Pentagram

Lightblade's Move

        I opened my eyes and sat up.  Everything was black. But it wasn’t like it was dark, I could see absolutely clearly. It was more like I was in a black room. I looked to my right. My gunblade was on the ground beside me.  I picked it up and got to my feet.

                “Oh, you took quite a fall.” I recognized the voice. I felt a chill run through my body, and the hairs on my neck stood straighter then a post. Slowly, I turned around. Kraven was floating above me, laughing.

                I stumbled backwards, “Holy hell!”

                “Would you play a game with me, Akaya?”  The smile on his mask seemed to widen. “You seem like the kind of person who enjoys games.”

                I raised my gunblade, firing off the weapon repeatedly until it ran dry. Kraven simply stayed in place, his shrill laugh echoing through the space we inhabited.

                “Interesting, interesting.” He said, floating down towards me and extending a shadowy hand. “Akaya, did you know I am rather skilled with dice? Outside of being a puppeteer, I am actually quite the gamer. I’ve been gaming for hundreds of years! I enjoy games, but my favorite game is this reality. This life.” He dropped a pair of dice at my feet.  They both landed on six.

                “Your insanity will begin to make itself more evident as new events take place.” He paused, “I believe I warned you in the mansion, but I did curse you. It will be most entertaining.”

                “What do you want?” I asked, backing away from him. Everything about him unnerved me. The way his body moved as if filled with inner shadows, the large smile on his mask, his twin crescent-shaped eyes.

                “I want a game.” He laughed again, following me as I backed away. “A game of life. Chance. I shall cast my die and you will cast yours. Today the game truly begins, Akaya Rinstone.  I control this city with each roll of my dice, each twitch of the marionette. I want true entertainment. It has been a while since I have actually been challenged. You, Lightblade, Zach and the gamer will all prove to be most formidable opponents.  Ah, such fun! Such fun!”

                “Where are we?”

                “I can’t honestly say. Are we even really anywhere? Is this real, or are you simply hallucinating it all?” He disappeared from view, and my vision blacked out for a split second. When I opened my eyes again, I was laying on my back in the center of the street.

                Mika was standing over me, carrying a bottle and calling my name. My vision blurred, and I felt a sharp pain in my head. Vida was arguing with Xinx, the Heavian girl with glowing eyes and a bow. Zen was standing a few feet behind them with Zach and Kennedy. Soro was standing off to my left. Chynna was supporting JJ; the gamer looked really beat up. Dreamcatcher was resting on my chest.

                I sat upright and immediately started coughing, blood leaked from out the side of my mouth. I could taste iron.

                “Akaya!” Mika sounded relieved. Dreamcatcher darted upright and flew around my head excitedly, serpentine body twirling.

                Vida stopped arguing with Xinx and came to my side, I couldn’t stop coughing. She rubbed my back until it finally subsided. I couldn’t imagine how I looked, but it probably wasn’t great. I looked down at myself; blood was dripping from my chin down onto my clothing. My stomach hurt. Mika immediately hugged me, which hurt my stomach even more.