3 years ago
The sky over the city was clear. The sun shined brightly. To most people, it looked like a good day. But not for Nikolai, he stood in the back yard of run-down apartment, the walls filled with bullet holes, traces of a fire and to his dismay... His father's body along with his companions. Their bodies were in... Terrible condition to say the least. Whatever killed them wasn't monolith. They had been ripped apart with a brutality Nikolai had never seen.
Various graves laid in front of him. One of them being his father's. Nikolai held his father's bible as well as his golden cross.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." He said in a monotone tone. His eyes looked dead, he had been ripped from the last family he had, now he was truly alone.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
He finished and kneeled in front of the makeshift cross. He pulled out an old picture. A picture of a better time when they were a complete family. He placed the picture at the base as well as an old necklace.
"Dad... I had hoped that I would find you alive... I don't know what happened, I don't know why you never contacted me but... You know what... Forget it, I hope you are happy with mom and sis. I'm going to miss you." He said softly.
He had found his father's belongings hidden underneath the floor, the old dog still hid his things well. It would be a long way back to Rostov. One he dreaded with every fiber of his being.
He couldn't cry... Not now at least, he needed to make it back to safety. Then he would have time to mourn. Nikolai felt alone and his heart was filled with regret for all the things he never got to say to his father yet regretting would not change the fact he was gone for good.
Present-day
Nikolai was somewhere familiar. The smell of booze, cigarettes and vomit brought back memories. He was standing in the bar at Rostov.
"I must be dreaming" he muttered. Everyone seemed as if they were minding their own business. It felt like home in a strange sense. Then he saw her... Sitting at the bar, that blonde hair... He could never mistake it.
Choking a bit he went and took a seat next to Tanya. He looked at her, he studied every detail of her face. It was as if she had never left.
"Hey big guy you know normally I wouldn't mind you oogling but keep it for when we are alone okay?" She said chuckling.
"T-Tanya is that you" Nikolai asked.
"As opposed to some other blonde Tanya you know?" She asked sarcastically. He didn't wait a second and hugged her tightly. He felt his eyes tear up as he gave her a kiss. "You know Nik... This isn't my type of choking" she said. He let her go and let out a small laugh.
"Perv"
"You love me for that."
"I love you for many reasons, that is just one of them." He said smiling, feeling her warmth, being with her again was heaven. "I missed you."
"Of course you did you big guy!" I've seen the wreck you've become. You know if I was there I would kick your ass." She said making his blood go cold. What was this?
"Where are we?" He asked a bit of fear seeping into him.
"Well, this is some sort of limbo. Getting you here was a pain in the ass. That bitch really does not want to let go" she explained.
"Who?"
"The witch of envy" she said. "I swear if I ever get my hands on her I will ram my shotgun so far up her ass!" Nikolai didn't understand. The witch? Why? Was she the one who cursed him? So many questions filled his mind.
"Is she the one who brings me back every time I die?"
"Yup, she simply does not want to let go. Even getting you here was problematic. It's only a matter of time before she drags you back."
"No! I want to stay! God I can't let you go again" he said sobbing as he held her.
"Damn you lost your balls huh" she said softly caressing his face. "I wish you could. But she will come for you. But that's besides the point! We need to catch up! While we have time!"
"Ok-" she slapped him in the face and gave him a gut punch. "W-why?"
"For being a dumbass trying to get yourself killed" she said. "You have no idea how fucking pissed I was at seeing you wither away!"
"Without you and the others... It wasn't the same."
"Well duh! That doesn't mean we approve of your suicidal tendencies!" She said. Quickly she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into a deep kiss. Nikolai felt bliss, god how he had missed her. "And that's for the lost time."
"You know I could get used to the punches if I get more kisses" he said grinning.
"Now whose the perv?" She asked laughing. "See that's the Nikolai I know!"
"Being with you again brought be back to life I guess." He said sheepishly.
"Smooth talker" she laughed as she jumped on his lap and hugged him. "Now onto more serious matters... You're a knight huh?"
"I guess"
"You know... You were my metaphorical knight but now you're a full knight! And those girls! What are their names? Emilia and Rem yeah! They are quite the catch."
"It's not like that..." He said a bit dejected.
"Oh I know, you can't get enough of Tanya" she said proudly. "But on a more serious note... Nikolai... I love you... I always did and always will... But you have to let go..."
"No!" He yelled clenching his fist.
"Look you're alive. Or well will be alive I guess. You got your life ahead of you and you can't be fixated over a dead girl! It's a turnoff!"
"I can't let you go..."
"But you have to. Look those people... They look like a new start for you, maybe a new family..."
"It's not the same."
"Of course it isn't we are one of a kind!"
"Heh... You truly are."
"But look, rebuild your life. Find love, cmon those girls are pretty sexy! You have to nail at least one!" She said crassly making Nikolai laugh.
"Such a dirty mouth" he said jokingly.
"You didn't seem to mind in bed!"
"Point taken..."
"Look what I'm saying is... Give yourself a chance okay? If things don't work out or you die for good... Well then there's always a seat open next to me. But for now do me a favor... It may not be fashionable, but live." The ground shook hard as he saw a black goo seeping in. "Welp the jig is up."
"No! I have so much to ask! I didn't have enough time!" He said holding her close.
"I know... But it's time... I'll tell the others you are fine" she said giving him a kiss in the forehead. "Now go... And don't forget mister! Live a good life! And if you don't hook up with one of those girls I'll be mighty disappointed!" She said laughing a small tear running down her cheek. Darkness gripped Nikolai as he was through around the room. "Hey I'm the only one allowed to manhandle him!" She yelled as his vision faded.
"No! No!" Nikolai yelled bolting up. Sweat running down his forehead, his breath ragged.
"Nikolai! Are you okay!?" He heard a worried voice ask. He saw Rem holding his hand tightly. The look on her face... She must have been worried sick.
"Totally! Just had a nightmare" he said. A fake smile on his face. He didn't want to worry her. She didn't seem to buy it but regardless let him go. She passed him his breakfast and sat on a chair next to his bed. "You don't have to worry."
"I'm just making sure" she mused. Nikolai ate quietly. He was trying to make sense of all that had happened. How did she contact him? Why now? Why was the witch of envy putting him through this. Those and so many other questions kept him busy.
"Who is Tanya?" That question snapped him out of his train of thought. He looked at Rem a curious look on her face.
"What?" He asked trying to feign ignorance.
"You kept muttering that name while thrashing around" she said. Nikolai sighted, of course... Things couldn't be so easy. "You're not talking about the girl in the village right?" She looked at him suspiciously. He quickly put two and two together, the disgust is his face growing.
"That you would even suggest that actually pisses me off" he said in disgust. "I would never!"
"I-I'm sorry!" She quickly apologized bowing. Nikolai got a grip on himself and sighted.
"No its not her. That would be my... Partner in the zone. That girl looking and having the same name as her is a cruel joke by the universe."
"Was she important to you?"
"I loved her" he said chuckling. "We went through hell and back together. We stuck to thick and thin. No matter what the world threw at us we pulled through." He said reminiscing a nostalgic smile on his face.
"How was she?"
"As a person? Well she was crass, swore like a sailor. She was a midget with blonde hair and flat as a table." He said letting out a hearty laugh. "She would always get pissed when I told her that... But she had a soft interior, she was caring, quick witted, strong willed, loving..."
"She sounds nice" Rem said.
"Yeah and she was a total pervert," he said grinning. Rem was taken by surprise as her face blushed.
"W-what!?" She asked wide eyed.
"Yeah she had her mind in the gutter. Her mind would always drift to some raunchy stuff. She corrupted this innocent man with unspeakable things." He said trying to tease the blue haired maid.
"I-I see..." She said still blushing. "What happened to her?"
"She passed away with my squad. We were exploring. It went wrong. We tried fighting our way out. I was the only one who made it out." He explained trying to not remember the event.
"I'm sorry to hear."
"Don't, as much as I still hold her deep in my heart I know she would say something like 'obsessing over a dead girl is a turnoff' or 'you better get back in the saddle and get a nice girl.'" He laughed nostalgically.
"She sounds like an... Interesting girl." Rem said uncertain.
"She was! I think the proof that she did care is she never held me back... She seemed to just enjoy seeing me happy..." He quickly clapped his hands and stood up. "Well lets see what we have today for breakfast!" He saw eggs... He had eggs three days ago. That means... He has three days to stop this. "Hey this is weird you know..."
"W-what? Whats wrong with the eggs?" She asked worriedly.
"Nothing, you really need to calm down" he said chuckling. "I'm the one who should worry not you! Feels weird." He said patting her head. She smiled at him, a smile that really lifted his spirits. "You worry too much... Look I don't know what goes through your head but... Let me just tell you I'm here if you want to discuss it!"
"I don't want to impose."
"Don't worry! I've heard it all. When you're ready you know where to find me!"
Time had passed and Nikolai was doing his rounds around the manor. He kept thinking about those coordinates. What good were coordinates without some sort of PDA... And why would you need a physical map of the zone if you had your PDA.
Another thing bothered him... What Tanya said about the witch of greed... Why would she be interested in him? How did Tanya contact him? He would need to research more on the witch.
He finished his rounds by stepping into Emilia's study. He lazily plopped himself on the sofa. He heard Emilia giggling at the sight of the tired Stalker.
"Slacking on the job?" Puck asked sarcastically.
"Take it as my hazard pay for almost dying twice" he said laughing. "Besides I'm not slacking I'm trying to figure out these maps."
"Found anything of note?" Puck asked floating towards him.
"No... I know they are here, somewhere. I just need to flush them out."
"Do you think we could maybe dialogue with them?" Emilia asked.
"No" he answered quickly. "You cannot reason with cult fanatics. I'll find them and I'll take care of it. You don't have to worry."
"Hmm... Can you deal with them?" Puck asked suspiciously as he landed on his head.
"I've dealt with them many times before. They key is to get the jump on them."
"And if they get the jump on you?" Puck asked.
"Then hell lets loose. Just pray they don't have a gauss rifle." He said a bit grimly.
"What's that?" Emilia asked curiously.
"It's like my rifle except it speeds up the payload to an insane speed. When it hits a body its not like mine where it hurts but depending on the area impacted you could technically keep fighting and recover. A gauss rifle will rip your body apart when it hits you."
"W-what?" Emilia asked horrified.
"They outclass any other weapon. I've only shot one once. The power behind it is like nothing I had ever experienced."
"Can you stop them?" Puck asked seriously. Nikolai looked up and saw him. Gone was his friendly face. The vibe he gave off now was one of... Dread... Puck... Whatever he was, was definitely more than he let on.
"I can. I'd die before letting them get close to anyone in the mansion." He said calmly. He felt Puck's eyes burning into him as if to try to find any hesitance.
"I know" he said letting out a faint smile. Nikolai sweatdropped at the whole exchange. He never expected the cat spirit to be so intimidating.
"Puck stop it!" Emilia said scolding the spirit. "Nikolai is doing everything he can."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Emilia" Nikolai said smiling. He kept looking at the maps. Trying to figure out where they were hiding.
"Sometimes that's not enough" Puck said. He looked at the maps a confused look on his face.
"Why is the paper on that map so thin?"
"Don't know. You'd think such an important map would be made of better materials."
"Yeah... I can even look through it." Then it hit him.
"Puck you're a genius!" Nikolai explained jumping up. He grabbed the map of the Mathers estate and put it over the map of the zone. He could see the zone through that map.
He quickly punched the coordinates in his PDA. Three different locations popped on it. He quickly grabbed a pencil and circled them on the map. He had found the locations. They used the maps and the PDA coordinates to find the locations.
"I got you now you nutjo,bs," Nikolai said grinning. Looking for more info on the witch could wait. Now... Now it was time to hunt Monolith.
And cut! Another chapter done! I apologize for the lateness but it finally is here. On more exciting news I actually have two more projects down the pipeline which I'm really excited to show so be on the look out for that!As always thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcomed! UltimateMetroMan out!