Sacred Sacrifice

Chapter 30

Author Notes: So it's been like a year, and looking back at my work...it's a mess. Maybe one day I'll edit it and make it nicer and more flowy...but i'd rather focus on one day finishing this series. Plus Halloween is just around the corner. So lets get to it, i do not own mcl

3rd P.O.V

"I want answers Now!" Hana didn't think she'd ever see the day she would see Alexy actually angry and glaring at someone. Let alone her. "What do you mean?" However given the circumstances, frankly she shouldn't be so surprised.

After Dimitry came asking about Shadow's whereabouts, Armin swayed as if in pain before collapsing onto the ground, startling everyone. Worried for his unpredictable fainting spell the group went their separate ways. With Hana and Alexy making their way to her house since it was the closest.

She had no parents there to greet her, her cover story being her adopted parents were often working so they were never home. But Alexy wasn't fooled, if anything he was fed up with the bullshit. "I know something weird has been going on Hana and I know my brother's involved."

Another sharp pain throbbed in his mind. He knew these headaches weren't normal, plus he read the book his brother had, there was hunches, theories to explain why things seemed so wrong. But the blue haired teen demanded the truth. If for nothing else then to protect his sibling.

"Even if what you're saying is true, what could knowing do? If Armin couldn't sought you-his twin out, doesn't that mean it's something you can't help with?" It was a low blow, Hana of all people should understand, she absolutely did.

The cruel statement made the bubbly fashionista flinch, but he refused to back down. "It doesn't matter if I can or can't help. I want to support him! If he's dealing with something dangerous or there's trouble i'm staying by his side." It was a loyalty, a bond that the brunette couldn't ignore.

Afterall it was something she had with her own twin. Though...due to her reckless actions and mistakes it wasn't as strong as it once was. "I see." She could only sigh, no matter how hard she could try, he would not budge on his desires to be involved.

Unfortunately, unlike Shadow, she didn't have the time to truly explain things, especially with said sister missing. "I'm afraid I don't have time to explain, plus it is not my place to tell. However, what matter's more is waking up your sibling." Right now he had to take what he could get.

Still his frustration was clear as he crossed his arms. "How do you suppose we do that? When he's asleep he won't wake up for anything." Instead of giving a verbal response she simply gives him a smile before closing her eyes.

With a deep breath she holds out her palm, lifting it over her head with narrowed eyes. A flash of light blinded him temporarily, causing him to blink before finding himself and his friend shrouded in darkness. Frantically he looked all over, trying to figure out what just happened.

Questions were on the tip of his tongue. "Where are we?" Halo bit her lip as she walked, feeling a cold sensation fill her frame. "We're in Armin's mind. But...something's wrong. It shouldn't be like this."

She had only been in his mind once, it not even being an hour or so ago but this feeling of negativity and...hatred was nowhere to be found before. This was completely knew and it worried her to no end. "Why is it so cold? I'm freezing." Just what happened within that short span of time?

"Come on, let's find him. He should be close." She Hoped he was close. It's very easy to get lost within ones own mind, as dreams from the imagination and memories often swarm together to become reality once the mind has rested.

From what Shadow has told her, Armin was one to create incredible realms of fantasy based on the games and stories he was invested in. His mind only blanking truly when the two of them were exploring memories of the past, specifically hers.

The fact that there was nothing but darkness, with neither him nor her sister waiting to greet them was not a good sign. Alexy shivered as he shuffled closer to the girl, feeling anxious. "Armin? Armin where are you!?" Desperately he wanted his brother to respond, but he received no answer.

"If this is another one of your sneaking up pranks-note i'll take all your consoles for a month!" The both of them waited for some sort of response, anything to show that the raven haired gamer was aware of their intrusion. "KYAAAAAAAAA!"

They flinched at the harsh high pitched scream. "Ah!" Suddenly the pair were engulfed in a wave of endless shrieks of pain. "Sheena!?" It certainly sounded like her, but Halo hasn't heard such heart wrenching, agonizing shrills from her sister in centuries.

For her to scream with such fear and pain didn't aid in her concerns in the slightest. Especially when she's hearing it within Armin's mind. "My head feels like it's splitting!" Hands gripped tightly onto ears as a sense of pain hit them.

Both collapsed onto their knees, their entire bodies vibrating from the loud wails. Alexy's real world headaches were nothing compared to what he was feeling now. It felt like a heavy weight pressing onto his form for every shout that entered his eardrums.

It was an earthquake of sound and they were powerless to protect themselves from it. But within a matter of moments, it stopped as if it never happened. "Is this what Armin's been hearing since he collapsed?"

On shaky legs Alexy pulled himself up, feeling sick to his stomach as Halo glanced ahead with a pale complexion. "What the-!" Before their eyes was no longer wisps of shadows and empty land. Now...it was a village completely set aflame.

"Where?" Halo couldn't reply to his question, finding herself completely overwhelmed with the vast details surrounding her. They were in her old home from when she was human, her village. "We need to find him-Now!" Immediately Halo ran, leaving Alexy stunned for a moment before following hot on her trails.

He found himself horrified by the images as the two of them went further in. Soldiers stabbing helpless screaming civilians with swords, strange humans with wings and wicked gleams slashing their prey alongside chained abominations wreaking havoc. "Reminds me of one of the horror games he plays."

There was so much gore and violence. "Except this is all something that truly happened. Memories are clashing together, creating this terrible reality." But this just made no sense, all of these individuals weren't people Armin knew.

There was no doubt these were Shadow's memories, so why was he creating this hellish realm? Why was he allowing them to experience this? "There he is!" With wide eyes, Halo and her human friend double their speed.

Finally, they shout, finding their target within sight. "Armin!" The gamer didn't give any sort of response to their shouts. "Oh no..." He was on his knees, covered head to toe in blood, holding an unconscious Sheena in his arms. "Shadow!"

Halo and Alexy gasped, panting as they fall by their respected twins' sides. "What happened?" Pink eyes stared into tear streaked blue. "He tortured her. He's hurting her and won't wake up!" His voice hoarse, borderline breaking as he cried.

Whimpering Halo reached out, her fingers gently gliding down the unconscious girl's cheek. "Her mind is clouded. The malice is coming from her. She trapped you here?" Armin's gaze hardened as his grip on Shadow tightened.

With gritted teeth he looked up, glaring ahead. "No. She didn't trap me." With puzzled expressions the pair followed his line of sight. "No...Dakota!?" She had hoped she would never have to see him again.

And from what Shadow told her centuries ago, that hope had been fulfilled. Stating she dragged him down to the pits of hell herself. "Who is he?" The black haired teen hunched his shoulders, tense muscles all around, ignoring his brother's curiosity.

He had no idea how his brother found out, but they needed to leave. Soon. "It's an illusion. The real one dumped her here and left. Promising he'd be back to have more fun with her." She didn't understand at first, unused to seeing the teen before her so cryptic.

But as her eyebrows furrowed in thought, she was able to connect the pieces together. Dakota knew about the two of them. And took advantage of their bond. "You're here willingly." However the answer was obvious to Alexy.

He knew for a fact that Armin liked Sheena and after seeing her in this state, he wouldn't have wanted to leave her like this either. "I may just be a human but like hell I'll let him torture her anymore than she's already endured alone. I'm not leaving her."

to be continued

Author Notes: Well that was a dramatic chapter. Though a tad on the shorter side i think this is the most clear i've been with this series lol. At the very least it's the one with the least seen errors, though i usually after i upload it so we'll see what I find in a couple weeks haha.

But my dear friends, ladies and gents, that is it for now. Guys thank you so much for reading. If you like this series so far please feel free to fav/follow/review. Though i'm not on mcl anymore I still loved the characters the game had, and maybe i'll upload again soon. For now though tchao for now.