Yep. I got lots of time to work on this today, so it's up. Good show.
Chapter Eight: Panic
Larka did not know where she was. She tried to look around, to see her surroundings, but all that met her was darkness. Moving her body parts was impossible, although she had no idea why that seemed wrong.
A sudden realization had hit her. She could not feel. Dreading what she would see, she attempted to look at herself. Her body was not there. Completely confused now, Larka tried to lift her arms again, to no avail.
What has happened to me? Larka thought frantically. She strained to speak, but found it impossible, as though her vocal cords had vanished. Then again… it had seemed as though her entire body had.
Why? Why am I like this? Then a memory came back to her, one of a dagger being plunged into her chest. I died! He… he killed me!
Is this… what lies beyond death? An eternal void? No… that can't be right… To be alone here… forever… that can't be…
Yet no matter how she wished that was not true, no other alternative seemed possible. And that filled her with despair.
…
Zack and Angela walked in silence. Most of Zack's thoughts were worries about what was happening to Larka. About halfway there he took his deck from his Duel Disk and checked over it before sliding it back into place.
It was impossible for him to imagine what was going through Angela's mind. Her gaze was fixated ahead and her eyes gave away nothing. Other people might have felt awkward, but Zack was thankful for the silence at the moment. It gave him time to straighten his mind before reaching their destination.
When they entered the actual canyon area, Zack thought of something he wanted to inquire on. "Angela? May I ask you something?"
"Yes," she replied flatly.
"Since Larka is not here, who are you taking orders from?" Zack said.
"While the substitute is not present, you will command me. I believe that is what the substitute would wish for," Angela answered.
"I see…" Zack trailed off as they reached the ravine before the cave. "Hm… I can fly over this. What about you?"
"Crossing this distance is of no concern for me," Angela said.
"Very well then." Zack activated the devices that allowed him to hover before leaping over. He made it easily. After turning them off again, he called to Angela, "It's your turn."
Angela backed up and then took a running leap, sailing over the ravine and landing on her feet. "Cleared. Awaiting new orders."
"Impressive," Zack commented before turning back to the cave. "I don't know what we will find in here. Be ready for anything. I'll go first."
"Affirmative." Angela followed him in.
The tunnel only went one way, but was completely dark. Zack was able to see fairly well due to adjustments with his eyes, but he wondered about his companion. "Angela? Can you see in here?"
"Yes. My eyesight is still one hundred percent effective in dark environments," Angela stated.
"Good. We should not have any problems with that then." He continued on.
They soon reached a point where it looked like there had been two routes. The one to the right was blocked off though, completely caved in. "I suppose this is the only way to go," Zack said, heading left with Angela close behind.
The tunnel opened into a huge cavern. They instantly saw that this had to be their destination. The numerous bloodstains, bared bones, cracked tombstones, and ruined coffins left little room for doubt.
"Now we know what he meant by the Cave of Dead…" Zack muttered, looking disgusted at the sight. He went towards the center of the area, carefully avoiding the debris and body parts.
When Zack got closer to it, he was able to see the back wall. There was a rock by it, and a closed coffin on top of the rock. Unlike all of the other ones, this coffin was closed and not broken in any way. Getting a horrible feeling about the coffin, he swiftly went to it.
As he approached it, he saw that the coffin had what looked like a glass lid, allowing a viewer to see what was in it. The sight caused Zack to instantly run forward and lean over the coffin. "Larka!"
Larka did not respond to his cry. She lay motionless in the coffin, her arms crossed over her chest. It looked like she was unconscious, yet…
"Larka! Please answer me!" When she still did not move, Zack looked at where her arms were crossed. To his horror, he saw that her chest, where her heart lay, was covered in blood.
"No… Larka… you can't be…" Refusing to believe his eyes, Zack tried to open the coffin, only to find that it was locked.
"Do not bother. It is far too late."
Zack turned to see Crucio standing behind him, as though he had materialized out of nowhere. He instantly brought out his switchblade. "What have you done to her?"
"Oh, not much really…" Crucio brought out his Dagger of Butterflies. It was caked with dry blood. "Merely one stab. The human body is so frail… not as much as the mind, but still weak."
"Enemy detected. Will commence attack," Angela said. Her hair whipped back, like a snake about to strike.
"Hold on," Crucio said, holding up a hand. Zack had been about to charge himself. "I know you would love to kill me, but your friend's life is on the line. Brandi is still alive. I can alert Obsidian before dying and tell him to kill her."
Although Zack wanted nothing more than to slice apart Crucio, his words brought him to a halt. "Angela, do not attack."
"Affirmative." Angela's hair returned to its normal length. "Will wait for order to strike."
The Dagger of Butterflies vanished from his hand. "Zackary Wright, I assume. I hope you do not mind me calling you Zack? It seems most do."
"How do you know my name?" Zack demanded.
"Her mind revealed everything to me." From behind Crucio emerged a Soul Monster. It looked like a blue brain with four brown, stick-like legs and three yellow claws on each foot. Two ragged pink wings came from its back, and from the front produced a long, blue neck with a single, yellow eyeball. "This is Defringo, a Brain Jacker. He can read minds. So before I slew her… I had the foresight to take all of the information I could first."
"Quit talking about her that way!" Zack snarled.
"What way? As though she is property to be used to my convenience? Or that she is dead?" Crucio inquired.
"Both!" Zack answered.
"But she is. She started as a specimen, and she ended as one," Crucio said. "I merely tell the truth on both accounts."
"You have no right to use Larka like that!" Zack said furiously.
"Really? I was given full permission by my leader. I would say that is all the right I need." Crucio smirked as he adjusted his glasses. "But I can see why you would think otherwise. The bond you two share is truly remarkable. She really did love you. I was actually told later that her final thoughts were solely based on you. Probably wishing she could have a final chance to see you. It is funny, how people want such small things in their last moments of life…"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Zack brought his Duel Disk forward with a snap as it activated. "You want to toy with minds? Try mine! If you won't let me kill you outright, I shall do it this way!"
"Revenge, eh? So many think of revenge when it is so pointless. Killing me will not bring her back," Crucio pointed out.
"I don't care… for what you have done, I can't allow you to live!" Zack declared. "I WON'T allow you to live!"
Crucio shrugged. "All right then. I will not object to more experiments. But I do request one thing. Tell the Guardian to stay out of this. I do not wish to fight with her at the moment."
"Angela, this is my fight," Zack said to her. "I ask you to let me handle this."
"As you wish," Angela replied, going next to the coffin.
"Very good. Now, we should lay out the duel conditions." Crucio turned on his Duel Disk before continuing. "I noticed you are a cyborg. To be honest, this interests me. Just how would your mind have changed after becoming a machine? For this duel, I want these conditions. I will remove my shield, so that when you do enough damage, I die. But as for you… your cards will be your memories. When you lose them, you lose your memories. In reality, Defringo will be taking them. If you lose all of your cards, you will have lost all of your memories, and as a mindless machine, you will follow my commands. Fair enough?"
"What if I win? Do I get my memories back?" Zack asked, not seeming intimidated by the rules.
"Yes. All of them," Crucio assured.
"Then I accept. Let's begin this!" Zack said, eyes flashing.
…
Larka had still been in a state of anguish when she heard the voice. "Larka!"
Zack? Hope entered Larka. Zack, is that really you? But… his voice… why does it sound so… odd?
"Larka! Please answer me!" There was a pause, and then he said, "No… Larka… you can't be…"
His voice… it has… despair… Larka realized.
"Do not bother. It is far too late."
Larka instantly recognized Crucio's voice as well. The small bit of hope she had obtained faded at his words.
"What have you done to her?"
"Oh, not much really… Merely one stab. The human body is so frail… not as much as the mind, but still weak."
That was when Larka realized what had occurred. Zack had seen her, yes… he had seen her corpse. And that confirmed what she had feared; she was dead.
"Enemy detected. Will commence attack."
Angela too… Larka thought as despair began to consume her once more.
"Hold on. I know you would love to kill me, but your friend's life is on the line. Brandi is still alive. I can alert Obsidian before dying and tell him to kill her."
Brandi… maybe they can… at least… save her… Larka continued to listen to them speak in their odd, echoing tones, but the rest was a blur. She could barely bring herself to concentrate on their words.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Zack's yell broke through her sorrow. She had never heard him speak in such a tone, had not known he was even capable of it until now. "You want to toy with minds? Try mine! If you won't let me kill you outright, I shall do it this way!"
Zack… More than anything, Larka wished she could somehow talk to him, say something to keep him from risking himself as well. But it was hopeless to want that and she knew it.
"…your cards will be your memories. When you lose them, you lose your memories. In reality, Defringo will be taking them. If you lose all of your cards, you will have lost all of your memories, and as a mindless machine, you will follow my commands. Fair enough?"
No! Zack, don't! Don't do this! It's too late anyway… Larka thought.
"What if I win? Do I get my memories back?"
"Yes. All of them."
"Then I accept. Let's begin this!"
No... I didn't want this to happen… if Zack loses because of me… then… I deserve to go through this…
…
Zack: 8000
Crucio: 8000
"As my one act of kindness, I will let you decide who goes first," Crucio said.
"I go first, by summoning Magical Reflector Reflect Bounder! (1700/1000) I lay a card down. Take your turn," Zack growled.
"Excellent. Already I get to see what some of your thoughts are like." Crucio delicately slid a card onto his Duel Disk. "I summon Don Zaruug. (1400/1500) Then I equip him with Bow of Falling Stars-Shiiru. It reduces his attack by 1000, but he can now attack directly. (400/1500) He will do so."
The gun Don Zaruug held changed into an elegant bow. He shot an arrow into the air. It arced over the Reflect Bounder to hit Zack.
Zack: 7600
Crucio: 8000
"Don Zaruug's affect is activated. When he does Life Point damage to you, I can choose to have him either discard a card from your hand or two from your deck. I will have the latter occur," Crucio said.
"All right… I lose Air Guard Gear Golem and Immense Battleship Big Core," Zack responded.
As the Golem went into the Cemetery, he felt a sense of loss, but it was small. When the Big Core was discarded, his mind seemed to jolt. He had a brief image of Crystal and his children before they vanished.
"What… was that?" Zack said out loud, trying to recall who he had just seen. Their names eluded him. He could not even remember their appearance now.
"I would say you have lost your first major memory," Crucio stated. "Some of your cards will contain more valuable memories than others. You will know when they are taken."
Zack did not respond to his explanation. "Are you done?"
"Almost. I lay one card down and play Grave Keeper Familiar," Crucio concluded.
"What is Grave Keeper Familiar?" Zack inquired.
"It is a permanent magic card. Every time one of your monsters attacks, you lose a card from your deck," Crucio replied. "Go ahead."
"I summon KA-2 Death Scissors. (1000/1000) It attacks Don Zaruug!" Zack said.
"Your attack is halted by my trap card, Emissary of Harmony," Crucio retorted. "But you still attacked. That means you must discard a card from your deck."
"It was my Bandit's Swiss Army Knife… go," Zack ended.
"I attack directly with Zaruug again," Crucio said. Another bolt pierced Zack.
Zack: 7200
Crucio: 8000
"Discard two cards," he ordered.
"Drillago and Enemy Controller…" Zack wondered if the memories he was losing from his other cards were really as insignificant as Crucio claimed. He doubted it.
"I place a monster and two other cards. Your turn," Crucio said.
"I summon Bowgunian (1300/1000) and attack Zaruug with Scissors," Zack decided.
"Afraid not. I respond with Holy Barrier-Mirror Force!" Crucio countered. "Although it unfortunately negates your attack, both of your monsters are destroyed, which I find much more favorable."
"That is fine," Zack said. "Because now I activate Cry of the Living Dead, to revive my KA-2 Death Scissors! It attacks Don Zaruug!"
The mechanical crab sliced cleanly through Don Zaruug, and then stabbed Crucio four times.
"What?" Crucio exclaimed as the wounds began to bleed.
"My Scissors have an effect," Zack informed him. "For each level a monster that it destroyed has, you lose 500 Life Points. You've lost 2000 from its effect and 600 from actual battle damage."
Zack: 7200
Crucio: 5400
"But I do lose a card for it… Angel's Gift. I think this is the first time I have been happy to not get it," Zack said. "I am done."
"A small setback, nothing more," Crucio stated as he straightened. "I flip over Needle Worm. (750/600) His reverse effect forces you to discard five cards from the top of your deck."
"A large amount…" Zack sighed. "I lose 7 Card, my second KA-2 Death Scissors, Holy Barrier-Mirror Force, Tempest, and Sphere Bomb…"
"Also, Defringo's Deck Master ability activates," Crucio added. "When I successfully reverse summon a monster, you lose a number of cards from your deck equal to that monster's level. Needle Worm is level two, so discard two cards."
Zack slowly slid them into his Cemetery. "Cyber Raider and Cannon Soldier…"
"Then I activate my trap card, Strong Base Assault!" Crucio continued. "I destroy a monster on my field-Needle Worm this time-and you lose two cards from your deck!"
"Attack Nullification and… Immense Battleship Tetoran…" Zack winced as his head flared with pain. He had an image of the group before it was gone. Bewildered, he looked around the cave.
"Another memory is gone," Crucio observed.
Zack caught sight of Angela, but to his surprise, he did not recognize her. "Why are you here?"
"You ordered me to not interfere," Angela replied emotionlessly. "Do you wish for me to help?"
"No… I just felt like… I knew you somehow…" Shaking his head, Zack said, "Are you done?"
"I lay one monster down and end my turn." Crucio smirked. "It truly is amusing to see all of this. Imagine what your love would think if she could hear you now."
"I won't forget Larka!" Zack responded fiercely.
"Oh, that's what you say… but that will change." Crucio shrugged. "But believe what you want. Perhaps she is happy in Heaven right now. Or maybe screaming in Hell. Or something that I would think is far worse than either… trapped in the Hell that is nothingness."
"What do you mean?" Zack demanded.
"None of us know what lies beyond death," Crucio replied. "Not even you, although you have died. Some believe in Heaven and Hell, but is that really what there is? What if the soul continued to exist in the perished body, trapped forever? What if your love's soul, caged in her own corpse, could hear your words now? I find it quite interesting to consider…"
…
Crucio's words hit Larka hard. She had never thought of what he suggested. But if that was true…
This is… all that's left? To be chained to my body… forever? Any hopes that Larka might have been trying to keep hidden, hidden below all her doubts, were gone with those words.
She might have been broken there, if not for Zack's voice coming after that. He was still fighting Crucio. And for that reason… Larka forced herself to listen. If she was beyond saving, at least Zack had a chance of winning.
…
"I've heard enough!" Zack snarled. "I summon Drillago! (1600/1100) I lay a card down and attack your monster with Scissors!"
"You've hit Metamol Pot. (700/600) We discard our hands and draw five cards," Crucio said. "Very helpful for me, seeing as I did not have a hand."
"I discard Air Guard Gear Golem and Early Burial… and Magic Cylinder from my deck…" Zack drew five cards as he watched his Scissors stab Crucio twice. "Drillago attacks you directly." The machine went forward and pierced Crucio with its drills. "I discard Time Machine…"
Zack: 7200
Crucio: 2800
"I end my turn." Zack was getting concerned now. His deck looked like it had only a little less than ten cards in it. But Crucio was weakened greatly. That seemed good.
"I summon Devil Cook. (1800/1000) He attacks Drillago," Crucio declared.
With a wicked laugh, the Devil Cook stabbed the Drillago with his hook hand and then sliced it with his huge butcher knife.
Zack: 7000
Crucio: 2800
"When you take damage from Devil Cook, you draw two cards," Crucio said.
"All right." Zack did so.
"I play a magic card, Shallow Grave!" Crucio went on. "We each select a monster from our Cemetery and place it in face-down defense mode. I get Needle Worm."
Zack retrieved his monster. "Drillago."
"I play Hand Obliteration! This forces us to discard our hands and draw cards equal to the amount we had," Crucio told him.
"I can't let that happen! I activate Magic Jammer, discarding Roulette Bomber to negate and destroy your magic card!" Zack countered.
Crucio shrugged. "Oh well. Go ahead."
"…I cannot see a way around this," Zack said grimly. "If I wait, you will flip Needle Worm on your own, and I will lose more cards… so… I play Cyclone on your Grave Keeper Familiar. Then I lay one card face down and flip over Drillago. My Scissors attack Needle Worm!"
Although the Scissors punched through the Needle Worm and jabbed Crucio twice, he seemed satisfied by Zack's play. "Discard five cards."
Zack reluctantly followed his command. "Cannon Soldier, Sphere Bomb, Limiter Removal, Tidal Wave, and… Immense Battleship Crystal Core…"
Once the Crystal Core was gone, he felt a sharp pain. An image of Larka was there, and then gone.
"Who… was that?" Zack shook his head a few times. "I don't understand. What am I… doing here?"
"Dueling me," Crucio replied. "Do you wish to continue?"
"But… why am I dueling you?" Zack asked, confused.
"You wished to kill him for what he did to the substitute," Angela replied.
"Substitute?" Zack glanced at the coffin. "You mean her?"
"Yes." Angela did not elaborate beyond that.
"…Odd… I feel like… I should know her…" Zack sighed and looked at his hand. "I guess I will continue. Drillago… has not attacked yet? I will have Drillago attack directly. It can, when you have no monsters that have 1600 attack or above."
Crucio was drilled brutally. He was barely able to stand now, blood pouring from his numerous injuries.
Zack: 7000
Crucio: 200
"Why continue to fight me over someone you do not know?" Crucio inquired, trying to stand straight. "You have never met her, right?"
"No… never… from what I know…" Zack responded.
"Then I must wonder why you feel so desperate to kill me," Crucio said. "What if she was not someone you wanted to meet? What if I am, as you would call it, the 'good guy' here?"
"…I do not know… if only I knew why… she looked familiar…" Zack muttered, putting a hand to his forehead.
…
This was the final blow for Larka. Hearing her own sentence had been horrible enough. But now she was being forced to listen to Zack be manipulated, from a loss of memories… it was as though he was dying too. And to forget her…
What have I done now? I… I dragged him into this, and… if I am to be punished for doing that, by having him forget me, then I… I accept that… but don't take all of him away! Please, Zack, you have to regain yourself! Please!
Her helplessness to do anything caused Larka to be overwhelmed. If she had the ability to cry, she knew she would be doing so now.
…
"So how about you surrender? That way, neither of us die," Crucio offered. "We might be able to help each other."
"…I don't know…" Zack replied, straining to recall something, something that he had forgotten, something important…
Angela's voice cut through his concentration. "The substitute is showing life signs."
"What?" Zack turned back to see what Angela was referring to.
Up until this point, Larka had been still, pale, not even breathing. But now there was something to disprove all of their beliefs in her death. A tear had emerged from her closed eye.
"She is… alive… I've never met her, yet… I feel… relieved…" Zack thought for a moment. "I knew she was dead. I think I did, anyway. But now she is alive? How?"
"I cannot say," Angela answered. "If I could examine her body, I would be able to answer."
"I see…" Zack faced Crucio again. He looked at his deck, which now had one card. Then he said, "I will not surrender. There must be a reason I am dueling. A good reason."
"As you wish," Crucio said. "I summon Samurai of Strange Behavior. (1000/1000) Then I play Secret Passage to the Treasury, which allows him to attack directly."
"What happens when he does?" Zack asked.
"You will be forced to draw until your hand contains seven cards," Crucio answered. "He attacks directly."
"I halt him with Attack Nullification," Zack responded.
"Not a problem. I activate Book of the Moon, to flip my Samurai to face-down defense mode. Then I lay a card down and end my turn," Crucio concluded.
Zack slowly brought out his last card and looked at it. The name of it was Immense Battleship Covered Core.
I know I have met that person before… but where… Zack closed his eyes, trying to remember…
…
Zack sat at the top of the flight of stairs at the Sky Temple, staring off into the distance, where the sun was setting. There was nobody else there. If there had been, an observer would have claimed him to be completely calm, settled, relaxed.
If someone had told that to Zack, he would have laughed at just how wrong the assessment would be.
Truthfully, he could not recall the last time he had been filled with so much anticipation. Wait… yes, he could. When he had confessed his feelings to her. But that had been three years ago. Three long years of waiting. Although it was not as bad as the seven two of his friends had to endure, three years had still hurt.
Nevertheless, he had endured them. They had passed. And he was now waiting. He had promised he would. Had promised her.
A sudden series of excited barks broke through his thoughts. He looked down the staircase to see a brown blur speeding up them. Before he could react, the puppy tackled him in the chest, licking him furiously.
"Malon!" Zack managed to grab him and get up, holding the puppy in front of him. "You seem as lively as ever."
Malon yipped in response, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
"If you are here… then she must be…" Zack trailed off as he heard a cry.
"Zack!"
He recognized her voice instantly, yet he could hardly believe that it was finally over. Zack set Malon on the floor and turned his gaze back to the staircase.
Malon had been fast, but she was even faster to come running up the stairs, as though they did not exist to hinder her. Then she was in his arms, and crying heavily. But they were tears of happiness, he knew that at once.
"Oh, Zack… I missed you so much…" she sobbed, her embrace tightening.
It was real. That was all Zack could think for a moment. Then he whispered, "As I have missed you… Larka."
…
"Larka!" Zack exclaimed as his eyes flashed open.
"What? Impossible… how could you remember?" Crucio said in astonishment.
"I told you, I would never forget her!" Zack tapped Scissors. "And I can still destroy you!"
"Not with him," Crucio retorted. "I activate Torture Wheel, pinning your Scissors."
"I never said I would be using my Scissors," Zack stated. "I am actually going to sacrifice it, along with Drillago… for Immense Battleship Covered Core!" (2500/800)
"No… then it is over for me…" Crucio realized as Covered Core emerged.
"Yes. Covered Core attacks!" Zack said.
The lasers tore apart the Devil Cook and slammed through both Crucio and his Soul Monster. When the lights faded, all that was left of them was blood to add another stain to the soiled ground.
Zack: 7000
Crucio: 0
Zack's field faded away as his Duel Disk shut off. When he returned his deck to its slot, he felt one final ache before his mind was clear.
"I… really did lose… my memories…" Zack shook his head. "That was far too close for my liking…" Then he went to the coffin.
Larka had still not moved. The tear was there to prove of her life though. Zack brought out his switchblade and slammed it into the lock, crushing it. He opened the coffin. "Angela, now can you tell me what happened to her?"
Angela laid her hand on Larka's forehead and was silent in thought. Then she said, "Cause identified. Withering Potion was used."
"Withering Potion?" Zack said.
"Yes. It paralyzes and numbs the entire body of the victim," Angela informed him. "However, tear ducts would still work. That is why the substitute was able to cry."
"Larka…" Zack looked down at her again. "How can we cure her?"
"The magic card Angel's Blood dispels the effects of Withering Potion," Angela said.
"I… think I have that…" Zack swiftly brought out his support cards and went through them. He stopped around the middle. "Here it is!" He put the rest away and slid it into his Duel Disk.
"It is advised that you hold out your hand," Angela stated.
"Oh… all right." Zack held out his right hand. As he did, drops of blood fell into it, until his hand was filled with it.
"Have her drink," Angela instructed.
"Okay." Zack moved her into a sitting position, using his left arm to support her, and slowly administered the blood flow through her nearly-closed lips. Once it was done, he waited anxiously, helping her stay upright.
It did not take long for a reaction. Larka's eyes slowly opened. "…Z-Zack?"
Zack found it impossible to respond with words. He forced himself to nod.
Larka was silent for a moment, her eyes glistening. Then she suddenly wrapped her arms around him, crying fiercely. Zack embraced her at once in hopes of comforting her.
After some time, Larka finally spoke, not looking up. "I'm sorry… so sorry…"
"For what?" Zack asked.
"For being weak…" she sobbed.
"You weren't weak," Zack said reassuringly. "Not at all. Having to go through what you did… you could hear what we were saying, I assume. That would cause most minds to shatter. But you survived. That isn't weak…"
"You nearly lost yourself! All because of me…" Larka wept.
"It was my choice to fight him under those conditions," Zack said. "You didn't make me do that." He sighed regretfully. "I should be the one apologizing… I nearly forgot you…"
"No!" Larka turned her gaze upwards at last. "You did remember! Even though you weren't supposed to… you did…" She buried her face into his shirt again, unsuccessfully trying to control her tears.
"The one responsible for all of this is dead," Zack stated. "We will get nowhere by blaming ourselves. So do not worry about that any more…"
Larka nodded, unable to speak at the moment.
"We have to return to everyone else," Zack said. "They stayed behind to stop a messenger that was to tell us that you and Brandi were captured. Hope and Max went to save Brandi."
"That's good…" Larka wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "How did you find me?"
"Miles overheard the Judges talking," Zack explained.
"Miles? He's back?" Larka asked.
"Yes, he finally is," Zack confirmed.
"I'm glad to hear…" She looked at Angela. "Why did you come too?"
"It is under my orders to make sure that the substitute is kept safe," Angela replied.
"Oh…" Larka tried to get out of the coffin, but nearly fell in the process. Zack was quick to catch her.
"Maybe it would be easier to do this," Zack suggested as he lifted Larka.
"All right," Larka agreed, wrapping her arms around his neck for support. "Sorry… my body still doesn't want to respond very much…"
"I guess it will take time for you to feel completely normal," Zack assumed. "That's fine. Take this time to relax."
"Thank you… and thank you for saving me…" Larka said.
"Of course." Zack's eyes darkened slightly. "I am thankful that it was not too late. When I saw you lying there… I thought…" He shook his head. "It is something I do not want to think about."
Larka looked at the blood on her shirt. "I still do not understand how I survived…"
"There is an 87.72 percent probability that you were stabbed close to the heart in such a way that it would be fatal, but not at once, and were then healed before dying," Angela stated.
"And then he would have given me the potion when I was unconscious… I could hear everything, but the voices echoed… because of the coffin…" Larka shivered at the thought of it.
"It's over now. You won't have to go through that ever again," Zack said softly. Then he said to Angela, "Would you mind leading the way? I am ill prepared to combat threats like this."
"I will lead." Angela turned to go out the hallway.
"Oh, Angela… thank you for helping," Larka said before she was gone.
Angela looked back at her briefly. "I am happy to be of service." Then she stepped outside.
"She didn't sound very happy…" Larka said quietly.
"Lacking emotions… it was what I feared becoming," Zack stated. "I still do, but now I know how to prevent it. Who knows what she thinks about it." He followed her out. "Let us return to the group. We can decide what to do from there."
Larka nodded, remaining silent. After what had happened, that was all she wanted; a peaceful silence to recover in.
To be continued…