The Firmament Saga: Book I: The Rains of Sorrow

Chapter 23: Communion

Chapter 23: Communion (Eri)

Around 30 days after entering the tunnel

FIVE MINUTES EARLIER

The first thing that Eri felt upon gaining a modicum of consciousness was the splitting pain in her head. It felt like a hangover, but worse in every conceivable way. For a time, it was the only sensation she felt. Then, a faint whining buzz began in her ears. Additionally, her vision grew brighter and brighter. The whole experience was like swimming through deep water towards the surface. After a time, her senses returned to her in full, and the headache grew worse. She could hear some sort of skittering sound through the haze. Then, she was brought back to reality with a sharp, stabbing pain in her right leg.

She shouted in surprise and agony as she was stabbed again. She opened her eyes and frantically looked around.

She was in a medium-sized room, lying on her back. The ceiling above her was dotted with lights that cast a sullen, orange glow on the sleek, metallic, grey, square chamber. She was bound to the floor by metal rings that wrapped around her torso, arms and legs and extended into the ground. Located at her feet was her pack and vision-helmet, tantalizingly out of reach.

Looking to her right, she saw Kane and Thyrian. The two men were unconscious, but visibly breathing. Thyrian's pack was located in front of his feet, but Kane's was nowhere to be found. His vision-helmet was located at his feet, however. Looking to her left, she saw the source of her stabbing.

It was a creature covered with white metal. It looked similar to a human, with two arms and legs, but had a blocky, hunched build. Instead of a head, it had a large eye-stalk protruding directly from its torso. Its eye glowed bright yellow like that of a predator. Its left arm was extended towards Eri's leg, and instead of fingers, it had intricate, syringe-like instruments protruding from its hand. One of the instruments was protruding from the leg, its tip dripping a small amount of blood.

"YoU aRe AwAkE," came a voice. It was tinny, monotone and faint, almost as if the speaker was located inside a box. But it appeared to come from the creature. "WhErE dId YoU cOmE fRoM?"

"What?" slurred Eri. "Excuse me?"

"WhErE dId YoU cOmE fRoM?" the creature asked again, more harshly this time. "My LoRd Is In DiRe NeEd Of InFoRmAtIoN oN tHe HeLmEtS yOu PoSsEsS. WhErE dId YoU gEt ThE hElMeT, mOrTaL?"

"What do you mean?" asked Eri. "What helmet?"

"ThAt OnE," the creature said, jabbing with its other arm towards the bag. "ThE rEcOrDiNg Of ThE oRiGiNaL bLaSpHeMeRs. I mUsT kNoW iTs CoNtEnTs."

"Are you a minion of the God of Rain?" Eri asked. "'Cause if you are, I'm not telling you anything about the vision-helmets."

"In ThAt CaSe, I wIlL aWaKeN yOuR cOmPaNiOns," the being said. It plodded over to Kane and stabbed him in the leg.

"No!" Eri shouted as blood began to trickle from where the creature had stabbed Kane. He suddenly jerked and thrashed, and then his mouth began to move.

"Gah!" he shouted. "W-What was that? It hurts..."

"Kane!" Eri called. "Don't say anything!"

"ShUt Up!" the creature yelled. "I nEeD qUiEt!" It turned to Kane. "WhErE dId YoU cOmE fRoM?"

"What?" Kane asked. "I came from Mossflower Hold!"

"Sun dammit, Kane!" Eri sighed. "You did the exact opposite as to what I told you to do!"

"So YoU aRe MeRe PeAsAnTs," the creature said. "JuSt HeRe By ChAnCe. OnCe AgAiN, hOw DiD yOu CoMe AcRoSs ThEsE hElMeTs?"

Kane had gotten the idea, and kept silent. Eri faintly smiled, proud of him for getting the message.