Rise of the Inquisition (Arc 4-6)

Chapter 107: Haunting Memories

Standing in the white painted gazebo made of wood in the courtyard, Paladin was looking up into the dark sky, looking up at the brightly lit moon. As he was looking up at the moon, he was leaning up against the white railing, and many thoughts were roaming through his head.

Ashley

Instantly, Paladin remembered the visions and the pain. Paladin remembered having flashbacks of Snow being strangled to death by Lord Sparrow, and then the execution of Arryn from right across Ashley. As Paladin remembered, he kept hearing screams of death from Ashley, the screams echoing throughout his ears continuously.Paladin. Paladin started to have sweat going down his forehead, and he started to breath heavily. The flashbacks were continuously repeating through his head, he was seeing Snow and Arryn dying over and over. Each time the vision repeated, Paladin's heart would increase it's beating rate, seemingly racing with only itself.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Paladin, fully encompassed in his vision turned his head to look at Ashley, who was standing next to him. Her entire outfit was stained with blood, blood seemingly sprayed onto her like it rained and she had no umbrella. Paladin stared at her, seemingly not moving an inch. He could feel the guilt of allowing Lord Sparrow to kill Ashley's friends, feeling the guilt of not stopping it when he likely had the chance in front of him. Paladin's guilt was filling him whole, replacing any joy he had left, with sadness and darkness.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Repeating from the same vision, both Snow and Arryn appeared next to Ashley, who had blood stained all over her. Arryn, flesh from her horizontally ripped neck was hanging off the side of her neck, and blood was draining out from her neck still like a waterfall. Snow, floating to the left side of Ashley, had his entire neck broken, and his head was twisted over to his right as he looked at Paladin. Neither Arryn or Snow spoke to him, however he could hear their voices ring throughout his ears.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Paladin blinked, and suddenly the entire army of the dead appeared in the valley. Soldiers, who had their arms ripped off, or their skeletons crushed, eyes missing, or one of their legs missing. The soldiers wore various armor, some of them from House Athena, some of them from the Royal Military, and some of them were from soldiers from houses sent to help. None of the soldiers spoke to Paladin with their mouths, Paladin could only hear their voices ringing in his ear, and he could hear his heart beating louder and faster than he has ever heard it. It was beating itself in its own race, and Paladin was feeling the pain.

Soldiers of the Damned.

Paladin, while still in the vision grabbed onto his heart with his left hand. His mouth was opened, using all avenues he had to get fresh air into his lungs. Paladin was having a panic attack, his eyes were roaming all around in the vision, as every single dead person started to march towards him on all sides. All of them reaching their hands out to him, grabbing onto his body.

"Paladin?"

From his name being mentioned, Paladin was forcefully ripped out from the visions, and he quickly realized the visions were not real. Still breathing heavily, still holding onto his heart with his left hand, Paladin turned to look behind him and looked at Lady Athena.

"Lady--Athena?" Paladin stopped speaking for a moment, and was still catching his breath. "What are you doing here?"

Lady Athena, with a worried look on her face, immediately marched across the gazebo and grabbed onto Paladin. Putting her arms around him.

"Are you okay--you've been acting strange ever since you woke up."

Paladin, confused why Lady Athena was holding onto him. Took both of his arms and planted them down at his side, and as his head was next to her head, he looked out from behind her. Paladin was out of it, the guilt that he had was strong. Paladin knew that Lady Athena had been doing some strange things to him recently, but for right now, he was at peace with being embraced by her. Feeling her warm presence, it was comforting when compared to standing alone, in the dark and cold night.