Latale: A Memory's Venture
Halloween Special
A Kiss for the Pumpkin's Candy
Halloween special, just in time before halloween ends Phew! but I'm drained from this. I made it all in one day. Sorry for the typos and grammar
Wait let me settle things that are unclear...
Cruz is Luli's little brother, he will joining the original plotline soon in the later chapters.
Raavi as stated here, the Dark Moon Princess' Engineer he is going to be introduced in chapter six, because this chapter took place in between other chapters. so it has nothing to do with the main storyline. I used him only as point of reference.
Happy Halloween guys, sorry about the crappiness!
Kyiin's POV
30th of October.That was today, I woke up drowsily on my new made bed, still shivering from the cold October breeze that went inside through the open window I left last night. Although I'm still in the middle of my journey, today will be a little different. Today Luli wanted us to have a day off from finding the Silver-haired girl we are looking for; she said something about celebrating October 31st or Jack-o-Lantern? Well whatever it is, it sure gotten Luli so vigorous and bouncy all of the sudden.
I have to admit I never wanted a break from our journey; I just want to answer all of the questions being thrown at me. It's like reading a book where a chapter ends at a cliff hanger and you have to wait for the next chapter to find out all about it. Then you realize it is going to be answered in a later chapter which was expectedly far. It's sick!
Corelle told me that she was tired and she wanted to have some "peace time" to herself. Raavi also wanted a break he said he wants to visit the Dark Moon Princess on how's she doing without him there. And Luli wanted to visit her family back on Belos. They said it will only be a couple of weeks then we are back on track. But there is one problem though. I have no place to go! I don't remember anything from my past, I don't think I have a family anywhere, and to be honest, I don't feel comfortable around other people beside the three. So in addition Luli offered me that I come with her in Belos. I can tell she's really glad that I accepted. But I really don't wanted to bother her "break", I'm sure Corelle wouldn't want me near her, and Dark Moon Princess hates me (I think) so there was no other option but Belos with Luli.
She works in a inn remember? So there are plenty of beds. Finally! I don't get to sleep on the floor!
I went downstairs and wanted to make breakfast for them for showing me courtesy, the room I had is rented for free. It was still before first light so I don't bother to look if anyone is already awake. However, sitting with her hands on her chin staring at the door which will not open until later that night, I'm guessing, was Luli. I was kinda startled when I saw her; I wasn't expecting anyone to be awake at this hour. Maybe because it was an inn, they need at least someone awake to watch over those travelers who wanted sleep in a very comfortable and secured and pay for their accommodation. Although watching over the door by yourself is just so lonely to think about. No wonder she left.
"Hi." I said, like there was nothing left to say to her.
"Good Morning" she said slowly looking up to me her position fixated on her chair still facing the unmoving door.
"Good Morning, I'd like to pay my bill to my room rented?"
"Don't mess with me; you got that room for free. You're lucky mom and dad likes you. In fact they like you more than me." She said quite pissed.
"Maybe, or maybe they just like my cluelessness and stupidity."
She laughed "maybe, it's the first time we actually laughed on dinner together."
"Really?"
"Yup, Dad is always serious when it comes to dinner. Silence was the sound we produce."
"Isn't silence the absence of sound" I said teasingly
"Don't get started on your know-it-all-things Kyiin. You still got that conundrum about Iris and even you can't answer it. So don't act so smart on me. Because you still got a lot of things you don't know." She said pissed off again.
"I'm not, I'm just trying to start a fun conversation, and you're making it so serious like everything around you is so serious, light up a little. But it seems you're not interested so imma go now." I said already pissed as well.
"I'm Sorry, but whenever I'm at home, I just don't feel like it. In fact I don't wanna go home." She said looking down.
"What?" "You're the one who wanted to take a break from our journey. To celebrate this Jack-o-lantern festival or something, and you said you miss your family. How come you don't want to go home? I mean stop making me more stupid than I already am and make up your mind." I said in a slightly raised voice but still controlled because it was still early morning and I don't want to start a racket to wake the entire village up and angrily awake.
She giggled even if I was angry. "Kyiin, it's Halloween, and you're right. But I do miss my family. The reason I wanted to come home is for my brother. He just adores Halloween, especially the fact that he needs to wear costumes just to get candy and sweets."
"Well I got you smiling right?"
She shrugged "Well, you haven't told me why you're up this early."
"Oh I was planning to make breakfast for you and your family. To show how grateful I am."
"Yeah right, Tell me have you cooked before?" she asked me with the I-now-you-don't look
"Thank you for reminding, are the words, there-is-a-first-time-for-everything not in your dictionary?"
She laughed harder "Not for you, and besides you'll only be cooking for me and my brother anyway."
"That makes it easier, since kids will eat anything sweet."
"Well there is no one coming in anytime soon, want me to help you?" she asked me
"Nope, I have to do it myself since it's for you anyway." I said I saw a glimpse of red in her cheeks but I took it as a trick played by dawn. Light is fast approaching but there still wasn't any view of the sun directly yet.
She laughed again. "Come on, I'm helping you I'm not letting you serve my brother burnt food."
"That hurts you know." I said quite offended
"Right, I make a note of that, you are physically hurt by words." She laughed again
"Whatever. Why don't you stare to the door again?" I asked her
I slid carefully in their kitchen it was massive since it was for the production of food for the inn anyway. It was carefully organized, nearest to the door is the part where they organized the food on plates, the style of the kitchen was so gourmet I thought it was a restaurant. Luli went behind me and made her way around the kitchen with ease. Grabbing several plates and pans to the centre table where the stoves are. I went to the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of ingredients, including chocolates that I wanted to use for a cake later on. Although eating a cake on breakfast isn't really breakfast at all. I looked at the drawers looking for any sign of a recipe card. I found a dusty on the far back of the drawers containing forks and spoons. I may not be good in cooking but I still can follow directions. "Chocolate Soufflé" it read. It sounds way to fancy but time was beginning to fade fast. And I only have a couple of hours before Luli's brother wakes up. Luli on the other hand was busy taking off the ice that sticks on her wrapper filled with bacon. I guess she wanted to do a basic: bacon and egg for her brother. I easily went to her side to see what she was doing; she had a couple of toast in the oven and getting ready to fry the bacons.
"So what do you plan on making?"
"Anything with a recipe in it" I said trying getting her to notice the card I was holding.
"Hmm, If you wa-" she cut off. "You got a recipe what is it?"
I flipped the card to reveal the recipe I was holding.
"A soufflé? Do you know how hard that is to make? But luckily, you're with the master of making soufflés with you."
"Okay then Master of Rising Chocolate. Show me your magic." I told her
She rolled her eyes. And went to check my ingredients "you're good at knowing what the ingredients are even if they don't look what they sound like."
"It's called labels?" I said to her and she answered with the silent *Oh…*
She began to mix the chocolates by hand making 3 chocolate mixtures in different bowls with different consistency. I went to her station and continue her work. I cooked the bacons to perfection it was a light brown and a bit juicy. I crack the eggs and fry them not knowing how to cook the top because I can't flip it over. I grabbed a spoon and poured it over the egg's yellow part it started to whiten meaning it's cooked. I took the eggs out of the pan and into the plate ready for them. Luli started to remember she was cooking the bacons and ran to the stove to find the pan empty and the bacons and eggs resting perfectly on the plate. I shot her with the In-Your-face look. She smiled and looked happy that I did a good job. Really I did.
When I got back she was ready with the soufflés and was preparing the preheated oven. She managed to create six mini bowls. And place it into the oven. There where excess in what she cooked and used a spoon to eat the remains that throwing them away. She extended her hand and offered some to me. I immediately took a dip and taste the chocolate. It was delicious.
"It's heavenly!" I shouted
She smiled and placed down the bowl in the table, and wiped her nose with the back of her palm quickly.
I took another dip but didn't eat the chocolate on my hand
"Uhmm, you got a smudge" I said and gestured her nose
She wiped her nosed again and asked "Is it gone?"
I shook my head, but actually there was no smudge. I just like to look at her when she tries so hard to look in her nose making her eyes meet in the middle. She looked stupidly cute.
"How about now?"
"Nope" I said and put my finger still with the chocolate staining her nose.
We both laughed, she didn't mind it at all. She wiped it clean off, and took another dip in the chocolate. "Now let's see how you like it." She said and stained my cheek with brown chocolate. The sun now on full view over the horizon streaking down the windows of the dirty kitchen with smudges of chocolate on the walls. We made a noisy racket throwing chocolate and fudge at each other at the end our outfits where disgusting, good thing the plates with the food was already set out in the kitchen the soufflés still in the oven waiting to rise.
The kitchen door suddenly swung open, in its gap stood a young boy with black hair, his eyes half open while rubbing his left eye with his hand.
"Please stop that racket!" He cried out.
"Good Morning Cruz!" Luli cried out barely making out any breath from her laughter.
"Breakfast is in the table already." I say still laughing.
"Mom and Dad are going to kill you." He said quite surprised of what the kitchen now looks like.
"I know. I'll cle-" Luli suggested but I butt in."I'll clean it up. It's my fault after all. Why don't you two enjoy breakfast?"
"You sure?"
"Yup"
Luli's POV
I should help Kyiin clean up the kitchen, but I want to spend as much time with Cruz as possible before finding Iris again. Although I can take him with me in the journey but judging the fact that it is life risking I'd rather not. I'm happy to know he will be safe here. Although that is a bit selfish on my part, knowing that he wanted to come with me from the beginning but I still have to think about mom and dad. For me going away it's really fine with them; they don't care about me anyway. But for Cruz it's entirely a different story, I feel pitiful on my brother that he doesn't have a life outside our inn, he's basically stuck in this lonesome edifice. He is my responsibility after all, but with me stuck here as well I can't take him anywhere but around Belos. Now when I look at him I feel so selfish that I'm enjoying myself traveling while I know my brother is rotting in this cage called our house.
"You liked it?" I asked him
"Yeah, it tasted really great, Kyiin made this?"
"Yeah, Even I'm surprised he cooked so well, for a first timer"
"He's can make things look so easy for him" He said talking with mouthfuls.
"Believe me, you have not seen how he can-" there was suddenly a huge crashing sound of metals in the kitchen. The metals colliding together created quite a racket.
"Is he okay?" He asked standing up going to check at Kyiin.
"Don't bother checking, He trips, slips, slides, and bumps his head everytime. He'll be fine." I said holding my laugh back.
"Even still… he can be injured or something" He protested stood up trying to peak out a glimpse of what happened.
There was a faint "I'm fine" from the kitchen. And I look at my brother with the "See?" look
"So… What do you want to wear on the "Jack-o-Lantern festival" this year?" I asked him trying to start the conversation I know he'll be happy with.
"Oh, I'm not gonna wear any special kid costume this year." He said I almost forgot he's ten; he might have outgrown the concept.
"But I still want candy!" He blurted out
"Then how are you going to get candies without dressing up?"
"I said I don't want to wear any kid costume. It doesn't mean I still can't wear anything that might be Halloween related right?... and I'm not wearing a sick puff out costume for kids anymore!"
"Right, Right, I think you made that point clear a while ago. So since I'll be in charge here, why don't you hang out with Kyiin and look for Halloween clothes for the both of you?"
"Why do I have to be with Kyiin? You're the one drooling all over him."
"Ok I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that, Now why don't you go upstairs and wash up. So you can get candy for tomorrow night."
"Ok then, Love ya Sis!" He shouted running up the stairs excitedly
"So what was that about" Kyiin asked happily
"Oh he said he wanted to shop for Halloween clothing, and I trust him to you." I said doubtingly
"Wait, you said you wanted to spend time with your brother right? Then why are you giving away a chance to spend time with him. Why don't both of you go and I'll hold up the place."
I shook my head. "I wish I could do that, but I guess he doesn't want to spend time with me anyway."
"I never knew you were pessimistic, come on isn't that taking the concept a bit too far?" Kyiin said as he was taking out the smudges from his clothes.
"I don't know" I said breaking into quiet sobs.
"I'm ready! Are you coming?" Cruz said his eyes wide in anticipation
"Luli is." Kyiin said before I even say anything
"Why don't we just all go? And shut this place down for a while besides it is Halloween and Airin's inn is still open."
Kyiin's POV
The day went by pretty quickly the three of us went shopping and trying out various clothes and tasting everything Belos has to offer in this time of the year. So I went inside the portal paying three jienda tokens to the portal holder and stepped inside the blue light that illuminated from it.
"You guys coming?" I asked them
"Where to?" Luli answered back
"Elias"
Luli stepped inside the portal chamber and extended her arm for Cruz, He was a bit hesistant in going to Elias, and from there I can see how innocent he is from the world, how pitiful even for Luli as well.
When we arrived at Elias we were greeted by dozens of shopping people mostly parents with their kids clinging on them. They were being dragged into different shops buying candies and costumes, decorations in fact the market was being ransacked considering the amount of people buying. There were entertainment on the streets big crowds usually surround them. Luli was a bit claustrophobic and decided to search for shops without so many people. Cruz on the other hand wants to check out the shops with most number of people on it, and since he can't drag his sister in it, he is dragging me clinging to me instead. If he can't see I would occasionally put him on my shoulders to give him a better view, he's not that heavy he must be weighing no more than 30 pounds but still I can carry him all day if I have too. I felt really awkward with people staring on me when Cruz was on my shoulders then suddenly Luli will cling on me to check us out for a while before she feels anxious and get out of the crowd again, the people might have thought that we we're a couple and Cruz is our son or perhaps because Luli and I still look young, a sibling of one of us that we take out on one of our dates. It's not a healthy topic to think about, but I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I don't mean it's good people see us like that it is, no it's not, maybe a bit? Whatever here I go again.
"Kyiin stop day dreaming, you're readable" Cruz said
"What?"
"You're red and smiling; I can tell you think about my sis."
"No I'm not!" I said scratching the back of head
"Yeah, right" He said sarcastically
"Look if you want to please my sister, I suggest you start by making me happy" he said straight forward
"You mean… buy you candy?"
"Yup, the best one there is."
"You know that is a bit cliché for a kid on Jack-o-Lantern Festival."
"It's Halloween."
"Really? Luli said it-"
"Just tell me your gonna get that candy please Kyiin Please" he said tugging on my sleeve repeatedly.
"Fine, just tell me where to find it" I said annoyingly
"Yay, it's on the rooftop of the gate to the palace but it won't appear till midnight." He said enthusiastically.
The day went by fast it was already nightfall, the crowds were beginning to settle into smaller amounts per shop and new travelers arrive in, almost all of them enters the club or the inn. I'm still waiting for that candy to appear on midnight. Luli wanted us to sleep but I said I don't want to and neither did Cruz, for a few more hours we wandered aimlessly at the streets of Elias,talking about nonsense and laughing boisterously, Luli was extremely happy that she got to spend a lot of time with Cruz today, he was a fun kid until he got all tired and sleepy. I was forced to carry him on my back; he weighs more lightly than Luli anyway so it's not really a problem. When the clock struck midnight there was a sudden ringing sound from the clocktower in the center of Elias. It was so sound I can barely hear what Luli was saying to me, she was all bouncy and excited she was shouting something but I really can't make it out, it also manage to wake up the sleeping Cruz. It was October 31
Without any warning I sprinted out to grab that candy on top of the gate. Before anyone else does, there was a huge black mass on top of the gate. Luli followed behind unaware of our intentions she kept screaming "Where the hell are you two going!" Cruz only laughed at this statement when we reached the gate I hoisted myself up the ledges and climb my way up, Cruz still on my back. When we reached the top there was a giant Pumpkin floating in midair. It had two large triangle eyes, a crooked smile a triangle that looks like a nose, it has several etched symbols in the side, and also it has a long stick extending from its base down. It floats needlessly in midair with black orbs rotating on it.
"You're not the first to want me." It said in a deep echoing voice.
"How many have started?" Cruz asked it.
"Several other people have started. I suggest you get going kid."
"Cruz! I won't allow you to join this abomination! You get back here and go home right now!" Luli shouted panting
"Eh?" the sound I made that made much sense to both of them.
"Every Halloween this event is held, the players must obtain a certain item from the instance of spooky village there is only one winner that obtains the ultimate Halloween present the sweet from Death himself it is said to be incredibly delicious, so delicious it's horrifying. At first it was fun to watch them until the contest became horrid; people intend to kill other players just to obtain that sweet. And surely Cruz knows about this."Luli answered angrily
"I know sis, that's why I don't want to wear any costumes today, because I want to join this contest. I don't want the candy; I only want to make something out of my life. A little excitement perhaps or the feeling of adrenaline, I never experienced that." Cruz broke into sobs, tears fall silently in his cheeks
"Cruz…"
"Then let him have it" I said.
"Kyiin! I can't … if he died and if you died " Luli answered
"It's funny how we comment about death but we never really know what it is. Luli, we are always at risk of dying anyway. Don't you think Cruz doesn't worry for you? Yet he didn't stop you, because that's what you wanted. He just respected what you wanted not what's best for you, why not just do the same."
"Still, there is no reason to risk your life a goddamn candy!" she answered firmly and angrily
"What difference does it make? The prizes are not worth it anyway, to begin with my ridiculous and dangerous journey doesn't even have a prize at the end, yet you wanted to come with me. You said you wanted something exciting to put your life into, he's asking the same." I answered calmly
"Why are you so with him! I'm not gonna let him or you into this mess. I can't risk him being on death's waiting list!"
"Death's waiting list, aren't we all there? The question is how far are from his pointing finger. So I'm with him on this. Even if it's risky, in fact I have observed that everyone tends to die quickly in this continent because the world itself is not entirely safe."
"You are making one good point for other people, but unfortunately you are facing the most ignorant woman in Jienda. So no matter what you do you can't persuade me." She laughed
"Then don't come I'm doing this and I don't need your help at all!" Cruz shouted tears still fall from his cheeks.
"Don't worry Luli, I'll protect him for you. I'll be sure he won't get hurt at all. I'm a masochist remember?" I say trying to get to say fine at least.
"I'm still not buying this but it looks like he's not going anywhere. Okay then we're going but if ends up fatally wounded, I'm holding you responsible." She said finally approving of Cruz dangerous request
I mentally gulp as I look how serious she is, knowing Luli she can kill a person when she becomes extremely serious about a certain thing. It's proven
Cruz manages to smile a little to his sister, and then faced the pumpkin yet again.
"A red orb on his hat." It said
"It rotates from left to right. The Clock will strike at three. ." It said tauntingly like what the hell is that thing saying.
"That's all the clues?" Cruz asked unbelievably.
We went down and was asked to touch the electrical charge the the returning stone in Elias before heading out to Yong Gyoung towards Spooky Village.
When we got there Cruz and Luli sat on the cold grass beneath us. "Aren't we going?" I asked
"Not yet, the portal opens in a bit. When we got in there in the effect of the temporal loop will fade, it means you can die permanently, we will be transported in a section of the spooky village we have to guide ourselves directly to what we needed and avoid other players. If they see us they'll kill us."
"Got it.' I said taking out my Lamia Golden Knuckles and placing them in my hands. Luli got her guitar strings tightened and Cruz puts on a shield that is made out of dragon scales and a silly looking dagger that is wrapped with vines in a coiling pattern, He calls it a Javawalk Moon Dagger.
"So what are we looking for?" I asked them again.
"The object it needs is a red orb around his hat. Who's hat?" Cruz asked
I shrugged and Luli raised her shoulders to signify she doesn't know.
"I know! Undertaker's hat. It has a series of red orbs that pile together in his hat." Cruz jolted up almost excited now.
"What about the clues? How do they work?"
"It's random, sometime it gives directions sometimes it gives warning to traps." Cruz answered
Within minutes the portal opens Luli steps up and enters first then Cruz before me. And within seconds the place was filled with blood.
Luli's POV
We were transported in the higher part of the village. There must be dozens of people wanting that candy. The blood stain in the place room was probably a stain of a person who died of last year. It still has a stench, and the room was filled with it. One bed and destroyed chairs and tables' parts all around the room. Normally there are already huge amounts of screams that fill the air when players start killing each other. Normally because the game is only about finding an object inside the village, however this time they might have united as one for a while knowing that what we needed is an orb from Undertaker's hat, it easier to take on Undertaker with sheer numbers against him rather than taking on him solo. But afterwards they'll start massacring each other to take that orb and get that candy.
I decided that it's better to stick with only the three of us and avoid cooperating with the others. Cruz didn't want that candy anyway so winning is our goal. My goal is keeping them safe no matter what even if it means killing off the rest of these numbskulls.
I headed to a straight path towards the center of the village we encountered wisp along with it. From what I heard wisp are stupid. They get intimidated and frightened by any sharp or blunt object that is being held in front of them. My guitar isn't really threatening, but I ask Kyiin and Cruz to keep their weapons away for a while until we got past these wisps. They obeyed and when walked calmly the circular apparitions that have extending tails and a blue flame glowing from its tail. The village is getting darker and darker as we get closer and closer to the center. The sky was still being illuminated by the moon vaguely, but the forest was dark, the grass was already a pale dead blue. The wind hummed silently along the dark paths. A short of scary statue stood from place to place, illuminating just a bit of space from their glow that is caused from the lit fire inside them, They are made of wood but it seems the fire doesn't burn it up.
As we entered a deeper portion of the outermost portion of the village, we noticed an increasing number of floating blue flames on the place the wisps have been piled up here. Some players are heard screaming and shouting like: "Go away!". They must have attacked a wisp knowing that once you attack one all present in the area will also attack you. They must have aggravated a wisp; Cruz looked up, searching for anyone in the screams, Kyiin still looks confused and stupid as usual. All of the sudden the screaming stopped. The blue flames that compressed in a single area started to disperse. A body fell down from the upper levels. Kyiin ran directly to the sound even if I tried to stop him. Cruz followed him immediately, to our sight. The lone girl is laid down on the ground. Kyiin assessing her vitals, she murmured something.
"Get me out of here please." She whispered
"There is no way out yet. Until the contest is finished anyone who participated will be stuck in this dungeon." Cruz said sadly at her.
There are a few glimpse of blue light streaming down towards us the wisps are coming! I kicked her spear to the far side of the grass; she scrambled to get it, the blue flames move towards her. As soon as she got her spear a group of at least seven wisps took her upward, she screamed flailing her spear around trying to hit the wisps, but they are apparitions after all, they can't be harmed by physical means. The wisps started opening their mouth absorbing some sort of air around the girl, she is screaming frantically her spear fell lose on her grip and landed on the soft grass. Cruz was looking for a way to save her. But I extended my hand to signify there is nothing we can do. Kyiin was still confused only looking at the poor girl, her energy being absorb by the wisps as she slowly turn impossibly thin and getting thinner and thinner, at the end there was nothing to prove her existence, she was suck to oblivion and nothing remains but her spear, the wisps still didn't took us as a threat and started to mind their own.
Once we reached a darker part of the village, I make out the other players with light illuminating them from their weapons they are flailing wildly around they seem to be battling something. Cruz suddenly looked pale he started shivering for no reason and Kyiin carried him on his back as we moved along, since we can't see anything in the darkness, we held hands, he was warm and shivering I can tell he was scared but I wasn't in the mood to notice that now.
"What kind of monster do you think lurks in this part?" He asked calmly.
"A-A-Ani-me-me-ma-te-tef Ja-Ja-rs" Cruz answered shivering more than I thought.
"Animafur Jajars?" Ask Kyiin
Horror came over me as I knew what Cruz was saying these monsters often lurk in dark areas more preferably because they are a black mass as well. They usually kill in sheer numbers.
"Animated Jars"
The screams came up again, this time it's from the other players. As we continue walking I bumped into something hard, a large wooden door? I carefully inspected the door it stretches all the way left and right as well. It's like a dead end. All the sudden Kyiin looked up at the moon, I followed his gazed towards it and saw the moon illuminates the entire village in a blue dim light, the wooden door was gargantuan, and it was some short of gate. The wooden fence extends about a quarter mile in each direction, before a sharp turn to form a square. It was a base of hill where on top lies the shrine for Undertaker. The outermost region contains the wisps the surround the entire village, the gate on which we are in and the one on the east side contain animated jars while the while the other sides appear to be a steep downhill containing more wailing creatures. The animated jars were at least asleep the teeth on the mouth of the jar was folded inwards than standing erect, the broken part of the jar in the bottom that usually contains its eye, is empty. I turn my back against them and tried figuring out the door.
It has a hole in the center some sort of lock mechanism that has to be attached but it won't open anyway. The others have started running toward our direction, their bound to wake up more jars and lead the jars to us as well. I tried to figure out how the door works, starting with looking for any opening levers or anything, with my irritation I started bashing the wooden door with my guitar, trying to break a portion of it to slip through, but it won't budge. Kyiin started looking around still confused but a bit keeping up the pace a bit. He obtained some sort of a small gear that kinda fits the hole.
The other started to reach us sprinting for their lives others covered with blood some their own some from others. As I suspected they lead a good number of jars with them and manage to wake up the jars in our place, a few large green goblins and a few floating pale blue ladies dressed in white with floating fire around them. What else didn't they manage to drag us into?
"It still won't budge!" I shouted at them Kyiin no trying to protect Cruz from the jars is cut in different areas and started to bleed.
"Kyiin you're bleeding!" I shouted trying to help him knock away the jars that keep coming back with their black mass producing a spike from the ground a huge claw the cuts through space and directly hits my arm to bleed. Cruz started breaking the door the other still running for their lives escaping a huge amount of agasuras that are chasing them. They started firing everywhere the bladders and warlord swings their weapons aimlessly trying to hit anything. Some of the jars began to break and the black mass evaporating to thin air. There was a sudden change of enemy from the jars they went after a treasure hunter and ripped him apart the blood spilled all over the place. The Goblins crushed others and the Miss Gaga's burn the other players.
"They're not after us let's go!" I shouted at Kyiin.
"The gate still won't open!" Cruz shouted!
"It rotates from left to right!" Kyiin suddenly shouted and Cruz got his point. He rotated the gear to the left and let go as it rotates to the right slowly opening the gate. I wanted to quicken the process so I ran to try to push it, but I got trip, in my fall I was drenched with some sort of filthy liquid Blood. When I got up the door was half open. And Cruz slipped through other players took advantage and entered as well others weren't that lucky then got killed by a monster before they even reached the wooden gate.
"Kyiin let's go!" I shouted but wherever I looked he wasn't there, I found a few meters from me running from a huge group of animated jars.
"Go!" he shouted
"No let's go I can close the gate when we are inside!"
"It's too risky, beside Cruz is your main priority, make sure he gets that candy!" he said before he ran to the direction of the gate.
"When I entered the gate the group of survivors are inside shivering in the corner. Cruz was still looking at the gap between the gates; it seems the monsters cannot enter the shrine without any aid. The jars start propelling themselves in the gap only to get deflected away. However when they are clinging to a human, they can enter the shrine with ease however the effect of that is all the survivors inside the gate will destroy that monster until it doesn't exist. When I saw Kyiin still running from the group of animated jars, I wanted to jump right back and help him, but I know Cruz was going to follow if I did, I only hope he escapes and made it safely here.
The jars cling on him cutting him in his limbs the fatally wounds him in his stomach causing him to create a streaming flow of blood as he limps his way to the gate, doused on his own blood, the jars manage to cling to him again this time right where the gate is, I immediately sprinted to rescue him, but it happened so fast,
He grabbed the gear to opens the gate, throws it inside and the gate closed on him, He was smiling full on his lips his eyes closed and his limbs were occupied with a huge amount of jars clinging to them. When the door closed tight there were screaming sounds, from the other side the others who also wanted to enter just lost their chance.
From the base of the gate there was a small gap however now it was filled with blood a huge amount of blood, Kyiin's blood.
The horror swept in me Kyiin was dead for sure; he wasn't going to survive that amount of jars. It will decapitate him or him to shreds or… I was crying silently, the survivors seem to less care about their comrades stuck in outside and continue pacing up the steep stairs towards the top of the hill.
"Luli…" Cruz said trying to put me out of misery.
"I'm sorry! I got you both in this mess, If only I knew." Cruz said also crying as well. He was not gonna forgive himself.
"…" there was an eerie silence around us siblings, I broke into loud crying and hugged Cruz as tight as I could. Cruz hugged me back trying to calm me down. I wasn't angry at him, I was depressed, and I should have not let Kyiin out there alone. It was my fault, but he's dead?, NO I don't believe it, he can't be dead, he still has Iris to find, I still need to tell him. I still need…
"Come on, we are getting you death's candy then I'm gonna crush that pumpkin to pieces."
It's a good thing we stopped for a while because the stairs to the top of the shrine was booby-trapped. It started with one large bang, a set of five blade pendulums fell short, it begins to swing left to right alternately it swings as wide as the staircase, we have to avoid the blades or we get pierces and die permanently, it moves forwards and downward along the staircase. The players started backing away going down the stair case to avoid the moving pendulum blades, some even try to move past them they were successful on the first 2 blades but they end up being pierced and bled to death afterwards. Then another big sound, BANG! The gears started to rotate on the left and right walls of the staircase. The middle of the staircase where smalle needles protruding the ground it was leaking a sort of red fluid, the unlucky victims that stepped on it was immediately paralyzed they rolled off the stair lying on a step unable to move, the others terrified started to back away on the sides unaware of the spinning large gears that suck them in its rotation crushing their guts everywhere,
For one, I was worried about other players killing us, but now I think the spooky village wants to kill us all.
"Luli, what do we do?" Cruz asked, frightened by the situation.
"The illuminating moonlight is starting to fade again slowly, once where are in darkness it is impossible to know where the traps are.
"I don't know" Then I saw a glimpse of a blue light, at first I thought it was a wisp, and then I noticed it was the gear we used to open the gate. It has been decorated with a small clock in the center, it glows a dim blue light the time unmoving but stuck at three o'clock.
"Three o'clock!" I shouted. Cruz looked at me unfazed by what I said.
The pendulum has reached the lying victims of the paralyzing needles, they have been slit open but not although out, it opened their abdominal part, revealing their stomach and intestines to the view as they slowly die, the pendulum blades and the rotating gears are still filled with blood and sometime and occasional color of an organ, for example pink from the gears a part of the stomach or intestines have rotated all the way and returned to the bottom.
"Three o'clock! Clock strikes at three! Three is the time that the ghost hour ends!" I said
"What does that have to do with our ongoing situation?" He asked again backing away to the wooden door that wouldn't open.
The pendulum continue going down toward us, some survivors manage to get all the way down to the base where there are still no booby-traps activated.
I hurriedly ran to the hole and placed the gear that opens the gate, only this time the clock was facing up. I was right, the pendulum has suddenly slowed down it swinging getting softer the gears appear to stop rotating and the needles retract back to the cement.
After the traps of death were completely seized, we climbed up the stairs as fast as we can. Still there are still a few others ahead of us trying to get that orb before we do.
A black swipe hit them, it decapitated their heads and it rolled down the staircase slowly, Undertaker
"Luli, what do we do?" Cruz asked completely scared.
"Tell me do you regret this?" I asked him. He looked at me as if I just murdered him.
"Of course I do… Kyiin, went with me all throughout with this and I can't even believe he'll just…" He broke to silent sobs again, wiping his eyes he climbed up the stair to where Undertaker might be.
He just stood there, Undertaker was more like a teenage dead boy, his face was a pale dead white, his suit probably for a burial ceremony he wore, he had a large pipe he's smoking, A bat that steadily flies in his shoulder, there was a dragon like aura spinning the no.8 on his back and the hat we need, it was decorated with a series of red large orbs. Also there are two wisps surrounding him, it was a bit aggressive judging that it attack another person and trying to collect his energy
The others started taking on him, he completely outnumbered but he killed them all off one by one, first unleashing his shadow that appears like a dragon that bites fatally, his bat opens some kind of portal sending out a number of knives all over the place, Cruz got one on his knee
"Cruz!"
"I'm fine!" He said trying not to make me lose my focus.
"But.."
"No, buts!"
Undertaker was a tough opponent judging by the number we have against him; he takes us down one by one decreasing the advantage we have, at the end of it. Only two of us remain battling him, except for Cruz who I ordered to stay hidden.
"What a pitiful bunch for Halloween" don't worry in 2 days its All Soul's day, A day for all of you!" Undertaker said horridly.
"if I ever die, at least I'll take you with me"
"You're stupid, I'm already dead remember?"
And with that Undertaker burst all out against the two remaining survivors (unaware of Cruz who was hiding.) The end was brutal Undertaker was unharmed, the we were so fatally wounded that we started to convulse in the ground, I was hanging on tighter on life, the pain taking over everything, but the other not so much, and he eventually die after bleeding too much. Undertaker was aware that the other one is dead, and went to me for a finishing blow.
I only manage to look up as he aims at me. But everything change. Cruz has sprinted directly to UIndertaker even with his wounded knee, knocked Undertaker down and casted magic that created a dark cloud above them it started raining lightning down to the ground, the lightning hitting both of them, then he yanked away Undertaker's red orbs from his hat and threw it at me before. Undertaker used his shadow to hit my little brother; he faded into nothing there was nothing left of him. Nothing!
There was something I have been keeping since I knew Kyiin died, I can't hold anymore, even if I am girl and we are known to be able to keep our anger to ourselves forever, not like this, I lost Kyiin, and I promised Cruz I'll protect him, and now they're both… both…
I suddenly fade into darkness still crying.
When I woke up, I was in the hospital in Elias they told me I have slept for 2 days, I missed Halloween, but what's the point. The reason I liked Halloween was gone, forever, I started to cry again knowing I won't be able to go home, Mom and Dad probably hates me, Kyiin is gone as well, so our journey is over now. I can't go anywhere; I might as well die too. I hated my life to begin with. There is one thing that makes it all bearable knowing that I have to live for the sake of my little brother. Even though we fought a lot I still treasured him like he was the only thing in the world that is important. Which he is, then a couple of months ago there was a boy who made me go with him in a crazy journey to find some dead silver haired girl, he understood me at any circumstances, he never judge anyone by their looks or by their character, he always believes that there is always a good inside everyone, all they needed is to notice it, He always smiled at me, even if he got frustrated, he never put us in shame, instead he tries to say sorry himself even if it not his fault, I fell in love with him, and now, they're both… both gone.
But all of the sudden, someone entered my room, who cares who it is, maybe someone who made a mistake for entering room. A little boy with a familiar black hair with green eyes, he was chewing a lollipop that looks like a pumpkin. I felt tears invade my cheeks.
"Cruz!' I shouted with everything I can I wanted to stand up and hug him but the apparatus attached to me prevented me from doing so.
"Good Morning Sis, you missed Halloween, we won!" he said showing his prized: death's candy, which he has been chewing for quite a few hours.
He ran over and hugged me I never wanted to let go of him. But I have to. I was crying so hard more than ever before.
"But- but" I tried to say, but another person entered my room, a teenage boy with brown curly hair, he was holding a book reading it intensely his eyebrows almost meeting due to his focus…
"I can't cry anymore." I said.
"Oh you're awake." He said closing his book and approaching me.
"You're probably wondering why we are alive right?" Cruz asked.
"Well let me tell you, it was Kyiin's clever idea. Whenever on the brink of dying only hold the iris fragment and you will get transported to the returning stone you touched, which was in Elias, remember?" Cruz looked at me with the how-do-you-like-me-now look
"But-"
"Don't worry, we are not ghosts." Kyiin said.
He lowered his forehead into mine and closed his eyes. "Well that's good, you have a fever the last couple of days. But it looks like it gone now." He opened his eyes again but not removing his forehead on mine.
I hesistated but, I never want to miss an opportunity now. I grabbed his head and planted my lips onto his. He kinda jerked back causing me to lift my head up to prolong the kiss.
"Okay, I'll see you guys in a bit." Cruz said.
We continued that way until I broke away, he was red and was shivering.
"Uh-Uh" he said slowly
"I'm sorry' I said regretting what I did. But he wasn't listening instead he lean down and kissed me this time; I was shocked on his reaction. But nevertheless I liked it, when we broke away I only stare at him direct to his eyes. But then again, there was nothing I can do, I just confessed I love him, and he just returned that, there was no need for words, his eyes where speaking what he wanted to tell me.
"Uh.. Happy Halloween?" he said
"Halloween was over 2 days ago." "Today is all Soul's day." I answered breaking into a laugh.
"Uh-huh… well Cruz wanted to go trick or treating instead of joining that contest." He answered quite vancantly he just watch me from the chair he was sitting on
"I guess he has to wait for another Halloween then."
We broke into laughter.
Cruz entered the room, his lips still on the pumpkin lollipop gnawing it as if it's very delicious
"Your week is almost up. You two need to get things together and pack up before another you resume your journey."
"Aren't you coming with us Cruz?" I asked him
"Although I'd love too, I have to do an adventure of my own, I found some kids that want to go as well. So I'm going I'll be seeing you in the road." He answered so maturely, it's like he already grown up so fast.
"Well best of luck for you Cruz, make sure you take of yourself of your sister will be so angry and kill me." Kyiin said sarcastically.
They laughed and I shrug it off.
"Cruz, I know you'll be greater than Iris, just make sure you eat okay? I'll be seeing you in the road. Send mails okay?" I said to him. He only hugged me and I felt tears stream down his cheeks. "Thanks sis, I will, take care of your numbskull boyfriend okay? Just in case he anything stupid again." I became red.
"He-He's not my boyfriend!" I shouted
"Right, not yet." He laughed, Kyiin wasn't listening at all he was dazed in the view out the window.
The October Sunset. It was beautiful, just how beautiful my life now is.
There 9,124 words drainage extreme.
It's not much Halloween right? but that's what's in my mind anyway!
I'm starting chapter 6 and hope to finish it soon to cover this.. :P
*TYRO*