Shadowlands 8: Dresden Cloak (gives me bronchitis)

“Truly beautiful isn’t it?” Cectal repeated, walking between us. She looked reminiscent of the one I fought in the arena, but instead of the usual ghostly blue, her skin was a pale purple. “He’s quite safe at the moment, one of the more powerful Creatures. I made him myself you see.” I considered that she might have some sort of short term memory issues. I would have laughed had I not been so afraid. She looked back at us, “But once I tell him to attack, your deaths are quite certain.”1

“Is that so Cectal?” mocked Switch. She stepped forward with arrogance, “Last time I came up against some certain death at the hands of your twisted creations, it didn’t go so badly. Will this one actually heal me? Will I be farther from death than when we started?”2

“Quiet witch!” snapped the Haunt, “You had the Powerhouse there. Besides, as we speak, I am drawing a mortal near, with his power, I will have no difficulty. Creature. Kill them.”3

Instantly, without so much as rearing back, the Creature lunged forward, dragging its hands across the ground. I blocked with my shield, and it knocked me over. My pant leg caught on fire. 4

I shook it out, and rolled to avoid a pointed flaming foot.5

It turned and reached for me. Bullets ripped through its wrist, severing its wavering form. The hand disappeared in a puff of smoke. Seizing the opportunity of its distraction, I got up and bolted. It turned on Inkster.6

She inked and splashed herself onto the crystals. The Creature changed direction instantly, coming back for me. I blocked, and it grabbed my shield. It lifted me up and tossed me into the air.7

The young girl flashed into my vision, the world seemed to slow as I flew through the air. Her thin features seemed to shift. Blond locks fell neatly behind her ears, under a hair band. Her dead, cold eyes stared into mine. They seemed accusing almost. “When the time comes,” she said. Her voice echoed strangely, a hollow reverberation that sent a chill through me. She turned her head to the side and was gone.8

As all that go up do, I too came down. Hard and fast I plummeted, wind rushing in my ears. The monster it seemed had planned on catching me, but was too busy trying to incinerate slow dog.9

I tapped my boot and time slowed. Unfortunately, I kept moving the same speed. The ground met my body hard, knocking the wind out of me. 10

Inkster snuck up behind the distracted creature and splashed onto me. It felt really weird being carried along by a puddle of black goo. She pulled me into the pit and sat me up in the cleared patch. 11

The girl returned to my view. Her lips parted and she spoke, “I’m coming soon. Will you be ready? Will you save me?”12

The haunt was gone. Sad Dog was busy being thrown around while Mad Dog wrapped his jaws around the creature’s leg.13

Switch swung a chain around the creature’s neck, and pulled on Mad Dog’s chain, stopping the burning monster where he stood.14

It strained against her, trying to pull her off balance, but it was no match for the raw power of her stiletto heels! Sorry.15

Inkster walked up slowly, shredding and tearing the fire spirit’s burning body with bullets. It staggered, and fell to its knees. Inkster reloaded.16

It tried getting up and Inkster started shredding it again. “Sad Dog!” Switch shouted, “Go now!”17

Sad Dog walked up to the creature. Switch pulled it down to the ground. It struggled weakly to get up, but it was too late. Sad Dog stared at it. He just stared. It looked into his eyes, tried fighting, and just gave up. It made a shrieking noise that I assumed was crying, and then just cooled into a pile of ash.18

“Well then, I guess that solves everything,” I said, walking up to the ashes.19

There was a thunderous explosion overhead, and the sky opened up. Blue light poured down on me, blindingly bright. The haunt was back. She descended down to us, carrying an enormous figure with her. “And that would be the mortal,” Switch said to herself.20

“I think,” started Inkster, “This is about to get interesting. She could probably kill us with a single word at this point.”21

“Well, that sounds pleasant,” I muttered, backing away. The giant struggled in her grip and she dropped him. He looked frightened as he hit the ground. Then he just looked unconscious.22

She descended and pushed a soul crystal into his body. We watched a moment in awe as wisps of his soul were siphoned into her hands. Then Inkster brought up a good point, “You guys realize there’s no need to just watch while she does this right? It’s not a fucking game or something.”23

“Then do something,” Switch said, still watching.24

Inkster raised a gun and riddled the haunt. It knocked her back off of the human’s body.25

A blast of light shot past me and plowed through Inkster. “I guess that’s why,” I said. Switch smacked me and glared. We scrambled for cover as the haunt continued blasting away.26

I hid behind a tree, Switch behind a rock. The haunt focused on me, splinters burst out with each blast The tree was getting thinner. 27

I ran to another tree.28

Then I remembered the book’s advice. “Switch!” I shouted over to her, “Have the dogs cover me! I think I know what I’m doing!”29

“What?”30

“They can take a beating, I won’t last two seconds. I need a distraction.”31

“Sad Dog!” she snapped, “Run!”32

Sad Dog got up laboriously. She whipped him and he bolted. He quickly turned into a trail of explosions as the haunt targeted him.33

She rose up into the air as we rushed closer. I tapped my boot, and my sword glowed blindingly dark, shadows wrapped down my arm around the blade. I threw the sword down and jumped. It detonated, hurtling me into the air.34

She shot a blast at me. It missed. I pulled my sword to me as I flew over her head. I reached, trying to grab her. The chain on my wrist stretched out and wrapped around her shoulder.35

We swung around in the air, tumbling. I pulled up to her as she righted herself. I caught my sword as it flew by, and pulled her head next to mine. “Die bitch,” I whispered in her ear -just how the book instructed- and I stabbed her in the chest.36

She vanished. I fell.37

I hit the ground next to the giant and went out like a candle.38

I saw a stream. I was sitting in a boat with my uncle. Wait I don’t have an uncle. And I’m wearing a dress. “Look at that Alice,” my uncle said to me, “Look into the water.”39

I looked into the stream. My reflection. That face. The girl. ‘My’ reflection spoke. “Simon says not this time. I was not the one. He will be there.”40

My face hit the stream and I jolted awake in bed. I was back in the hospital. Inkster was in the bed next to mine. The whole place was neat, white, and sterile.41

I looked at Inkster. Her mascara and eyeliner had smeared. They gave her a smock. I was still in my own clothes. Or at least my own pants. My shirt hung on the wall.42

I got out of my bed and walked quietly to the door. I looked to make sure I was not being watched -it was a habit by that point- and opened the door.43

There, standing calmly in the doorway was Deathwalker. I jumped back and fell into a wheeled table full of medical instruments.44

“The hell are you doing?” I shouted.45

“I can move about as I please,” he rasped –I noticed a little arrogance in his tone- “What were you doing young swordsman? You are still on restriction, are you not?”46

“You know that I am,” I said defiantly. “No one really explained to me what that involves though.”47

“Well then you should read the rulebook,” his voice was starting to grate my ears. I hadn’t noticed before, but I had a splitting headache. “You’ll have plenty of bed rest.”48

I pulled myself up and said, “Well, if you go get me one I’ll read through it.”49

He raised a hand and a tome bound in Kami skin landed in his grip. It was probably the biggest book I’ve ever seen. “Enjoy your stay,” scratched his hoarse voice. I took the book, and trudged back to my bed. “Good luck, hehckh hehckh.” He shut the door as he left.50

I opened the book. It was written in calligraphy. The first line read, ‘If you are reading this, you are one of us now, there is no denying it.’51

“FUCK YOU!” I screamed. I threw the book across the room and it hit the wall. My outburst woke Inkster.52

“Don’t poke it!” she shouted, obviously still half asleep. “What was that?”53

“I just pitched the rulebook across the room. I refuse to acknowledge it.”54

Her face seemed to get limp as she stared at me in disbeleif, "You did what now?"55

“What? What are you afraid of, you’re not the one on restriction.”56

“You threw the book?”57

“Right over there, slammed it against the wall.”58

She got up and walked to where the book lay. It had landed open. She read, “Punishment page two hundred and seventy three. For your willful disrespect to the League of Shadows, you will be whipped until unconscious and dropped in the desert of Kamihal. This is the book’s decree.” She looked like she was about to cry.59

“What’s wrong?” I asked. She was really confusing me now.60

“You’re going to die,” she said it so bluntly and matter of factly that I almost believed her.61

“Inky. Why are you worried about me? I’ve been here for less than two months, I’m nobody.” She wasn’t convinced. I got up and walked to her, “Besides, I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of killing me. I was wondering, what are the rules about being on restriction?”62

“You can’t go anywhere without an escort. If your escort needs to leave you, then you need to be in a living or recreational area that can be locked. You lose some pay and privilege. If you try violating your restriction, you get a minor punishment like cleaning toilets for a day. But you getting sentenced to whipping, that was because you threw the book.”63

Curious. I wonder why that happened so quickly. Did he know I would throw the book when I read it?64

But I couldn’t betray my thoughts so soon, so I made a friendly jab at her, “You know these rules pretty well, been on restriction a lot?”65

“You’re stupid,” she said, trying not to laugh. She opened the door, and once again I jumped at the sight of Deathwalker.66

Inkster shrunk away as he drifted in past her. I felt his eyes on me. He seemed, happy. “That’s enough reading for today. Come with me Al.”67

He lead me through the chambers. That suspicion was still nagging at me. If I was going to die, I wanted to find out if I was right. “Deathwalker. You planned on this happening didn’t you?”68

He turned to me slightly, still moving, “I wanted to show you something. You need to realize. You are better off with us than without. We don’t hold you here for our gain. You will understand before you return.”69

“I won’t be returning.” We stopped in front of a door.70

It opened and he pushed me through, remaining outside. Before it closed I heard a whisper in my mind, “But we will.”71

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dark torchlight. I was not alone in that place. Several Oni skulked in the shadows.72

The place smelt of filth and blood. In the center of the damp stone room stood a pillar, covered in chains. Two of the Oni walked up and grabbed my arms. I shook them off and walked to the pillar.73

Chuckles appeared from nowhere, shackles in hand. “Special treat for you ‘Al,’ your old chains from the arena, which you seem so fond of. I’ll make sure they aren’t too rough on you.” He clicked the cuffs shut on my wrists. “I’ll give you an out though.”74

I glared at him.75

“No, it’ll be easy really. Just tell them your name,” he took the opportunity to leer at me.76

“Bite me.”77

He shrugged and snapped his fingers. An Oni walked up and ripped my shirt off. I waited. My body braced in tension against the expected blow.78

I felt the sharp sting across my back. Spikes dug into my flesh. Adrenaline started taking its effect as blood trickled down my back.79

My chains pulled me against the pillar as the whip snapped across my back repeatedly. I couldn’t turn. I couldn’t collapse. I was pressed so tightly to the pillar that I could hardly breathe.80

The last thing I remember before passing out was an Oni coming up to check me. I looked into his demonic eyes and muttered, “Bite me.”81

I woke up with sand in my mouth. The angry sun overhead doing its best to kill me, but I still had some life in me. At this point I decided to keep track of how much time passed between one blackout and another, just to tell the doctors if anyone ever cared about my health.82

I stood and looked around. Nothing but sand for miles. Off in the distance were some tan mountains, but they were quickly blotted out in the dusty haze. "Perfect!" I shouted, "Just what I always wanted. Now where can I get some water?"