Chapter X: Taking Up Arms.
***Tuesday, September 30th: Lunchtime***
Jackson met up with Alex and Sam on the roof of the school, where they sat and looked out over the majesty of Falcon City's skyline. The buildings carved great canyons into the blue sky, and the sun hung high above like a watchful guardian. The all-seeing eye, well known to the people of Frequency Central.
The resultant heat from this fine day, however, turned the cement of the floors into hot coals, keeping Jackson and his friends huddled around a small table under the shade of a large parasol.
"So is there ever anything but sun here?" Jackson asked, as he peeled away the foil that housed his pre-prepared sandwich.
"In Falcon?" Sam looked confused, "No. You sometimes get lucky with a spell of clouds or a cold wind."
"It's funny, I've never felt myself complaining that it hasn't rained in a while." Jackson's sandwich was about as exciting as he had the effort to make it. Salad enveloped a slim sheet of ham, which was shaken up by the addition of a little mustard, taking the spot of the usual helping of mayonnaise. Culinary genius to the teenage boy.
"At least we don't have to worry about fog. The stuff was a real nightmare where I moved from." Alex said, as he dived into his own handmade lunch. His was a decidedly less thought out affair to Jackson's. A combination of whatever leftovers happened to be in the fridge that morning seemed to blend together in the plastic container. "You couldn't see shit when it was thick."
"There's a crap joke or two to be made there, I can feel it." Jackson smiled, and Alex chuckled along.
"Remind me why I hang out with you guys again?" Sam asked but received no reply. She opened her own lunchbox, and was greeted with the smell of a neatly prepared helping of pasta in a simple but eloquent tomato sauce. "So, are you two still certain about going to the other world later?"
"Yeah, I think we should." Jackson said.
"We get to see what it'll be like with Ray there, too." Alex nodded.
"Ok." Sam said reluctantly. "But I've got stuff to do before that so I may be a bit late."
"Don't worry about it." Jackson reassured her. "We'll just tell Ray to meet us there an hour later."
"I'll text him." Alex plumed a number into his phone and began to construct the message.
"You think he'll be alright in there without a persona?" Sam asked.
"Well you've been fine." Alex said
"It'll be ok. We're not gonna split up, so. Until the time when its not necessary, Alex and I can back you both up."
"Thanks." Sam said, looking thoughtfully down into her food.
"Did you think anymore about your evoker?" Jackson asked.
"Not really. I tried reading through my diary to see if I'd written about anything I treasured as a kid, but I couldn't find anything." Sam admitted.
"Well if you think of anything, or if there's something you want to talk about, feel free to tell us, we won't laugh." Jackson said. "Well, Alex can cover his ears."
"Hey, I'm right here!" Alex gestured towards himself.
"Thanks.." Sam trailed off.
"I'm not just saying that so you can overcome your shadow." Jackson continued, "You guys are my friends. I mean you're like the only friends I have in this city, so I care about you guys."
"Alright dude, there's no need to get soppy. People might be watching. " Alex smiled.
"I hope not. I don't want people seeing me with you." Jackson smirked back.
Things were a little quieter as they finished eating. They sat and talked, and watched as a small green butterfly fluttered past.
***After School***
The party met a little after school had finished. Alex and Jackson were first to the star's satellite. They spent a little time in the arcade, where Ray, who carried a large sports bag over his shoulder, met them.
"Evening gentlemen." He said over the noise of the arcade machines.
"Hey, man." Alex smiled and offered him a seat.
"I brought the stuff with me, so we might actually stand a chance taking on a good amount of shadows, and hold out a little longer this time around."
"Awesome, thanks." Jackson said. " We're just waiting on Sam now. "But she said she'd be late, so."
They talked about how things would go down once they got in the other world, and about their plans to take on the archangel, before heading over to the bench to meet Sam.
"Hey, you ready?" Jackson asked her.
"Ready as I suppose I'll ever be." She smiled weakly.
"You'll be fine." Jackson put his hand on her shoulder.
"..Alright, everyone take a hold of the radio, then." Ray said, as he pulled a radio out of his bag. They all stood huddled around it, each with a hand placed on its surface. "Jackson, would you do the honors?"
"Lets do this!" He said, and turned the dial to the forgotten frequency.
The world began to slow, and soon enough, the familiar black smog that covered this strange realm surrounded them. The sun above them was blocked out by think purple clouds and an eerie sense of vulnerability found its way up Jackson's spine.
"Ok, everybody gather round." Ray said, as he placed the bag on the ground and unzipped its great seam. They all grouped together, keeping one eye permanently on the world around them in search of shadows. "I've got a selection with me today." He said, "Everyone take some armor and slip it on under your clothes. You don't want it tearing up the fabric of your nice school uniforms as well as the shadows.
They all did as they were told, and put on the equipment he provided. "Alright, now these are a little special." Ray said. "I have three rings, and they each have a special ability, derived from the powers of personas and shadows. Sam, I think you should have this one for now. It increases the amount of damage you can take, a bit like a really strong pain killer."
She slipped it on her finger. "Thanks."
"Alex, you can have this one. This decreases the toll on your body that summoning your persona has, meaning you can use it for a lot longer." Ray held the ring out towards Alex.
"Awesome thanks!" Alex smiled and took it.
"And Jackson, this one is yours." Ray gave the final ring to Jackson.
"What does this one do?" He asked.
"That one will come very much in handy today as I begin to teach you all about exploiting a shadow's weakness. Your persona uses fire bases attacks, and that ring amplifies any fire based attack by up to 25%." Ray explained. "Good, now that's settled, we can move on to weapons. You'll all have to decide between you which one you each get, because I only have one of each. There's an axe, a spear, and set of throwing knives."
"Alright." Jackson looked at Sam and Alex. "Any preference?"
"I'll have the knives!" Alex said, and took them from Ray's bag.
"Ok. Sam?" Ray asked.
"I don't think I'd be very good with a spear." She said, "An Axe is a bit more simple, isn't it? Which do you want Jackson?"
"You take the axe." He said, "I don't mind a spear."
Ray handed out the weapons and closed the bag up. "Ok, now we're ready we can go and defeat some shadows!" He said enthusiastically.
"Yeah, where are they?" Alex asked. "Usually they would have attacked us by now."
"Don't worry about it." Ray said. "We'll just have to look around for a bit."
They did just that. Staying together, they began to search around the area, peering deep into the blackness for signs of movement. This went on for a few minutes to no avail. There was a silence that followed them. They felt very out of place in this world, and it was a lot more unnerving now they were alone here. At least when they were fighting the monsters, their minds were occupied. Right now they could take in the fear that accompanied this place. All that they could think of were the countless eyes that were no doubt watching them from within the fog.
"C'mooon." Alex groaned. "They were all up for killing us before!"
"Think about what you're saying, Alex!" Sam hissed.
"We can take out a few lousy shadows." He retorted.
"If we find any." Jackson thought.
"Guys quick, behind you!" Ray shouted, "Over there!"
They all turned around to see what Ray was pointing at. A small group of shadows were making their way out of the fog. They were like giant black ravens with dark blue on the edges of their wings that hovered sinisterly above the ground and drifted slowly towards them. Around each of the creatures' necks was a lantern, but the candles inside were not lit. Instead they were encased in ice, which seemed to steam with cold.
"Ok, everybody get ready!" Ray said, and Jackson and Alex ran forwards. Sam stood between the two of them, and Ray stayed back where he would be safe. "This is where the real fighting begins." He smiled.