Disclaimer: I own neither Evangelion nor the aforementioned board game; therefore I am not using it for any commercial purpose.
Greatest Fear
Chapter 3... "Death"
By: Oblivious
A pillar of bright, emerald light emanating from Jumanji slowly descended back… allowing the shadows around the room to creep out from behind the surrounding furniture and once again embrace the silhouetted forms of the now three man party, visible only by the faint light provided by the beams of afternoon sun shining through the windows.
Standing in the entrance hall of the mansion, in front of a wrought iron railed raised platform with wide staircases coming down from both sides, were Shinji, Asuka and Rei, faces still imprinted with expressions of shocked surprise; a nasty surprise.
"Kaworu… he…" said the weak voice of Asuka, her face white with alarm.
"Looks like the game took him…" said Rei weakly.
Kaworu… he looked as if he knew what was coming… Rei thought to herself.
"Asuka! We have to get Kaworu out!! He's claustrophobic!!" said Shinji, urgency filling his unbroken voice.
"I know that!!" Asuka snapped.
"We need someone to roll a seven, that's what we need to get him out." She continued, with a sense of cool control that masked a heart, beating uncomfortably with anxiety.
"That's good!" Said Rei suddenly.
"What?" Said Asuka and Shinji in unison.
"Seven has the highest probability of being rolled on two dice, he should be out in no time." Rei explained breathlessly.
"Then hurry up and roll! I'm sure Kaworu is…" Started Asuka.
Her voice was cut short by a familiar, unholy howl of dread originating from beyond the entrance doors, followed swiftly by a heart dropping smash, felling the dust from the intricately carved oak door as it buckled against the frenzied assault.
"GWOOOOOOOOHH!!!"
"It's THAT thing." Said Shinji, fear constricting his voice as he backed away from the door in fear.
"IKA… RI…" said a monstrous, rasping voice. "SHIN… JI…"
For the second time that day, Shinji felt his blood freeze in his body.
"It's not after me… is it…??" He asked distraughtly, although he already knew the answer.
"Don't faint on us Shinji!!" called Asuka, who snapped Jumanji shut.
"We need to put some space between us and that monster…" She said, beckoning to Rei and Shinji.
"Aside from space… some cold, sharp steel would be useful too…" Said Rei from in front of an opened glass display, swiftly unsheathing an antique knight's sabre that caught the light in a stylish fashion as she flourished it deftly.
Two years…since I last… Thought Rei to herself as she held the red stained sword up to her face.
Smelt blood…
"We haven't got all day Zoro girl! Move it!!" Shouted Asuka from the staircase, as the entrance doors gave out another crash.
Rei closed her eyes and nodded her head in silence as she slid the blade into its scabbard, turning to look furtively at the crumbling door before swiftly following after Asuka.
==========
Which damn sadist made the coffin one size small? Thought Kaworu unsteadily as he held his hand to his mouth for what seemed like the thousandth time to halt the flow of swiftly rising nausea. Each effort and each thought demanded such a large portion of his spirit, as the overwhelming void beyond him seemed determined to strangle the life from his body.
Kaworu despaired as he glanced at the illuminated face of his watch. His fear was likened to a deadly poison; spreading throughout its victim's entirety, paralysing and decaying him in its dread grasp, from which escape was less probable than a romantic fairy tale…
Kaworu was experiencing it for a second time… the first had taken the colour from his hair.
It's been… two hours…
Asuka… Shinji…Rei…
Mother…
A pitiful amount of two hours is hardly the extent of my powers…
It sounded sickly amused.
Who… who is there??!!
For the next moment of silent expectation of a reply, only the sound of his thumping heart and heavy breathing was audible to him.
Am I going mad already?
At this moment… he heard it.
Poor child… what pain you have to suffer… It said in a tone of mock concern.
Who… who are you?
Abandoned by his friends… all he can do is rot and die here in agony and obscurity… It laughed maliciously after it said this.
"YOU LIE!!" shouted Kaworu out loud in a wrath that he had all but forgotten. "I know my own friends well enough you… fiend!!"
How can you be so sure? How long have you waited? How long have you waited in this HELL??!!
"Go away! I won't believe your foul words!"
How could I pass up the chance to see you writhe in fear and despair?
"GET OUT!! GET OUT OF MY MIND!!" screamed Kaworu in indignation and exasperation.
And leave you alone? said the voice in a vilely smooth way. You know as well as I do… that that's the last thing you want.
"I have no need for the company of scum…" growled Kaworu defiantly.
If you're so insistent… then very well… but allow me to offer a deal before I go.
Kaworu was silent.
Cede to me your piece, and you shall be released from your prison…
==========
"That thing… should be hunting for us now…" said Shinji anxiously in a hushed tone.
Us? More like me… thought Shinji as he felt his insides squirm uneasily.
Passing by ominous looking sets of dusty armour and faded old portraits of illustrious figures long gone, Asuka lead the way down one of the mansions many dark, carpeted halls, followed closely by Rei and Shinji.
"It's been five minutes since Kaworu was taken… four since we heard the doors crashing down." Rei said as she examined her wristwatch, grasping her sabre tightly at her side.
"I think it should take some time for it to find us, good thing this place is vast." Said Asuka. "There's a room up ahead… we'll make our next roll there."
"Hehehe…" laughed Shinji all of a sudden. "…you guys are just great."
"Only now you notice Shinji?" Quipped Asuka haughtily.
"Hmm? Why do you say that?" asked Rei curiously.
"Ever since we found that game…" Shinji glanced at the box Asuka was holding under her armpit. "We have seen things… strange and horrible things we'd only see in movies and stories by… crazy, eccentric writers…" (o.O;;)
"And your point?" Asked Asuka, a little impatiently.
"You guys seem to be able to adapt so easily to these… changes." said Shinji admiringly. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
"Shinji! Would you just quit talking in wimp for once!?" snapped Asuka. "It's a bloody ear sore!"
"Uhh… sorry." Shinji scratched the back of his head apologetically.
"Grr… there you go again…"
"Don't be so mean to Shinji Asuka… I'm sure all of us are afraid as well." Said Rei sympathetically.
"I bet Kaworu is right now…" said Shinji moodily, his mood dropping sharply.
"The game…" said Asuka as she turned the squeaky knob of the room down the hall and pushed it creakily open to reveal a room with light streaming in through a window with foggy shards of glass and torn and faded curtains. The room was big enough to contain three elephants. Book cases, filled with fat books on difficult looking subjects lined the walls, and in the centre were two study desks with burnt out candles.
Asuka walked over the brownish red carpet to one of the desks in the room, laid the game on the table and removed the dice.
"Your roll Rei." She said gravely as she turned to face Shinji and Rei and held the dice in front of her, her brows furrowed in pessimism.
Rei held Asuka's gaze expressionlessly for a moment... when the corners of her lips curled up into a serene smile.
"That face doesn't suit you one bit Asuka." she said merrily. "Cheer up! I'm sure we'd rather be here facing monsters than in class listening to our boring history teacher."
Asuka stared at Rei blankly, mouth slightly open for a moment before returning the smile.
"Yes… you're right! Thanks Rei."
"Somehow… I doubt that." Shinji muttered darkly.
Girls… Shinji thought to himself.
Rei reached out with her hand and closed it around the dice on Asuka's open fist.
"Here I go…" she said, and threw the dice from where she was standing onto the playing surface.
Impacting the surface of the playing field with a knock, the dice rolled around, hitting the boundaries before finally coming to a stop on…
"It's an eight…" said Shinji, giving a sigh.
Everyone stood in silence, as the blue figurine slid along its pawn path eight spaces. Soon, the cryptic green words were appearing within the confines of the deep green orb once again.
"Plague-like they decay…" read Asuka. "…advancing, ever spreading… slayer of nations."
"Fascinating… it even makes haikus." observed Rei.
"Could it be a swarm of insects?" wondered Shinji.
"Hey there's something appearing underneath the board…" said Asuka, lifting up Jumanji.
Spreading slowly, but surely across the desk was a quivering circle that seemed to be made up of millions of infinitesimal particles. It was a deep crimson, glowing red that was swirling about within itself. There seemed to be a depression, a cavity in the desk that grew bigger along with the rough, growing circle. Faint crunching sounds were just audible in the still silence.
"It's… eating away at the table." said Shinji, astounded at the sight before his eyes.
"At least it's incapable of chasing us." Said Asuka, closing the game. "Let's get out of here before we're all devoured."
"Yes good point." Said Rei.
Asuka tore her eyes from the gradually growing virus on the gradually shrinking table and made for the door, followed by Shinji and Rei. When it gave a mighty tremble as a huge mass beyond it hurled itself into it.
"GWOOOOOOOH!!!"
Shinji let out terrified gasp as he felt his insides freeze up.
"Remind me to pick a room with two exits next time…" said Asuka.
"The door's not going to last…" Said Rei as sawdust flew from the rapidly increasing cracks appearing around the freshly made dent in the door.
Rei swiftly unsheathed her blade and assumed a forward leaning position used mostly by pool players, using her free hand to aim the tip of her blade at the centre of the door.
"Rei what are you-" was all Shinji could say before Rei leapt like a shot from her crouching position and drove her steel plated blade straight into the door just before the beast impacted it, securing a high pitched howl of pain from beyond the door. Sure that her steel had rend through flesh, a tiny, but visibly twisted smile flashed across Rei's face as she put her foot on the door and wrenched out the blade, obtaining yet another wail of anguish. A spurt of deep crimson blood issued from the hole made by the sword thrust in the door as a body was heard collapsing to the ground beyond the door, staining Rei's blue jeans and white collared shirt. She pulled open the door and into the room fell the purple horned, insane looking monster that had scared the daylights out of Shinji Ikari. It raised its hand back and started to growl menacingly at Rei, but was cut short when Rei stabbed her crimson stained blade into its throat and twisted it forcefully with a sick, tearing sound before yanking it out of the dying monsters body again.
It spurted out blood both from its mouth and holes in its body in torrents and writhed in agony for a few moments before finally ceasing all movement. Rei giggled faintly as she vigorously swung the blood dripping sabre to her side, flinging the blood from it and splashing a cherry red line across the walls.
Asuka and Shinji didn't even notice their earth bound jaws as they mutely watched the extraordinary exhibition of violence and sadism.
Rei sheathed her blade and turned to face Asuka and Shinji.
"The way's clear now." She said emotionlessly before she turned back and walked over the monster's corpse and out the door.
Displaying incredible of presence of mind, Asuka turned back to look at the spreading virus. It had reduced the table to nothing but a few planks and appeared to be spreading along the floor with greater speed.
"D-did… that j-just really happen…?" asked Shinji weakly, oblivious to the impending danger.
Asuka grabbed Shinji's limp hand and hastily pulled him away from the expanding disease colony.
"Let's get out of here…" she muttered before dragging a stoned Shinji out the door, careful to step over the corpse blocking the way… which, when both all backs were turned, twitched.
==========
"Rei! That was BADASS!!" said Asuka excitedly when they exited the mansion and entered the garden, which was filled with overgrown and unkempt hedge bushes and grass that tickled the passer-by's knees, which thankfully, didn't extend onto the stone path leading to a vine infested gazebo.
"I am… not particularly proud of that skill Asuka…" said Rei softly.
"It was definitely helpful back there though." said Shinji encouragingly.
"Thank you Shinji…" said Rei, smiling faintly at Shinji.
When they entered the gazebo, Asuka laid the game in the centre of the floor and sat down beside it. Opening the cover, she retrieved the dice.
"My roll now…" She said softly. "Hope it's a seven…"
"How long has it been Rei?" Asked Shinji.
"Eleven minutes since Kaworu was taken… six minutes since I wasted that demon." Replied Rei, saying that second bit with a hint of relish.
As Asuka threw the dice, all present instinctively took a deep breath.
"Six… one!!" Asuka read triumphantly.
As Asuka's piece slid forward under some mysterious manipulation, the green orb in the centre glowed a bright green… when a body wearing a black jacket, white shirt and pants, materialized in mid air over Shinji.
"Kaworu…!" said Shinji just before the influence of gravity took effect on Kaworu's body and pulled it toward Shinji. "Waah!!"
For some reason, Kaworu neither made a sound, nor moved.
"Kaworu?" asked Rei, reaching down and turning Kaworu's body off Shinji's.
"Kaworu! Is he alright?" asked Asuka worriedly.
Kaworu was staring blankly into space.
"He's… all pale!" gasped Shinji as he looked right to see Kaworu's ashen visage.
"Kaworu's skin has always been WHITE Shinji??" said Asuka exasperatedly.
"No, no… he seems paler than usual…" Shinji maintained as he sat up, eyes still on Kaworu.
"How do you tell something like that?!" questioned Asuka incredulously. "Oh… the clue!!"
"He's still feels warm and…" said Shinji as he pressed his fingers to Kaworu's neck. "…breath and pulse have been confirmed... he's alive"
"Then… what's happened to him? Has he fainted?" asked Rei.
"His retinas… damn… we took too long…" said Shinji, shining a torch light straight into Kaworu's eye as he held them open with his fingers.
"What do you mean?" asked Asuka, her eyes fixed on the misty words appearing in the green orb.
Although your mind to none you yield… there are times you shouldn't trust your A.T field… Read Asuka silently. What's that supposed to mean?
"Everything points… there's a high chance that he's in a state of catatonia…" said Shinji.
"How…?" asked Asuka.
"My parents… they work at NERV hospital remember?" reminded Shinji. "You never remember anything about me Asuka…"
"Like hell I don't… little man…" said Asuka with a tiny giggle.
Rei started giggling uncontrollably.
"W-what's that supposed to mean??" asked an embarrassed Shinji, his face turning red.
Damn it… giggling should be outlawed. He thought furiously as the pair of them burst out in a tirade of giggles.
"E-enough of this! Asuka! What's the clue?!" said Shinji uncharacteristically imperiously.
"I don't know… I think it was-" She was cut off when she was engulfed by a flash of white light, which caused her body to go rigid and eyes to roll up into her skull.
"What's happening?!" exclaimed Shinji in shock.
Rei turned to source of the beam of light engulfing Asuka. Standing, or hovering, there was a huge, white snake with an oversized head and a gigantic, cavernous mouth, lined with rows of sharp teeth. Protruding out of its head were huge, white wings and blade like and pointed appendages that seemed poised in concentration. On its forehead was a shiny orb of deep crimson.
==========
Strapped to a wooden table and unable to move, Asuka broke into a cold sweat as she struggled helplessly at her bonds. Watching the periods of an enormous crescent blade five feet above her that was dripping with blood, chained the ceiling swung above her, a profound sense of dread swept through her body… it seemed to be speaking to her.
From the left, it sliced morbidly through the air, swinging to the right, dropping down an inch or so with a heart-stopping thud.
DEATH
From the right, Asuka watched the blood stained cutting edge with horrified concentration as it completed its period, dropping another inch with the same, gruesome thump.
DEATH
"I don't want to die…" said Asuka defiantly as the blade sadistically swung once more and lowered itself again, her fear spreading and intensifying so much that apart form the avatar of death above her, that was almost all she knew.
DEATH
I don't want to die… Asuka closed her eyes and prayed for the blade to evaporate, her all-consuming trepidation starting to constrict her windpipe.
DEATH
I don't want to die…
DEATH
She could smell the horrible stench of rotting blood that encrusted the blade's surface as it passed, inches over her face.
DEATH
I… DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!!
Author's notes
Didn't think you saw the end of Eva Unit 01 did you? =P
Evil Rei plus Sword equals Win
I remember Tim Alan also used a sword in the original movie, but he really didn't use it as satisfyingly as I would've liked. Hence this. smiles evilly
O yea… this mansion is a merely a figment of my imagination.
Hmmm I think I'm getting good at this rhyming thing. I remember sitting for more than half and hour, staring at the screen when I did my first two. Xx
I hope you like my haiku =D they're so much easier to make.
o.O;; I thought of that dialogue for Shinji because I kept sneezing when I wrote that part. Or was it the other way round… o.O;;
I made the description for Arael from that piece of fanart that was animated by Gainax. I'd give a URL but it seems FFnet has a habit of abducting them.
O yes I almost forgot… proofreaders for my fic are very welcomed