Back up to the top, he went, with Carlos, Magpie, and Ignatius following behind.
Van knew the way, every tile of every floor, but the air was different. As they ascended, he could see that a thick mist had eased its way in through the halls and rooms. The murk came up to their knees.
"What is this?" Carlos's head spun around, searching the ground as if a fiend hid in the mist. "Keep watch," he commanded, his hand at the hilt of his sword.
"Trickery," concluded Van, "from Shadow, most likely."
"They may not cause harm directly," explained Ig, "but do keep your guard up."
"Yes," agreed Magpie, "If you see anything—"
Out of one room, something peaked its head. A wolf, by the looks of it, with glowing eyes like the ones of an Umbra.
"There!" Vandal shouted, swinging the long gun's barrel to the beast.
The hollering made the beast slip back into the darkness of the room. Thankfully, they would not need to pass down that hall to go up.
"You are certain they cannot harm us?" Carlos questioned anyone who could answer.
"Mere illusions," Magpie assured him, "but Shadow himself…"
At this Carlos, drew his sword, prepared for anything that would mean them harm, false or true. Van also steeled himself; he took three bullets in his hand and charged them with oblivion so they would be ready on the reload.
The next stairwell they took was dark; not even the emergency lights were on. The mist did not help. Van drew his axe, blessed the head with a spirit of fire, and led the way.
"Stay close," he said to the three behind him, "the rails are rusted and weak. Be careful not to fall."
"Right," said Carlos. He looked at the bottom of the stairwell. "Oh my … that wasn't there before, was it?"
Carlos pointed at what lay on the blackened floor of the stairwell. A giant, ruby-eyed viper regarded them with malice. It yawned, showing its vile fangs and the maw of which would happily welcome them if they fell. Mere illusions, Van told himself as his hair bristled nonetheless. But the fall will shatter you, obviously.
Upon reaching the landing, there was now only one floor above that separated them from Nuallis and Shadow. Another heavy thump overhead made Van want to disregard caution, but he kept himself watchful.
The hauntings worsened at this floor: it was as if the hells invaded the building.
Some of the tiles underfoot were absent, with overgrown grass and weeds sticking out from under, despite being on a higher floor of the structure. Most of the lamps in the ceiling were off, and the ones remaining flickered.
There were other light sources, to be sure, but of strange variations; all the windows were no longer glass, but rather, rusted metal panels replaced them, blocking out any sunshine. Where the ceiling panels had given way, there was only darkness behind. Blood smeared words on the wall. "WELCOME," said one. "COME TO BE MENDED," said another.
Out in the mystery of the dark realm of Shadow's making were the sounds of butchery: the clang of metal, bones cracking, and the wailings. Oh gods, the wailings.
Unyielding, this Shadow is, commented to Van, quietly to himself.
They walked down the corridors, hoping to find the next stairwell that would take them to the top floor. The floor tiles became less frequent, and soon they tread on soft weed-ridden soil that carried a foul smell rather than earthy scents. The walls began to crack as water drained out of them. In the panels
Suddenly, to their left and a few feet ahead, something pounded behind a door. When its pounding went unanswered, it tried the door handle, which shook violently as it tried to twist it.
"LET ME OUT!" the voice of a man shrieked from behind, "LET ME OUT!"
Van kept his aim at the door, holding his long gun with one hand and his burning axe with the other. "Let's go," he said as he sidled against the wall farthest from the door.
"That voice," said Ig with anxiousness, "sounds like Ussb."
By his tone, Van determined this Ussb was close to him.
"Don't go and open it," Van warned.
"I know, I know. It just—"
The door swung open by itself, making Van jump. But behind the door was nothing but a wall of brick. Somewhere in the dark vastness, Van could hear, just faintly, Shadow chuckling.
Soon they reached the turn, and beyond it was the entrance to another stairwell.
"Did you hear that?" Carlos said, whirling to watch his back and sticking the point of his blade outward.
"Hear what?" Van answered.
Before Carlos could answer, Van heard the noise: a child's laughter.
"It's her," said Ig.
Van could hear the sound of footsteps coming fast from behind.
"Get down!" He shouted to the three as he turned.
When they cleared out, Van fired one shot. For half a second, the bullet's low glow lit the malevolent child's face as it flew by. Now, having a slight idea of where she may be, Van fired another. He missed, and she lept onto a chair and another, getting closer with each hop. Van fired again; this time, he tore a hole through her pink jacket.
She tumbled and came too close; in the axe's light, he saw her terrible grin as she closed the distance, her knife's blade shining by the fire.
Carlos shoved Van out of the way and caught Ravage's knife with his sword.
"Dance with men, Rabbit," Ravage pleaded, joyfully, spinning the large chef's knife in her hand.
Ravage pressed the attack, delivering furious swipes at the fae. Carlos turned most of them; Ravage managed to cut his thigh twice. She's too fast, thought Van. Ig conjured up a windy force that threw the pink demon against a farther away wall, giving Carlos some breathing room.
"No fair, Raven," pouted Ravage, in the darkness and mist, "It was one-on-one!"
Using the demon's voice, Magpie fired a lightning bolt to where she might be. She missed the pink shape by a hair. "Damn it," cursed Magpie softly.
She bounced back at them, but she squealed in pain halfway.
"Ouch," she said, "hmm?" The oblivion's corruption ate away at the sleeve; some of it dripped on her skin. "Icky," she exclaimed as she threw off her jacket and saved the corruption off her arm. She pulled something out of it: something that glowed with blue light.
Van had seen the shape before; Moryuu had held it. "That thing?" Van wondered outloud. Ravage having it, what could this mean for Moryuu's state?
"Oh well, fun time's over!" Ravage exclaimed as she flipped her knife in the air to catch it by the blade's tip, "Bye-bye!"
The knife spun as it made its way to Van. He blocked it, the point burying itself into the handle of the axe; the force knocked the weapon from his hand. Ravage ran turned the corner, most likely heading up to Shadow.
"Gods damn it all," growled Van as he retrieved his axe. "After her!" Van charged ahead, knowing not if his companions would follow or not.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUI76vCHRI
