Apocalypse: Shifting Shadows
Merry Christmas everyone!
I bring you a new update! And also a new story on my profile page of this site!
Essentially, it's a novelization of Pokémon Sun, with own twists and such. It's going to be a fun project and I can tell you now it will be a very interesting project to undertake. You can find out more by just checking out the story "Pokémon Radiant Sun" on my profile. If you do check it out, be sure to favorite/follow/review if you enjoyed it.
Also, more revisions to DOTD are on the way. As of now, I only managed to get chapter 16 revised because I've been super busy this holiday season, but I'm hoping to get the first 20 chapters done before the end of the year, and have every chapter in the entire story done by the end of February. If you're interested in more rambling, then check out my updated Winter Author's note on DOTD.
Now onto this story.
Shoutout to Gadget3210, who reviewed last chapter, and did bring up something interesting that I want to point out to you all.
DOTD, as good as it was and as proud as I am of the story, did have many faults. I learned a lot through writing it, but as a result made a lot of mistakes early on. I'm trying to improve on some of the mistakes, such as characterization and development of character in general, in this story. So in some places there won't be much action, but rather moments where characters grow and develop and get fleshed out.
Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there. Here's a new chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter 12: Along the Snowy Trail
"Stories you read when you're the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them or what the story was called. Sometimes you'll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit."- Neil Gaiman,M Is for Magic.
"Gah. Waiting sucks!" Dempsey growled, kicking the truck with an annoyed sigh.
"You must have patience, Dempsey." Takeo said quietly in reply, leaning against the vehicle and opening an eye as the marine turned towards him.
"Tak, with those Sector 17 guys after us, I really don't like the idea of stopping anywhere until we're in the clear. Call it being paranoid or whatever, but the shit that went down back there are things I want no part of…We've got enough weird crap going on as is." Dempsey replied shortly, crossing his arms.
"After hearing your stories, I'm inclined to agree with Tank." Simon replied from inside of the truck, where Amy was giving him a back massage.
"At least we're on the road again. I'm just hoping we can get some info out of Richtofen. He told Leah a bit about our next stop, but it's still pretty vague." Amy chimed in, pressing into Simon's back and eliciting a sigh from the sailor.
"Hmm…He'll tell us more in time. Leah's trying to get something out of him, and she'll tell us whatever she finds out. Richtofen gives me bad vibes, and knows a lot more than he says he does. And that's even if what he tells us is the truth at all." Simon replied as he opened his eyes, shivering slightly before closing them once more.
"Maybe once the two of them get back we'll get some info. I hate being in the dark." Dempsey growled, putting a hand on his Lamentation for a moment and gripping the gun tightly.
"Relax."
Dempsey sighed and released the gun, flopping against the vehicle at the gentle suggestion from Takeo, much to the amusement of the swordsman, who chuckled at the display.
The group was parked just outside of a tow on the border of Russia, having made slow progress through Europe due to city blockades and the like. Apparently the Sector 17 HQ was located on the western Polish border, and the group was far enough away from the PMC to allow themselves to collectively sigh with some relief, though they still remained cautious. Just two days later, they were now stopped on the outskirts of a small Polish town that seemed lively enough. They were hoping to sell some of their excess supplies for other things that they needed, such as cold weather gear for the trek up north and fresh provisions (not everything had escaped the initial crash unscathed.)
Simon and Richtofen were still on the mend, despite the latter man having gone into the town himself with Leah to ensure nothing went wrong. Dempsey and Takeo had taken to guarding the vehicle while the others rested, but for now all was calm.
"So Nikolai…I know it's been like twenty years or something, but do you have any rough idea of where we're going?" Dempsey asked the Russian. A loud snore was his reply, earning a shake of the head from the marine.
"Not sure why you expected anything different." Simon remarked as he laid down on the floor of truck. Amy stretched and laid down next to him, resting her head on his chest much to his delight. The sailor stroked the blonde woman's head, causing her to sigh happily in response.
"Just hate flying through the dark. There's so much we don't know. Richtofen's got us by the balls and we've got to just follow along if we want any shot of fixing this mess." Dempsey growled, gritting his teeth in annoyance.
"All we can do is wait, and see how this goes. We'll try and get a real game plan going once the two of them get back here with the supplies. And some food, hopefully." James chimed in from the shotgun seat of the vehicle. The others mutely nodded in reply…food sounded nice.
Things were quite chaotic in the world, from Leah could gather, as she walked with Richtofen. It took a bit of doing, but the pair of them managed to find out the state of things. According to what Leah knew, the current state of the world was a few notches worse than what she remembered of Cold War-era history. The US and the USSR were at each other's throats and the world was experiencing times of strength and weakness just like back then. The Vietnam War was still raging about and things were very complicated politically.
The zombies were simply extra kindling to the flames, as a very angry little girl unleashed her rage on a world that she despised. Samantha had killed a massive chunk of the population and entire cities were deserted at this point. So it was likely that because of the zombies being the biggest threat around, they could move about with some transparency. Leah knew that things were a lot more complex than what she could figure from just hearsay, however, and planned on seeking out more information as they traveled.
The CIA Agent hefted her bag over her shoulder, laden with several thick winter coats and gloves and the like. Richtofen had somehow acquired a great deal of spending money for them, which allowed them to get some gear for their next destination. When asked where he got the money, Richtofen brushed her off and told her to be thankful.
Leah simply filed that bit of info away and decided to indeed be grateful that they wouldn't be going into the freezing cold Russian forests in just normal clothes. The woman threw her hood back and relished in the warm outfit as she dug into her other bag, where they had stored a good deal of their foods and non-perishables.
"I wish I could get a reading on this guy. He can't be that bad…even though I know he's a psychotic Nazi who has admitted to being a murderer…" Leah thought with a shudder. Despite this, Leah knew she'd have to make sure that the group would be able to coexist together. It seemed like everyone hated someone else, and in the state things were right now, that just couldn't happen.
Leah decided that the best way forward would be to just keep doing her thing. Be patient with Nikolai, playfully banter with Dempsey, earn Richtofen's trust…and try not to be too awkward around Takeo. Leah shook her head for a moment, snapping herself out of her musing as she found what she was looking for in her bag, and pulled out a bright red apple.
"Apple?" Leah asked Richtofen, offering the fruit to the man. The Nazi raised an eyebrow in surprise, but accepted the fruit and sank his teeth into it. Fresh fruit was something he had not been able to taste in quite some time, so despite being wary of Leah's intentions, he savored the taste.
"Seeing the world like this is…just scary." Leah said rather lamely, sighing as she hunched her shoulders.
"It is what happens when you underestimate your adversaries. I will not do so again." Richtofen replied after swallowing a chunk of fruit.
"Who did you underestimate?" Leah asked.
"Do not pry." Richtofen replied, taking another bite of apple.
"You know, I've been pretty forthcoming with info and I'm trying make the others cut you some slack." Leah said to the Nazi, a bit of steel coming to her voice that made the man's eyes widen. "You've gone through some serious shit, so I'm trying to lay off. But trust works both ways, Doctor."
Richtofen took that moment to look at the woman, who had stopped behind him and was staring him down, arms crossed with fire in her gaze. This was not a person to be trifled with, he realized. While the other female in their group was a wild card, this one was not. This was someone who, if things came to blows, could probably hold her own against him and even put him down. And unlike the others…Her mind was not addled with Element 115 and she was quite intelligent. James and Simon fell into that boat as well.
These fools were threats to him. Not comrades. Not allies. Not friends. And they needed to be dealt with…but for now they were useful fools. So he had to continue his charade and provide just enough information to get by.
"I suppose it does. But the problem is not that I do not trust you. It is that I am the only one who must know these things. I alone must bear this burden. Time and space have been meddled with enough. Should the problems escalate further, I imagine the damage may truly be irreversible. So until then, you all will know what is necessary." Richtofen replied shortly, turning away from Leah and beginning to walk once more. Leah joined him a few moment later.
"I find that hard to believe. There's nothing that powerful." Leah remarked, earning a look from Richtofen.
"Element 115 can bend the very fabric of reality itself. It can summon time and place it within your hands. Call life back from those who have fallen. The question isn't what can Element 115 do…it's what can it not accomplish?" Richtofen said very seriously, genuinely wondering that himself.
"Then why try and harness it, if it's so dangerous? It seems like you're playing with fire, here. Who even knows what kind of side effects this stuff has?" Leah asked.
"If only you knew, little girl." Richtofen thought with an inward smile, though he simply said, "With science, you must be ready and willing to take risks. We were tasked with creating a better future for mankind. Element 115, if harnessed correctly, could achieve that goal. But first…we must correct the matter at hand."
"I still don't understand how any of this plays into the world of the future…I mean, it's hard to tell whether or not that this is the past of the world we came from OR NOT, but if it is…Then why has anyone not heard of any of this? Zombies and super-weapons and all sorts of craziness. It doesn't make any sense." Leah muttered, though she was surprised when Richtofen sighed in reply.
"I do not know. You four are an anomaly. You are not supposed to be here. At all. But one way or another, I suppose we'll sort out your mystery. In the meantime…You are here to stay, so you may as well help us save this world, hmm?" Richtofen remarked almost lightly, his tone somewhat bitter, however. Leah simply shook her head and continued walking in silence as the two made their way back to the truck on the outskirts of town. The silence between the two was thick, and remained so until they arrived outside of the town and returned to their comrades.
"Good. Any trouble?" James asked Leah.
"Nope. We managed to get everything we needed and more. Richtofen refuses to tell me where he got the money to pay for all of us, though." Leah said with a pointed look to the German.
"As I said before, be grateful I was able to get ahold of this money. It was not an easy feat, I assure you." Richtofen said to the others, which wasn't technically a lie. Having Illuzio teleport this money to him was quite a difficult feat for the magician to do in a way that didn't give him away.
"Whatever. Let's just sort out some kind of plan for the next few days, alright?" Dempsey said to the others. Richtofen nodded and limped over to the back of the truck, pulled out several files from his bag, and sat down in the back of the truck. The others followed, with Leah and Simon sitting on the floor while the others stood above them.
"Alright, based on some of the documents we stole from the Sector 17 compound, Richtofen and I have figured out our best shot at getting to a Teleporter. According to these papers, there was a huge amount of top-secret military work being done at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, deep within the USSR. There was definitely some work done there on Element 115, regarding Project Thunder and Project Mercury. The codename for the Thundergun and something called a Gersch Device respectively. Sector 17 is apparently connected to them as well, providing security to the location themselves, though not much. Certainly not enough to give us trouble, based on our last experience with their forces. Richtofen managed to secure a schematic and map for the site itself, and has an idea of what our next move should be." Leah said to the others, spreading out the papers and looking over at Richtofen.
"We need to seek out a man named Gersch within the facility. He's noted on the documents here as someone who worked heavily with Element 115, and is our best bet according to these files. We should expect resistance from the Sector 17 forces, and should be prepared to face the undead at the facility as well. Samantha has been oddly quiet lately, and I would not put it above her to be waiting until we were deep within the compound to attack." Richtofen explained with a slight growl.
"So we're going back to the Motherland for sure, then?" Nikolai asked with a tilted head.
"Sounds like it, big guy. You get to go home!" Amy chirped.
"Unlikely. Home…I have no home now. Simply memories, nothing more." Nikolai said in a surprisingly bitter tone, drawing glances from everyone. Even Richtofen seemed stunned at the level of sorrow poured into the simple words.
"Right…" Dempsey muttered, drawing to break the strange silence. "Well, if we're going balls deep into enemy territory, I say we up the watches. Three people no matter what if we're stopped, with four awake at all times while we're moving."
"This truck should be able to handle the weather, right? I'm going to assume that there'll be snow, since we're going into the USSR." Simon asked Dempsey, who nodded.
"Like I said before, I'm a bit rusty when it comes to cars, but this thing should be able to take on all kinds of weather. After you got rid of the tracker, I took another look inside of it. It's good to go." Dempsey said with a nod. The vehicle that the group was now riding around in was indeed state-of-the-art, and was equipped with a tracker that Sector 17 could trace in order to find their location. James found it after about an hour after they had left and destroyed it, meaning that they were now officially free of Sector 17 for now. But they would have to be on the lookout for the group in the future.
"Good. Sector 17 will most certainly be searching for us and a way to control the undead. If they learn of Samantha and the power that she holds, it could spell doom for us all. We must reach her first and stop her." Richtofen said to the others, earning a few nods.
"Then let us venture forward once more." Takeo said quietly, nodding to them all. The group then began gearing up, splitting up the gear amongst everyone else so that they were all equipped to go further into the cold north that awaited them. Richtofen and James took driver and shotgun while the others piled into the back, though Dempsey and Takeo remained watchful as always with their weapons always within arm's reach...
"Gotta love just rolling through the countryside with my crew." Simon remarked idly after a few hours of comfortable silence within the group. Everyone looked at Simon as he shut his eyes, with everyone looking at him like he was an idiot. Ironically, the car slowed to a halt then, making everyone else in the car laugh in response as Simon smiled sheepishly.
The group was pulled off to the side of the road, where they quickly started a fire and began preparing for supper. Leah and James combined some of their old and new provisions together and made plenty of food for everyone to dig into. Dempsey suggested that they hunt some of the local animals so that they don't burn through supplies, and it was decided that they would do that later on if need be. The group then continued their drive into the night, sticking to the roads and carefully making their way eastward.
This continued for nearly a week or so, with the weather getting progressively colder as the group slowly angled its way northeast. Within that time period, the group began getting to know each other better. Their previous experiences helped forge a bond from battle, but the chance to rest and recuperate allowed them all to learn more about their new companions, and even the world of the future that they never tired of hearing about. The technology, the history, and even things about their lives seemed fascinating to the older soldiers, who secretly yearned for a world where they didn't have to fight any longer.
Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and even Richtofen shared stories that they could remember. Admittedly some of the stories were a bit patchy, due to the fact they couldn't remember good chunks of them, but they still made for engaging tales that killed the time well enough.
On day eight of their trek, as the night began to fall, Simon asked Nikolai if there were any interesting Russian folk tales that he remembered. It was only natural for Simon to wonder that, since they had just entered the country and were making headway towards their destination.
"Ahh…I have a few stories. There's the story about "The Fisherman and the Fish. That one was told to me many times by my father. My sister's favorite was the story of Sadko. There are many Russian fairy tales I could tell you about." Nikolai explained as he leaned forward, smiling at them.
"Any good horror stories?" Simon asked the Russian. Nikolai thought about this for a few moments before nodding slowly, and then paling slightly.
"Da. There are a few. Belyy Volt Smerti…" Nikolai said quietly, visibly shuddering with discomfort for several moment before shaking his head slightly.
"You OK big guy?" Amy asked the Soviet.
"Yes…There is one fairy tale in particular that scared me quite a bit as a child. Mainly because there is some truth to this one's existence. It always made me nervous, and stills does, despite it all." Nikolai seemed strangely coherent as his face became a bit more serious. The Russian took another fortifying swig of alcohol and shuddered again.
"The legend of Ninochka, the Lonely Snow Wolf…or, as I know it, the White Wolf of Death." Nikolai said quietly to the trio before him. The Russian seemed to sober up quite a bit, his eyes drifting to the snowy trees around him as he began his tale.
"Many moons ago, when Mother Russia was still young, man walked through the snowy land of Russia alongside their companions, the watchful hounds of the forest."
"These were not your everyday dogs. No, these were wolves! Sons and daughters of the forest, who befriended the humans of Russia and guided them through the lands. They helped them hunt their food, protected them from the mighty bears lurking within the snow, and were faithful companions in general. In time, our people came to revere the beasts as not only protectors, but friends and equals."
"However, there was one wolf who refused to aid our kind. She was known as Ninochka, the Alone Wolf. She was massive for her kind, with eyes the color of blood and massive white fangs, quite unusual for a simple wolf. She fled at the sight of man, and whenever she was confronted by humans, slew them for amusement. Ninochka quickly gained a very nasty reputation, as a monster."
"Ninochka, for the most part, cared little for the affairs of man and her fellow wolves. She simply lived to hunt her prey, and enjoyed her solitude within the young icy lands…"
"Years went by, after the pact between man and wolf had been forged. Some wolves lost their fierceness, devolving into simple pets and becoming soft. Some remained in their forests, wild yet still allies of the men and women who shared their snowy world with them…Ninochka remained alone in her hunts, but had begun to feel the pain of isolation. She had found that, in her older age, she yearned for companionship of some kind, but could not relate to her brothers and sisters any longer. She was too wild. Too powerful. She was shunned by them, simply because she had turned away from them before."
"One day, however, she stumbled upon an old hunter within the snowy banks that she had been resting in. A hardy soul that braved the forests alone, armed with the furs of the beasts he himself had slain. Ninochka prepared herself to attack the man, but found that she was beaten to the punch. A mighty bear of the forest, standing at eleven feet high, came out to challenge the hunter. The wolf watched, amazed as the old hunter bellowed at the beast before him and confronted it, killing it with a single blow from his blade as he dodged a swipe from the monster before him."
"As the bear crumpled to ground, however…the man turned to Ninochka."
"'How?'" Ninochka asked the man, who was surprised he had found one of the elder wolves. The ones who knew the tongue of man and were quicker of wit than most things around then."
"'I do not know. It may because my desire to live was greater than his. We fought. I won. Do you wish to join him, daughter of the snow?' the man asked the wolf, shouldering his blade."
"'No…Who and what are you?'"
"'My name is Orik. I am a man. An old man who has outlived his usefulness and wanders these lands alone. What about you…Do you have a name?' the man asked Ninochka."
"'None that I answer to by your kind. I am a monster. A daughter of the old ways, before we stooped to becoming servants for you weaklings.' The wolf replied."
"'Weakling? I think I proved how wrong you are when you decided not to kill me upon my victory over the bear here. What is it you truly fear, beast?' Orik asked."
"Ninochka remained silent, wondering at the man's words, before he answered for her. 'You are a interesting creature. Powerful, talented, and yet you need only yourself. But you are not immortal, creature. You live alone and you will die alone, with no one to remember you for the life you lived. I pity you.' Orik said to the beast, who growled in response and lunged at the man…"
"Only for a boot to meet her snout and send her crashing to the ground."
"'I may have outlived my usefulness to the village, but I am still a man. A man who has tamed these woods and stands as a testament to the strength of those who remember the old ways. I am much like you, monster wolf…' Orik said to the white wolf, aware of who he was speaking to. Ninochka remained still on the ground, stunned that she had been stopped by such a simple attack. She lashed out at the man again, but found that a blade was now jammed into her maw, preventing her from doing anything else. Orik threw the beast into the snow and laughed at the beast, who lay still on the snowy bank."
"Ninochka continued her actions for some time, attacking the man again and again, but she found she could not lay a single claw on him. The man continued to talk to her, his tone never wavering as he spoke. Eventually, the man and the wolf both fell to the ground, exhausted by their long battle."
"'You truly are a monster…No, you are a true wolf. A predator with honor.' Orik told the white wolf, who stared at the man with a displeased expression."
"Despite this, she replied. 'For a simple man, you have a strength unlike any I have ever seen. I cannot best you…How do you do this?' Ninochka asked."
"'Come, young wolf. Walk at my side for a spell, and see the world as I do.' Orik replied, helping himself to his feet and beckoning for the wolf to follow. Ninochka hesitated, at first…But then found herself following the strange old man into the snow forests."
"Ninochka and Orik traveled side by side, from then on. The white wolf, who had been alone for so long in the forest, found something in the old man. A fellow hunter who was shunned by his own kind, but refused to bow down before any creature before him. Even her. She learned that, as a result of her defeat, she respected the man as a fellow predator. Over time, they developed a bond, and for the first time, Ninochka…had a friend."
"Orik, meanwhile, gained a travelling companion to keep him from being lonely. He taught Ninochka everything he knew about hunting and about the animals of the forests, things that would have escaped a beast like Ninochka. This knowledge, on top of her natural skill, made Ninochka a legendarily terrifying force to anything that crossed her path. Her legend was born then, from the knowledge that Orik had given her and her desire to protect her new friend from any threat in their way."
"Ninochka realized, one day, that caring for someone other than herself was not a weakness, but it was a great strength that gave her purpose, something she had always lacked on her own. She cherished the old man at her side, and he too, cherished her as a partner and equal to himself. They became the best of friends, both outcasts who found a better life within the snowy forests of the Motherland."
"Many years came and went, with Ninochka growing stronger with each kill and fight and Orik growing weaker as his body succumbed to age. Regardless of his physical limitations, he was still wise and to be respected. Ninochka helped care for him as best as she could, and for a time even the aging of her friend could not stop the pair of hunters who had become steadfast friends."
"One night, the pair of them happened upon a village within the snow. A sight familiar to the old man, who now had to ride atop Ninochka to get around. They now found themselves in Orik's old home, now a place that had long-forgotten him. Orik and Ninochka made their way through it, eager to continue their travels."
"However…This was when disaster struck."
"The wolf and man were attacked by thieves, eager to take the man's belongings and to kill and skin the beautiful white beast at his side. Ninochka attacked the man alongside her friend, but she even she could not stop them from shooting an arrow into the heart of Orik, who's life was extinguished before her very eyes."
"The men attacked Ninochka, who watched her friend fall to the ground, blood trailing for his body. She ran to his side, weeping and begging him to get up. She was then pierced by a blade in the side, and turned her fury upon the murderers, her eyes now glowing like fire."
"The rage of Ninochka had been unleashed, and there was no force that could stop it now."
"She tore through the hunters, shrugging off whatever tried to bring her down. After the murderers were slain, she decided that she was not satisfied yet, and turned her attention to the slumbering town. She would kill them all..."
"She sank her teeth into man, woman, and child alike, regardless of their innocence. She tore them apart with her claws, staining her white coat with the blood of those who had taken her only friend away from her. As she stood there, alone in that village, she howled…And became something more."
"More?" Leah said quietly, the first of the group that had spoken.
"More…She pleaded with the one who watches over everything, the great deity above, to end her misery. The pain of finding companionship and happiness, and then having it wrenched away from her. For her sins, however, Ninochka was cursed. She became the very monster she prided herself on for all time."
"Legends say that to this very day…Ninochka wonders the forests of the Motherland alone, awaiting new prey for her to hunt and unleash her rage upon. Her eyes are always the first thing you see…And then before you know it, it is too late." Nikolai rasped, a bead of sweating dripping down his forehead. The Russian than leaned forward and said, "There have been many, many sightings of Ninochka. She is, how you say, an undead dog who prowls the night with a thirst for blood. She will stop at nothing to kill those within her sights, slaughtering foe and innocent alike just as she did before. It is a monster unlike any known…And there is evidence to show that it is no fairy tale. Many have taken pictures of the beast, and nowadays my people can recognize the beast on sight should she ever appear again."
"Her eyes are unmistakable. Blood-red and wild, the eyes of a monster who hates everything. Awaiting a day for someone to put her out of her misery. Many say that she cannot be killed…I say that it will take a true child of Russia to do the deed. Someone who's will to survive is even stronger than that of the monster wolf, Ninochka…"
"That…is some freaky shit." Dempsey muttered, shuddering despite himself. There was something about the goofy Russian in their group telling a horrific ghost story while scared of the legend itself that unnerved him. The others shared a similar mindset, glancing into the forest for any signs of the monster wolf.
"Chert…I…I am tired now. I will rest." Nikolai said after a long pause, picking up his flask off of the ground and taking a very shaky sip from it to calm himself. The Russian then tucked away the drink on his person and curled up into a ball, much to the bewilderment of the others.
"What was that about?" Amy asked softly, worried about the Soviet's strange behavior and shivering slightly. The man in question had fallen asleep almost instantly, which was an impressive feat considering the bumpiness of their ride.
"For some reason…I get the feeling that it's a good thing that he basically runs on vodka right now. I don't think he can handle the weight of his own memories." Leah whispered sadly, watching the Russian as he slumbered.
"He said that he didn't consider Russia home. That he just had memories there and that was it." James added after a moment.
"He'll just have to deal with it, then." Dempsey muttered, sighing deeply. "We've all got our demons and regrets. Nikolai is going to have to learn that someday, you just have to face them head-on and stare them in the eyes. You can't let the past define you."
The group nodded mutely in agreement, save for Nikolai, who had actually been awake during that entire exchange and had heard Dempsey's words. It was easy for the faint-hearted American to say those words…He did not see what Nikolai had. Not endured what he had. The snowy trail that they found themselves on would lead to nothing but pain for the Soviet.
The Russian eventually did fall asleep as the group next to him chattered on about this and that, with Simon, Leah, and James taking watch in the back so that the others could get some sleep. Night quickly fell, however, and Dempsey and Takeo took the driving positions and continued their trek.
"It just…stopped working." Dempsey muttered, turning the car off and then back on again. The engine whirred when cranked, but otherwise was dead. The group began exiting the vehicle as Dempsey threw open the hood and was hit with a burst of gas.
"Hmmm?" Richtofen suddenly moved forward, brushing past Dempsey, who had fallen onto the ground and was coughing harshly.
"Element 115? Was it powering this vehicle or was it what stopped us?" Richtofen wondered aloud before girlish laughter suddenly filled the air, slightly distorted and sounding definitely twisted. Richtofen whirled around in surprise, looking around frantically as his face paled in horror.
"She's found us." James muttered, looking up into the sky as the laughter intensified.
"Hehehe…Now you're mine!" Samantha shouted as the air around them shimmered and contorted, sending chills down everyone's spines. The group could feel reality itself warping around them, to fit the whims of the monstrous child pursuing them. Each of the men and women felt their vision blur before them, and within moments they were falling…
And then they hit the ground.
"Wait, what?" Amy asked, looking around and staring at their new surroundings.
"Damn it…She's played us." Simon growled, taking a step back.
"It's time to play another game! Hehehehe! What fun!" Samantha cackled with glee as the group felt a strange force suddenly press down on them, suffocating them for a moment before it lifted.
"I think we're stuck in another one of those map things Samantha controls. Like the one back at the theater." James said to the others, drawing an M1911 and loading it. Their weapons were all gone, replaced only with a single pistol, a combat knife, and two frag grenades. James regarded the area they were in now and saw that the trees were suddenly closer together and much more numerous than they were before, barring their way for every direction except for the large steep slope in front of them. What lay below though, was obscured in a thick mist that slowly crept upwards.
"I do not like the look of this mist…But we cannot go anywhere but forward." Nikolai muttered, fighting the urge to shudder.
"Well…If that's the case, then let's see what the brat has in store for us this time." Dempsey growled as he walked forward and began sliding down the hill. A few seconds passed before Richtofen and Simon followed, as did the others.
Nikolai remained behind for a moment, sighing quietly as he looked up at the full moon and relishing the chill of the familiar cold of his cold homeland, not too far away. The Soviet then looked forward and chased his comrades down the slope, trying to focus his attention on something other than blurred demons from the past.
End of Chapter:
Guess what?
Time for a new zombie map, courtesy of me. I'm hyped as hell for this. Stay tuned for more.
Q and A:
And I do wonder, will we be seeing more of that Anna?
Yes, much later down the road. She won't be a main character or anything, but she will actually appear in the story a bit later on.
Alrighty folks, I'm done with this for the year. I'll see you all in 2017! Until then, please stay safe and have a very merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/whatever winter holiday you celebrate!
If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more by me, then please check out my profile and go read "Pokémon Radiant Sun". It is, well…a story based on the events of "Pokémon Sun", and is a project I'm really interested to see grow. It's also a proof of concept for "Second Chances", which is a story I've been sitting on and figuring out for over 7 years at this point. If this story goes well, then "Second Chances" may well and truly happen at a later time. Again, for more info on all of this, check out the DOTD update I just did.
If you're interested, please check it out. I'll be updating it twice on my new Pokémon story before the end of the year. I'd appreciate any feedback and support from you all.
Take care, and Happy Holidays.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
