Fighter of Dimensions

Prologue: Time

Some people believe memories can be erased completely. Others say memories are imprinted and can never be totally erased; believing that there's always something that can trigger those lost memories' return and if not; the person starts to find the path them-self for they believe erased memories leave an empty cavity in the mind that causes one to search for answers to fill the void.

5 Hours Earlier

Bullets ripped into the flesh of the devil tearing through him as he advanced swiftly towards the group of soldiers who were his intended earmark. His heart thumped faster in anticipation as he drew near his target. He could feel his body being shredded as the bullets dug into him; weakening him, slowing his pace. But now upon his quarry Celtic swung his fist hard, slamming into the Commander's face; giving it everything he had left.

Autum watched in horror as Celtic plunged forward into the flood of bullets. Her heart sinking further and further with every shot that hurled into his flesh. The bullets amply butchering him with every step he took. She gawked at him in her helpless state as she watched him land a massive punch on the Commander. The sound of bones cracking could be heard sending chills up her spine..

Celtic felt his body give way. He slammed into the ground as bullets continued to strike his body in a massive impact. He closed his eyes to the pain that drenched his being as he was repeatedly shot over and over again He looked to Autum as she was shockingly starring on pain-stricken at this carnage happening in front of her eyes. Finally, the assault ended. Celtic weakly murmured something in her native tongue, though he slaughtered what he was trying to say. He then let out an ailing utterance of suffering as his body went limp.

Autum's heart was ripped to shreds as she peered down at his lifeless body. Her heart at that moment felt like it split into a million pieces. She'd never felt so had been able to interpret what he was trying to say in his pained state still she didn't know why it hurt so badly for she didn't have feelings for him yet here her heart was in shambles. Maybe it was because someone did love her and was willing to sacrifice themselves for her that caused her to react in such a shaken and painstaking way.

Eznik looked on in disbelief at Celtic. His body was ravaged, laying in a pool of its own blood. Eznik shivered as he closed his eyes and inhaled a considerable sigh; holding in his grief. What the devil had told him wasn't true after all, he, being a true immortal for it was clear that he was dead. Celtic was an idiot, running into a group of armed dimensional police that way Eznik thought as he looked on in despair at the consequences of such a hairbrained devil-may-care act. And what made it all the more detrimental was the devil's sacrifice was totally in vain. It had changed nothing, only got him killed. Eznik then looked over to the alleyway where Link had run off to.

A couple of police officers were carrying Link's body out of the alley. It seemed they easily captured the teen, with little effort at all. The officers walked over to Celtic's body and dropped Link's body on the ground next to him.

Autum was snapped out of her thoughts as she heard the thud. She looked down at Link in disbelief. She couldn't believe it. Her friend, Link, as well a casualty of these injustices. Such a price paid just for them to lose. All that had come to be just wouldn't digest. It was all too overwhelming for her to let sink in. And yet it did rapidly, harshly unmercifully. How could it be, she asked herself dumbfounded by it all? Just like that...It was all over? Prices paid were prices paid, no winnings only losses and now there was no one left to come save them. There would be No justice? she weeped. No hero? It was...just.. Over!

Autum fell to her knees as she then curled over and closed her eyes. She was finished. Her heart in all its millions of pieces pitifully spilled out onto the terrain in front of her is how it felt. And with her heart all that she'd ever hoped or dreamed spilled out as well. The expectation of her memories being returned to her was now gone. The hope that the innocent could escape; gone, the faith that justice would be served; gone, the belief that the good guys always win; gone. Her friends; gone.

There was no fight left within her, all had fell away in that ruinous moment; all her strength, courage and determination gone. Her body useless… without.. empty... there was just nothing left; nothing to pull from. She felt there was truly nothing left to fight for as all had been destroyed in front of her eyes. She was trying adamantly to hold back her tears in her defeated state. She refused to let the government know that it crushed her so completely. She wouldn't let them see there was nothing left in her; that they had won.

Eznik looked at his sister in pure empathy. She had finally broke, crumbled by the government she had so fought against. He knew her loss and knew no words would aid her. "Autum…" Eznik whispered lovingly to her. He leaned up against her to show her that he was there for her, that she was not alone. "Link is still alive." Eznik told her. "I checked. He is only unconscious." He hoped such news would help in her dissipated state..

The Commander walked up holding his broken jaw. Eznik pulled his sister closed as he watched this beastly man stop and glare angrily at the devil's lifeless body. "This pet of the government betrayed and suffered the price." he cackled. He notoriously kicked the dead body in a belated retaliation for his broken jaw though such an act made him look pathetic. Then he looked over at his soldiers catching their attention. He pointed at the prisoners and the body.

Present

Two guards shoved the beaten and battered Eznik back into the cell. "We'll be back for you soon enough. Hopefully the pain from your wounds won't cause you to change your mind and decide to talk by the time we get back because we have some mind-boggling things yet in store for you." spat one of the guards. "And torture is something we really enjoy. It's one of the perks of the job." added the other guard with a nasty cackle. The two guards then walked away; casually chatting as it seemed this just the norm. Their laughter echoed down the dead silent prison hall.

Eznik stumbled over to the wall and slid down it. He held his hands over his bruised and bleeding face in his torment. He then closed his eyes as tears ran down his cheeks in his diminishing state. The salt from his tears stung his wounds as he measured what was left of his stamina. He just didn't know if he could hold up his front against the police any longer. He just didn't know if he had it in him to take them on once more yet he knew he had no choice. That's what scared him most of all for he feared that he endured all he was capable of enduring and there was nothing left, no strength, no fight, no hero left within him. He feared the worst. He so feared himself caving to their persecution and then all that he had endured would have been for nothing.

Eznik looked up at the ceiling as he replayed in his mind the hours of interrogation. Under hot intense lights they beat him, humiliated him; berated, whipped, belittled and threatened him. Hell, they even drugged him but he held strong through it all. He then remembered at some point, they had told him that his friend Link wouldn't be coming to the rescue. They said if that was what he was holding out for he was wasting his time and precious energy as the non-merger was sent back to his dimension with his memories erased of everything of significance. Eznik, at least felt a drop of relief at that. He thought how truly that was a blessing for the young boy for it would be like none of this ever happened so he wouldn't have to suffer from such memories.

But the thing that was truly tearing down his strength was that they had informed him just before putting him in the cell that they had executed his sister, Autum. He couldn't believe that all had been for naught. He had actually hoped they would use her against him for that would have bought them a little more time in hopes to come up with a plan of escape. But that was not to be. His wilting heart was being swallowed by his stomach's nauseating ache as he stewed in his grief. His sister was gone; killed; dead! How could it be that all was for naught?

Eznik knew he would soon be joining her in the thereafter. His body was dying as they were pushing it past its limits. He just needed to hold out, to hold his tongue till then. He couldn't let his daughter suffer because he couldn't take the interrogation and torture. And he sure in the hell wouldn't let his sister's death be the anchor to pull him down. He let out a wry chuckle as he thought 'Autum would never stand for that'. No, he would stay strong though he felt that he had no more strength left within him. He just knew that he had to prevail over this torture the government was putting him through for his daughter's sake. He had to protect his daughter for that was the most important job of a father. He was determined to make this stand despite the very discouraging fact that he had to make this stand alone and in such a weakened depleted, disadvantaged state.

Eznik looked at the cell bars. He felt so all alone in this. Autum was gone, the young teen and faerie he made friends with; gone, and the devil that fell in love with his sister; gone. They were all gone; he now stood alone against the government; alone against their tortuous, inhumane and unjust ways. How did it all end up this way, he wondered? They had had such high hopes.

Eznik closed his eyes and started to speak quietly in his native language. He prayed for his sister; praying that the Goddess Nimue would watch over her soul. He knew Autum wasn't into their religion, but it was a method for him to comfort his own heart and mind. He prayed for Link and Celtic as well. He then prayed that the Goddess give him the fortitude and strength he needed to endure his final torture and persecution; so to do right by his daughter.