Chapter 2

Do we all remember what I told you guys about caves?

Tunnels are the same deal, only longer and more…tunnel-y.

It was dark, more than the normal cave. I have eagle-eyes (literally), so that was no problem.

I was driven as I walked, driven by the tiny hope that I would see her again. Somehow, somewhere. Like that musical about the gang war. I remember watching that with my parents when I was younger. I asked what it was like to be in love.

My parents? Their answer was along the lines of what I have to tell every damn reporter that contacts me: "No comment."

Love is an obsession with a single person, something that consumes every other thing that needs to be done. That bosses you around, telling you what to do. Oddly enough, no guy or girl can get enough of it. When the one you love is gone, you can't get over it. Your mind just won't let you.

I haven't.

Back to my story here.

I continued my steady movement towards the chamber. At this point I felt numb the cold was so awful. I made a mental note not to turn into anything cold-blooded and trudged on.

The familiarity of the place was amazing. I could remember every last dent and crevice on the walls, and the pain I felt in the pit of my stomach while dashing past them.

Warmth. I was getting closer to the chamber, which was bound to be searing hot.

I recognized the place now fully. Just a turn to the right. I felt warm, and not just because of the lava. A deep, good feeling inside. I would see her, hold her again. I took a few steps forward, and looked into the void-like cavern.

I was frozen.

There was nothing I could do but look there, where it was. Where she was.

The bits and pieces of the statue were scattered all over the floor, next to the magma pit. I felt the imaginary frost surrounding me crack a little, and I was able to stumble over to the stone remains.

There…an arm…a bit of her chest…an eye. All fragilely trapped in time. And a face, missing an eye, with a look of absolute horror.

I felt like I should be sick. I wanted to throw up, but I couldn't. It wasn't real. It couldn't be real. She was alive. She had to be…

What happened next didn't make much sense at the time. Without the slightest noise, or even vague Spidey-like sense, I felt a boot sink into my neck. Hard and fast. I fell back, clutching my throat. It hurt like hell, and I could feel blood running down to my stomach. When I opened my eyes I caught my first glimpse of him. Or it.

The figure or creature or whatever it was, was coated in black metal armor. It was jagged and some parts even seemed to be dripping with blood. There were spikes protruding from the shoulders and gauntlets, and a helmet that would make Darth Vader piss in his pants.

It was, like the rest of the costume, cold and black, shaped in the face of a human being. The "mouth" was wide open and fanged. But the first thing I noticed about it was the eyes. Or rather, the eye. The one on the right was empty, but the socket was wide open anyway, modeled to look like it was gushing blood. The left was glowing red and bright, piercing into me.

It scanned me for several seconds, and a cold, raspy voice managed to slip out of the helmet.

"Target confirmed. Proceeding elimination."

It held out one of it's clawed hands and the tips began to glow brightly. In the hurt state I was in, it was a miracle I rolled out of the way. Five beams of light shot out of the sharp fingertips, each cutting into the rock that was supposed to be me.

I jumped up, ignoring the god-awful pain that doubled and burned my neck.

Armor. How the hell do you get past armor?

It leapt on me, digging it's claws into my hands when I tried to block the attack. I let out a yelp of pain and kicked it back. My boot hit solid metal, breaking two of my toes but causing the monster to fly back about five feet anyway, heading for the wall.

It used the impact to it's full advantage, kicking back and leaping towards me like it was weightless. I ducked and rolled, almost too late. The claw dug into my cheek as I escaped the hit, leaving an enormous gash. I shouted again in vain, feeling the blood all over my body pump only to leave the various cuts all over.

I was out of energy. I wanted to get up, but it didn't seem possible. I glared up at the demon standing above me. It looked pleased.

"Mission accomplished. Quake out."

I felt the last of my strength leave me, the monster blurred in and out, and then there was nothing.