Chapter 4-The Beginning
The lightning storm that took place over the newly formed ruins could be seen from miles away. Black clouds filled with recurring, endless flashes of light.
Van had Moonbay stop the Gustav when they passed the forested area, and all three of their eyes rested on the raging storm. A sudden feeling of dread entered Fionna's heart the moment they had entered this area, and she had urged them on quickly until now. Moonbay let her jaw drop open. She tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry, and her eyes wouldn't tear themselves away from the sight. Even Zeke the organoid was frozen in fear, anticipation, and became suddenly very antsy.
" What in the world is that place?"
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Irvine stumbled onto the clearing in the forest, tripping over a tree trunk and landing roughly on the ground. He didn't know what caused him to walk continuously, rarely stopping for food, water, or any rest. Whatever it was pressed him onward. There were bags beneath his eyes and dust caked on his skin. His body shuddered with exhaustion; it was only the sound of footsteps that stopped him. Irvine tensed, looking up.
" It's you?"
" You…" Raven was standing a few feet away from him, leaning against a tree to hold him up.
Irvine used whatever strength he could muster to push himself up, when he was standing he took another look at Raven. At any other time, he'd be angry, but Irvine was too weak…and he really had no right to be angry at Raven anymore. It would be too hypocritical.
" You'd figure we'd have a little more in common…I don't think I need to ask this, but you're here to save the world too?" And as Raven said it, he started to laugh, it was a crazy thought him saving the world.
The laughter was contagious; Irvine's cracked voice started laughing too. It wracked his whole body, hurting his stomach and chest; he had to sit down again. Raven was in pain as well; he fell leaning his back against the tree the laughter still in him.
Irvine talked slowly, as though each word were more difficult than the last, " We're more alike than you think…"
Slipping, Raven could feel the darkness come over him again, " Really…how do you suppose?"
" We'r..both…murdere-…were….killr-"
The darkness took over, and blanketed them with blissful ignorance.
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Kyra sat outside of her house in an old wooden chair. Although she tried to think about the ruins she was supposed to research tomorrow, her mind kept going back to…him. Raven, who was he?
" Van…I'm not sure going to see something that scares the crap out of you when your several miles away from it…is a very good idea." A woman with dark hair was walking with two other people and an…yes, it was an organoid.
The one she assumed was Van only shrugged his shoulders, " Look…I don't really know why…I just know we've got to go. There's something there, I'm sure of it. Something…important, I can't describe it."
Kyra stood quickly, and waved to the group as they passed, " Hello. Can I help you folks with anything?"
" No we were just leaving." The dark haired woman said quickly.
Van shook his head, " Actually we were going to go explore those ruins…the one with the weird storm boiling over head. We think there might be some useful information there…"
" Oh, I'm Kyra. I'm a scientist, and I've been studying this area for several months now. There are several endangered species in the area, so we really don't like too many outsiders to tamper but I suppose if-"
Van saw a long speech coming on, " I'm Van, this is Moonbay and Fionna. How long has the storm been over the ruins?"
" I'm…not quiet sure…I didn't even know of the ruins till a week or so ago…"
" And you've been studying here for months?" Moonbay asked.
" Yes…but…I really haven't gotten too far into the forest so maybe…I just missed it…or something. Look if you want to go in there…I'd have to take you…make sure you don't harm any of the wild life… I bet these ruins are the reason so many outsiders have found their way here…"
" There have been others to look at the ruins?"
" I don't really know…" Kyra began, and Van and Moonbay sighed simultaneously, " It's just that the dark haired one…Raven kind of got away from me before I could question him…he fainted so I offered him a place to rest and the next thing I knew…he was gone. The other guy looked really weak also, but he seemed like a ghost, I glanced at him blinked and he was gone…just like that…but ghosts don't leave footprints in the dirt."
Van nearly grabbed Kyra's sleeves, " Did you say Raven…Raven? No…it can't be… could it…but what could he want with those ruins…"
" Yes…his name was Raven…"
Fionna was worried the moment she heard the name, but it wasn't really surprising to her. There were bad feelings radiating off those ruins and…it'd only make sense that someone evil would be the cause of it. She idly wondered who the other person was, whether or not they would be familiar to her as well.
" Look, we really need to get to those ruins now, especially if Raven is already there. Who knows what kind of damage he might be causing." Van said.
" Damage? What…do you mean?"
Moonbay pushed them all forward, " No time to explain, let's get a move on."
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Black…don't leave…don't leave…come back…
Irvine woke, pulling himself up. Raven was still unconscious or possibly sleeping at the moment, he really didn't know the difference. His head still pounded, and he sat for several minutes holding it, as if pleading for the aching to leave.
A moan came from the waking Raven, holding his own head a grimace of pain on his face. They glanced at each other for a moment, shared a knowing look. The sound of footsteps made them both stand. Two men dressed in matching khaki outfits came out from behind the trees and brush, gasping. Irvine wondered what they were looking at until he saw the huge ruins only a few feet away. How could he have failed to notice that when he arrived? This was it…no wonder the urgency left…this was where the powerful creature was growing even now as they stared. He walked forward a few steps.
" Stop there! This was our discovery not yours! We'll be the first to enter those ruins, thank you…" The taller man started running towards the black ruins, where the sun no longer shone and flashes of white reflected off the leafy ground, the other man following.
They were approaching it at amazing speed. Raven looked distressed. He started walking towards them.
" Stop! Stop!" He yelled starting to run.
Irvine followed, feeling the same urgency…those men shouldn't be there…it was dangerous.
Raven called again, " Stop, don't!"
" Why should we listen to you? So you can be the first to claim the ruins as your discovery? So you can get all the fame, the fortune, the…well you know." The man said, anger rising with each statement. " Just go away. You won't get these ruins for yourselves…their ours! All ours!"
The men walked up the steps to the ruins, covered in blackness. There was no apparent door, just complete blackness.
" Beetles…they're…a bunch of beetles…" Raven said, his eyes wide.
Irvine saw it now. There were lines and rows of the bugs moving up and down. The two men…somehow didn't notice it. Were they just too consumed by greed to see? The moment they touched the black wall, the beetles began to attach themselves to the men; the millions came off and in a sweep came over them. For five minutes, Irvine and Raven stood too shocked to move, listening to the screams of pain. When it was over, the men were…gone…and the group of beetles now fat flew off into the sky.
Raven stood with his head hung low, and Irvine's mouth dropped a little. Imagine…if they hadn't fainted…if they had gone first…he shuddered to think. Not only would they be destroyed, but the world with it. It took them a while before they were able to move again.
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Moonbay sighed as they pushed away even more branches to try and get deeper into the forest. She began to wonder if this girl had any idea where she was going. Sure she was a scientist, but that didn't make her know direction any better. Her head began to hurt. There was something about this that gave her a strange feeling, like she'd meet up with someone or something she didn't want to.
As Moonbay thought about this, they came upon the ruins at last. The area surrounding had been cleared away; the ground was in shambles for several feet around the ruins. The entire group stopped, staring in shock at the wonder before them. High above the ruins, dark clouds were building on top of each other…boiling as though something were coming.
" These ruins…aren't very ordinary…are they?" Van said.
Kyra couldn't speak; her voice got caught in her mouth. Never in any of her textbooks had she read anything about such a phenomenon. It was extraordinary, and the torn trees and ground uprooted around the ruins hinted that the ruins had come straight out of the ground, but that was impossible.
" The…prophesy…" Fionna said.
Her eyes were wide, and her legs felt weak. Van took her by the shoulders.
" Prophesy? Fionna what are you talking about?"
Her eyes closed shut, her body shook, " There's a prophesy about black ruins…I can hear it. It's running through my head now, pictures and voices. Speaking the words of…the prophesy of ruins that come from the ground, to bring a creature. A creature that will destroy us all!"
Van held her tighter, worry evident in his eyes. " Fionna…what's wrong? Please open your eyes! No one's going to get hurt… okay? you're just having…a bad…dr-"
" Vision. She's having a vision of some sort. A vision of what's to come…there's nothing you can do, except wait for it to end." Kyra said.
Fionna screamed, tears ran down her face, and five minutes later it subsided, she lay more calmly in Van's arms, " There is hope. Two of the most unlikely heroes must sacrifice their lives…for the world. And then the madness will not come to be."
Silence. Fionna's eyes opened to three very somber faces. Van managed a small smile for her sake, and squeezed her tight before releasing her.
Moonbay's voice was low, " Do you think that's what these ruins are?"
" I never believed in prophesies before…but there's nothing else to explain what's happened here. I want to say that it's not, but after Fionna's vision… I don't want to risk being wrong."
" So, let's go in there. We've got to help these heroes, if we can." Van said.
" If they're even inside…"
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They were inside, wandering the ruins like lost puppies in a big city. The only thing that drove them on was their determination, and a feeling in the air. It was dark inside, Irvine held a torch to help them see their way. He was always afraid he'd fall face first into some chasm they would miss because they could only see a few inches in front of them. The walls were close together, and if he weren't so tired the tight spaces would get to him.
It seemed like hours before they walked into a large spacious room in the center of the ruins. The walls here were covered in inscriptions, and the torches on the walls lit the moment they walked inside. Raven scanned the room, till his eyes fell on two swords. There, that is where they had to go, that is what they had to use. Irvine knew it too.
The duo walked to the pedestal, and each took a sword. Their eyes met a moment, in silent understanding. They both knew this was their end; they were ready. There was nothing left to live for, for either of them. Both lived in a world of guilt, with no one to keep them company.
" Raven!"
They turned in shock to see Van, Fionna, Moonbay, and another girl, running at them. Irvine watched as his once friend's eyes turned on him, and their mouths widened in shock.
Fionna gulped, " Irvine?"
The group stopped, shocked beyond all belief.
" So…so," Van began his voice shaking a little with anger, " It's true. You're really a… evil… like Fionna told us. And now you've sided with Raven, well look we won't let you go through with your evil plan!"
" We're not your friends anymore Irvine. Don't think we'll hold back." Moonbay said, hatred in her voice.
Irvine closed his eyes, his heart breaking inside. " I'm sorry…"
" That's…that doesn't matter! We'll still stop you!" Van said, though not as confidently.
" You don't understand." Raven spoke wearily.
Irvine's voice wavered, " Get out of here. Go now, please. Just go, don't watch this, please. Just go…"
" We're not going to leave."
The boys both looked as though they were starving and tired. Kyra was sure they'd both faint from exhaustion soon. " You two need to get some rest, or you could be seriously hurt. Going without food or water is not smart."
" It doesn't matter." They both said at once. " We don't matter anymore, not after this."
Irvine took in a sad sigh, " Please, this is the last time, I'm going to ask. For me, please…. Fionna…Van…Moonbay…go…"
This was met by confusion. The group exchanged glances. Irvine and Raven knew there wasn't much time yet, the beast would be within full power soon. They wanted to kill it before it awakened fully and had the chance to kill someone. They each aimed their own sword into their stomach.
" Irvine what the hell are you doing!?!? Stop, damn it!" Moonbay screamed, nearly running at him.
" I'm sorry." He said again, " I love you, Moonbay, I always have. You deserve someone better, forget about me, okay? I'm nothing. Nobody. Please, just go away now…look away, don't watch this."
" I..I don't understand."
Van walked closer to his former friend, " Look, Irvine, don't do this. Taking your life isn't the answer…"
" Irvine, you'll always be my friend. Please don't do this. Even if they won't say it, we all still care about you a lot. We don't want to lose you; we need you. Please…I forgive you for not telling us about your past…Just please don't do this…" Tears were falling down Fionna's eyes.
" You three will always be friends to me, the only real friends I've ever had. I'll never stop caring about what happens to any of you, but you don't understand. We have to do this, it's the only way to save the world."
" You mean the…prophecy is true? It's you…two who will save us? You two who have to die…" Kyra said, her sympathetic eyes never leaving Raven.
Raven nodded, no trace of regret or sorrow in his eyes. Moonbay turned away, to hide the tears. Warm arms wrapped around her, Moonbay knew they were Fionna's, but she found no comfort in her friends embrace. Van stood shaking, he seemed to be struggling between the anger and friendship he felt towards Irvine. It tore him for it to end this way, but he was too stubborn to tell Irvine how he really felt. After all, his friend was just a murderer, right…?
A loud thumping noise broke the moment. The beast had awoken; it smelt the blood of humans as it rushed through their veins. It's desire filled with it's hunger. Irvine cast a glance at the hallway the noise came from, his eyes widening. The beast would come here first, it'd try to kill them…Van, Fionna, Moonbay. He couldn't let that happen.
" Now, we have to go now!" He shouted, Raven nodded, and without hesitation they both brought their swords into their flesh, warm blood flowed from their cuts and onto the ground beneath them.
" No!" Moonbay screamed, struggling to get to Irvine, as the man she still loved fell to the floor. She held his head, her knees and hands covered in his blood, as she desperately tried to keep it from coming out so quickly.
Kyra kneeled by Raven, and gripped the boys hand, feeling like he must need some comfort as the end came to him. The blood that flowed from both of them would kill them soon. From the wounds in their bodies, a large silver spirit flowed out and began to form a creature that looked a lot like a large dog. It took one glance at its creators before going after the evil beat that started this whole thing.
Raven's dark eyes, looked up at the girl who was by him. He forced a grateful smile, though his insides felt as though they twisted and tore apart within him. Kyra smiled back, through the tears she was surprised she had. Never being an emotional girl before, and certainly not for anyone she hardly knew. But these two boys were dying to save the world, to save them, to save her.
" Thank you." She said to him, and watched as he struggled with tears of his own born from the pain.
Regret stabbed Van like a knife, his friend was going to die thinking he hated him. Only an hour ago, Van had been positive of that hate, but now he knew it wasn't real. He couldn't let it end like this. Dropping to his knees, Van stared at the ground, refusing to let his eyes meet his tortured friend's.
" I'm sorry, Irvine, for thinking you were evil. Sorry that I tried so hard to hate you for what you did. I'm not mad at you anymore, I don't hate you." Tears laced his eyes, threatening to spill over. " Truth is… you're like the older brother, I never had."
" I'm…sorry, too man." Irvine said and at last Van raised his eyes to meet Irvine's, " I feel the same...way, brother."
Van nodded, behind tears. Fionna sat next to him, and leaned her body into Van's, her chest heaving with sobs. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling warmth and comfort in her touch. But looking at Irvine, the cold was still there.
Moonbay's voice trembled so hard, she barely got the words out, " I love you, Irvine. I always will, and I've never stopped. I…I don't want you to go…I can't live without you."
" Yes..yes…you can…damn it…. You have…to live…please, fine somebody else… somebody better. Forget about me, please."
" No, I can't do that. No one else can fill this gap inside me. No one else, can I love as much as I love you." Moonbay said, shaking her head.
Irvine trembled with pain in her arms, " I love you too…always. Sorry…sorry, I waited so long to tell you. I'm sorry…"
Behind their sad goodbyes, was the sound of a battle. Screaming, screeching, growling, and tearing, filled the background. If they weren't so wrapped up in one another, they would've heard it. Nothing could keep them however, from hearing the thud that shook the ruins and caused them to jump. The battle was over, and as the silver spirit returned, disaperating into the walls around them, it became clear who won.
Irvine turned to look at Raven one last time, " We did it."
" Yeah, I guess we did…who would've thought we could…"
Irvine shook his head, " Not..me.."
" Me..either." Raven replied, and his eyes closed as death took him over.
Grimacing in pain, Irvine took one more look at each person who still loved him despite his past. As his heart slowed to a stop, the last thing he saw was Moonbay, his soul mate, his love, forever, then darkness.
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A/N: so I guess the question is: Is there anymore? Well there can be if you all want it…I do have some ideas on what can happen next. Sorry about not adding this chapter for so long the last months have been hell, but I'm no longer going to make excuses for why I don't get chapters up, I'm just going to write them and post them, no matter what.