Chapter 1: The Arrival
Disclaimer: If you, or anyone that you know has been affected by any of the issues presented in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, please don't be afraid to reach out to talk to someone. To learn more, please refer to the games website under the 'Mental Health Support' tab.
Author's Note:
I'm back! I'm sorry it's been so long. However, I have returned with a Hellblade fanfic. Hellblade really hit home for me in a lot of ways and I felt compelled to write a little snippet into Senua's life. Anyway, I could go on for days on how much I loved this game, but I hope that you all enjoy it. I do not own anything, everything belongs to the wonderful people at Ninja Theory.
The world just outside of her window was far different from her own, no matter how much she looked, nothing ever changed. Until one day. Past the huts that aligned themselves along the fence that marked the limits of their village, past the village center where she would see other villagers passing by ever now and again, even passed the Chief's house at the forefront standing as a beacon of protection for his people. Her eyes had locked on him, up the hill of brightly colored flowers standing beneath the tree. He was just far enough to be alone, but thankfully close enough that she could see. Every movement that he made was like a graceful dance that only he could do. From the tiny confines of her room, she had attempted to mirror his moves in hopes that it would bring her closer to him... to the light he seemed to carry.
What is she doing?
Senua gasped, stopping her hand mid swing.
What does she hope to accomplish?
They were back.
She does realize he's not going to let her out right?
The Others.
Does she?
Why now?
Of course she does!
What had she done?
No she doesn't.
Was this the will of the gods?
Yes, she does! Are you stupid?
What was she being punished for now...?
Senua covered her ears, screwing her eyes shut as tight as they would go. Of course she knew better deep down. The Others wouldn't go away just by closing her eyes and wishing that they weren't there. If that would've worked, perhaps her mother wouldn't have taken her own life in order to escape from the Darkness. Perhaps she wouldn't be confined in her small room, surrounded by the images the Others had forced her to scrawl onto the stone walls. They wanted to remind her that she was cursed, that her soul was corrupted. She was a burden. A demon. Evil. Pathetic. Worthless!
"Mother..." She begged in a tiny voice, collapsing to her knees, pressing her hands to her ears so hard that she started to feel pain. "Help me please..." The laughing could be heard. It started soft at first, like a humming white noise one hopes to hear to lull them to sleep until it became gradually louder. Louder. Louder. Louder.
Senua...
"No."
Senua.
"Stop." The desperation in her voice was becoming evident. They knew it.
Senua!
Quickly, she stood up and opened her eyes, balling her hands into fists.
"No! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut! Up!" She screamed so loud, her throat hurt and she could hear the echoes of her own voice against the walls. Her breathing was coming in heaves now. Quiet. Yes. That was good. That was needed. That was perfect... Right? Just as Senua was about to breath a much needed sigh of relief, all the laughter began again accompanied with ever increasing footsteps.
Shh...
Shh!
Do you hear?
He's coming Senua!
Who?
You know who?
Ohh...
More laughter.
"No..."
The words of the Others became entangled together, making her head hurt. So much to try to listen to all at one time. They all wanted to be heard, but she was trying to focus on the footsteps that had just stopped outside of her door. When the door opened, she stood face-to-face with him. Zynbel. Her father. A Druid priest who was trying to exile the taint of the Darkness from his daughter.
"Senua..." He said, his voice low. It terrified her, made her blood turn ice cold. His eyes seemed to gleam a dark glow from underneath his hood.
"P-Please... I'm sorry... I just-" Before Senua could get her words out, the all too familiar hand and the following crack rang through the room. All in a matter of seconds, she was on the floor, a pain in her head from where it had hit the wall.
"The Darkness is trying to take you, Child!" Zynbel yelled. Senua instinctively reached up to block him, earning more fierce hits anywhere his hands would land. "It's in your soul! You're tainted! Disgusting! Cursed!" With every cry of protest, Zynbel's hands just hit harder against her skin.
"Stop!" Senua begged.
"Only suffering brings salvation! It is the way of the gods!"
Leaving Senua alone once more in her room after trying to purify her, she sat on her knees; defeated. Shamed. Pained. Broken. The smell of her burnt flesh mixed with the food her father left for her made her want to vomit.
She smells...
Senua.. you need to eat.
Is she trying to die?
She can't beat her Darkness.
She can.
No she can't.
Of course she can.
With their taunting words, the laughter began again.
Stop laughing.
Why? It's funny!
Is it?
Of course!
Tears fell from Senua's blue eyes and onto the stone floor, making small pools beneath her.
What's that?
Is she crying?
How pathetic.
How disgusting.
The light faded from her world, leaving her with nothing but monochromatic gray. Her eyes focused on one of the stones in her room, watching the little bits of stone fleck from the large stone and fall to the ground. She remembered her mother in these times, when her mother would hold her and tell her stories of the people that she healed. Senua wished to have her mother hold her once more, her's was a voice that could chase away the Darkness. She was Senua's light. Tears continued to fall from Senua's eyes as she stared off into the nothingness. She heard yelling and screaming. Turning around and standing up, she watched in horror as her people ran through the village, large monsters following them. They were on fire, covered with bees, and dripping with ice. Some of the creatures that was invading their village had the flesh dripping off of their bones. They made disgusting piles of flesh on the ground, and Senua could only watch in horror as the ground soaked it in, the grass blackening from the consuming of Hatred and Evil.
It's them!
Be quiet!
They'll see!
What are you going to do Senua?
I bet she'll run.
I bet she'll hide.
Maybe she'll run and hide!
They're here for you, you know.
They came because of your Darkness!
This is all your fault!
All your fault!
Senua could only watch in horror as the creatures took and slaughtered people right in left, blood dripping down walls from where it had splattered. Children were crying and with a loud sound of a blade crashing against stone, the children were quiet. She had to get out of there. To save someone. Anyone!
"Let me out!" Senua screamed, pulling on the door. "Let me out!"
You're letting them die.
Don't you feel it?
Can't you hear it?
All the voices of those you killed.
You might as well have killed them yourself.
"No... I didn't do it..." Senua cried. The Others continued to scream in her ears, the villagers screaming and gurgling on their own blood as the creatures of the Darkness came out to end all their lives. And her... Senua could fight the Darkness. She could save them, but she couldn't get out... Even as she clawed at the door. Her nails chipped, leaving trails of blood on the door.
It won't open?
Break it!
Can she?
No!
Weak!
Pitiful!
Evil!
Senua collapsed to the floor again, her head against the door. With the echoes of her people murdered along with the accusations of the Others, Senua curled into herself on the floor and covered her ears.
Author's Note:
I'm sorry to those that have favorited me for the delay in writings, but no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't able to come up with inspiration and when I did, it wasn't good enough in my eyes to publish. I hope you guys enjoyed and will review or favorite as it would mean so much to me to know people are reading it and through your reviews, constructive or otherwise, that I'll be able to grow and continue to write more stories.