CHAPTER XIV: CRYPT OF FROZEN HORRORS
They mentioned something about dealing with the undead and excavations in ancient crypts.
The arch they passed under was marked with runes and the image of walking skeletons, some of them carrying loot, others holding weapons. A thin crust of ice covered the walls of this crypt – chilling wind erupted from its depths, sounding like the howling of a thousand unholy voices. They were all alone, but still, the marines could not shake the feeling that someone was watching them.
"What do you think, Harlan? This place is creepy... and damn cold too!"
"I do not know, sir. Let's just have a quick look and get out."
Soon afterwards, they reached a place where the corridor split in two directions. In the center between the two paths, a stone carving on the wall depicted several horribly disfigured creatures, trapped in ice blocks. Behind them rose three mountain peaks, each of them marked with a rune. And above those peaks, Kyle recognized Baphomet's face, looking down upon the scene below. Other sections of the walls were also covered with runes at places, and icicles hung ominously from the stone ceiling. The two paths seemed exactly the same and the choice was not quite easy.
"Ok, let's take the left corridor. Probably both end up in the same place," the Major murmured.
He was right – they arrived in a spacious circular underground chamber and saw the exit of the other corridor. But it was what they saw in the room ahead that made them stop and take a moment to watch. The room's floor was covered with soil such as neither of them had ever seen on Earth. The plants, the minerals, and even the stones – they had apparently not originated from either Io or Earth. Kyle was pretty sure he had not seen such things even in Hell. It seemed very improbable, but he assumed that these things might have been taken from the ancient Elder Worlds. Most of the hall was filled with ice blocks. Closer examination revealed that there were things trapped within them. Kyle could not see them clearly enough, but the things looked like strangely shaped creatures, like those he had seen on the carving. There were many such blocks in the room, and in the center there was something different.
The two men stepped closer to what seemed to be a scale model of a city. A circular area with a radius of two meters was filled with carved buildings, towers, and a protective wall around all that. In the city's central part was a fortified area of palaces, temples, and buildings with unknown purposes. Kyle realized that he was probably looking at one of the great cities, or even the capital of the Elder World. The Major was completely puzzled about the meaning of the stone model.
"What the Hell is this thing, Harlan? Atlantis?"
"I do not know, sir. Everything in this place is beyond my comprehension. The more we see, the greater the mystery becomes."
"I don't like what is going on in here. These demons are preparing something really nasty for us. And it is so quiet and deserted in here. Where are they? Just an hour ago, there was so much activity down here. And now... nothing. As if they have opened some kind of portal and left the place."
For a moment, Kyle thought about that. The demons might have left for the colony that he sought. And a functional portal could be very close – the key to the success of his mission. But he could not leave Io before solving the problem of Dr. Stalker and his takeover of the Io base. He was also concerned about whatever creature controlled these crypts. The story of the hideous Ice Revenant was still vivid in his mind. This made the ice and the cold all around him even more disturbing.
The Corporal looked at the ceiling above the model – in the "sky" there were four other planets drawn, three bigger and one smaller. This confirmed Kyle's assumption about what the model described. What he still tried to figure out was the purpose of this collection. What could make them gather all these things and arrange them here as an exposition...
A loud and gruesome laughter echoed through the empty halls and made both men jump with surprise. As it faded away, the marines had the feeling that the air had become noticeably colder.
"Harlan, we are not alone in here. Be careful," Major Boyd whispered.
Kyle could not reply as a new sound came from the direction of the entrance tunnel. Hissing, howling, and clearly distinctive steps were heard. Something was coming towards them, as the steps became louder and clearer. The laughter rang out once again, and the marines assumed defensive positions. Major Boyd prepared to unleash what was left of the plasma gun's charges, and Corporal Harlan prepared his shotgun.
Silence settled for a few seconds, leaving the two men in uneasy expectation. Then, with what sounded like a small explosion, bright blue light illuminated the entrance corridors and a wave of sparkling energy flowed out. A puddle of water on the floor was touched by the energy wave and instantly frozen solid; the Major realized that the same could happen to them if they didn't run away at once.
"Run! Run, damn it!"
The opposite end of the chamber had only one exit and the two men rushed for it, followed by the freezing wave. The corridor was long and winding, and they felt they would not be able to outrun the threat. Just as it was about the catch them, the energy wave slowed down and dissipated, leaving bluish smoke behind it.
"Don't stop, sir," Kyle uttered, "Whatever's chasing us, it won't stop. Let's take cover at least for now."
The Major could not disagree. They had to lure the creature at a place where it would no be able to use its devastating frost attack. The corridor ended in a hall filled with stone columns. They could offer some protection. The marines assumed positions close to the exit. The Major prepared the plasma gun once again, determined to fry to delicate brown anything that would come out of the tunnel. Kyle prepared to shoot right into the head of the intruder, hoping to take it down with one shot, if possible.
Steps were heard again. They came closer to the entrance and stopped. A second later, another frost wave erupted, filling the room from wall to wall, freezing the columns, which, apparently, did not offer protection. Kyle and Major Boyd were running again. Once again, the wave dissipated mere moments before it could catch them. This really annoyed the Major.
"It is playing with us. It is trying to push us deeper into this crypt, which, without any doubt, is a trap."
"I agree. There are several doors up ahead. Let's check them, at least one of them should offer a good position for retaliation." Harlan spat out as he struggled to catch his breath.
No steps could be heard from behind, but they quickened the pace. A door on the right side of the corridor led into another, shorter corridor with more doors on the sides.
"Wait. Just a quick look," the Major said and entered the side chamber.
No sooner had he entered the small corridor than the door suddenly fell shut and separated the two men.
"Damn! Not again! Harlan! Harlan, can you hear me!"
Kyle rushed to the closed door and hit it with full strength, yet it was solid stone and did not move. Just then, a second door blocked the passage further into the crypt, leaving the way back to the room with the city model as the only open path. But the unknown intruder was somewhere in that direction...
The Major looked at the doors in the smaller corridor. One of them had to lead him back to the Corporal, and another could offer a safer path back to the elevator column in the huge cave. Before he could make a step towards the doors, another frost wave, this time erupting from the floor, went through the room. The officer's legs were trapped in an ice block and he could not move.
"Argh, damn it! What is going on in here? Where is the plasma gun..."
The weapon was lying very close to him, and the shotgun was too far to reach. If he could only get that plasma rifle... one careful shot would melt that ice block in a second. But Major Boyd did not make the move to take his gun because he heard something behind one of the doors in the corridor. Steps. The same steps as before. Whatever the creature that froze him was, it now came closer, and they would soon meet. The door slowly started to open.
"Take that plasma gun... just take it, aim, and fry some demon butt. Why can't I move..."
The Major froze, but not because of the ice or the cold air, but because of what he saw. An enormous glowing skeleton entered the room – a creature that looked very much like a revenant, yet this one was different – it seemed to be made of ice and blue crystals, and it emanated an aura of cold, which immediately made the temperature in the room drop sharply. The ice revenant stepped towards the trapped human and examined him carefully. It made a strange gesture with its skeletal fingers, and the ice melted, yet the Major could still not move, as if an invisible force chained him. The creature came one more step closer and spoke with a hoarse cold voice:
"Greetings to you, Major Boyd. I have been expecting you. For a long time, I have watched you, and now I have the honor to meet you in person. Do not be afraid, I do not intend to hurt you. Your friend, Corporal Kyle Harlan would have to go through some difficulties, deadly battles, and ordeals, but worry not – if he is the one I am looking for, he should be able to survive long enough to come to me. Now let's go somewhere warmer, shall we?"
The revenant raised its arms and formed an orb of greenish energy. Within a second, the Major and the creature were teleported to another room, all covered with black marble. The human could now move freely, but he was trapped behind crystal bars.
"Do not try to escape, it is futile. Now relax and watch your friend, wish him luck, if you wish. When he reaches us, we will continue with phase two of the plan."
The Ice Revenant beheld a statue that stood in the middle of a ritual circle. The Major recognized it to be the missing Gatekeeper statue from the entrance chamber of the crypts, the one had been dragged into the depths. He had the unpleasant feeling that the stone figure was somehow alive and watched his every move with its burning eyes.
"I am known to mortals as the Ice Weasel. Know that I was a human once, but now I am taking part in events that have been planned countless millennia ago. Now let us see what our Chosen One is doing up there..."
The revenant created an orb of energy, and inside it, as if on a monitor, the Major saw Corpora Harlan who was still trying to open the door...
Kyle gave up – the door would not move, no matter how hard he tried. Could he risk going back towards the main cavern? He still had the scrolls... Besides, the way further into the frozen crypt was blocked by another door.
He heard a faint voice from the direction of the room with the ice blocks... and it sounded like Major Boyd. The Corporal abandoned his worries and headed back. He reached that hall without encountering the creature that used waves of frost against them. He heard the voice again, this time it was somewhere in the main cavern. Was he calling for help?
Kyle rushed back to the bridge, and looked around. He noticed something lying on the next lower bridge – a plasma gun, the same one the Major used. That bridge bore red markings and led into a crypt lit by chandeliers, beyond an arch of red marble, which was carved with images of horned demons and ominous robed figures. Harlan had intended to examine the floors one by one anyway. With luck, the Major could be there, still alive.
The seal of the red scroll touched against the symbol in the elevator and it moved one level down. The marine grabbed the plasma gun and entered the crypt, ready for anything. Just as before, he felt he had had enough, and he intended to inflict some harsh punishment to his enemies.