VINDICATOR. (Plants vs. Zombies)

Chapter 14: Pact

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I've had an iffy bit of profanity included in one section of this chapter. I'm sorry that I haven't put a warning or any sign at all in the past regarding exactly that.

And for the rest of the chapter as of January 23, 2024... I'm still working on them, alright? Idk why the recent chapters are becoming longer and longer just as I had noticed at the moment. Well, I have had a minimum word requirement of 1500 because... just because. And I have been trying out some new methods for making art as to not take me the supernova phase of the Sun finishing them since I make art for EACH chapter for cover, so there's that. Anyways, you may proceed as you'd like.

...

That midnight at the island.

As the bright moon watched on the earth and the light danced on the surface of the ocean, Nick and Lantern rested inside the cottage-like house they've finished building at last. The lights inside the said house were already shut, leaving only the lantern that's left outside as a source that will mitigate the engulfing darkness, and even then, it was just enough to provide a bit of visibility and it still is dark. Lantern is asleep in a room laying on palm tree leaves stacked upon each other, but Nick had thought to himself that he should stay up for a tad bit longer.

After sitting it out for a good ten minutes or so darting his eyes at empty spaces, Nick stood up and headed outside.

"What time was it again?" Nick muttered, peering on the washed-out beach from within the window. He took a sharp turn and stepped out of the entrance just beside the mentioned window.

As Nick sunk down the sand for each step he made, he stopped on front of a bundle of wooden sticks varying in thickness. The area below the bundle was slightly charred and scattered with burnt stick fragments, exhibiting a scent similar that of burning coal.

"I can sort of still smell smoke from here, but it isn't as nauseating as before. Thankfully, god dang." Nick proceeded to wrap his one entire arm across the bundle of sticks, squatting down time to time to pick the falling pieces of sticks as he tightened his grip for dear life.

Nick virtually had no difficulty transporting the sticks to a different spot, but after he dropped it, he began to cough.

"Son of a-" Nick continued to cough, "-I have no actual idea why I brought that crap so close to my face like I was just about to use it as a handkerchief!" He prattled as he warded off the charcoal stains that got onto his body and arm. Nick then went to the lantern and picked it up, trekking the majority of the beach to find more sticks laying around.

After minutes had passed, Nick had collected quite a lot of sticks thanks to his multiple hands and laid them down near the other bundle of sticks he had brought earlier. But when he was just about to sit down, he felt yet another force. This time, it isn't sporadic and it persisted.

"I-I," Nick hurriedly puts the lantern down, "I'm... feeling it again. I swear." Nick babbled as he began to freeze in place, attempting to make clear of the event.

"It's not stopping. It's becoming more intense by some means," Nick breathed rapidly as his sight swiftly bolted at every location, "What the hell are these about? This resonating energy within me is nothing like I've ever had experienced before.!"

Out of thin air, his head locked onto the ocean. It wasn't his will. Nick just, began staring there far north on the ocean. Fifteen minutes had passed and he began to jitter but stood still on the exact same spot. His body felt like as if it was about to tumble down at any moment, and after ten seconds approximately, he snapped back onto his senses and broke eye contact, causing him to fall onto his bottom.