The Doomsday Book

Chapter 9

An earthquake suddenly rumbled through the ground.

"Wow, another earthquake," Delta deadpanned. "I'm starting to think everything's freaking repeating itself."

A crack split the earth. It caved into itself to create a sinkhole-like chasm that spread for about seven miles northeast and southwest, forming a diagonal jagged line. Magma bubbled at the bottom, illuminating the rocks in a deadly glow. A few studs of crystals fell from the dividing walls into the molten rock of heat and death.

The thought of a foolish human jumping into the magma to have the valuable rocks in their grasp crossed my mind. I would've laughed if I wasn't bleeding and sore from twenty points in my body.

A dark thunder groaned in the distance while the winds picked up.

"Eastern winds," I breathed automatically.

"Ill-omen," Delta added.

Rain began pouring. It stung whatever it touched. Everyone stopped to look up. The air was uncomfortably warm, like water left out in the sun for too long. The putrid stench of flesh and tar made me crinkle my nose in disgust. Vague needling pain poked at my body from the acidic precipitation.

"The world is ending," a new voice spoke.

I turned only to be met with the lash of a whip to my cheek. The blow started bleeding, intensifying the burn of the rain. I hissed and scowled.

Lust was suddenly thrown aside. One of the Fates was standing with the opened Book in hand, pages rotting away. She was wearing a mocking grin, that of a ghoul's. Perhaps a human would've found her beautiful if she didn't have a maniacal glint to her greyest eyes. I couldn't stop staring at her soul, or what was supposed to be her soul.

Rather than the searing light of a god's, intense jittering light of a mortal's, or the dull glow of a Wanderer's like a black UV light, the Fate's soul was that of a star burning itself out and relighting over and over in a never ending cycle.

"You're awfully quiet," she said to me, eyes narrowed to scorn.

"Hey, bitch!"

All eyes turned to Delta. She had a determined look to her face that masked the uncertainty in her eyes.

"Fix the world!"

The Fate cackled, pearly teeth seeming sharper than should be. "Little Shadow, you should know that I am the Fate of the Future. It matters not that the world rains acid and boils itself away because the humans would have a similar effect on this planet one way or another."

With a snap of her fingers, the Fate sent us into the world of barrenness and lifeless things. The dirt was dark with roots and bones strewn about. Then suddenly, we were standing on a small rock, barely the size of a boulder, with polluted water crashing angrily against the edges.

It shifted yet again to a scene of fire and smoke. Screams and shouts muddled together with the coughs of running people. Complete and utter pandemonium, I thought.

"It's like the Civil War," Delta murmured, a mix of disgust and awe in her tone.

I inclined my head in agreement.

"Humans were built to be savage. It's in their system to kill," the Fate of the Future said with a focused gaze on the ongoing destruction.

A missile fell from the clouded heavens, heading straight for us. Just before it reached its mark, the scene shifted once again, and we were in the acid rain and sunless field once again.

"Humans aren't all violent and savage," Delta spoke defensively. "Anything could happen the way you want it to because you're the Fate of the Future. Hell, aliens can attack from a distant galaxy! You can control the future; it's in your name."

The Fate glared, baring her almost-fanged teeth. "But what would an abomination know?"

Delta's face fell into annoyance. "I get it. I'm a Shadow Knight, and that's not good enough for you pricks."

"The only reason your friend isn't dead now is because I'm allowing him to live," she said pointedly.

"'Him'?" Delta questioned. "Are we supposed to be referring to my friend here by her original gender or her current gender because I'm getting confused."

"It doesn't matter," I answered. "I'll take either or."

The Fate raised a shiny calligraphy pen in her hand. "Carry on, then. I'll just be here checking your progress. Don't mind me."

A gunshot rang under dry thunder. Greed's gun was smoking from a bullet that grazed my arm. They were looking at me with the hunger of a predator. I was still on the ground. Vulnerability made panic drum at my ribcage.

"Kiara! Aerial Boost!" Delta shouted, running at me with her saber brandished.

Reflexively, I crossed my blades with my wrists facing upwards to act as a springboard for Delta. She jumped and, as practiced, slung into the air with a single three-sixty turn in an arc over Greed. The Sin shot all four rounds in the revolver at Delta, some missing and some hitting or grazing past. She didn't seem affected by it as the Shadow landed nimbly on her feet. Delta's saber had slashed across Greed's shoulder before blocking an attack from Gluttony's mace in one swift move.

Pride lunged for me, longsword glinting gold like their eyes. I narrowly dodged them and sent a hard swinging kick to their side. The Sin caught my ankle effortlessly. I grunted when they yanked me to my back, dragging up dirt and acidic mud.

Something blunt struck the side of my head. My vision blacked out and blurred while a ringing was in my ears. I blinked rapidly to try to regain some focus but only managed to hear slurred words and the hissing of steam. It took me a moment to realize Pride was dangling me over the chasm of lava, laughing haughtily.

"You know, he's just going to Cycle into another vessel when you drop him," the Fate said, not looking up from the rotting book.

"Shut up, bitch," Pride hissed.

She looked up, a deadly glare in her eyes.

"Dude, you fucked up," Delta said with a smile despite the gaping wound gushing blood from her hip.

Pride scoffed and gave me a harsh kick in my rib. I sucked in air though my teeth, finding difficulty in breathing without sharp pain biting into my side. The Sin grabbed my forearm, searing a handprint into it. I winced, too weak to make a sound. Then suddenly, I was falling. I vaguely noticed the increasing heat on my back and neck. Sweat and blood mingled on my lips. Delta was shouting something. What she said, I couldn't make out.