SonGs of the Chained Ones’ Fury Chapter 2 excerpt

She breathed deep, fighting against her tiredness, and suppressing her sleek muscles’ tenseness, while her coach reached for the small bottle of water that sat on a walled shelf which had the flag of Montroy hanging over it.

He grabbed the bottle, Dhibha watching the fluid of her oncoming oasis bob to-and-fro as if it possessed all the relieving energies to free her from this moment. He opened it and poured it into her mouth. To an extent, it did free her. But she knew it was only temporary, and for that, she needed to hate it, and rely less on the false mirage because her exhaustion must be the fuel to rile her vigor, her fighting nature. It’s what her coach taught her: *‘To suffer, to experience being broken. Brokenness and suffering aided in inner growth.’*

She rotated her shoulders which felt heavy and ached.

Without warning, she felt a sickening dread and sorrow loom over her—the same feeling that would unexpectantly hit her during any given time of week, day, or hour.

She shook her head, and breathed deep, trying to remain calm.

Then an overbearing gloom came over her as the dread assailed her again.

*Damn it.*

This time, she no longer battled against the exhaustion that came from her current sport activity. She was now battling against the dread and gloom that haunted her for many years.

She observed the bell which was still red—just seconds from flashing green at any moment.

Despite the oppressive feelings, she must use them to give her strength for an advantage over her opponent who stood on the opposite end of the ring, staring with complete calm—an intense sharpness in their eyes.

Her opponent was a young, competing Olympian. Dhibha couldn’t make mistakes at all.

*C’mon! Just harness this feeling…be one with it! Stay cool and knock this chick out!*

‘Ding!’

The session ensued.

“Let’s get it Dhibha. Use them hands.”

Dhibha darted into the middle of the ring, already prepared with fist raised.

Her opponent went to her and reached out to touch gloves. Dhibha squeezed her mouthguard, despising that the woman wasn’t experiencing the overwhelming sensation of fear like she had. Irritated by her mental distraction and disadvantage, she skipped the formality and threw a jab at the woman’s face, knocking her back.

In doing so, the ominous sensation grew stronger as if some strange being was about to jump into her.

*Crap…should’ve stayed calm.*

The woman’s eyes widened in shock.

“The hell? Don’t want to touch gloves? No respect! That’s how she wanna play it huh? Akasha, handle her right now!” said Akasha’s coach.

Akasha rushed towards Dhibha who back-pedaled as she gauged the closing distance between them. Reaching her, Akasha jabbed. Dhibha parried. Jabbed still while Dhibha repeat-parried again and slipped a right hand that came her way, ducking in time to avoid Akasha’s swift hand and Dhibha threw a left shovel hook which struck Akasha’s body while following it with a left upper cut, striking Akasha’s chin. Akasha fell to the canvas.

“Goddamn it! Get up!” shouted Akasha’s coach.

While Akasha gathered her bearings, an overwhelming fear struck Dhibha’s soul and she felt something tug her spirit like hands passing through a door of some unholy dimension and began to pull Dhibha away.

Dhibha’s heart thumped.

She trembled, breathing in a manner akin to someone’s chest being riddled with bullets.

*No!*

Akasha got back up.

“Dhibha?” Said her coach. “You alright?”

“You shaking now huh? Oh, there ain’t no time for that!”

Dhibha bit down on her mouthguard, angered at Akasha’s coach’s words. Dhibha never trembled in fear of Akasha but rather—

WHOOM!

Dhibha found herself stumbling onto the ropes after an unforeseen punch that cracked against her temple.

“Dhibha, why did you freeze? Taking those unnecessary punches like that? Focus! Focus! Protect yourself!”

But she couldn’t, for those cruel, malevolent hands tugged her soul, attempting to rip away her once more. And then, as great strikes assailed her face and body, she found herself flailing against the ropes. Burning with anger, Dhibha struck back, refusing to block. When Akasha ducked under Dhibha’s hard right hook, a vision of a knife-wielding girl drenched in blood assailed Dhibha’s mind.

‘PLOP’

Dhibha suddenly found herself falling towards the canvas, and she struck shoulder first before turning onto her stomach.

“Dhibha!”

“C’mon man! What are you doing?” said a male voice from outside the ring.

“Quick sandbagging, get up, and knock her head in Dhibha!” said a female voice.

Both voices familiar—her friends: Nathan and Arlene.

In her mind’s eye, Dhibha saw men wheeling lacerated corpses towards the ambulance. A crowd of old neighbors stood staring in shock at the bodies. From among the neighbors, a dark silhouette stepped out from among them, and that shadow figure transformed into that same blood drenched girl—the knife appearing into her hands.

Dhibha coughed.

“’Four, Five, Six…’”

“He’s at Six! Get up Dhibha!”

“Dhibha!”

“’Seven…’”

And as the knife wielding girl licked the dagger, her eyes changing from a pale grey into a sick twisted yellow, she smiled. The crowd of neighbors stared at Dhibha, laughing in delirium which distorted her vision, bathing the world in morbid vertigo.

Dhibha growled. Those oppressive tugging hands of Dhibha’s spiritual battle transformed into chains that gripped her soul, and the air embraced heaviness around her while a strange darkness come over as like the agent of some unspeakable force that would make the forces of nature scream in sheer terror.

Dhibha darted up from the canvas.

“Eight—the hell?”

“That’s the spirit Dhibha! You got this!”

“Yea” said a male and female voice in unison outside the ring.

Dhibha came onto Akasha who stood her ground, and they clashed: As soon as Dhibha launched a jab, her opponent parried her and threw a left hook but was blocked by Dhibha’s right forearm. Then she launched a left straight-right straight-left straight right straight-four punch combination that was met by similar straight hands of the opponent. They shared blows, banged arms, dodged strikes, and blocked, weaved, and slipped more of each other’s blows while their encounter grew fiercer. They both stayed in close range—exchanging punches and blows and Dhibha heard shouts all around her: “Oh that looked like it hurt,” and “Dhibha, keep pushing her back”, and other spectators saying , “Akasha! Go harder. Beat that woman down! You’re young Akasha You’re gonna let some random journalist do this to you?”

Immersing herself deeper into the close-range war, a great darkness hovered over Dhibha, and she punched with extreme fury, the weight of her arms falling away as light as feathers.

Akasha’s coach gawked in shock. Dhibha’s coach stared wide eyed.

“Whoa! She’s damn fast!” said another spectator.

And, before Dhibha knew it, she saw an image of a corpse’s dangling bloody arms protruding underneath a blanket caked in red liquid. Dhibha burned with fury. Reverting to the present, she noticed her exhaustion—her bodily pains—fading away.

Fury reigned over her, but she allowed that numbness from her sense of dread and horror to fuel her fighting nature, and she dashed to a stumbling Akasha, threw hard, virulent punches. Finishing off her combination, she unleashed a right upper cut—WHAM—smacked Akasha’s jaw. Akasha went sprawling against the ropes.

Akasha’s coach hopped into the ring, hopped in front of Akasha and said, “Damn it! That’s enough!”

Akasha’s coach cursed under her breath and headed towards her corner.

Dhibha walked back to her mentor who shouted “Unbelievable! That was crazy Dhibha! What got into you? Nah! I didn’t mean it like that, but good job!” Coach Kay held out his hand.

She reached for it, but once her sweaty, gloved hand tapped against his, she felt nothing.

She lowered her head.

Dhibha heard her friends shouting her name and mouth compliments while other gym members speculated in awe, but where was the joy from winning the sparring session?

“What’s the matter Dhibha?”

Dhibha spat her mouth guard onto her hands. “It was too damn easy.”

Her coach chuckled.

Then Dhibha’s soul froze ice cold with guilt.

*What a sorry lie…*

*****

She was in the locker room, pulling out some spare, dry clothes and took off her shirt and bra.

Dhibha turned around and looked in the mirror, examining her purple, swollen lips, the rising and dropping of her chest, the bruised, burning left eye. She raised both forearms, covered her breasts, and looked away.

She cursed under her breath.

She may have won the physical conflict, using the fatigue and pain to her advantage, overcoming Akasha, but she continued to lose the battle within herself. The fury, sorrow, and horror that gripped her soul was attempting to wrestle away the goodness within herself to replace it with something more, something that did not belong there. She released her hand from her chest and walked towards the mirror.

She raised her right hand and curled it into a fist.

*No. I won’t. Don’t do it.*

Her reflection made her wince, but she managed the strength to step away, defeating the urge to punch the glass…again…

Her mind drifted once more, her mind’s eye seeing the corpse again, laying on top of the stretcher. Dhibha saw a small child, a little girl standing behind the corpse. The girl’s dark eyes brimmed with a hellish hate and twisted joy.

Dhibha exhaled, shrugging away the vision from her mind.

*I’m overacting. I need a beer.*

She lowered her raised right fist and tuned away from the mirror, telling herself she would be ok. In response, a cold chill competed against her body’s warmth from overworked muscles. She just completed a strenuous sparring session in a warm, well-ventilated gym. How could she be experiencing this cold?

She knew how: because the chill was also a part of her haunting experience.

But unlike the dreadful feeling, Dhibha appreciated the cold, supernatural chill.

The chill grew stronger which seemed to enter her stomach like some invisible being taking hold of her. And she felt sick and somehow…free…like stepping out of her current body and into a new being which welcomed her presence.

Although she cherished the chill, it now began to fade.

She closed her eyes. *Should I apologize to Akasha? I should’ve tapped her gloves. I don’t know. Then again, the ho needed to know who was boss.*

It came again—the sensation of feeling hijacked. But she couldn’t help but to cherish it since it hadn’t stemmed from the dread and pain from the visions of her past; it was the opposite—more serene. And it fought against her darker emotions.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

She flinched.

“Dhibha, you play’n with yourself in there again?” said Arlene from the other side of the dank locker room’s door.

“Yeap! And I’m loving it too you prissy penis punk! I get more happiness than you’ll ever manage with your favorite man-whore too.” Dhibha shouted.

Arlene chuckled and another voice, no doubt Nathan’s, came and said, “Take your finger out and come on! You got to see this!”

“Give me a minute, will ya? It’s get’n too good!”

Nathan kicked the door and grunted. Softer hands smacked the door—Arlene’s hands most likely.

*Arlene and Nathan—my beautiful, brazy douchebags.*

Dhibha went to her dry clothes and put them on. She’d normally take a shower after exercising but today was one of those days to abandon the routine.

*Hell, what can ya do?*

She grabbed a plastic bag from her opened gym satchel and placed her sweat drenched workout clothes in the plastic. Placing the bag inside her satchel, zipping it up, she lifted her left hand and loosened the hair tie from her ponytail, letting her neck length, smooth and neatly layered dreads hang loose. She grabbed a single dread bang and twirled it, smiling. A shower she could forego. But her hair was a different matter—the pride of her beauty which she couldn’t forsake.

The chill sensation lingered but at least the gloomy phase of the usual unknown horror drifted away.

She exited the locker room and stepped into an equipment crowded, people packed facility, buzzing with activity. She stared across the gym and saw two people sparring hard in one ring while, to her left, sat another ring, filled with coaches who held mitts while their clients’ struck mitts with boxing gloves. She rotated her neck, loosening its tautness, then noticed Akasha sitting on the bench while her coach was untying her shoe. Akasha stared at Dhibha.

Akasha scowled.

Dhibha said, “Sorry for not tapping the glove and punching you in your little face—not! You little skimp dampering bushwickle punk!”

Akasha got up and proceeded to shout angry insults in foreign language while Dhibha roared foul curses at her like a demon. Dhibha’s friends ran up, and she felt arms grip her with great force and pull her away from a shouting Akasha who was also being pulled away by her coach and cohorts. The coach went towards Dhibha and shouted, “The hell’s the matter with you damn demon witch? What’s gotten into you?”

Dhibha flicked him off and grinned.

She said in her heart: *The world is the matter you fool. Remain baffled and see my glory that is the reflection of all that is.*

She felt at peace, feeling like she could float into the air, and the haunting ended.

*Now, I’m free!*

The gym owner, Mike, entered the squabble.

They stopped.

“Jesus! Dhibha, this again?”

Dhibha pointed at both Akasha and her coach while saying, “He was talking a bunch of bull crap and she was being a plakering pissy piped platterpuss!”

“A ‘plakerang plakeking what?’” said Mike.

“Don’t try to make sense of it. That’s how the homie is.” Said Arlene.

“That damn witch!” shouted the coach.

Mike gestured Dhibha and her friends away from that dumb Akasha chick and said, “How many times do you have to keep doing this? Do you wake up in the morning with an agenda to wreck people’s day or what?”

“Yeap!” said Dhibha. “Before I toss off my blankets and scratch my vagina’s hair sack, I grab a notepad and plot out just how I’m gonna hump somebody over real good before I cum.”

Mike stared at her with widened eyes of shock. “Christ Dhibha! You’re a goddamn adult! The hell is your problem?”

“Dhibha ain’t got no problem.” Said Arlene.

“I saw it. Akasha was being a douche.” Said Nathan

“First off, Akasha didn’t do anything you damn liars! Second, so you two being the mouths and ambassadors for this grown woman now?”

“Yeap. They’re my holy advisors and personal god and goddess.” Smiled Dhibha.

Her friends grinned.

Mike clinched his fists. “Get the hell out of my gym you damn psycho!”

“I pay big money Mikey! You know me! This is combat sports! Trash talk is apart of the game!” said Dhibha.

“You’re a damn news journalist! Now get on out and come back after you become more mature and start acting your age!”

Dhibha scowled, stuck her tongue out and said, “Royal duties beckons to the royal bloods. Come milords. Let us bask in the daisies of our glory.”

“Sick—just…sick. Why are you like this?” Mike growled.

The question she was used to hearing all the time. And she would take pleasure in not answering all the same.

Dhibha walked away and headed towards the exit while her best friends trailed her.

Arlene said, “Hehe, I was worried that you died from pleasuring yourself too hard in the locker room.”

“Maybe if I hadn’t been interrupted, I could’ve happily died and freed myself from this trash rock we call New Earth. Wouldn’t hurt having pleasure as the last thing on my mind.”

Arlene tilted her head, staring at Dhibha, and said, “So romantic and passionate.”

Nathan came from behind Dhibha and said, “Don’t even trip. There’s Mar’s Regal not too far from here. The gym’s got sweet mini pools in each of the bathrooms.”

“Oh I’m fine. Sooner or later, Mike’s gonna come calling my phone and we’ll be back to business like usual.”

“I gotta say, when you gonna turn pro?” asked Arlene.

“What did I tell you about that?”

“Oh, I forgot. But still, you treat it more than like a hobby.”

“In my opinion,” said Nathan. “I don’t care if you gave an Olympian some problems, you need to slow down with this stuff.” Said Nathan.

Dhibha shrugged. “I do what I want.”

Nathan paused mid-step. “I’ve always been curious. Why do you do it?”

Dhibha thought about Nathan’s question for a moment. They were now standing at the exit way. Why would she subject herself to boxing? She thought of those horrid visions of the knife wielding girl. Thought of Priest Newton. And her first lover Tyler. And the people she shared her faith with years ago when she used to be a clerical worker in the ministry. And found her mind drifter deeper into more unpleasant memories of people and past events. And the thought of them filled her with hatred. She buried the temptation to scowl at his unnecessary question and just shrugged her shoulders and said, “Because I want to.”

Nathan narrowed his eyes and gave her an inquisitive stare.

“Don’t mind him.” Arlene said. “Keep going hard baby!”

“Oh yea!” said Dhibha while Arlene gave her a high-five.

Nathan frowned. “You’re a really damn good fighter. Got some talent. But, one day, if you slip up and your brain goes haywire, you might let Wall’s or Bridge’s first draft pieces get published as the main articles of the month.”

“Those two idiots? Ugh! Oh, hell no!” Dhibha grunted.

Dhibha pondered that for a moment as if it were a statement that would determine her future. Technically, if she did get hurt… her career at the news editorial could shift into an uncertain, diabolical realm of misfortunate that was created from her willingness to immerse herself in battle. But she didn’t mind. Either she went out on her own terms or life would do it for her. What choice did she have? Why live life in fear? Besides, being broken helped her grow so much over the years. She couldn’t go back to being complacent again.

*Screw that. I won’t be average. And I’m going to keep vent’n myself.*

Dhibha noticed Nathan’s shoes were untied. Dhibha bowed down, went onto one knee, and slowly began tying his shoe.

“Dhibha, you could’ve told me!”

“No. Let me.”

She finished. Dhibha got up and examined his clothes. Then she placed her hands on Arlene’s cheeks and examined her face and hair to see if anything was off. She looked in Arlene’s ears. She noticed ear wax in Arlene’s left ear. Dhibha dug into her back pocket for a piece of tissue, then proceeded to go into Arlene’s ear. Arlene chuckled and yanked her head away.

“Dhibha!” Arlene shouting while she chuckled.

“You need to stop doing that.” Nathan hissed.

“No.” Dhibha said, staring at them like they were her children. She had to do what she did. If she didn’t take care of those she loved, she couldn’t mentally function. Too much anger burned in her heart not to serve them when she could.

“Weirdo. Anyway,” Nathan motioned, “so there’s this new scoop in Patterton Country and—”

The T.V. buzzed, entering an alarm.

The crowd gasped. The gym went silent.

Dhibha’s heart thumped in wonder.

“This is a state of emergency. This is not a drill. Please follow these instructions.”

The tentacles of horror clasped Dhibha’s mind, yet she found herself pondering all the potential excitement that could come from the broadcast.

Mike, Mike’s gym accountant Trish, his overseer Dooms, and a few other staff were huddled at the desk and staring at the ceiling-suspended flat screen tv. The gym goers went to the screen. Dhibha and her friends went to them while making efforts to remain out of Mike’s sight.

“Citizens of Newington City, wherever you are, please remain inside. If you are already outside or away from home, please go home or direct yourself to the nearest shelter or haven immediately. This is not a drill. Find a safe place and remain inside. Further instructions will be provided shortly. Let others know immediately. Thank you.”

“What? Telling us to go home and not even explaining the problem?”—“Too much time to explain anything! Life is more important.”—“Screw that. We have a right to know.” Said the gym goers who entered panicked and excited speculations.

Arlene got a text. She looked at it. Her eyes went wide while she smiled in horror and surprise.

“What is it?” Dhibha said.

“I got a text from Nini. Martial law!” Arlene whispered.

Nathan whispered. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Oh my goodness. Dude, there was like—an explosion at a military complex in Fastbad.” Arlene said, reading the text. “And—oh my goodness. Oh wow!”

“Let me see! Let me see!” Dhibha whispered. Dhibha and Nathan crowded Arlene and examined more of the text.

Dhibha’s eyes went wide. “HOLY SHI—”

“Shhh! Quiet Dhibha! People can’t know!”

“Nathan?” said Arlene.

“We’ll get bum rushed!”

“We need to tell everybody!” Arlene suggested.

“No! Jake’s right! It’s too much or people will bum rush us.” Dhibha’s eyes went wide. “The scoop! We gotta get this scoop! We’re getting on this!”

“Dhibha? Really?” said Arlene.

Nathan grinned. “Wow! Dhibha you’re a genius! Nah, I really mean it!”

“Come on!” Dhibha shouted. “Assemble the crew! Get the vans and cams ready! Asap!”

Arlene breathed hard. “Oh my God! The text message…” Arlene placed her hand on her head as she shivered. “Holy Christ. Holy Christ. Holy—”

Dhibha sprinted out of the gym. “Come on! Make the calls! We gotta go! Now!”

Soon, Dhibha tried to reach her car but realized she never brought her car and came in Jake’s family jeep. Dhibha cursed under her breath.

“Dhibha! The text messages! Look at them!” shouted Nathan.

“Hurry and get over here! We need to get the hell out of here damn it!” Dhibha’s voice had echoed in the grimy, dimly lit parking lot smelling of piss and cigarettes.

Her best friends soon reached her. They showed her more of the text.

“Holy demon’s sweet sweaty balls!”

“INSANE!” shouted Nathan after Dhibha’s surprise.

“We gotta get there first-hand!”

“Dhibha! No!” shouted Arlene.

“You want people to know the truth? So, damn it, this is how it’s going to be! Now, get us to the car Nathan!”

Nathan fumbled in his pockets. “My keys! I lost my keys!”

“Nathan!” shouted Dhibha.

“Wait! I found it!”

“Goddamn it Nathan! I’m gonna kill you!” Dhibha screamed.

Nathan went to the car. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Dhibha took Arlene’s hand. She was about to bolt to Nathan’s jeep which had now turned on and rumbled like a panicky rhinoceros, but Arlene wouldn’t move.

“Please girl! Calm down patty cakes! I need you to breath. Just breath.”

“Ok. Ok!”

“Now get your hairy vagina moving!” commanded Dhibha.

They bolted to the jeep. Suddenly, Dhibha tripped over her own feet. She fell towards the ground with Arlene squealing and falling with her. Both collapsing to the ground, Nathan backed out of the parking space.

“Nathan!” screamed Dhibha. She grabbed a crying Arlene with all her strength and rolled each other out of the way. The jeep rolled right past Dhibha and Arlene as Dhibha’s dreads buffeted from the warm wind produced by the passing vehicle.

Nathan pulled out and span the car towards the exit-way.

“Nathan! You tried to kill us you son of a prissy cuck!” roared Dhibha.

“Jesus! I didn’t even see you there! I’m sorry Dhibha! I’m sorry!”

Dhibha leapt up while she took Arlene by the hand and sprinted to his jeep. They got in. Nathan sped through the parking lot and headed into the busy boulevard .

*****

Nathan drove through the city. Dhibha’s heart hammered. Military jeeps patrolled congested freeways and soldiers jogged under bridges, noticing groups of people, telling the people to find a safe place. Dhibha and her friends watched the events unfold before them.

The city she’d known for almost all her life, with its vast, tall, column sleeked walled buildings and stratosphere piercing sky scrapers with exterior bodies that were as wide as titanic beasts which spread over one city block with oppressive stature; and its wide eight lane streets where pedestrians could maneuver past trucks, buses, and automobiles with ease; and intersecting train tracks, that were placed two stories high, nestled across the city and passed between buildings like a giant spider web forgotten by a mechanical spider; this very city, sprawling and brilliant, morphed into a small prison cowering under its insignificance while a greater, foreboding tribulation began to increase the giant city’s trivialness.

Nathan neared the Newington Bugle.

Dhibha studied more of the crowded city.

The Newington Brothers built Newington metropolis as the hub of all major Montroy commerce centering on domestic and international trade while people lived within the city’s extravagant architecture brimming with obnoxious gusto—the founders of the city expecting no catastrophe of any kind to impede against the city’s size or interrupt Newington’s commercial activities. For a time, she believed it too. But today, the National Guard of Mont Bay district occupied the grand city. Oh, were Dhibha and the Newington Brothers so wrong. To think that something would never happen to their city—and their very own nation.

When Nathan reached the front of the news station and parked his car, the fact settled in: something big was about to happen in Newington City and it wasn’t going to be good.

*We’re we stupid and foolish enough to believe that nothing would ever happen to our country? Or were we just being stupidly optimistic?*

Dhibha unbuckled her seat belt. Arlene did the same.

She opened the door and stepped out. Arlene followed, but Nathan hadn’t left the car.

Dhibha titled her head. “Tell me what’s wrong. Right now.” Her voice sharp like iron.

“Just got a text from Gina. Not going with you. Family first.”

Dhibha felt hands wrap around her waist. And a head rested on her back.

*Oh Arlene…*

Arlene never had a big family. She was the only daughter. Never had many boyfriends, and when she did go on dates with men, she failed to establish a real, meaningful connection with them. Part of the reason was her indecisiveness because she never thought of any of them as worthy when some of them were. Another reason was that others were too stupid to see a good girl in front of them. Either way, whenever Arlene complained about a dating relationship, Dhibha would just say that it wasn’t Arlene’s time yet. But after being alone for a long time, Nathan and Dhibha were the only true friends that Arlene had ever known, and Arlene’s desperation said much. Dhibha could tell that Arlene was afraid to lose Nathan. “They’ll be ok Nathan. We’ll get through this.” Dhibha reached out her hand. “Now, join the mission.”

Arlene shook her head. “Dhibha, you let this overzealous superheroine of justice role get to your head, you’re gonna end up getting us killed and looking stupid.”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t make it where I’m at through sheer luck.”

“True. We ain’t seekers of truth for nothing Arlene. Isn’t that our creed? We’re smarter than the average crowd.” Said Nathan.

“Dhibha—Nathan, just…stop. You’re both stupid. I’m stupid. Its just a part of our nature.”

“And why is that, Arlene?” hissed Dhibha.

Arlene’s arm wrapped tighter around Dhibha’s waist. “My mother used to tell me that we’re that way because we abandoned the true light and walk in darkness.”

Dhibha’s eyes widened. Something seemed to fall on her heart.

Nathan gripped the wheel even harder, disturbed by what Arlene had said just as Dhibha was.

“Nonsense Arlene! Don’t get it twisted and cut that bull out.”

Nathan shifted the car into drive-mode. “I gotta go Dhibha. I really want to join you so bad. I truly do. But I have to leave.”

“But—”

Nathan drove off.

Dhibha cursed under her breath.

“Dhibha, you do this, and you’ll regret it.”

Dhibha considered Arlene’s admonition. “We have to.” Dhibha turned within Arlene’s hands, facing her friend. “Come on.”

Dhibha walked past and headed up the steps.

“You better hope we don’t go to prison for this! Or do you want to prove that my mother was right?”

Dhibha looked over her shoulder. *Light and darkness…*

Like a reaper appearing from nowhere, the dark dread and the cold chill came onto Dhibha once more, the two opposing natures battling with her.

“My mother used to tell me that we’re that way because we abandoned the true light and walk in darkness.”

Dhibha looked away from Arlene and widened her eyes.

*No. Not these sensations again. Why did Arlene have to bring up stuff about the darkness and the light?*

Soon, the cold chill took over the dark dread inside of Dhibha. Despite the chill’s otherworldly aura which possessed some dread imminence filled with abhorrence against all things twisted and foul, against things bred from the dark emotions of Dhibha’s mind and her past, the chill’s powerful, righteous hate poured unfathomable fear into her heart. But she’d rather experience the ineffable, terrifying yet awe-inspiring presence of this soulful sensation than the creeping darkness that swam in the oceans of her misery.

She went up the steps. Entering the building, Dhibha thought of Nathan crashing the car into a wall and exploding in a ball of flames, and his wife and daughters mourning his death. She grinded her teeth at the imagination.

She felt sick again and an ominous sensation of malevolence creeped into her.

*****

Dhibha and Arlene passed through an empty hallway subsumed in an eerie silence so immanent that their foot falls seemed to disturb the strange natural order of a subdued and harrowing atmosphere as if every footstep drew Dhibha and Arlene one step closer to being criminals against the oppressive quietness.

They reached the main doors of the editorial room, and a strange feeling of apprehension flowed into Dhibha. They entered the cubicle space to see Want, Belma, Elffy, Bridge, Mark, Rudy, Wall, and the rest of the journalism team arguing, filing papers, and scampering across the room reading documents like confused physicists trying to understand a complex formula, or typing onto computers or making phone calls like mad scientists while paranoia pervaded the air.

Dante noticed Dhibha and Arlene entering the room, and he motioned them towards the opposite end of the room where an office contained a wall-to-floor window overlooking the eastern region of Newington city.

Reaching it, Dhibha said, “The hell is going on?”

Dante shook his head. “Not good Chief. not good. We’re already trying to break through some tech laws to get the military to pay for what they done. But the arrests might make it complicated.”

“No good again! Damn it! We’ll never get through at this rate!” Rudy hissed.

“Just call a different number Rudy.”

“Doesn’t matter at this point—”

“Tombs it does matter.” Said Bridge. “Why the hell are you—”

“Alright everybody! Listen up!” The fumbling journalists paused. Dhibha continued, “Squeeze out the funky sweat from your drenched panties, wringle it out, put’em back on, strap on the superhero cape and get your reporter game ready! This city is running blind in this tunnel of madness, and we have to show’em the light and put’em back on the right path!” Dhibha rolled up her sleeves and quickly put her hair in a bun with long hair pins she always carried with her. She began marching down the aisle way, raised her right hand, and rotated it like a helicopter. “Let’s get it moving vagies and penises. The tunnel of madness is getting darker and crueler by the second, and the longer we wait, the more our entire city will be lost in lies and mayhem while the truth leaves us grappling in the tunnel’s darkness. Is this what you want for your families? Is this how we’ll cater to our city—with terrible news coverage and fake stories…fake stories that doesn’t even make us any moogles which is what we also prefer too? You like moogles don’t you? It puts food on the table and keeps your wives and husbands and kids and hookers happy sometimes, doesn’t it? Don’t you all want more of it? Isn’t big moogles and real news what life is all about? ”

Most of the staff acknowledged Dhibha’s command and Dhibha’s pep talk and began putting on their jackets or running to their cubicles, many of them shouting for equipment, van keys, driving routes, but a few remained reticent, doubt glimmering in their eyes like smoldering coals.

While Arlene trailed Dhibha, Dhibha said, “Don’t think Arlene. Just do.”

Belma, Dante, Mark, Bridge, Elffy, and Wall followed Dhibha with Belma saying, “You’re not kidding? During lockdown Dhibha?”

“Yeap!” said Dhibha Mushaninga.

Belma rolled her neck. “Good heavens. You’re outta your mind!”

“Not out! In! If I was out of it, my body would be standing over their while my brain would be standing over here—at which point, my soul would be floating above my body and mind while wondering how to get back into both when my body and mind can’t even get along.”

“The hell? Dhibha, what?” said Dante concerning Dhibha’s logic.

“Screw this! This plan is too much Dhibha. We need to obey and keep the law on our side. We can’t go out there!” shouted Wall.

“Screw you! You forgotten our creed? The people need the truth.” Bridge said.

“Excuse me?” Wall said.

Wall marched to Bridge and put his hands on Bridge. Bridge grabbed him and attempted to push Wall, but Wall reversed the push and thrusted it back onto him. Soon, they grabbed each other and yanked each other onto the floor. A wrestling war ensured.

“Hey!” yelled Dhibha, her voice going off like a bomb. They kept going. She ran to Wall and Brigde and began pulling them off with Mark and Rudy assisting her. “Wall, Bridge—in the middle of this crazy event and you two act like a bunch of buffoons? What are you—the archetypes of how dumb people can get?”

Wall growled. “If we go guns blazing, the law won’t be on our side!”

“Law? Since when has the law ever been on our side?” Dhibha said.

“Dhibha, I understand that we have to uphold the creed, but don’t you realize we’re in the middle of making major calls?”

“I don’t care about the calls. Quit being such a scary cat, Wall.”

“Dhibha, stop being a douchebag for once and listen! Please! Some of our own have gotten arrested! And it gets worse!”

“What?” said Dhibha in surprise.

“Got a call,” said Pebbles, “Wilma couldn’t get back over here. They rerouted her and placed her in the nearest city shelter of her location.”

“Damn! What a mess.” yelled Dibs.

Confusion beat up Dhibha’s mind. She rubbed her eyes. “What the hell is happening?”

“Thizzle and Tory got into it with some of the army troop. They got arrested. But when things heated up, Thizzle and Tory—” Dibs stopped, and he lowered his head.

The room went silent.

“What?” Dhibha whispered.

She looked around.

Seconds later, everyone lowered their heads.

An eerie chill creeped through Dhibha. “What happened to Thizzle and Tory?”

A moment passed.

Pebbles said, “They…they got shot to death.”

Dhibha’s heart dropped.

“Wilma was with them but manage to flee to get back here but failed.”

“Are you kidding me?” shouted Arlene.

Everyone looked at each other, then lowered their heads, again.

Dhibha grunted. She walked closer to them and whispered, “How?”

Elffy eyed Want who eyed Belma who shrugged. Belma looked at Dhibha. “We don’t know.”

Wall sucked his teeth. “Maybe it’s because of the culture you flex around here.”

Dhibha flicked her gaze to Wall.

“Thizzle and Tory probably spouted some nonsense about justice and wanting to see things through, being so brain washed by the creed that they idolized you to the point where they wanted to be like their hard ass goddess and didn’t give a damn about their lives.”

The room went silent. A dark sensation struck Dhibha’s heart. Her right hand twitched. Embracing the smoldering rage, she made a fist and launched it straight towards Wall’s face. Dhibha’s fist cracked against his mouth. Wall stumbled back and fell on the ground.

Dhibha stared at him with venomous eyes as the crowd looked in shock.

Dhibha soon focused on Belma who looked at Dhibha with consternation.

And Belma said, “Some put the fault on you, honey. They might be right. Might not.”

Dhibha cringed. “What?”

“Maybe our creed was too much. It’s possible your justice propaganda brainwas—,” before Belma finished theorizing, Dhibha took heavy steps towards her. Belma slowly backed away.

“It ain’t Dhibha’s fault damn it!” Arlene defended.

“Some say it was Thizzle and Tory’s fault. Others say it was Dhibha’s. Doesn’t change the truth that two of our highest-ranking journalists got executed and that the entire main staff are scrambling throughout the building trying to figure out this mess.”

Dhibha stumbled away, confused. Finding the nearest chair, she sank into it, getting crushed by guilt.

Arlene ran towards her, got on her knees, and held Dhibha’s shoulders. Arlene looked at the team. “I want the names of all the ones who are scapegoating Dhibha, cuz may God deal with me so goddamn severely if I don’t get rid of these snitching scum by tonight!”

“You may be the assistant chief editor, but that’s a little unnecessary and extreme.” Said Rudy.

“What’s extreme is how these people are putting their deaths on her hands!”

“Gives you no right to try and fire them over what they believe. Can’t control what people think or how they—”

Dhibha began to sob.

The room gasped.

“It’s all my fault.” Dhibha said. “I…I didn’t do enough to show’em how to move. They were only trying to make a difference.”

The chill came over her, her body feeling light though tears flooded her eyes.

Wall spat out blood from his red-caked mouth. “Serves you right! If not for your stupid, overzealous Creed, Thizzle and Tory would be alive right now! And you hit me? I’m gonna sue you. You hear me? SUE you!”

Dhibha placed her hand on her head. Why did she punch him? That was so stupid. She wasn’t thinking. But he wounded her. He spoke evil against her. That wasn’t fair. None of it was fair.

“Damn it man! She hired us all and did more than pay our rents! So what if Dhibha’s hardline? Dhibha took care of us!” defended Bridge.

“But the Creed killed them!” said Jonah in the distance.

“They didn’t have to take it that seriously! They were grown men. Adults. Their choice!” said another reporter.

“Agreed. I’m with Dhibha on this.” supported Mark.

“Dhibha’s fault! Always trying to be Ms. Not So Average and going berserk.” Said another reporter.

“Where your balls come from all of a sudden? Belma was the one who spoke for ya’ll first damn idiots.” Said Bridge.

“But you—"

Dhibha covered her ears, darted up and walked into the editing room located on the southwest end of the meeting room, and stared out the window.

The arguments escalated. Dhibha felt hopeless. She dealt with so much drama in the past and stood face-to-face with anyone who tried to insult or belittle her, and even gave them a bruising or too for attempting to aggravate her, but so much hatred, so much sorrow and hurt weltered in Wall and some of her staffers’ voices that she simply broken down. What was it? What made their complaints so painful that she didn’t go on the defense—let alone the offensive mode to shut them down? What was it about the heaviness of their words that made her freeze when she should be going to war against them?

Was it because that Dhibha used to be so cool with Wall as a friend that, when his nature surfaced, he resented her in secret the entire time along with half of the editing team who she believed supported her the entire time? Or was it because of Thizzle and Tory’s deaths that came from a passion that was inspired by Dhibha’s teachings towards them that she began to feel the pain of losing someone so dear to her life because they understood her and, in essence, became like family to her? What was it? Or was she really to blame for their deaths because she hadn’t taught them to be wise in making a difference in society? Or was it because she treated Thizzle and Tory like a cruel, twisted manipulator, having them do the extra work and using them to further her way up the ladder because they were willing to listen to whatever she said?

But their deaths gave birth to a reality: that they were willing to give their lives for the truth.

And it terrified her, because, in those moments, had she been tested to fight for righteousness, she’d keep her mouth shut because she never cared for the truth. She never trusted many people anymore to so much as cater much truth to them because of how she felt against the world and how the world treated her. Dhibha cared about her life first. She would have never wasted her time trying to convince soldiers to get a better scoop.

In reality, Dhibha protected herself alone.

She wouldn’t risk her life for some noble cause that the world didn’t deserve.

Her whole belief in, “Fighting to spread real news and the truth,” had been all a facade—a great lie dressed in a cloak of righteousness. For her preaching served only as a business motto to help produce sensationalized news stories to make her works more authentic and pave her way to the top to earn more moogles, get the social recognition and attention she desired so much, and gain power and have control over others to ease some of her pain.

*My God…*

Guilt nailed her down, and with it, fear stuck her like a hammer. Staring out the window, imagining the bullet riddle corpses of Thizzle and Tory, she gasped.

Dhibha soon saw bullet holes on the bloodied heads of Izri—her fiancé, and Jake, Izri’s little brother and one of Dhibha’s best friends.

She pressed her head onto the window, trembling .

And as soldiers jogged outside near tanks and riot jeeps, she felt nothing—as if martial law held no meaning or feeling to her anymore. She grabbed a photo from her desk and looked at her fiancé and his little brother—a photo she taken with them in an ice cream parlor.

*Izri. Jake.*

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Words swept into her ear. She realized she drowned in such deep thoughts that the words weren’t processed until she resurfaced to reality again.

She continued staring into the city’s eastern region.

“You hear me? You damn manipulative skank! You did this.”

A crowd of people entered the editing room.

“Leave her alone Wall!”

“They should’ve never worked for you.”

Dhibha placed her palm against the window and swallowed every nasty word of Wall’s rant.

“Leave her alone Wall! When this is over! You’ll be written up for this!” Arlene shouted.

“And now those fools ended up dead, being so overzealous, and stupid.” Wall continued.

Dhibha’s eyes widened. The haunting burgeoned in full force inside of her. While that darkness encroached upon her being, she embraced it, telling herself that the dread was lust and that her fear was sweet.

She turned around and grabbed Wall by his collar.

“Oh? Don’t know how to settle things except with your fists huh? Lame! Go ahead! Rack up the court counts! When I get my lawyers, I’m gonna—,”

She snatched him across the room. The crowd gasped. She grabbed scissors from the table and pressed him against the floor-to-ceiling window.

She held the scissors to his face.

“What’s this? Dhibha trying to get creative now? Beating people up is not enough huh? Maybe—”

He grunted, his words interrupted by Dhibha’s sudden tightening grip after she felt an all-consuming force of malevolence possess her being. With one arm, Dhibha lifted Wall into the air and she pressed him harder against the glass which began to crack. Hands attempted to pull her away, but those hands felt like baby touches.

“The hell? She’s not budging!”

“Such strength!”

She looked at Wall and smiled. And now, Wall trembled within her chocking grip.

“Let him go Dhibha!”

“Let him go? First off, how is she able to do that?”—“No way! Just one hand?”—“Dhibha is not human!” said reporters among the crowd.

“Dhibha?” said Arlene.

“Wai—wait…” Wall grunted.

Hellish rage consumed her mind. Her heart thumped. Fury reigned over her. The dark dread she once felt—now becoming a sexual pleasure. She smiled once more, imagined herself being swallowed by this dark force she felt for years. Her vision went black.

*****

Terror wracked Wall. He couldn’t fathom the rage that twisted her face, a rage that looked like some evil spirit from the realms of Hell. Dante and his coworkers moved away from Dhibha as they stared at her in fear.

More of the coworkers attempted to pull him down, but her strength proved unconquerable. Inhumanely strong. It made no sense.

Soon, her eyes glowed a hellish purple with wisps of aura floating from them like smoke. And the glow subsided.

“The hell?” Wall said in horror.

Dhibha raised the scissors and went down. She slowly pressed the blades into his left shoulder. He screamed.

*****

Arlene was petrified, watching Dhibha jab the small scissors in and out of Wall’s shoulders. He screamed. During his torture, Dhibha made sensual moans. Dhibha soon shouted phrases as if she was having sex: “You like that honey? Huh? Oh yea baby. Love it? Get more! Oh yea. Yes. Uh huh! Woot! Yes! OH!”

Over the years, Dhibha built a reputation of being a hard one. In fact, hurting and beating up Wall shouldn’t have been a surprise.

But it was how Dhibha was torturing him that made the atmosphere dreadful, the sight unholy.

It was Dhibha but it wasn’t Dhibha. And, somehow, no matter how twisted and horrifying this sight was, it seemed so natural—as if the true, hidden side of Dhibha had resurfaced after all these years.

But in this knowing, Arlene couldn’t give up, knowing that Dhibha was still herself. Arlene went near them. “Dhibha.”

Dhibha stopped and acknowledged her. “What is it honey?”

“It’s ok. I’ll—I’ll deal with that prick tomorrow. He doesn’t deserve to be punished by you.”

Dhibha chuckled. “Alright.”

She let go of Wall who fell to the floor, hit his head against the window, and grabbed his blood-seeping shoulder.

Dhibha turned around, her eyes worn out from the crying, and she crossed her arms.

“He—he disrespected the dead.” Dhibha said.

“It’s ok.” Arlene said, feeling horrified. But she couldn’t give up because Dhibha was her greatest friend and true sister in this miserable world. “Come here.” Said Arlene, her arms reaching out to Dhibha.

Dhibha dropped to her knees. She cried.

*****

As the staff carried an injured Wall out of the room, Dhibha was in Arlene’s arms, sobbing.

After some time, Dhibha lifted her head and rubbed her forehead.

“It’s—it’s getting worse…” Dhibha said.

Arlene didn’t respond and rubbed Dhibha’s back, still hugging Dhibha.

“I heard what they were saying. Some of them want me out of this building.”

Gentle circular strokes across Dhibha’s back.

“It’s not right! I’m such a good person. I really am! It’s just—I hate it!” she sobbed . "They don’t understand me. Doctors say I have PTSD. But it’s worse…but I’ll be fine. I just—I don’t know. I’m so kind, but—sometimes, I just—I just hate people…sometimes, I even use my mental condition as a bull shit excuse, even though I know what I’m doing. But I’m a good person! They don’t understand me.”

Arlene spoke. “I understand you.”

Dhibha’s eyes widened at the admission. Dhibha almost revealed more about herself, about how she mainly manipulated Tory and Thizzle for her own personal gain because of how people used to use her in the past and so wanted to free herself by exerting power over others to make her feel better. But Dhibha decided to remain silent, because she somehow felt she would contradict herself—contradict her belief that she was a good person.

*But am I really? No. I am. Actually, I’m not! Oh no…*

Dhibha lowered her head. “Arlene, something is happening to me. It’s like I’m standing in light and darkness. And I don’t know which one to embrace. Or it’s as if the light and darkness is playing some shitty tug of war game with me. And I hate it. I don’t know. My ex-pastor called it something akin to some spiritual warfare. But, ever since that horrible day, it’s gotten worse.” Dhibha looked Arlene in the eye. “And it’s got some strange edge to it. No longer angelic—but demonic.” Dhibha shivered. “I’m so damn scared.”

“Dhibha,” Arlene’s voice succored like a loving mother comforting her child. “After what you told me about your parents, I understand why you’re feeling this way. I might feel the same if my parents were murdered too.”

“Yea but, this strange feeling was happening to me before that day. When I was much younger. But during that time, it only felt good.”

“Well, maybe you’re still finding yourself you know? I don’t know. We’ll figure this out. Just, don’t give in.”

But the manner of Arlene’s tone painted a picture that it was too late for Dhibha as she had already given in. But Dhibha was still herself. The painting must be false.

“That bastard Wall cursed Thizzle and Tory in their deaths. He deserved it! Every minute of it.”

Arlene looked at her.

“He deserved to get shanked. Right?”

Arlene said nothing. She hugged Dhibha again. Dhibha cradled Arlene’s back.

*Did he?*

*****

Sometime later, a few men and women wearing imposing uniforms rushed into the room. “Dhibha Mushaninga, you’re under arrest.”

Arlene grimaced. “Who called the police?”

They went to Dhibha, grabbed her, and pulled out handcuffs. “Assault of an employee and assault with a deadly weapon.”

A reporter rushed into the room. “People! Get over here! Now! Something is going down with the soldiers outside in the West district!”

The dour expressions in the police officers’ faces told Dhibha everything.

The world was turning upside down.

*****

They stood in the meeting room, some employees standing on top of tables while others huddled close to make enough room for everyone to witness what unfolded with the Mont Bay Province’s Regional Guard. Something strange was happening in the east—a series of lights and flashes that made the soldiers scramble in its direction as others rushed like mad men around tanks, jeeps and mechs on Sax Avenue.

SCHTHUNK—a bang sounded. The Newington Press Bugle quaked.

The crowd of journalists lost their footing. Bridge, Belma, Elffy, and Mark who were all standing near Dhibha and Arlene, fell onto them. Dhibha grunted in annoyance and shock.

The quake left, the journalists gathered their footing, and someone said, “The hell? This ain’t some regular martial law.” Said one person.

“You’ve been in one before genius?” said another.

“Shut up!” said the same person.

“You shut up—”

The co-workers argued back and forth.

Bridge shouted, “Shut the hell up or I SWEAR TO GOD—I’ll throw the table through this damn window and have them shoot at us!” The crowd gasped. Some were in shock and others were appalled, scowling at him. But the two arguers ceased their banter. “I swear, I feel like adults are just big damn kids—never maturing and always staying stupid. Maybe that’s what we are, stupid beings who don’t know any better—like we need somebody bigger to look after us since we’re so retarded!”

“What is that thing?” shouted Belma, pointing into the east.

Everyone looked outside, Dhibha straining her eyes to get a clearer view.

“Oh my God.” Dhibha whispered to herself.

Speculations of horror erupted from the crowd.

Moments later, a bright flash flickered on the windows of one of the large, chrome buildings in the west. The flashes went brighter, flickering like a massive, malfunctioning light bulb that was preparing to surrender its glow to an oncoming darkness, and the virulent, savage flickers ensued. Dhibha saw Newington citizens of the west buildings stare out the windows, trying to see what was happening. The soldiers on Sax Avenue got into their vehicles and mechs and headed west.

Dhibha took off her shoe and began smacking the window. Arlene stared as Wall shouted, “What’s this crazy bitch doing now? First my arm and now the window? Someone stop her!” he looked at the police officers. “Hey guys! You’re the law! Shoot her or something!”

Dhibha broke the windows. The sounds of city blared to life.

Cackling sounds like powerful, deadly fireworks echoed from the west.

The staff and police panicked.

A soul-quaking fear made Dhibha feel quite alive, the cold chill of her inner soul and dark dread subsided. Smoke coiled in the dreary, foggy atmosphere and flowed into the grim sky. Suddenly, a string of objects flew up from the east as fast and numerous as arrows and shot towards the west.

But these objects weren’t mere arrows. Blazing pillars of fire sprang from the objects tails, smoke trailing them. One of them moved faster and drew closer. Dhibha’s eyes widened…

Rudy shouted, “War! We’re at war! We’re being invaded!”

The staff screamed and shouted in panic.

And they watched the missile slam into one of the buildings on Sax Avenue.

“Jesus Christ! Run! Run!” Dhibha yelled. She grabbed Arlene by the stomach, using all her strength, and pushed through the crowd. Everyone darted towards the room’s exit, heading to far back of the office as the building shook like being slammed by a tsunami. Booming noises blared. People screamed, then—BANG—a great heat and ball of light flared within the office, engulfing the meeting room in flames. A concussive force knocked Dhibha and Arlene onto the ground.

A red midst pervaded the air.

The rushing crowd screamed louder.

Getting up, Dhibha picked up a pale Arlene, but Dhibha noticed decapitated legs, arms, and heads strewn across the cubicle room, causing Dhibha to stumble. Dhibha growled. People ran past Dhibha and Arlene.

Dhibha looked backed, realizing that some coworkers didn’t make it out of the meeting room in time. In fact, Dhibha also saw that the bodies of all the police officers who sought to arrest her were killed in the missile blast.

Dhibha grabbed Arlene and ran towards the room exit. They made it into the hallway with tons of people and journalists milling through it like ants experiencing a flood.

Dhibha and Arlene ran as fast as they could.

Chunks of the main hallway ceiling exploded like giant confetti, and it fell onto some people, crushing them, crunched bone, smashed fleshed. Slamming rock created violent symphonies of death and destruction. Arlene cried.

“C’mon baby.” Dhibha said, crying. “C’mon” she said again, grabbing Arlene by the head and pressing it to her chest. Arlene nestled in Dhibha’s bosom, not resisting, and they passed through death, doom, and destruction, drifting through fleeing peoples like tiny logs sailing down a raging river, journeying into a new reality of brilliant chaos.

*****

Hours passed after the first phase of the invasion and Karikoga gritted his teeth. He stood in an illustrious crystal hallway with marbled, diamond floors containing built-in white lights which shined like the stars, adorning the hallway in a royal glow. He’d been standing in the imperial throne’s main corridor for over an hour, ruminating over his first mission. He was looking out a crystal window, eyeing the scenery of his glorious city below, making great efforts to channel his dark emotions and dig deeper into his corrupted side, his sinful nature.

Nothing happened.

He began to regret not having fought Shohiwa and Gabriel, since they gave him good enough reasons to tap into the Path of Darkness—Shohiwa, failing to stop Gabriel and Gabriel killing Regional Guard soldiers of Mont Bay Province.

Karikoga raised his right hand, darted it towards the crystal window, and closed his hand into a fist at the moment before impact for the greatest possible punching power. The reinforced, magick-imbued glass trembled as he looked into a vibrating world in anger, his fist pressed against the glass. He felt a slight trimmer , of guilt, shame, anger and a tinge of sickness tingling in his core.

He smiled.

*Yes. This is it. This feeling! Darkness! I know there has to be a way to harness the power of Darkness without overt sin—making me able to wield both light and darkness.*

And the dark emotions fled as quickly as they had come when he thought of the enemy soldiers he spared and let them go free. His heart was filled with relief and life, and the dark emotions dissipated as quickly as they had come. A serene sensation of goodness, like floating in the sky while covered in light, entered his core and mind.

*No! It’s too much!*

The passions of the Narrow Road took over him. He grimaced, turned away and pressed his back against the glass while crossing his arms. He tried to tap into the darkness while thinking about Gabriel killing that man. But it all came to naught. Indeed, he was angry and frustrated, but it wasn’t enough for the devilish edge because the truth was: Gabriel killed those men. Not him. He tried to tap into the darkness by thinking about Shohiwa’s life but the fact remains: that even though Shohiwa never killed anyone, he was the one who was able to sleep around with many women, enter drunken stupors, do drugs and any other thing to get him where he was. Shohiwa did those things…and not Karikoga…

So, with this fact in mind, he knew, by understanding the doctrine of Christ, that Gabriel and Shohiwa committed their own sins. And having committed their own overt sins, they were able to become full-fledged Metorafs. As is written from the Scriptures, “…the son shall not share in the guilt of the father, nor the father share in the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous will be accredited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.” Gabriel couldn’t share his sin of murder with Karikoga, nor could Shohiwa share his sins of fornication and other forms of wildness with Karikoga. Karikoga laid his head behind the glass and grimaced, knowing that it was going to be incredibly difficult enhancing his Kai powers without covering his hands in blood and heinous transgressions.

If only he shared his brothers’ sins without having to do any of them; Yes, Karikoga carried his own sins, but they weren’t dark enough.

He turned around and stared into the city again. He thought of Grandpa Murray. A dreadful feeling loomed over him, his mind tingling with madness. He closed his eyes, trying his best to embrace it. But it ran away from.

Light came and his mind filled with peace once more.

*Damn it! Am I slowly forgiving him? No. No he deserved to die. But, if only I killed him first! Maybe that’s what I had to do to grow stronger! But Gabriel took that opportunity from me!*

“Lord Jesus,” He said to himself out loud “I hate my grandpa and wanted his head placed on a platter Lord.” As he said that, the light grew stronger in him.

*Crud! I actually don’t mean what I say. I’m telling lies about how I really feel. Or am I? No, I am furious, but…*

“Gah!” Karikoga shouted, kicking the glass in anger which was the sin labeled in the book of Galatians as ‘fits of rage’ but the light in him remained.

“Karikoga!” a voice said. Karikoga turned to see Gabriel, dressed in an all-black, slim fitted, regalia robe that was long enough to reach his ankles, sewn here and there with richly extravagant patches of platted armor and jewelry. “Time has declared a prompt meeting to see him. His attention now demands our evaluation. Come.”

“Yea, yea. I’ll be on my way” Karikoga said, staring out into Minefer. Frustrated.

*****

They stepped into a grand, crystal corridor. Long, diamond-adorned chandeliers hung from the ceiling and shimmered like giant ice stalagmites in a frozen cave of wonder. The rising three suns’ shine beamed onto the chandeliers, thousands of diamonds awaking in fitful, glimmering rage of numerous colors. The diamond crystal floor-to-ceiling window revealed the city’s landscape in a breathtaking scene that almost made the massive buildings and trees appear more clearer than the eyes could see.

What used to be a glorious hallway that used to melt Karikoga’s heart through awe was now a mundane corridor after living within the empire for a few years and dealing with the harsh realities of the world.

Exiting the corridor, Karikoga looked at Gabriel who stared forward like a general on a secret mission. Gabriel seemed distant but Karikoga decided to close the gap and said, “Ridiculous huh brother? How we got taken out of that siege so early without being a part of the main invasion force? Hell, I wanted to see those elite Black Dawn mercenaries that Michael told us about in action before we put them to shame.” Gabriel simply faced Karikoga. Smirked. Looked away, shaking his head. “I mean it. Just imagine their scared faces when we force them to bow.” Gabriel sighed. The smile on his face disappearing. Karikoga munched his lips. Not wanting to lose Gabriel’s attention, he said, “But what pisses me off most is how our soldiers might look at us with disgrace.” Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “Here we are, away from the fighting while we hang around living in safety while all the other men are putting in the real work—putting their lives at risk. But of course, you probably don’t care much about how they think about us since it’s got nothing to do with you, but if you think about, it makes us seem like cowards. Us—the great Kai—pathetic little dweebs who get shelter and protection under the wings of our uncle.” Gabriel arched his eyebrows, his countenance casting off a dark, angry aura. At this sight, Karikoga smiled, knowing that he gained his little brother’s attention and continued, “What a damn shame isn’t it? How are brothers in arms could look at us as scary, lazy, complacent bums.”

Gabriel scowled and said, “Our, Lesser Human allies will revere us Kai.”

“Oh? And how so?”

“Because of our might and who we are.”

“Oh? And do you think we’ll get strong enough in time for them to realize that?”

“It will simply depend on how much time, pleasure, and rest we are willing to sacrifice to make progress. Without making every effort and challenging ourselves daily, then slowness may be a factor.”

“Ah? I see.” Karikoga nodded his head, happy that Gabriel was having dialogue with him.

A moment of silence.

Gabriel then spoke. “Karikoga, concerning what happened between us earlier, we are strong. Those moments are bound to happen. Do not take it personal. I will continue to protect you, even if you may still be angry and choose not to protect me.”

Karikoga’s eyes widened. “Is that supposed to be an apology?” Gabriel said nothing. “Hehehe. Don’t sweat it. I’m not mad brother. Well, not anymore that is.”

“Good.”

More silence.

Karikoga smiled.

Gabriel continued, “Also, at least some of the Lesser Humans respect our work ethic. We—”

“Why do you keep saying that?” said Karikoga, Gabriel’s term causing Karikoga to interrupt Gabriel’s statement.

“Excuse me?”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“Your abrupt, antagonized inquiry eludes my comprehension.”

“You keep calling our brothers in arms ‘Lesser Humans’. Like they don’t matter a damn.”

“And?”

‘The hell Gabe? These people, these soldiers, are our country men. With the time we spent with them, they’re practically like family. Maybe even closer since we fight with them.”

“But they have no reverence for what is good and live like rabid animals.”

“And what is good Gabriel? Huh? What is good? Because you for damn sure don’t exemplify ‘goodness’ “

“I never said I was good. And I do what I do to the Lesser Humans for a reason. I know who I am. I know where my heart lies. And though my soul may be in danger of hellfire, at least I am honest in my relationship with God and know that God will condemn me at the last day. And justly so. For God is Sovereign and I declare this with no hint of sarcasm. At least I know that the calamities I might bring upon myself are of my own doing instead of pointing the finger and blaming someone else like those damn Lesser Human scum. Blaming others for their own tribulations and sorrows instead of placing the mirror on themselves.”

“I don’t care. Doesn’t mean give you a right to act like you should.”

“But we have seen what these Lesser Humans do brother. They even believe themselves to be animals though they come from Someone greater. But the futility of their thinking permits them to believe that they are animals and come from animals. And they act like animals. As such, they shall be treated as anima—“

“Enough. As Salem Lord Commander , I forbid you to call your brothers and sisters in the flesh, ‘Lesser Humans.” They are humans just like we are.”

“We are Kai. We—“

“Yes, we are Kai but we are human too. So, quit it. I order you to stop talk’n this foolish terminology around me.”

Gabriel grunted.

“Understand?”

Gabriel made a poker face and said nothing.

“UNDERSTAND? SALEM LORD?”

“Yes commander. As you wish.”

“Good…”

They shared no words for a few moments. Karikoga followed up from before, “Now you were saying?”

Gabriel looked at Karikoga. “Saying what precisely?”

Their minor argument threw them off course.

“You know—the conversation about how our brothers in arms might see the reality of things.”

“Ah yes. That topic. When it comes to the midframe of the “Lesser Huma—“Karikoga scowled, “I mean, our human brethren—the imperial soldiers—they view us with nothing short of the utmost respect. And though we were early dismissed from the Phase One Siege, we succeeded. So, that should amount to more respect.”

“But we screwed up near the end Gabriel. Not a good look.”

“The head clashing. And Kundai’s injury. Some mistakes. Yes. But, nonetheless, none of our men faced calamity. And Kundai will be fine.”

Karikoga looked away and looked down.

“Karikoga, I am greatly sorry for pressuring you. For going against you. You know I love you. But, after seeing you battle, it not only excited my rivalry towards you, making me want to fight you more because of your power, but I desired you to fully commit to our new way.”

Karikoga was always shocked of how Gabriel could express himself and make himself be vulnerable so easily. It was always tough for Karikoga to do that—even for Shohiwa and Michael, though Michael seemed like more of the type.

“I understand.” Karikoga touched Gabriel’s shoulder and looked at him with reassurance. “You’re sorry for killing that man, too, right?”

Gabriel chuckled, and they entered a richly decorated corridor of where Shohiwa waited.

“Oh Karikoga.” Gabriel grinned. “Of course not.”

Karikoga rolled his eyes. *Why did I ask that?*

They reached Shohiwa who was posted near a forty meter high, twenty meter wide double door.

Karikoga ‘tsked.’

Shohiwa looked their way. “Morning fellas. Ain’t it a great to see a nice sun before our session with Master Milo?” Shohiwa had spoken with a flavor of disappointment that Karikoga could almost taste. Shohiwa lifted his hand, struck the grand doors which bellowed, and he shouted, “Damn it! My men! Going on a rampage without me? And these goddamn chancellor judicial decision making, monkey scum bum bastard punks—ruining our flow? These chancellor niggas need a beating! Why does Master even put up with them niggas man? They’re a waste of space!” He ranted. Gabriel and Karikoga drew within elbow distance from Shohiwa and he continued, “The Chancellors don’t deserve to rule with us—the Salem Lords! The chosen ones! Damn. My men are out there on the battlefield, and it feels like I’m falling behind…”

“It’s all good. We’ll find out our evaluation soon enough brother.” said Karikoga.

Shohiwa grimaced, crossed his arms, and looked away. Shohiwa stepped away from the door.

Facing the grand throne door, Karikoga raised his right arm, aiming his hand, palm upwards, at its center. He channeled deeply into his Kai energy, his arms warm with energy swirling through his blood. He surged his energy forward—an invisible wave shooting out from his palm towards the door like a flying harpoon towards his target. Latching his telekinetic power onto the door, the sensation akin to trying to cojoin two opposing magnets together, he pulled with his spiritual force.

The gigantic, platinum door moved. Then, it swung open.

Karikoga was relieved.

Claps erupted from the other side of the corridor. The Chancellors were heading towards them.

“Well done, Salem Lord.” Said Adrianne. “I remember when you three used to struggle to open this door together. Now Karikoga does it all by himself like the emperor? You three really have grown fast.”

“And now I wonder—when—the emperor will give us our real training.”

“Gabriel, all of your time will come for a deeper immersion into The Way soon enough. Now, let us proceed.” Said Julie who stood near Adrianne.

*****

Entering inside, Gabriel closed the throne door by himself, and Karikoga, his brothers, and the Chancellors walked down the massive room’s aisle. The room was built as if it was made to accommodate a town of giant beings. The throne room’s village-sized fires which were housed in massive, floor-to-ceiling fireplaces on opposite sides of the room, warmed Karikoga with a comforting heat as he in stared in awe at the translucent, glass-like walls of spiraling, webbed energy that kept the fires at bay.

He admired it so much because the hearth’s wall-cages were made from Milo’s Kai energy, keeping the gigantic walls in check. But no matter how far away Milo was from his throne room, whether he handled a political retreat or a military campaign, the walls remained intact—day and night—a dangerous architectural decision that testified to his power.

Thinking of that truth, Karikoga admired Milo more.

*What a mystery he is…*

As they went deeper into the dim throne room, Karikoga ceased walking. His brothers stopped as well. Great apprehension wreathed around Karikoga’s body, enveloping the atmosphere with heavy tension and spiritual pressure. And when he neared the vicinity of throne seats, the kai energy grew stronger—though he could withstand it. Gabriel ‘tsked,’ and Shohiwa growled while Karikoga examined the Seats of the Twelve.

And the Seats of the Twelve were occupied, but in a strange manner. And that’s what irked his brothers. Karikoga soon became vigilant himself.

The Seats of The Chosen Ones were unoccupied as they were supposed to be, the three seats floating in the air as if desperately waiting for their rightful lords. And the Seats of the Eight, positioned in a triangle, four on each side of the middle throne seat, were occupied with most of their respective owners.

But in the middle seat, Milo’s throne chair, sat a Kai.

And, for that, The Hurricane Beasts were out of place today. Karikoga found that quite odd.

But as he approached the Hurricane Beasts, their mighty aura swept through like a massive tidal wave.

The elite enforces of the emperor always forced Karikoga onto his toes, but he made sure not to show any signs of weakness and remained cool, keeping his powers in control, being sure to release an air of his own as well. His brothers doing the same. But the subliminal battle of who possessed the biggest penis never tired out Karikoga. And being in the presence of accomplished, great warriors spurred on Karikoga even more.

Afterall, The Hurricane Beasts were one of the greatest wonders of the empire. And they were known in not just the country of Minefer—the Capital of the Sons of Morning Empire—but they were a great wonder in the entire continent of Vockucha Mhembe, the birth continent of Milo’s vast kingdom.

And the name of the Hurricane Beasts rang throughout the rest of the world—known by the other great nations and kingdoms.

Karikoga’s heart thumped. He thought about calling out a Hurricane Beast and sparring them—to test their power.

*In fact…*

After looking at the Kai in Emperor Milo’s throne seat, Karikoga said, “Abimelech.”

The handsome, middle-aged man smiled.

“Get up out of that seat right now.” Karikoga said.

“Oh?” said Abimelech. “If only I could.”

Karikoga raised his eyebrows.

“My ass is glued to the seat. Kronos’s fault.”

A Kai on the right of the Seats of Eight shrugged.

“Nigga, you’re going to get your ass off of Uncle’s chair right now, or I’m gonna whip your ass!” challenged Shohiwa.

“Eh?” Shouted Abimelech with excitement, leaning forward on the chair, his smooth, white skin glistening from his Depraved Jewel that glowed violently. “Now I’m really not leaving this spot. And you still think you can take me on even as I’m sit’n on my butt, buddy boy?”

“Oh, hell no! Lou-Lou, Crater, and Knob, you better grab your mans right now!”

“We love you Shohiwa, but we’d rather see this showdown” said Knob. “Right guys?” He looked at Lou-Lou and Crater who said nothing: Knob playing video games on his virtual reality headset, while Crater examined one of his submachine guns which emitted Kai energy. The small statures of the three boys Knob, Lou-Lou, and Crater conveyed a mightiness about them. Knob grunted, took off Lou-Lou’s headset, and pressed a button.

Lou-Lou cursed under his breaths and said, “The hell man!”

“Right? You want to see them fight?”

“Who?” Lou-Lou said.

“Abimelech vs Shohiwa!”

“Oh, hell yea!” said Lou-Lou. He and Crater clapped in excitement after Crater put down his submachine guns and decided to care about the conversation. Knob followed suit, clapping as well.

Karikoga looked at the other remaining beasts who were watching intently: Stasya sitting upright with a perfect posture, arms on her armrests; Kronos, arms crossed, one leg resting atop the other; and Eitan, the Hurricane Beast Leader, pulling his stylishly layered, bob cut air. The only Hurricane Beast who wasn’t present was that older man, Mabeta.

Shohiwa grunted and flooded with Kai energy. The atmosphere intensified.

Abimelech Koshined. Shohiwa done the same, but Abimelech’s waves swirled around him like an inferno and flooded two-thirds of the grand throne room.

The sight of Abimelech’s massive aura seeped dread in Karikoga’s stomach, but Karikoga said, “I wanted to spar with him first Shohiwa.”

“Nah, let your little brother come over here and I’ll teach him some manners.” Challenged Abimelech.

Shohiwa created multiple clones. The atmosphere swelled with anticipation and dread.

“Excuse me?” smiled Gabriel. “But the only one who does the teaching is me.”

“Yea whatever buddy. Shut your smart ass up punk. Or you could get it with your lazy ass brother too.”

Gabriel darkly chuckled then Koshined, stepping in front of Shohiwa. Gabriel’s grin shifted into a solemn regard.

*Oh crap!*

No longer turning back, knowing that he was in the deep end with his brothers, Karikoga had to join them. He couldn’t call it off. He activated his Kokhott, Hakokhott, and Shekokhott energies, beaming with power as his vision sharpened and waves of energy twirled around him.

Kronos folded his arms. “Aw crap Abimelech. You done it now.”

“So, what Kronos! They started it!”

Karikoga examined Kronos. “You’re not going to hop in and help him?”

“Eh?” said Kronos. “He started his own fight. He could finish it.”

“Yeap!” shouted Abimelech.

Eitan and the rest of the Hurricane Beasts remained seated. Eitan smiled and sharpened his gaze around the room. “I know the other one is still in Montroy but you never know.” Warned Eitan.

“You mean Michael?” Said Kronos.

“Yea. But he was never pulled out of the Phase One Siege. Too bad because we got to have fun with some special rituals earlier.” Said Stasya.

“Ugh, you and your weirdness Stasya.” Groaned Kronos.

Eitan smirked.

Abimelech grunted. “Just leave’em to me Kronos.”

“Oh of course. Don’t want to clean up your mess.”

Abimelech took a step, but Kronos said, “Careful Abby. These boys may not be like us. But they’re damn talented.” Said Kronos.

“So what?” Abimelech hissed.

“I wish I brought a vid-recorder!” Shouted Julie.

“Chancellor Julia, really? How childish of you!” said Chancellor Mekus. “Enough of this!”

Eitan closed his eyes, no doubt in deep thought. “They’re right. What you’re doing is foolish. Continue down this road of stupidity and you’ll all end up looking ridiculous.”

“Bringing suffering onto your own heads.”

“Not that serious Mekus. But it’ll suck though.” Followed Eitan. “Abbey, power down.”

Abimelech remained as he was.

“Abimelech?” said Eitan. “You want to act dumb?”

“Don’t trip. I respect you fam but these chumps asked for it.”

Karikoga examined Eitan, Stasya, and Kronos—how they were filled with so much calm and cool. The mere presence of them made him feel out of place like a little kid stepping onto a base of hardened mercenary giants. But Karikoga couldn’t back down.

“Let these idiots entertain us.” Said Lamech.

“And I will be sure to shove your head into Abimelech’s anus when I am finished with you Lamech.” Said Gabriel.

Lamech scowled. “You can try you little—”

“Children!” said a powerful voice echoing throughout the throne room—a voice soft, sonorous, and gentle. “What a wonderful, vibrant time we’re having! May I join in?” A great gust of energy boomed throughout the entire room, Karikoga and Gabriel shouted, “OH MY GOD,” simultaneously while they were getting swept off from their feet, Karikoga trying his damned hardest to remain on the ground as Shohiwa struggled worse than he did. Gabriel fared quite well in keeping his footing though he still strained to do so, but some of the Hurricane Beasts seemed to be in dishevel. Lou-Lou, Crater, and Knob’s legs and body were flailing into the air like leaves, hanging onto their chairs to prevent themselves from being blown away. But there were smiles on their faces and a calm in their eyes. Were they riding this energy for pure amusement? The rest of the Hurricane Beasts remained in place, completely unphased. Abimelech didn’t even budge, and the other Beasts showed perfect poise: Eitan smiled but wasn’t moving, challenging the great gust of energy, cemented on his chair; Kronos smirked while twirling a finger through one of his long, oil slick hairs, tapping a feet against the ground; and Stasya grinned, sitting back down on her chair, arms crossed, her body unaffected by Emperor Milo’s buffeting energy.

Karikoga was surprised at Kronos, Abimelech, Stasya, and Eitan’s body control against such powerful energy.

*Damn…how did those four get so strong as hell? Knob and his friends somehow seemed to be treating this as a joke. Wonder how Mabeta would fair against this. Where is he anyway?*

A massive pillar of twirling waves coiled around the emperor who was smiling, rubbing his hands to prepare himself.

“WAIT! WAIT! We’re done now! We’re done!” Shohiwa yelled.

“Oh? Right when I arrived? That’s not fair.” Said the emperor.

“It’s cool. We can play.”

“Thank you, Abimelech.” Said Milo to his Hurricane Beast.

Karikoga looked around the room, fighting to maintain his ground positioning amidst Emperor Milo’s tempestuous mountain moving aura and saw the Chancellors floating in the air with shields around them. Lamech was crying.

“Master. Lamech can’t take it! Our play is too much! Let’s do it another time” shouted Karikoga over the energy.

Milo noticed Lamech and depowered his energy.

Lou-Lou, Knob, and Crater fell to the floor—hard, chuckling with amusement—as Karikoga and his brothers found their footing.

“So, Knob, Lou-Lou, and Crater were flailing like that on purpose. They could’ve easily withstood uncle’s energy pressure.” Whispered Karikoga.

“Indeed.” Followed Gabriel. “Despite each of them being only eight years old, that is impressive.”

The shield-covered Chancellors landed onto the ground. Karikoga, his brothers, the Hurricane Beasts, and the Chancellors all bowed to the ground, addressing and saluting Emperor Milo while saying, “Our lord.”

Lamech, still crying, fell to the floor, prostate on his belly, and sobbed, “My lord.”

Gabriel laughed at Lamech but after looking at the emperor, he ceased and continued bowing.

“Now, now. You may all rise.”

They did so.

*****

The Hurricane Beasts went back to their seats and resumed resting as Abimelech sat on Milo’s throne again.

Shohiwa pointed at Abimelech. “That’s why this went down! Look it! He’s on your seat!”

“Shohiwa, in this kingdom, everyone is entitled to my seat. Tomorrow, if no one desires, you can rest in it yourself. Have I not taught you all enough?”

“No. You have not.” Said Gabriel.

“Child, and it seems that you’re still frustrated that you haven’t began Total Immersion Training yet. I’m sure my older brother showed you some things in the past.”

“But I need to know the other things now.”

“And one mustn’t be quick to a potential demise.”

Gabriel said nothing.

“Master, we’re so sorry for acting so stupid.”

“I thought you all were playing Karikoga?”

Karikoga, Gabriel, and Shohiwa looked at each other, and, knowing that the emperor wasn’t ignorant as the emperor deliberately looked past their slight, he decided to drop the matter entirely.

“Master Milo, thank you for making the moment more fun.” Said Karikoga.

Milo lightly bowed his head with gratitude.

But, feeling extreme preeminence, power, and authority projecting from Milo, Karikoga didn’t want to sour Milo’s mood and got straight to the point. “Sir, our mission evaluation, and the details concerning our abrupt removal from the invasion.”

“Yes. Come along gentlemen!” said Emperor Milo. Karikoga and his brothers, along with the Chancellors, followed Milo to the briefing room.

Shohiwa whispered to Gabriel, “Where’s the other Hurricane Beast?”

Karikoga, remembering the empty Seat of Eight, raised his eyebrows. “I’d thought the same thing.”

Gabriel closed his eyes. “It seems Mabeta failed to keep his twisted nature in check.”

Karikoga frowned, not sure what that meant.

*And you would be keeping close connections with a strange, crazy old man like Mabeta huh brother?*

*****

Karikoga examined the emperor while he and the Chancellors shared a few words with one another. Milo was such a loving man—one who cared about them and their nourishment very much. But once Karikoga stared at Milo’s forehead-imbedded Depraved Jewel, Milo had indeed wielded the powers of dark, occultic forces—his satanic allegiance apparent.

And the sight confused Karikoga. Such a sweet and loving man. And when Milo finished the conversation and approached the brothers, his aura of power coming over him, a sadness gripped Karikoga’s heart again, reminding him of reality—of where he was once more.

He starred down onto the ground, about to shed a tear. But he mustn’t show weakness.

“Karikoga.”

He slowly lifted his head.

Milo rested his hand on Karikoga’s check. “My nephews, if you’ll excuse us one moment.”

Gabriel and Shohiwa nodded, and then they resumed their conversation about the greater transformation Natures.

Entering a dark part of the briefing room, the emperor’s jewel waving a faint purple spear of light in the darkness, He said, “Child. I heard about what happened. I spoke to Kundai about your mission.”

“Sir, I’m sorry! I couldn’t control myself. We failed the mission. I ended up hurting Kundai and—”

“I’m not talking about that.”

“What?” Karikoga said, losing breath.

“It’s about what you did. Creating mission parameters in keeping those soldiers alive.”

Karikoga’s eye went wide.

“Karikoga.” Said Milo again, his deep voice sounding like a pleasurably smooth, hypnotic melody, “I know you still struggle in The Way. Fighting between the Narrow Road and the Path of Darkness.”

His heart thumped.

“You don’t have to be here. You know. You can always leave. I won’t force you to do anything.”

Karikoga trembled. “Master, it’s hard. It’s so hard.”

“I know. The full commitment is difficult. And you’re hounded by indecisiveness. You’re greatest weakness as of now.”

“Master…” Karikoga said, his hands clinching into fists.

“Come child.”

Karikoga found himself leaning onto his uncle’s chest as Uncle Milo cradled his head.

“The Merged Path isn’t an easy one to follow. But that is why you must count the cost. Keeping those men alive was something Murray would’ve done. It’s what I would’ve done a long time ago.”

Karikoga lifted his head, “But, Master, why? Why can’t we rule with an iron hand? Conquering all our enemies while keeping them alive?”

“We can do that. Like they say, ‘Go to war with tranquilizer guns, while the enemy fights with real guns.’ But how much would that change?”

“Much! We keep beating them into submission—even if they kill us—we keep beating them! For every man they kill from us—we’ll put to sleep three.”

“Answer my question. How much will that change ?”

Anger flared in Karikoga’s chest. He struggled to find the answer and before he opened his mouth—

“It’s already been done before Karikoga. During the Great Wars of Old, Murray, the Tonderai clan, and I along with all the other Tsadiqiim clans—and look at what’s happening now.”

Karikoga lowered his with dismay.

“There is still war. There is still death. There is still envy, greed, jealously, selfish ambition, rage, fornication, and all other evils of mankind yet despite ending the last Great War—with all the main Depraved Ones sealed away—still alive—while they murdered many Righteous Ones—nothing has changed within the hearts of all our species. Sin remains.”

“Then why—” Karikoga swallowed, losing his words as he looked into Milo’s eyes. Karikoga saw fires of compassion burning inside of them, but in their fiery depth lurked a malevolent beast of hatred and madness. Karikoga shivered. “Why…do you do this? Why the side dark side? The side of Satan?”

Milo touched Karikoga shoulders. “Ever since The Third Curse, look at yourself. Examine me. Stare upon your brothers. Your family. Our race is dying, consumed by infighting and sin. And my Chosen Ones and the Hurricane Beasts are no exceptions either. The point is, we are fading into history, no longer numerous as we once were—thanks to The Great Wars of Old and The Third Curse. And the Sheenyo-Qi are slowly forgetting our existence, their very own brothers, their origins. Their history. Mankind never learns. Ever since the Third Great Fall, mankind is doomed to self-destruction, never learning and choosing to be deceived once again.”

“I don’t understand, I mean, my God…what is this about?”

“Karikoga, if you could but fully commit and be with me, you will witness.”

“Witness? Isn’t this about conquering all the nations? Becoming a Protector and bringing peace?”

“You will see…”

Karikoga stared, confused. “Emperor Milo, what exactly is your plan? What are you going to do?”

And Milo placed his hands onto Karikoga’s cheeks, leaned close and said, “What I’m going to do, I don’t do this for just the Kai. I do this for every single man, woman, and child on this fallen earth and across the galaxy. Karikoga, what I will do has not been done before, nor will it ever be done again.”

Karikoga was in awe and fear.

“I tell you this because I want you to be with me when it happens. But you will have to count to cost. I won’t force you now, but soon, you will have to commit. When this is over, you’ll understand everything.”

Karikoga gathered himself.

Now, Karikoga really wanted to know what it was. But Milo hadn’t told him for a reason, and so, he said nothing more concerning it.

*****

Shohiwa was perplexed as Gabriel discussed, in greater detail, the layers of power and the devotion it took to achieve the Higher Natures. In truth, Shohiwa was overwhelmed. But, if there was one thing that enraptured Shohiwa’s attention, it was the Ascendant Natures. And Shohiwa desired to know more about it.

“Wait,” Shohiwa said, making Gabriel pause in his extrapolations, “The Second Nature—the Beast Form—how long does it take to achieve that?”

“The duration of achievement is relative. When it comes to attaining the Ascendant Natures, how long it takes is, ultimately, going to vary depending on the person, their experience, talent, knowledge, training, wisdom, spiritual devotion and their Degree of Allegiance in The Way, and so on.”

“So…The Beast Form…damn…it sounds awesome.”

“Yes. Indeed, it is. The creation of our ancestors was quite remarkable thanks to the Most High, but, it is also quite perplexing when, sometimes, someone of a lower nature could beat another in a higher form.”

“Like that one time when during some event in the Great Wars when Montroy defeated Proton’s Beast Nature while Montroy was still in his base form?”

“Ah? You know some history Shohiwa?”

“A little. So, someone in Beast Form can beat someone in Angel Form?”

“Possible. Sometimes a lower form is stronger than a higher form because the person wielding the lower form knows how to harness the lower form more efficiently—that and because the said person may be stronger.”

“Whoa! Wait a minute, what if that person goes to a higher form?”

“Excuse me?”

“Would they get stronger?”

“I am sorry, Shohiwa, but you must be more specific. Who are you referring to?”

Shohiwa became frustrated, having a difficult time framing his words since he was never so articulate as Gabriel or Michael or as straightforward and precise as Karikoga.

“Ok, I mean, the person with the lower form beating the higher form,”

“Go on.” said Gabriel.

“So, if a person was able to beat a higher form with their lower form, that means that, if they reached a higher nature, then their new form would be more powerful than the beaten person’s current form?”

“You are saying that if someone in Beast Nature beats Angel Nature, the victor’s Angel Nature is more than likely to be stronger than the loser’s Angel Form?”

“Yea Gabby! That’s it! Thank you!”

“Fascinating. So, to answer your question, the answer is: yes and no. At the end of the day, relativity rules the outcome. People are different.”

“That’s dumb! Why does it got to be relative?”

“Because reality is not simple little brother. It is not just about who has the highest power level. There are layers to this.” Gabriel said.

“Hmph. Anyways, I can’t wait to go Beast mode.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Shohiwa grunted in frustration. “Nigga, I’m talking about the Second Nature.”

“I see. Well, to be honest, you will never reach the higher levels because you are so lazy.”

Gabriel’s verbal spear jabbed Shohiwa. But Shohiwa was conflicted as to how Gabby could talk to him so cruelly yet do so in a voice filled with love. The Chancellors were sitting on the opposite side of the room, and Shohiwa thought about getting away from Gabriel and sitting next to them.

Soon, Milo and Karikoga entered the room and when Shohiwa looked at Karikoga’s eyes, Shohiwa was worried. *Big brother, what did Master say to you? So many tears…*

*****

“Children ,” Milo said as Karikoga walked towards his brothers and sat near them. “Evaluation.”

Gabriel grunted in annoyance. He began to regret clashing heads with Karikoga. And to be unexpectantly stopped by Shohiwa was even more infuriating—almost like a rotten cherry on top of the worm-infested cake of their foolishness. This event would not bode well.

“Barring a few mistakes, you have led the mission in a swift and bold manner, taking the mission into your own hands and preserving the lives of all our men. For that, you have done well.”

Gabriel’s eyes went wide in shock.

*My goodness! I did not anticipate this!*

A joyful glimmer replaced the sorrow in Karikoga’s red, exhausted eyes.

Shohiwa jumped out of his chair and did a double backflip, followed by another double backflip.

The emperor placed his hands behind his back and said, “And so, rather than give you a few more trials, we’ll discuss your last and final mission that you will attend immediately.”

Gabriel nodded.

“So, onto—” the Empower looked to his left, Gabriel followed the emperor’s gaze and noticed Lamech flick his wrists as if to say, ‘Hurry the hell up and get on with it.’

Noticing Lamech, a great wave of suspicion swept over Gabriel.

“The mission! The mission!” Shohiwa said.

Milo looked back towards them. A small flame of worry flickered in Milo’s eyes before it vanished by the coldness and power of his usual cool. “Sorry. Before we go further, we must first begin our purification ritual to bless you on your mission and prepare you for Dead Hour.”

“Where did this come from? Again? Dead Hour isn’t near yet. How long will it take?” Karikoga said.

“Not long.”

“That was random.” Shohiwa said.

“We attend the Shrine of Ceremony momentarily.” Milo reiterated.

Milo headed towards the exit. His brothers followed while Gabriel said to himself, “Fools, did you not see it?”

Gabriel attempted to say something out loud but remembered Kundai’s counsel. *No. Give nothing away. I must remain silent until the proper time.*

While the emperor and Chancellors were departing, one of them, Meshach, turned around and said, “Gabriel. Come.”

Gabriel got up and walked to the exit, arms crossed while in deep thoughts. Cautious.

*I see you Lamech. What manner of strange games do you monkey fool Chancellors engage in?*

*****

They entered the Shrine of Ceremony. Karikoga clenched his fist, staring at a massive fire torch suspended in the large, cave-like room, the flickering flames keeping some of the darkness at bay though shadows and blackness engulfed parts of the room.

Four palace servants, wearing masks, slowly bowed to the emperor while light reflected off the horns of three of the servants’ detailed, antler masks, but no light was cast on the fourth palace servant’s wolf mask which had been imbued with Kai magick to absorb all light into nothingness. In their hands were long daggers and the servants gestured towards a live bull and goat that were chained to the center of the floor, struggling to go free while muffled moans escaped through their golden mouthguards.

Uncle Milo went towards the center of the room and took off his upper clothes.

“Nephews.” Said Emperor Milo.

Gabriel narrowed his stare.

Karikoga sighed.

Shohiwa was the first in taking off his shirt and headed towards Milo. But Shohiwa halted. “Wait a minute.”

Turning around, Shohiwa headed towards the servants.

“What are you doing?” said Lamech.

“Shohiwa?” said Julie among the five Chancellors who were observing them all.

Shohiwa reached two of the ritual dressed female servants and flexed his biceps, chest, and back muscles at them. “How do I look today?”

The females chuckled in fascination while Adrianne joined them, a hint of sensual intrigue in Adrianne’s eyes.

“Are you done yet?” Lamech rasped.

“Let him have his fun.” Gabriel said, his voice filled with venom at Lamech.

Karikoga took off his shirt and stood near Milo and Shohiwa and saw Gabriel staring at the Chancellors with his usual poker face.

“Gabriel. Your shirt.”

“It is not required that one is naked during a purification ritual.”

Mekus sighed.

“Gabriel, don’t make this difficult.” Said the emperor.

Gabriel smacked his teeth. He proceeded to take his off now. Karikoga noticed a glow of suspicion flicker in Gabriel’s eyes before it faded away as if Gabriel saw something that everyone missed. But, upon hearing the whispers of the daggers releasing from sheaths of the servants who were approaching them and the trapped ritual animals, Karikoga threw the detail out of his mind.

He tensed.

The ritual began.

*****

A few hours later, Karikoga stood near a humming jet. Shohiwa had already went inside of the jet an hour or so ago to explore it’s interior. Karikoga checked his combat gear and Gabriel caused small doses of arcane magicks and spiritual techniques to flare from his fingers to ensure that he was sharp. And, during their mission prep, Karikoga couldn’t help but reflect on the ritual—how the servants smeared his chest with blood in the shape of an upside down cross as his uncle said, ‘Relax Karikoga. About a few million years ago, this was how Peter was crucified. John twenty-one, verses eighteen through nineteen Karikoga.”

But even though Milo tried to reassure Karikoga about the ritual’s procedures, perturbance still wracked Karikoga.

Karikoga reflected on the scripture, but something felt…off. He sensed the verse was deliberately twisted to justify some other strange, unknown purpose. But seeing how Uncle Milo had been honest with them so far, Karikoga dismissed the notion.

*But still…*

“Yo!” said a wild voice. Karikoga snapped from his thoughts, surprised to see Abimelech. “Got a big mission ahead of ya! Most important yet. You scared?”

‘Hell no.” Karikoga said.

“Better not be.”

“And what event of intrigue beckons your presence here today?” said Gabriel.

“Huh?”

“What unknown purpose ushers you towards us Abimelech?”

Abimelech scratched his head.

“Gabe said ‘what are you doing here?’”

“The task of translation was aimed at the smaller mind of the one who is before us. Not you Karikoga.”

Abimelech grunted. “Well, I understand that there. So, I ain’t sayin nothing to you smart boy.”

“Funny how even the slightest of insults that is deliberately buried in a realm of subtext can still be picked out by a fool who somehow, miraculously fathoms its simple purpose to offend the said fool of who it was aimed at! It is as if the very insult makes a fool astute enough to analyze through the guise of complexity that attempts to hide the true meaning.”

“Gabriel, when we’re surrounded by people we don’t know, one of the main things we’re looking out for are insults. It’s human nature.” Said Karikoga.

“That’s stupid thinking. How STUPID and pathetic.”

“Well, you’re a part of the stupid Kai and Sheenyo-Qi Gabe.”

“I am not. First, the Lesser Huma—”

“Ah-ah!” said Karikoga, waving his fingers in disapproval.

“The Sheenyo-Qi are stupid. But I am not. And you shall soon see when I rise.” Said Gabriel.

Karikoga squinted his eyes at that. Abimelech rolled his eyes at Gabriel who smiled with arms crossed.

Soon, Kronos flew down from an unknown location and landed next to Abimelech. “God I hate jets.”

“It’s all good. The jet is for the Sheenyo-Qis. We’ll dart there in a minute.” Said Abimelech. Abimelech lifted from the ground.

“Dude, the brothers haven’t learned how to fly yet,” said Kronos pointing to the opened jet, “Duh.”

“Damn it!” said Abimelech, marching towards the jet. “Step your game up busters!” he entered it.

“See what I mean Gabriel? We’re all stupid.”

“Stop it elder brother. Abimelech is not a part of my humanity.”

No longer desiring to convince Gabriel and wondering at the Hurricane Beasts’ appearance, Karikoga said, “Kronos?” The Hurricane Beast looked his way as his stylish, short hair dangled over his smooth white skin. “What are you and Abimelech doing here?”

“Eh.” Kronos shrugged and headed towards the jet. “Milo assigned us two to observe your progress.”

Kronos entered the jet.

Gabriel shook his head. “Ridiculous.”

Karikoga followed Gabriel up the stairs. “Don’t sweat it Gabe. As long we show them what’s what, they won’t be around any longer. But aren’t you excited that Kronos is with us?”

“You secretly admire him, do you?”

“Dude, of course. He’s like, one of the strongest Hurricane Beasts! In fact, he’s so strong, some say he’s greater than Eitan.”

“Eitan? How absurd. Eitan is the most powerful of them. For I am an eyewitness. Besides, as far as the rest—I have not examined them in combat—nor have I Kronos. And to my knowledge, it was said that Kronos has no designated number as he has never seen combat yet. This is most likely true. For Chancellor Julie told me herself.”

“She might be right.” said Karikoga. “I heard that Milo beat up most of the Hurricane Beasts to get’m to join him. But when it came to Kronos, to prevent inconvenience, Milo paid him just so he wouldn’t have to fight him.”

“That is actually Abimelech’s history of recruitment.”

“No it isn’t!” said Karikoga.

“And who told you otherwise?” said Gabriel.

“Crater.”

Gabriel chuckled. “That explains it.”

Before Karikoga was about to say something, Shohiwa poked his head out of the jet and shouted, “C’mon yall! Hurry up!”

Karikoga faced Gabriel again. “Crater knows what he’s talking about!”

Gabriel darkly chuckled while he turned around. “Whatever you want to believe then. But eventually, the truth of reality will judge our beliefs and determine whether our beliefs were true or faulty in the end.” Karikoga felt an aspect of his mind sting. It was possible that Gabriel’s comment bore some deeper undercurrent than what was said concerning who was the strongest and Karikoga didn’t like the ominous feeling of the statement one bit. Gabriel began entering the jet. “Eitan is still number one. Now get your head back onto yourself.”

“Nothing wrong with admiring people and having some idols Gabe.”

Entering the jet, Gabriel said, “And there is nothing wrong with having to enter The Path of Darkness already Karikoga.”

Karikoga grimaced. “Great way to screw up the mood bro.”

“Just bringing you back to reality.”

*Screw you.*

Oh, how Gabriel’s words struck his heart. How they pained him so much.

****

Emperor Milo sat in his private room of Moira’s Chamber, examining his hands, shaking in fear. A great void of fear and emptiness rifted in Milo’s being. Julie, sitting next to him, placed her hands on his trembling knees, as Meshach was nodding towards him—both hands in his large sleeves.

“Very good. It’s great to see you overcame your fear. A true Tonderai you are no doubt. Eventually, you will succeed in fulfilling your vow.” Lamech said with a grin on his face.

“Putting your nephews through that ritual was tough. But it’s only going to get harder from here. You must be strong.” Followed Julie.

“The time of the Connection is coming. The Bridge is in our grasp. And by having some key items of the Sacred Jinn in our possession, we’ll soon be able to unify the gateways and complete the Final Ritual,”

“Which will be even harder spiritually and emotionally,” said Meshach, following after Mekus’s words.

“But we can’t give up.” Followed Adrianne.

Milo ceased trembling, looked away from his hands, eyed some of his closest friends and said, “We won’t. I swear it upon my soul.”

Julie placed her soft, gentle hand on Milo’s smooth rough hair, her beautiful smile of reassurance filling Milo’s emptiness with life though its remedy was brief, and she said, “Milo, you’ll win. Just like Murray, you’ve always been a winner.”

Milo felt sorrowful from hearing her words, his soul exuding emptiness once more. Milo said, “But, if he was such a winner, why is he gone? Why isn’t he here with me anymore?”

“Yes. Murray’s disappearance is strange. He most likely may be dead. Killed even.” Lamech surmised.

“No. Impossible. Murray could not be killed. No one could match him in combat. And very few could keep up with him—if any at all. Maybe Jytte, Eskander, Mustafa Jeyi, Patmos, Mibu , and a few others.”

“Murray was one of a kind. Completely unreal—the second Kai who became a Throne of Christ. The only one beside Tunga, the First Priest, to achieve the First Degree of allegiance in The Way.”

“Wasn’t Murray also tasked to be a Protector of The Third Temple’s Nave?” said Adrianne.

“Yes. But my brother rejected the position. Humble as always. And so, the Council of Christ offered it to—

Lamech grunted out loud, interrupting Milo and shouted, “Enough of this nonsense! Regardless, you are still here Milo! That’s what’s most important! And you must finish what you began at all costs. The Final Ritual is upon us.”

“Yes.” Milo said.

Julie grabbed Milo’s hand. Pulled Milo up. “I believe it’s time to keep track of your alliances Milo. King Tutelain of the Five Kings grows impatient with you.”

“He’s always excited. I’m shocked that he hasn’t gone to war against his own fellow queen and kings already.” Milo gathered his confidence again and continued, “Before, we focus our efforts on the main objective of this war, I must close off a certain…relationship with a contact.”

Milo began making his way to the war office. Heading there, he thought about the last and final pillar that was going to unleash the Second Event. A chill of horror swept through his spine, but he fought against an oncoming shiver, keeping himself composed, and resumed walking.

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