Chapter 3: The Quest
Cole and Nix began their journey into Torment, walking down the winding staircase. It took a lot to frighten either of these warriors… but this descent was doing a good job so far. The resonance of eternal anguish alone was enough to break the hardest demeanors. The cries and groans were coming like a thunder clap every second. The scenery was just as bad… if they could see anything. They could see nothing but pitch black as they traversed this realm. All the duo knew for sure was that they were walking along a stone staircase against a rock wall that looped downward. Already hating the ambience, the Conduits did not like the idea of the descent, either.
Quite honestly, and ironically, it all chilled Nix to the bone. "Seriously, can I go back and leave da ice bitch?"
"You agreed to come along," Cole reminded.
An ear piercing ripped through the darkness, causing them both to jump back against the stone. They stared into the darkness, wide eyed and pressing themselves against the wall as hard as they could.
"Didn't think it was gonna be dis bad when I said 'yes,'" Nix said.
"Alright, I'll give you that." Cole sighed. "But no turning back now."
The further down they walked, the louder the wailing came and it echoed more and more. It was starting to become terrifying to hear screams and see no one.
Nix stared at her companion. "I'm only doin' dis 'cause ya asked me, ya know."
Cole chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, yeah…"
The staircase opened up to a stone platform that was connected to another platform by a wooden bridge. They stopped just short of going farther. They looked at one another as the same thought came to both their minds:
Trap.
Placing her hands on her hips, Nix sighed and shook her head. Cole took a deep breath and advanced onward, Nix followed behind. They walked a little further until they heard something scurrying just nearby.
They both paused and began examining their surroundings. They just barely make out something moving in the shadows.
"Ah…" Nix groaned.
Suddenly, several demons descended down from the ceiling, on landed in kneeling positions, and crawling up the side of the platform, surrounding the two heroes. The demons had pitch black skin with dark red glowing eyes and sharp talons and fangs. The Soulless.
Nix stared at them all. "Damn."
One of them roared. Cole threw a lightning grenade at the Soulless, causing them to scatter. Nix jumped into action, immediately, throwing fireballs at the demons. Her initial reluctance that the creatures wouldn't feel her fire were quickly dispelled the second her flames incinerated them.
She chuckled, "Sweeeet!"
Cole chuckled as well. The warriors battled through and found the Soulless to be no tougher than the swamp monster Bertrand created in New Marais. Nix thought it would be cool to control one of them; then thought again and decided that was a terrible idea. They fought on for several more minutes, eliminating their adversaries.
Nix spit. "Man… I'm startin' ta like this place."
They heard more growling as more Soulless were approaching.
"Glad you do…" Cole looked around.
The Soulless slowly appeared out of the shadows.
"Because we're in for one hell of a time."
Nix rubbed her fist, "Sweet…"
The Soulless charged at them. The heroes fought through them. Then another wave. Followed by one more. As strong and numerous as the monsters were, these two Conduits would not be denied. Once that last wave was done, Cole and Nix resumed their trek into the dark afterlife land. They journeyed on and came to an area where, just beneath them, many people were screaming in agony. The screams were such that the New Marais heroes didn't even want to know what was happening to them.
In an effort to create some kind of distraction, Nix decided to ask Cole a question. Actually, despite the horrid scene, she wanted to talk to him about this anyway. She looked up at her travel companion. "Hey, Cole, can I ask you somethin'?"
"Yeah?" he responded.
"Do you really think Kuo deserves anoder chance, man? I mean, besides the fact that you're hot for her. I mean… she did try ta kill us. What I'm sayin' is… why actually do this?"
It was a good question. And this time… Cole was ready with an answer. "Let me put it like this: back in Empire, Zeke wanted powers so bad he tried to use the Ray Sphere to give him some. After it didn't work, he left with Kessler to try with the hopes that he would get some powers. I thought I'd never forgive or trust him after that. But when I fought Kessler, he tried to come in and help. That was just his first attempt. He's been trying to make up for it ever since. And, yeah, he did. It's why he's my best friend."
The fire Conduit was a little confused at the explanation. "Okay, dat covers Zeke. But…"
"Just before I turned on the RFI, Kuo showed up… told me to do it… said I… and you… made the right choice. She knew she was wrong. She screwed up and she knew it. And, it's something else: before all this, I was a screw up, too. Hell, getting my powers gave me a chance to be worth than just some piece of crap. I turned it all around, Zeke did, and you did… so can she." He stopped and looked his ally, causing her to do the same, "She deserves a second chance, Nix." He walked on.
Nix let that entire explanation sink in. He had a point. She got a second chance and she had even been granted a chance at eternal peace from an ancient judge. If she could get a chance to be seen as something more, maybe Kuo could earn one, too. It made sense. But she had to give Cole some grief. She hurried to catch up with him, "Damn, MacGrath, a 'yes' or 'no' will work da next time. Can't ask you no damn questions. Get a A-plus answer."
Cole just laughed.
They walked on until they came to a large cavern where someone wearing a demonic-themed armor was standing with mace the size of a court room door. His eyes were visible or what they could only assume those red lights were; nothing about his body was. All that could be seen was the armor and the mace.
"Well, this looks fun…" Cole lied.
"Turn back, mortals," the knight said. "This is land is forbidden to your kind."
Nix chuckled, "Yeah. I been hearin' dat same shit my whole life." She let her flames flare. "Ain't never stopped me before."
"Foolish humans…" The Knight picked up the mace. "You know not what you bring upon yourselves."
"Now, that's something I'm used to hearing…" Cole said. "Never stops me, either."
The Knight swung the mace, "Arrogant curs! Your souls die here!" He charged at them both.
The Knight brought the mace down with a hard slam. Nix teleported out of the way while Cole rolled along the ground and unleashed a bolt stream at the Knight. He brought up his mace to block the assault and ran at Cole. He lifted the mace and brought it down to slam the New Marais saint. Cole jumped back and threw a lightning grenade at the Knight. The Knight smacked the grenade away with his mace.
Cole stared in astonishment. "Alrighty…"
Nix teleported next to the Knight, her hands flared with power and she punched the Knight in the gut. The Knight stumbled back and swung his mace but Nix teleported out of the way. The Knight was struck by a magnum bolt from Cole followed by several fireballs from Nix.
He had enough of these attacks. "ENOUGH!" He hoisted his mace high and slammed it into the ground, sending the Conduits sailing back and landing with severe consequences.
Groaning, Nix started to recover when she saw the Knight stalking her direction. "Dammit…"
He stood right over her and lifted his mace high, ready to strike.
Out of nowhere, Cole tackled the Knight away, using his lightning as a shield. He shifted his powers into gauntlets and punched the Knight over and over again, sending the demon staggering back.
With the Knight sufficiently weakened, Cole decided to go in for the kill… and use a move he wasn't even sure would work here. He lifted his arms up… "TRY THIS!" He dropped his hands down and, suddenly, bolt of lightning screeched down from the black ceiling of the realm and hit the Knight, charring him to a burned scrap metal heap.
Nix looked at the Knight's melted armor. "Whoa…"
Cole was bent over with his hands on his knees, trying to get his breath back. He looked up and smiled. Breathlessly, he said, "Not bad…"
Nix walked over to her friend. "Thanks."
"No problem. Wasn't even sure if I could do that, especially here."
"Got anymore of those in you?"
"Not many. For some reason… my powers don't drain as fast here… but I ain't got too many of those left." He stood up, "Let's get moving. We need to make this quick."
They were about to leave when Cole noticed that something was pulsating from where the Knight fell. An orb of pure light lifted up off the remains of the dead demon.
"What da…" Nix said.
The orb suddenly flew into Cole's body, causing to double over.
"MacGrath!" Nix screamed.
Cole stayed bent over for a few seconds. He wasn't being possessed or hurt. If anything… he felt a little stronger. He took a few breaths… managing to say, "I'm… I'm good, Nix."
"What was that?"
Cole stopped. He stood up straight. He blinked a few times, shaking his head to shake off a woozy feeling. "I think… it was a new power."
"For real?"
He put his hand out in front of him. Lightning started to crackle around his hand then he unleashed a single lightning bolt but willed it to arc across the ground. He even managed to split in two directions.
Nix was impressed. "Whoa."
Cole stopped the lightning flow. "That'll come in handy against those monsters."
"We gon' need all the weapons we can get."
They moved on, descending down again. They came to the end of the staircase that opened into a black swirling shadow. Not knowing what to do but knowing they were too far in to turn back anyway, they walked on through it. They expected to find a similar area as to the one they just left.
They weren't expecting to find a red colored sky above them and green grass at their feet.
"Ooooookay…" Cole said.
They walked forward, not knowing for sure where they were going but the portal closed behind them so they couldn't go back. They walked and a light breeze blew through the grass. This pasture setting was almost… convincing that they were some place safe.
"Nice refreshing change of pace, huh?" Cole smiled.
"You gotta weird sense of humor, man," Nix relied.
They continued their trek, searching for their next way to descend… though that idea was nowhere near appealing. Still, it was their goal and they had to continue.
Unbeknownst to either of them, a shadow was moving across the grass behind them. Silent and swift, the shadow came closer to them both. It crept up behind them and grew as tall and wide as an 18-wheeler. The two Conduits turned just in time to see it dive on top of them, enveloping them both in darkness.
Waking up, Cole found himself on the ground. He wasn't in the pasture anymore but another area of complete black with a thick fog rolling on the ground. He couldn't hear any sounds; no screams or winds. Wherever he was, it wasn't where he had been.
"What the hell?" he asked. "What was that damn thing?" He realized he was completely alone. He couldn't find… "Nix?" He looked around. "Hey, Nix!"
No answer.
"Nix?! Nix!"
He looked around and saw a woman coming toward him out of the black.
"Nix? That you?"
"No, Cole," the voice said.
The voice sounded familiar to him but he couldn't place it.
"Kuo?" he asked.
She giggled. "Did you forget me so quick?"
The woman had dark brown hair, fair skin, and an absolutely beautiful smile.
At least, Cole always thought so. His eyes widened. Cole felt his chest constrict. He almost couldn't breathe at all. In fact… it took everything he could to speak… to say this woman's name… the name of the woman he loved… "Trish…"
A/N: TRISH?! WHAT THE HECK?!
...Is what I would be saying if I was just reading this and wasn't writing it. Hope you guys are ready for this because we are just getting started.
Next Chapter: The Illusion
Cole and Nix have to come face-to-face with their own nightmares before going on to find Kuo.
Don't miss it.
