Thank you for visiting. You might find that this chapter is different because this one is an experimental one that revolutionized the way I have writing. Instead of having all the phrases that the character's say all spaced out, I would instead clump them together into giant paragraphs. I've learned that from the Guardians Of Ga'hoole series, and it taught me something. It taught me how to type and write more professionally, and more productive and easier as well. Perhaps, you might notice it as you read this chapter. Here we go. Fourth chapter it is.
===================================
Chapter 4
I don t get it. Noah began with his back against the wall, sitting on the harsh coral floor of the atlantis building. I cannot believe fate would do me like this. First, I met you, then we found the crystal of hell after exploring hell. And then we found atlantis and explored where no normal regular wolf had ever gone before. We were doing soo good. Noah and Messenger were sitting on their tails side by side as they mourn on their short lived success of finding both the crystals. They seemed to of had just a couple steps of saving themselves, but now that they found that the crystal of atlantis was possibly confiscated from atlantis, they were no in doubt screwed.
I m soo sorry, Noah. I really tried. We really tried. Messenger spoke in a raspy sorry voice as they sit and watch the fish like as if they were spending the last moments of the end of the world. Noah stood still for a moment with his ears down. Watching fish go by was the only productive thing they could do right now. But the sight kind of brought them at a serene and collective kind of mind. But right now he was in deep thought about the future of what could happen. They were in a bit of a checkmate with the problem. The only best idea Noah could share with Messenger is that they could hide as best as they could. But that s not living life. But what else do they have? Noah hated this feeling. His mother had gotten sick, and the only ideas left in the bin were just as close to useless as hoping for the best outcome. She died later. But this waiting; this standing still while he felt soo useless at this moment was the most punishing and painful feeling ever.
Noah looked at Messenger and said You think we can hide? Messenger replied with an un-motivational tone We can try. It wouldn t be worth living. He ll take us and make us stay prisoned at hell for the rest of eternity. He ll even make me suffer more for what I have done to help you.
So I guess life ain t worth living up until this point, hiding and scrounging?
Yep... As Noah stared through the smashed hole in the wall of the building from which they came in through, his eyes spaced out at the rubble across the trail. The rubble was forming an arch, which gave view to another trail just on the other side of the rubble. Just as he was staring at the arch, a black clouded wolf-sized mass slowly floated by, followed by patches of black clouds following after it. Noah s eyes blinked for what he thought he saw. He turned his head towards Messenger, who seemed to not be paying attention and he said Did you see that, Messenger? See what? Messenger looked at Noah with a confused look.
That thing. It was black, cloudy and it zoomed by. I thought I saw it have glowing orange spots on it. Noah tried to describe, only when Messenger assumed of what Noah had saw. Either Noah was just going crazy from stress and tiredness, or he was seeing death who was possibly still hunting him.
Messenger. It s death. I thought he only searches at night.
He only searches outside of his premises during dark. This is his premises. He must be searching here right now.
Then we need to leave, like, right now. Noah replied, then he got up and stepped behind a blind spot. We can only do the best we can to live long enough, even if the crystal is out of the option. Messenger nodded and he joined Noah. Suddenly, Messenger started feeling that the spot they were currently hiding in was vulnerable. He had to do something about it.
Noah, We need to move. Why? Because, this spot has a wide open hole in the wall. Don t you think this would be the next place death would search at? Noah thought for a second what Messenger had said. He nodded in agreement and said,
Fine. Let s move. And so they did. They left that spot. But Messenger lead the way. He looked both ways before crossing the trail. If Noah was right for what he d seen, then they both are in deep trouble. But it did not matter. They ve been hiding for the past few days. They got this. They can do this. They can avoid this, and they are very clever as long as they stick to each other s plans.
Messenger thought that this small tunnel beneath the rubble would serve as a good hiding spot for them both. It was not too far from the building they searched from. Noah, what did this thing looked like? Well, it was black, it was clouded I thought I saw some orange spots that looked like eyes. I was not paying much attention, and it happened soo quickly. I did not see it clearly. Noah, I think you re just seeing stuff because you re afraid. I m not seeing things that arn t there. I m positive of that I have seen. Noah bit back on Messenger. But then Messenger started shushing Noah. Don t shush me. SHHHHHHHH! Noah was looking at Noah with an annoyed expression when he turned his head to the left to find the black creature stepping towards the hole in the wall where they just came out of. It was black, with lava orange eyes, and it was emanating small patches of black smoke. It was not big, just the same size as Noah and Messenger. Noah froze, not saying a word. His heart was pounding soo hard it hurted, he thought he could faint right here, right now.
That s not death. Messenger whispered. He was surprised Messenger could keep a straight voice despite the idea that their doom was possibly pending around the corner.
It s not? Then who is it? Noah asked as the diabolical figure sniffed the harsh ridges of where the wall broke apart, gathering Noah s and Messenger s scent.
I don t know. But it is not death. But it still does not mean we are not in trouble. Messenger said. Noah placed his paw on his chin and thought. This figure looked so familiar. He just could not put his paw on it. He tried thinking, searching though his memory.
Who is this creature?
The answer hit him when he figured out that this creature was actually that ghost dog he asked questions to on where the crystal might be located. Yeah it was that dog. Was it actually a staff of death? Was it really? Why is it here?
The creature stepped through the hole in the wall and disappeared through. If Messenger had not thought of moving anytime sooner, or at all, they would of been found, and possibly attacked by that dog.
Messenger, I think I know who this dog might be. Not now, Noah. Can we speak of this another time? Noah went silent, putting on that pouty face again. Say, uh, how about you stay behind here while I go deeper down this cave to see if it s safe to hide? Maybe there s a tunnel passage way where we could sneak our way back to where we came from and ditch this atlantis. Noah was about to agree, but then he thought about the crystal that possibly might still be here. The crystal might still be here. We cannot just escape. Not right now. Noah, look what s outside. They ve come to search for us. It s not safe here. We need to leave and then come back another time. Fine. Go ahead. If we can see it, it can see us. Soon after, Noah was waiting for Messenger to come out of the deeper end of the tunnel. He still had his eyes on the sandy trail just outside of the tunnel when he turned his head down the tunnel and said Messenger, are you done yet? in a hushed tone. Messenger didn t reply. He just still kept hearing paw stepping sounds. Messenger? Before Noah could step out from his hiding corner to step into the cave, he looked right to the trail to make sure the dog was not standing next to the doorway. When he looked back towards the tunnel, he was met with something he did not wish to meet in the first place, and possibly one of the last things, too.
MESSENGER!
The voice of Noah blaring had made Messenger flinch after he found a secret tunnel to what he assumes to be a underground city. He could only assume the worse that was happening right now to Noah.
Messenger bursted out from the underground tunnel when he caught Noah constantly bouncing and dodging the ghost dog s leathal bites. His sides was already covered in some bitemarks and gashes. The first thing Messenger could do for this split second was to pounce on this ghost dog. The ghost dog growled and was thrown back just a couple of paces in defence. After Messenger s infliction, the ghost dog stood between Messenger and the ghost dog. The ghost dog gave a deep searching stare into the fearful eyes of Noah. She calculated her situation and who to strike. It was when Messenger readied himself for another attack when the ghost dog chose Messenger and barked ferociously charging at Messenger. Messenger got in his attack stance as she quickly lurched at him. The first four to five inflictions happened soo fast. It took a mere three seconds before Messenger was caught in a lock, wrapping his neck and body ontop of the ghost dog. He looked into Noah with his pleading dark eye sockets and blurted between his fang filled mouth Noah. Go! Now! Be smart, find a place! Leave!
Noah was standing right infront of the action. He shook his head and said No no no. I ain t leaving you! Noah, you big, wobbling idiot! They both thought they heard the strained chuckle of the restrained ghost dog Messenger held in place. Offended, Noah turned around an dashed out of the entrance. He would help Messenger no matter what. But he didn t need his help, he guessed. But running out into the coral city without him giving out a specific direction made Noah feel like he was wearing a blindfold. He did not know if he should go inside of another building, or leave atlantis in general. He remembered what Messenger had told Noah. He didn t have enough time to explain to Noah what to do. All he heard was to be smart and leave. Noah had been relying on Messenger this entire time for directions. Is this the part where he has to find out on his own on how to deal with this situation? Should he go? Noah stopped and thought about the chances. The ghost dog found them instantly, even without having her seeing them cross from that building to the next. So staying here would be the worst idea ever. Could it be that the dog could smell tracks?
No matter what, Noah was leaving. But how can he cover his scent tracks? He thought about swimming in the river. What if it cannot pick up scents in the water? All this time, they were walking on land.
Success! Clever!
But what about Messenger?
Noah stopped to allow himself to hide behind a wall. He peeked around it to gaze back where he had came from when he was ambushed by the ghost dog. He really thought about Messenger. What is going on with Messenger? Is he alive? Is he still well? Did he make it? His thoughts ran cold. This time, there was no room for emotion. He must do whatever it is necessary for himself to be safe. And Messenger did demand Noah to leave him, right?
Noah dashed off as quick as he could. Quicker than normal. The sand was kicking up from behind as his worn out ligaments were forced to push excessively to gallup Noah to the exit of atlantis. He repeatedly ignored what s happening and thought of nothing but running and getting out of this place. He followed his own footsteps, ran through the ruined streets of the city, and saw the cave advancing up a sandhill that lead to a wall of deep grey rocks. He ran into the cave and never looked back. He was shunned by the darkness of the cave until he reached the exit portal, leading him out of the cave and back into the outside world. A world only normal wolves, like Noah, only belonged. But he didn t stop there. He continued his running. His legs begging him to stop. His lungs sucking in air at a high rate between gasping breaths. He took the turn before the bridge and threw himself into the water. Rain and salt water collected into his eyes, stinging his eyeballs as he choked on water, trying to stay afloat. But he pushed on. Swimming closer and closer to the other side.
He couldn t really think of a good place to arrive to. He thought that the closest shore would end this misery of exertion. He climbed up the sandy shore. His mouth was gasping for air as his tongue tiredly hung from between his lower jaw fangs. His eyes just kept rolling upward, and all he could see was a blinding white light. Salt stinging his gashes and cuts, he gave his final breath before the bright white turned to darkness. He just felt himself plummet on his side. Collapsing didn t feel soo painful when you re out consciously.
MESSENGER! CODA! Noah called out randomly with no sense of control. He got a hold of himself, and realised he just woke up from a terrible dream after passing out on the beach. He was met with absolute darkness. The first thing his ears met were the strong sounds of the wavy shore.
Frightened, he stumbled back on his shaking legs. A sharp pain forced Noah to yelp and whine. His body was covered in terrible sores and itchy dried blood, and he was terribly thirsty, and hungry. Noah limped himself away from the shore where he woke up from. He did recall how he got here, and what happened back in atlantis. But he was not in the shape to mourn. Atleast not right now. He found a much safer place to sit down and relax and let the thoughts run through. It was a cave far from the area he hiddened himself from. He did pass by a handful of caves that were close by from where he had woken up. But he was certain that it was safer to rest someplace further from the spot where he had woken up from. But the interior had shown some sort of blue glow that emanated through the darkness of the shore. He checked what s in it, and it was exactly what he had assumed it to be. They were giant blue crystals that pop up everywhere within the interior walls of the caves. Noah knew that these crystals had to not be the ones Messenger was looking for. If it was, it would not make sense traveling over half the world for the common crystal. But Noah did not care anymore. Not for now. The soft blue glow of the mini cave gave the area an inviting feel. So he went inside where he laid on his belly on the hard rocky surface floor. He let the blue light of the bright crystals soak through his skin. His ears hung low and tired as his body twitched with pain and exhaustion. But he was no longer frightened, nor exerting himself in any way anymore. But his body aches remain. He had a flash of what happened back at atlantis, and his eyes began to well with tears as he started to remember what happened and how it happened.
Noah, you big, wobbling idiot!
The voices of Messenger echoed in his head, and he lost it. He bursted out in heavy sobs. It was all his fault. He never helped messenger enough. And now he has to abandon his only true friend. If he had been more compatible and workable around Messenger and not rely on Messenger for eighty percent of his time with Messenger, maybe this would of resulted in a different, more positive outcome. But it was too late. He wasn t sure where Messenger was. Or if Messenger was ok. And now he has to stay stuck in this cave, all alone, no one to tell him whether he did okay or not. And these were the worst feelings he had ever felt.
Messenger groaned. He woke up in a smelly old cage. The air was hot and burning, and he did find that he was not wearing a skull mask. He jumped up from the dust covered floor. His body felt lighter than a feather. His vision cleared from the blurriness that restricted it. He was back in the world of fire and lava. That terrible place he hoped to never see again.
Noah! He spoke. He started spinning, circling around. He was in a cell. There was a pile of bones off in the corner of the cell to the right. On the left was a nasty leathery bed cushion and a crumbling chest that would barely keep items in if it were to be storing things right now due to it s lacking of integrity. Noah! He spoke again. But there was no answer. He thought of the worst for himself. He was trapped. That death henchman had killed Messenger and his soul must of been collected back to the prison of hell. Well, he was trapped. But the bright part of this is that Noah is safer now, since he s not been captured yet, he guessed.
He heard a crashing sound, like the sound of metal gates scraping and crashing. Fear rushed through his head and he backed from the filthy bars of the cell. The footsteps of the source had revealed to be Death himself. Messenger s body stiffened. It was followed by the henchman that had tracked him and Noah down. She smirked. Her terrible yellow eyes on him.
Hello, Coda. It was a good long game of cat and mouse. But luckily for me, I finally found you, thanks to Gambit. Death s voice rattled the bars of the cell, and Gambit raised her head with triumph as she grinned her fanged smile. You betrayed me, Messenger. How could you? I just wanted to save my friend. Messenger said in defeat. Noah s my old friend. He doesn t deserve to die. But you broke my trust. You broke my rules. You must come and inform every chosen wolf on my list that I shall take. Even if it s a relative A-And what friend? I took your memories away. How are you supposed to remember that Noah was your friend? Death growled as he stuck his muzzle close to the cell s bars to scare an answer out of Messenger s chest.
Messenger sat on his tail and placed his paw on the side of his temple and said I-I don t know. It just sort of slipped through, I guess. I mean, nothing s flawless. How DARE you said my tricks are not flawless! Death s voice thundered and these strange slimy black tentecal things slammed on the bars with a loud ruckus. Messenger jumped and hit beside the chest of the cell, hiding his face from Death s intimidation. You say that my powers are not flawless? Do you? The sound of Death s bellowing voice was everywhere. Even in Messengers ears. It was just soo intense.
W-well That was proof. Messenger spoke, trying to hint to Death that his dark magical abilities are not flawless at all, atleast most of the time.
Proof of what? ...That your abilities are not flawless...
Death's tenticles shot through the bars and snatched Messenger in his hard grip. Messenger tried to get away, but the tenticles dragged Messenger effortlessly up to the bars of the cell, where he slammed against the cold and gritty bars, back first. Since Messenger is too big to fit through the bars of the cell, Death just started painfully twisting and turning Messenger's body with a sickening cracking of bones and sharp whining from Messenger. Although, this would of instantly killed Messenger in the overworld, the rules do not apply once you are already dead here in hell. You just instantly heal after the painful process.
Messenger's eyes shut as he was tormented in real pain. Death grimmaced and then he spoke.
"I don't care what you say, you're never getting out of this place. You blew your chance of seeing the overworld, Coda."
"You're not capturing Noah. Once you got me, you'll never find him." Messenger puffed. "You stole my memories. You stole our freedom. You are not taking Noah." Messenger heaved as his body was still in the grip of the terrible tentacles of Death, twisting in unnatural and painful positions.
Death let go of Messenger, finally allowing him to speak properly. He looked back painfully and caught Death and Ganbit looking into each other's eyes.
"I-I mean, I still got the crystal."Ganbit's voice was low, like she was trying to talk to Death secretely. It was the first time that Messenger realised that this entire time, Ganbit was wearing the crystal of atlantis around her neck. Perhaps, Messenger and Noah were right. Noah had the right to be concerned since the crystal was already taken from the location. But perhaps, it's being used to power her necklace... to provide her the ability to walk in te overworld? She saw Messenger's eyes grow in bewilderment. He looked away. A new face of hopelessness formed on Messenger's face.
"Yes. Yes. Go back to the overworld and dind Noah and find Noah. Search for him, emediately before he grows bolder."
"Won't mind if I do." Ganbit's evil giggle sent shivers up Messenger's spine.
"Once you find him, I promise you, Ganbit, I will give you the gift you've been looking for." Death's focus went from Ganbit' to setting his eyes on the now captive. Messenger felt Death's eyes on him, even while not looking at Death. He continued in his low, calm voice. "While Noah is still somewhere out there, atleast I still got my Coda."
Messenger gave Death a funny face when he walked off o the corner of the room to where a small saddle bag sat in the corner. His tentacles went down to wrap around the strap of the backpack, and that was when Messenger remembered that he was wearing a backpack when he was walking with Noah, not to mention the sensitive contents that were inside. Messenger's face went pale. And Death said "Looking for this?" and then his other tenticle unzipped the bag and reached inside. He made a evil chuckle. "I smelled your plan the moment I sensed your sents in the halls marked off-limits. Perhaps, it's fruitless now. But don't worry." Messenger raised his head up as he sensed more from the mouth of his foe. "It won't be long before your friend comes and joins you."
I hope you enjoyed this one. I will post another chapter to this story this instant tonight.- 11/16/20 2:52AM