Chapter 5. And thus, the pact has been sealed (Alternative Title—"Choices to be made")
There was an uneasy air in the tunnels where she passed. Last time the corridors leading to the man were different, they were more vibrant, —more alive. When passing through Evelyn had to shield her eyes lest the brilliance —which dominated the passageways— blinds her, now she could see just fine.
There were cracks on the walls, ceiling, and ground, nevertheless the tunnel still led her to the man. However, with each step the air had become stale, and the lights continued to fade. The cracks on the corridors became more apparent, and some threatened to break the passageway into two, and yet the young girl walked on, mildly disturbed, she continued her journey. Afterall, she had promised.
She had made a promise. She would return, and not leave the man to his fate.
And thus, she walked on.
The heavy stench of decay hung in the air, making the little girl scrunch her nose in distaste and disgust, but it didn't stop her from reaching the hanged man. She passed one more corner and the corridor opened to reveal the dark room where they had first met.
She didn't expect much to change since her previous visit, and that may be why, she was so surprised when the doors opened to reveal the insides.
Where once the pallid man was broken and bound, now there stood a man, barely restrained with loose chains around his neck and limbs. The lack of eyes still gave her the chills, even more so than the blood dripping and splashing onto the ground. The man sensed her arrival and turned his head, acknowledging her presence, he called out weakly. The voice was barely a whisper and yet it carried through the vast black expanse and reached the girl standing by the fading white door.
"You've returned."
"Yuup. I said I would, didn't I?" She beamed and skidded through the wet grounds, reaching dangerously close to one, she knew so very little about.
"What have you brought me this time?"
She rummaged through her small backpack and took out a figurine and placed it inside one of his shackled hands. It was one of the toys she liked to play with, of course, everything changed when she received that magical book, but it was still an object dear to her. She hoped that this would at least bring some solace to the bound.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't get another healing potion; we only get one each month."
She said, "but if I could tell them about you, I'm sure they'd help you-"
"No." The Pallid Man said, towering above the little mortal.
"It is enough. You've already done enough for me." He said, and the chains around his limbs and torso shook and quaked as if to signal the coming of a catastrophe. Evelyn actually thought the chains would break and the man would be finally free to go with her, but the chains remained firmly steeled around his ankles, wrists and neck. A few protrusions, the tips of the nails were still scattered throughout his torso, however they were less numerous than before.
She scanned the wounds covering the blind man's body, and against all odds, where the giant nails disappeared so did the wounds, as if they had been a lie.
"Whe- How lo-long?" She stuttered. "How long until you can come with me?"
Stillness was the only answer, and then—
A strong current swept through the expanse and Evelyn felt weightlessness claim her.
She flew above the chained man and was carried throughout the heavens. The dark skies were colored with a mixture of awkward colors, impossible for the human eye to comprehend, and yet the young girl felt at ease, and gradually she felt darkness overwhelm her senses. Her eyelids grew heavy, and after one last glance at the shackled in the center of this universe she fell asleep.
The Unforgiven stared at the sleeping child and contemplated his options.
He was powerful enough now; he could escape if he truly tried. But at what cost?
Yellow eyes opened throughout the dark expanse, small and gargantuan alike, all focusing on the sleeping child, and each eyeball held a different mix of emotions within.
The chains gave creaking noises and painful shrieks as the Pallid Man lifted his hand and touched her forehead. He gently stroked her head, and shood away all bad dreams while staring at her intently.
He could possess her. A mortal body wouldn't last a second, but it was enough. More than enough time to leave this place behind. He was truly considering such an option. How could he?
He felt a bubbling feeling well up from deep within, and the eyes in the skies shivered.
It boiled him from the inside as veins became visible throughout his physical manifestation. Fury, rage at his own thoughts made the terrible old man twist and quake in his own blood.
Epochs—he waited. Millions of billions of years. Timespans impossible to comprehend to the higher-level gods, he waited here, imprisoned. He waited for a chance to escape, and after all this time, there was only ever one who tried to help and truly free his essence.
Utterly ludicrous!
How could he ever consider sacrificing someth- someone who was kind to a monster such as him?!
How far have I fallen?!
Once I stood against the Void!
I defied G.O.D. !
Now, I am broken and bound. Flesh is my prison!
He let go of the child, and the body was swiftly pulled away by the fading light in the distance. She would be safe today; he would not claim her. The infinite corridor struggled to close the gates behind the human, while the pallid man strained his ego and flexed his muscles unused for eons.
They thought they could contain me. They thought I would remain a prisoner forever and beyond. They thought they were safe from me. Let me remind them. Why they fear!
A cacophony of wails and shrieks erupted within the dark realm, where countless Wraiths of Old erupted from within the bound form, and were severed and propelled forwards, right through the doors which struggled to stay standing as an all-encompassing tide of sentient fury, rage, and regret —given form, escaped to reality to haunt the living and the dead.
Darkness is not your enemy. I am.
"Here me and obey; sick souls of the forgotten!"
"Go forth! Invade every world in-between!"
"Bring sickness, decay, oblivion to all. Spare that one, consume the rest!"
An unnaturally wide smile—stretching from ear to ear—displayed rows of crooked teeth as the Forgotten howled in mad laughter and let loose his trophies of ages past.
Ultimately the realm was left hollow, except for the sole inmate. He gradually stopped cackling and turned his eyeless skull towards the heavens. "I wonder, how you like this?"
A/N:
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Next up: Carnage at the orphanage – and the end of worlds P1.