Author's Preface
In the deep endless ocean of empty space that Naren concluded was his soul, the red-haired boy stared at what must've been his sister.
Before him, the same shackles held down a creature hidden behind shadows. Held at their hands and feet by rusty chains that seemed like they'd snap at any moment. That was all he could see. Everything beyond the arms. The legs. Was nothing but shadows.
He was too caught off guard last time, but now he was sure. Behind the shadows...was his sister.
"Cend—"
Before he could let his words out another chain shot from the darkness, wrapping itself around his sister's left arm. This one a curious shade of purple.
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After a blink, Naren was back in the the bioluminescent glow of the lamp on the wooden floor. Weird. The last time he went there was because of a witch. Now...?
Naren looked at Yuna a bit differently this time. If she really was a witch, then wouldn't he be able to skip this whole fiasco?
Before he had a chance, Yuna spoke:
"Should be your second pact?"
"Huh? Second what?"
Yuna let out a slight giggle, handing over a second waterskin for Naren to greedily chug before uttering a command:
"Spit it over yourself."
Without thinking, Naren's mouth hung open, red liquid spilling all over his shirt. Wiping his mouth Naren stared at Yuna.
"What did you? And what's in this? It's spicy!"
Expecting to be attacked, Yuna peered into the future. Only to see the red-haired boy yawning in place.
She titled her head.
"You're okay with this?"
Naren yawned.
"Okay with what?"
"The pact. You've got no clue what happened do you?"
Naren shrugged, Yuna continuing:
"I made a pact with you. Just like you once made to become an aspirant. And just like that we're both bound by a contract...I'll get us out of this mess and you'll listen to my every command."
Naren stared, his tired eyes bulging out as his mouth hung open. He began ruffling his hair as he paced around the room. Muttering while pointing an accusing finger at Yuna.
"You...You weirdo. Pervert."
Naren held his hands close to himself as he continued:
"What're you gonna do to me?! Take advantage of me?! Rot in hell freak!"
Yuna's face twitched. This was his concern? She was even more confused now than before.
"Calm down. This is insurance. I don't know you. What if you hurt me?"
Naren peered back at Yuna, embracing his own body.
"Horny freak."
"Listen birdsnest. I'm not going to do anything like that. I can't lie so stop with this weird act."
Naren straightened up.
"Alright, you win."
'That's it? Just like that?'
Yuna thought while staring at Naren. Did he trust her or was he just stupid? No. It was because he didn't trust her.
Yuna could tell by the look in Naren's eyes. The cat-like pupils that scanned her for any ounce of weakness. To him, there wasn't the least bit of trust between them. Instead, he simply didn't care. He was the worst type.
Naren begun muttering under his breath.
"What a lousy...Hey princess. Can we get this over with? I don't want to be cuffed any longer than I have to be."
Yuna smiled.
"Just drink up. It's good for you."
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As the last rays of twilight light disappeared from the ocean-filled sky. The murmurs around town grew louder. Louder and louder as each and every Fae locked themselves inside their own houses. In fear.
Vera was pulled along by Dian, her eyes shifting nervously around.
She knew deep down Naren was alive. She was a hundred percent certain that something like that rod wasn't enough to kill him. She also knew that he would be back.
He always came back.
Vera wasn't sure exactly what was going on. What was causing her to wake up in the same corner of the alley every time. What was going around killing everyone. But she did know something.
Her eyes narrowed on Dian.
There wasn't a doubt in her mind that it was him. It had to be.
So all she could do for Naren and Cairo now was to leave with them. Disappear from their lives, only then would she not have to see them die over and over again.
But somehow, nothing seems to go Vera's way.
Sparks of a low orange light flew out from one of the dark corridors. Embers dancing in the dark as they licked the toned forearm peering out of the shadows.
A sharp voice spoke from the flames:
"Yo! Dunno why, but I really don't like your faces."
Within a second, the dust in the air ignited into glowing ash as an eel-like creatures slithered around Cairo, burning and withering away into powder.
Cairo unsheathed his broken katana, slicing the next two eels that flew at him like high-powered missiles. He stepped right through them, a cinder arc barely missing slicing Dian into two halves.
Right as he got through, a hulking interlocked fist jammed right into his side plowing him into the alley walls.
Cairo shot out a spit of blood, wiping his face as a forced grin grew larger.
Dian rubbed his temples as more eels sprung into existence.
"Oh dear. Theron don't be distracted. We have a cute little stain still slithering."
Cairo's body temperature shot up before immediately cooling down again. A spring of steam exploding into the air swallowing the confined space whole.
Theron narrowed his eyes watching a dark figure run through the steam. But instead of attacking, he stood his ground. Slowly letting his body lose it's tangibility as the figure lunged. As soon as Cairo would pass through Theron and lose balance, he'd swing around.
At least, that was the plan.
As soon as the figure made contact with Theron's body, it didn't pass through. Instead it evaporated into air. A mirage.
Before being able to wrap his mind around what happened, Cairo fell behind Theron, his broken blade dragging into Theron's skin. From the head until he landed, Cairo had sliced him in two.
Changing his attention to Theron, Cairo inhaled a deep breath. He'll just blow a hole right through the pest.
However, before he could, a heavy blow dug right into his back, pushing him into Dian who created a net of eels that collapsed all around him, compressing him into a slimy ball.
For a second the compressed ball of eels hissed. Then, steam began escaping the crevices until they all shot outwards, withering away into ash. Cairo's body steaming in the wreckage. His grey eyes shooting between the two fiends.
Dian whose eccentric clothings popped in vibrant colors and Theron whose body was bolted by metal sheets for skin. Not a scratch on him from Cairo's blade.
'Could be his fable? annoyin.'
Cairo's thoughts were set on only the information needed. His voice hoarse from the built up heat he couldn't exhale.
"Find five more clowns if you tryna kill me."
Just as the words left his mouth, Vera screamed from the top of her lungs. Enough to stun the three fighters.
"DO NOT FOLLOW ME, CAIRO!"
Vera shot out from her idle state, running into the alleys, hurling barrels and crates and every obstacle she could find to slow them down.
Her reasoning was simple. Dian would follow her. That way he can't kill Cairo. All she had to do was get away from them. Then nobody would have to die.
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Three hours later as the night grew still, Naren stood in a dark alley with Yuna by his side. His golden eyes faltered slightly as he stared at the mutilated body in front of him.
He'd been through this before, but this was the first time he'd truly felt the weight of what the wolf had brought. The memories of it's beady yellow eyes that paralyzed him. It's lumbering hideous figure.
Naren couldn't forget any of it now.
"So how do you plan on finding the culprit, princess."
In front of them was a brooding man, torn to pieces. The bottom part of his body missing. Only the top half left, metal sheets stitched in where skin should've been. And where there wasn't was pure exposed tissue with bite marks drilled in.
Yuna sighed.
"That's one. All you have to do is wait."
"What?"
"That's what you'll do. Survive as the beast kills, as the virus transmits and infects others. You'll live. Until there's none left. Only you and the original. Then die."
Naren stared blankly. She was crazy. She was really going to get herself killed in the hopes that he sees the killer and tells her next loop?
Just then, the voice Naren assumed was from the statue rung out once more. Still completely audible this time despite their distance.
"Six sinners remain..."
As the voice continued, Yuna smiled at Naren.
"What's wrong? Are you nervous?"