Epics of Noche 3, Limbo

EON CH 40

GOLD AND BLACK LIGHTHOUSE.

1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY 7:40 pm.

Noche closed her eyes and focused on the sensation. The lighthouse was reacting to her emotions, as if they were a beacon to her escape.

"I've been going about this all wrong," she said. "I can't use brute force on a mental door. There's a trick to this."

The blonde concentrated on the sorrow that still lingered in her heart from Shaylin's story. As she did so the lighthouse glowed a little brighter.

"The first time I opened this door, I was sad... Why was I sad? I need to remember," she said. "My feelings will guide me to clarity. Come on, Noche."

With a stilling breath, Noche focused on the memory she witnessed in the light that filled the sky moments earlier. Her handshake with Galloway, there had to be more to it. She had all the clues, she just had to remember.

The lighthouse shot out a golden beam and from the radiance appeared anchors of pure light. They drifted down endlessly as the ray extended on to infinity. Black clouds gathered in the sky as a gust gathered strength. Cosmic stardust filled the air and became a multitude of swirling galaxies.

A glint of purple launched past Noche as her hand reached for the doorknob of the gold and black lighthouse. Little arcs of electricity connected her fingers to the brass. Then it happened, the memory became clear. She stood before Galloway in a pure white realm; Creeps skulked in the distance.

"I've been looking for you... A corruption user," Galloway said. "You died... But I have an offer for you. I can show you how to leave Limbo at will. In exchange, I will require your services."

The blonde didn't respond as the being that appeared like the grim reaper spoke.

"However, if you agree, the three of us will meet here again," he said. "And when that time comes, there is a chance everything shall be destroyed. Everything. All matter, all energy, and life itself... Do you wish to risk it all?"

There was only a moment of hesitation. Noche grabbed the reaper's hand and shook it.

"Yes."

"Then I will show you how to open your very last door."

Back in reality, Noche's hand landed on the doorknob, she twisted, and it clicked. The cosmic dust vanished, the winds stopped, the light died. Colors drained from the world as everything went silent. There was only darkness and cold.

Then a sliver of gold light appeared in the doorframe. There was a faint creak, but in the quiet, it was as loud as cannon fire. Inch by inch the door opened and the radiance grew. Her left arm disintegrated as the warm glow touched it, but Noche didn't notice. She bathed in the brilliance.

The door to the limbo's lighthouse was flung open and inside was a portal. It exploded out of the doorframe, swallowed up the lighthouse, and grew. The portal became bigger and bigger until it was a massive wall that expanded infinitely in all directions. It shimmered and the gold light transitioned into a projection of the DeathTech castle.

Noche grinned and turned to her friends – they were all shocked. Everyone stared at the portal with wide eyes and a few gaping faces. Even Raven was at a loss for words.

"Falcon's never managed a portal of that size," Boots muttered.

Black mist leaked from the gold light and trailed across the floor like dry ice. Boots approached and it drifted around his shoes.