Arisu [ #JustWriteIt - Horror - Complete ]

Chapter Fifteen - Betrayal Of The Mind

"Fury flashed across the brute's rugged face.
He swung his axe much like a mace.
Gorged the caretaker's heart right out of place."

"I won't go down without a fight! Was that your best shot?!"

Those defiant words came tumbling out of his mouth with ease.

The rage he'd silenced was rising, bubbling and spilling to his tounge.

Coryn threw his arms outstretched, commanding the heavenly fire towards the skeletal rabbit that was charging straight towards him.

The flames attacked it with frenzy; licking against its yellowed bones and roaring, raging with the strength of an almighty lion.

They forced the beast to retreat backwards with a long step.

Another wave of multicoloured fire crashed over it as Coryn rattled off spells from his grimoire with growing pace.

A distorted scream rattled the walls; a symphony of rage and pain from the rabbit's gaping maw.

Trails of neon purple smoke drifted from thin air, idyllically circling the thrashing skeleton before sharply morphing into a lance that struck it though the skull.

The spell left behind a sweet fragrance.

Panting heavily, Coryn shifted his weight to the other leg and reached forward again. He made a gesture, folding two fingers over a tucked thumb.

Two broad squares flashed into existence, hovering in the air.

They were the sides of a cage - glowing pure white and the bars a color of steel.

Coryn folded his other two fingers.

The squares slammed into either side of the rabbit with a metallic swoosh, ramming it against them, crushing its bones like a sideways press.

Rows of jagged teeth flashed in front of his eyes as the skeleton's jaw tipped down to deliver another furious cry. But this time it sounded... Defeated?

ARREUGH! YOU HAVEN'T WON YET!

And just like that, the skeleton shattered.

Coryn threw up his arms to cast a defending barrier, just in time to shield himself from millions of projectiles. Slivers of bone splayed all over the study, embedding into everything they touched.

The noble squares canceled each other out as they collided with a deep bang. Gone.

It was... Over?

He felt suspicion crawling across his skin. Skilful as he'd like to think he was, that battle had been unusually quick and done with.

Too easy.

GUESS WHO?

The splintered bones dislodged themselves and flew back together in formation, snapping and interlocking to create another skeleton.

This one had a blade for a tail, which Coryn was quickly acquainted to when it swung from the shadows and sliced into his arm.

An arc of his blood splattered on the floor.

He was hurt. The wound stung and he could feel the sticky liquid flowing through the gaps of his fingers as he clamped a hand over it.

The bloodstained blade came whooshing back for another attack. Coryn ducked, eyes darting back to the floating grimoire.

I have to destroy this deranged creation for good!

Biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, he clapped his hands together and pulled them apart, weaving magic between his fingers to call on something... A bit more powerful.

A droplet of water falling in a glistening pool of black oil.
The racing minute hand of a nostalgic clock.
A lighthouse at sea, keeping peace in the centre of a storm.

Such images were powerful to his mind - calmness was the essence.

His magic was getting stronger. He could feel it - a warmth pulsating from his hands.

It didn't matter what they were - all he needed was the comfort they brought.

The rays of light peeking through a dusty window. Soft chimes from the bell of a kitten's collar. A soothing voice singing nursery rhymes...

A creature was begining to form in front of him, weaved from the threads of light; a beautiful nine-tailed fox standing defensively on all fours.

The fox bowed its head, then brought it back up with a battle cry.

It became bigger, far taller than the person who cast it. Will-o-wisps hovered between each of its swaying full tails.

More memories of his mother. The hearty laughter of his father. A silent silver sky. Being told that he'd soon have a baby brother...

GWAAAAH!

The two animals clashed with each other in a head-on collision. A battle of strength; of endurance. They pushed hard, each fighting for the other to be hurled back.

Bones cracked.

How months passed after the birth. A forest ground littered with autumn leaves. A pumpkin patch and its scarecrow. A gorgeous midnight sky...

The fox shimmied its tails as it succeeded in throwing back the skeletal rabbit.

Victory was short-lived, for the beast rolled back to its feet and sprang again, snapping around its bladed tail viciously.

It sank its teeth into the fox's hide, only to be shaken off and slammed back into the ground.

Louder snaps.

A baby crying...

The fox tossed its head from side to side in a daze as the rabbit cut at its throat with the tail, slicing through the carefully-weaved magic that should've held strong.

Two people screaming. Peeking out from a doorway, half concealed by the dark hall...

Coryn faltered.

The rabbit gave a victorious screetch as it swiped a set of claws through the unraveling nine-tailed fox's chest, extinguishing it out of existence for good.

And then it turned its attention back to him.

[Is the fight intresting? Are you falling asleep, or on the edge of your seat, dearest reader? With love, from Phantom.]