Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 153- Careless

Immediately all the negativity floods back through my mind. If only there was some way I could show or express my inner pains to Rin, to show her the monstrous amount of pain I am in; yet, at the same time, I want to be all alone, completely utterly alone. That doesn't mean I do or want to feel lonely, for me lonely is comforting, not a deep dragging weight of agony but rather sparkles over my mind as stars in the darkness of night. I had forgotten all too well that never have I known the reason behind my name. Sure there's the internet but why did my parents choose it for me.

Through all this, another chaos opens in me and tears at my heart, I get flashes of Hester, sparks of Rin's new hatred and my heart is in extreme pain so much so it's all I can do to keep standing. I'm terrified, this feels like the flesh is ripping.

"I know nothing of my name," I whisper and Eve moves over to inquire Rin instead. Eve must be a deep and thoughtful soul and I respect that; it would sometimes be nice to be around someone who can really make you think.

Rin, in a dull uninterested voice, elaborates on her name while chaos interferes with me in every which way, an ambush of deceit. 

"Night is upon us, let us go up to where we can sleep soundly. But, feel free to wander whenever, our home is your home too." Heath welcomes us and I feel very at home just by that.

Alas, we reach where many rectangles of cotton, ferns, leaves, and who knows what else lay evenly like the spokes of a wheel out from the tree. I sit on the one nearest the ladder and ramp exit down the tree with Genesis, Rin claims the one on the other side of the insane trunk, Phoenix to my right and Aegis next to him, Blaze on my left and Dagwood at his side. Eve says goodbye and goes back to the experiments she seemed to be conducting earlier, the other two wizards start conversing with the Luzumi.

Voices lower and laughing is softer as night wears on, I have been in and out of conversation also handing out food from our pack before slipping away, carelessly sliding down the ladder, past Eve and all the other platforms wishing to scream my inner pains away to forget the images flashing in front of me. There is no way to escape my own head and thoughts though, I can no longer control it.

Genesis leaps and bounds down the ramps with my speed and I finally touch ground, snatching a torch from the tunnel in the roots and going to the dark shadow forms of Yelmetes outside the barrier. The snakes are hard to see as they are probably growing invisible with my presence as they are capable of. However, I can use the flame to see shadows and the gleam of scales still.

Kol is dormant at my side, the animals take notice of me and the firelight, wind on my face, I take care where I place my feet in an understanding of their home. I hear a whoosh as the barrier passes over me. Now I am standing completely vulnerable but I do plan to stay near the field. Right now I am aware of how careless I am being about myself, my body and my dying mind.

Over there, shadow, scales, head, found one. Heart fast, adrenalin aching in my head, I unsheath Kol and put the torch in my other hand. Now I won't really be able to see others diving at me so I'll need to put more focus on the air and my ears.

In my evolving anger, frustration, and grief, the agony flows right into my blade. I start slashing the blade, am lighter on my feet than I have been in a long time, more motivated, stronger, more determined with every stroke. Each one brings more and perhaps an unnecessary amount of power and effort. Already two down and almost at three.

The head swerves about, I dodge and leap, Genesis distracts it as I thrash the sheen blade through the neck with an inner scream of rage and grief. Another comes at me from the right, and another at my back, I hear their scales on the Earth, feel their vibrations through the ground and pinpoint them. Now I turn and see the shine of the fire on the scales of their heads. They hiss and dive swift and crude this way and that. These creatures are vicious and I am knowingly far too daring and careless right now.

Quickly I set Genesis on one and take the other as the head swerves about at me I keep steady. Right when I see the mouth open I am ready for the attack. There's another hiss but I know how I can stop the newcomer and this one. As the first comes I back up towards the other, taunting them both. Their heads collide as planned by my perfect position blocking their view of one another and leaping up just in time.

A fourth is now present and ready to snatch me from the air. Agony tumbling with fire in my heart, my feet slam into the bottom of the open jaws and my fire laden hand turns to a first to keep the top open wide too. The fire's heat burns the flesh and sends the snake reeling and thrashing about trying to rid itself of me but I take the sword and thrust it through the roof of its mouth. I hear the hissing of the newly recovered two I left behind and swing myself up high again and out of the way as the one I stabbed falls dead.

There's a high pitched yelp that is undoubtedly escaped from Genesis. This shakes my focus and increases my anger by great currents.