Afterlife - A Horror Story

17 - To Kill a Yudae

3rd

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The moon was full, casting an almost ominous silver light over the small town. More so with a pale apparition slowly strolling down the empty street, the black area from his death wound engulfing most of his body. His devious grin seemed to be still, as if he was stuck in a perpetual state of obvious glee.

His visible eye scanned the surroundings, searching for something. Someone.

He couldn't evade him forever.

The full moon was out, and the poltergeist felt renewed with a powerful strength from it. If he got his hands on him...

Oh, let's not think about that yet.

"Alone, huh?"

It couldn't be this easy.

Gradient turned his head, and there stood the very spirit he was searching for. In his killing state, nearly all of Praxus's face was blackened, and his right eye was a red X.

Gradient chuckled. "Oh, I was just looking for you! Well, guess I don't need Xyan looking now."

He snapped his fingers, which were now sharp, jagged claws, and the blue form of Xyan appeared next to him. His emotionless gaze as he looked at Praxus explained the pain he'd been going through.

Xyan nodded. "I see you found him."

"More like he found me," Gradient rolled his eyes. His voice lowered to a whisper so that Praxus couldn't hear as he instructed, "Be ready to help at any time. Something's off about this."

Xyan gave a small nod.

Gradient turned back to Praxus calmly. Praxus glared icy daggers at him.

"Why are you dallying?" Praxus asked, "I know how much you want to consume me, so why haven't you done it? I'm here, aren't I?"

"Oh, but I'm not just going to consume you," Gradient said, a slight humor edging his creepily playful tone, "Your pain is my joy. So I will play with you as I wish."

He flicked his wrist, and Praxus seethed as he was forced to his knees.

Someone in the shadows watched, debating on whether to back out of this...

He shook his head.

No, he has to help. This is his fault that the demented apparition was loose in this spectral realm, and he would fix it.

Gradient walked slowly forward, and forced Praxus's chin up to look at him.

"I know when someone's playing games with me," Gradient claimed, his tone menacing, "Why did you come? It's obvious you are not merely coming to confront me, and sacrifice yourself without reason."

Praxus let out a small growl.

The moon rose ever higher in the sky. Praxus knew his bloodlust would soon take hold.

He needed to be quick.

Praxus flicked his tail. "I come with no trickery." He looked down, uncomfortable with mentioning: "I know that you have knowledge of my fears."

"Oh, your right!" Gradient said cheerfully, "I remember! Poor Praxus doesn't like loneliness. I guess that does explain why you're here."

His small tail motion to Xyan said otherwise.

Gradient knelt down, put his claws on the side of Praxus's head. Praxus could feel him digging into the black head wound that had killed him all those years ago. He had forgotten how physical pain felt before this. He clenched his teeth to keep from crying out in agony.