Nightmares... 'Markimash'

9

"Ken! Those people! We can't-!"

"We can't save everyone Adam! You should know this by now!"

Ken yelled, dodging the creatures first swing, just barely landing on his feet as the arm crashed into the ground. The group had not been prepared for civilian casualties, but it looked to be unavoidable now. Ken had been desperately trying to stop time, but was only met with an excruciating headache that increased with each try. Almost passing out from the pain, Ken stumbled on his feet, his vision blurry and his ears ringing.

"I can't stop time! It's blocking my powers!"

"YOU THINK THAT I WOULD LET YOU CHEAT? HA! YOUR POWERS ARE WEAK, OLD MAN. YOU MAY HAVE CREATED ME, BUT NOTHING CAN DESTROY ME. I AM ETERNAL."

They circled around the molten monstrosity, uncertain of how to get it into the amulet. Its sheer size had become daunting, and the fact that it was infused with people created another obstacle. Jack had said that a person with a golden heart and selfless intentions could wield the amulet's powers to contain the evil, but who among them had the most selfless intentions?

"Mark! Come here!"

The Sandman was attempting to reach the injured, to make sure that they were still breathing, but upon hearing his name, he spun around on his heels. The beast had been targeting Ken and Adam the most, sending wave after wave of liquid shadows at them. Minx, Cry, and Jordan were attempting to draw the beast's attention as well, but were mostly ignored. As he began to run towards his parents, the beast suddenly lashed out towards him, sending Mark sprawling to the ground as a tentacle of darkness wrapped around his ankle, lifting him off of the ground. 

"Ken! Take it to him! We'll distract them!"

Adam barked, shoving Jack's bag into Ken's arms, running towards the beast as soon as he let go. Jordan was sending shards of ice at the creature in an attempt to make it drop Mark, but it hardly affected it, as they went straight through it without leaving a mark. The creature then swung a tentacle at Jordan, hitting him square in the gut, sending him flying into a wall. The beast then lashed out at Cry and Minx, ensnaring Minx but missing Cry, as he was able to melt into the shadows.

Unable to escape the beast in human form, Mark turned into sand, sifting out of the beast's grasp, shuffling away before it could grab him again, and reforming moments later. As Ken ran to Mark, he shoved the bag into the sandman's hands, he just barely missed another swat from the creature's massive tentacles. The creature then flung Minx to the ceiling, shattering many of the lights, leaving them with dim lighting. Minx landed on the floor with a dull thud, barely able to move.

"What do you want me to do with it?!"

"You want to save Aaron? Now's your chance!"

Pulling the amulet out of the bag, Mark gasped as it began to glow in his hands, heat radiating from its core. The amulet had begun to react to Mark's mind, his intentions. And at that moment, Mark knew what he had to do to entrap the beast. It was as if the amulet had a voice, guiding the Sandman on how to use it. The creature sensed the activation of this amulet, which only enraged him further as he continued to lash out at the group.