Until We Fly

Chapter 22: Dark, Darker, Darkest

-Nim-

"Uhh...what...what is this..."
I mumbled, lifting myself up from the cold ground.
But the second my eyes adjusted to the surroundings, my body shot up.
All around me stood hundreds, thousands of Darks. Each staring at me with lifeless red eyes and yellow smiles.
I tried summoning my weapons and armor.
Nothing.
Nothing happened.
I was powerless.

Laying beside me was an old sword, rusted and worn out from centuries of battle.
My only option.

I picked it up, taking a ready stance as I had no other choice.
I had to remember.
I wasn't immortal anymore.
This was a risk.
I really could...
This was why I hadn't left the house.

No armor, no powers, nothing.
Just me, the sword and all of them.

This wasn't going to be easy.
I took a deep breath, not for one moment taking my eyes off of any of them.

Then it happened.
The first one leaped and I swung, slicing its head clean off and watching the body hit the floor.

This really wasn't going to be easy.

All at once, they leaped. Claws outstretched, teeth bared and howling.
From every direction.
But watching Jake all these years hadn't been for nothing.

I ducked, rolling underneath, turned and swung.
Three in one.
The others came more in a line.
Each head and body thumped to the floor, several at a time. From then, they didn't stop.
One after another, after another, an endless fight. Not even half a second between each jump.

I suffered a few injuries.
Cuts on my arms, a bite on my leg.
I could handle it.
Though amour would have definitely been handy at that point.

For so long, I fought.
For what felt like hours, they just kept coming.
But there was no time to pause.
No time to breathe.
Just fight, fight, fight, no matter how long it took.
No matter how much it hurt.
I couldn't stop.

And then, after so many, the last, headless body hit the ground.

I was panting, out of breath as I let the blade slip from my hands and clatter down, blood drenched onto the floor.

So many bodies.
There were so many bodies.

I felt blood trickling down my face before it dripped down to the ground.
My head was cut, my arms and legs were sliced to hell, my stomach and face were bruised more than ever before, my lip, hands, fingers all bled.

But I was alive.
How?
I don't know either.
But I was.

I was.

"Oh, very good, my lady. Very, very good."
Echoed a voice along with gentle, single applause.

I turned, checking every direction around me.
Nothing.
Nothing but blackness.
No floor, no walls, no ceiling, just black.
So why did it feel so...calm...

"A strong fight you put up there. I must say, I am impressed."

"Who are you?!"
I called out, my voice too echoing throughout nonexistent walls.

"I think you already know who I am, dear..."
He croaked, two red eyes appearing meters before me.

"...why am I here? What do you want?"

".....something....perhaps..."

"Why did you make me fight?!"

"Yes. You are quite skilled, aren't you. Quite the show, I must-"

"Enough of your damn games! What do you WANT?!"

Silence.

"Tell me!"