บท 68: Frozen Hell
*yippee, I'm not dead yet. Also, I gotta announce something: I have this thing going on on Discord where I sent some character sheets for people to complete. Whoever does so will appear in the fanfic at some point (cuz I have my own plans in mind for some things) so yeah, if you wish to see yourself (or a character of your making) appear in the story in a form or another, join the server and find the pinned files in the talking-for-everyone channel. Have fun :))
https://discord.com/invite/8RcQy2aQ36
For now tho, enjoy the chapter. Peace out and Deus Vult.*
As they prepared for departure, Stelle took a moment to turn back and check the spot one last time. She found down what was left of Firefly's phone, half of it faded. On she found the picture the three of them had taken. Mark looked at her with sorry eyes. He wasn't capable of saving Firefly, and it was slowly killing him. It was his only goal, the only reason as to why he strove so hard to become stronger, but what was it all worth if he couldn't save a girl from a creature he could probably tear apart with his bare hands?
The sight of Stelle's usually bright eyes showing no spark was pitiful, breaking his heart apart. She tried to pick up the phone, only for it to fade in her hands, like a lingering memory she'd have to let go of.
"Firefly... and yet the more I think about her, the more my head stings..."
Black Swan and Acheron watched in silence, waiting for them to start walking as well. It was sudden, but they had to keep moving forward to chase whatever was left of it. Their steps were heavy, and Mark could feel the shadows gnaw at him, trying to trip him to hold his legs as he walked. It was all a constant effort aimed at breaking him down further and further, when his emotional state was already in shambles. It's in those moments that something as simple as tripping can break you fully.
He wasn't allowed to break.
Little had passed since they went on to try and escape the hotel, and weird things were already happening.
"What's going on? Why is it getting hot in the memoria?" asked Black Swan, her voice a bit worried.
"You noticed it too," answered Acheron, her voice devoid of life. "Like something is burning..."
Mark gathered his wits, trying to remain strong in front of everything. The shadows were all crawling up his back, but he kept pushing past them, trying his hardest to force the two parts of his mind together in the usual harmony they belonged to.
"These are all... charred remains?" whispered Black Swan, pretty shocked at the scene. The room they had entered reeked of smoke and something Mark couldn't identify, but it wasn't pleasant. Perhaps that's what burned memoria smelled like.
"They're still smoldering. The culprit can't have gotten far," said Acheron, her eyes scanning around the scene.
"We can slow down, then," sighed out Black Swan. Stelle still seemed a little out of it, but she kept herself together. They had a mission to continue, so time to mourn was more of a privilege than anything. Mark stepped ahead, checking out the wounds on the monsters.
"Deep cuts, precise, also narrow. Whatever weapon it was, that thing cooked its insides," he muttered, walking to check out another body. The bird-like monster was steaming, whatever insides it had had turned into hot gas. Trying to lean close would burn up a little, and Mark wasn't willing to take chances, as much as both heat and cold began posing no issue to a certain level.
"We should hurry up," said Mark, his tone cold and tired, his eyes half-lidded by that point. He was hyperaware to a great extent, but his mind was slowly placing a heavy toll on his body.
"Mark is right," said Black Swan, sounding uncharacteristically serious. "We have to hurry to that Memory Zone where Miss Firefly's presence was imprinted. Considering what this person can do..."
She focused a little, using her abilities to manipulate the Dreamscape.
"I'll try to create a stable shortcut for you."
The halls morphed and changed shape. Mark stepped in without fear, too numb to specific things. Acheron stared at his back for a moment, then glanced at Stelle with a soft hint of a smile.
"Let's go," she said, trying to support Stelle in her own way, with soft understanding offered subtly.
They left to another room, and only Black Swan had any clue about navigating the corridors.
"Look. Upon leaving the lobby, the structure has become chaotic. Phase through that corridor, and be careful—do not alert the meme."
Mark scoffed, almost close to causing a ruckus just to lure it out and finish what he had started, but he held back. For now, his mind was focused on the single culprit his memories held for the scene they had just seen—SAM.
Quick movements led them to a grandiose room with a circular table and more chairs than one would need, even for a feast. Above hung a beautiful chandelier, its conical shape mixed with the beauty and focus on details, turning it into a man-made flower of sorts.
"This is truly... a magnificent sight," mused Acheron, looking around with light movements. "It's this room, then?"
Black Swan hummed softly, standing by the group.
"Yes. More precisely, it's right below."
That's all Mark needed to hear. She was about to suggest using the chandelier to break through the floor, but Mark simply walked to the middle of the room, fist clenched as energy flowed into it. With a swift, powerful movement, he broke the floor like it were a piece of thin ice. Cracks spread out, giving way to glowing blue spheres, a weird type of bubble that he didn't bother much with.
"Or we could just do this," chuckled Black Swan, enjoying the pure display of no brains full brawl.
Mark jumped into the hole, but the others took a bit to come as Black Swan wished to soften the fall, gathering the Dream Bubbles together to form a cushion.
"This is amazing," said Acheron, standing up slowly. Mark glanced around, noticing a few more creatures gathered around, the usual Dreamjolt Troupe. He was too pissed to waste time with them, so he just crushed them outright to the wall with a large ice pillar, making it dissipate after the job was done.
"It seems like you're good for all, right? I have a good eye for men, it seems," whispered Black Swan, hovering close to him. He simply shot her a sidelong glare, the lifeless look in his eyes corroding his usually friendly nature.
"Cut the crap," he scoffed, not in the mood at all.
She smiled, shaking her head slightly.
"Playing hard to get. That's not nice, but sure, I can enjoy the chase just as much."
She stepped away, focusing on the large pile of TVs to the side of the room. She motioned for Stelle to follow, and Mark was left with Acheron as Black Swan gathered the memoria to reproduce Firefly's imprint left in the room.
"I guess that Memokeeper has taken quite a liking to you," she said flatly. Mark sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"The trouble I got into thanks to her... she should be glad I didn't strangle her... and for some reason I think she'd like it," he scoffed, not joking at all. Acheron found herself smiling slightly, glancing up at him. Whatever bond they shared, it felt stronger than before.
"You still owe me that dance," she said, and Mark was a bit surprised that she remembered.
"Oh, so you didn't forget about it? That means something, then. You clearly want to dance with me, huh? What for?"
His voice was pretty cold and distant, as if trying to keep himself out of harm's way. She simply placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, speaking softly.
"Sometimes you have to be there to find what you seek."
Enigmatic answer, but easy to decipher. He'd find out during the dance.
"I guess we'll meet randomly once we're out of this dream, right? I have a feeling you'll find your way to me somehow."
She nodded, her touch lingering for a few more seconds, a tiny anchor that held him together. Sometimes, he felt conflicted about his own feelings, about his own heart. Was it wrong to simply take what he's given? Should he keep striving for a future he wants and might never come? What if, instead, he'd simply allow the present to take its course, taking the hand he's offered and going with it?
"That's a question for another day... my mind can't take too much thinking now."
They kept walking, with Stelle leading the way as she followed the images of Firefly, listening to their words. It all led to a specific room, which proved to be a dead end.
"Based on these fragmented pieces of information, it seems Firefly's companion betrayed her halfway and trapped her alone in this room, disappearing without a trace... But why?" asked Acheron, trying to understand what had transpired.
Mark simply allowed the others to think and piece together whatever information they had gathered. He chose to just watch, slowing down his mental separation. It was a weird way to describe it, even to himself, but it's what made sense. His mind was split in two parts, one that tried to cling to the present and one that seemed to hold the future back.
"She mentioned the transaction involves the Watchmaker, and that often means stepping on many people's toes," answered Black Swan, her hand resting meditatively on her chin. "They might have had their eyes on the legacy or wanted to silence another who knew too much. Or, there could be a deeper secret tucked away in this Memory Zone, and to hook that elusive prize... one needs the right bait."
"Do you mean... Firefly?" asked Acheron, surprised at the possibility.
"This is just the worst-case scenario. But think about it: if the mastermind behind all this is nearby, why would he let us look around freely? Unless... there is something else he cares more about and needs—or, should I say, is verifying."
Mark nodded absentmindedly, focusing more on keeping his wits about should the situation call for it. They exited through a side corridor, walking down the path, following along the rest of Firefly's afterimages. She had walked along winding halls, taking turns that she had no clue of. In the end, her path had led to the hotel lobby, yet she's also found death in there.
The group walked out, and they all noticed the imposing figure that had been waiting for them.
"It seems like someone has been awaiting us. Ready to step into the spotlight now?" asked Black Swan.
Mark stepped forward, hands in his pockets, his coat rustling softly with each step. The sound of his boots thudding against the floor was harder than usual, like his steps were weighed down by something that forced him to stomp. SAM turned around to face the group, scanning them quickly. It threw aside the charred body of a dream creature.
"Leave now and nobody gets hurt, or else..." SAM's fire began burning hotter, spreading around as he moved his arms out, waiting. "All of you will die here."
Mark scoffed, stepping a bit closer.
"Big words, Stellaron Hunter SAM... big words indeed," he chuckled, his tired gaze staring down the armor-clad warrior. It was a strong suit of armor, further enhanced with gadgets and smart systems that were nothing but works of fiction in Mark's world.
His fire began burning hotter, engulfing the ground in a sea of blazing flames.
"I will... set the seas ablaze!"
Mark scoffed, ice spreading out on the ground, clashing against the fire, leaving behind large steam clouds.
"And I shall freeze your burning hell over..." he spat back, decreasing the temperature with more ice, covering his body in it like a crude suit of armor. SAM's speed was intense, blitzing towards them at high speeds. Mark powered his body, their fists clashing head-on in a sea of sparks, steam, and thundering sounds. He was at a bit of a disadvantage thanks to only having one arm covered, but he was about to make the most of it. It was time for some actual combat that was life or death.
"Not bad," said SAM, preparing another strike, only for Acheron's sword to meet it instead, pushing him back.
"He's mine," said Mark, glancing over to Acheron, who had a tiny smile on.
"You sure don't seem like you can handle him, not in your current state... and you know it."
Her gaze pierced his very soul, focusing on the things deep within. He sighed and nodded, accepting defeat.
"Fine, but just this once."
She nodded, and the two of them dashed at him. Mark glanced over his shoulder, and just as expected, Stelle was no longer there, and neither was Black Swan.
"Damned IPC..." he muttered, sending ice spikes after his foe, building them from the ground up. SAM's suit of armor didn't even struggle against them, passing through just like Black Swan navigating the Dreamscape.
"This is going to take a bit."
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