Chapter 17

By Hdogg (Maury Hime)
Told by Daniel Ale

Unreal Feelings

Baka Note: All right people. I'm back in action. Here comes…Danny! Are you ready for some action?

Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo Two. Though I wish did since I lost all my characters. ::grumbles:: Damn the limit…All well. Blizzard owns all!

Onward to Victory!

~*~*~

                I parried the strong blow of the axe then thrust with all my might. The tip of my blade skidded off the armor of the Smith. He crackled evilly as he licked the blade of his axe. Blood ran freely down it and he drank every drop of it greedily. The bloody axe came again. This time from above, with killing force behind it.

I jumped out of the way as one of Stu's spells whizzed over my head. The Teeth struck the beast in both shoulders. The Smith roared out in pain and charged blindly at me. I stepped backwards, gripping my sword tightly. Somehow, I managed to step on a bone that sent my sprawling to the floor.

My sword fell from my hands and slid across the slick floor. I gritted my teeth as the watch the axe fall. Drops of blood fell from it in slow motion. Each one fell onto my all ready stained armor. I heard an incantation being mumbled to my left then a roar from behind.

                "DIE YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Roared Larry charging madly at the demon. He had acquired two long swords along our journey to this forlorn place. One which was a rare. The other which was a superior. He slashed upward at the head of the beast. He also aimed down at the Smith's waist with his other blade. The head blow did not connect but the other blow connected all to well. Just as Larry was striking the Smith, Stu had sent a blaze of pure energy at the monster.

                I pushed myself off my back and picked up my sword again. I looked at the poor thing in my hand. It was beaten, chipped, and stained. It had seen so many battles. Saved me so many times. It was so red. Red with terrible amounts of blood from my enemies. Ones that I killed in cold blood… Was this dreadful massacre ever going to end?

                I sighed knowing the truth. Never would it end until I reached the finish. This dreadful game had cost me so much. If it was a game…

I looked towards the fallen monster. It cried out in pain and choked on its on blood as it slowly wasted away. The poison from Larry's blade worked its curse. There were so many similarities to the game but still. There was so much more to this world then the eye saw.

                The Smith roared out one last time then its head fell. Still and silent as blood trickled out of its mouth. Never it would bring terror to the world again. I gingerly stepped over the broken bones. Next to the Smith was the hammer Charsi needed. I picked it up and looked at it. It was plain but something moved deep inside it. A power that transferred weapons into a more powerful magic item.

                I sighed and attached it onto my belt. Much use it would give me now. Turning to my comrades, I spoke for the first time since we had arrived into the battle. "Let's go." I turned on my heel as I made for the exit. I almost fell due to the slickness of the ground. I closed my eyes as a memory returned.

~

                We were hiding in a secret passage behind the wall, watching for a chance to attack. In the room, the Smith had a multitude of human prisoners. Men, women…even children. Before we could even make a move, the Smith unleashed a horror upon the defenseless people.

                A mix between a dog and a boar attacked them. The men tried to fight them off with torches and sticks. Though it was too much for them. The beast tore them from limb to limb. Blood spattered onto the children. Their innocence was lost forever as they cried out in fear. The Smith sat on a throne of bones through the massacre. Laughing and pointing at the humans fighting for their lives.

                I remember wavering as the beast looked up at the women and children. A piece of one man's hand dangled off its large tooth. The fingers still twitched as he chewed on it, watching the women and children. Its cold, hungry eyes watched them darkly with a hunter's grace. It circled them until they had backed up enough into a corner. There they huddled for safety and in fear.

Without even time to react the beast took charge the situation. With a mighty spring from its legs, it jumped into the air and stuck the closest at reach. Which was a young male child that was no more then eleven.  The boy screamed a curling bloody scream as his vocal cord was ripped from his body.

                The beast's claws had torn through the boy's neck and upper body. Bits of flesh flew out from carnage as it ripped its claw out. The red lifeline flowed swiftly out of the boy onto the dress of a young woman. With a look of terror and defiance, the woman picked up a rusty blade and charged at the beast.

                The woman's courage rallied the others to fight. They would not go laying down. Women and children picked up stick, bone, or metal then rushed at the beast. Nothing could stop it though. Not even the combined forces of the women and children. Each one came to a brutal end ad they became a meal for the hungry fiend.

                My hand tightened into a fist. The other clutched the handle of my blade. I couldn't do a thing. I was trapped between two walls without a way to escape except for the way I came. Tears stung my eyes as I watched the last of the humans be stuck down. "Damn you. Damn you. Damn you." I mumbled into the empty air.

                Larry said in a cold, hard voice that was unnatural for him. "He will die and feel every pain of these humans murder."

                The Necromancer, Stuart, squeezed the life out of a ball of energy that was our light. "Never again. Never again." He stalked off, leading the way with a new light. A darker light of red and swirls of black. One that symbolized rage and death.

                I followed the enraged young man. He did not look like the nerd I once knew. Now, he looked like a true necromancer. Dark and powerful in his armor. Mighty with his minions and spells. He was the force behind the hammer that was jammed into the heart. His spiked blonde hair shined darkly as the tunnel darkened even more. It was as if the passageway knew of the upcoming battle and the death that had happened only moments before.

                Stuart stopped and placed his hand on a slight curve of the wall. "Here is where we get off." He looked to me, then to Larry. "Any last words?"

                Larry smirked boldly. "Let your stomach lead you to the food and your might lead you to the victory." They both looked to me.

                My eyes flashed darkly as I recited, "Darkness does not have the grip when light is near." It was something out of my old book of heroics. Evil would never conquer when goodness was near. Now was the time to the prove the statement right.

                Stuart nodded. "Onward to Victory!" He shouted blasting open the door and charging into battle.

~

                I opened my eyes to the red room once again. That battle was one of the bloodiest I had ever been in. It was such a horrid memory. I reached into my pouch and pulled out a town scroll. It was time to get away from this place. From the carnage…from the blood. With mumble of the spell, the portal opened and I stepped through it.

                I emerged on to the other side in total darkness as my head spun. "Damn it…" I mumbled reaching onto something to steady me. That support just happened to be Mo. "Where'd you come from…" I half growled, half moaned.

                "Oh…I fell asleep but something woke me up…" She wrapped her arm around me and steered me to Miss Akara's tent. "How'd you do?"

                I groaned as I leaned against her. "Fine…" I reached to my belt and pulled out the hammer. "I got the thing." I dropped it to the ground as I fell to my knees. Fatigue had caught up with me. I couldn't lift my head if I wanted to.

                 Mo kneeled down next to me. Softly she brushed her hand across my forehead. "You poor dear…" With carefulness, she pulled me up to my feet. "It's only a few more yards…it'll be alright."

                I groaned. I hurt terribly. The many bruises on my arms and side hurt like a thousand knives being rammed into me at the same time. The weariness in my legs from running and dodging was like lifting led weights. "Can't I rest a bit…" I mumbled.

                "Not until we reach the tent." She said firmly, steering me into the tent.

I blinked at the strong brightness. It seemed that thousands of candles were floating in the air all around me. Trying to make me illuminate in the darkness. I rubbed my eyes and mumbled, "Kill that damn light." Immediately, it diminished into a low dim.

Miss Akara appeared from behind a curtain. "I'm sorry young Knight. I was healing your friends in the other room." She picked up a container and dipped one hand into it. The lotion spread without effect from the tips of her fingers to her elbow. "Kills anything that may infect you." She smiled and did the same with the other hand.

Mo perked up a bit. "How advanced are you in medicine?"

I smiled and looked down at her. She was a little medical wizard and was planning to be one in the future. With carefulness, I raised my hand and ruffled her hair. "Med nut." I wisphered a bit more cheerful then I was before.

The old healer smiled at her. "Not as advanced as I would like to be. Magic can only go so far without the right components." She picked up a green jar. "This for example is used to heal deep gashes in the side. When added with magic, the wound will go away without scar or pain."

Mo looked at the jar curiously. "What is it?"

Miss Akara only smiled. "Some day when you are older maybe I'll teach you."

"Rats." Mo mumbled under her breath. She continued to smile though like she always would.

"Now for you," Miss Akara turned to me. "Time to get you a little healing. Hmm?" She peered at me. "Bruises, scrapes…nothing broken. You should be fine by tomorrow." She frowned and shook her head. "One last quest…"

Mo clutched my arm tightly. Not hurting me, just enough pressure to let me know she was scared.

I patted her on the head. "Don't worry, squirt. I'll protect you." I wisphered softly into her ear.

She huddled close to me, still supporting my weight. "I know…" I knew what she was thinking. Someone may die.

'That scares me too, sweet thing…' I thought running my hand through her hair. We were so young yet we seemed so old. My arms and legs were littered with scars from battles meant for someone older and with more experience. I looked up to Miss Akara. Her old face was crinkled with lines of merriment. I blushed and looked down at my feet.

Miss Akara gestured to Mo. "This way, young one."

Mo smiled and nodded. Putting her free hand into mine, she steered me to the recovery room. Once I had reached the empty cot, I sat done and looked around the room. I saw Dru and Jenny sleeping soundly at either side of me. I wondered what they went through.

"Stay cool, Danny." She said softly. With carefulness she ran her hand through my hair. "Still as soft as ever…"

I caught her hand in mine and held it to my cheek. The warmness from her seemed to melt the ice around me. "The same for you, little one." I looked up at her and smiled tenderly.

She smiled back and gently pulled her hand away. "I'll see you later." With that she left the room.

I heard a mumbled conversation past the door. As I strained my ears to hear it, my eyes grew heavy. I tried to stay awake as Miss Akara walked through the door holding a tray filled with stuff. I yawned and my eyes shut almost my will. I was asleep before she even reached my bed.

~*~*~

I woke up and blinked. The morning light shone through a window at the opposite end of the room.

"Awake?" Mo poked me in the side.

I waved away her hand. "Yes, yes…" I yawned and sat up. "What day is it?"

She blinked and looked thoughtful for a moment. "You left on the 27th…I arrived later that night…" She looked really cute when she thought. "Hmm…you were gone for five days…then add today…"

I sighed. "April 2nd…" I looked over to the two empty cots where my friends were the night before. "How're they?"

Mo sighed. "They won't say a thing to anyone about what happened…and they seem to be avoiding each other again." She pulled out a bowl that was covered with a metal sheet. She also held a spoon. "Want some soup? Stu made it…he's getting really good at cooking…" She looked sad. I wondered why…

"Yes, sure." I said, trying to sound cheerful. I took the bowl and the spoon. I cautiously took off the cover and smelled it. "Mmmm…chicken soup…" I dug into it immediately.  Mo sat down next to me and leaned against my shoulder as I ate.

She sighed as she pulled out some jerky and began to munch on it. "What are we going to do about the last quest…" She shuddered. "That little witch has all those poison tricks up her sleeve…and I usually die when I go up against her…what if I die now?"

I sat down the bowl and looked her. She looked so small at my side. "I'll protect you. So will Larry." I said somewhat bitterly. Larry always moved on my territory when I had things going my way. He'd usually get it too.

"But what if…" I hushed her by placing a finger over her lips.

"Don't think of such things. It won't help us in the long run." I said softly, drawing her closer to me. "I wonder what the ride will be like to the desert town…and how long it will take."

She rested her head against my chest. It was then I noticed I was wearing only a thin shirt and pants. "That guy out there said maybe a year…with all the attacks that are happening with the trade route and all."

I cursed silently under my breath. A year? That would mean it would take forever to get out of this game. "How are we ever going to get out of here…"

"Pure luck." Mo replied sitting up and taking the bowl off the bed. "How well can you walk?"

I tested my legs experimentally. "Why didn't you come to the barracks after you came back here?" I asked the question that nagged at the back of my mind. I leaned against the cot as I stretched my sore legs.

She looked down at the empty bowl. "I…I didn't want to leave them alone." I knew who she was talking about. Dru and Jen. I sighed. More problems to deal with…I was the leader of this group. It was my duty to keep care of things that happened. Maybe Mo should handle them…I looked to her. She looked scared…and lost.

When she noticed my stare, she blushed and turned away. "Your clothes are under your cot. I cleaned and washed them. Your sword and armor are at Charsi's." She slipped out the door.

I reached under the bed and grabbed my other clothes. I slipped out of the thin shirt and put a heavier one. It seemed tighter then it was before. I looked into the clouded mirror across from me. "Damn…" What I saw reflected what I felt. I saw a darkly tanned young man with muscles that his extra shirt wouldn't hold. I took off my pair of pants and tried on the other pair. Thankfully they still fit okay. I ditched the smaller shirt for the thin one.

"Humph…black leather pants and a thin, whippy white shirt." I mumbled to myself tucking in the shirt. I pulled it out until it looked like I was out of some history book about the Medieval Era. "Hmm…this isn't bad." The shirt was open down to middle of my chest. To my bad luck, I had no string to keep the loose ends together. "Better then nothing." I shrugged looked around for my boots.

"Danny! Incoming!" Mo shouted tossing in a pair of black boots and socks. They struck me square in the head.

Face down on the hard packed earth, I groaned. 'That girl has damn good aim when she can't see…' I sat up and pulled the boots over to me. With carefulness I put on the thick pair of socks. My feet were the sorest part of my body. Calluses and blisters covered them completely. Next I slipped on the boots and laced them up.

I just sat there for a moment reflecting on the time passed. I had changed, I knew that. I was a moron at the beginning. Probably was a bit still but my leadership skills had improved. 'It's the game…it's making me the way I am…' I thought to myself, flexing my arm.

"Danny! Are you ever coming out of there?" Mo shouted. I heard her pacing impatiently.

I laughed. "Yes, I am." I said deeper then usual. I blinked. My was voice was deep to begin with but was it changing even more? I pushed myself off the floor and stumbled out the door. The weariness was still in me. My foot got caught in the curtain then I fell over sideways. Luckily enough Mo was there to help me.

"Tsk. You must be more careful, Danny boy." She helped me up and gently patted me on the stomach. She seemed a bit more light-hearted but still the gloom hung about her.

I stumbled to my feet and looked down at her. "What's wrong?" My mouth babbled out without permission. I averted my eyes as she looked up.

"Umm…" She mumbled not even looking at me. She grabbed my hand and just led me away from the tent. She didn't say anything which was strange for her. Eventually we were at the campfire. Cain and Kashya were standing there talking Dru, Larry, and Aly.

Mo gently let go my hand and walked off in another direction. Almost to the entrance of the camp, she glanced back at me. I smiled reassuringly. She smiled back and disappeared out of the camp.

I walked into conversation.

"…I don't think we're ready." Larry stated rather intelligently. He actually had a brain! It was amazing.

Aly tightened her grip on her black spear. A dark aura blazed from the tip. "Well, I think we should. We're ready for this! I mean it's only Act 1. How hard can it be?"

Cain looked at Aly. "Act 1?"

She shook her head. "Nevermind."
                I looked towards the Druid as Larry argued with Aly. He was standing off a little ways, just gazing blankly.

I walked over and shoved him a bit. "What's up?"

He turned me and stared with blank, cold eyes. "What'd you want?" He slightly hissed.

I stumbled back a bit. His eyes were those of a demon. I slipped my hand to where my sword should have been. 'Oh crap. I forgot…' My hand went to the unseen knife on my waist and stayed there. "I was wondering what you and Jenny were up to."

He glared. "Why should you care." He stated this rather then asked.

I shrugged. "I'm the leader of this brigade. It's my job to know how my 'soldiers' are doing. Especially with their comrades." I stated with a slight glare.

"This isn't a damn war." He snarled. "This is just some stupid game."

I crossed my arms over my chest. The knife was held securely and secretly. "It is a war and this is our reality now." Damn was I really saying that? "If we don't treat it with the proper respect, we'll get killed. Or worse, our friends will."

Dru stood at his full height. He was still taller then me by a good five inches. "I have no friends," He sneered on this word though his eyes said something else. "and this is only a stupid little game." He turned away from me and stalked off in the opposite direction of Mo.

I sighed and let my guard drop. I slid my knife back into its sheath. "I wonder what happened between them…" I just shook my head and went back to the discussion.

"…seven days." Aly grumbled.

Larry nodded. "Yes, seven days. We'll train and learn new skills. That way we will be prepared. We'll have extra equipment and stuff. Then we go and attack."

I intervened before Aly could say anything. "I agree. We're going to wait seven days before we attack."

She glared at me. "Fine." She stalked off to the hot springs.

Larry turned to me. He was frowning. "I don't like this, man. Aly seems a bit…odd. Almost blood thirsty." He shook his head. "And Jen and Dru….they were hitting it off so well. Wondered what happened, ya know?" He stretched his big arms over his head. "I'm going to go and take a nap. Later man." With that he disappeared to where ever for the nap he wished for.

I left staring at Cain and Kashya. "Hmm…so, what's the situation?"

Cain sighed heavily. "It is certain we gave the demon queen Andariel, who has corrupted the rogue sisterhood and defiled their ancestral monastery. This does not bode well for us, my friends." He ran his hand through his thick, white hair. "Ancient Horadric texts record that Andariel and the lesser evils once overthrew the three prime evils – Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal – banishing them from Hell to our world."

"Crap? Really?" I grumbled. "That sucks." The history was interesting though I had heard it all before but from a live person. Well, that was cool.

Cain just shook his head. "Careful of your tongue, young one." He continued with his speech. "Here on our plain, they caused mankind untold anguish and suffering before they were finally bound within the Soulstones." He looked off towards a cluster of clouds that resembled a dragon. "Andariel's presence here could mean that the forces of Hell are once again aligned behind Diablo and his brothers. If this is true, then I fear for us all. You must kill her before the Monastery becomes a permanent outpost of Hell and the way east is lost forever."

I blinked. "Well, that's heavy work…" I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Placing both hands on the back of my head, I wandered off. I didn't go anywhere in particular just wandered. I mostly thought though. Most of it was about Mo too. It was odd. I've known her for like forever on the web and have always thought she was cool but now…there was just something about her that made me forget what I was going to say.

I had noticed the same things happening to Larry too. It was all so different from what I'd usually expect. "Hmm…contagious feelings." I mean back in the real world, girls flocked to me like flies. I flirted back and went out with a few…but Mo was different from them. She was actually my friend. You weren't supposed to have feelings for your friends…were you?

I sighed and walked out of the camp. I walked up on a small hill and just sat down. I had nothing to fear thankfully since I had no weapons or armor.

The wind ruffled my loose shirt and hair to my annoyance. I wandered what I'd look like if I saw myself from afar. I mean I looked a bit Italian and I've seen those guys in this get-up on TV. Just got to wonder sometimes.

My thoughts drifted off in another direction, to the upcoming battle. Dru was out of whack and I didn't even know about Jenny. Aly did seem a little bloodthirsty though she was the rational sort of person. Mo was just Mo thankfully and the same with Larry.

It was a win or lose battle. We had seven days to pull ourselves together and be a team. Though if didn't become that team…I winced thinking about it. The results would be disastrous. Someone would most certainly die…that someone probably being Mo. She would die before she saw anyone else get heart.

"Damn girl…" I mumbled to myself shaking my head. I fell backwards and just looked at the sky. It seemed so real but I knew it wasn't. It was only a game. "Everything is a game…life…love…" I said quietly to myself. "You win or lose, usually always getting hurt in the end." I just sighed again. I seemed to be doing that a lot these days.

The clouds shifted and swerved. Forming new shapes endlessly. A dragon here, a whale there. A rainbow formed for a moment then was gone the next. The ever moving chain of events. That was the sky was. Beautiful and yet deadly in many ways.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I just listened to everything around me. I heard birds and a wolf's cry. Sounds of the reality I once knew. Sounds that brought back home back in Delaware. If only I could get back…but did I really want this to end?

~*~*~

                What is wrong with the Druid? What happened between him and the Assassin? Will our hero's be ready in only a week to save the world? What does Mo really think about Danny and Larry? Is Aly really bloodthirsty?

So many questions to be answered! Such a story to tell though only time will tell what will happen to our hero's.

Onward to Victory!

~*~*~

A/n: So…you people like this story? Am I doing good? C'mon! I need to know! So, who should Mo pair up with Danny or Larry?
Tell whatcha think! If I don't get reviews, I may not get Act 5! Now that'd be a tragedy.

The Days:
Chapter 17: March 27th – April 2nd