A/N: Here's the next Chap! A little gory carnage in this one, just a heads up. Also on another note: I've finally decided to use Saturday's as update days! Starting today I'll be trying to post every other Sat! (; Might do one every week if writer's block doesn't visit ;) Enjoy~ (I finally learned how to put the line breakers! Woot!)
Chapter 6: One Way Apart
A tall figure watched the two small bodies read the prophetic walls, watching their every reaction. It hid amongst the shadows and flickering lights, its presence not noticed at all. "Who ever wrote this was definitely having a bad day." Harry off handedly commented, trying to keep the chills away at what he read. The images that were still mostly intact showed intricate images of beasts he'd never seen before, of weapons that looked way too complicated, and carnage beyond belief.
Ciel swiftly turned around, his entire countenance changed to one of anxiousness. Harry turned around to see what had unsettled him but saw nothing. Just as he was about to ask the other boy what was wrong, a misty shadowy figure came out of nowhere right before them.
Harry squeaked, taking a step back away from the imposing figure. "Do not fret, I mean you no harm." the raspy voice sent shivers down their spines. 'So much for trying to stay cool' Harry thought to himself as he moved closer to Ciel. The other being shifted closer to them as if her were gliding.
Harry felt how tense Ciel was and wondered if he actually knew who this was. "It is time you are told of your duties in this world" every time a word came out of the other beings mouth, it felt like ice was frosting over the two boys. "Duties?" Harry asked when the other went silent.
"You, amongst four others, were brought here to vanquish the monstrosities that have been brought from other realms. This world as you have noticed, not your worlds. You have been especially chosen to defeat the evil that lies here, and only until the last few beings of this earth can fight back, you will remain here."
The figure neared them, a menacing aura nearly drowning them. "Although you will not leave here unscathed, a Prize unlike any other shall be granted to you once this quest is complete. And only then will you be allowed back to your worlds." Harry felt his fear beginning to melt away being replaced by anger. He was dragged from his in world to fight for another?! He was being used as a soldier, another pawn for some others sick game?! No way!
Before Harry could say or do anything stupidly rash the figure spoke once more. "Your enemies are now your guardians, this requires the utmost trust to be built to excel in this fight. You will all meet soon, be prepared to fight hand in hand with he who meant to kill thee. Until you all meet, goodbye" A shimmer of smoke appeared and the figure disappeared. His last words resounding in both their heads.
'Does... is he speaking about Sebastian?' Ciel wondered, he didn't think he could stand to see that demon again. 'Is he talking about Tom? That can't be... Hes insane! That's it, they're all just insane!' Harry thought to himself, he wasn't going to let this drag him down, he was going to find a way to get back home.
Both boys had been quiet the entire time they continued down the narrower halls, neither wanting to make idle conversation. The only sound was their light footsteps on the gravelly ground. It felt like hours later, they really couldn't tell, that they came across a pale white wooden door. It had silver designs swirling around it in a chaotic masterpiece.
Ciel took the initiative and pulled the door handle, both praying nothing would come out and get them. 'I feel like a small child waiting for the boogeyman' Ciel chastised himself, but thought again 'there are monsters here that lurk everywhere'.
As the door budged open, a rancid stench filled the air making both of them gag. They took a peek inside to see what produced such a smell and wished they hadn't. The sound of bugs crawling all over the place was the first thing they heard, maggots, spiders, preying mantis with spikes and, swallowtail caterpillars, scorpionflies, and so many other kinds of insects crawled everywhere, but the most obvious thing was in the center of the room.
A large metal cage held the corpses of dozens of humans and monsters alike. All of them had their heads split in half down to the necks. It was gruesome. Harry and Ciel shut the door as quickly as possible, both retching at what burned behind their eyes.
"What was that?" Harry whispered. Ciel shook his head, the bodies in the cage weren't the only ones in there, the bugs had torn apart even more it seemed and pieces were strewn all over the place. It was terrible. They ran when the door began to throb. The noise from behind the door got louder that they could actually hear it clearly now.
Without thinking they ran off in the direction that they came in, this one obviously a dead end. They scrambled away, not wanting to be reminded of what they saw, not stopping at all just as when they had fallen in.
Harry tripped over one of the uproots that stuck out everywhere and there, twisting his ankle painfully. Ciel paused a moment looking back hearing the chitter of the looming bugs then back to Harry. For some reason he ran back to him and helped him up, putting his arm over his neck making them run again.
It was a little more difficult to run with Harry's limp but they made do. Ciel used what strength he could to hold the both of them up and run as fast as possible. The chitter of the bugs got closer and closer until black and yellow grasshoppers began to reach them. Harry looked backwards just in time to see a swarm of scorpionflies rush towards them.
They were fresh meat.
When Ciel looked back they tripped both tumbling down the spiraling hall, rolling away from the disgusting bugs faster. When they landed on parallel ground both were completely winded, but the chitter of the bugs was a lot farther away. Ciel screamed as a giant huntsman spider crawled up his legs with tons of little one son its back.
He kicked his legs out hoping to dislodge it but didn't count on it falling onto Harry and the little baby's falling off onto him. Both boys depleted of energy and air a few seconds ago were now up and running trying to get all the tiny little spiders off of them.
They never noticed when they got separated or when they finally had all the spiders off. They only noticed once they collapsed in exhaustion and were all alone. And there was no chance in Hell they were going back the way they came. No more spiders for them thank you very much!
Now the real issue before them, how were they going to find each other if they had no idea where they were? It was going to be another long long day. If only they hadn't opened that door, none of this would of happened! They'd still be together and not have a new intense case of arachnophobia instilled in them. No, they just had to go and open that stupid door!
Ciel grumbled, twitching when he felt phantom touches of where the spiders had been. The hallway he was in was barely lit making him jittery. He didn't like the other boy much but he noticed how alone he felt now. He wondered how the other boy, Harry his mind supplied, was fairing. Hopefully they would meet up ahead soon, being alone he felt even more exposed to this new world.
He saw light up ahead past a curve in the hall and prayed it was something good this time. He quietly neared the white light blinking to adjust his eyes, hoping it was freedom. A gust of warm air hit him making him walk a little faster. When he passed the bend he was greeted to a dark day outside. He was at the mouth of a cave about a hundred feet from the ground, a narrow hazardous path the only way down on his left.
He looked back into the now pitch black looking tunnel then back outside again to the crumbling path. Without looking back again he carefully made his way down, hoping if he fell it would end it all, since he didn't want to suffer there anymore. He was extra careful since there were various tell tale signs that one misstep would lead to his demise so he kept his eyes on the path ahead of him. Nowhere else.
So he didn't see the two pairs of eyes watching him make his decent, if not he would have possibly thought of just staying on the condemning path. He shouldered his bag better hoping no more bad luck would befall him. Of course, he just had to jinx himself. The next step he took didn't even give him a chance to take a breath to scream. He just kept falling.
He told himself it was the end, he was going to splat into chunks and feel pain forever. But he was startled when he was caught by a pair of strong arms. Warily opening his eyes he looked into foreign red ones. What he saw was not at all what he expected. But the excitement of the previous few hours caught up to him, he didn't really care as darkness took over his consciousness, just as long as he was well and rested when he woke.
He was in between consciousness when he heard a gruff voice "What do we do with him now?" A fleeting thought passed him mind before going completely blank: 'why did I open that damned door?!'
Harry swore as he tripped from his ankle again, that last run had ruined any chance of him walking on his own without aid. He wish Ciel were there, he felt so lonely now, and that feeling of being watched came back again. He was crawling mostly since that was the least pain he wanted to deal with. 'I think it's broken now, it sure feels like it. I should know' he grumpily thought.
At least he could thank Dudley and his gang for his higher pain tolerance. But it was as if the pain was tenfold in this place since he usually could walk on a broken ankle any day. He heard some rustling up ahead and wondered why it was always him that attracted danger. He wished his blood flowed with Felix Felicis potion, then he would probably never be in these kind of situations.
He crawled into one of the many tiny alcove like holes in the walls (after making sure no insects whatsoever were in there) and hid. He hoped his 'sheer dumb luck' would kick in if he were in a fight or die situation. The rustling grew closer making him hold his breath. He heard low voices nearing making him wonder if it was people of this earth and if they knew he was there.
As they got closer he was able to make out it was only two people who were arguing with each other. "-I said I don't care! Just leave me alone!" the voice sounded like a young boy. A resounding sigh came out, echoing down the hall. "I will not leave you alone. You are as a child, in a world full of monsters. You are nothing more than walking lunch. I will not go away, i do not expect you to trust me. Merely deal with my presence." That voice sounded deep and rough.
Their walking stopped then only a pair of footsteps neared him. Harry closed his eyes tightly not wanting to know if he had been caught. "Why hello there. Don't be afraid i don't bite... much" Harry's eyes popped open too look straight into dark red eyes. "What is it?" Harry heard the young voice ask. "Come see for yourself" soon enough Harry saw a young boy around his height kneel a few feet away from him.
Harry eyed them warily, he didn't know if they were dangerous. "Are you from this world?" At that mention Harry looked at both of them his eye zooming over them both, slight shaking his head no. "Ah, another one then." The elder spoke. "You can come out from there, we won't hurt you." The other boy put his hand out.
Harry thought maybe they were like him and Ciel, not of this world. Hesitantly he took the boy's hand, using the wall to steady himself, his ankle protesting at any weight he puts on it. The other boy looked at him and for a second Harry thought he saw his eyes flicker black, but just decided it was his mind going crazy from everything that was happening.
"Are you alone?" The other boy asked. Harry shook his head, 'best not give anything away to these people in case they try anything' Harry thought to himself. "Where is the other boy?" Harry was about to respond but then froze. "How do you know about him?" Harry began backing away, feeling his adrenalin coming back for what felt like the hundredth time. The other two looked at each other frowning, before lunging towards him. All he knew after was pain.