"Elements"
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/5/8/52583675/published/15634356599474929.png?1568910113)
This novel has been created with the help of:
Publishing House Wing® 2019
Author- Nedyalko ‘Black Wing’ Delchev.
Editor- Nedyalko Delchev.
Elements® © 2019.
Publishing House Wing® 2019
Author- Nedyalko ‘Black Wing’ Delchev.
Editor- Nedyalko Delchev.
Elements® © 2019.
This project developed in my mind in my early periods when I was writing more and releasing ton of things. The project of “Elements” was always going to contain some sort of chaos like plot, which I started foreshadowing ever since the first “Medallion” story, which took place back in Thursday Nightmares Volume 3. Ever since then, I had this idea of bringing all the things together, and try to craft something from them…and, well I hope it turned out the way I envisioned it to be.
Content:
Chapter 1- ~Prologue ~
Chapter 2- ~Rain inside the Church ~
Chapter 3- ~The Bracelet ~
Chapter 4- ~A talk with the Unknown ~
Chapter 5- ~The Medallion ~
Chapter 6- ~ Connection ~
Chapter 7- ~ The Ring ~
Chapter 8- ~ Elemental Outburst~
Epilogue
Final
Credits
“When the fate for all mankind is on the line, and when the world in which your loved one live in is in grave danger; you don’t need a better reason to act humane, and help…everyone!”
– Ned Black
Enjoy the Story
Chapter 1- Prologue.
This story is no ordinary tale about a treasure hunter, seeking long lost artifact that could be sold for a massive price in a fence or market. In fact, this story, my story, is entwined with many other people, who didn’t even know they were a part of something else. You see…when fate makes so that people are limited to so little power, men tend to create something out of this world. It’s kind of hard to understand, and believe me, it will be hard for me to begin connecting all the dots and what not and make it begin to sound true, but explaining everything, so that all the pieces fit together logically will be something I would try my best to do. Let me first start off with my name. I am Arthur Peacehold. Son to Henry Peacehold and grandson to Archibald Peacehold. Now, those names might not ring a bell, but as I continue to retell my story, you shall see, what my legacy has brought me to believe. I guess I can share with you what inspired this story. As I said before, when men are pushed to a wall and given a particular set of skills, they either try to think outside the box, or be controlled by it. In this scenario, we have men that tried to meddle with things they didn’t know or believed, people that were lost inside their heads, filled with beliefs of power and nothing else…mindless fools. I’m talking about possessing powers and making so that they can be invisible in this world where all are mortals. You see though, no one actually managed to achieve this. And they tried, many times, from which, they gained a little success with three instances. The first matter was brought off by sacrifice, a deed so dirty and cruel to their tribe that it casted an everlasting shadow among their lines. But, this loss, brought something along with it. Now, was it by a curse or something otherworldly, I don’t know, neither do they, but what is well known, is that after the offering to an unknown god of their making was made…the body of said victim perished, into flames of the pyre that conjured something evil in the fire. That sort of thing was twisted, almost literally, and was covered in runes, that they deemed too dark to even read in your mind. And then of course, comes the fool who wants to see what this new found thing is, and enters the flames, and picks up the left out piece of the perished one. One, dark, and ornamented with runes, leather bracelet. That, was probably his worst mistake. It single-handedly ended their tribe, wiping out nearly fifty percent of the population at that age. Fascinatingly though, they didn’t stop there, making two more items, capable of causing havoc among their lines. But right now, I will focus mainly on the bracelet itself, seeing as it was one of the three that I found first, thanks to…well, you will soon find out. For you to find out my connection to it though, I need to take you back to 1981 where the events in my family-line all started. That, and so you can experience it first hand, of course. See how destructive three little insignificant pieces of metal, wood and leather can be. With some of the tale being said, let’s start off the story of Archibald and his involvement, in this long forgotten chaotically legend. The legend of the cursed ELEMENTS.
Chapter 2-Rain inside the Church.
This takes place in 1981, where the days were simpler and kind of easier for people who didn’t know what was about to begin. Neither did my grandfather think there was something wrong, or presume there was something odd happening in the village right next to ours, but little did he know…there was something quite amusing going on there. Even though, I shall let you see what went on, through the eyes of Archibald Peacehold himself. And through the memories of my father, who had learned this story from him. This right here, is the first connection between my family…and the elements. Where everything pointing towards the end, began.
His leather boots splashed in the muddy puddle energetically, moving away from the pouring rain that had conquered the whole village. It didn’t matter how fast he was moving though, only because the speed of the falling drops was quite faster than the old and suffering from back ache man. In a matter of fact, you could ask him what the heck was he doing in the middle of the open small village, walking around like a madman. The answer was simple. Being the next door villages priest, he wanted to go and warn the priest from this village, about the thunderstorm of a fury that was coming towards this sort of place, in this particular area of the whole wide world. It seemed like his effort was redundant from the start, seeing the burnt houses, with only their remnants remaining. The fire that was spreading had calmed down due to the massive barrage of water bullets, dropping from the sky as if small bombs of liquid. Even seeing this, made the priest shiver, not only by the cold, but because he could see how many people had lost their homes. Some hope did stay with him, seeing the only two remaining buildings, standing barely intact of one another. One was the villages hall, and the other the church. His boots started heading towards the church, seeing as the lights from the hall were moving behind the windows and that the people inside it were safe. That kind of made him feel relieved, yet still worried about the church’s capabilities of withstanding the massive storm that was being unleashed on it. And that was worth worrying, looking at the nearly wrecked looking building that was sort coming off as a church. With its leaking shingles on the roofs, to the washed out paintjob on the walls…to the broken windows overall…it was barely standing, yet, the priest had to go and check if everything was fine.
As he barely reached the front gates of the old looking building, Archibald cursed himself, looking at his dirtied from the filth robe, and about the decision to let his apprentice take today as a day off. He could’ve sent him to send the message, but no…he was the one that had to get his…whole body dirty, literally. But if that’s what it took to do something kind for the folk, it didn’t matter that much…in fact, it didn’t matter at all. The fact was clear. He was serving the lord, and that’s the important thing.
Without wasting anymore time, he swiftly pushed the gates and entered in the old building.
-Hello! Anyone inside?!- yelled the man as much as he could, feeling his senile voice resound around the whole premises.
From the looks of it, there was nothing left of this place…not a single soul. Not even the paintings around the walls looked alive anymore. Probably because of the candles, burning inside every day and every night. Even the wooden benches, placed on each side leaned on one leg, broken and unkempt. From the looks of it…not only was this church long abandoned, but the whole village was…Strange. It was raining for the past hour and a half, yet there wasn’t a single man or woman in range.
-I’m here from the neighbor village close to here…I wanted to warn about the coming storm and…help as much as I could…but- his speech stopped, only because he didn’t want to talk with himself, seeing as there was only him and the wind.
He felt rather silly, coming all this way, just to inform someone that was already informed. At least he did though, it wasn’t like he saw the clouds forming, or heard the thunders rumbling in the sky. He felt as if this was his duty, and he did call upon it as one. Yet, when there was no one here to respond to his call, his only choice was to run all the way back to his own church, and keep all the students and kids from going outside…where it rained and poured, and clashed and dropped…as if it was the end of the world.
He turned around, and as he was about to push the gate once again, he felt a cold drop of water, splashing on his neck. It was the single most painful thing for his old bones, and probably the most annoying that could happen. Wearing a hood, the whole time and right when he decided to take it off, he got splashed with rain. Yet as It dawned on him, he got confused. Why was there rain…inside? Looking above himself, his heart nearly stopped beating. Right on the ceiling, where the old and garnished with dark-ish spots paintings graced the eyes of all who entered, floated bodies five or seven…yet, didn’t float but just…stand there…in the air. Frozen, yet burned…somehow gravity-less. There weren’t faces on their heads…no eyes, only blackness, that stared at the priest, even if there wasn’t anything they could watch with. The questions that he started asking in his mind, exponentially rose and amplified by the sheer shock and picture he was kind of forced to look at. His eyes couldn’t stop seeing all of the bodies, somehow standing in top of the building, without having to hang on anything. What actually brought him back from his mesmerizing gaze, was the second drop, that fell from the burnt body in the air. It fell right on his forehead. The priest didn’t know what to do, rather than wipe it away, though, as he did, his hand got stained with something red-ish. It smelled metallic and had a strong scent of blood. That’s when the blood shower begun. All the bodies floating steady in the air started dropping blood on the wooden floor, on the old man watching horrified. The old man looked in horror as the blood started staining his robe, but another thing caught his eye. One of the floating bodies, started descending all of a sudden swiftly as if it was a balloon. When it finally touched the ground, covered with metallic liquid, the priest was already by its side and was inspecting it, fearing of it nonetheless. It was a spit image of the six above them, with just one thing in difference. This one, still burnt and lifeless, wore a leather bracelet of his left arm. It didn’t seem rather fashionable or even nice…it was torn in places, filthy from the age of it, and above all…shone in a faint black light. The priest didn’t want to touch it, yet his hand was reaching for it, as if it was commanded by something…a feeling, a higher thirst for having it. Just as his fingers ran on the surface of it…a loud explosion came in his mind. A voice resounded in the depths of his core…and illuminated his knowledge with the truth behind what was this scene. Yet the priest remained resilient-ly scared of what was to come. In opposite to the voice, which seemed rather calm. It spoke in a similar way to his own speech, making it clear he was once a priest as well.
-It started two days ago…Once we found this strange looking bracelet. It was buried here, in the backyard of this old building. It was by fate that we found it, so we figured it was a gift from our lord…yet, as I started wearing it, I started experiencing different kind of flashes in my eyes…strange visions if you will…of what’s to come in the next years…in the next ages. How the time as we know it…completely eradicates into a wasteland of nothing but fire…fire and only…fire. But that was not the only thing…
-After those two days, clouds darkened and gathered above our village, and rain started to pour down upon us- continued the voice, making it so that with each word, the priest saw the events with his own eyes. –It rained day and night after that…and it didn’t stop…never did. Even inside the building we are standing…even then we didn’t know what was the cause of this. But I know now. It was caused by this ancient bracelet on my wrist. This “gift” was responsible for the rain…for the destroyed houses…for the blood that was spilling down on us, as if we had meddled with things, way beyond our understanding. And it was true…I did not understand what was happening…yet a terrible hate started growing within my soul…a thirst for revenge against the ones who had…enslaved our existence in the most inhuman way possible. That’s why I unleashed the bracelet’s full potential of destruction. That’s why nothing seems true, everything is twisted in a way a man’s eye can’t comprehend. And all…because of that bracelet.
His voice then changed…a pleading tone shadowed the angered one from before. The priest remained focused on his words to the very end, calm. As if all the dread from before had drained in a black hole. All he wanted now…was to understand it all…
-Destroy it- echoed the voice of the dead man, -…hide it, and never return for it…Or it will consume your consciousness…just like it did to me. - said the voice, and disappeared the same way it appeared.
Once it vanished, the body turned to ash…as did the ones that poured blood from the ceiling. The ashes then evaporated into particles, invisible to the eye. Leaving only the bracelet intact...shining with the dark hue…demanding a new owner. And just like a moment ago…the priest’s fingers reached for it…touched it, and ran over its surface of washed out leather. Picking it up, he brought it closer to his eyes, witnessing the runes that were engraved on the inside of it. He hadn’t seen any sort of language that was on it…but that didn’t matter. What did, was the affection, his…towards it. It was strange, but in a way…it made him calm…whispered to him that he would impact everything if he was the one to wear it proudly on his wrist. And so he did. With excited breathing, he placed it on his wrist by pushing his hand through the large hole. Once he did, it suddenly tightened around it, and started heating up, glowing even more profoundly than before. As it did…the priest experienced a trip so grand it made him dizzy. The bracelet reviewed to him what was to come, and what was to follow. It showed him a distant future…that will obliterate all living…all. First his mind traveled different time periods to happen, and saw the affects it had on the planet. Saw the rivers that will evaporate and the trees that will wither. How the oxygen will cease, and so will the creatures living using it. The priest saw everything the bracelet wished for him to see. And he believed it all. All seemed possible. It told him about two different artefacts that could help him…her brother and sister. A ring and a medallion. Together they could prevent the cataclysmic Armageddon that was inevitable. But, the only thing stopping him, was that those two elements, were unfound…and that his life could end before they are. Which meant he had to travel to different regions, different countries, cities, before reaching the goal of ending, what might be the end. Yet the priest believed all, but didn’t want to contribute to anything, seeing as he was old, and tired…broken, retired. Even as the bracelet told him exactly the things he had to do. He felt down beneath the thirst for it, that it was deceiving…plotting something not comprehendible. Telling him that it is trying to prevent things…rather than the thing it really wants to. Opposite to that was the feel of immerse power that the priest was feeling. As if his whole body was twitching in electrical prowess, ready to destroy anything and everything. Mostly that was the leading string, navigating his wishes…that power was fighting over the suspiciousness…and won…empowered by the bracelet itself that was still whispering what it needed to be done. His mind was beginning to collapse and snap…and so did his power that had gathered. His body wasn’t powerful enough to obey its commands, even if his brain was listening. The bracelet was too powerful for him to wield it without a cost. The light that was shining from it engulfed the whole building, releasing a wave of invisible energy that collided with the walls. That itself was enough to calm everything. His body was relieved from the stress and the bracelet was now silent.
-What…what happened? - asked Archibald…looking at the vanished building.
Nothing was left from the entire village. Even the hall building was annihilated to dust. All of the remnants of the houses were grounded. Only nothing…but nothing remained. With his spirit evolved to see what was the reality of the future the priest did not understand what was to be done. But knew if he was responsible for this destruction…the other two artefacts the bracelet was talking about would end up actually causing different varieties of casualties enough to bring everything to nothing, as did the bracelet to this already ceased village.
“I need to hide this”- he thought looking at his wrist and begun sprinting as fast as he could, avoiding the huge puddles of blood that had gathered as it was continuing to fall down from the gathered clouds, moving to the pace of the priest.
And in the end, it happened to only remain the silent, washing the pain away…bloody rain.
Chapter 3- The Bracelet.
Many years did past from that time when it rained blood, and many days went on, with it, not washing away the stains. It did bring quite a lot of questions, that were asked around our little village of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland, but none were answered wholeheartedly, and accurate to what exactly happened. It was already 1998, and I was humbly eight years old at the time, while my father Henry Peacehold was around twenty-seven, with me being his last born, brother of two girls, older than me with seven years. It was during my eight birthday that my father finally decided to share to me, and answer his only son, and tell me what exactly happened that day when the closest town or village if you will, Yokane, completely burned down by natural causes on July 13th, 1981. The conversation was hard for me to understand since I was barely able to spell right, and process the information he offered me was kind of hard, knowing I had to bear it with myself, and not allow anybody to know…well, until now. I will now share you, what he, Henry, told me.
His big hands managed to lift me up in the air, and carry me around the porch of the house, until we reached the backyard, where the Celtic ocean peacefully carried two or three fishing boats across its big mass of water. He sat me down on the ground, covered with soft grass, on which I used to play soccer on and he proceeded to sit along. I could see from his untucked button shirt and the sweat stains under his armpits, that he was kind of stressed out, or plain tired of the birthday party that they had thrown for me. His smile proved me wrong, as he turned, facing me and gently caressed my head.
-You having a good time kiddo? – he asked and waited for me to answer.
I smiled in return and said that it was the most fun I had in a minute. He nodded understandably and continued, with what I was asking him since I learned about it. The Yokane fire in 1981. It was something many asked him about, since he was the youngest, and only living son of Archibald Peacehold, and was tend to know a thing or two about the accident that killed at least seventy people, not to mention, ground the whole village. He would always shrug it off, and tell people that he was way too little when his father passed, and never got to learn from him what exactly happened. In truth though, he was just ten, when his father passed away. And he did, indeed know what went on.
-You’ve been asking me about Yokane, ever since you’ve been able to speak young man, and quite frankly, I am tempted to tell you a portion of it- he said and witnessed the sudden burst of excited energy that started emanating from my eight-year-old self, yearning to know what happened, - But only if you promise to keep quiet and never, and I mean never share this outside, by any means necessary, to anyone – he continued and saw the quick nodding of promise.
-I do, I do…so tell me da’, what happened.
He smiled gently and got a bit closer to me, before beginning to speak quietly and secretive.
-On that day, July 13th, ten years ago, I was only ten years old, two more than you, when I saw how my father entered the house, breathing heavily and moving a bit flimsily, nearly collapsing on the floor from exhaustion. You see, he was tasked, with the mission to carry on a message to Yokane, informing them that there was a massive storm heading their way. I don’t really know what he was planning on achieving there, but it didn’t work, seeing as there was already something else going on, something quite more sinister than just a rain storm. You see, when he entered the then old church, he witnessed something he told me he didn’t ever wish to see. He described it as if all the people were somehow floating in the air with no faces attached to their heads, standing there as if there were frozen in the air. From all of them poured big drops of blood that fell down on the ground as if the rain from outside was entering through the loose tiles on the roof. But it wasn’t. It was an act of something, something that was designed to destroy, and it did annihilate all living there, burning them, and reducing them to nothing. A single bracelet, created by an unknown thing, from an unknown time, possessing the power, to guide someone through the future, was responsible for the end of an entire village, housing around seventy people. That piece of accessory talked to your grandfather and told him that the world will burn, unless, he hides this thing, and never, and I mean ever wish to ever wield it again. So, when he returned from Yokane that day, he was scared, didn’t know what to do, but remained hesitant that the thing that happened in the village, was unholy and cursed from the very start. He never talked about it again, and after two or three months fell ill. It was something we hadn’t seen before. His body temperature was maxed out, but his skin was colder than ice. He started losing weight, even if he ate his regular portion. Eventually, he got so skinny, that even the effort to stand up, would crack something inside of him. It was during that time, when I, the youngest and only remaining son, got to hear the events from that point on. I got to tell you Arthur, I never planned on wanting to share this with you, but seeing as you are older now, and my only son, I kind of wanted to share with you, what my father did on that day, and I know it sounds crazy to you, but, it was something I couldn’t make up. And of course this tale originates from a Christian priest, who believed there was only way god, controlling us. His fate got twisted, seeing this…inhuman thing that happened there.
-What happened then, what did grandfather do? – I asked, seeing as he entered a silent state, reminiscing of that day.
Snapping back, he sorts of smiled, but with a sad smile, that could only mean one thing.
-Well, as I said, he passed away, after four months of trying to fight this illness that had gotten the better out of him. And that’s what happened…
-And the bracelet, did you throw it away or? – I remembered to ask, something that probably, could’ve been avoided if my memory wasn’t so sharp at that time.
I saw how his eyes widened a bit, and how a drop of sweat drifted across his face. Dad nervously coughed and scratched his beginning to thin hair.
-We buried it… - he finally answered.
-Why didn’t you destroy it? Wouldn’t that be better? – I asked and saw how his sight kind of darkened.
-My father told me to bury it with him, so that no one else finds it by mistake, ever again…so that nothing like Yokane, ever happens again – he said and stood up.
His sight looked somewhere across the ocean, to a place where I couldn’t, but once I looked back on him, he was again smiling gently.
-What do you say, we go back inside and have that cake you wanted so badly, and forget about all of this? – he asked, and didn’t have to wait for a reply, knowing I was well that sure i wanted that cake.
We continued having fun, and the day ended, with me being a single year older than before. But with the days rolling on and on, I never…forgot about our conversation. At least, I didn’t want to, because it was kind of interesting to know the truth behind that devastating event so many years ago. Thinking back, Yokane recovered soon after the “accident”. Many people tuned in to help save the village, with people even giving away their money to restore some of the lost buildings. They raised a new church, and a couple of houses for the remaining people, that had somehow survived. It didn’t flourish much though, with many of the previous folk gone, it was kind of like a ghost town. It got better by the years, but to this day has remained silent and quiet, with its only attraction being the church, that was dubbed the “Blood Church of Yokane”, due to the stains of red that had covered the entire area of the building, hence the name. Even so, people forgot about the whole story, and didn’t ask my father about the things. He worked in an antique shop, and was one of the oldest remaining stores in Baltimore, so it was kind of bound to resurface from time to time, but never got the question rolling. Which was good, seeing as he always got kind of sad remembering the story he never shared with anyone but me. What wasn’t good is, that as I already mentioned, didn’t forget about this tale…didn’t manage to bring it out of my brain and list it as one of the many things I had subconsciously forgotten by the time, or dubbed useless information. I was always on the mindset of learning more about this mysterious artefact, buried in the tomb of my grandfather.
2004, Baltimore, County Cork Ireland.
My heart was beating faster than I had ever felt before. It was swinging left and right, smashing itself and pumping blood like it was its final hour. The gates in the tomb were rusty and hard to push, but being a bit powerful than before I managed to enter it, unseen and quiet as a cat. It wasn’t long when I saw the name Archibald Peacehold 1921-1981. The stone casket was old, covered in dust…and housing something I could hear whispering to me within the stone. It took some effort, but once I pushed away the cover of the casket, I could see the soil that was covering my future. It took some swings with the shovel until I reached the body of my ancestor. That’s when I felt the pulsating glow of the living accessory. His left hand was still wearing it, a black, ornamented with strange runes element of fire. This is when the bracelet was uncovered one last time, bringing some color to my story of destruction.
Chapter 4- A Talk with the Unknown.
2005, Baltimore, County Cork Ireland. –From my diary when I was fifteen.
“It’s been a year since then. A whole long and eventful year since I uncovered the long lost artefact, hidden in my grandfather’s tomb, where it laid for decades, waiting for someone to finally find it once again. And I did. And to be exactly honest, I didn’t know if it was right of me to do so. My father did in fact warn me not to spread any of the information he told me regarding the bracelet, and righteously I didn’t, though I did let that knowledge get to me in a way, in which it didn’t let me live my life the way I wanted to live it. Now I had to bear with me, an object which perhaps no one in the world understood, fully. I mean, it either didn’t work, or was working in certain circumstances that I hadn’t been in yet. It did glow in the night, when I wasn’t sleeping, and It did feel a bit warm when I wore it, but the strange thing was that it was really hard to take off. Whenever I would shower, it got in the way of me pulling it away from my wrist. Once I applied a bit of strength to my pull, it got off me. And maybe the strangest thing was that…it sometimes, when I was certain that I was dreaming, it spoke to me in whispers. It was a rare occasion but it did happen. And you know what scared me…I liked it when it did that.”
A few weeks later.
“Today in school, I felt a rage I hadn’t felt in many a day. It was caused by Joven, the class “leader” or more like the bully! I honestly don’t know what his problem is, but next time I get to interact with him, I won’t hold back my words and say to his face that I dislike his attitude and the overall way he talks to others. He threats us like we are his loyal subjects, and disrespects us, as if we were peasants and he was king. But I will not let that continue. The bracelet has been warmer than usual…I don’t know what that means, but I can feel the voices coming from it.”
The next day.
I didn’t know why I did what I did, but Joven really made me angry and I couldn’t stop myself from proving his point wrong. I was kind of ashamed, but proud in the same time, because I had taken care of something that was weighing me down for such a long time that it was beginning to feel like an obstacle in my ever so easy and boring life. Which was why, kind of thrilled and bummed out, I went to the little over the peer cliff, overseeing the ocean that like always, was reflecting the sunny skies and blistered with blue delight. To be quite honest, I was really glad I punched that guy in the face, and broke his nose. I wasn’t that glad that I got suspended for five days, and doubled on homework, but it was still something, worth being happy about. Overall, I had saved the whole class of his constant blabbering about him being classier and higher than us. But in the end, when he fell on the ground with his nostrils fountaining blood and screaming like a little baby, he wasn’t that high and mighty as he painted himself to be. Which was what I strived to prove. He wasn’t a major player…he was just a kid. Like me. Well, I was kind of an odd kid, considering the object that had been on my wrist since I placed It there. I don’t know why, but it was emitting this sort of strange heat, an aura bigger than anything that I have ever seen, which was a lot, since I hadn’t seen an aura, or…presence like that before. I just know, that when I punched Joven, it kind of flashed with a dark faint glow, and again became normal. As I thought about it, I lifted the hand I was wearing it with, and moved it to my ear. The connection was instantly made, and a voice echoed loudly in my head.
-You have awakened the spirit of the bracelet for yet a third time in this past century, and yet, you knew the story of this item, and still, you uncovered it and placed it on yourself. Don’t you deem this problem of catastrophe important enough for you to remain wise and not bring something capable to destroy, once again in this world? – asked a man’s voice, echoing in my ears.
I didn’t know if I was supposed talk out loud, or speak in my mind but it didn’t let me even think about it.
-You seek something, don’t you? Perhaps it is power, or wisdom, which I clearly see you need, but tell me, bearer, what do you wish to do with this item? – asked the voice, remaining a bit agitated by me.
That was a good question that I didn’t know the answer to. Even when I asked myself why I dug it out of that tomb, I couldn’t find the words to describe that simple question nor ever returned to it, and asked myself again. It was strange though, how I got the idea that with this thing with me…I would be more confident in my surroundings, knowing its capabilities to bring whole villages to the ground, as heard from the story of my father. And yet I didn’t plan on destroying anything… so what did I plan to do with this thing?
-I don’t know…- I answered in my mind, knowing it didn’t felt as a good explanation.
-You do not know?... – the voice sounded kind of confused to my words.
It was true, I didn’t need it, but I did get it…and yet I didn’t know why. It was…tempting me to do so…so I did. I told the voice what I felt, and it remained silent for a moment.
-If that is the case I can understand it. This artefact, element, accessory or however you wish to call it, has an interesting effect on people. Some of the bearers before you, had evil intentions that had somehow mixed with it, and bring out those certain intentions to the wide world. But there are bearers who didn’t know what they were dealing with. For example, the last bearer was your grandfather, who got this bracelet from yet another bearer consumed by the dark energies that flow inside the fabric that you call leather. The priest from Yokane was blinded with the idea to show the world that there was an instrument powerful than any of the technology of mass destruction created by humans. And that killed him. Your grandfather on the other hand was struck down not by any unworldly illness, but by the very shock of knowing what would happen, if the others are found. And you, new bearer, are tasked with the mission to either destroy this if you can, or hide it, wherever no one can hide it. You must choose.
-Wait, wait, wait…you say that the Yokane accident, was caused because the priest was consumed by a dark power? I don’t understand…- I asked, genuinely bewildered.
-I should start from the very beginning for you to understand it. I was the first bearer of this bracelet, and the first to witness its powers. This item was created from lust of men that didn’t know any bounds and went way too further from themselves, in order to try and achieve something that they lacked. Power. Everything back then was measured by power. If you didn’t have it, you were no one. That’s why our tribe, started offering things, to gods that weren’t real. To entities that we believed were giving and good. But we were mistaken. It was foolish of us to think there was something more than a good god, but we believed either way. That’s why we made a sacrifice with a man, who was deemed not worthy to live. We ignited the pyre and awaited as he was burning alive. All started chanting, and then we saw the shadow that was created from the smoke emitting from the flames. It twisted itself, and tangled upon the burning body, as it screamed with pain. It was too late to stop, because as the fires diminished the life of the man to nothing, so was another thing born. An artefact of fire, bearing the soul of the sacrificed man…holding the curse of said being. It was revealed to be a black ornamented with runes we didn’t know nor understand, bracelet. What we did understand though, was that it was tempting, it was attracting us, me, to go and take it, and feel its strength. As I did though, the voices started saying to me, showing me the flames that it would cause…but as I said, we didn’t want anything but power, and didn’t care about anything else…purposefully giving ourselves to the evil spirit that had entered the bracelet. And that dark energy, re-casted from my thoughts as the bracelet emitted energy that destroyed me, and everyone else…taking our souls, faces and bodies with the flames it had created. Thus, dividing the tribe in two groups. The ones who wished to gain power, and the ones who wanted to live. My son, having the right to take the bracelet as son of the tribe leader, took it, and headed to a place, where you now live in. Many years passed since it was dug out by that priest in Yokane, but now as it is awake…it can feel its sisters…- finished the voice.
-What do you mean by sisters? Are there more bracelets? – I asked, beginning to understand everything.
-Not bracelets…different elements…of water and air…Different accessories…that will awaken soon. – answered the voice, feeding me with more determination to stop this.
-So…I have to destroy all three in order to avoid the world from destruction? – I asked, knowing that I was way too young to do that.
-That is your task…or your choice. Either hide it or destroy it…but for you to destroy it, you must die…and for you to hide it, you need to find a place where it cannot be found by no one.
-I have to die to destroy it? – I replied shocked.
-No creature has the power to destroy this possession, except the sister of it. But when you are out of elements, you have to destroy yourself in order for the artefact to die as well, with no bearer to find it again. No one has ever done it…they have died by its power, but never to get rid of it - said the voice and awaited a response.
And what could I say to this. If there wasn’t a way for me to live on, then I could just hide it…but, what if someone with evil intentions found it…what if, the world ends up being in danger because i was too afraid to finish my job, which for a fifteen-year-old, was quite the gig.
-So, what do you say bearer, will you hide it, make use of its dark power, or try to destroy it? – asked the voice and remained silent.
-I think, it should be better if I found the other two, seeing I am with my right mind, and try to destroy them simultaneously – I replied, not sure about how I could find the others.
-That means you aren’t afraid to die…Brave…or foolish. – replied the voice.
-If it means securing the lives for others I love, I don’t have a problem with that…and to be honest, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to be when I grow up, so why not be a hero and save the world? – I said with the most pride I could muster and felt the voice chuckle. – Though, the question now is…where do I begin with? – I asked, feeling a bit excited.
-It might take some time until they unveil themselves and pick a bearer…and that time we could manage to suspend the dark energies from the bracelet and make it so that you can control it. Until then, you must remain calm and not think negatively, for the bracelet can take over your senses and turn you into a monster.
-That would never happen! – I replied and started imagining what the other elements would be.
But it ended happening…and it killed many.
Chapter 5- The Medallion.
This time, we focus into a different perspective of the timeline in which we are. A different bearer, holding the element of the wicked eye of the cat. Now, this period takes place during a summer, on which I traveled to the country-side of the town to spend some time with grandma, and focus on calming my mind and not allowing the evil inside the bracelet get to me. On the other hand, though, my father receives a strange new delivery, specifically from Egypt. He didn’t know the guy, but I guess he managed to figure out he wasn’t selling him something ordinary…in fact, selling him the second artefact, capable of seducing absolutely anyone, even the purest of pure. The Medallion of the Cat’s eye. The artefacts that hold some of the evilest wishes someone could ever see…And here, is the story itself, from the view, of a boy, victim of the elements!
Once the door to the accessory shop was opened i felt this interesting smell of old wood. The shop itself was old, so it was kind of obvious for all the shelves to have this fermented from the year’s smell. The owner, an old man named Henry was sitting behind a glass desk. His glasses made his eyes look really big and silly, although the light in them looked intelligent. His French looking hat was placed kind of to the left, and gave him this young looking face. When I got closer to his desk, which had a showcased window, on the little shelf that was below the window were laid many rings, medallions, bracelets and etc. All of them were really well stored, not having a small dark spot on them. I looked at the direction of the silver jewelry and noticed a ring that looked pretty epic, if I should say. It was silver, which I prefer to gold. On top of the silver, there was a black layer like thing that kind of resembled a royal type coast of arms. It wasn't really high priced, so buying it was an option. I looked at Henry and he smiled.
-It really does look really royal like. It's really well done. Doesn't get harmed when close to water. If you want, I can lower the price down with 10 dollars, and you are free to go with it-said the old man while taking out a whole stand with rings.
He took the wanted ring and handed it to me. Looking at it closely it really did out-shine the others by a lot. It was calling out for me. I can't really explain why, but it was just nice enough for me to get it. I did. But there was something more to the ring. Something that was speaking to me from the very start as I walked in the shop. Something that changed my way of thinking, behavior and ideas. A thing cursed, for hundreds of years. Something that changed my life. A simple medallion.
As Henry was packing the ring in a small box, I was looking at a thing which was behind him, something that was calling me out from the moment I stepped in the shop. Not knowing why, I kind of dozed for a moment and tried to go behind the desk but Henry quickly snapped me back.
-Hey Zed, where are you going? – asked the man while looking at me, behind those big glasses of his.
Not knowing exactly what to say I had to tell him the truth, but I wanted to do it in a secret type way, so that he doesn’t catch me.
-You see, I was kind of looking for something like a necklace or a medallion or something like that, but seeing the ones on the stand didn’t really catch my eye, and I was wondering if you had something in the back? – I said with the most believable tone and physiognomy I manage to make.
He stopped packing the ring and turned around. I didn’t see what exactly he was doing but I remember seeing him shiver for a moment. Once he turned back to me I saw a rather taller and slimmer box, similar to the small one for the ring. His hands were enticingly shaking for some reason, probably because of the age, or maybe he really wanted me to look at the thing he was about to take from the box. I didn’t really need to be lured into looking at it, I was already getting excited to see what was calling me out. When he took it out of the box I kind of went like:” Wow”. It was a medallion. As Henry placed it in front of me my hands started to shake a little bit. It was a circle type stone. There was something like an eye on it, reminding me of the illuminati. It resembled a cat’s eye, but had something dark between the iris.
-Interesting- I mumbled to myself.
Interesting indeed I should say. This particular medallion was a shipment delivered from Egypt. I don’t know where it was taken from, but they told me to be really careful with it, because it might contain a curse.
-Curse? - I said in quiet the pitched up voice. - What do you mean by that?
He laughed it off and took the accessory back.
-Do not be scared, it was washed with holy waters, if there was a curse, then I guess it was washed away with the waters.
-Hmm…maybe you are right…well I do like it, so I think I will take that as well.
-That will be splendid, let me pack it up for you- said the old man and started packing up both boxes in one paper bag.
My sight was totally focused into the medallion, which was locked in the box. Didn’t know why, but I felt this connection with it. It was making me happy, or for now it was. Henry finally finished and handed me the bag. I grabbed some cash from the wallet and paid for the both the ring and the medallion and took off, thinking about the moment when I will place the silver on my neck.
3 days later.
A couple of days have passed and I feel better than ever. When I returned home, my parents loved the things I bought. They kind of preferred the ring, but I still managed to love the medallion more than the other thing. I noticed that if you keep it close to you, by that I mean skin, it will kind of generate warmth. Yes, I know, it is so weird, but I like it. I think that was the best thing I have ever bought for some time, and I really mean it. Or should I say, the medallion thinks so too. It found itself a new owner, a new host to control.
2 weeks later.
There were shadows everywhere. I couldn’t see a thing, didn’t even know where I was. A grey fog was covering my feet. It was showing me a way, which apparently I had to follow to gain information about everything. But what was everything? What was so important, that I was dreaming of it? Then an eye opened in the darkness of the abyss. It was freaking creepy. It really resembled the eye of the medallion. But was it the same?
“Zed…Zed…Zed…”- I heard someone whispering.
“Follow me Zed…come with me…be with me…”- the voice said once again.
I would lie If I said that I wasn’t interested. I was intrigued by the thing. The darkness again expanded this time showing me a door. I took some steps and opened it. It was the hallway corridor in my house. The next door was leading into my parent’s room. There was this strange blue light covering the already dark room.
“Go inside Zed…you know you want to do it”- whispered the voice.
I had to do it. If I didn’t, I would betray my possession. It was telling me exactly what to do, and doing it would make it happy, it would make me happy. “US” happy. Extending my hand forward I grabbed the handle and twisted it downwards opening the door without a single crack. My dad and mom were sleeping on their big bed, covered in a blue silk blanket, which really matched the blue light which was emitted from somewhere.
“Now…take this…take it Zed, and end this torture of a life you are having”- said the voice with a demanding tone.
Something shined on the floor. The blue light was shining on it, making the steel reflect the light in my face. Grabbing it by the handle I tighten up my grip of the knife. It was one of mom’s knives. As I did, this anger, wrath and savage instincts flew into me, just like water does through a funnel. My hands started shaking from all the rage I was feeling. All the kept secrets that I’ve hidden away from my parents were getting out of my mind, and were replaced by the awful things they have made me do. All the things I was forced to do. All the yelling and beating ups I’ve taken. This screwed up conscience was making me kill my own parents, and it was really tempting. So fucking tempting. The cold steel blade was vibrating in the room, making this rustling sound.
“DO IT!”- yelled the voice.
I extended the knife in the air, ready to slam it somewhere in the body of my father, when I heard the voice laughing. It was a sinister laugh. Evil-like. Horrifying to the very core. It sounded like a woman’s voice, now that I thought about it. Forgetting what I was doing I dropped the knife.
“What are you doing Zed, grab it and kill them, you know you want it!”- yelled the voice even louder and nearly blasted away my ear drums.
-NO! -this time I yelled and completely snapped out of the dream.
Once I opened my eyes, I felt this burning spot on my neck. The chain on which the medallion was hanging on, was burning hot. The medallion itself had nearly mixed with my skin. It was melted and stuck in it. The pain was so agonizing that my eyes watered as soon as I opened them. Looking at the time I saw that It was 7:30 am. This problem had to be erased.
On the next day, everything went fine. The chain kind of cooled off, but I still took everything off, besides the ring. Placed the medallion into a bucket filled with cold water, I was hoping that it won’t try and start warming again. After seeing that it was normalized i went to school. After leaving the house my mind went everywhere once again. Now that I noticed, when I wasn’t wearing the medallion I was feeling kind of better. I mean, the weeks that I was wearing it kind of flew by me like a rocket, I just didn’t remember anything worth remembering, and now my mind was fixing itself, trying to force me to remember all the things I did, but…it wasn’t that easy. It was like the Medallion was kind of taking over me, and now it was happening in my sleep, and I didn’t really like that. In order to stop it, I first wanted to consult myself with Henry, because he might know something.
17:30 pm.
I wasn’t even in the shop when Henry quickly came around the desk and ran to me.
-ZED, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MEDALLION? - he asked with a hysteric voice- DID IT DO SOMETHING TO YOU? - he again asked, but didn’t wait for an answer and pulled the shirt which was covering my neck.
When the scars of the chains showed up, he quickly covered them and started apologizing to me.
-I…should never have sold it to you…oh god I’m really sorry…I…I was controlled by it…can you believe me? - asked the man again.
-Yea…I felt this way for the past weeks as well, and I haven’t been feeling quite well to be honest…yesterday even…- I stopped talking.
-Yesterday what? Come on speak up boy?!- said the man both scared and interested.
-I had this nightmare, in which this voice is commanding me to kill my parents- I said quickly, because I didn’t want to repeat it.
His face went even paler as he heard that. Now that fear had gone through his mind, his normally young face for an old man, had turned into a brutally old looking grimace, that I didn’t even knew he had.
-As I said, I am the one who needs to be blamed about this. - I didn’t say nothing. - When I sold the medallion to you, this voice you speak of told me not to tell you the story of the medallion itself.
I sat down a chair, and so did he. He coughed and started telling me this story.
-When Egypt was in its prime, im talking about hundreds of years ago, exactly when pharaoh Tutankhamun was on the throne. There was this lady, which really wanted to work in the palace of the pharaoh, as a normal house lady. The parents of the young Tut, didn’t like the idea of a street woman to work in the palace of the gods, so they forbid it completely, even commanding the guards to beat her up and return her to the streets when she belongs. After that the lead leash is broken, but it’s believed that this lady is named Helzegovina. She managed to curse an accessory, which was well hidden in the tomb of Tutankhamun. This accessory…is the medallion I sold you, or to be specific: “the Street Cat Eye”- as they called it.
-But you said that the curse has been washed away with holy water? - I asked desperately.
-That was a lie my boy, as I said, it made me do it- said the man and covered his face.
-What can we do about it? How can we un-curse it? - I asked already knowing the answer.
-This artefact, can’t be purified…it has to be destroyed.
-Then let’s do it…- I said and jumped out of my seat, leaving the shop behind.
18:25.
Henry and I arrived by my home quickly, thanks to his Opel, which for its miles did a fine job. Quickly leaving the automobile I rushed back home, and found the medallion in the bucket I placed it. The water which was originally cold, was now straight fire hot. The medallion itself wasn’t harmed, but the chain was melting, although the circle silver tablet was not. The eye was looking directly at me, as if it was saying “What now?”. Oh there was something about to happen alright. Taking the bucket with me, I left the house again and saw Henry waiting for me on the lawn.
-How are we gonna do it? – I asked.
-Fire. We are going to destroy this wicked thing with its very own element.
He pulled out a flamethrower out of his car, which I didn’t ask where he got from and told me to place the bucket on top of the home barbecue. I did the tasks. He turned the flames on which were so bright and hot, on this melting summer day. He only managed to melt the bucket, but the medallion was now laying on the black burned metal on the barbecue grill.
-Do you think we need something stronger than that? - I asked Henry while he was still trying to figure out something.
As I asked this I got an idea. Sprinting back to my room I quickly kneed to the ground and uncovered the blankets of the bed, so that I can see bellow it. I had a big storage of firecrackers. I took the XX2 MEGA DESTROYER, which by fact I knew that it was gonna completely obliterate it. When I got back I saw how Henry’s flamethrower died, as the flames were turned towards him. He quickly took of his jacket and started stomping it on the ground.
-Quickly now, do something- said the old man, trying to remove the small flames.
I did as follow. Tied the firecracker to the medallion, as much as it was hot, with tape, which was getting vaporized by the warmth of the accessory.
-Screw it- I said and quickly brought up a lighter.
I left the tape to burn and kindled the fuse, which started going down in the tube, where the gunpowder was stored. Running 5 meters away from it, I watched as the fuse went down, and after some minutes a powerful explosion happened, blasting all the pieces of the medallion to the atmosphere, where it could never burn again. Right as I did, my parents returned from work. It was really awkward to explain everything but I did, and I think it worked out.
After everything went down, I finally was going to get a good sleep, not interrupted by anything evil and wanting to kill me and everything around me. As I laid on the bed, I felt this really big itch on my ring finger. Scratching it nicely at first I didn’t notice it. Covering myself with a blanket I fell asleep immediately. But as I said…I didn’t notice. Didn’t notice the warmth emitting from the ring and the eye resembling a cat…watching me.
Chapter 6-Connection.
One day before the second accident.
The voices emitting from the bracelet were trying to push through the membrane of thoughts and overall peace of my mind, though, to no avail. Devilish and desiring nothing but chaos, they fought and fought but alas, their battle was lost from the start. My mind was already taught to withstand the immersive waves of evil, that wanted to overtake my body and kill for fun. Not to mention, the mental concentration the first bearer was making me do was helping immensely in this struggle. The only thing that kept me a little bit sane and knowing I was still alive was the constant water drops, dripping from the ceiling of the small cave I was residing in at the moment. The sound of the impact, as the drop connected to the floor, made my mind somehow understand I was in a real world, instead of a peaceful land in which the First wanted me to dream in. It was indeed relaxing to know that, yet somehow distracting at the same time.
-You know you want it Arthur…just let go of the sanity and let me overtake your rage! - whispered something in my head, as it completely vanished a moment afterwards.
I already knew what was going to proceed.
-You are slacking…look how easily the rest of the evil spirits can make you lose your cool and cause an incident you don’t want to do – resonated the voice of the first, scolding me as if I was a bad student.
-Look, I’ve been sitting here for the last three hours concentrating my whole body, I’m getting physically tired! – I replied, feeling a bit annoyed having to waste my time, trying to withstand something that I knew I could fight off.
Ever since I learned about the looming darkness of this artefact and its secrets, I was tasked by the first ever bearer of the bracelet to come here and manage my senses so that I don’t fall into an everlasting loop of constant switching of consciousness of other spirits living inside the bracelet. So in that case, I traveled to the countryside, where my grandma lived. It was the perfect place, where I could practice and gain the ability to control my anger so that the voices don’t take advantage of it, and use it as a fuel to cause massive destructions. That and because I didn’t want my father to constantly ask where I went, when I was at County cork, and because of the leather thing stuck on my wrist. I somehow managed to hide it from him, and never mentioned to him what I uncovered from my grandfather’s grave, which wasn’t the best move, but the questions that would come weren’t a priority I wanted to handle, so I keep my mouth shut. Of course I knew that someday I had to tell him, it was inevitable, but for now I could try and remain as calm as my mind could make me, and just…try and make so that this bracelet doesn’t make me go nuts.
-You know that the evil forces within aren’t going to wait for you to recover from your tiredness, they attack at all times, and you must be ready for it! – resounded the voice of the First, snapping me from my thoughts that had nothing to do with trying to remain a strong and resilient shield against those who wanted me to turn on everything I cared about.
-Yes I know but, I need to take a break from times to times, or I myself will become insane…I don’t know about you, but I plan to stay alive for now...- I said, laying on the ground completely.
“Until the moment I have to die…”- I thought and started imagining how everything would turn out.
-Alright then, a couple of minutes and you need to do another mind training session! – ordered the voice and waited for my answer.
-Why do you want to help me so much? I mean, didn’t you at one point want immense power and such? - I asked, knowing I might be crossing a line I might not want to.
No answer came from him for a minute, until his timbre changed and somehow sounded even more serious than before.
-Because I want the future to be bright for humanity. Peaceful, war-less. Not for men to constantly fight for lands and seek power that aren’t theirs. To be truly humane and satisfy with what they have. I thought that by now, we would understand that we are just a speck of what truly lies in this galaxy, in this rotating stone. There is no need to meddle with things we don’t need…do you understand?
-Well, that’s an interesting change of hearts there, but I guess you are right. People are already tired of hearing the same old things from the leaders of their countries, and inviting them to these strange things could cause massive out brakes, funding nothing but war. And that’s the last thing we need right now…more fuel to the already burning fire.
The voice remained silent, but I could sense that he was glad with what I had to say. I didn’t wait for him to tell me, so I took the leap and crossed my legs, sitting in the position I was in for the last hours. I tried to unleash all my redundant thoughts and remain as focused in the nothing as I could be. It worked for a second until something disturbing went through my shield.
-What happened? – I asked the First, trying to figure out why out of nowhere I felt this instance of freezing cold.
-I fear…the second artefact has been awoken…- replied the First, having a note of worry in his voice.
-Can you feel from where it is coming from? – I asked, a little but scared and excited at the same time.
I couldn’t hear anything coming from the bracelet so I figured he was trying to pin point the location of the next artefact, when his voice echoed in my head.
-I think we are really close...closer than you think…
…
The day of the accident.
The pawn shop wasn’t even opened when Zed came bursting in. My father was brushing off the dust that had collected over the weekend when that happened.
-What’s the big rush?! – he asked the kid, which was terrified.
He indeed looked so. His whole body was trembling, twitching and sweating as if someone had just told him Santa Clause isn’t real. The young boy pulled his shirt, revealing a new chain, twisting around his neck…with a new medallion, hanging on it. It resembled a cat’s eye…like the previous one.
-I woke up today…and it was burning my skin like crazy! – said the horrified boy, not knowing to who to go.
Henry didn’t really know what more could be done…it was destroyed…wasn’t it? They both saw how it turned to small pieces…yet, how was it possible to be still there, attached to his neck as if it was embedded in it?
-I can’t take it off…its hurting me! – said Zed and tried to pull it out, which in returned burned his fingertips.
-Don’t, you won’t do anything…wait here…I will try to find something- said the old man and went to the back side of the shop, and returned a bit later, holding a pair of cutting pliers.
He tried to cut the chain away with them, but it only blunted the blades of the tool, not even making a nudge on the wicked thing.
-I don’t want to get controlled by it! – exclaimed the boy, trying his best not to listen to the voice in the back of his head, telling him to murder this man in cold blood.
Henry remained calm, yet felt the slowly approaching fear getting to him. Not only the boy was going to suffer, but he as well was going to be responsible, selling him the artefact he didn’t really know was cursed. The “Cat’s Eye” medallion was shining in a green-ish glow, and was entering the kids flesh with every moment that passed.
-I don’t…I don’t know what to do…! – said the man, understanding there was nothing that could break the connection that was awoken when Zed first placed the medallion on his neck, - I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything that could help you…I’m really sorry!...
The boy looked at him, with surprise in his eyes, as if he didn’t want to believe he was hearing that, come out of the mouth of a grown man who probably had a lot more tools that could possibly do some damage to it. Yet, in that slight moment of despair on the side of Zed, came the lingering shadow that entered in his mind. For a moment he wanted nothing than to harm this old fool who had cursed him to experience this pain he was dealing with.
“Just wish for it…and it will happen! Don’t be a coward Zed, you need to do it…your fate lies on this! After all, he is responsible for this, isn’t he…he has to be punished…!” – yelled a voice, hidden within the core of the medallion.
That itself made him even more agitated and angry at the pawn shop owner, who in his defense was as well as him, kind of attached to the medallion, being controlled, even if not contact-ly like Zed, but still entangled with its history. He indeed was the one who took his money and in return gave him this piece of jewelry that would turn up to become his biggest nightmare. All those thoughts…gripped his brain and made him furious…As if all the nerves in his brain wanted nothing more than to see this man’s blood, dripping slowly as his final breathes comes in as a cough…yes…that’s what he wanted, desired, wished for…NEEDED!
-YOU DID THIS TO ME! – he said and extended his hand towards him, wishing for him to just disappear.
That’s the moment when everything happened quite quickly, with the time stopping, only remaining for the two of them. Henry remembered being in the shop in one moment and outside of what remained of it. Zed had pushed him, using some sort of invisible strength that flowed out of him. A strong current of air blasted in his face as the boy slowly emerged from the wrecked building, which was once a shop. All the jewels were scattered, some evaporated…with the most important thing being, that his chest was somehow in excruciating pain. He quickly unzipped his shirt at saw the chilling dark marks on it. It happened just from that push…and that was quite enough to make him feel the fear that he was supposed to feel.
-YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER! – shouted the young boy, and unleashed yet another air wave that this time clashed with his right cheek of the face.
The man felt a sting he had never experienced before, gripping his right side in agony. He couldn’t even think about asking him for mercy, seeing the red-ish stain in the eyes of Zed, who was fixated on killing the elder in cold blood. With every step towards him, another portion of air, stabbed the man in different kind of places. Another one followed, hitting his ribs, and then another, nearly breaking his leg. What scared him even more was the little smile, forming on the lips of the child which was being controlled by the medallion.
-I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE! - screamed the boy and attempted to hit the man himself.
Storing as much as air force in his punch as he could muster to produce…aiming not only to hurt him, but to finish him. Henry closed his eyes, feeling the tears rolling in, thinking about his family and how no one could see what was happening. The current time was in a pause by this unknown being of a curse…with Zed, controlling it perfectly to his liking. Henry awaited his end, tensing his muscles to somehow make the impact of Zeds attack a little bit bearable…but no such attack happened. Uncovering his face, he tried looking for the boy but he was gone…Actually, he was still there…but…floating in the air…faceless…
Another chill went through his spine, as he looked to the other side of the street, seeing me. I stood there, and focused, managing to bring the voices of the evil spirits afar from my mind, as the other part of the thoughts wished for the chain to remove itself from the boy. It started to disassemble from its skin, ripping big chunks from it and leaving red wounds that started bleeding strongly. In the end, the medallion and its leash were removed from him.
-Arthur…- whispered the voice of my father, - How?! – he asked, yet saw the attached bracelet.
I felt his disappointment, yet I could see his relief, seeing that Zed’s barrages were stopped for good. Yet in this exact moment…I felt it. The urge to destroy. I had let a moment in time in which an evil spirit could slip through. That’s when time itself started working properly, now that the medallion wasn’t attached to nobody. Many people came rushing to see the ruckus going outside the streets. They widened their eyes, seeing the destroyed building of the accessory store…seeing the laying down owner, and the floating faceless boy. Yet…all I could see is red…
-Arthur get a grip of yourself, take the medallion and run! – yelled the voice of the First in my head, but I wasn’t completely sane to hear it.
“That’s it, look at all those people, looking at you with disdain and disgust…not understanding the power that dwells inside those two artefacts. Make them understand! BURN THEM ALL!” – shouted the voice of Evil…and I listened with all ears.
I wished for in that moment, all in those streets to perish… and burn for their sins. And the bracelet obliged. The dark glow, started spreading and blasting an aura so chilling it could even extinguish a fire. That’s the opposite of what happened though, as the flames covered the bodies of the floating faceless people, previously looking at the disaster that had occurred. All, along with Zed, evaporated into thin nothing…leaving…nothing but nothing behind. The area, was left to nothing. With only the nothing of the nothing remaining. Only Henry stood there, burnt to a crisp, but somehow still remaining barely alive. He was looking directly at me…me, who was standing there like a statue and didn’t believe what happened. Didn’t believe what I did. Couldn’t understand it. Didn’t want to…. feeling the fear inside me growing understanding what I did.
-Why? - asked Henry, and left his final breath to come out as a cough.
-What have you done Arthur? – asked the First…but didn’t receive an answer.
I was too shocked myself to even start to explain the miss happening that took place there. And too stressed with holding off the voices that started blasting at me even more since the last minute. I didn’t want to say anything, I just wanted all of this to end. With tears, bowling out from eyes like fountains I slowly took the medallion, covering it with a handkerchief and ran. A started running…towards…nothing, leaving the nothing I left, behind.
Chapter 7- The Ring
Sometime later…
I ran, and ran, never looking back at the point at which I started. It was difficult to even think about the things that happened in town, yet, it was still quite fresh for me to forget it just like that. The images of burning people were still somehow saved in my memory, and would show themselves at times when I felt relived or less stressed. The first didn’t help as well, reminding me to stay focused as my brain was open for the evil spirits from not only the bracelet, but the medallion now too; to enter and take over like last time. Making sure not to touch or wear it, I wrapped it in a leather piece of cloth and placed it in my pocket to keep it from my eyes.
-You know that won’t work right? It has the power to make everyone…EVERYONE, place it on their necks! – said the first bearer of the bracelet, reading my mind as an open book.
-I know it won’t, but I have to keep it somewhere for now, don’t it?! 0 I replied a little bit agitated at the fact that I was responsible for the murder of my father, and the people working at that street.
I felt the pity in the mind of the first, but that didn’t help to easy the guilt.
-Even if you blame yourself about that, you know well that all that occurred was thanks to the bracelets spirits, not because of your will…
It sure didn’t feel like that though. Even if I wasn’t responsible for it, I was still to be blamed about all…like it or not. I didn’t say anything after that and continued walking towards nowhere, seeking…no one for now.
“Put on the medallion Arthur…you know you want it!” – echoed the voice of the medallion, protruding from my pocket.
No I didn’t want it…yet I started remembering something strange. As we were heading back to town from the countryside, we didn’t feel the “pulse” of the artefact anymore, for at least a day, which is what it took us to get to town. Though, I still can’t figure out the times in which Zed had taken it in possession. We stayed at the countryside for about two weeks, in the meantime, he had to been with it for about the same time, I guess. Though, why didn’t we get the sensation of the awakening when he placed it on the first time, instead of two weeks later?
-Because in that time, even if he was wearing it, it wasn’t fully awoken. By that I mean, that Zed hadn’t fallen into the curse that fully as he had when we met him. Just like you, you awoke me from my slumber, but activated the element to its full potential when you… killed all of them. Zed on the other hand couldn’t kill anyone, yet managed to awake it to a state in which he could control the powers it gave him…the element of the Wind, that is. So, in other words, you felt the coldness of the awakening of phase one…which was why I could feel the pulse and its location – explained the first, making so that I could understand it.
-Why did it take two weeks for it to activate though? – I asked, feeling even more curious to inspect the thing.
-Well, for that you need to put it on and…activate it on yourself…but, that would be bad for now, you need to master the art of concentration and focus, defense and peace.
I rolled my eyes and sighed as I knew that those words would wake me up every single morning. Not knowing when or where the next and final element would awake was kind of bad, because I had to take cover to be alone in a quiet place…just like this…in the woods. The thing about food was going to be tricky, but I guess I would figure something out…it’s not like it was gonna take forever for it to be activated, right?
-It’s relative. It might be a year…maybe a month…or even tomorrow…but, you know, it could take decades…many, many years from now…and if you are still alive…you need to be ready to fight them…and eventually, die to stop them- said the first and remained silent as I closed my eyes and started meditating…trying not to remember the deaths I caused…trying not to let my emotions flow.
14 years later.
Trees, rocks, long and twisty roads. Just a couple more turns and they were bound to arrive at the said spot. The bus wasn’t moving at a fast pace, just like all of the passengers wanted it to move, rather, it moved slowly, making opportunities for the students to observe all the things that come along on this journey. Some of the children weren’t quite observant in that matter, and could play on their phones and do much more things than looking at old rocks. There was just one boy who actually, and deeply loved staring at the fascinating scenery of nature. His name was Ricky. He was twelve-years-old by that time, but his mind was rather developed for his age. Not being that popular, he was of course sitting at the front seats, being somehow of a know it all. Overall, he was a pleasant boy, not the best in every occasion, but he was just an ordinary little guy, wanting to learn more of his city’s Historical Monuments. And this one, the “Quiet Bridge” was well known for its length. There really isn’t a dated time that is stated when exactly it was build, but it’s known that it’s quite old. It was approximately two hundred meters long and quite narrow, allowing only one vehicle to pass it by at a time, which made it quite harder for the folk to live on the other side, knowing they had to sacrifice a lot of time to pass by it, which was why this bridge was considered a Monument, and instead, a second bridge was created for the people, with four lanes for the cars. That one was nearly in the middle of the big mountain like stone. The whole city was divided in two parts, the smaller Stone Mountain, and the bigger Stone Mountain and right now, the school bus, was making its way up to the highest point of the bigger mountain, in order to reach the Historical Bridge. It was a trip worth waiting for, said most of the kids, and some didn’t quite care about the stupid old bridge, since…well, what’s actually cool about an old stinky bridge? It just sits there, and doesn’t really do anything interesting. And believe me, some of those kids, were spoiled so much, that nothing would catch their eyes that quick. But as I said, Ricky was a young chap, who liked normal things, and going to see something like that was beyond exciting for him, and his childish mind. At least he wasn’t gonna get bullied like usual, not when the teachers were there. Nobody was gonna touch him.
When the brakes finally whistled the end of the movement for the bus, everyone began to leave it and stretch out a bit.
-Well class, we have arrived at the spot, and I expect all of you to behave well, and not cause any kind of trouble, is that clear?
“Yes Miss. Kline!”- said the kids.
-Good, now I want all of you to spread around in groups of six with each group being led by a teacher. So, in total, four groups with six kids and four teachers, everything clear? – She asked with a bright smile and started grouping up everyone.
Ricky was sorted out with class mates that weren’t his friends but didn’t have a problem with him either. His leading teach was Mr. Jon, who was the History teacher at school.
-Well, all right young ones, today were are gathered here to see and look at the great “Quiet Bridge”- he started off explaining.
After a fifteen minute speech about the details of the said monument, they continued further in the small spot they parked at. Many small booths were set up around the place, with each selling different kinds of candy and all sorts of things. A bigger shop was near the place, acting as a cafe and an antique shop as well. He entered it, followed by the kids. Then he started describing most of the things the owner was selling. Ricky though, who for the first time, in like, ever, was now looking at some of the shown jewelry, under the glass stands. Particularly in the stand with rings. At one single ring. Seeing him, the owner quickly removed the glass, and took the whole little stand with rings, and brought it closer to the boy.
-I see you’ve got a good eye boy, now pick one of them and let’s see if we can make you a deal?- said the dark-skinned owner and smiled at him.
He wasn’t exposing some sinister aura, nor did he look ragged and dirty, so he guessed it was fine.
-I think I like this one- pointed Ricky at an old wooden ring, with strange runes engraved on it.
The owner looked at him, and his eyes now showed that he was mistaken. He looked as if someone was trying to steal the ring from him, but what resumed really confused the little boy.
-I see…- replies the owner and proceeds to remove it from its stand with a handkerchief, and place it on the glass surface.
With that, Ricky is allowed to pick it up, and so he does. His little fingers enter the loop of a hole and feel the cold and hard core of the ring. The edges with the runes felt rather sturdy and almost perfect.
-Well? - asks the owner, looking kind of troubled or worried for him.
But the little one didn’t know what to say. As if the ring itself was making its way into his mind, whispering at him, pleading to be taken by Ricky. Staring into the engraved edges of it, he smiles and places the ring on his left ring finger.
-How much is it? – replies the kid.
The owner scratches his head for a bit, and looks at the boy, trying to scale up a price.
-Let’s say five bucks and we shake hands? – offers the owner, and extends his arm.
Ricky grabs it, and firmly shakes it.
-But beware young one…I just have to warn you…this very ring…it sits here, and bites the dust for many years, and whoever buys it, comes back to return it, in a shape he didn’t ever dream of entering. Be careful with it, alright?
His words confuse him, but he nods slowly and smiles once again.
-I will protect it, don’t worry! – replied Ricky and leaves the shop with his class mates.
The teacher approves of his purchase and starts to talk about different types of runes. After the rune lesson is over, he asks permission to look at his ones up close. Strangely though, as much as he knew, Mr. Jon couldn’t figure out what nation graved those on the ring. Forgetting about that though, Ricky decides that he wants to show his new ring to his class mate Lisa. She is a neighbor friend and he really wish that someday, she looks at him like more than friend.
-Hey Lisa, check out my new ring! - says Ricky proudly.
The girl though, doesn’t really seem interested in his new item and completely ignores the fact that it’s new.
-That piece of junk, you gotta be kiddin me…- replies the girl, playing around the parapet of the bridge.
At this point, Ricky doesn’t really know what to feel…or say. He looks at the group of girls that stand there and laugh at his ring. It saddens him. Why does it always turn that way? How come all of them are hurting him, trying to insult him…make him suffer this way? What’s so wrong about poor little Ricky? Isn’t he just as a boy as the others? Perhaps he doesn’t like what most of the children like at his age…and in this age overall. But to threat somebody that young from that point in time, kind of seems vulgar and inhuman. But Ricky is quite caught up to the fact, that those insults, don’t actually matter, if he knows, that deeply inside, he hasn’t done anything wrong.
-I don’t agree, I think it looks really neat, but still, thank you for your opinion…- mutters the boy and manages to smile.
The girls again burst out in laughter, and now Lisa does too, even to the point of not being able to breathe.
-Hahaha…what sort of loser are you, to thank me for insulting you, and your precious old ring…pathetic my bro…just pathetic…- she replies not being able to breathe.
She continues to jump around the corners of the bridge, avoiding to fall down the abyss of stones. But just as her last laugh came out as a breath, her leg slipped, and there, she fell out of the parapet, down to her demise. In a matter of seconds…she disappeared from the living, and fell to her death. The girls began to scream, and when the teachers arrived they blamed poor Ricky, who hadn’t done anything, but try to impress some girls. Now he felt sick. Being blamed for everything that happened.
-What happened Ricky? –yelled one of the teachers.
-I didn’t do anything I swear, I was talking with them and she slipped and fell, I didn’t do anything! – pleaded Ricky and felt the tears coming from his eyes, under the vast amount of judgmental eyes of the teachers and his classmates.
They didn’t say anything to him anymore. He was left behind…and never spoken to from that point on. He wasn’t blamed, it was covered up as an accident and the parents were paid their insurance by the school and everything that comes with it. But for poor little Ricky, life didn’t seem so clean anymore. All of the town folk knew he was responsible for Lisa’s death, and he had to live with it, his whole life. And that he did. For four years, he kept looking down at the ground, avoiding all the bad eyes, the people were giving him. But what could he do? He was just a kid for crying out loud, he wouldn’t even dare to kill a fly, rather than killing another human, which he considered even a friend…that would totally be uncharacteristic out of him, the boy known to be always good, but not anymore. He was framed, and he would always be the black sheep, even if he wasn’t one. He was the one left out of everything. Only his parents supported him. They were the cause of him still being in this town, because if not for them, he was either gonna leave for somewhere else, or kill himself, which he overthought a lot of times, but still didn’t. And as the times passed he grew older, and developed different tastes. He never wore that ring ever again, just because it reminded him of that dark memory with Lisa. And so, he lived for four years, without anything happening.
The calendar showed August 22th, and the summer weather was awfully hot outside, which was why, under the protection of the air conditioner, Richard was tasked with cleaning out his room with stuff he didn’t need. Tons of boxes, old comic books he could sell, action figures that were broken and all sort of stuff. In one of those boxes though, he found something quite forgotten by him. The ring engraved with unknown runes. It was still as sturdy as before, and his fingers still felt that touch of wood between them. The memory of Lisa suddenly kicked in, and he felt the need to throw it away, just as his mother entered the room.
-Honey, did you found anything in those box- she stopped and looked at the ring in his hand, - is that the…- she again stops and takes a moment.
Rick nods, and looks at the wooden circle once again.
-I really don’t want it anymore…could you throw it away with all of those boxes over there? – asks the young man and looks at his mother.
-Why of course honey, you search some more, and I will go and trash this ugly looking ring along with those things you found now.
-Thanks mom- he replies and smiles, then continues to look at his old items.
His room is right next to the stairs leading to the lower story, so it isn’t a problem for her. She grabs two boxes and places the ring on top of it all and resumes to leave the room. As she does though, her foot trips on the crumpled carpet, and she flies down the stairs, rolling down, and soundly crashing on the ground. Everything in the boxes spills everywhere, and she doesn’t get up.
-MOM!?- yells Rick and quickly barges out of his room and carefully runs down the steps.
His mother still isn’t moving. Her neck starts darkening, and her breathing stops completely.
-Mom please open your eyes, mom!?- screams Rick, and cries over her lifeless body.
She doesn’t open them.
2 months later.
Raindrops, clash with the shingles. The house is being covered with them, as Rick, sits in the basement and looks at the wooden object. The rain outside kind of helps him concentrate in his task, but can he really do it? That’s the question he asks himself. That ring isn’t that special to him, why can’t he get over it, and just destroy it? His fingers are holding the hammer tightly and the grip tightens as the picture of his mother, lifelessly laying on the ground appears to him. With no hesitation, the hammer falls down of the wood, but nothing happens. Not even a scratch.
-Son? - An echo around the house appears.
Rick doesn’t answer, as his father enters the basement.
-What are you doing here? - asks the older version of him.
-I’m trying to figure out a way to destroy this stupid ring? – replies the son, and lands another strike, but as the first time, nothing happens.
-Why, doesn’t it have any value to you?
Now that he thinks about it, it did, just as he bought it, he found some strange interest in it, but after Lisa and his mother died, he no longer felt that connected with it.
-I think…it’s responsible for the death of mother…- replies the boy.
A dark shadow quickly overcomes his father’s eyes. Taking another hammer, he unleashes a massive barrage of strikes upon it, but nothing happens. Only that the hammer brakes, and the steel falls on top of his left foot, smashing it completely.
-Agh?!- yells the father, falling down.
-Are you alright?!- Yells Richard and panicky helps his father to sit on the old couch- we need to go to the hospital, lend me the keys and I’ll drive! - He says without even asking permission, he just has to do it.
Sometime later…
The car stops by a small bridge, and Richard leaves the vehicle.
-Where are you going? – asks Gordon.
He doesn’t reply, but takes out a wooden ring from his jacket, and swiftly, with no possible delay, throws it in the river stream down below. He watches as it disappears in the waters, never to be seen again.
1 month later.
-Hey Rick, do you think we can pass that last test…I mean, there’s a lot of stuff on it, and I don’t really think I might be able to do it…- asks Oldie, his only friend.
He looks at his kind of weird mate, and chuckles.
-If you can’t, I certainly won’t be able to pass it…- replies Richard and resumes staring at the waters.
He and Oldie had prepared to go fishing on that weekend, and now as it had downed, they were chilling and waiting for something to bite the bait. It wasn’t gonna be long though, since that river was well known to be a rich spot for fisherman, so they were hoping that it was right. As they do though, they both hear a familiar and disturbing voice, yell across the dry field. Oh god…not him again, not at this time…
-Yo, isn’t that Dickie, and his little Bitchie?!- yelled someone maliciously.
Three figures were approaching them, and by the size, it looked like they were the school/ town, bullies. They had begun torturing them since the very moment they became friends.
-Whatcha doin here, catching fish and what not, eh? - asks the biggest out of the three, named Bob.
-Ain’t your business Bob, we haven’t done anything, so back off! – replies Rick angrily.
The bullies look at each other and smirk.
-Oh, and what are you chumps gonna do about it, what…beat us…what?!- asks the leader and comes closer face to face with Rick, who is protecting his friend-, What…what are you gonna do Dick, huh? - questions the bully and grins.
Richard looks at his face and feels nothing but disgust and anger. Why did people like him even exist…What fun do they receive from torturing people…what sort of human could do that. And then he feels it. A pulsating aura coming from the river. As he turns around to see where that evil-ish aura resounds from, a fish jumps out of the water, and lands between the enemies. Bob is faster. Taking the fish, he swings it at him like a warning.
-Watch out…I have a fish and know how to use it! - he says and laughs, as his bullies burst out too, - You see…even God has nothing for you…to give you a simple fish, replies Bob.
He swings it one more time, and something comes out of the fish’s mouth. Something round…and wooden. The ring…that one he tossed in those same waters, some time ago.
-Oh what’s this…- Bob picks it up and puts it on his finger…-, Ain’t that your ring…what’s it doin in that fish?!- he asks, but instantly turns pale.
His eyes turn kind of grey, while his whole body almost ghost like pale. His friends back him from falling, but it doesn’t help. He is just looking, almost lifelessly.
-What’s going on Rick? - asks the bully calmly…-, What’s happening with my body?
But Richard cannot answer his question. He can see it…something. There, right behind Bob, holding his neck, a white figure, fog like creature…squeezing his neck to the point of snapping. And then, his primal instinct kicks in. That rage and anger from before get the better out of him, and he smiles, but not with that genuine smile like before, but a sick-like smirk that just shows how wicked he could become if pushed to the point of losing your dignity.
-Take the ring off, Bob- calmly orders Richard, looking at the figure, which is looking at him.
The fog creature smiles, and nods. Bob does what he says. Rick knows what’s gonna happen next…it is unavoidable. His big hands slowly slide the wooden textures of the ring, down of the base of the ring finger, and take it off. As the ring is removed, he finally loses his life, and falls on the grass, dead. The fog is gone, and Richard is left standing there, looking the other two with a demonic grin. Seeing their leader fall down, they scatter and leave the place, leaving both friends, looking at the twisted neck of the bully.
Some more time later…
The shop is dark, but he enters it anyway. The owner is sitting on a chair, eating his dinner and watching the usual channels on the TV. When he sees him though, he drops everything and stands up.
-So…you’ve come back…and I can clearly see that you aren’t the one you used to be…-says the owner and takes a sip of his beer.
Rick doesn’t say anything and jut hands him a white envelope and looks at him.
-That thing is cursed…I don’t know how…but it kills…I tried to destroy it…but it did nothing to it…I can feel it trying to take control of my mind…please, hide it away…I beg you! - pleads Richard, and leaves the shop without letting the man say something.
The owner takes the envelope and sighs. Another victim has fallen from this ring. But…something doesn’t let him from hiding it away…in fact…he kind of likes, looking at it…talking to it, when nobody is there…
The same night…
He drags his feet down the steps almost incapable of walking. Just a couple steps and he would reach the front door…but who in the right mind would ring the bell soo hard and soo late at night? It was passing 4:30 am, don’t people sleep? Asking those questions, Richard opens the door and at first doesn’t recognize the fellow. He looks different from before. The dark-skinned owner, now looking paler than snow. His eyes with a grey-ish color to them. He looks like he hasn’t had anything more to do in this world. And that’s when that familiar feel again comes knocking at Rick’s mind. The anger…rage…lust for pain…that wicked sensation of murdering another human. He grins by the look of the foggy creature, with its hands wrapped around the owner’s neck.
“You just have to give them the ring, and your enemies will die…”- a voice echoes in his mind.
Richard takes the owner’s hand, and slowly, looking him directly in the eyes, feeling that sensation of destroying someone’s soul, takes the ring from his open palm, and places it on his finger, while smiling genuinely, to the sound of a man, taking his final breath.
1 month earlier.
-The ring has been activated…- echoed the voice of the First, waking me from the trans I had slipped in.
Finally, I smiled and got up from the dirty ground, beginning to stretch my worn out muscles. It didn’t take a lifetime, but it still consumed quite a lot of my life. Fourteen years just to get to a point when the final element is awoken.
-Where does the pulse come from? – I asked and coughed feeling my sore throat.
-Far…far away from here…- answered the voice, feeling a bit worried.
It didn’t have anything to worry about. I was trained…I was strong…I could handle one more artefact in my possession. One more element for me to destroy.
Chapter 8- Elemental Outburst
My feet were already tired out from the walking, when the voice of the First echoed in my head.
-We have arrived – resounded the spirit and made me stop to take a breather.
I didn’t argue one bit. I had been walking, using all sorts of hitchhiking transport I could get, until I got to this place. The problem was that this place was in the middle of nowhere…probably quite coincidental to the fact that this artefact was the legacy from the last surviving tribe from the group of the First. Just like the bracelet’s first bearer was one of the grandchildren of the child of the First, who traveled to Egypt to look for shelter. So did the first bearer to ever hold the final element, was a descendant of his. He wanted to make sure he would survive in this new environment of mountains and trees, where no possible army could invade, and such things. Which was why, he triggered a different kind of ritual. A formal gathering of the living elders. They casted his soul, once he had gotten to the age of no survival, and made so that the artefact in which it would reside, to not perish even if a million years passed. Which meant, the only thing it could destroy it, is an equal to strength counterpart…its brother or sister. I possessed both, and learned a lot from the First bearer of the bracelet. Though, I managed to learn things about the Medallion, just by meditating into its core of memories. I did have quite the time to gather as much as information possible for the elements that would end up taking my life as I fight to destroy them, and that proved to be quite interesting. Seeing Helzegovina, battle for a place in the pharaoh’s residence was quite intriguing...What wasn’t, was the way she managed to create the “Cat’s Eye”. As it was called. To spare myself the negativity of this past deed, it happened in the tomb of the pharaoh, where she took her life, and cursed all living members of the pharaoh to die a gruesome death, thus becoming the first bearer of the medallion. The leash from the point of it being in Egypt and then coming to Ireland is quite interesting. From the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb to the medallion traveling from dealer to dealer before it ended up in my father’s shop, without him understanding what it truly was. Of course though, he wouldn’t know, that a powerful source of evil spirits resided in his pawn shop, but, I guess he could feel it, since he knew about the Bracelet and the prophecy it told my grandfather Archibald. Nevertheless, things…well everything got kind of messed up in the end, and forced me to do things I didn’t wish I had done. But I guess the past is left in the past…Setting my mind towards the future was for the better, knowing that the end of this strange journey was nearing its end. I finally sat at the parapet of the huge abandoned bridge and started at the rivers and never-ending trees that surrounded the area. It felt quite peaceful…and I sort of felt ready to take a nap…since I hadn’t properly slept in the last fourteen years.
-So, this is the place huh? – I asked and leaned back, placing my hands behind my neck.
The voice of the First appeared in my head, as it had done so many times before.
-Yes, we reached the final destination in this search for the final element…but I, I think we aren’t exactly in the right spot…This really is the spot when I felt it being awaken, but it was a long time ago…the full awakening happened at least three or two weeks ago, when we both felt the pulse of the ring. – explained the disembodied voice.
So it was a ring, I thought and smirked, knowing I would have jewelry on both my hands, and neck.
-Well then, can we pin-point the exact location right now? – I asked, feeling a bit groggy.
His voice vanished for a second and I got up, knowing I could fall asleep any moment when I wasn’t serious and focused on staying away from the dark voices. Looking around the bridge I saw a sign saying the “Quiet Bridge”. I could understand the meaning, seeing as nearly no car had passed by the road in the time we took to make our way up to here. It wasn’t as long as I imagined it to be, but that didn’t really matter. I thought about crossing it, and going to the higher part of the town, city or whatever this place was considered as. Walking ahead I noticed some roofs of house, kind of hiding in-between the crowns of the trees.
-I think I can feel the energy from the ring coming from the highest point of the upper mountain- said the First as I sighed.
-Which means I have to walk even further, cross the bridge, make my way to there and eventually find this new guy and take his ring – I replied grumpily and continued to push my legs as I felt quite tired.
-More or less…if you need, you could gather your strength at the village up ahead…I don’t think this fight is gonna be easy…- said the Voice with a note of worry hiding behind the seemingly endless monotone bit.
-What makes you say that? – I asked a little bit confronted, knowing all the training I had put my mind to block the invaders that tried to consume my mind and force me to kill.
-Because this guy has had this artefact for quite some time and has probably already fused himself with the spirit. Unlike Zed, he might be a bigger threat, and I would consult you to remain cautious and take this really seriously! - pleaded the First.
That made me even more anxious and kind of agitated of this. I didn’t know his strength, neither did he know mine but we knew of our existences and knew that we would meet soon. Something in my stomach kind of twirled around, but I forced myself to not pay much attention.
-Fear not! I will be ready for everything he throws at me! – I said, trying to psych myself up as much as possible.
With that being said, the First vanished and I continued walking energetically towards the upper part of the mountain, focusing on stopping all the strange thoughts coming from the bracelet that was firmly tied to my wrist.
…
Later…
The waitress at the local inn served the chicken soup and fresh water, leaving me to be alone. I wasn’t alone though, and began to devour the food that I waited for ten minutes, listening to the First.
-Which is the strongest artefact you ask? – he said, as if he was asking me it again, rather than thinking about it.
It was bound to be asked out of me, knowing I had the two of the three. As I was walking towards the village I finally thought about it and wanted to ask him.
-Well, I guess all of them are equal as power…but, the one that is connected with its bearer the most, is the strongest. Which by sheer logic, is your bracelet and medallion. Though, when an artifact has fully fused its power with its owner, the strength is quite amplified by brute force of the bearer and mindset. That means that if the bearer is focused on killing, and if the ring is focused on that, which we know it is, we are going to face with a foe that has develop quite the relationship with his possession – explained the spirit.
I swallowed the chunk of bread and took a sip of the water before continuing the conversation.
-Doesn’t that make me even stronger though? I have connected with the bracelet…or perhaps with you, being the real owner of it? – I asked and took another spoon of the steamy soup.
-That is also true, but as I said, there isn’t only one spirit resident within said artefacts. I mean, if the bearer has awakened the element, and connected with it fully, he is invincible. But, if he has awakened it, but not connected with all its spirits, he wouldn’t be as strong as the one who is. But…as you mentioned, when one has connected with the first bearer…as you have with me…well then, that person has the upmost control over all the remaining spirits, even if he is still provoked by them. So in other words, you are as strong or perhaps stronger than he is right now. The fact remains though. Even when you placed the medallion on yourself, it isn’t awoken by its new bearer…neither it is connected- answered the voice.
-I doubt someone would feel the same as I, knowing most of the previous owners were dealers and Helzegovina herself. – I replied with a mouthful of everything there was in front of me.
-True, but in this angle, you have the powers, of two artefacts, against one- said the First, making me feel a little bit better.
I smiled and continued with the soup until it was finished. I managed to hide away my burp as it was bound to happen and stood up. The waitress once again came up to me and took the money I left of the table. I took a leak and washed my face, and finally left the inn. The sunlight was nearly gone, nearing the mark of the evening but that wasn’t a big problem…it wasn’t a problem at all, knowing the things that were about to go down I didn’t really want to have a fight in the middle of the day. In the night, we could at least be hidden from the folk that weren’t involved in any of this. While in the day, things could go worse…just like last time.
-It will not end up like last time…you can bet on it! – said the First…and pointed me at the next direction I had to go.
I smirked, knowing that this time, I wouldn’t let some stupid evil spirit take over me…nor will I let someone who didn’t know what was bound to happen, live and kill as it was his final wish. I looked up, and kind of predicted that it would take a few hours until I reached the highest peak of the mountain.
-We should go…I can sense its aura- ordered the spirit.
I could sense it too…A strong and sinister “pulse”.
Sometime later…
Near the end of the one hundred step stair-case, I was already out of breath and was awaiting the moment to finally rest for a bit. The climb did really prove to be nerve wrecking and exhausting, but for a man who had walked for nearly all his life, in the direction of the unknown, it was a piece of cake. If the cake was muddy dirt…and the highest point in the region. Either way though, on the final step, I sat on the nearby stone that was made to look like a seat and catched my breath for a second. That soup weighed me down, and I kind of regretted eating it, though on the other hand I was filled with energy by it, so I couldn’t be that mad.
-We should continue…the presence is close…- whispered the spirit from the bracelet.
I nodded, took a deep breath and stood up, facing the view that was revealed up ahead. A cliff, with a single apple tree, overlooking the entire mountain village. It could be nice and peaceful, if it wasn’t for the nasty air that was flowing with the wind. And I swear to god, it wasn’t the soup coming back to haunt me. Just as I thought there was no one there and that it was a false alarm, I saw him, leaning on the apple tree, sightseeing with a smile on his face.
-Let’s not be hasty…approach him and inspect his insight.
I nodded once again and slowly walked towards him, hoping he couldn’t feel me, though it was kind of lame of me to think it, since I was feeling him, feeling that whoever was approaching him wasn’t friendly…which wasn’t exactly false. I didn’t say anything; neither did he seem to notice me.
-Hey…- I muttered and sat on the ground by him.
The boy didn’t look dirty, nor did he look splendidly clean, yet, seemed quite normal. His brown-ish hair was playing with the wind as his locks shined in the last sunlight. The young man’s eyes remained focused into a point I couldn’t see, but could feel it being sharp.
-Isn’t it nice? - he replied and moved his head towards me.
Now I could see his blue eyes, reflecting myself out of them. It was kind of weird…since I was kind of looking at myself, but, quite younger. Not that I wasn’t young, but those fourteen years did age me up, normally, but still did. I could see the bags under my green eyes, and the quite messy, yet clumsily combed over with water black-ish hair.
-Yea…- I replied and looked back at the nice view…, - Its quite nice…
The young man nodded as to himself and turned back to his sightseeing. I remained locked at his profile and wondered if I should mention about the prophecy that was predicted by the elements themselves.
-Do you understand the situation? – I asked, hoping that the ring had told him about it.
My question wasn’t answered right at the second, but the man, sighed and finally took his eyes of the wonders of the forest bellow us.
-Yes, Korvighar explained everything to me – he replied and nodded to his ring.
I started at the wooden surface of the artefact and kind of felt bad that I never asked my friend his name.
-Do not worry, you couldn’t pronounce it either- said the First in my head and kind of comforted me.
I noted that I should think of a proper name for him.
-I see – I finally responded kind of glad that I don’t have to explain everything, - And, what is your opinion of the matter? – I asked again, moving my gaze from the ring to him.
The young man kind of squinted and smiled at the same time.
-I understand the matter you are referring to, and of course, I can take part in the mission to stop the destruction of this world…but not, by harming the artefacts…- he said and looked at his ring with love in his eyes.
I figured that this was the first signal for me to take action and do something, but I wanted to understand his point of view.
-I can see that you are connected with your element completely and defusing with it, would be kind of hard for you, but, knowing that this world will end, and all of those trees – I pointed at the view bellow us, - will cease to exist, would be a shame.
He remained calm, and didn’t bother to confront me in any way that would seem harmful, yet said something I wasn’t expecting.
-I can swear to you, on my name, Richard Price, that I would never use this ring for something as murder or anything associated as bad- he countered placing his hand on the heart.
That was…something, I thought and couldn’t decide what to say.
-He is lying to you…don’t forget that in order to awaken the artefact you need to kill…and to connect with it, you have to agree with it, I don’t think he is planning on stopping…he is just biding his time and making himself stronger- said the First in my head, warning me of his false intentions.
I chuckled, processing what the spirit told me, and what Rick did. It was hard to attack a boy that didn’t understand what was the cost of having this thing on his finger, so I resorted with words.
-You understand that, everything you like staring at down there will be wiped from the very existence of this world if we don’t resort to the destruction of these dark things? - I said and pointed at the ring.
Richard didn’t say anything, but stared at my bracelet as I pointed. Maybe he was trying to pierce through it and try to understand my power or whatever he was thinking of doing. I couldn’t leave him be, so I tensed myself, ready to fight him. What happened then, kind of startled me. Without saying anything more, Rick took off the ring from his left hand, placed it on the ground and nodded at it.
-You are right…take it…destroy it and lift this world out of its curse! – pleaded the man, with a fear, establishing in his bright eyes.
I didn’t know if it was alright for me to pick it up, seeing how he wasn’t affected by it. He took it off freely. To be honest I never tried taking off the bracelet nor the medallion, thinking they were stuck to me.
-Be ready, it might be a lure to attack you with a secret technique! – whispered the spirit of the bracelet.
I hesitated at first, but then took it from the ground and got up. I didn’t put it on, nor squeeze it…I didn’t feel anything. It was cold, as wood should be. Its material was polished, or he himself had done it, overall it was nice at touch, just like the rest of the artefacts.
-You can have it…I no longer wish to see it! – said Richard and turned away from me.
“Well, that was easy” – I thought and turned away as well.
Ricks lips extended into a grin I couldn’t see. I don’t know why, but in the mere second, the ring started freezing my hand. I couldn’t move it, nor my body did respond to my commands.
-Focus! – said the First, guiding me to survival.
I started feeling the sensations coming from the bracelet and began to see what was happening. Something foggy and white was gripping me tightly. It was paralyzing me with cold, and was gripping my neck. I felt the ring slipping from my grip, and soon, Richard was facing me, with a terrible smile, locked onto his face.
-I told you I can handle the world with the ring…you don’t need to interfere with it! – he said and chuckled.
I felt the intense grip of the foggy spirit, pulling on my neck, trying to snap it in half. I couldn’t use the bracelet as it was the hand with which I took the ring, and it was frozen. What wasn’t, was the medallion.
“Use me! You know you want to do it sweet Arthur! This boy is hurting you, you need to escape, now!” – whispered a voice, a wom1an’s voice. Helzegovina.
I couldn’t move, nor do anything with my friend, so I had to resort to the enemy. The anger that she was feeling was now mine. The hate for humans, was now mine. The thrust for blood, was now my wish. I needed, wanted and wished…to kill! And then I remembered. Wish for it, and it will happen! And so I did.
Letting the medallion take control, I felt my whole body pulsating to the point where the ground on which I was standing began to shook and fall below my feet. The win resurfacing for the first time since fourteen years was vicious and powerful, pushing the young man behind. The foggy creature kind of got pushed away from me, but at least I could see it now, clearly. It was scared for some reason. In that moment, I felt the power of the bracelet backing me up. The fire of the First rose and engulfed my hands, as the wind of Helzegovina, made so that the cold wasn’t reaching me, only the heat remained. Richard felt the presence of the elements, overpowering his, which was why he tried doing what he could muster in this moment. Summon the rain. Summon the cold. With his hands extended towards me, a blast of freezing air, combined with the water drops of rain, launched at me with a terrifying speed.
-Helzegovina, we need to work together! – yelled the First, trying to keep her with us.
I heard her scream, and felt bad because she wasn’t a bad woman, only acting because of bad people.
-Help me, and I will destroy everyone that is evil! I will create a world with nothing evil in sight. But first, we need to destroy the artefacts that were created by the same bad people that killed you and created you! – I said in my head, pushing back the ice and rain with the fire, feeling the struggle to burn through everything.
-Swear to me, and I will help you! – I heard her voice.
I didn’t have any more time to waste so I did what she asked me.
-I swear on everything deer to me that I will not back away from my promise to destroy the evil! – I yelled, feeling as the water was about to beat the fire.
Just then, the medallion started shaking violently on my neck. And along with it, came a wave of wind that made the fire burst out even more. It twisted itself with the flame tongues and pushed back the ice rain back towards the caster. The wind was fast, faster than I could see, and was helping more than I could imagine. The ice wind pushed back Richard, hitting the tree, and freezing him with his own attack. The flames then took his face, and burned him like a living lantern. I heard his screams but didn’t feel pity. I didn’t exactly feel anything but determination. This was going to end, either if he like it or not! When the flames finally extinguished, I was left seeing the burnt black thing of what was left of Richard. I felt kind of relieved that it was over. It was harder than last time, but it was understandable, knowing I was facing an element I had a disadvantage at. Fire against Water wasn’t going to end good for me. But with the help of another element, being Wind…I was able to make things revert and attack Richard with his own attack, and two of my own. Now, as I inspected his pulse and confirmed that he was dead…the only thing left to do was to take the ring and head towards a place where I could safely destroy everything. I say that because we had obliterated a large chunk of the mountain with our attacks. Removing 2/4 of it. Now imagine a man that wanted to do it, having all three elements at his disposal. That was a scary thought, but I wouldn’t let that happen. I touched the medallion and Helzegovina coated my hand with vibrating wind. A single punch was enough to break the solid ice from the ring, and smash the body of the young man in pieces. And what was left of the pieces was a round wooden ring, staring at me, with hope that I would use it to kill. Well, it was kind of right, but not in the exact details. I was in fact going to use it to kill…but not people…no, I was going to kill it. I kneed and took it, placing it on my finger. In an instant the voices started screaming in my head, but with a minute of meditation I was able to push them back.
-Well, we did it- I said and looked at both the bracelet and the medallion.
The voices of both Helzegovina and the First echoed in my head.
-Now, only one thing remains…. - started the First.
-To destroy evil…and never bring it back again…- finished the woman.
I nodded happily, and laid on the ground where the tree used to be, before It got burned and blasted with that last punch.
-Hey First, I think I got a name for ya! – I said and laughed, - How about we call you Lightos…?
He didn’t answer, but I felt something hot twirl around the bracelet. He was happy at least. I was as well. But what was to come…wasn’t going to have a proper happy end.
Epilogue
I didn’t really know where I was, but to be honest, I didn’t want to. Opening my eyes would force me to continue with the final part of this mission I had brought myself to complete. Might it been the sweet cold night breeze that was slowly playing with my hair, kind of making me feel sleepy, stopping me from doing my duty? Or was it the view of the mountain cliff overlooking the silent and peaceful blue ocean? It didn’t matter. What did, was the fact that I could take some time to think about what I could do from here on out. Living wasn’t in the bucket list, considering I had to put an end to everything regarding these elements, by sacrificing myself in order to do so. That perhaps wasn’t such a big deal as I thought of it when I was young. It didn’t really matter if I was alive or nor, knowing I had nowhere to go, with no past members of my family even knowing If I was gone, and overall, no desire to see peace. I mean, yea, it might be nice, but I was already soo exhausted by the constant restraining from sleep, due to the small voices trying to protrude my brain and turn me into a massive killing machine with no handbrake. That itself took quite some will power of myself. And…as I laid there, on the soft and comfy grass, I felt as if all my will had been absorbed and then thrown into that ocean I was so keen on visiting. It was my hometown view that I wanted to revisit for the final time before the farewell. That itself proved to be hard, seeing as how the small town had changed for the past years I was absent of it. I saw how my family had gathered itself after the death of my father and continued on living for his sake, continuing on life. Well, I kind of did it myself. I lived to see myself die in the end…thought, for me, the closure was awfully close. Maybe I was lucky, maybe I was the chosen one to destroy the world, rather than avoid its destruction? Now this is just dumb talk, as I already had sworn an oath to Helzegovina and Lightos that I would write this chapter of my life, not regretting anything. Well…I did regret one thing, and that was killing my own father, on purpose. That itself was a big point, that I wanted to somehow erase, to no avail. It was always in the back of my head and was making me feel as if I was the evil one here. Maybe…I really was? Who wouldn’t doubt himself, knowing that sort of thing? Knowing they had to murder a bunch of people they used to see every day, just so they can get ahold of something, that was planning to wreck everything. I certainly felt it harder…
-Arthur, we should proceed with the inevitable- whispered the voice of the first bearer of the bracelet.
Lightos and Helzegovina hadn’t been talking much, ever since I went back home. Those were his first words in a long while. His usual mixture of a scalding and annoyed tone was gone and replaced with an unusual sadness behind it.
-Yea, in a sec- I replied and opened my eyes.
The clouds above me were darkened and gloomy, as if the sky was kind of reflecting my mood at the moment. A drop of rain fell on my cheek, and then another one fallowed, and then more, until the whole sky was violently letting the ocean from space fall down on earth. It was kind of cleansing…in an, strange way.
-Alright, let us begin…- I said and awaited their instructions.
-Well, first, we need to establish which of the three is the weakest of the elements- started Lightos, with his voice raising to be hearable, thanks to the rain that was pouring loudly.
-We have, fire, water and wind- he continued, - Each of them have unique abilities, but we need to make sure we pick the weakest as the first to be destroyed.
-That’s obvious – interrupted Helzegovina, - The weakest should be the one that isn’t activated or awoken by its current bearer, making it the ring.
Both were correct. Fire was weaker to water, but the wind could actually do some damage. Combined? They could destroy it. Which was why we decided to do a combined effort in order to finalize its end.
-Remember, once we begin the attack, we need to act quick, for its regenerative abilities may occur again, just like when Zed and Henry tried to destroy the medallion- mentioned Lightos.
Hearing my father’s name, and Zed’s made me tense up for no reason, but I calmed down and focused.
-That is true, the medallions regenerative abilities are quite superior to the others, considering it is a curse of the bearer. Once it is destroyed, it finds another host, a ring, or whatever the piece of jewelry It is, and transforms it into what it really is…just like with Zed- agreed Helzegovina.
Which meant, we had to attack it, right at the moment it started to repair itself. All of them had that sort of moment, but the ring, was now the weakest, proving to be the first target for a reason.
-Alright then, on my mark we shall unleash the elements and let them do our biding! – I said and extended both my hands towards the laid down ring.
It stood there for a really long time, waiting its fate to be decided with a battle of powers. Hopefully the rain from the sky wasn’t gonna protect it from me, or things would be bad.
And then I wished for fire, and the bracelet answered. A strong current of flames started twisting themselves on the ring, trying to burn down the wooden-like surface of it. The damage quickly came, and so did the regeneration. But that was just in time for the second wave. I wished for wind, and the medallion obliged. A small whirlwind formed around the artefact, focusing on its speed, and making so that the fire current doesn’t die out. Both attacks accompanied themselves, and soon the whirlwind got even faster, spreading and becoming bigger. The flames got hotter, and engulfed the wind, turning everything into a fiery mess of wind and fire. The burning tornado was rotating the ring around its inside, damaging it even more. That wasn’t exactly enough though. It was getting damaged, but it wasn’t being destroyed as well. More fire then. Even if there was water, if the temperature was high enough…it could evaporate. And so, I wished for greater fire. Fire that no one has ever seen before. And the bracelet obliged. The grip it had on my wrist got even tighter and began to vibrate intensely as a massive barrage of flame tongues covered the already burning tornado, coating it with blue flames, illuminating in the dark like the sun itself. More wind! And there came even more wind, raising the heat even more. My whole body was sweating both out of anxiety and the hotness that was this battle. MORE EVERYTHING! – I wished, and saw how both wind and fire rose to an insane level. The flames spread wildly, taking big chunks of the mountain I strategically had picked for this sort of thing. The blue flames transformed into black ones, and finally managed to do the job. The ring’s wooden body started cracking, with a faint glow coming from within the twisting heat. Powered by the wind, its completely disintegrated and turned into ashes. My feet couldn’t keep on, and gave up, making me sit for a moment.
-We did it… - I said, taking big breaths that pieced my lungs.
It took some time until everything calmed down and the fire extinguish, but when it did, it revealed just how much injuries did the mountain take.
-And that was only two of the elements…- agreed Lightos, sounding glad we managed to overpower it, even if it was the weakest.
Yeah, only two elements, and these two remained. If it was that tiring to take down one, imagine taking down a fully awoken and activated artefact. That would prove to be a greater task.
-Do not worry, - said Helzegovina, hearing my thoughts, - I shall make so that the medallion is asleep, for you to destroy it easier.
I wondered if that was possible and both of them agreed on that it was.
-Well, if so, then, let’s get it over with, shall we? – I asked and managed to get myself to stand.
Both the spirits wished me luck and I took off the medallion freely, placing it on the ground where the ring stood mere seconds ago. Backing away some steps I extended my hands towards it, and wished for fire. And just like before, the flames emerged, and started swallowing the medallion like it was nothing. Helzegovina deactivated its state, and it didn’t fight back like the ring did. Considering the pouring rain that was still going on, we managed to beat the water, but now, the flames were quite strong than before, facing something that was wind…amplifying its strength when it didn’t want to. The medallion started melting, as the flames got bigger and bigger by the sheer wind force coming from within the artefact. It was a really odd thing…to die by making so that the attack of your foe is stronger. Herzegovina’s voice echoed inside my mind once again, for one final time.
-Keep your promise or I shall come back! – she whispered, before the medallion exploded.
This time the rain from the skies stopped the flames, while I sat on the edge of the cliff, like before and took some time to regain my breath.
-Now, only I remain Arthur…- said Lightos, with a really quiet and soft tone.
I nodded and felt the coldness of my clothes, stained by the raindrops that had fallen on it like rapid bullets. Too bad it didn’t stop raining, because I wanted to take a moment to remember everything and somehow evaluate my life towards this point on. The water drops weren’t helping, but sure did make me think quicker. Then I remembered. Wishing for a bit of warmth, I felt as my body started getting warmer. My clothes got dry in a moment, along with an extra heat shield above me, to protect me from the cold rain. I smiled and thanked Lightos, and then looked at the ocean spreading towards me. The great Atlantic Ocean was lively thanks to the rain, yet it still felt pretty. I never got to swim in it, so I was hoping for to maybe, do it before I fade away and cast myself as obsolete. That was just a wish, that neither of the artefacts could secure now though, knowing my body was more than tired from the action that took place here, and when we fought Richard, and I only pleaded to get some rest and sleep.
-Are you ready? – I asked the first, and stood up shakenly.
-Ever since you awoke me all those years ago! - he replied and I felt proudness in his voice.
I wasn’t sure how exactly It worked. Did I have to jump and kill myself, or maybe wish for it, just like when I used the elements? Or maybe…I could use both tactics…and hope that something happens at least. Emptying my mind and thoughts I took the necessary step, and felt my body falling down the edge.
-I wish, to be dead…- I managed to think as I was descending towards the water down below.
In that instant everything inside me started bursting with fire, as the bracelet itself heated quite a bit. And just when I was about to fall into the abyss of the ocean, I felt this final goodbye coming for Lightos, as the bracelet detached itself and turned into soil.
-Goodbye old friend – I thought as the coldness entered my heart and began to sank me deeper and deeper.
Everything was leading up to this point, yet I didn’t feel anything anymore. As I was falling downwards into the spiral of nothing, I didn’t feel happy, nor sad…I was just relieved. No more magic things in my world…no more spirits to try and get to me. Only the silence…and its sound…as I descended and floated deeper and deeper…until I fell asleep.
Final.
And then the light came. It was so bright and shining that I didn’t have a choice than to wake up from my peaceful slumber. When my eyes adjusted, I figured I was back home, on that very sport me and my father used to talk about all sorts of things, while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean together.
-So, you did it? – resonated the voice of someone familiar.
I didn’t feel him, yet I saw him when he appeared next to me. His face was still the same as I remembered. Old and loving. I nodded to my father and felt my heart wrenching from the pain I made this man suffer.
-Don’t be sad…I am well aware that you weren’t there when everything happened…well, not spiritually at least- he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
The tears started spreading in my eyes and I could no longer hold back. Letting them out I started shivering all over, not being able to control myself.
-Now, now son, don’t be sad, in fact, you need to be happy, you are well and healthy and managed to avert the biggest crisis for humanity with one single action – he said, chuckling on his words.
Even so, it took me a minute to calm down by the sight of him. I always imagined that when, or if I saw him beyond life, that he would be angry or mad at me, but no…he was just as happy as ever.
-What do you mean by that…didn’t I die? - I asked, with a restored voice.
His face kind of wrinkled for a second, but he smiled genuinely.
-You did…but that was only for a while…- he said and nodded as to make sure of it.
I was still kind of bamboozled by this whole situation, not getting what was happening. He sighed and started explaining to me, as if I was back to being that small child again.
-You see, as you averted the world from being destroyed by those artefacts, you died. But that doesn’t mean you “actually” did die, now. By your sheer judgement of the situation, you decided to end all, and sacrifice yourself for the people, saving them from disaster. That itself is a deed of honor and bravery. Not to mention, heart. That, my boy, counteracts your “death”, and turns you into a “new”, yet old, you – he finished, looking me with that face, asking me if I got it.
I did manage to process it, yet it was soo very strange to think about it rationally, and kind of make myself believe it, not to mention convince myself that this was happening; that I just laughed at this very thought.
-Then how am I able to speak to you if I am not death? – I asked, feeling as if I had taken the king with a pawn.
He then chuckled himself.
-Well that is quite easy my boy…you are sleeping.
His laugher was bright and addictive, making me giggle as well. We both looked at each other, as if it was time to depart. Thinking about that, I felt as if I wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. His hands then grabbed my shoulders and his eyes locked into mine.
-Now, that everything you wanted to know is known, I will tell you only once. Live…create…and be happy with what you have achieved. People may not know of your deed, but I and all of those who were with you along the way, will do…- he said and lifted me up from the ground on which I sat.
I wanted to say many things. Yet I didn’t know what to say as well. All my thoughts were overwhelming me into a roadblock from which I couldn’t escape. My father on the other hand had this magical ability to read my mind.
-You need not apologize, you need to be sad. Just remember me as you always have, and live out your remaining life…happy! That is all I have to tell you now – he said and hugged me.
It was warm, and I felt really overwhelmed and relieved, once again. He was there, somewhere…and i…well, he did say I was alive, did he not? So, all I needed was to actually wake up…and…see if it wasn’t a lie. It didn’t sound that hard…right? I turned to look at my father, but there was no one there. Then who was I hugging? It was something solid, yet I couldn’t see because the sun was right at my eyes…shining directly as if on purpose. Rubbing my eyes, I finally started seeing things. Not only, was i wet from skin to bones, but I was hugging what looked to be a hollow old log covered in sea weeds. Just then I realized I was laying on shore, as the sand was entering places I didn’t want it to be. I couldn’t help it but laugh…I was alive, I was a hero, yet nobody knew about it. Well, nobody but my father, Helzegovina, Zed, Archibald…and Lightos. Only they knew the story of how I destroyed the Elements.
Credits.
It sure was a pleasure to write this novel. It is quite shorter than the previous one, though, it is still quite epic and involving as the rest of the stories in my bibliography, so make sure you either comment or leave your impressions wherever you decide to do it!
Now, for the future, I do have plans of starting a new trilogy or duology, perhaps even more novels of the series. The project of which I'm going to work is going to be fantasy type, and to be named: Gods and Kings- The Sword of Black Flames. Though, that will be in development in early 2020, so you don’t need to worry about it.
This novel has been created with the help of:
Publishing House Wing® 2019
Author- Nedyalko ‘Black Wing’ Delchev.
Editor- Nedyalko Delchev.
Elements® © 2019.
Elements
A Thursday Nightmare Novel. 2019 ®
Content:
Chapter 1- ~Prologue ~
Chapter 2- ~Rain inside the Church ~
Chapter 3- ~The Bracelet ~
Chapter 4- ~A talk with the Unknown ~
Chapter 5- ~The Medallion ~
Chapter 6- ~ Connection ~
Chapter 7- ~ The Ring ~
Chapter 8- ~ Elemental Outburst~
Epilogue
Final
Credits
“When the fate for all mankind is on the line, and when the world in which your loved one live in is in grave danger; you don’t need a better reason to act humane, and help…everyone!”
– Ned Black
Enjoy the Story
Chapter 1- Prologue.
This story is no ordinary tale about a treasure hunter, seeking long lost artifact that could be sold for a massive price in a fence or market. In fact, this story, my story, is entwined with many other people, who didn’t even know they were a part of something else. You see…when fate makes so that people are limited to so little power, men tend to create something out of this world. It’s kind of hard to understand, and believe me, it will be hard for me to begin connecting all the dots and what not and make it begin to sound true, but explaining everything, so that all the pieces fit together logically will be something I would try my best to do. Let me first start off with my name. I am Arthur Peacehold. Son to Henry Peacehold and grandson to Archibald Peacehold. Now, those names might not ring a bell, but as I continue to retell my story, you shall see, what my legacy has brought me to believe. I guess I can share with you what inspired this story. As I said before, when men are pushed to a wall and given a particular set of skills, they either try to think outside the box, or be controlled by it. In this scenario, we have men that tried to meddle with things they didn’t know or believed, people that were lost inside their heads, filled with beliefs of power and nothing else…mindless fools. I’m talking about possessing powers and making so that they can be invisible in this world where all are mortals. You see though, no one actually managed to achieve this. And they tried, many times, from which, they gained a little success with three instances. The first matter was brought off by sacrifice, a deed so dirty and cruel to their tribe that it casted an everlasting shadow among their lines. But, this loss, brought something along with it. Now, was it by a curse or something otherworldly, I don’t know, neither do they, but what is well known, is that after the offering to an unknown god of their making was made…the body of said victim perished, into flames of the pyre that conjured something evil in the fire. That sort of thing was twisted, almost literally, and was covered in runes, that they deemed too dark to even read in your mind. And then of course, comes the fool who wants to see what this new found thing is, and enters the flames, and picks up the left out piece of the perished one. One, dark, and ornamented with runes, leather bracelet. That, was probably his worst mistake. It single-handedly ended their tribe, wiping out nearly fifty percent of the population at that age. Fascinatingly though, they didn’t stop there, making two more items, capable of causing havoc among their lines. But right now, I will focus mainly on the bracelet itself, seeing as it was one of the three that I found first, thanks to…well, you will soon find out. For you to find out my connection to it though, I need to take you back to 1981 where the events in my family-line all started. That, and so you can experience it first hand, of course. See how destructive three little insignificant pieces of metal, wood and leather can be. With some of the tale being said, let’s start off the story of Archibald and his involvement, in this long forgotten chaotically legend. The legend of the cursed ELEMENTS.
Chapter 2-Rain inside the Church.
This takes place in 1981, where the days were simpler and kind of easier for people who didn’t know what was about to begin. Neither did my grandfather think there was something wrong, or presume there was something odd happening in the village right next to ours, but little did he know…there was something quite amusing going on there. Even though, I shall let you see what went on, through the eyes of Archibald Peacehold himself. And through the memories of my father, who had learned this story from him. This right here, is the first connection between my family…and the elements. Where everything pointing towards the end, began.
His leather boots splashed in the muddy puddle energetically, moving away from the pouring rain that had conquered the whole village. It didn’t matter how fast he was moving though, only because the speed of the falling drops was quite faster than the old and suffering from back ache man. In a matter of fact, you could ask him what the heck was he doing in the middle of the open small village, walking around like a madman. The answer was simple. Being the next door villages priest, he wanted to go and warn the priest from this village, about the thunderstorm of a fury that was coming towards this sort of place, in this particular area of the whole wide world. It seemed like his effort was redundant from the start, seeing the burnt houses, with only their remnants remaining. The fire that was spreading had calmed down due to the massive barrage of water bullets, dropping from the sky as if small bombs of liquid. Even seeing this, made the priest shiver, not only by the cold, but because he could see how many people had lost their homes. Some hope did stay with him, seeing the only two remaining buildings, standing barely intact of one another. One was the villages hall, and the other the church. His boots started heading towards the church, seeing as the lights from the hall were moving behind the windows and that the people inside it were safe. That kind of made him feel relieved, yet still worried about the church’s capabilities of withstanding the massive storm that was being unleashed on it. And that was worth worrying, looking at the nearly wrecked looking building that was sort coming off as a church. With its leaking shingles on the roofs, to the washed out paintjob on the walls…to the broken windows overall…it was barely standing, yet, the priest had to go and check if everything was fine.
As he barely reached the front gates of the old looking building, Archibald cursed himself, looking at his dirtied from the filth robe, and about the decision to let his apprentice take today as a day off. He could’ve sent him to send the message, but no…he was the one that had to get his…whole body dirty, literally. But if that’s what it took to do something kind for the folk, it didn’t matter that much…in fact, it didn’t matter at all. The fact was clear. He was serving the lord, and that’s the important thing.
Without wasting anymore time, he swiftly pushed the gates and entered in the old building.
-Hello! Anyone inside?!- yelled the man as much as he could, feeling his senile voice resound around the whole premises.
From the looks of it, there was nothing left of this place…not a single soul. Not even the paintings around the walls looked alive anymore. Probably because of the candles, burning inside every day and every night. Even the wooden benches, placed on each side leaned on one leg, broken and unkempt. From the looks of it…not only was this church long abandoned, but the whole village was…Strange. It was raining for the past hour and a half, yet there wasn’t a single man or woman in range.
-I’m here from the neighbor village close to here…I wanted to warn about the coming storm and…help as much as I could…but- his speech stopped, only because he didn’t want to talk with himself, seeing as there was only him and the wind.
He felt rather silly, coming all this way, just to inform someone that was already informed. At least he did though, it wasn’t like he saw the clouds forming, or heard the thunders rumbling in the sky. He felt as if this was his duty, and he did call upon it as one. Yet, when there was no one here to respond to his call, his only choice was to run all the way back to his own church, and keep all the students and kids from going outside…where it rained and poured, and clashed and dropped…as if it was the end of the world.
He turned around, and as he was about to push the gate once again, he felt a cold drop of water, splashing on his neck. It was the single most painful thing for his old bones, and probably the most annoying that could happen. Wearing a hood, the whole time and right when he decided to take it off, he got splashed with rain. Yet as It dawned on him, he got confused. Why was there rain…inside? Looking above himself, his heart nearly stopped beating. Right on the ceiling, where the old and garnished with dark-ish spots paintings graced the eyes of all who entered, floated bodies five or seven…yet, didn’t float but just…stand there…in the air. Frozen, yet burned…somehow gravity-less. There weren’t faces on their heads…no eyes, only blackness, that stared at the priest, even if there wasn’t anything they could watch with. The questions that he started asking in his mind, exponentially rose and amplified by the sheer shock and picture he was kind of forced to look at. His eyes couldn’t stop seeing all of the bodies, somehow standing in top of the building, without having to hang on anything. What actually brought him back from his mesmerizing gaze, was the second drop, that fell from the burnt body in the air. It fell right on his forehead. The priest didn’t know what to do, rather than wipe it away, though, as he did, his hand got stained with something red-ish. It smelled metallic and had a strong scent of blood. That’s when the blood shower begun. All the bodies floating steady in the air started dropping blood on the wooden floor, on the old man watching horrified. The old man looked in horror as the blood started staining his robe, but another thing caught his eye. One of the floating bodies, started descending all of a sudden swiftly as if it was a balloon. When it finally touched the ground, covered with metallic liquid, the priest was already by its side and was inspecting it, fearing of it nonetheless. It was a spit image of the six above them, with just one thing in difference. This one, still burnt and lifeless, wore a leather bracelet of his left arm. It didn’t seem rather fashionable or even nice…it was torn in places, filthy from the age of it, and above all…shone in a faint black light. The priest didn’t want to touch it, yet his hand was reaching for it, as if it was commanded by something…a feeling, a higher thirst for having it. Just as his fingers ran on the surface of it…a loud explosion came in his mind. A voice resounded in the depths of his core…and illuminated his knowledge with the truth behind what was this scene. Yet the priest remained resilient-ly scared of what was to come. In opposite to the voice, which seemed rather calm. It spoke in a similar way to his own speech, making it clear he was once a priest as well.
-It started two days ago…Once we found this strange looking bracelet. It was buried here, in the backyard of this old building. It was by fate that we found it, so we figured it was a gift from our lord…yet, as I started wearing it, I started experiencing different kind of flashes in my eyes…strange visions if you will…of what’s to come in the next years…in the next ages. How the time as we know it…completely eradicates into a wasteland of nothing but fire…fire and only…fire. But that was not the only thing…
-After those two days, clouds darkened and gathered above our village, and rain started to pour down upon us- continued the voice, making it so that with each word, the priest saw the events with his own eyes. –It rained day and night after that…and it didn’t stop…never did. Even inside the building we are standing…even then we didn’t know what was the cause of this. But I know now. It was caused by this ancient bracelet on my wrist. This “gift” was responsible for the rain…for the destroyed houses…for the blood that was spilling down on us, as if we had meddled with things, way beyond our understanding. And it was true…I did not understand what was happening…yet a terrible hate started growing within my soul…a thirst for revenge against the ones who had…enslaved our existence in the most inhuman way possible. That’s why I unleashed the bracelet’s full potential of destruction. That’s why nothing seems true, everything is twisted in a way a man’s eye can’t comprehend. And all…because of that bracelet.
His voice then changed…a pleading tone shadowed the angered one from before. The priest remained focused on his words to the very end, calm. As if all the dread from before had drained in a black hole. All he wanted now…was to understand it all…
-Destroy it- echoed the voice of the dead man, -…hide it, and never return for it…Or it will consume your consciousness…just like it did to me. - said the voice, and disappeared the same way it appeared.
Once it vanished, the body turned to ash…as did the ones that poured blood from the ceiling. The ashes then evaporated into particles, invisible to the eye. Leaving only the bracelet intact...shining with the dark hue…demanding a new owner. And just like a moment ago…the priest’s fingers reached for it…touched it, and ran over its surface of washed out leather. Picking it up, he brought it closer to his eyes, witnessing the runes that were engraved on the inside of it. He hadn’t seen any sort of language that was on it…but that didn’t matter. What did, was the affection, his…towards it. It was strange, but in a way…it made him calm…whispered to him that he would impact everything if he was the one to wear it proudly on his wrist. And so he did. With excited breathing, he placed it on his wrist by pushing his hand through the large hole. Once he did, it suddenly tightened around it, and started heating up, glowing even more profoundly than before. As it did…the priest experienced a trip so grand it made him dizzy. The bracelet reviewed to him what was to come, and what was to follow. It showed him a distant future…that will obliterate all living…all. First his mind traveled different time periods to happen, and saw the affects it had on the planet. Saw the rivers that will evaporate and the trees that will wither. How the oxygen will cease, and so will the creatures living using it. The priest saw everything the bracelet wished for him to see. And he believed it all. All seemed possible. It told him about two different artefacts that could help him…her brother and sister. A ring and a medallion. Together they could prevent the cataclysmic Armageddon that was inevitable. But, the only thing stopping him, was that those two elements, were unfound…and that his life could end before they are. Which meant he had to travel to different regions, different countries, cities, before reaching the goal of ending, what might be the end. Yet the priest believed all, but didn’t want to contribute to anything, seeing as he was old, and tired…broken, retired. Even as the bracelet told him exactly the things he had to do. He felt down beneath the thirst for it, that it was deceiving…plotting something not comprehendible. Telling him that it is trying to prevent things…rather than the thing it really wants to. Opposite to that was the feel of immerse power that the priest was feeling. As if his whole body was twitching in electrical prowess, ready to destroy anything and everything. Mostly that was the leading string, navigating his wishes…that power was fighting over the suspiciousness…and won…empowered by the bracelet itself that was still whispering what it needed to be done. His mind was beginning to collapse and snap…and so did his power that had gathered. His body wasn’t powerful enough to obey its commands, even if his brain was listening. The bracelet was too powerful for him to wield it without a cost. The light that was shining from it engulfed the whole building, releasing a wave of invisible energy that collided with the walls. That itself was enough to calm everything. His body was relieved from the stress and the bracelet was now silent.
-What…what happened? - asked Archibald…looking at the vanished building.
Nothing was left from the entire village. Even the hall building was annihilated to dust. All of the remnants of the houses were grounded. Only nothing…but nothing remained. With his spirit evolved to see what was the reality of the future the priest did not understand what was to be done. But knew if he was responsible for this destruction…the other two artefacts the bracelet was talking about would end up actually causing different varieties of casualties enough to bring everything to nothing, as did the bracelet to this already ceased village.
“I need to hide this”- he thought looking at his wrist and begun sprinting as fast as he could, avoiding the huge puddles of blood that had gathered as it was continuing to fall down from the gathered clouds, moving to the pace of the priest.
And in the end, it happened to only remain the silent, washing the pain away…bloody rain.
Chapter 3- The Bracelet.
Many years did past from that time when it rained blood, and many days went on, with it, not washing away the stains. It did bring quite a lot of questions, that were asked around our little village of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland, but none were answered wholeheartedly, and accurate to what exactly happened. It was already 1998, and I was humbly eight years old at the time, while my father Henry Peacehold was around twenty-seven, with me being his last born, brother of two girls, older than me with seven years. It was during my eight birthday that my father finally decided to share to me, and answer his only son, and tell me what exactly happened that day when the closest town or village if you will, Yokane, completely burned down by natural causes on July 13th, 1981. The conversation was hard for me to understand since I was barely able to spell right, and process the information he offered me was kind of hard, knowing I had to bear it with myself, and not allow anybody to know…well, until now. I will now share you, what he, Henry, told me.
His big hands managed to lift me up in the air, and carry me around the porch of the house, until we reached the backyard, where the Celtic ocean peacefully carried two or three fishing boats across its big mass of water. He sat me down on the ground, covered with soft grass, on which I used to play soccer on and he proceeded to sit along. I could see from his untucked button shirt and the sweat stains under his armpits, that he was kind of stressed out, or plain tired of the birthday party that they had thrown for me. His smile proved me wrong, as he turned, facing me and gently caressed my head.
-You having a good time kiddo? – he asked and waited for me to answer.
I smiled in return and said that it was the most fun I had in a minute. He nodded understandably and continued, with what I was asking him since I learned about it. The Yokane fire in 1981. It was something many asked him about, since he was the youngest, and only living son of Archibald Peacehold, and was tend to know a thing or two about the accident that killed at least seventy people, not to mention, ground the whole village. He would always shrug it off, and tell people that he was way too little when his father passed, and never got to learn from him what exactly happened. In truth though, he was just ten, when his father passed away. And he did, indeed know what went on.
-You’ve been asking me about Yokane, ever since you’ve been able to speak young man, and quite frankly, I am tempted to tell you a portion of it- he said and witnessed the sudden burst of excited energy that started emanating from my eight-year-old self, yearning to know what happened, - But only if you promise to keep quiet and never, and I mean never share this outside, by any means necessary, to anyone – he continued and saw the quick nodding of promise.
-I do, I do…so tell me da’, what happened.
He smiled gently and got a bit closer to me, before beginning to speak quietly and secretive.
-On that day, July 13th, ten years ago, I was only ten years old, two more than you, when I saw how my father entered the house, breathing heavily and moving a bit flimsily, nearly collapsing on the floor from exhaustion. You see, he was tasked, with the mission to carry on a message to Yokane, informing them that there was a massive storm heading their way. I don’t really know what he was planning on achieving there, but it didn’t work, seeing as there was already something else going on, something quite more sinister than just a rain storm. You see, when he entered the then old church, he witnessed something he told me he didn’t ever wish to see. He described it as if all the people were somehow floating in the air with no faces attached to their heads, standing there as if there were frozen in the air. From all of them poured big drops of blood that fell down on the ground as if the rain from outside was entering through the loose tiles on the roof. But it wasn’t. It was an act of something, something that was designed to destroy, and it did annihilate all living there, burning them, and reducing them to nothing. A single bracelet, created by an unknown thing, from an unknown time, possessing the power, to guide someone through the future, was responsible for the end of an entire village, housing around seventy people. That piece of accessory talked to your grandfather and told him that the world will burn, unless, he hides this thing, and never, and I mean ever wish to ever wield it again. So, when he returned from Yokane that day, he was scared, didn’t know what to do, but remained hesitant that the thing that happened in the village, was unholy and cursed from the very start. He never talked about it again, and after two or three months fell ill. It was something we hadn’t seen before. His body temperature was maxed out, but his skin was colder than ice. He started losing weight, even if he ate his regular portion. Eventually, he got so skinny, that even the effort to stand up, would crack something inside of him. It was during that time, when I, the youngest and only remaining son, got to hear the events from that point on. I got to tell you Arthur, I never planned on wanting to share this with you, but seeing as you are older now, and my only son, I kind of wanted to share with you, what my father did on that day, and I know it sounds crazy to you, but, it was something I couldn’t make up. And of course this tale originates from a Christian priest, who believed there was only way god, controlling us. His fate got twisted, seeing this…inhuman thing that happened there.
-What happened then, what did grandfather do? – I asked, seeing as he entered a silent state, reminiscing of that day.
Snapping back, he sorts of smiled, but with a sad smile, that could only mean one thing.
-Well, as I said, he passed away, after four months of trying to fight this illness that had gotten the better out of him. And that’s what happened…
-And the bracelet, did you throw it away or? – I remembered to ask, something that probably, could’ve been avoided if my memory wasn’t so sharp at that time.
I saw how his eyes widened a bit, and how a drop of sweat drifted across his face. Dad nervously coughed and scratched his beginning to thin hair.
-We buried it… - he finally answered.
-Why didn’t you destroy it? Wouldn’t that be better? – I asked and saw how his sight kind of darkened.
-My father told me to bury it with him, so that no one else finds it by mistake, ever again…so that nothing like Yokane, ever happens again – he said and stood up.
His sight looked somewhere across the ocean, to a place where I couldn’t, but once I looked back on him, he was again smiling gently.
-What do you say, we go back inside and have that cake you wanted so badly, and forget about all of this? – he asked, and didn’t have to wait for a reply, knowing I was well that sure i wanted that cake.
We continued having fun, and the day ended, with me being a single year older than before. But with the days rolling on and on, I never…forgot about our conversation. At least, I didn’t want to, because it was kind of interesting to know the truth behind that devastating event so many years ago. Thinking back, Yokane recovered soon after the “accident”. Many people tuned in to help save the village, with people even giving away their money to restore some of the lost buildings. They raised a new church, and a couple of houses for the remaining people, that had somehow survived. It didn’t flourish much though, with many of the previous folk gone, it was kind of like a ghost town. It got better by the years, but to this day has remained silent and quiet, with its only attraction being the church, that was dubbed the “Blood Church of Yokane”, due to the stains of red that had covered the entire area of the building, hence the name. Even so, people forgot about the whole story, and didn’t ask my father about the things. He worked in an antique shop, and was one of the oldest remaining stores in Baltimore, so it was kind of bound to resurface from time to time, but never got the question rolling. Which was good, seeing as he always got kind of sad remembering the story he never shared with anyone but me. What wasn’t good is, that as I already mentioned, didn’t forget about this tale…didn’t manage to bring it out of my brain and list it as one of the many things I had subconsciously forgotten by the time, or dubbed useless information. I was always on the mindset of learning more about this mysterious artefact, buried in the tomb of my grandfather.
2004, Baltimore, County Cork Ireland.
My heart was beating faster than I had ever felt before. It was swinging left and right, smashing itself and pumping blood like it was its final hour. The gates in the tomb were rusty and hard to push, but being a bit powerful than before I managed to enter it, unseen and quiet as a cat. It wasn’t long when I saw the name Archibald Peacehold 1921-1981. The stone casket was old, covered in dust…and housing something I could hear whispering to me within the stone. It took some effort, but once I pushed away the cover of the casket, I could see the soil that was covering my future. It took some swings with the shovel until I reached the body of my ancestor. That’s when I felt the pulsating glow of the living accessory. His left hand was still wearing it, a black, ornamented with strange runes element of fire. This is when the bracelet was uncovered one last time, bringing some color to my story of destruction.
Chapter 4- A Talk with the Unknown.
2005, Baltimore, County Cork Ireland. –From my diary when I was fifteen.
“It’s been a year since then. A whole long and eventful year since I uncovered the long lost artefact, hidden in my grandfather’s tomb, where it laid for decades, waiting for someone to finally find it once again. And I did. And to be exactly honest, I didn’t know if it was right of me to do so. My father did in fact warn me not to spread any of the information he told me regarding the bracelet, and righteously I didn’t, though I did let that knowledge get to me in a way, in which it didn’t let me live my life the way I wanted to live it. Now I had to bear with me, an object which perhaps no one in the world understood, fully. I mean, it either didn’t work, or was working in certain circumstances that I hadn’t been in yet. It did glow in the night, when I wasn’t sleeping, and It did feel a bit warm when I wore it, but the strange thing was that it was really hard to take off. Whenever I would shower, it got in the way of me pulling it away from my wrist. Once I applied a bit of strength to my pull, it got off me. And maybe the strangest thing was that…it sometimes, when I was certain that I was dreaming, it spoke to me in whispers. It was a rare occasion but it did happen. And you know what scared me…I liked it when it did that.”
A few weeks later.
“Today in school, I felt a rage I hadn’t felt in many a day. It was caused by Joven, the class “leader” or more like the bully! I honestly don’t know what his problem is, but next time I get to interact with him, I won’t hold back my words and say to his face that I dislike his attitude and the overall way he talks to others. He threats us like we are his loyal subjects, and disrespects us, as if we were peasants and he was king. But I will not let that continue. The bracelet has been warmer than usual…I don’t know what that means, but I can feel the voices coming from it.”
The next day.
I didn’t know why I did what I did, but Joven really made me angry and I couldn’t stop myself from proving his point wrong. I was kind of ashamed, but proud in the same time, because I had taken care of something that was weighing me down for such a long time that it was beginning to feel like an obstacle in my ever so easy and boring life. Which was why, kind of thrilled and bummed out, I went to the little over the peer cliff, overseeing the ocean that like always, was reflecting the sunny skies and blistered with blue delight. To be quite honest, I was really glad I punched that guy in the face, and broke his nose. I wasn’t that glad that I got suspended for five days, and doubled on homework, but it was still something, worth being happy about. Overall, I had saved the whole class of his constant blabbering about him being classier and higher than us. But in the end, when he fell on the ground with his nostrils fountaining blood and screaming like a little baby, he wasn’t that high and mighty as he painted himself to be. Which was what I strived to prove. He wasn’t a major player…he was just a kid. Like me. Well, I was kind of an odd kid, considering the object that had been on my wrist since I placed It there. I don’t know why, but it was emitting this sort of strange heat, an aura bigger than anything that I have ever seen, which was a lot, since I hadn’t seen an aura, or…presence like that before. I just know, that when I punched Joven, it kind of flashed with a dark faint glow, and again became normal. As I thought about it, I lifted the hand I was wearing it with, and moved it to my ear. The connection was instantly made, and a voice echoed loudly in my head.
-You have awakened the spirit of the bracelet for yet a third time in this past century, and yet, you knew the story of this item, and still, you uncovered it and placed it on yourself. Don’t you deem this problem of catastrophe important enough for you to remain wise and not bring something capable to destroy, once again in this world? – asked a man’s voice, echoing in my ears.
I didn’t know if I was supposed talk out loud, or speak in my mind but it didn’t let me even think about it.
-You seek something, don’t you? Perhaps it is power, or wisdom, which I clearly see you need, but tell me, bearer, what do you wish to do with this item? – asked the voice, remaining a bit agitated by me.
That was a good question that I didn’t know the answer to. Even when I asked myself why I dug it out of that tomb, I couldn’t find the words to describe that simple question nor ever returned to it, and asked myself again. It was strange though, how I got the idea that with this thing with me…I would be more confident in my surroundings, knowing its capabilities to bring whole villages to the ground, as heard from the story of my father. And yet I didn’t plan on destroying anything… so what did I plan to do with this thing?
-I don’t know…- I answered in my mind, knowing it didn’t felt as a good explanation.
-You do not know?... – the voice sounded kind of confused to my words.
It was true, I didn’t need it, but I did get it…and yet I didn’t know why. It was…tempting me to do so…so I did. I told the voice what I felt, and it remained silent for a moment.
-If that is the case I can understand it. This artefact, element, accessory or however you wish to call it, has an interesting effect on people. Some of the bearers before you, had evil intentions that had somehow mixed with it, and bring out those certain intentions to the wide world. But there are bearers who didn’t know what they were dealing with. For example, the last bearer was your grandfather, who got this bracelet from yet another bearer consumed by the dark energies that flow inside the fabric that you call leather. The priest from Yokane was blinded with the idea to show the world that there was an instrument powerful than any of the technology of mass destruction created by humans. And that killed him. Your grandfather on the other hand was struck down not by any unworldly illness, but by the very shock of knowing what would happen, if the others are found. And you, new bearer, are tasked with the mission to either destroy this if you can, or hide it, wherever no one can hide it. You must choose.
-Wait, wait, wait…you say that the Yokane accident, was caused because the priest was consumed by a dark power? I don’t understand…- I asked, genuinely bewildered.
-I should start from the very beginning for you to understand it. I was the first bearer of this bracelet, and the first to witness its powers. This item was created from lust of men that didn’t know any bounds and went way too further from themselves, in order to try and achieve something that they lacked. Power. Everything back then was measured by power. If you didn’t have it, you were no one. That’s why our tribe, started offering things, to gods that weren’t real. To entities that we believed were giving and good. But we were mistaken. It was foolish of us to think there was something more than a good god, but we believed either way. That’s why we made a sacrifice with a man, who was deemed not worthy to live. We ignited the pyre and awaited as he was burning alive. All started chanting, and then we saw the shadow that was created from the smoke emitting from the flames. It twisted itself, and tangled upon the burning body, as it screamed with pain. It was too late to stop, because as the fires diminished the life of the man to nothing, so was another thing born. An artefact of fire, bearing the soul of the sacrificed man…holding the curse of said being. It was revealed to be a black ornamented with runes we didn’t know nor understand, bracelet. What we did understand though, was that it was tempting, it was attracting us, me, to go and take it, and feel its strength. As I did though, the voices started saying to me, showing me the flames that it would cause…but as I said, we didn’t want anything but power, and didn’t care about anything else…purposefully giving ourselves to the evil spirit that had entered the bracelet. And that dark energy, re-casted from my thoughts as the bracelet emitted energy that destroyed me, and everyone else…taking our souls, faces and bodies with the flames it had created. Thus, dividing the tribe in two groups. The ones who wished to gain power, and the ones who wanted to live. My son, having the right to take the bracelet as son of the tribe leader, took it, and headed to a place, where you now live in. Many years passed since it was dug out by that priest in Yokane, but now as it is awake…it can feel its sisters…- finished the voice.
-What do you mean by sisters? Are there more bracelets? – I asked, beginning to understand everything.
-Not bracelets…different elements…of water and air…Different accessories…that will awaken soon. – answered the voice, feeding me with more determination to stop this.
-So…I have to destroy all three in order to avoid the world from destruction? – I asked, knowing that I was way too young to do that.
-That is your task…or your choice. Either hide it or destroy it…but for you to destroy it, you must die…and for you to hide it, you need to find a place where it cannot be found by no one.
-I have to die to destroy it? – I replied shocked.
-No creature has the power to destroy this possession, except the sister of it. But when you are out of elements, you have to destroy yourself in order for the artefact to die as well, with no bearer to find it again. No one has ever done it…they have died by its power, but never to get rid of it - said the voice and awaited a response.
And what could I say to this. If there wasn’t a way for me to live on, then I could just hide it…but, what if someone with evil intentions found it…what if, the world ends up being in danger because i was too afraid to finish my job, which for a fifteen-year-old, was quite the gig.
-So, what do you say bearer, will you hide it, make use of its dark power, or try to destroy it? – asked the voice and remained silent.
-I think, it should be better if I found the other two, seeing I am with my right mind, and try to destroy them simultaneously – I replied, not sure about how I could find the others.
-That means you aren’t afraid to die…Brave…or foolish. – replied the voice.
-If it means securing the lives for others I love, I don’t have a problem with that…and to be honest, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to be when I grow up, so why not be a hero and save the world? – I said with the most pride I could muster and felt the voice chuckle. – Though, the question now is…where do I begin with? – I asked, feeling a bit excited.
-It might take some time until they unveil themselves and pick a bearer…and that time we could manage to suspend the dark energies from the bracelet and make it so that you can control it. Until then, you must remain calm and not think negatively, for the bracelet can take over your senses and turn you into a monster.
-That would never happen! – I replied and started imagining what the other elements would be.
But it ended happening…and it killed many.
Chapter 5- The Medallion.
This time, we focus into a different perspective of the timeline in which we are. A different bearer, holding the element of the wicked eye of the cat. Now, this period takes place during a summer, on which I traveled to the country-side of the town to spend some time with grandma, and focus on calming my mind and not allowing the evil inside the bracelet get to me. On the other hand, though, my father receives a strange new delivery, specifically from Egypt. He didn’t know the guy, but I guess he managed to figure out he wasn’t selling him something ordinary…in fact, selling him the second artefact, capable of seducing absolutely anyone, even the purest of pure. The Medallion of the Cat’s eye. The artefacts that hold some of the evilest wishes someone could ever see…And here, is the story itself, from the view, of a boy, victim of the elements!
Once the door to the accessory shop was opened i felt this interesting smell of old wood. The shop itself was old, so it was kind of obvious for all the shelves to have this fermented from the year’s smell. The owner, an old man named Henry was sitting behind a glass desk. His glasses made his eyes look really big and silly, although the light in them looked intelligent. His French looking hat was placed kind of to the left, and gave him this young looking face. When I got closer to his desk, which had a showcased window, on the little shelf that was below the window were laid many rings, medallions, bracelets and etc. All of them were really well stored, not having a small dark spot on them. I looked at the direction of the silver jewelry and noticed a ring that looked pretty epic, if I should say. It was silver, which I prefer to gold. On top of the silver, there was a black layer like thing that kind of resembled a royal type coast of arms. It wasn't really high priced, so buying it was an option. I looked at Henry and he smiled.
-It really does look really royal like. It's really well done. Doesn't get harmed when close to water. If you want, I can lower the price down with 10 dollars, and you are free to go with it-said the old man while taking out a whole stand with rings.
He took the wanted ring and handed it to me. Looking at it closely it really did out-shine the others by a lot. It was calling out for me. I can't really explain why, but it was just nice enough for me to get it. I did. But there was something more to the ring. Something that was speaking to me from the very start as I walked in the shop. Something that changed my way of thinking, behavior and ideas. A thing cursed, for hundreds of years. Something that changed my life. A simple medallion.
As Henry was packing the ring in a small box, I was looking at a thing which was behind him, something that was calling me out from the moment I stepped in the shop. Not knowing why, I kind of dozed for a moment and tried to go behind the desk but Henry quickly snapped me back.
-Hey Zed, where are you going? – asked the man while looking at me, behind those big glasses of his.
Not knowing exactly what to say I had to tell him the truth, but I wanted to do it in a secret type way, so that he doesn’t catch me.
-You see, I was kind of looking for something like a necklace or a medallion or something like that, but seeing the ones on the stand didn’t really catch my eye, and I was wondering if you had something in the back? – I said with the most believable tone and physiognomy I manage to make.
He stopped packing the ring and turned around. I didn’t see what exactly he was doing but I remember seeing him shiver for a moment. Once he turned back to me I saw a rather taller and slimmer box, similar to the small one for the ring. His hands were enticingly shaking for some reason, probably because of the age, or maybe he really wanted me to look at the thing he was about to take from the box. I didn’t really need to be lured into looking at it, I was already getting excited to see what was calling me out. When he took it out of the box I kind of went like:” Wow”. It was a medallion. As Henry placed it in front of me my hands started to shake a little bit. It was a circle type stone. There was something like an eye on it, reminding me of the illuminati. It resembled a cat’s eye, but had something dark between the iris.
-Interesting- I mumbled to myself.
Interesting indeed I should say. This particular medallion was a shipment delivered from Egypt. I don’t know where it was taken from, but they told me to be really careful with it, because it might contain a curse.
-Curse? - I said in quiet the pitched up voice. - What do you mean by that?
He laughed it off and took the accessory back.
-Do not be scared, it was washed with holy waters, if there was a curse, then I guess it was washed away with the waters.
-Hmm…maybe you are right…well I do like it, so I think I will take that as well.
-That will be splendid, let me pack it up for you- said the old man and started packing up both boxes in one paper bag.
My sight was totally focused into the medallion, which was locked in the box. Didn’t know why, but I felt this connection with it. It was making me happy, or for now it was. Henry finally finished and handed me the bag. I grabbed some cash from the wallet and paid for the both the ring and the medallion and took off, thinking about the moment when I will place the silver on my neck.
3 days later.
A couple of days have passed and I feel better than ever. When I returned home, my parents loved the things I bought. They kind of preferred the ring, but I still managed to love the medallion more than the other thing. I noticed that if you keep it close to you, by that I mean skin, it will kind of generate warmth. Yes, I know, it is so weird, but I like it. I think that was the best thing I have ever bought for some time, and I really mean it. Or should I say, the medallion thinks so too. It found itself a new owner, a new host to control.
2 weeks later.
There were shadows everywhere. I couldn’t see a thing, didn’t even know where I was. A grey fog was covering my feet. It was showing me a way, which apparently I had to follow to gain information about everything. But what was everything? What was so important, that I was dreaming of it? Then an eye opened in the darkness of the abyss. It was freaking creepy. It really resembled the eye of the medallion. But was it the same?
“Zed…Zed…Zed…”- I heard someone whispering.
“Follow me Zed…come with me…be with me…”- the voice said once again.
I would lie If I said that I wasn’t interested. I was intrigued by the thing. The darkness again expanded this time showing me a door. I took some steps and opened it. It was the hallway corridor in my house. The next door was leading into my parent’s room. There was this strange blue light covering the already dark room.
“Go inside Zed…you know you want to do it”- whispered the voice.
I had to do it. If I didn’t, I would betray my possession. It was telling me exactly what to do, and doing it would make it happy, it would make me happy. “US” happy. Extending my hand forward I grabbed the handle and twisted it downwards opening the door without a single crack. My dad and mom were sleeping on their big bed, covered in a blue silk blanket, which really matched the blue light which was emitted from somewhere.
“Now…take this…take it Zed, and end this torture of a life you are having”- said the voice with a demanding tone.
Something shined on the floor. The blue light was shining on it, making the steel reflect the light in my face. Grabbing it by the handle I tighten up my grip of the knife. It was one of mom’s knives. As I did, this anger, wrath and savage instincts flew into me, just like water does through a funnel. My hands started shaking from all the rage I was feeling. All the kept secrets that I’ve hidden away from my parents were getting out of my mind, and were replaced by the awful things they have made me do. All the things I was forced to do. All the yelling and beating ups I’ve taken. This screwed up conscience was making me kill my own parents, and it was really tempting. So fucking tempting. The cold steel blade was vibrating in the room, making this rustling sound.
“DO IT!”- yelled the voice.
I extended the knife in the air, ready to slam it somewhere in the body of my father, when I heard the voice laughing. It was a sinister laugh. Evil-like. Horrifying to the very core. It sounded like a woman’s voice, now that I thought about it. Forgetting what I was doing I dropped the knife.
“What are you doing Zed, grab it and kill them, you know you want it!”- yelled the voice even louder and nearly blasted away my ear drums.
-NO! -this time I yelled and completely snapped out of the dream.
Once I opened my eyes, I felt this burning spot on my neck. The chain on which the medallion was hanging on, was burning hot. The medallion itself had nearly mixed with my skin. It was melted and stuck in it. The pain was so agonizing that my eyes watered as soon as I opened them. Looking at the time I saw that It was 7:30 am. This problem had to be erased.
On the next day, everything went fine. The chain kind of cooled off, but I still took everything off, besides the ring. Placed the medallion into a bucket filled with cold water, I was hoping that it won’t try and start warming again. After seeing that it was normalized i went to school. After leaving the house my mind went everywhere once again. Now that I noticed, when I wasn’t wearing the medallion I was feeling kind of better. I mean, the weeks that I was wearing it kind of flew by me like a rocket, I just didn’t remember anything worth remembering, and now my mind was fixing itself, trying to force me to remember all the things I did, but…it wasn’t that easy. It was like the Medallion was kind of taking over me, and now it was happening in my sleep, and I didn’t really like that. In order to stop it, I first wanted to consult myself with Henry, because he might know something.
17:30 pm.
I wasn’t even in the shop when Henry quickly came around the desk and ran to me.
-ZED, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MEDALLION? - he asked with a hysteric voice- DID IT DO SOMETHING TO YOU? - he again asked, but didn’t wait for an answer and pulled the shirt which was covering my neck.
When the scars of the chains showed up, he quickly covered them and started apologizing to me.
-I…should never have sold it to you…oh god I’m really sorry…I…I was controlled by it…can you believe me? - asked the man again.
-Yea…I felt this way for the past weeks as well, and I haven’t been feeling quite well to be honest…yesterday even…- I stopped talking.
-Yesterday what? Come on speak up boy?!- said the man both scared and interested.
-I had this nightmare, in which this voice is commanding me to kill my parents- I said quickly, because I didn’t want to repeat it.
His face went even paler as he heard that. Now that fear had gone through his mind, his normally young face for an old man, had turned into a brutally old looking grimace, that I didn’t even knew he had.
-As I said, I am the one who needs to be blamed about this. - I didn’t say nothing. - When I sold the medallion to you, this voice you speak of told me not to tell you the story of the medallion itself.
I sat down a chair, and so did he. He coughed and started telling me this story.
-When Egypt was in its prime, im talking about hundreds of years ago, exactly when pharaoh Tutankhamun was on the throne. There was this lady, which really wanted to work in the palace of the pharaoh, as a normal house lady. The parents of the young Tut, didn’t like the idea of a street woman to work in the palace of the gods, so they forbid it completely, even commanding the guards to beat her up and return her to the streets when she belongs. After that the lead leash is broken, but it’s believed that this lady is named Helzegovina. She managed to curse an accessory, which was well hidden in the tomb of Tutankhamun. This accessory…is the medallion I sold you, or to be specific: “the Street Cat Eye”- as they called it.
-But you said that the curse has been washed away with holy water? - I asked desperately.
-That was a lie my boy, as I said, it made me do it- said the man and covered his face.
-What can we do about it? How can we un-curse it? - I asked already knowing the answer.
-This artefact, can’t be purified…it has to be destroyed.
-Then let’s do it…- I said and jumped out of my seat, leaving the shop behind.
18:25.
Henry and I arrived by my home quickly, thanks to his Opel, which for its miles did a fine job. Quickly leaving the automobile I rushed back home, and found the medallion in the bucket I placed it. The water which was originally cold, was now straight fire hot. The medallion itself wasn’t harmed, but the chain was melting, although the circle silver tablet was not. The eye was looking directly at me, as if it was saying “What now?”. Oh there was something about to happen alright. Taking the bucket with me, I left the house again and saw Henry waiting for me on the lawn.
-How are we gonna do it? – I asked.
-Fire. We are going to destroy this wicked thing with its very own element.
He pulled out a flamethrower out of his car, which I didn’t ask where he got from and told me to place the bucket on top of the home barbecue. I did the tasks. He turned the flames on which were so bright and hot, on this melting summer day. He only managed to melt the bucket, but the medallion was now laying on the black burned metal on the barbecue grill.
-Do you think we need something stronger than that? - I asked Henry while he was still trying to figure out something.
As I asked this I got an idea. Sprinting back to my room I quickly kneed to the ground and uncovered the blankets of the bed, so that I can see bellow it. I had a big storage of firecrackers. I took the XX2 MEGA DESTROYER, which by fact I knew that it was gonna completely obliterate it. When I got back I saw how Henry’s flamethrower died, as the flames were turned towards him. He quickly took of his jacket and started stomping it on the ground.
-Quickly now, do something- said the old man, trying to remove the small flames.
I did as follow. Tied the firecracker to the medallion, as much as it was hot, with tape, which was getting vaporized by the warmth of the accessory.
-Screw it- I said and quickly brought up a lighter.
I left the tape to burn and kindled the fuse, which started going down in the tube, where the gunpowder was stored. Running 5 meters away from it, I watched as the fuse went down, and after some minutes a powerful explosion happened, blasting all the pieces of the medallion to the atmosphere, where it could never burn again. Right as I did, my parents returned from work. It was really awkward to explain everything but I did, and I think it worked out.
After everything went down, I finally was going to get a good sleep, not interrupted by anything evil and wanting to kill me and everything around me. As I laid on the bed, I felt this really big itch on my ring finger. Scratching it nicely at first I didn’t notice it. Covering myself with a blanket I fell asleep immediately. But as I said…I didn’t notice. Didn’t notice the warmth emitting from the ring and the eye resembling a cat…watching me.
Chapter 6-Connection.
One day before the second accident.
The voices emitting from the bracelet were trying to push through the membrane of thoughts and overall peace of my mind, though, to no avail. Devilish and desiring nothing but chaos, they fought and fought but alas, their battle was lost from the start. My mind was already taught to withstand the immersive waves of evil, that wanted to overtake my body and kill for fun. Not to mention, the mental concentration the first bearer was making me do was helping immensely in this struggle. The only thing that kept me a little bit sane and knowing I was still alive was the constant water drops, dripping from the ceiling of the small cave I was residing in at the moment. The sound of the impact, as the drop connected to the floor, made my mind somehow understand I was in a real world, instead of a peaceful land in which the First wanted me to dream in. It was indeed relaxing to know that, yet somehow distracting at the same time.
-You know you want it Arthur…just let go of the sanity and let me overtake your rage! - whispered something in my head, as it completely vanished a moment afterwards.
I already knew what was going to proceed.
-You are slacking…look how easily the rest of the evil spirits can make you lose your cool and cause an incident you don’t want to do – resonated the voice of the first, scolding me as if I was a bad student.
-Look, I’ve been sitting here for the last three hours concentrating my whole body, I’m getting physically tired! – I replied, feeling a bit annoyed having to waste my time, trying to withstand something that I knew I could fight off.
Ever since I learned about the looming darkness of this artefact and its secrets, I was tasked by the first ever bearer of the bracelet to come here and manage my senses so that I don’t fall into an everlasting loop of constant switching of consciousness of other spirits living inside the bracelet. So in that case, I traveled to the countryside, where my grandma lived. It was the perfect place, where I could practice and gain the ability to control my anger so that the voices don’t take advantage of it, and use it as a fuel to cause massive destructions. That and because I didn’t want my father to constantly ask where I went, when I was at County cork, and because of the leather thing stuck on my wrist. I somehow managed to hide it from him, and never mentioned to him what I uncovered from my grandfather’s grave, which wasn’t the best move, but the questions that would come weren’t a priority I wanted to handle, so I keep my mouth shut. Of course I knew that someday I had to tell him, it was inevitable, but for now I could try and remain as calm as my mind could make me, and just…try and make so that this bracelet doesn’t make me go nuts.
-You know that the evil forces within aren’t going to wait for you to recover from your tiredness, they attack at all times, and you must be ready for it! – resounded the voice of the First, snapping me from my thoughts that had nothing to do with trying to remain a strong and resilient shield against those who wanted me to turn on everything I cared about.
-Yes I know but, I need to take a break from times to times, or I myself will become insane…I don’t know about you, but I plan to stay alive for now...- I said, laying on the ground completely.
“Until the moment I have to die…”- I thought and started imagining how everything would turn out.
-Alright then, a couple of minutes and you need to do another mind training session! – ordered the voice and waited for my answer.
-Why do you want to help me so much? I mean, didn’t you at one point want immense power and such? - I asked, knowing I might be crossing a line I might not want to.
No answer came from him for a minute, until his timbre changed and somehow sounded even more serious than before.
-Because I want the future to be bright for humanity. Peaceful, war-less. Not for men to constantly fight for lands and seek power that aren’t theirs. To be truly humane and satisfy with what they have. I thought that by now, we would understand that we are just a speck of what truly lies in this galaxy, in this rotating stone. There is no need to meddle with things we don’t need…do you understand?
-Well, that’s an interesting change of hearts there, but I guess you are right. People are already tired of hearing the same old things from the leaders of their countries, and inviting them to these strange things could cause massive out brakes, funding nothing but war. And that’s the last thing we need right now…more fuel to the already burning fire.
The voice remained silent, but I could sense that he was glad with what I had to say. I didn’t wait for him to tell me, so I took the leap and crossed my legs, sitting in the position I was in for the last hours. I tried to unleash all my redundant thoughts and remain as focused in the nothing as I could be. It worked for a second until something disturbing went through my shield.
-What happened? – I asked the First, trying to figure out why out of nowhere I felt this instance of freezing cold.
-I fear…the second artefact has been awoken…- replied the First, having a note of worry in his voice.
-Can you feel from where it is coming from? – I asked, a little but scared and excited at the same time.
I couldn’t hear anything coming from the bracelet so I figured he was trying to pin point the location of the next artefact, when his voice echoed in my head.
-I think we are really close...closer than you think…
…
The day of the accident.
The pawn shop wasn’t even opened when Zed came bursting in. My father was brushing off the dust that had collected over the weekend when that happened.
-What’s the big rush?! – he asked the kid, which was terrified.
He indeed looked so. His whole body was trembling, twitching and sweating as if someone had just told him Santa Clause isn’t real. The young boy pulled his shirt, revealing a new chain, twisting around his neck…with a new medallion, hanging on it. It resembled a cat’s eye…like the previous one.
-I woke up today…and it was burning my skin like crazy! – said the horrified boy, not knowing to who to go.
Henry didn’t really know what more could be done…it was destroyed…wasn’t it? They both saw how it turned to small pieces…yet, how was it possible to be still there, attached to his neck as if it was embedded in it?
-I can’t take it off…its hurting me! – said Zed and tried to pull it out, which in returned burned his fingertips.
-Don’t, you won’t do anything…wait here…I will try to find something- said the old man and went to the back side of the shop, and returned a bit later, holding a pair of cutting pliers.
He tried to cut the chain away with them, but it only blunted the blades of the tool, not even making a nudge on the wicked thing.
-I don’t want to get controlled by it! – exclaimed the boy, trying his best not to listen to the voice in the back of his head, telling him to murder this man in cold blood.
Henry remained calm, yet felt the slowly approaching fear getting to him. Not only the boy was going to suffer, but he as well was going to be responsible, selling him the artefact he didn’t really know was cursed. The “Cat’s Eye” medallion was shining in a green-ish glow, and was entering the kids flesh with every moment that passed.
-I don’t…I don’t know what to do…! – said the man, understanding there was nothing that could break the connection that was awoken when Zed first placed the medallion on his neck, - I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything that could help you…I’m really sorry!...
The boy looked at him, with surprise in his eyes, as if he didn’t want to believe he was hearing that, come out of the mouth of a grown man who probably had a lot more tools that could possibly do some damage to it. Yet, in that slight moment of despair on the side of Zed, came the lingering shadow that entered in his mind. For a moment he wanted nothing than to harm this old fool who had cursed him to experience this pain he was dealing with.
“Just wish for it…and it will happen! Don’t be a coward Zed, you need to do it…your fate lies on this! After all, he is responsible for this, isn’t he…he has to be punished…!” – yelled a voice, hidden within the core of the medallion.
That itself made him even more agitated and angry at the pawn shop owner, who in his defense was as well as him, kind of attached to the medallion, being controlled, even if not contact-ly like Zed, but still entangled with its history. He indeed was the one who took his money and in return gave him this piece of jewelry that would turn up to become his biggest nightmare. All those thoughts…gripped his brain and made him furious…As if all the nerves in his brain wanted nothing more than to see this man’s blood, dripping slowly as his final breathes comes in as a cough…yes…that’s what he wanted, desired, wished for…NEEDED!
-YOU DID THIS TO ME! – he said and extended his hand towards him, wishing for him to just disappear.
That’s the moment when everything happened quite quickly, with the time stopping, only remaining for the two of them. Henry remembered being in the shop in one moment and outside of what remained of it. Zed had pushed him, using some sort of invisible strength that flowed out of him. A strong current of air blasted in his face as the boy slowly emerged from the wrecked building, which was once a shop. All the jewels were scattered, some evaporated…with the most important thing being, that his chest was somehow in excruciating pain. He quickly unzipped his shirt at saw the chilling dark marks on it. It happened just from that push…and that was quite enough to make him feel the fear that he was supposed to feel.
-YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER! – shouted the young boy, and unleashed yet another air wave that this time clashed with his right cheek of the face.
The man felt a sting he had never experienced before, gripping his right side in agony. He couldn’t even think about asking him for mercy, seeing the red-ish stain in the eyes of Zed, who was fixated on killing the elder in cold blood. With every step towards him, another portion of air, stabbed the man in different kind of places. Another one followed, hitting his ribs, and then another, nearly breaking his leg. What scared him even more was the little smile, forming on the lips of the child which was being controlled by the medallion.
-I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE! - screamed the boy and attempted to hit the man himself.
Storing as much as air force in his punch as he could muster to produce…aiming not only to hurt him, but to finish him. Henry closed his eyes, feeling the tears rolling in, thinking about his family and how no one could see what was happening. The current time was in a pause by this unknown being of a curse…with Zed, controlling it perfectly to his liking. Henry awaited his end, tensing his muscles to somehow make the impact of Zeds attack a little bit bearable…but no such attack happened. Uncovering his face, he tried looking for the boy but he was gone…Actually, he was still there…but…floating in the air…faceless…
Another chill went through his spine, as he looked to the other side of the street, seeing me. I stood there, and focused, managing to bring the voices of the evil spirits afar from my mind, as the other part of the thoughts wished for the chain to remove itself from the boy. It started to disassemble from its skin, ripping big chunks from it and leaving red wounds that started bleeding strongly. In the end, the medallion and its leash were removed from him.
-Arthur…- whispered the voice of my father, - How?! – he asked, yet saw the attached bracelet.
I felt his disappointment, yet I could see his relief, seeing that Zed’s barrages were stopped for good. Yet in this exact moment…I felt it. The urge to destroy. I had let a moment in time in which an evil spirit could slip through. That’s when time itself started working properly, now that the medallion wasn’t attached to nobody. Many people came rushing to see the ruckus going outside the streets. They widened their eyes, seeing the destroyed building of the accessory store…seeing the laying down owner, and the floating faceless boy. Yet…all I could see is red…
-Arthur get a grip of yourself, take the medallion and run! – yelled the voice of the First in my head, but I wasn’t completely sane to hear it.
“That’s it, look at all those people, looking at you with disdain and disgust…not understanding the power that dwells inside those two artefacts. Make them understand! BURN THEM ALL!” – shouted the voice of Evil…and I listened with all ears.
I wished for in that moment, all in those streets to perish… and burn for their sins. And the bracelet obliged. The dark glow, started spreading and blasting an aura so chilling it could even extinguish a fire. That’s the opposite of what happened though, as the flames covered the bodies of the floating faceless people, previously looking at the disaster that had occurred. All, along with Zed, evaporated into thin nothing…leaving…nothing but nothing behind. The area, was left to nothing. With only the nothing of the nothing remaining. Only Henry stood there, burnt to a crisp, but somehow still remaining barely alive. He was looking directly at me…me, who was standing there like a statue and didn’t believe what happened. Didn’t believe what I did. Couldn’t understand it. Didn’t want to…. feeling the fear inside me growing understanding what I did.
-Why? - asked Henry, and left his final breath to come out as a cough.
-What have you done Arthur? – asked the First…but didn’t receive an answer.
I was too shocked myself to even start to explain the miss happening that took place there. And too stressed with holding off the voices that started blasting at me even more since the last minute. I didn’t want to say anything, I just wanted all of this to end. With tears, bowling out from eyes like fountains I slowly took the medallion, covering it with a handkerchief and ran. A started running…towards…nothing, leaving the nothing I left, behind.
Chapter 7- The Ring
Sometime later…
I ran, and ran, never looking back at the point at which I started. It was difficult to even think about the things that happened in town, yet, it was still quite fresh for me to forget it just like that. The images of burning people were still somehow saved in my memory, and would show themselves at times when I felt relived or less stressed. The first didn’t help as well, reminding me to stay focused as my brain was open for the evil spirits from not only the bracelet, but the medallion now too; to enter and take over like last time. Making sure not to touch or wear it, I wrapped it in a leather piece of cloth and placed it in my pocket to keep it from my eyes.
-You know that won’t work right? It has the power to make everyone…EVERYONE, place it on their necks! – said the first bearer of the bracelet, reading my mind as an open book.
-I know it won’t, but I have to keep it somewhere for now, don’t it?! 0 I replied a little bit agitated at the fact that I was responsible for the murder of my father, and the people working at that street.
I felt the pity in the mind of the first, but that didn’t help to easy the guilt.
-Even if you blame yourself about that, you know well that all that occurred was thanks to the bracelets spirits, not because of your will…
It sure didn’t feel like that though. Even if I wasn’t responsible for it, I was still to be blamed about all…like it or not. I didn’t say anything after that and continued walking towards nowhere, seeking…no one for now.
“Put on the medallion Arthur…you know you want it!” – echoed the voice of the medallion, protruding from my pocket.
No I didn’t want it…yet I started remembering something strange. As we were heading back to town from the countryside, we didn’t feel the “pulse” of the artefact anymore, for at least a day, which is what it took us to get to town. Though, I still can’t figure out the times in which Zed had taken it in possession. We stayed at the countryside for about two weeks, in the meantime, he had to been with it for about the same time, I guess. Though, why didn’t we get the sensation of the awakening when he placed it on the first time, instead of two weeks later?
-Because in that time, even if he was wearing it, it wasn’t fully awoken. By that I mean, that Zed hadn’t fallen into the curse that fully as he had when we met him. Just like you, you awoke me from my slumber, but activated the element to its full potential when you… killed all of them. Zed on the other hand couldn’t kill anyone, yet managed to awake it to a state in which he could control the powers it gave him…the element of the Wind, that is. So, in other words, you felt the coldness of the awakening of phase one…which was why I could feel the pulse and its location – explained the first, making so that I could understand it.
-Why did it take two weeks for it to activate though? – I asked, feeling even more curious to inspect the thing.
-Well, for that you need to put it on and…activate it on yourself…but, that would be bad for now, you need to master the art of concentration and focus, defense and peace.
I rolled my eyes and sighed as I knew that those words would wake me up every single morning. Not knowing when or where the next and final element would awake was kind of bad, because I had to take cover to be alone in a quiet place…just like this…in the woods. The thing about food was going to be tricky, but I guess I would figure something out…it’s not like it was gonna take forever for it to be activated, right?
-It’s relative. It might be a year…maybe a month…or even tomorrow…but, you know, it could take decades…many, many years from now…and if you are still alive…you need to be ready to fight them…and eventually, die to stop them- said the first and remained silent as I closed my eyes and started meditating…trying not to remember the deaths I caused…trying not to let my emotions flow.
14 years later.
Trees, rocks, long and twisty roads. Just a couple more turns and they were bound to arrive at the said spot. The bus wasn’t moving at a fast pace, just like all of the passengers wanted it to move, rather, it moved slowly, making opportunities for the students to observe all the things that come along on this journey. Some of the children weren’t quite observant in that matter, and could play on their phones and do much more things than looking at old rocks. There was just one boy who actually, and deeply loved staring at the fascinating scenery of nature. His name was Ricky. He was twelve-years-old by that time, but his mind was rather developed for his age. Not being that popular, he was of course sitting at the front seats, being somehow of a know it all. Overall, he was a pleasant boy, not the best in every occasion, but he was just an ordinary little guy, wanting to learn more of his city’s Historical Monuments. And this one, the “Quiet Bridge” was well known for its length. There really isn’t a dated time that is stated when exactly it was build, but it’s known that it’s quite old. It was approximately two hundred meters long and quite narrow, allowing only one vehicle to pass it by at a time, which made it quite harder for the folk to live on the other side, knowing they had to sacrifice a lot of time to pass by it, which was why this bridge was considered a Monument, and instead, a second bridge was created for the people, with four lanes for the cars. That one was nearly in the middle of the big mountain like stone. The whole city was divided in two parts, the smaller Stone Mountain, and the bigger Stone Mountain and right now, the school bus, was making its way up to the highest point of the bigger mountain, in order to reach the Historical Bridge. It was a trip worth waiting for, said most of the kids, and some didn’t quite care about the stupid old bridge, since…well, what’s actually cool about an old stinky bridge? It just sits there, and doesn’t really do anything interesting. And believe me, some of those kids, were spoiled so much, that nothing would catch their eyes that quick. But as I said, Ricky was a young chap, who liked normal things, and going to see something like that was beyond exciting for him, and his childish mind. At least he wasn’t gonna get bullied like usual, not when the teachers were there. Nobody was gonna touch him.
When the brakes finally whistled the end of the movement for the bus, everyone began to leave it and stretch out a bit.
-Well class, we have arrived at the spot, and I expect all of you to behave well, and not cause any kind of trouble, is that clear?
“Yes Miss. Kline!”- said the kids.
-Good, now I want all of you to spread around in groups of six with each group being led by a teacher. So, in total, four groups with six kids and four teachers, everything clear? – She asked with a bright smile and started grouping up everyone.
Ricky was sorted out with class mates that weren’t his friends but didn’t have a problem with him either. His leading teach was Mr. Jon, who was the History teacher at school.
-Well, all right young ones, today were are gathered here to see and look at the great “Quiet Bridge”- he started off explaining.
After a fifteen minute speech about the details of the said monument, they continued further in the small spot they parked at. Many small booths were set up around the place, with each selling different kinds of candy and all sorts of things. A bigger shop was near the place, acting as a cafe and an antique shop as well. He entered it, followed by the kids. Then he started describing most of the things the owner was selling. Ricky though, who for the first time, in like, ever, was now looking at some of the shown jewelry, under the glass stands. Particularly in the stand with rings. At one single ring. Seeing him, the owner quickly removed the glass, and took the whole little stand with rings, and brought it closer to the boy.
-I see you’ve got a good eye boy, now pick one of them and let’s see if we can make you a deal?- said the dark-skinned owner and smiled at him.
He wasn’t exposing some sinister aura, nor did he look ragged and dirty, so he guessed it was fine.
-I think I like this one- pointed Ricky at an old wooden ring, with strange runes engraved on it.
The owner looked at him, and his eyes now showed that he was mistaken. He looked as if someone was trying to steal the ring from him, but what resumed really confused the little boy.
-I see…- replies the owner and proceeds to remove it from its stand with a handkerchief, and place it on the glass surface.
With that, Ricky is allowed to pick it up, and so he does. His little fingers enter the loop of a hole and feel the cold and hard core of the ring. The edges with the runes felt rather sturdy and almost perfect.
-Well? - asks the owner, looking kind of troubled or worried for him.
But the little one didn’t know what to say. As if the ring itself was making its way into his mind, whispering at him, pleading to be taken by Ricky. Staring into the engraved edges of it, he smiles and places the ring on his left ring finger.
-How much is it? – replies the kid.
The owner scratches his head for a bit, and looks at the boy, trying to scale up a price.
-Let’s say five bucks and we shake hands? – offers the owner, and extends his arm.
Ricky grabs it, and firmly shakes it.
-But beware young one…I just have to warn you…this very ring…it sits here, and bites the dust for many years, and whoever buys it, comes back to return it, in a shape he didn’t ever dream of entering. Be careful with it, alright?
His words confuse him, but he nods slowly and smiles once again.
-I will protect it, don’t worry! – replied Ricky and leaves the shop with his class mates.
The teacher approves of his purchase and starts to talk about different types of runes. After the rune lesson is over, he asks permission to look at his ones up close. Strangely though, as much as he knew, Mr. Jon couldn’t figure out what nation graved those on the ring. Forgetting about that though, Ricky decides that he wants to show his new ring to his class mate Lisa. She is a neighbor friend and he really wish that someday, she looks at him like more than friend.
-Hey Lisa, check out my new ring! - says Ricky proudly.
The girl though, doesn’t really seem interested in his new item and completely ignores the fact that it’s new.
-That piece of junk, you gotta be kiddin me…- replies the girl, playing around the parapet of the bridge.
At this point, Ricky doesn’t really know what to feel…or say. He looks at the group of girls that stand there and laugh at his ring. It saddens him. Why does it always turn that way? How come all of them are hurting him, trying to insult him…make him suffer this way? What’s so wrong about poor little Ricky? Isn’t he just as a boy as the others? Perhaps he doesn’t like what most of the children like at his age…and in this age overall. But to threat somebody that young from that point in time, kind of seems vulgar and inhuman. But Ricky is quite caught up to the fact, that those insults, don’t actually matter, if he knows, that deeply inside, he hasn’t done anything wrong.
-I don’t agree, I think it looks really neat, but still, thank you for your opinion…- mutters the boy and manages to smile.
The girls again burst out in laughter, and now Lisa does too, even to the point of not being able to breathe.
-Hahaha…what sort of loser are you, to thank me for insulting you, and your precious old ring…pathetic my bro…just pathetic…- she replies not being able to breathe.
She continues to jump around the corners of the bridge, avoiding to fall down the abyss of stones. But just as her last laugh came out as a breath, her leg slipped, and there, she fell out of the parapet, down to her demise. In a matter of seconds…she disappeared from the living, and fell to her death. The girls began to scream, and when the teachers arrived they blamed poor Ricky, who hadn’t done anything, but try to impress some girls. Now he felt sick. Being blamed for everything that happened.
-What happened Ricky? –yelled one of the teachers.
-I didn’t do anything I swear, I was talking with them and she slipped and fell, I didn’t do anything! – pleaded Ricky and felt the tears coming from his eyes, under the vast amount of judgmental eyes of the teachers and his classmates.
They didn’t say anything to him anymore. He was left behind…and never spoken to from that point on. He wasn’t blamed, it was covered up as an accident and the parents were paid their insurance by the school and everything that comes with it. But for poor little Ricky, life didn’t seem so clean anymore. All of the town folk knew he was responsible for Lisa’s death, and he had to live with it, his whole life. And that he did. For four years, he kept looking down at the ground, avoiding all the bad eyes, the people were giving him. But what could he do? He was just a kid for crying out loud, he wouldn’t even dare to kill a fly, rather than killing another human, which he considered even a friend…that would totally be uncharacteristic out of him, the boy known to be always good, but not anymore. He was framed, and he would always be the black sheep, even if he wasn’t one. He was the one left out of everything. Only his parents supported him. They were the cause of him still being in this town, because if not for them, he was either gonna leave for somewhere else, or kill himself, which he overthought a lot of times, but still didn’t. And as the times passed he grew older, and developed different tastes. He never wore that ring ever again, just because it reminded him of that dark memory with Lisa. And so, he lived for four years, without anything happening.
The calendar showed August 22th, and the summer weather was awfully hot outside, which was why, under the protection of the air conditioner, Richard was tasked with cleaning out his room with stuff he didn’t need. Tons of boxes, old comic books he could sell, action figures that were broken and all sort of stuff. In one of those boxes though, he found something quite forgotten by him. The ring engraved with unknown runes. It was still as sturdy as before, and his fingers still felt that touch of wood between them. The memory of Lisa suddenly kicked in, and he felt the need to throw it away, just as his mother entered the room.
-Honey, did you found anything in those box- she stopped and looked at the ring in his hand, - is that the…- she again stops and takes a moment.
Rick nods, and looks at the wooden circle once again.
-I really don’t want it anymore…could you throw it away with all of those boxes over there? – asks the young man and looks at his mother.
-Why of course honey, you search some more, and I will go and trash this ugly looking ring along with those things you found now.
-Thanks mom- he replies and smiles, then continues to look at his old items.
His room is right next to the stairs leading to the lower story, so it isn’t a problem for her. She grabs two boxes and places the ring on top of it all and resumes to leave the room. As she does though, her foot trips on the crumpled carpet, and she flies down the stairs, rolling down, and soundly crashing on the ground. Everything in the boxes spills everywhere, and she doesn’t get up.
-MOM!?- yells Rick and quickly barges out of his room and carefully runs down the steps.
His mother still isn’t moving. Her neck starts darkening, and her breathing stops completely.
-Mom please open your eyes, mom!?- screams Rick, and cries over her lifeless body.
She doesn’t open them.
2 months later.
Raindrops, clash with the shingles. The house is being covered with them, as Rick, sits in the basement and looks at the wooden object. The rain outside kind of helps him concentrate in his task, but can he really do it? That’s the question he asks himself. That ring isn’t that special to him, why can’t he get over it, and just destroy it? His fingers are holding the hammer tightly and the grip tightens as the picture of his mother, lifelessly laying on the ground appears to him. With no hesitation, the hammer falls down of the wood, but nothing happens. Not even a scratch.
-Son? - An echo around the house appears.
Rick doesn’t answer, as his father enters the basement.
-What are you doing here? - asks the older version of him.
-I’m trying to figure out a way to destroy this stupid ring? – replies the son, and lands another strike, but as the first time, nothing happens.
-Why, doesn’t it have any value to you?
Now that he thinks about it, it did, just as he bought it, he found some strange interest in it, but after Lisa and his mother died, he no longer felt that connected with it.
-I think…it’s responsible for the death of mother…- replies the boy.
A dark shadow quickly overcomes his father’s eyes. Taking another hammer, he unleashes a massive barrage of strikes upon it, but nothing happens. Only that the hammer brakes, and the steel falls on top of his left foot, smashing it completely.
-Agh?!- yells the father, falling down.
-Are you alright?!- Yells Richard and panicky helps his father to sit on the old couch- we need to go to the hospital, lend me the keys and I’ll drive! - He says without even asking permission, he just has to do it.
Sometime later…
The car stops by a small bridge, and Richard leaves the vehicle.
-Where are you going? – asks Gordon.
He doesn’t reply, but takes out a wooden ring from his jacket, and swiftly, with no possible delay, throws it in the river stream down below. He watches as it disappears in the waters, never to be seen again.
1 month later.
-Hey Rick, do you think we can pass that last test…I mean, there’s a lot of stuff on it, and I don’t really think I might be able to do it…- asks Oldie, his only friend.
He looks at his kind of weird mate, and chuckles.
-If you can’t, I certainly won’t be able to pass it…- replies Richard and resumes staring at the waters.
He and Oldie had prepared to go fishing on that weekend, and now as it had downed, they were chilling and waiting for something to bite the bait. It wasn’t gonna be long though, since that river was well known to be a rich spot for fisherman, so they were hoping that it was right. As they do though, they both hear a familiar and disturbing voice, yell across the dry field. Oh god…not him again, not at this time…
-Yo, isn’t that Dickie, and his little Bitchie?!- yelled someone maliciously.
Three figures were approaching them, and by the size, it looked like they were the school/ town, bullies. They had begun torturing them since the very moment they became friends.
-Whatcha doin here, catching fish and what not, eh? - asks the biggest out of the three, named Bob.
-Ain’t your business Bob, we haven’t done anything, so back off! – replies Rick angrily.
The bullies look at each other and smirk.
-Oh, and what are you chumps gonna do about it, what…beat us…what?!- asks the leader and comes closer face to face with Rick, who is protecting his friend-, What…what are you gonna do Dick, huh? - questions the bully and grins.
Richard looks at his face and feels nothing but disgust and anger. Why did people like him even exist…What fun do they receive from torturing people…what sort of human could do that. And then he feels it. A pulsating aura coming from the river. As he turns around to see where that evil-ish aura resounds from, a fish jumps out of the water, and lands between the enemies. Bob is faster. Taking the fish, he swings it at him like a warning.
-Watch out…I have a fish and know how to use it! - he says and laughs, as his bullies burst out too, - You see…even God has nothing for you…to give you a simple fish, replies Bob.
He swings it one more time, and something comes out of the fish’s mouth. Something round…and wooden. The ring…that one he tossed in those same waters, some time ago.
-Oh what’s this…- Bob picks it up and puts it on his finger…-, Ain’t that your ring…what’s it doin in that fish?!- he asks, but instantly turns pale.
His eyes turn kind of grey, while his whole body almost ghost like pale. His friends back him from falling, but it doesn’t help. He is just looking, almost lifelessly.
-What’s going on Rick? - asks the bully calmly…-, What’s happening with my body?
But Richard cannot answer his question. He can see it…something. There, right behind Bob, holding his neck, a white figure, fog like creature…squeezing his neck to the point of snapping. And then, his primal instinct kicks in. That rage and anger from before get the better out of him, and he smiles, but not with that genuine smile like before, but a sick-like smirk that just shows how wicked he could become if pushed to the point of losing your dignity.
-Take the ring off, Bob- calmly orders Richard, looking at the figure, which is looking at him.
The fog creature smiles, and nods. Bob does what he says. Rick knows what’s gonna happen next…it is unavoidable. His big hands slowly slide the wooden textures of the ring, down of the base of the ring finger, and take it off. As the ring is removed, he finally loses his life, and falls on the grass, dead. The fog is gone, and Richard is left standing there, looking the other two with a demonic grin. Seeing their leader fall down, they scatter and leave the place, leaving both friends, looking at the twisted neck of the bully.
Some more time later…
The shop is dark, but he enters it anyway. The owner is sitting on a chair, eating his dinner and watching the usual channels on the TV. When he sees him though, he drops everything and stands up.
-So…you’ve come back…and I can clearly see that you aren’t the one you used to be…-says the owner and takes a sip of his beer.
Rick doesn’t say anything and jut hands him a white envelope and looks at him.
-That thing is cursed…I don’t know how…but it kills…I tried to destroy it…but it did nothing to it…I can feel it trying to take control of my mind…please, hide it away…I beg you! - pleads Richard, and leaves the shop without letting the man say something.
The owner takes the envelope and sighs. Another victim has fallen from this ring. But…something doesn’t let him from hiding it away…in fact…he kind of likes, looking at it…talking to it, when nobody is there…
The same night…
He drags his feet down the steps almost incapable of walking. Just a couple steps and he would reach the front door…but who in the right mind would ring the bell soo hard and soo late at night? It was passing 4:30 am, don’t people sleep? Asking those questions, Richard opens the door and at first doesn’t recognize the fellow. He looks different from before. The dark-skinned owner, now looking paler than snow. His eyes with a grey-ish color to them. He looks like he hasn’t had anything more to do in this world. And that’s when that familiar feel again comes knocking at Rick’s mind. The anger…rage…lust for pain…that wicked sensation of murdering another human. He grins by the look of the foggy creature, with its hands wrapped around the owner’s neck.
“You just have to give them the ring, and your enemies will die…”- a voice echoes in his mind.
Richard takes the owner’s hand, and slowly, looking him directly in the eyes, feeling that sensation of destroying someone’s soul, takes the ring from his open palm, and places it on his finger, while smiling genuinely, to the sound of a man, taking his final breath.
1 month earlier.
-The ring has been activated…- echoed the voice of the First, waking me from the trans I had slipped in.
Finally, I smiled and got up from the dirty ground, beginning to stretch my worn out muscles. It didn’t take a lifetime, but it still consumed quite a lot of my life. Fourteen years just to get to a point when the final element is awoken.
-Where does the pulse come from? – I asked and coughed feeling my sore throat.
-Far…far away from here…- answered the voice, feeling a bit worried.
It didn’t have anything to worry about. I was trained…I was strong…I could handle one more artefact in my possession. One more element for me to destroy.
Chapter 8- Elemental Outburst
My feet were already tired out from the walking, when the voice of the First echoed in my head.
-We have arrived – resounded the spirit and made me stop to take a breather.
I didn’t argue one bit. I had been walking, using all sorts of hitchhiking transport I could get, until I got to this place. The problem was that this place was in the middle of nowhere…probably quite coincidental to the fact that this artefact was the legacy from the last surviving tribe from the group of the First. Just like the bracelet’s first bearer was one of the grandchildren of the child of the First, who traveled to Egypt to look for shelter. So did the first bearer to ever hold the final element, was a descendant of his. He wanted to make sure he would survive in this new environment of mountains and trees, where no possible army could invade, and such things. Which was why, he triggered a different kind of ritual. A formal gathering of the living elders. They casted his soul, once he had gotten to the age of no survival, and made so that the artefact in which it would reside, to not perish even if a million years passed. Which meant, the only thing it could destroy it, is an equal to strength counterpart…its brother or sister. I possessed both, and learned a lot from the First bearer of the bracelet. Though, I managed to learn things about the Medallion, just by meditating into its core of memories. I did have quite the time to gather as much as information possible for the elements that would end up taking my life as I fight to destroy them, and that proved to be quite interesting. Seeing Helzegovina, battle for a place in the pharaoh’s residence was quite intriguing...What wasn’t, was the way she managed to create the “Cat’s Eye”. As it was called. To spare myself the negativity of this past deed, it happened in the tomb of the pharaoh, where she took her life, and cursed all living members of the pharaoh to die a gruesome death, thus becoming the first bearer of the medallion. The leash from the point of it being in Egypt and then coming to Ireland is quite interesting. From the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb to the medallion traveling from dealer to dealer before it ended up in my father’s shop, without him understanding what it truly was. Of course though, he wouldn’t know, that a powerful source of evil spirits resided in his pawn shop, but, I guess he could feel it, since he knew about the Bracelet and the prophecy it told my grandfather Archibald. Nevertheless, things…well everything got kind of messed up in the end, and forced me to do things I didn’t wish I had done. But I guess the past is left in the past…Setting my mind towards the future was for the better, knowing that the end of this strange journey was nearing its end. I finally sat at the parapet of the huge abandoned bridge and started at the rivers and never-ending trees that surrounded the area. It felt quite peaceful…and I sort of felt ready to take a nap…since I hadn’t properly slept in the last fourteen years.
-So, this is the place huh? – I asked and leaned back, placing my hands behind my neck.
The voice of the First appeared in my head, as it had done so many times before.
-Yes, we reached the final destination in this search for the final element…but I, I think we aren’t exactly in the right spot…This really is the spot when I felt it being awaken, but it was a long time ago…the full awakening happened at least three or two weeks ago, when we both felt the pulse of the ring. – explained the disembodied voice.
So it was a ring, I thought and smirked, knowing I would have jewelry on both my hands, and neck.
-Well then, can we pin-point the exact location right now? – I asked, feeling a bit groggy.
His voice vanished for a second and I got up, knowing I could fall asleep any moment when I wasn’t serious and focused on staying away from the dark voices. Looking around the bridge I saw a sign saying the “Quiet Bridge”. I could understand the meaning, seeing as nearly no car had passed by the road in the time we took to make our way up to here. It wasn’t as long as I imagined it to be, but that didn’t really matter. I thought about crossing it, and going to the higher part of the town, city or whatever this place was considered as. Walking ahead I noticed some roofs of house, kind of hiding in-between the crowns of the trees.
-I think I can feel the energy from the ring coming from the highest point of the upper mountain- said the First as I sighed.
-Which means I have to walk even further, cross the bridge, make my way to there and eventually find this new guy and take his ring – I replied grumpily and continued to push my legs as I felt quite tired.
-More or less…if you need, you could gather your strength at the village up ahead…I don’t think this fight is gonna be easy…- said the Voice with a note of worry hiding behind the seemingly endless monotone bit.
-What makes you say that? – I asked a little bit confronted, knowing all the training I had put my mind to block the invaders that tried to consume my mind and force me to kill.
-Because this guy has had this artefact for quite some time and has probably already fused himself with the spirit. Unlike Zed, he might be a bigger threat, and I would consult you to remain cautious and take this really seriously! - pleaded the First.
That made me even more anxious and kind of agitated of this. I didn’t know his strength, neither did he know mine but we knew of our existences and knew that we would meet soon. Something in my stomach kind of twirled around, but I forced myself to not pay much attention.
-Fear not! I will be ready for everything he throws at me! – I said, trying to psych myself up as much as possible.
With that being said, the First vanished and I continued walking energetically towards the upper part of the mountain, focusing on stopping all the strange thoughts coming from the bracelet that was firmly tied to my wrist.
…
Later…
The waitress at the local inn served the chicken soup and fresh water, leaving me to be alone. I wasn’t alone though, and began to devour the food that I waited for ten minutes, listening to the First.
-Which is the strongest artefact you ask? – he said, as if he was asking me it again, rather than thinking about it.
It was bound to be asked out of me, knowing I had the two of the three. As I was walking towards the village I finally thought about it and wanted to ask him.
-Well, I guess all of them are equal as power…but, the one that is connected with its bearer the most, is the strongest. Which by sheer logic, is your bracelet and medallion. Though, when an artifact has fully fused its power with its owner, the strength is quite amplified by brute force of the bearer and mindset. That means that if the bearer is focused on killing, and if the ring is focused on that, which we know it is, we are going to face with a foe that has develop quite the relationship with his possession – explained the spirit.
I swallowed the chunk of bread and took a sip of the water before continuing the conversation.
-Doesn’t that make me even stronger though? I have connected with the bracelet…or perhaps with you, being the real owner of it? – I asked and took another spoon of the steamy soup.
-That is also true, but as I said, there isn’t only one spirit resident within said artefacts. I mean, if the bearer has awakened the element, and connected with it fully, he is invincible. But, if he has awakened it, but not connected with all its spirits, he wouldn’t be as strong as the one who is. But…as you mentioned, when one has connected with the first bearer…as you have with me…well then, that person has the upmost control over all the remaining spirits, even if he is still provoked by them. So in other words, you are as strong or perhaps stronger than he is right now. The fact remains though. Even when you placed the medallion on yourself, it isn’t awoken by its new bearer…neither it is connected- answered the voice.
-I doubt someone would feel the same as I, knowing most of the previous owners were dealers and Helzegovina herself. – I replied with a mouthful of everything there was in front of me.
-True, but in this angle, you have the powers, of two artefacts, against one- said the First, making me feel a little bit better.
I smiled and continued with the soup until it was finished. I managed to hide away my burp as it was bound to happen and stood up. The waitress once again came up to me and took the money I left of the table. I took a leak and washed my face, and finally left the inn. The sunlight was nearly gone, nearing the mark of the evening but that wasn’t a big problem…it wasn’t a problem at all, knowing the things that were about to go down I didn’t really want to have a fight in the middle of the day. In the night, we could at least be hidden from the folk that weren’t involved in any of this. While in the day, things could go worse…just like last time.
-It will not end up like last time…you can bet on it! – said the First…and pointed me at the next direction I had to go.
I smirked, knowing that this time, I wouldn’t let some stupid evil spirit take over me…nor will I let someone who didn’t know what was bound to happen, live and kill as it was his final wish. I looked up, and kind of predicted that it would take a few hours until I reached the highest peak of the mountain.
-We should go…I can sense its aura- ordered the spirit.
I could sense it too…A strong and sinister “pulse”.
Sometime later…
Near the end of the one hundred step stair-case, I was already out of breath and was awaiting the moment to finally rest for a bit. The climb did really prove to be nerve wrecking and exhausting, but for a man who had walked for nearly all his life, in the direction of the unknown, it was a piece of cake. If the cake was muddy dirt…and the highest point in the region. Either way though, on the final step, I sat on the nearby stone that was made to look like a seat and catched my breath for a second. That soup weighed me down, and I kind of regretted eating it, though on the other hand I was filled with energy by it, so I couldn’t be that mad.
-We should continue…the presence is close…- whispered the spirit from the bracelet.
I nodded, took a deep breath and stood up, facing the view that was revealed up ahead. A cliff, with a single apple tree, overlooking the entire mountain village. It could be nice and peaceful, if it wasn’t for the nasty air that was flowing with the wind. And I swear to god, it wasn’t the soup coming back to haunt me. Just as I thought there was no one there and that it was a false alarm, I saw him, leaning on the apple tree, sightseeing with a smile on his face.
-Let’s not be hasty…approach him and inspect his insight.
I nodded once again and slowly walked towards him, hoping he couldn’t feel me, though it was kind of lame of me to think it, since I was feeling him, feeling that whoever was approaching him wasn’t friendly…which wasn’t exactly false. I didn’t say anything; neither did he seem to notice me.
-Hey…- I muttered and sat on the ground by him.
The boy didn’t look dirty, nor did he look splendidly clean, yet, seemed quite normal. His brown-ish hair was playing with the wind as his locks shined in the last sunlight. The young man’s eyes remained focused into a point I couldn’t see, but could feel it being sharp.
-Isn’t it nice? - he replied and moved his head towards me.
Now I could see his blue eyes, reflecting myself out of them. It was kind of weird…since I was kind of looking at myself, but, quite younger. Not that I wasn’t young, but those fourteen years did age me up, normally, but still did. I could see the bags under my green eyes, and the quite messy, yet clumsily combed over with water black-ish hair.
-Yea…- I replied and looked back at the nice view…, - Its quite nice…
The young man nodded as to himself and turned back to his sightseeing. I remained locked at his profile and wondered if I should mention about the prophecy that was predicted by the elements themselves.
-Do you understand the situation? – I asked, hoping that the ring had told him about it.
My question wasn’t answered right at the second, but the man, sighed and finally took his eyes of the wonders of the forest bellow us.
-Yes, Korvighar explained everything to me – he replied and nodded to his ring.
I started at the wooden surface of the artefact and kind of felt bad that I never asked my friend his name.
-Do not worry, you couldn’t pronounce it either- said the First in my head and kind of comforted me.
I noted that I should think of a proper name for him.
-I see – I finally responded kind of glad that I don’t have to explain everything, - And, what is your opinion of the matter? – I asked again, moving my gaze from the ring to him.
The young man kind of squinted and smiled at the same time.
-I understand the matter you are referring to, and of course, I can take part in the mission to stop the destruction of this world…but not, by harming the artefacts…- he said and looked at his ring with love in his eyes.
I figured that this was the first signal for me to take action and do something, but I wanted to understand his point of view.
-I can see that you are connected with your element completely and defusing with it, would be kind of hard for you, but, knowing that this world will end, and all of those trees – I pointed at the view bellow us, - will cease to exist, would be a shame.
He remained calm, and didn’t bother to confront me in any way that would seem harmful, yet said something I wasn’t expecting.
-I can swear to you, on my name, Richard Price, that I would never use this ring for something as murder or anything associated as bad- he countered placing his hand on the heart.
That was…something, I thought and couldn’t decide what to say.
-He is lying to you…don’t forget that in order to awaken the artefact you need to kill…and to connect with it, you have to agree with it, I don’t think he is planning on stopping…he is just biding his time and making himself stronger- said the First in my head, warning me of his false intentions.
I chuckled, processing what the spirit told me, and what Rick did. It was hard to attack a boy that didn’t understand what was the cost of having this thing on his finger, so I resorted with words.
-You understand that, everything you like staring at down there will be wiped from the very existence of this world if we don’t resort to the destruction of these dark things? - I said and pointed at the ring.
Richard didn’t say anything, but stared at my bracelet as I pointed. Maybe he was trying to pierce through it and try to understand my power or whatever he was thinking of doing. I couldn’t leave him be, so I tensed myself, ready to fight him. What happened then, kind of startled me. Without saying anything more, Rick took off the ring from his left hand, placed it on the ground and nodded at it.
-You are right…take it…destroy it and lift this world out of its curse! – pleaded the man, with a fear, establishing in his bright eyes.
I didn’t know if it was alright for me to pick it up, seeing how he wasn’t affected by it. He took it off freely. To be honest I never tried taking off the bracelet nor the medallion, thinking they were stuck to me.
-Be ready, it might be a lure to attack you with a secret technique! – whispered the spirit of the bracelet.
I hesitated at first, but then took it from the ground and got up. I didn’t put it on, nor squeeze it…I didn’t feel anything. It was cold, as wood should be. Its material was polished, or he himself had done it, overall it was nice at touch, just like the rest of the artefacts.
-You can have it…I no longer wish to see it! – said Richard and turned away from me.
“Well, that was easy” – I thought and turned away as well.
Ricks lips extended into a grin I couldn’t see. I don’t know why, but in the mere second, the ring started freezing my hand. I couldn’t move it, nor my body did respond to my commands.
-Focus! – said the First, guiding me to survival.
I started feeling the sensations coming from the bracelet and began to see what was happening. Something foggy and white was gripping me tightly. It was paralyzing me with cold, and was gripping my neck. I felt the ring slipping from my grip, and soon, Richard was facing me, with a terrible smile, locked onto his face.
-I told you I can handle the world with the ring…you don’t need to interfere with it! – he said and chuckled.
I felt the intense grip of the foggy spirit, pulling on my neck, trying to snap it in half. I couldn’t use the bracelet as it was the hand with which I took the ring, and it was frozen. What wasn’t, was the medallion.
“Use me! You know you want to do it sweet Arthur! This boy is hurting you, you need to escape, now!” – whispered a voice, a wom1an’s voice. Helzegovina.
I couldn’t move, nor do anything with my friend, so I had to resort to the enemy. The anger that she was feeling was now mine. The hate for humans, was now mine. The thrust for blood, was now my wish. I needed, wanted and wished…to kill! And then I remembered. Wish for it, and it will happen! And so I did.
Letting the medallion take control, I felt my whole body pulsating to the point where the ground on which I was standing began to shook and fall below my feet. The win resurfacing for the first time since fourteen years was vicious and powerful, pushing the young man behind. The foggy creature kind of got pushed away from me, but at least I could see it now, clearly. It was scared for some reason. In that moment, I felt the power of the bracelet backing me up. The fire of the First rose and engulfed my hands, as the wind of Helzegovina, made so that the cold wasn’t reaching me, only the heat remained. Richard felt the presence of the elements, overpowering his, which was why he tried doing what he could muster in this moment. Summon the rain. Summon the cold. With his hands extended towards me, a blast of freezing air, combined with the water drops of rain, launched at me with a terrifying speed.
-Helzegovina, we need to work together! – yelled the First, trying to keep her with us.
I heard her scream, and felt bad because she wasn’t a bad woman, only acting because of bad people.
-Help me, and I will destroy everyone that is evil! I will create a world with nothing evil in sight. But first, we need to destroy the artefacts that were created by the same bad people that killed you and created you! – I said in my head, pushing back the ice and rain with the fire, feeling the struggle to burn through everything.
-Swear to me, and I will help you! – I heard her voice.
I didn’t have any more time to waste so I did what she asked me.
-I swear on everything deer to me that I will not back away from my promise to destroy the evil! – I yelled, feeling as the water was about to beat the fire.
Just then, the medallion started shaking violently on my neck. And along with it, came a wave of wind that made the fire burst out even more. It twisted itself with the flame tongues and pushed back the ice rain back towards the caster. The wind was fast, faster than I could see, and was helping more than I could imagine. The ice wind pushed back Richard, hitting the tree, and freezing him with his own attack. The flames then took his face, and burned him like a living lantern. I heard his screams but didn’t feel pity. I didn’t exactly feel anything but determination. This was going to end, either if he like it or not! When the flames finally extinguished, I was left seeing the burnt black thing of what was left of Richard. I felt kind of relieved that it was over. It was harder than last time, but it was understandable, knowing I was facing an element I had a disadvantage at. Fire against Water wasn’t going to end good for me. But with the help of another element, being Wind…I was able to make things revert and attack Richard with his own attack, and two of my own. Now, as I inspected his pulse and confirmed that he was dead…the only thing left to do was to take the ring and head towards a place where I could safely destroy everything. I say that because we had obliterated a large chunk of the mountain with our attacks. Removing 2/4 of it. Now imagine a man that wanted to do it, having all three elements at his disposal. That was a scary thought, but I wouldn’t let that happen. I touched the medallion and Helzegovina coated my hand with vibrating wind. A single punch was enough to break the solid ice from the ring, and smash the body of the young man in pieces. And what was left of the pieces was a round wooden ring, staring at me, with hope that I would use it to kill. Well, it was kind of right, but not in the exact details. I was in fact going to use it to kill…but not people…no, I was going to kill it. I kneed and took it, placing it on my finger. In an instant the voices started screaming in my head, but with a minute of meditation I was able to push them back.
-Well, we did it- I said and looked at both the bracelet and the medallion.
The voices of both Helzegovina and the First echoed in my head.
-Now, only one thing remains…. - started the First.
-To destroy evil…and never bring it back again…- finished the woman.
I nodded happily, and laid on the ground where the tree used to be, before It got burned and blasted with that last punch.
-Hey First, I think I got a name for ya! – I said and laughed, - How about we call you Lightos…?
He didn’t answer, but I felt something hot twirl around the bracelet. He was happy at least. I was as well. But what was to come…wasn’t going to have a proper happy end.
Epilogue
I didn’t really know where I was, but to be honest, I didn’t want to. Opening my eyes would force me to continue with the final part of this mission I had brought myself to complete. Might it been the sweet cold night breeze that was slowly playing with my hair, kind of making me feel sleepy, stopping me from doing my duty? Or was it the view of the mountain cliff overlooking the silent and peaceful blue ocean? It didn’t matter. What did, was the fact that I could take some time to think about what I could do from here on out. Living wasn’t in the bucket list, considering I had to put an end to everything regarding these elements, by sacrificing myself in order to do so. That perhaps wasn’t such a big deal as I thought of it when I was young. It didn’t really matter if I was alive or nor, knowing I had nowhere to go, with no past members of my family even knowing If I was gone, and overall, no desire to see peace. I mean, yea, it might be nice, but I was already soo exhausted by the constant restraining from sleep, due to the small voices trying to protrude my brain and turn me into a massive killing machine with no handbrake. That itself took quite some will power of myself. And…as I laid there, on the soft and comfy grass, I felt as if all my will had been absorbed and then thrown into that ocean I was so keen on visiting. It was my hometown view that I wanted to revisit for the final time before the farewell. That itself proved to be hard, seeing as how the small town had changed for the past years I was absent of it. I saw how my family had gathered itself after the death of my father and continued on living for his sake, continuing on life. Well, I kind of did it myself. I lived to see myself die in the end…thought, for me, the closure was awfully close. Maybe I was lucky, maybe I was the chosen one to destroy the world, rather than avoid its destruction? Now this is just dumb talk, as I already had sworn an oath to Helzegovina and Lightos that I would write this chapter of my life, not regretting anything. Well…I did regret one thing, and that was killing my own father, on purpose. That itself was a big point, that I wanted to somehow erase, to no avail. It was always in the back of my head and was making me feel as if I was the evil one here. Maybe…I really was? Who wouldn’t doubt himself, knowing that sort of thing? Knowing they had to murder a bunch of people they used to see every day, just so they can get ahold of something, that was planning to wreck everything. I certainly felt it harder…
-Arthur, we should proceed with the inevitable- whispered the voice of the first bearer of the bracelet.
Lightos and Helzegovina hadn’t been talking much, ever since I went back home. Those were his first words in a long while. His usual mixture of a scalding and annoyed tone was gone and replaced with an unusual sadness behind it.
-Yea, in a sec- I replied and opened my eyes.
The clouds above me were darkened and gloomy, as if the sky was kind of reflecting my mood at the moment. A drop of rain fell on my cheek, and then another one fallowed, and then more, until the whole sky was violently letting the ocean from space fall down on earth. It was kind of cleansing…in an, strange way.
-Alright, let us begin…- I said and awaited their instructions.
-Well, first, we need to establish which of the three is the weakest of the elements- started Lightos, with his voice raising to be hearable, thanks to the rain that was pouring loudly.
-We have, fire, water and wind- he continued, - Each of them have unique abilities, but we need to make sure we pick the weakest as the first to be destroyed.
-That’s obvious – interrupted Helzegovina, - The weakest should be the one that isn’t activated or awoken by its current bearer, making it the ring.
Both were correct. Fire was weaker to water, but the wind could actually do some damage. Combined? They could destroy it. Which was why we decided to do a combined effort in order to finalize its end.
-Remember, once we begin the attack, we need to act quick, for its regenerative abilities may occur again, just like when Zed and Henry tried to destroy the medallion- mentioned Lightos.
Hearing my father’s name, and Zed’s made me tense up for no reason, but I calmed down and focused.
-That is true, the medallions regenerative abilities are quite superior to the others, considering it is a curse of the bearer. Once it is destroyed, it finds another host, a ring, or whatever the piece of jewelry It is, and transforms it into what it really is…just like with Zed- agreed Helzegovina.
Which meant, we had to attack it, right at the moment it started to repair itself. All of them had that sort of moment, but the ring, was now the weakest, proving to be the first target for a reason.
-Alright then, on my mark we shall unleash the elements and let them do our biding! – I said and extended both my hands towards the laid down ring.
It stood there for a really long time, waiting its fate to be decided with a battle of powers. Hopefully the rain from the sky wasn’t gonna protect it from me, or things would be bad.
And then I wished for fire, and the bracelet answered. A strong current of flames started twisting themselves on the ring, trying to burn down the wooden-like surface of it. The damage quickly came, and so did the regeneration. But that was just in time for the second wave. I wished for wind, and the medallion obliged. A small whirlwind formed around the artefact, focusing on its speed, and making so that the fire current doesn’t die out. Both attacks accompanied themselves, and soon the whirlwind got even faster, spreading and becoming bigger. The flames got hotter, and engulfed the wind, turning everything into a fiery mess of wind and fire. The burning tornado was rotating the ring around its inside, damaging it even more. That wasn’t exactly enough though. It was getting damaged, but it wasn’t being destroyed as well. More fire then. Even if there was water, if the temperature was high enough…it could evaporate. And so, I wished for greater fire. Fire that no one has ever seen before. And the bracelet obliged. The grip it had on my wrist got even tighter and began to vibrate intensely as a massive barrage of flame tongues covered the already burning tornado, coating it with blue flames, illuminating in the dark like the sun itself. More wind! And there came even more wind, raising the heat even more. My whole body was sweating both out of anxiety and the hotness that was this battle. MORE EVERYTHING! – I wished, and saw how both wind and fire rose to an insane level. The flames spread wildly, taking big chunks of the mountain I strategically had picked for this sort of thing. The blue flames transformed into black ones, and finally managed to do the job. The ring’s wooden body started cracking, with a faint glow coming from within the twisting heat. Powered by the wind, its completely disintegrated and turned into ashes. My feet couldn’t keep on, and gave up, making me sit for a moment.
-We did it… - I said, taking big breaths that pieced my lungs.
It took some time until everything calmed down and the fire extinguish, but when it did, it revealed just how much injuries did the mountain take.
-And that was only two of the elements…- agreed Lightos, sounding glad we managed to overpower it, even if it was the weakest.
Yeah, only two elements, and these two remained. If it was that tiring to take down one, imagine taking down a fully awoken and activated artefact. That would prove to be a greater task.
-Do not worry, - said Helzegovina, hearing my thoughts, - I shall make so that the medallion is asleep, for you to destroy it easier.
I wondered if that was possible and both of them agreed on that it was.
-Well, if so, then, let’s get it over with, shall we? – I asked and managed to get myself to stand.
Both the spirits wished me luck and I took off the medallion freely, placing it on the ground where the ring stood mere seconds ago. Backing away some steps I extended my hands towards it, and wished for fire. And just like before, the flames emerged, and started swallowing the medallion like it was nothing. Helzegovina deactivated its state, and it didn’t fight back like the ring did. Considering the pouring rain that was still going on, we managed to beat the water, but now, the flames were quite strong than before, facing something that was wind…amplifying its strength when it didn’t want to. The medallion started melting, as the flames got bigger and bigger by the sheer wind force coming from within the artefact. It was a really odd thing…to die by making so that the attack of your foe is stronger. Herzegovina’s voice echoed inside my mind once again, for one final time.
-Keep your promise or I shall come back! – she whispered, before the medallion exploded.
This time the rain from the skies stopped the flames, while I sat on the edge of the cliff, like before and took some time to regain my breath.
-Now, only I remain Arthur…- said Lightos, with a really quiet and soft tone.
I nodded and felt the coldness of my clothes, stained by the raindrops that had fallen on it like rapid bullets. Too bad it didn’t stop raining, because I wanted to take a moment to remember everything and somehow evaluate my life towards this point on. The water drops weren’t helping, but sure did make me think quicker. Then I remembered. Wishing for a bit of warmth, I felt as my body started getting warmer. My clothes got dry in a moment, along with an extra heat shield above me, to protect me from the cold rain. I smiled and thanked Lightos, and then looked at the ocean spreading towards me. The great Atlantic Ocean was lively thanks to the rain, yet it still felt pretty. I never got to swim in it, so I was hoping for to maybe, do it before I fade away and cast myself as obsolete. That was just a wish, that neither of the artefacts could secure now though, knowing my body was more than tired from the action that took place here, and when we fought Richard, and I only pleaded to get some rest and sleep.
-Are you ready? – I asked the first, and stood up shakenly.
-Ever since you awoke me all those years ago! - he replied and I felt proudness in his voice.
I wasn’t sure how exactly It worked. Did I have to jump and kill myself, or maybe wish for it, just like when I used the elements? Or maybe…I could use both tactics…and hope that something happens at least. Emptying my mind and thoughts I took the necessary step, and felt my body falling down the edge.
-I wish, to be dead…- I managed to think as I was descending towards the water down below.
In that instant everything inside me started bursting with fire, as the bracelet itself heated quite a bit. And just when I was about to fall into the abyss of the ocean, I felt this final goodbye coming for Lightos, as the bracelet detached itself and turned into soil.
-Goodbye old friend – I thought as the coldness entered my heart and began to sank me deeper and deeper.
Everything was leading up to this point, yet I didn’t feel anything anymore. As I was falling downwards into the spiral of nothing, I didn’t feel happy, nor sad…I was just relieved. No more magic things in my world…no more spirits to try and get to me. Only the silence…and its sound…as I descended and floated deeper and deeper…until I fell asleep.
Final.
And then the light came. It was so bright and shining that I didn’t have a choice than to wake up from my peaceful slumber. When my eyes adjusted, I figured I was back home, on that very sport me and my father used to talk about all sorts of things, while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean together.
-So, you did it? – resonated the voice of someone familiar.
I didn’t feel him, yet I saw him when he appeared next to me. His face was still the same as I remembered. Old and loving. I nodded to my father and felt my heart wrenching from the pain I made this man suffer.
-Don’t be sad…I am well aware that you weren’t there when everything happened…well, not spiritually at least- he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
The tears started spreading in my eyes and I could no longer hold back. Letting them out I started shivering all over, not being able to control myself.
-Now, now son, don’t be sad, in fact, you need to be happy, you are well and healthy and managed to avert the biggest crisis for humanity with one single action – he said, chuckling on his words.
Even so, it took me a minute to calm down by the sight of him. I always imagined that when, or if I saw him beyond life, that he would be angry or mad at me, but no…he was just as happy as ever.
-What do you mean by that…didn’t I die? - I asked, with a restored voice.
His face kind of wrinkled for a second, but he smiled genuinely.
-You did…but that was only for a while…- he said and nodded as to make sure of it.
I was still kind of bamboozled by this whole situation, not getting what was happening. He sighed and started explaining to me, as if I was back to being that small child again.
-You see, as you averted the world from being destroyed by those artefacts, you died. But that doesn’t mean you “actually” did die, now. By your sheer judgement of the situation, you decided to end all, and sacrifice yourself for the people, saving them from disaster. That itself is a deed of honor and bravery. Not to mention, heart. That, my boy, counteracts your “death”, and turns you into a “new”, yet old, you – he finished, looking me with that face, asking me if I got it.
I did manage to process it, yet it was soo very strange to think about it rationally, and kind of make myself believe it, not to mention convince myself that this was happening; that I just laughed at this very thought.
-Then how am I able to speak to you if I am not death? – I asked, feeling as if I had taken the king with a pawn.
He then chuckled himself.
-Well that is quite easy my boy…you are sleeping.
His laugher was bright and addictive, making me giggle as well. We both looked at each other, as if it was time to depart. Thinking about that, I felt as if I wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. His hands then grabbed my shoulders and his eyes locked into mine.
-Now, that everything you wanted to know is known, I will tell you only once. Live…create…and be happy with what you have achieved. People may not know of your deed, but I and all of those who were with you along the way, will do…- he said and lifted me up from the ground on which I sat.
I wanted to say many things. Yet I didn’t know what to say as well. All my thoughts were overwhelming me into a roadblock from which I couldn’t escape. My father on the other hand had this magical ability to read my mind.
-You need not apologize, you need to be sad. Just remember me as you always have, and live out your remaining life…happy! That is all I have to tell you now – he said and hugged me.
It was warm, and I felt really overwhelmed and relieved, once again. He was there, somewhere…and i…well, he did say I was alive, did he not? So, all I needed was to actually wake up…and…see if it wasn’t a lie. It didn’t sound that hard…right? I turned to look at my father, but there was no one there. Then who was I hugging? It was something solid, yet I couldn’t see because the sun was right at my eyes…shining directly as if on purpose. Rubbing my eyes, I finally started seeing things. Not only, was i wet from skin to bones, but I was hugging what looked to be a hollow old log covered in sea weeds. Just then I realized I was laying on shore, as the sand was entering places I didn’t want it to be. I couldn’t help it but laugh…I was alive, I was a hero, yet nobody knew about it. Well, nobody but my father, Helzegovina, Zed, Archibald…and Lightos. Only they knew the story of how I destroyed the Elements.
Credits.
It sure was a pleasure to write this novel. It is quite shorter than the previous one, though, it is still quite epic and involving as the rest of the stories in my bibliography, so make sure you either comment or leave your impressions wherever you decide to do it!
Now, for the future, I do have plans of starting a new trilogy or duology, perhaps even more novels of the series. The project of which I'm going to work is going to be fantasy type, and to be named: Gods and Kings- The Sword of Black Flames. Though, that will be in development in early 2020, so you don’t need to worry about it.
This novel has been created with the help of:
Publishing House Wing® 2019
Author- Nedyalko ‘Black Wing’ Delchev.
Editor- Nedyalko Delchev.
Elements® © 2019.
Elements
A Thursday Nightmare Novel. 2019 ®
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Thank you for reading!