Knights of St. Christopher

23 - Soul Cairn

Rene wandered the dark and creepy woods. She felt as if eyes were watching her every move. she came across a floating, glowing, white particle. She poked it with her finger, and she was sucked into a memory. It was the break-up with Josh. She watched herself walk into Josh's dorm to find Rachel and himself in bed together. She turned away with a gasp "Rene?!" She heard josh say. She was warped out of the memory "What was that?" She questioned herself.

"The soul cairn just rips the peace from ya." A women replied in an English accent from behind her. Rene turned around and looked at her. She had short, wavy, brown hair. Green eyes that sought peace "You'll get used to it" She replied. Rene approached her "Who are you?". The girl laughed "I'm Nessi. I've been here longer than most of the souls that linger here. This place isn't built for people like you" She replied. Rene furrowed "Like me?". Nessi nodded "Like you?" She questioned sarcastically. Nessi placed her hand in the pockets of her navy dungarees "Happy people, who've done no crime." She answered. Rene furrowed "What did you do?".

Unexpectedly, a black, skeletal figure attacked them. Nessi pulled out a crossbow and shot it. All the bones collapsed to the floor "What was that?" Rene questioned in a shocked tone. Nessi pulled back the crossbow and grinned at Rene "That, my dear, was a soul tearer. Nasty things" She replied. Rene nodded "Right..." She slowly replied. Nessi walked over it, the bones crushed into dust "Want me to tell ya what it does?" She asked. Rene shook her head "I kinda guess by the name what it does" She replied. Nessi grinned "You're not so slow, unlike some others I've come across" She complimented.

As they walked through the battered world, Nessi turned to Rene "What building did you come from?" She asked. Rene turned and pointed towards the tallest tower, Nessi followed her finger "You came from that building?" She asked confusingly. Rene nodded "Yeah...you say that as if that's a bad thing" She replied. Nessi rolled her eyes "That's where the worst of us go. Just please tell me you didn't come from floor one" She asked. Rene thought for a moment and realised that she had "I did, yeah". Nessi turned around slowly "Shit" She cursed. Rene furrowed "Bastard left without me!" She shouted. Rene jumped back "Is this the werewolf hunter?" Rene asked. Nessi nodded "Yeah, I agreed to his terms, and he landed us both here" She replied. Rene was taken back, realising that she herself was a werewolf hunter. Rene laughed awkwardly "I take it you don't like werewolves?" She asked. Nessi shook her head "My family was killed by a certain werewolf. Alpha, its name was" She replied. Rene's eyes widened, and her throat hitched. Nessi looked at her "You alright?" She asked. Rene nodded frantically "Yeah, perfectly fine" She answered.

Everyone gathered around the altar inside the temple. Vera placed the small soul gem on top "Okay...is everyone ready?" She asked. Hesitantly, everyone nodded "Good" Vera finalised. She placed her hands over the gem and began to chant.

As Rene and Nessi trotted along, a black portal opened "Rene" Vera called. Rene snapped to attention "I have to go!" She called in excitement. Nessi watched as she ran towards a black portal "Oh no you don't" She called. Rene ran into the portal with Nessi after her. They both escaped and landed on the floor of the temple.

"Rene!" Randall called out. His eyes landed onto Nessi "And another girl" He mentioned as he looked at Vera. Rene galloped to her feet "She's a looney!" She called. Nessi waved her hand with the crossbow set in it "Oh what? Now I'm a looney" She stated. Everyone moved out of the way in fear of being shot. Rene looked at Vera "She's after me!" She called. Nessi shook her head "No I'm not" She answered. Randall held onto Rene tightly "Yes you are! You're after Alpha" She replied. Nessi exploded and raised her crossbow "You son of a bitch!" She shouted. Rene put her hands up "It was never Alpha! It was the host" She replied. Hamish put his hands out "I am so confused!" He exclaimed. Nessi looked at Hamish "Alpha killed my family, and he's inside of her!" She exclaimed then pulled the trigger. The bolt went into her chest.

Time slowed down for Rene, the wound burned deep into her chest. Lilith tackled Nessi, kicked the crossbow away, and held her by the throat. Rene looked down at the bolt, she pulled it out and dropped it with no effort. Her knees went weak and collapsed into Randall "Woah!" He shouted. Vera quickly came to aid, she placed her on the alter "She was shot with wolfsbane" She explained. Lilith looked at Nessi in anger "You're gonna pay for that" She noted as her eyes glowed silver. Hamish looked at her "Lilith no!" He warned.

Josh came into the room and locked eyes with Randall "Josh has worked with wolfsbane, he'll know what to do" Vera explained. Josh approached Rene "Hey gorgeous" He greeted. Randall growled unpretentiously. Hamish had to pull Randall away or else he would've lunged for him. Josh poured a liquid into her chest "Still beautiful even when near death" Josh whispered to her unconscious body. Randall turned around "Shut it" He shouted.

Rene gasped, lunged up and punched Josh. Josh staggered back "You're welcome!" He called. Rene pulled a face before turning to Randall. He approached her with a relieved expression "How're you feeling?" He asked. She touched her chest, and the wound was gone "I'm better" She informed. Her eyes glided to Nessi "Lilith...let her go" She ordered. Lilith got off her and walked backwards "Nessi?" Rene called. Nessi got up and fixed herself "I'm sorry about your family, but working with whoever you are working for, isn't the answer" She explained. Nessi's guard dropped "You don't understand how it feels to lose someone you love!" She exploded. Rene smiled faintly "Actually...I do" She admitted. Everyone paused and looked at her.

Rene folded her arms "I was nine, my older brother was twelve" She started. Nessi looked off as she sucked her teeth "We were playing in the garden, as you do when you're a kid. We lived beside a field full of crops. One day when we were playing, his football went into the field, he went to get it" She told. Everyone was now on their toes "He had jumped in front of a carbine harvester, he froze like a deer in headlights. I watched as he was mowed down, I watched as he was sucked into the carbine harvester" She explained as she leaned against the altar. Everyone fell silent "I'm so sorry" Jack softly stated. Rene lightly shook her head "It was a long time ago, that's when my dad turned into the major asshole he is today, he never moved on. My mom was in an awful state, but she knew she had to stay strong for me, and that she did" She continued. Randall smiled and rubbed her arm. Rene looked at Nessi "Moral of the story, find what you need to be happy for, don't go off and become miserable" She explained.

Randall looked at Rene "What was your brother called?" He asked. She smiled "His name was Corey, but we all called him Bickens" She announced. Suddenly Nessi looked up in shock "Bickens? Are you sure?" She asked. Rene furrowed "Yes...I'm sure I know was I used to call my brother" She replied with a smile. Nessi shook her head "Little fucking shit" She replied. Rene's mouth gaped open "Just for your information...he's not dead." Nessi informed. Rene's eyes widened to the possibility. She began to judge what was fake, and what was reality.