Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 69

As Charlie, Moxxie, and Blitzo delved deeper into the catacombs, an unsettling silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant echoes of their footsteps. The damp, cold walls were adorned with ancient, crumbling stone that seemed to whisper secrets of a forgotten past. Shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and every creak of the structure sent shivers racing down their spines.

"Stay alert." Charlie instructed, her voice steady despite the unease creeping into her heart. "We don't know what we're up against down here."

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence, followed by an unholy howl that sent chills racing through them. The sound reverberated off the walls, a haunting reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.

"Did you hear that?" Charlie gasped, her heart pounding. "It came from further in!"

Without hesitation, they rushed toward the source of the sound, adrenaline fueling their movements. As they navigated the twisting passages, they began to notice fresh bloodstains smeared across the stone floor, dark and glistening in the dim light.

"Something terrible has happened here." Moxxie murmured, his stomach churning at the sight. "We need to hurry."

"Keep moving!" Charlie urged, her determination unwavering. "We have to find them!"

As they rounded a corner, they stumbled upon a small, dimly lit chamber. The sight that greeted them made their blood run cold. There, curled up in a fetal position, was Fizzarolli, trembling uncontrollably. Blood smeared his face and clothes, and his wide eyes reflected a horror that was all too real.

"Dark... So dark..." He stammered. "Blood... So much blood..."

Charlie was instantly at his side, removing her jacket to cover him.

"It's okay. You're going to be alright."

"Make it stop... Make it stop..."

"What happened to you?" Moxxie asked, kneeling beside him to tend to his open wounds.

"He... He was like an animal... He tried to devour everything in sight, and no matter how far we ran, he was always there! Like a shadow!"

Those words were all Charlie needed to understand what had transpired. Alastor had tasted blood without his medicine. Now, he was like a rabid dog let off its leash.

"You all need to get out of here, now." Blitzo said, having made the connection as well. He began loading his gun with a specific set of bullets.

"Wait a minute, what do you think you're doing?" Charlie exclaimed.

Blitzo's expression hardened as he loaded the gun with practiced ease.

"Taking precautions. I'll try to talk him down, but if that doesn't work, I'll have no choice but to put him down."

Charlie's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising in frantic protest.

"You can't just shoot him, Blitzo! He's not a monster! He's—he's our friend! We can help him!"

Blitzo's jaw tightened, his gaze unwavering as he continued loading the gun.

"You don't understand, Charlie. This isn't the Alastor we know. He's gone too far this time. He's dangerous, and we can't risk him hurting anyone else."

"Then we find a way to bring him back! We can't just give up on him!" Charlie's voice trembled with desperation as she stepped closer to Blitzo, fists clenched. "You're not going to kill him!"

Moxxie, sensing the escalating tension, felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

"Charlie, I get it, but Blitzo has a point. We've seen what Alastor is capable of when he's like this. It's not just about us anymore; it's about everyone else too."