chapter 20- shatter my heart
My hands and fists weren't enough. I needed something more. Then, radiant words appeared within my sight - weapon cards. As more radiant words materialized, detailing the cards I could choose from word by word, I smiled. I knew it was over for the damn fiend. My arms grabbed at the words, which disappeared into the void's winds, and what seemed like flowing light formed a web-like shape. It all came together to form my chosen object, my weapon.
[Name: Bow of Tolgon
Rank: Epic
Description: A mighty archer far to the west of Windsberry, in favor of shooting an arrow through the sun, wandered the world to search and study arts and crafts to forge his own weapons. Using a dragon's tendon and a branch from a pillar tree which reached the clouds, he put in his best efforts. However, he found that it was a failure, that his achievements were failures, and that his once possible dream was now impossible. Thus, this bow fused with that thought, that everlasting sentiment, becoming alive and wanting to prove to its maker that his ideals were false. It gained the ability to turn any impossible shot into a possible one, reversing the probability, at the cost of mystic units.]
Though I was smiling, there were two problems. First, I didn't have any arrows. Second, I didn't know how to use a bow. Confused, I decided to just stuff it and grabbed the bow like a melee weapon instead. As the creature came closer, I used the bow like a bat, swinging it at the monster's head. The creature howled in pain and staggered to the left, its back now facing me. Seizing the opportunity, I jumped into the air, ready to swing at the back of its skull. As I landed the blow, the creature crashed to the ground. This was my chance. I kept relentlessly smashing my bow into the back of its head.
I'm not sure if I was smiling or not, but I knew one thing: I was doing it. I was killing them. The nights my mother prayed, got exorcists, used holy water, and cried herself to sleep - with this, I could end it. I could finally put an end to my restless nights. For maybe the first time in my life, I could have a decent sleep. My mom could finally rest too, knowing it was over. Once I got home, once I got back to my family, then everything was going to be fine. I was going to be fine.
Madness consumed my eyes. I was desperate. It had only just begun, yet I could feel my rage taking over. This wasn't mere revenge. But then the sound of muffled noises echoed behind me. I didn't look back though, I was too focused, too concentrated. Why stop now?
Suddenly, I felt my shoulder being grabbed. Flinching, I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw a white hand grasping my shoulder, another one joining it. I whipped my head around to look behind me. It was a creature like the rest, but its face - it had taken on the appearance of her friend, James. They had gotten to him. The creature was wearing James' skin.
"I'll kill you!" I screamed, my rage fueling me as I swung, hitting the thing in the head. But as I did, what seemed like a crack appeared on the skin and shattered. In a split second that felt like an eternity, as the skin shattered layer by layer, what was underneath was James' normal face. As the shattering continued its domino-like effect, his whole body was revealed to be normal, except for his elongated ears.
"What?" I was shocked. Did I just hit James? He went flying from the impact. Did I just kill him? No, it can't be. I didn't mean to! But it was too late.
"You fucking bitch, I'll kill you!" Thomas' scream pierced the air. I felt like the dark void of nothingness around me shattered with that sound. Everything changed - the tavern was back, my classmates staring in horror at what I had just done. I had just committed murder. I had harmed the only person who was ever nice to me. I was right, I was a bitch inside.
"I-I didn't mean to. JAMES!" I screamed, my voice rasping with fear.
Everything had returned to normal, yet nothing was normal anymore. James... I killed James. He was gone because of me. It was all my fault.
I fell to my knees, forgetting the chaos around me, forgetting the blue and red blood that stained my hands, forgetting the bodies that lay in pools of blood on the ground behind me. I could only remember that face - the white layer of skin that shattered like glass to reveal James underneath.
I saw Thomas jump out the window, yet as much as I felt his stare boring into me, he didn't approach. He wasn't bothered with me. He only ran to James.
Dropping my bow on the damp and spongy soil, fused with the decaying branches and leaves that gave off a rotting, molding smell, I watched as the white crawlers approached James' lifeless body. Thomas ran unheeded towards them, drawing the broadsword from his belt. Though there wasn't any sunlight in this dead forest, it seemed like the blade he carried had sunlight dancing right off it as it shone with a silvery brilliance. As the crawlers moved to protect their catch, their instincts kicking in to fight for their right to a meal, Thomas charged forward to face them.