Chapter Seven

Well, they figured out why it was called the Hunter's Nightmare. From the moment they left Oedeon Chapel, it was a sight never seen before. Beasts still prowled around, but dozens of Hunters were everywhere and made the Beasts cower in fear, showing no mercy (not that they should) and killing all of them if they got too close. That wasn't the only problem: the Hunters were attacking each other and it was a struggle to get past them without being seen. They finally made it to the back of The chapel to where Odeon Graveyard once was, but now laid piles of endless bones.

A horse-like Beast with two heads awaited them, and to Marshall's Surprise, was actually Ludwig. It took a whole hour to slay him. That's when things really settled in for them. This Nightmare wasn't just the opposite of the real Yharnam, but it was a kind of Hell for the great Hunters before. Ludwig said something about Laurence protecting the Grand Cathedral before fading into nothing. Fortunately for Diana and Marshall, they already past that area and had no need to go back.

Sora was slowly getting better, but still couldn't stay conscience. One man down, getting out was going to be a lot harder.

Passing Ludwig, they reached a room full of stairs, like you would see in those paintings that have no concept of direction. Creatures were everywhere, but they looked different. THeir heads were abnormally large, like mushrooms, and bandages covered their eyes. A large pair of doors awaited somewhere in the middle of the room where Diana and Marshall fought a Boss -or Bosses- known as the Living Failures. Every time they slayed one, another one appeared. A large tree laid in the middle of their battlefield, and it took them a while to realise that was where their lifeforce lied. With several slices and cuts, the tree finally fell and the Living Failures fell before the Hunters.

With this win, the clocktower was only feet away, a door leading through the back of it. In Yharnam, Hunters learn never to assume any place is safe. With that, they took a rest at what was now just a stump as the moon took its highest point in the sky.

Sora awoke. His eyes darting everywhere, searching for safety. Finally, his eyes fell upon Diana, who laid next to him fast asleep. He held his breath for a moment, as if breathing would awake her.

Her face was so pale and beautiful in the light of the moon. Her lips of a light pink and -though her eyes were closed, it was as if he could see through to them- her eyes were made from stars. For once, Sora was grateful for the Night.

Wait, this wasn't the Night. He looked to the sky and found stars shining upon them. There were no stars during the Night. That means, it's finally over. Vaguely, he remembered telling Marshall of how to get through the mirror. That must be where they are now, in another NIghtmare, still trying to find their way out.

Sora looked back down at Diana to find her eyes open. He held his breath as she looked him over without saying anything, as if she knew when he would finally grasp consciousness. Tears started to fill her eyes, but she held her stern facade. After what felt like forever, she finally slid over to him, until their faces were only an inch away. And then, she kissed him.

They stayed that way for what felt like forever. Until they world faded away. Until only they existed. Until Sora pulled her closer to his body and they briefly broke away.

"You idiot," she said against his lips. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I didn't think you cared." She twisted her left hand in that raven hair of his and grabbed his chest with other. "Didn't you say you had no interest in me?" He finally pulls away leaving her just out of reach from his lips. His lips that were made from perfection.

"I was wrong." She pushed herself against his chest until there was no space left between them.

They stayed that way for minutes, hours, years, until they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Marshall was the first to wake. His eyes drifted to where Diana and Sora now laid together. I pang of disappointment ran through him, but this outcome was obvious to him from the start. He could feel happy for them. Eventually, at least. The clocktower was only feet away now and overwhelming happiness filled him at the thought of finally leaving these horrors. No matter what, this long nightmare was filled with death, and something inside Marshall told him it wasn't quite over.

Diana woke up to Marshall sitting on the steps of the clocktower going over a map, making checks here and there. He gave her a quick smile, and she understood that he was waiting for this to happen. Sora's eyes bolted open, and was up in no time.

"Are you guys ready to keep going?" Oh, yeah, she forgot to tell him we were at the end of the Nightmare.

"We'll be out soon enough," he said, jabbing a thumb at the door that led into the clocktower behind him. Sora cocked his head to the side in confusion. "The way out should be somewhere in there. You've been out for quite a while." Marshall caught Sora up on everything that happened while he was unconscious, explaining about where they were and who they've come across.

"I think I've got the jist of it," Sora said. "Let's get this over with then, shall we?" Diana saw happiness in Sora's eyes, and she could tell because it was in all of their eyes. The thought of finally being finished with the Hunt.

Marshall walked through the clocktower door and Sora and Diana followed suit. On the other end of the long, giant room, was the opposite side of the clock, but before it was a chair with a slumped figure in it. As they approached, Diana took note that it was a Hunter. And Hunters here are a dangerous thing. Sora took the lead, now only inches away from the Hunter.

The Hunter was a girl with white hair and pale skin, almost like her. Except, the closer she they got, the more she could see the differences between them. While the Hunter's was young, she bore scars -both deep and shallow- everywhere her skin peeked above her garb. She looked so familiar, and Diana frowned at the thought of not being able to place her in her mind.

Sora reached out, ever so cautious of the danger that could rise, but there was no reaction. He ran his hand just above the girl's skin, as if touching her without touching her. He released a breath he was holding in and turned to give us a thumbs up. He smiles with relief, but I can feel the color draining from my already pale cheeks.

A hand wraps itself around Sora's wrist and spins him around to stare at the Hunter.