous vines stretched out from it in every direction, breaking through the stone and winding deeper into the island. They were far thicker than any of the other vines that Chance had seen so far. Some of the thorns were half as tall as he was.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
If there was a doorway at the ground floor, it would be completely inaccessible now. The gaps in the jagged vines were few and far in between. Anything that jumped into the courtyard would probably be ripped to shreds.
It looks like this is where the vines originated, Bella said, looking over the edge of the wall they stood on into the mess of purple plants below. I wonder what happened.
Slowly but steadily, they continued to make their way up the stairs. The top of the stairwell came into view, stopping before a sturdy wooden door inlaid with metal. Beside it, the walls of the tower had been completely torn away and replaced with a thick cascade of vines.
Chance approached the door warily.
Metal lining covered its edges and wound through its center in a swirling pattern that didnt seem to have any purpose beyond decoration. There was no knob, but the hinges still looked functional.
He couldnt place it, but something about it felt off. It was certainly more intricate than the other doors theyd passed, but he would have expected that from the entrance to the top of what had once been a grand tower.
Lets go, Bella whispered. Even if there isnt a rune circle to get us out of here, when were at the top of the tower, well have a better look at the rest of island. Maybe well be able to spot it.
Chance nodded. He nudged the door with the hilt of his urumi. It swung easily. Mildly surprised, he pushed it open fully. A strong wind buffeted Chance, blowing his hair back and forcing him to squint.
The top of the tower was completely open to the elements. Something had ripped its entire roof off probably vines, if he had to guess and most of the walls had either crumbled away or were well on their way to.
The open space was larger than hed originally thought it was. It was easily the size of the Whiteheart House, maybe even larger. At the center of the open platform was a large throne. It was carved of the same material as the tower around it, but it was taller than Chance and covered with detailed carvings and runes. The throne faced away from them, looking out through a hole in the wall over the ruined island sprawling beneath.
Look! Bella whispered, thrusting a finger at the base of the throne, where a rune circle had been carved into the ground. It was difficult to tell if the circle was the same as the one that had sent them to the island, but Chance was just about ready to settle for anything.
He took a step toward it, a relieved smile crossing his face, then froze. His spine was so cold that it burned, like someone had poured ice down his back. An invisible static energy in the air slithered across his skin, making every single hair stand on end.
Bella took a step toward the rune circle and Chance grabbed her arm, yanking her to a halt. She glanced at him in surprise.
What?
Somethings wrong, Chance said.
He called on his Essence for comfort.
Where is it? What am I sensing?
The shadow cast by the throne twitched. Chances throat tightened and Bella drew in a sharp breath as it lengthened, rising up in front of the throne. The faceless monster unfurled to its full height, towering at more than twice their combined height. Even without eyes, Chance could tell that it was staring straight at them.
Chance and Bella stood frozen as the monster raised a gangly hand to its face and dug deep into its tarlike skin. It dragged a curved line through its face, digging a section out and leaving a jagged mockery of a mouth.
The discarded flesh splattered onto the ground at its feet. Its makeshift mouth widened in a soundless scream. Chances Essence quailed in fear and he shoved it into his third eye, shoving it open.
An empty void greeted him. There wasnt a single strand of Karma connected to the monster. It was a swirling mass of nothing, lacking all connection to life. Its mouth split even wider and a scream split the air not from the monster, but the tower itself.
Stones shuddered and creaked, desperately trying to pull themselves away from the creature above them. Vines peeled away from the walls, ripping themselves to shreds and pitching down to the island below. The air grew still as the wind itself vanished.
A wall of force slammed down on Chance and, with a pop, his Essence vanished. He fell to one knee, his eyes wide with terror as the oppressive presence wound around his chest and started to constrict. Bella fell beside him, doubling over and retching.
The faceless monsters mouth stretched wider still. And then only then did it start screaming.
Chapter 93: ScreamChances heart slammed in his chest, bucking like a runaway racehorse. Golden mist swirled off every footstep as he and Bella darted across the stone roof. Chance vaulted up a wall, digging his urumi into the top and pulling him over before reaching down to grab Bellas outstretched hand and yank her up.Theyd been running for several minutes, and the hunched creature theyd seen in the doorway had yet to show itself again. Despite that, Chance couldnt shake the chill from his back or make his hair stop standing up.Something about the shadowy figure evoked a primal fear from deep within his soul, one that made every single instinct he had scream to run for cover. Bellas eyes were just as wild as Chance felt, and her breath came in short puffs as she scanned the rooftops.What was that? Bella demanded, backing up until her shoulder touched Chances. He was grateful for the reminder that he wasnt alone with whatever that creature was.I have no idea. I dont see it anymore.But I can feel it. Bella turned, her hands raised defensively in a fighting stance before her. That thing is wrong. It shouldnt exist. Nothing should make people feel like that. LikePrey, Chance finished. We need to get off this island. The only way off is to locate the other transportation circle, though.It might be at the top of the tower. Bella tore her eyes away from the rooftops and looked up, where the tall, broken spire rose up over the rest of the island. It was still a good trip away. The idea of having to get all the way up it while avoiding whatever the thing in the hallway was made Chance shudder.If we run into it on the towerLets not think about that, Bella said. I take it youre in agreement about getting out of here as fast as possible?Yesterday, if we could. Lets go.They set off, moving as briskly as they dared without making too much noise. Now that Chance couldnt see the monster anymore, his only hope was that its hearing wasnt very good. Bella had the same idea, and they spoke little over the next few minutes.The jagged rooftops slanted and pitched in odd angles, as if a massive earthquake had torn the island apart years ago. Many of the buildings were partially crumbled in, and thick purple vines covered the ground everywhere.Theyd lifted some buildings completely from the ground, suspending them in the air like strange Christmas ornaments. Everything about the island felt surreal. Chance couldnt keep his neck from craning back as they walked underneath a several story building that was held in the air by a massive net of thorny vines, ripped into four pieces but still somehow connected by thin strands of stone and wood.The spire grew closer, and they continued to weave across the rooftops, avoiding any further ventures into the open doorways that littered the buildings. No promise of riches was enough to convince either Chance or Bella to risk running into the monster in an enclosed space.Chances goosebumps eventually started to fade. It had been over fifteen minutes since theyd seen the monster, and theyd crossed over most of the ground between them and the base of the spire.He squinted at every shadow they passed, but the irrational paranoia that it had inflicted was fading away bit by bit.Maybe we lost it, or it just didnt care about us at all. I guess we were kind of trespassing in its house, right? It could have just been trying to spook us. Yeah. Thats it. Chances mental words of affirmation didnt do much to ease his nerves, but they were better than nothing. He and Bella finally scaled the last wall and arrived at the center of the island before the tower.It stood in the center of what had once been an open stone courtyard. Enormous vines stretched out from it in every direction, breaking through the stone and winding deeper into the island. They were far thicker than any of the other vines that Chance had seen so far. Some of the thorns were half as tall as he was.N00vl--1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.If there was a doorway at the ground floor, it would be completely inaccessible now. The gaps in the jagged vines were few and far in between. Anything that jumped into the courtyard would probably be ripped to shreds.It looks like this is where the vines originated, Bella said, looking over the edge of the wall they stood on into the mess of purple plants below. I wonder what happened.Slowly but steadily, they continued to make their way up the stairs. The top of the stairwell came into view, stopping before a sturdy wooden door inlaid with metal. Beside it, the walls of the tower had been completely torn away and replaced with a thick cascade of vines.Chance approached the door warily.Metal lining covered its edges and wound through its center in a swirling pattern that didnt seem to have any purpose beyond decoration. There was no knob, but the hinges still looked functional.He couldnt place it, but something about it felt off. It was certainly more intricate than the other doors theyd passed, but he would have expected that from the entrance to the top of what had once been a grand tower.Lets go, Bella whispered. Even if there isnt a rune circle to get us out of here, when were at the top of the tower, well have a better look at the rest of island. Maybe well be able to spot it.Chance nodded. He nudged the door with the hilt of his urumi. It swung easily. Mildly surprised, he pushed it open fully. A strong wind buffeted Chance, blowing his hair back and forcing him to squint.The top of the tower was completely open to the elements. Something had ripped its entire roof off probably vines, if he had to guess and most of the walls had either crumbled away or were well on their way to.The open space was larger than hed originally thought it was. It was easily the size of the Whiteheart House, maybe even larger. At the center of the open platform was a large throne. It was carved of the same material as the tower around it, but it was taller than Chance and covered with detailed carvings and runes. The throne faced away from them, looking out through a hole in the wall over the ruined island sprawling beneath.Look! Bella whispered, thrusting a finger at the base of the throne, where a rune circle had been carved into the ground. It was difficult to tell if the circle was the same as the one that had sent them to the island, but Chance was just about ready to settle for anything. He took a step toward it, a relieved smile crossing his face, then froze. His spine was so cold that it burned, like someone had poured ice down his back. An invisible static energy in the air slithered across his skin, making every single hair stand on end.Bella took a step toward the rune circle and Chance grabbed her arm, yanking her to a halt. She glanced at him in surprise.What?Somethings wrong, Chance said.He called on his Essence for comfort.Where is it? What am I sensing?The shadow cast by the throne twitched. Chances throat tightened and Bella drew in a sharp breath as it lengthened, rising up in front of the throne. The faceless monster unfurled to its full height, towering at more than twice their combined height. Even without eyes, Chance could tell that it was staring straight at them.Chance and Bella stood frozen as the monster raised a gangly hand to its face and dug deep into its tarlike skin. It dragged a curved line through its face, digging a section out and leaving a jagged mockery of a mouth.The discarded flesh splattered onto the ground at its feet. Its makeshift mouth widened in a soundless scream. Chances Essence quailed in fear and he shoved it into his third eye, shoving it open.An empty void greeted him. There wasnt a single strand of Karma connected to the monster. It was a swirling mass of nothing, lacking all connection to life. Its mouth split even wider and a scream split the air not from the monster, but the tower itself.Stones shuddered and creaked, desperately trying to pull themselves away from the creature above them. Vines peeled away from the walls, ripping themselves to shreds and pitching down to the island below. The air grew still as the wind itself vanished.A wall of force slammed down on Chance and, with a pop, his Essence vanished. He fell to one knee, his eyes wide with terror as the oppressive presence wound around his chest and started to constrict. Bella fell beside him, doubling over and retching.The faceless monsters mouth stretched wider still. And then only then did it start screaming.
