Unlikely Heroes-Draft 1

Chapter 16

It was hard to know how long they had been in the tunnel, as time seemed to have no bearing there. It could have been hours, days, weeks, and they would have been none the wiser, but finally they came to the end, the stagnant deathly air giving way to a fresh fragrant breeze. The exit was a stone arch marked by silvery hieroglyphs, and beyond they could see vast dunes of white sand under an azure sky.

They crossed underneath the arch and out into the open air. Stars glinted like diamonds among a backdrop of nebulas and galaxies that danced endlessly through the never. It was if all of the Universe was open to their sight. But above everything else hung a massive pale moon. Larger than even the one that cast its gaze over the In Between, its light was a welcome sight compared to the bleak and confining tunnel.

Noc breathed in the air, it seemed familiar somehow...like he had been here before. He looked out over the shimmering sands, the peaks of a mountain range could be seen under the veil of deep grey clouds. A sudden bolt of lightning flashed down, hitting and illuminating the top of a pyramid, which perched like a falcon over a mountain city of glittering lights.

Noc murmured, "I know this place...I have seen it in a dream...", he raised an arm, white-blue electricity crackled through his fingers, "Now...where has Lucifer gone off to..."

Chim took in the scene, cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders. He had a score to settle with Lucifer for invading his home and daring to tempt him, and the sooner he could rip him apart the better.

They both walked forward, towards the thunder-crowned mountain, the sands shifting beneath their feet. The scent of ozone was becoming more prevalent, and here and there were marks of lighting hitting the sand. Fulgurite, petrified lightning, branched out of the ground like tubular sculptures.

The ground began to shake, and sand flew up into the air as something huge swept through the sands towards them. They stood steady, ready to jump out of the way if it had kept going, but it stopped short, disappearing deeper into the sand. There was a moment of uneasy silence before an explosion of sand nearly knocked them off of their feet.

Sand and detritus rained down heavily as a keening roar was heard from above them. Obscuring the view of the pyramid was a giant worm, at least 4 stories high, it's segmented body lined with barbed legs along its sides, giving it a serrated look. At its head were a set of jagged mandibles, and 5 trailing antennae crowned it. No eyes could be seen, and its pale tan body was covered in scars. Its belly was translucent, and within they could see countless souls trapped, glowing faintly.

A foul voice bellowed from the worm, "Finally you have arrived! My master bids you welcome, take one last look at the final bastion of souls before you die..."

Noc snarled, "Lucifer..."

Chim looked up at the gaping maw and the slicing mandibles of the King of Hell, scoffing, "I didn't think it was possible but you look even uglier than before..."

"Ahh Chim, that reminds me that I should thank you for your contribution to my collection. Some of these may look very familiar to you..."

Chim narrowed his eyes before realizing what Lucifer meant, "You motherfucker, you took my souls!"

"And I'll take more as well, starting with both of yours!", there was a deafening roar as the worm careened toward them, before diving headlong into the sand. He disappeared beneath the ground, not even leaving a trace of his presence.

Chim extended out his claws as he turned, expecting the worm to explode out of the sand at any moment, "Come out here you fucking coward! Quit hiding!"