Corrupted Timelines

A Fiery Confrontation

"Kiara calm down-" Calliope backed away from her in the dark hallway. The only source of light was the dim blue glow and small flame Kiara held. She aggressively followed Calliope and got aggressively close.

"What the fuck is going on here? You know something!" she yelled harshly at her friend. Amelia turned her head to look over at Calliope as well.

"Explain," she forced through her closed lips. Vocalizing anything right now brings the risk of throwing up for her.

"We need to get to the Crystal." Calliope tries to move past Kiara, but is shoved backwards.

"No, you're going to explain this now!" Kiara didn't let up. Calliope looked away from her and stared at the blue light.

"You were going to learn about this when you got your memories back. I didn't want to have to be the person to explain this to you." Kiara just stared at her, the flame in her had reflecting off of her eyes. "Those slash marks are from Reaper scythes. It seems like they are responsible for the damage here and the lack of Phoenixes."

"But they're immortal! Phoenixes can't die!" Amelia yelled out.

"By normal means, yes, they are completely immortal. But a Reaper's scythe isn't normal. It tears the soul to pieces to bring them to the Underworld. If a Phoenix is hit by it, they will be brought to the Underworld just like any other mortal."

"But why would they attack them?" Kiara asked, refusing to back off.

"Reapers used to hunt Phoenixes. It was the highest honor they could be given. I think they found this island and hunted them down in a scramble to be recognized."

Kiara stared blankly at Calliope.

"You were the Phoenix I wanted to kill." Calliope dropped her gaze down to her hands.

"I-I'll be back," Kiara said quickly before dashing out of the hallway. The blue glow became the only source of light. Amelia and Calliope stood in the darkness in silence. Kiara's footsteps descended the stairs and out of earshot.

"Talk about hiding things..." Amelia took a dig at the Reaper. Calliope looked up and even in the darkness, her eyes glowed red with rage. She lunged at Amelia who attempted to let the Reaper phase through her.

But Calliope slammed her into the wall, pinning her against it.

"What the hell!" she yelled out of shock. The wind was almost knocked out of her by the hit. Calliope got close to her and stared deep into her soul.

"Don't be surprised, Watson. I am not the same as the mortals you have fought before." Calliope's voice had the slightest bit of rage in it.

"Y-you shouldn't be exempt from the laws of time..." Amelia wheezed out. She struggled to break free, trying to find the timeline where she wasn't being held. But none of them seemed to exist. The Reaper was grabbing and holding her in every timeline.

"My actions are absolute. There is no timeline where you didn't get hit, so you can not Destabilize to cause that outcome to happen here!" Amelia stopped struggling and stared in terror at the Reaper. She could die here.

"Th-that's just not possible!" Amelia tried to find anything around her that could be used as a weapon. A loose brick or rock would do, but she knew it was hopeless. She was just denying the reality in front of her. The reality that she was completely powerless against Calliope.

"Unfortunately for you, it is. Reapers don't affect time like mortal beings such as you and Kiara! We are completely different." Amelia finally noticed how cold Calliope's touch felt.