Radical-9

CHAPTER 11: A red, red rose

February 23^rd, 2022

9:42 pm

“We’re going to need to stick close and take this slow,” Athena begins. “With the Teleport Bats gone we've lost our light, hopefully we don't have to go too far.”

“Uh, yeah, how close do you wan-” Athena grabs my hand tightly.

“Just shut up,” she says.

I’m so glad it is pitch black because my face is redder than a tomato. Athena walks in front of me, guiding me by her hand.

“Hey, Athena?” I ask.

“Yeah?” She says.

I take a deep breath, “Thanks for not giving up on me earlier. I really needed that kick in the metaphorical balls,” I say.

“Well, it’s what I’m here for. I’ll be glad to give you that kick any day,” She says and giggles.

“Well, I guess I jumped into that rabbit hole headfirst, huh?”

Athena stops in place and I accidentally step into her, “O-Oh, sorry, my bad,” I say.

“Dex, can you promise me one thing?” She asks.

“Uh, I guess that'll depend on what that thing is,” I reply.

“Please…please don’t die.”

I search the darkness for her face, I can see the faintest of outlines.

“I...I came into this game looking for my brother, and when...when he passed I thought I had no more reason to be here. That all I had left was myself and just getting out of here, that it was a mistake,” she says.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“I...I was mistaken, because I've...I've come to like you. I think I always did,” she says.

“When we first met you said that you were watching me in the crowd,” I say.

“I caught myself watching, but then I got angry, that's how I deal with problems. If I get angry enough I don't have to feel anything else. I couldn't focus on finding my brother if I was dealing with those extra feelings. If I let it into my head that I thought you were...”

“Thought I was...?” I ask.

“I don't know, it's stupid. But do you know of when you see someone and it's like, 'I'm supposed to know them!' Like, they're more important than anyone else around, like a friend you'd forgotten you had, I don't know,” she says.

“Athena?”

“Yes?”

I pull her into an embrace and our lips connect. It’s the most magical thing I’ve ever experienced. The best part is that she kisses me back. We stand there for what seems like hours, but I know it is only a few seconds.

“W-Wow…” she says, as she puts her hand on my face.

My eyes have somewhat adjusted to the dark and I can see the outline of her figure, her black as night hair.

“We need to go. We shouldn’t be doing this right now,” she says, grabbing my hand again and picking up the pace.

“I’m sorry, I just had to, I've been feeling...so conflicted since I met you. I don't let myself get this way, I had convinced myself that these kinds of feelings only hurt in the end. I just wanted to do that, I wanted to know,” I say.

Athena doesn’t reply. We are running up what seems to be a large incline and I can see bright light in the distance. We emerge through the exit and the night time moon combined with a dark sky greets us. There lies a circle of trees, a familiar pedestal standing proud in the center. “Hey! There it is!” I call out.

We both run over to the pedestal, our joy almost tangible. I stand on the pedestal and open my item window. My finger hovers over the teleport crystals. I look towards Athena who returns a look that is a mixture of sadness and guilt, but it turns into a forced smile. I look straight ahead and press on the teleport crystals. I’m enveloped by the white light once more, just as Athena is. The scene shifts and large stone walls rise up as far as the eyes can see, four large walls sealing anything and everything inside their perimeter. On the wall behind us there are seven small indents forming a circle, with a somewhat larger indent in the center. What really grabs the attention of the room is the large raised altar, a brilliant blue flame blazing from its center that lies a couple hundred feet from where we stand. There is a large stone door to our right, it doesn't look like it is opening anytime soon.

“Hey Dex, look at your menu…this isn’t even the third floor…” Athena says.

I swipe my hand and my menu shows up. Sure enough, in the top right corner of my menu, the words “Floor:???” are displayed, in contrast to it showing a number.

“Quick, let’s go check out what’s going on up there!” I yell as I start running.

Athena is quick to follow, she sticks close behind me. As we near the altar, I see a figure limp on the ground, it’s Klein. I kneel down beside him and start tapping his face, “Hey, come on man! Wake up!” I start shaking him and I see his eyes start to flutter.

“H…Huh? Dex…Athena? Are you real?” He mutters drowsily.

I look towards his health bar, it hasn’t dropped much, but he has sustained some damage.

“Yes Klein, it’s us. Where are Rose and Sam?” I ask in a desperate tone.

Klein looks over, “H-Dex! You’re health! What the hell have you been-?”

“Not the most important thing right now,” I say, Athena flinches a little. “Where are they?” I am shaking him.

“Up there, last I saw they were heading up there. Man, she is much tougher than I pinned her for.” Klein points upward, towards the altar, which is definitely larger in person.

It looks to be about two stories tall. I notice that there is a narrow staircase spiraling up the sides of the altar which lead to the top. I don’t waste any time, I help Klein up to his feet, he is a little dizzy as he fully comes to. “Let's go, you two take the front,” I say, thinking back to my health. Athena nods, and Klein seems to be okay with it.

We’re all in this race against time, running towards the top of the large altar, the blue flame shimmering as our destination. I take a glance at my health. It has gone down dramatically since I’d last looked. I’d estimate about another half hour until it falls to zero. That is…if I don’t sustain any more damage from enemy fire. My mind is racing about as fast as we are running. About half way up the spiraling staircase my legs begin to fail me. Each step feels like I’m adding twenty pound weights to each leg. My breathing becomes more rapid and I start sweating. I fall to my knees and then I feel my body being lifted. Klein has picked me up over his shoulder. I look at him and he smiles at me.

“I’m not going to be indebted to you for long, buddy. Now we’re even,” He says, keeping his pace. He gives me thumbs up with his free arm. I raise my arm slowly and reciprocate the action. My body goes limp, I can only move my eyes and even then I can only look from side to side. I see Athena trailing behind Klein. How he manages to move so fast with all of that armor and while carrying me I’ll never know. It must be a perk to his armor or something outside of battle. I steal a glance at Athena, she sees me looking at her, it turns into a somewhat sad look. I use all of my strength to mouth “I’m sorry.”

We near the top of the altar, the spiral coming to a conclusion. “Okay, Dex. I’ll lay you down here, so if anything goes down, you’ll be safe. I see your health and I'm not letting you take any unnecessary damage.”

I feel a tear stream down my face. I can’t let them just go. Who knows what’s up there? They could be walking into a trap. No, scratch that, they most definitely are walking into a trap. Rose has something planned for them up there, why else would she leave Klein alive? She obviously doesn't want them to intrude, but then why keep him alive? Maybe she's confident enough in her abilities, or maybe she's got something up her sleeve.

Try as I might, I cannot move a single muscle. I want to be of help for whatever is up there, but I can't get my own body to cooperate. Athena nods to Klein and says something, I don't hear it. Klein and they begin making the final few steps up the spiraling staircase. I’m left looking outward at the stone walls that surround the box like area we are located in. Maybe I can at least help from the side, maybe the second keystone has something that can help. I'd totally forgotten to check it. I lift my right hand, the movement almost too much, I swipe open my menu. I go to my inventory and see the Heart of Artemis. Please let this be of some help.

“Grants the wearer the courage and sure-sightedness of the goddess Artemis herself. Increases physical damage by 150% and immunity to disease and poison. Effects can only be used once a day.”

“Yes!” I nearly scream.

I press the equip button and the Keystone appears around my neck on a small chain. My health is dangerously low still, but I already feel the numbing effects fading. The white spots from the poison are beginning to dim. Feeling returns to my muscles and I jump to my feet. I turn the corner and jump up. It is a total clusterfuck. Athena is in the air, in the clutches of a giant plant monster, it is like a giant flower, except the petals each have gaping maws, all ready to tenderize us. Klein is fighting off some skeletal beasts that are spawning from the innards of the giant plant. They seem to be a mix of quadrupedal and bipedal forms, they arrive in waves. Behind the plant a giant blue fire burns inside of the altar, almost as if it were a giant forge. Sam is hanging above it in two chains that extend to the ceiling above us. His arms are outstretched, he is crying hysterically.

“What the hell is going on here?!” I yell out.

Klein turns, surprised I'm standing. The plant monster turns too, its giant red petals shifting around until the shape inside is revealed, it’s Rose. Her body is attached to the giant petals by what look like cords stuck deep into her skin. The skeletons attempt to slash their swords and claws at Klein while he is distracted, but they just bounce off, his armor deflecting their attacks.

“What are you doing up here?” Klein asks.

“Kill now, talk later! I'm fine to fight!” I yell to him. My health is low, but I'm feeling like I'm on cloud nine. This is one time where I can use this disconnect to my advantage. I unsheathe Elcor and begin running towards Rose, various roots coming up from the ground trying to lash at me.

A garbled roar erupts from the creature that was Rose. She'd become nearly unrecognizable in her transformation. I jump from side to side, dodging her roots. One root emerges from the ground in front of me. I take the opportunity to jump on top of it and follow it all the way near the base, only sharply turning and jumping off, I’m just above Athena. I grab a hold of the root that has a hold of her and swing under it, slicing it from the bottom as I swing. I grab Athena and we both tumble to the ground.

“Dex, you’re okay,” Athena says.

I stand back up, “No time to chat. You go grab Sam,” I say, raising Elcor, “I’ve got Rose.”

Athena nods and runs towards the giant blue flame. I turn towards Rose, racing towards her. She screams, a dark and deep sound follows her voice like a small child trying to mimic their parents talking. Regardless of her form now it is time to begin my assault. With my new power boost, instead of Elcor glowing blue it shines with a glimmering green flame. I hack and slash at the roots that are closest to me. Klein breaks through the bone army surrounding him, he smashes through their rear and runs my way.

“I don’t want you to have all of the fun now, huh? How can I present myself as the strongest member here if I let you take the kill all for yourself?” He says, laughing.

“We'll see old man,” I grin.

“Old? I'm only twe-”

I run ahead, cutting him off and jumping on one of the severed roots as it begins to fade into pixels. I use my position to my advantage. I run and jump off of the edge as it disappears, I land on the edge of one of her petals. Rose begins flailing about.

“Klein! Please stabilize her! Cut the roots, do anything!” I scream, holding on for dear life.

“Got it buddy!” He calls back, I don't see where he is, it's just a blur of red on blues and greens.

I feel like I'm going to be sick, but I keep my grip. I feel something moist touch the back of my hand. I look up and I see a long slimy tongue coming out of the mouth on the face of the petal. I've got my left hand clenching the petal, my right clutching Elcor. I take my blade and swing it in front of me in a horizontal arc, separating the tongue from the rest of the flower. It shrivels and moves around the petal haphazardly until the momentum of the now spinning Rose throws it off and it shatters into pixels in the air. Rose stops spinning and the whole flower structure falls to the side. Klein had cut the final cord keeping her upright.

I roll off of the ground, a few feet away from the flower. I peek up and see Athena, she's holding Sam in her arms, my eyes move to the spot he'd been hanging. The chains have been cut, she must've jumped the hole to grab him. Finally my eyes fall on Rose, she's lying down inside her flower, it like a huge piece of armor. Klein walks over towards me and reaches his hand down towards me, I take it and he drags me to my feet. “So, looks like the youngin' needs some help from the elders every now and again,” he grins.

“Yeah, I guess so,” I say.

Athena joins us, I separate and walk up into the opening of the flower. Rose tries to reach her arm out, but she's held back. As I get closer I see how messed up she looks. Her skin's taken a light green tint, the flower has attached itself to her through cords in her skin. One on each hand, foot, and three in the back of her neck.

She tries to manipulate the flower to rise. I take Elcor and cut the connection, severing her from the flower, a white goo flows from the ends of the cords as they're slashed. Rose begins screaming, the same sort of monster-like growl, but it seems to regain some human-like quality when she's free from her bonds.

“Agk!” She mutters out, coughing pixels up. “Go ahead, kill me. I...I don't want this anymore. You’ve won.” She says, coughing up some of the white goo.

“Why did you bring Sam here? Why did you need him for this ceremony?” I ask, ignoring her request.

Rose looks at me like I'd asked her something in a foreign language.

“This goes so much deeper than you...It goes so much deeper and I don't want anything of it anymore, I just want-” She eyes the Heart of Artemis and then whispers, “You have one of the Keystones hanging around your neck,”

I feel for the crystal, my hand momentarily leaving Elcor.

“What...what do you know of this?” I ask.

“Kill...me...” she says, reaching up.

I kneel down, “What do you know about this Keystone? Tell me or else-”

“Or else what? You won't fucking kill me and don't have the balls to torture me yourself. You're just going to let me lie here, why should I tell you?”

It happens so fast, I'm rushing towards her, my hand at her throat, pinning her to the ground, my sword enters her arm and pins her down. “Tell me what you know! Why do you need Sam? What do you know?!” I scream at her. I see the look in her eyes, and then I can feel the look in mine.

I see Eldon, I see him pinning me in the exact same way I have her now, and then I hear his scream. It echoes through my entire being, and I begin shaking. I look to Rose's face again, her mouth is moving, but I can't hear anything. All I can hear is Eldon's scream.

Her mouth stops moving, she's stopped talking, and then I feel a force on my stomach, I'm being sent backward, Rose had kicked me, I'm feeling a major sense of déjà vu, except instead of taking her time she leaps up and rushes me, knocking me down and holding a curved knife to my throat.

“Now, I think it is time you find out how it feels to be cut,” she says.

Her face changes, a devilish smile to confusion, it only lasts a second. I look down and see a sword going right through her abdomen, the point ending right before my own sternum. Behind Rose I can see Athena, her face frought with worry, holding her Wo Dao. She slides the sword out of Rose's back, she falls on top of me, her face absolutely blank. Her face is on mine, I'm nearly frozen. Her eyes shift to me, and she whispers, “The kid has to die, has to die. He has to die...” she repeats.

Her body begins to glow white as it falls apart into pixels all over me, and then begin to rise. I realize how heavy I'd been breathing, sweat would be coating my entire body if it could. Athena helps me up and quickly throws herself into my arms, embracing me.

“Everything happened so fast, I thought she was going to...”

“It’s okay, we’re fine now,” I look to Klein, he is holding Sam, who remains unconscious. “We’re all fine.” I repeat, holding her close to me.