-Author's note: Well, here it is, the final chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 8: The Coast
Karigan's heart is hammering in her head, a frantic drumbeat for battle. The exit to the flooded cave the two hunters had fought their way through stood before them, shrouded in a thick, veiling fog. Nothing but the distant rumble of thunder and steady drip of water droplets penetrated the still air. With each breath, a coil of fog swirled out of the hunters mouths.
Karigan stood beside Maria and studied the entrance that imposed before her. She had worked so hard to get to this point. Both she and Maria. It was all about to come to an end; if the two won and laid the Orphan to rest, the Nightmare would end and the curse would be lifted from the hunters. If they are unable to kill the Orphan, the Nightmare would continue its cycle of misery and unending torment.
Karigan shifted her gaze toward Maria who was wringing the rainwater from her soaking hair. She was the reason Karigan had made it this far. Without Maria, she would've been wandering the Nightmare, searching for answers she would have never found. After witnessing the horrific tragedies in the Research Hall, Karigan was beginning to sink into her loneliness. Just when things seemed the bleakest, Maria had been the first one to listen. The first one to offer Karigan both answers, and most importantly, companionship in a place devoid of everything but insanity.
The two hunters, one old and one new, had become quite close during their time through the Nightmare. Not only did they work well together, but they also understood each other. Their hardships had brought them closer together; ironic how a place painted in death could create such a bond.
A whimpering broke the silence and brought Karigan's gaze towards the bent over creatures surrounding them. They resembled women, but their bodies looked more like a fishes. With heads bent in a fashion close to prayer, they raised their arms towards the doors.
"It's a rather sad sight is it not?" Maria's voice echoes against the walls of the cave. Karigan could only nod. A dark pit was settling in her gut, thoughts about what would happen if they failed polluting her mind. She was worried, incredibly so, but not for herself, but for Maria. This is the end of her journey no matter what the outcome. She has nothing to go back to, ending this Nightmare is her only motivation to continue. Once it ends, the curse, the suffering and Maria herself will fade into a distant memory.
Karigan shakes her head, pushing the thoughts of her friend's inevitable fate to the back of her mind. She knows she should be focusing on nothing but the task before them.
Maria, noticing her discomfort, breaks the shared silence, her voice soft and comforting. "Are you alright Karigan?"
Karigan looks at Maria and nods her head. "Yes, it's just that. . .I'm scared."
"Scared?" Maria's voice is surprised, "You have no need to be scared. The Orphan-"
"I'm not scared of the Orphan. I'm scared for you." Her words come out blunt.
Maria's face softens and her gaze drops. "Karigan, you know what will happen either way." Her voice gets quieter, "I have already lived my life. I am lucky that I have even had the chance to get a slight chance of redemption. You should not feel pity for me."
"I do not feel pity. I just don't want to lose you. You see Maria, I care for you. You have been here alongside me this whole ordeal, as a true friend when no one else would. Forgive me if I do not wish to see anything ill befall you. Just tell me, is there any other way? Some way to end this Nightmare and return you to the waking world?"
Maria shakes her head, a sad smile crossing her lips, "No. My body is gone. You've seen it, my grave, you even have my bone; there is no way for me to return to the physical world. Just like the Clocktower, I am nothing but an astral manifestation of my former self, only sustained by the Nightmare. Even when we break the curse the Nightmare will continue to exist and me along with it. I cannot leave it. If I manage to survive I'll still be here however, If I do perish I can go in peace, knowing that you have helped me seek the atonement I could never achieve when I was alive. I thank you for that and I thank you for your friendship."
"Thank you Maria." Maria's words lessen the burden on Karigan' shoulders. To know that there is a way for Maria to survive even when the curse is broken. She still comes to terms with the fact that if Maria does die she will relish in the peace that accompanies death. Out of the two fates Karigan can guess which one Maria would prefer. An end to her suffering as well as an end to the hamlet's suffering. However, to know that Maria still has hope for both herself and the next generation of hunters stirs a spark in her being. Her mind focuses and her melancholy thoughts dissipate like the warm air coming from her mouth. "So what can you tell me about the Orphan? How are the two of us supposed to take down a Great One?"
Maria lifts her head, determination sweeping her stony features. "Infant Great One, but that makes him no less dangerous of a foe." she raises her hand and rubs her chin, "He's extremely aggressive and erratic. I can't remember much, most of my memories from that day are unclear, but I do remember him being very unpredictable. That and he used some sort of tendon as an extension of his arm to fight."
Karigan wrinkles her nose, "A tendon?"
"A tendon that will throw you half a league if it hits you, yes."
Karigan shudders, "You don't happen to have a strategy to employ do you?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Maria shakes her head, flinging small droplets of water into the air.
"Well one thing is for sure. If I happen to die you get out as fast as you can. We cannot risk you fighting that thing by yourself."
Maria nods, "Though it is not my way to disengage in battle, I understand. You don't have to worry about me."
"Good. And here, I want you to take half my bloodvials. You use them and they'll help you with any injuries." Karigan says as she extends half her supply towards Maria.
"Those belong to you, you should keep them." Maria's face is somewhat dark.
"Maria, I know you look down upon using blood but it's purpose here has no vile intent. It's for healing."
Maria sighs, "Very well, as you say." She reaches out and tucks the vials into her coat.
"Good." Karigan allows a tiny smile to slip through her defenses. "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be my friend." She bows her head and unsheathes her twin blades.
Karigan pulls her face mask up and tightens her hunters cap, feeling the soaking leather through her worn gloves. She sweeps the dark hair from her face, readies her sword and steps through the fog.
Much to her surprise she steps onto a open beach, not a another cave like she was expecting. Dark angry clouds roar in the sky, screaming at the two hunters to turn back. A jagged sun shatters the sky like a broken bottle. The dark ocean expands before them, unending in the horizon. Much to Karigan's dismay the rain continues to fall steadily from the sky, making the pebbled ground slick and shiny.
Fear, adrenaline, excitement and apprehension flood Karigan's senses, making every little detail stick out as if time itself had slowed down, telling her to take everything in. The way the light glinted off the wet environment, the rainwater trailing down her blade, the dried blood crusting to her gauntlets creating a new design of brown and gold. Some sort of white mass lays near the water, its scaly skin gleaming through the rain catches her eye. Kos. The mass begins to twist and thrive and something slips out of its gut. A shriveled humanoid crawls with its bony forearms along the stony beach, its jaw clicking. It stands up and stares at the plagued sun, a low cry escaping from its lips. The cry isn't of rage or anger, but of sadness. A cry for all the pain conjured from the Nightmare. Karigan turns her head toward Maria, whose blades are brandished before her, ready to put an end to it all. Maria looks at Karigan and nods. The two hunters descend upon the beach.
As they approach the Orphan pays them no regard. He just stands there, hands hanging limply by his side, his head tilted towards the cruel heavens, begging for a release. But the heavens pay no attention and continue their torrent of rain that blurs the vision.
The Orphan's head whips around swiftly as the two hunters get closer. His eyes stare into their very being in a way that sends shivers down Karigan's spine. He bends his shoulders and bellows a real cry of pain before leaping in the air.
Maria sees the attack coming and yells, "Get down!" Karigan dives forward, avoiding the quickly descending tendon about to smash into the ground. A spray of water from the ground splashes her as the Orphan's weapon makes contact with the ground. She turns and regroups with Maria, standing by her side.
"Let the fight begin." Maria breathes through clenched teeth.
The Orphan screeches and charges, its sinewy arms and legs flailing as it scrambles over the wet surface. Karigan and Maria split apart as the Orphan lashes out with his outstretched tendon. Though the weapon misses Karigan, the impact from the ground sends her sprawling. The Orphan's black eyes lock in on her and he springs forward. Karigan rolls out of the way and jumps to her feet just in time to see Maria slash at the Orphan's back, sending a stroke of blood through the air. The attack does nothing. The Orphan lets out a surprised squawk, stops and turns around, his focus now on his blonde attacker. Maria's eyes widen as he lunges with inhuman speed. His attack is so fast that Maria doesn't have anytime to dodge and takes the full blunt of his weapon. Blood splatters the ground and Maria collapses, her hand struggling to get a firm grip on the bloodvials in her coat.
"Maria! Hold on!" Karigan yells as she gets back up on her feet and dashes around the Orphan. She quickly kneels down beside Maria and takes two of her vials and jabs them into her leg, healing the gaping wound on her chest. Maria grunts a quick thanks before recovering.
The two hunters get up and circle the Orphan with trembling arms, their bodies rigid and tense, ready to counter strike. Instead of lunging or attacking with his weapon, the Orphan leans down and grasps something from the tendon.
"Karigan, get back! He's about to cause an explosion!" Maria calls out as she backsteps away. Sure enough the Orphan slams the ground and haze of red erupts from the beach with a loud crash. Thanks to Maria's warning Karigan is able to avoid the blast radius, quickly dashing out of the Orphan's reach.
The Orphan stops for a brief moment, recovering from his attack. Maria and Karigan seize the opportunity and attack him on both sides, effectively flanking him. Their attacks cause him to stumble between their blades as he is knocked back and forth. It doesn't last long however, as the Orphan lets out a blood-curdling screech and slams down with incredible force. An explosion knocks both the hunters far away, sending them skidding across the beach. Karigan shakes her head and struggles to her feet, injecting a few bloodvials to regain her strength. As her vision comes back into focus she notices that the Orphan's appearance has changed. Long, tattered wing like tendrils snaked up from his back, reaching for the sky. He screams again and jumps into the sky at an impossible height, throwing small red projectiles all around them. Karigan dodges frantically while trying to get closer to the Orphan to attack. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Maria doing the same thing, dashing around, using bloodvials whenever a stray projectile hit her.
As the two hunters reached the Orphan he let out a deadly barrage of attacks, giving them no time to attack, causing them to take in many bloodvials. Worry begins to crawl up Karigan's throat as she notices her vial supply rapidly depleting. The Orphan's attacks are deadly and aggressive, draining her stamina. Exhaustion was starting to set in her quivering limbs; her legs scream in protest as she continuously dodges, rain slides into her eyes, blurring her vision, her breaths coming out ragged and her hands keep slipping on her soaking blade. Maria is in the same condition, Karigan can see that her attacks are not as strong and her movements are hindered by both the rain and debilitation. Karigan knows that they must end the fight soon if they are both to survive.
The Orphan screeches and attacks again, but this time Karigan dodges with enough time to turn and thrust her weapon into his backside. The Orphan gasps and drops to his knees, exposing his back. Karigan allows some part of primal rage to take control from deep within and thrusts her hand into his back. Her body soars with ecstasy as her hand rips part of his gut out of him, painting her garb in paleblood. Her visceral attacks sends him sprawling, allowing Maria to get in a few slashes before he recovers. With newfound strength from the beasthood within she charges, attacking relentlessley. Maria joins in, her twinblades gleaming through the air.
Pure, raw anger radiates of the Orphan as he backs away from their vicious attacks. Suddenly he lets out another cry and slams down into the ground, causing another explosion. In Karigan's killing frenzy she doesn't see the blast coming before she finds herself on the wet ground again. Her leg feels wet and heavy and she struggles to find another vial in her coat. Then the realization sinks in like a rock; all her vials are used up. She has none left.
Horror and desperation fill her being as she looks up to see the Orphan descend upon her from above, his clawed hand outstretched to kill. With the knowledge that she won't be able to dodge the blow she flinches and closes her eyes, awaiting the end. But it never comes.
She hears a soft cry and opens her eyes to see Maria standing above her. Except she isn't standing. Her feet are lifted off the ground and she dangles from the Orphan, his arm sticking out through her back. Maria's eyes are wide and she lets out a gurgle, sending blood gushing from her mouth as she hangs there. The Orphan shakes his arm and Maria collapses to the ground in a bloody heap.
Karigan's world comes crashing down on her as she sees her friend's blood spilling out onto the glossy pebbles. Her blood mixes and swirls with the small rain puddles that collect on the ground. She screams in pure despair and anger as she gets to her feet, ignoring the numbing pain in her leg. Hot tears begin to burn her eyes. She charges and everything seems to scream. The heavy rain slams down faster and faster, blood rages in her ears, dark clouds roar and rumble as thunder breaks the sky and her cries echo through the Nightmare.
The Orphan lets out a small feeble gasp as Karigan's blade sweeps through his body, almost cleaving it in two. He drops to the ground and lies still until his body evaporates into a cloud that disperses through the air.
Karigan stands there in a haze, her shoulders heaving, her breathing harsh, her sword slick with the Orphan's blood. A quiet moan and cough snaps Karigan's mind back to reality.
"MARIA!" She screams as she drops her sword and rushes to her fallen companion. Maria lies on her back, her abdomen torn open and spilling out into the rain water. Blood runs from her mouth and her body shakes as she stares up into the sky.
"Maria, where are your bloodvials?" Karigan frantically asks, trying to keep her voice from cracking as tears pool in her eyes.
Maria looks up into Karigan's face and slowly shakes her head. ". . .None. . .left. . ." She lets out another weak cough and more blood spills out of her mouth.
"No, no ,no. . .this isn't happening. You're going to be okay, we'll get through this." Karigan rasps as she gently props Maria up on to her lap.
"It's. . .alright Karigan. . .Did you. . .is the Orphan dead?"
Karigan nods her head as tears stream down her face, blending in with the rain. "We did it Maria, the Orphan is gone."
Maria lets out a sigh and a small smile spreads on her pale face. "Good. . . I can rest easy now."
"Are you. . .are you in any pain?" Karigan gingerly asks.
"There is no pain. I. . .I can hardly feel it."
"Oh god Maria, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Karigan bends her head down to Maria's, allowing the tears to flow freely. She feels a hand on her face and raises her head, looking into Maria's face. Her face holds no pain, no regret, just relief and a small smile. Tears make her grey eyes gleam. Karigan grasps the hand at her face and holds it tightly in a gesture of comfort.
"There's no need to feel sorry for me." Maria grimaces as she coughs again, "Knowing that the curse has been lifted, is all I ever wanted. Thank you."
Karigan's chin trembles as she holds Maria's hand tight, holding on to her friend. She bends down and gently brushes Maria's hair out of her eyes.
"Karigan. . .look." Maria raises her hand towards the sky. Karigan turns and her face is greeted by a beam of light. Amidst it all the rain had stopped and the clouds began to break apart. Instead of a broken sun and dark clouds; a soft ray of light was peeking through the light clouds, washing them in light. It looked like a drop of gold rising from the Ocean.
Karigan laughed and cried at the same time, hope swelling within her as she watched the sun rise into the sky. It was the first time she had seen the sun since the hunt began. She turns back to Maria whose face is alight with joy and relief.
"It's, beautiful. . . and all thanks to you." Maria says, her gleaming eyes reflecting the light.
"No, I could never have done it without you. It should be me thanking you." Karigan replies, still holding Maria's hand.
"Can we just. . .stay here, please?" Maria's voice is weak and her breathing is getting more shallower.
The tears continue to spill but she still smiles. "Of course." Karigan shifts Maria so she can have a better view of the sun rising above the ocean's horizon. She holds Maria in her lap, stroking her hair lightly, ignoring the blood seeping from Maria onto her trousers.
The two hunters sit together, watching as the sun pushes the darkness away, bathing the Nightmare in warm light. Tears of both joy, relief and sadness run down their faces. Eventually Maria's breathing comes to an end and her chest lies still. Karigan looks down at her friend's sun washed face.
"Maria. . .Maria?" She gently shakes her still friend's shoulders. ". . .Maria. . ." Maria's eyes are vacant and stare into the sky, a small smile still parting her lips. Karigan tries to suppress a sob as she lightly pushes Maria's eyelids closed with her fingertips.
"I'm so sorry my friend." Karigan finally lets the sob out, lowering her head until it pressed against Maria's cold chest. The sobs continued, racking her chest as she cried.
She stays in that position for a time, mourning her friend. Eventually the sobs stop and a feeling of euphoria rises up from the pain. Karigan looks at the sun, realizing that Maria's pain is over. That she can rest easy now, knowing that she has claimed atonement and redemption for her past sins.
Carefully she picks up Maria's body and carries her away from the beach. With her friend in her arms she walks through the hamlet and up to a small cliff that overlooks the town. The view of the hamlet and ocean are much different from the first time she entered the Nightmare. Despair and darkness no longer blanket the area, instead a comforting glow lights up the corners, bathing everything in light. It's as if the hamlet had been reborn.
Karigan gently placed Maria's body on the ground and found a place where the earth had been softened by the endless rain. She began digging with some tools she had found in the fishing huts on her
way back through the village. She dug and dug until her arms could dig no longer. Standing up she wipes the sweat from her brow and brushes the bangs out of her face.
She doesn't want to leave Maria's body unattended but she quickly returns to the hamlet, collecting pieces of wood, nails and other tools. She also makes a quick run back to the clocktower, where an endless field of lumenflowers grow at the gates. She picks an armful and grabs the smashed picture that still rests on the side table where Maria once sat. She returns to Maria's body and places her supplies down beside the hole.
Karigan begins to assemble a coffin made from the wood of the fishing village. She's not very good at the woodwork but she spends the time and puts all her effort into building a resting place for her friend. By the time she is done, her hands are rough and covered in splinters but she heeds them no attention. She gingerly picks up Maria and places her inside the makeshift coffin. She folds Maria's hands over her chest, and puts the flowers on top. She lays the picture and her Rakuyo at Maria's side on the bottom.
With new tears gathering in her eyes she takes one last look at Maria, burning her face into her memory so she would not forget. Her face looks so peaceful, as if she was in a deep sleep. Her light hair is splayed out around her like a halo, the blue ribbon that kept it together still in place.
"Goodbye my friend. May you rest in peace." Karigan bows her head and wipes the tears from her eyes. The pain and sorrow in her heart burns as she places the lid over Maria and lowers her into the grave. Under the light of a new sun she buries the coffin, thoughts of her friend floating through her mind. Once done she places a slab of concrete she found as a tombstone at the head of the grave. She lays the remaining flowers at the base of the tombstone.
With a small dagger that was strapped to her boot she carves into the concrete. "Here lies the Lady Maria. A true friend and noble Hunter. May she find peace in the next life."
With that Karigan stands up and looks towards the horizon. A soft breeze tussles her hair and the light from the new sun warms her face. The tears clear from her eyes and she can't help but smile at the beauty before her. Smile for her friend. Smile for everything that they had accomplished together. She turns away from the grave to exit the Nightmare. Hope and joy for finding a friend among the Nightmare rising from her chest. She leaves with the light of the sun warming her back.
-Author's Note: And there ya have it, the angst filled ending haha. This was my first fanfiction and I had a great time writing it. Well I hope you enjoyed this story and please let me know if you liked it in the reviews. Also if you'd be interested I could write another fic featuring these characters as well, let me know!
p.s. To the guest that reviewed this last, that's an interesting idea but I think it kind of breaks the lore. I tried to at least stay relatively close with it. Maria cannot travel to the Hunter's dream because she isn't connected to it, making it impossible for her to reunite with Gehrman.
Thanks so much for reading! Cheers