Witch Doctors Inc: SEASON TWO (Ongoing)

Part 5.8

I grab Bethany's hand and run.

The monster's growls whoosh behind us, like a series of hacking coughs, until...

Thud.

Until they're in front of us.

The accursed thing is in front of us.

How the hell did it get in front of us?

"It is too fast," Bethany pants.

"I can see that, Bethany," I grate.

The wolf/butterfly/whatever-it-is narrows its eyes at us. A hiss rattles in its throat.

"Do you think it can hurt us?" Bethany asks.

"Yes," I answer, without hesitation. "I think that thing is made out of the darkness in my mind."

I conjure my ice sword.

Nothing happens.

Of course. I can't use magic. I can't use magic, and there's a butterfly-wolf crafted from darkness waiting to tear me apart in my own mind. I'm starting to regret the decisions that have led me to this point.

If I can't use magic, I'll have to use something else. The bone is still in my hand. I throw it at the monster's head. It bounces off harmlessly. The monster spits out a vicious bark.

"I think you have annoyed it, Lily," Bethany says.

"Bethany," I say, a maniacal smile pasted on my face. "Do you have any ideas on how not to die right now?"

"No, Lily. I do not."

"Then shut up and run. I'll hold it off."

"No, Lily. I will not leave you."

This isn't how I thought I'd die. Not in my own mind, devoured by my own darkness. I wonder if it will hurt.

The monster leaps at us.

I push Bethany away, stumbling backwards as ash billows in my face, blinding me. When it clears, I'm alone.

Where's the monster?

A guttural growl, to my left.

Oh no.

Bethany's on the ground. The creature towers over her, teeth clicking in anticipation.

"Over here, you idiot!" I yell. I pick up another bone and chuck it at the monster.

It ignores me.

But I'm not giving up. I throw bone after bone at it. I'll fight it with my bare hands if I have to.

The monster bares its teeth.

Bethany holds up her hand to shield herself.

The monster pounces.

"Bethany, NO!!"

Golden light flares.

The monster shrieks as the light slams into it, throwing it backwards. The glow continues to push into it, forcing its dark pelt back, until its whole body is engulfed in light. It howls as it becomes nothing.

Bethany sits up, blinking. The glow is coming from her wrist. The amber orbs she'd collected...they had driven the monster back. They had...cancelled it out.

"Bethany, it's gone." My legs are wobbly as I make my way towards her. "The orbs...it can't tolerate them."

Bethany regards her orbed wrist with awe. "They are magic weapons?" she asks.

I shake my head. "You said they made you feel happy. Do you remember? I think I know why. That thing was made of darkness. The orbs are made of light."

Bethany's eyes widen. "Ohhhhhh," she breathes. "The orbs are made of good feelings. They are your good light."

It's why, I realize, Bethany was able to harvest them from my memories. Those were happy memories, where good feelings lived. They were the moments that made the good in Amarat glow.

We use light to combat dark. It's almost comically simple. Good vs evil. We seek good memories, collect their light. Use it to keep the darkness at bay.

I check to see if Bethany's injured. Other than a few scrapes and bruises, she looks okay. "How long has that thing been following us?" I gesture to the spot where the monster's body had been. There's only a faint glimmer of light there now.

"It was not following us, Lily. It had not seen us until you made noise. They are here, but in the shadows. They will not come unless they are called."

"There are more of them," I say flatly.

"Yes, Lily. That is why we must be quiet. Some of them are sleeping. We do not want to wake them."

I sigh. "Bethany?"

"Yes, Lily."

"The next time you see hideous carnivorous monsters lurking in the shadows, could you let me know before one attacks us?"

"Certainly, Lily. I will make sure to do this next time."

I scour our surroundings for more of the creatures. I don't see any, but there's a flicker of movement in the shadows to our far right. Bethany's right – we need to be as quiet as possible.

"We need more orbs," I say. "In case we have another run-in with a monster, we need to make sure we can defend ourselves."

The orbs braceleting Bethany's wrist have started to dim. She discards them in the ash, where they glow dully for a few moments before fading out. Reaching into her sleeve, she replaces the used orbs with fresh ones. "It will be nice," she says, "to see more happy memories."

I'd respond, but I'm having my own lightbulb moment. When I tried to break the not-glass of the mirror, a seal of darkness stopped me. If the orbs can cancel out darkness...

"Give me some orbs," I say excitedly. "Not all of them. We still need some in case another monster attacks."

Bethany gives me a handful, and I make my way to the closest mirrored surface. They're all over the place, I realize.

"Please do it quietly, Lily," Bethany reminds me.

This time, I obey her.

I reach into the mirror, my fist closed around the orbs. The darkness appears, then flickers. Light melts into it, creating a soft dent. Encouraged, I push harder. The seal flares bright, then dims. The orbs have disappeared into it, but it's still in place.

"We need more," I say, disappointed.

"That is okay, Lily. We can collect more from your memories."

Easier said than done. Those monsters were still there, waiting to tear into us as soon as we made so much as a squeak.

Bethany puts a hand on my shoulder. "I know it will be dangerous. But I shall not be afraid. In my last moments of life, I was afraid. I failed my people. My mother. The Tanerians raided my village. I could have used my magic to protect the ones I loved, but my fear prevented me. I lost my mother, and I fled into the Forest of Sorrows. I gave Rikamu my heart. In my spare moments, and I have had so many while dreaming in the pendant, I dwell in that moment. I imagine that I am strong, and I defeat the Tanerians. I imagine that my mother lives, and she is proud of me.

But it is only a dream, Lily. That pain will always be with me. I cannot go back and correct that moment, no matter how badly I wish to. But I can correct this one."

For once, there is no dreamy glaze over her eyes. They are hard and lightless, like stones painted green.

"I shall battle the monsters alongside you. I shall collect more orbs, and help you return to your loved ones. I was afraid in life, Lily. I shall not be afraid anymore."