Cursed Odyssey

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It was the dead of night.

The halls, vaguely illuminated by the subtle flicker of torches, saw shadows of several small figures, watched over by one larger, looming from above.

They were all in clinking chains, kids strung in a line, almost like cattle.

It was normal, yet there was something off…

So… today is the day, huh? The guard watching over the prisoners thought to himself.

It all depends on me now… Keep watch, he keeps snapping, but when the boy snaps both hands, I know he did something…

Despite it being possibly the easiest assignment of his life, he for some reason could not shake away the knot tied in his gut.

Just escort them back to their cells, they were all in chains, what was there to even worry about?

He almost felt pity for himself about these emotions. An insignificant position that would lead to nothing. So, why was he feeling this? If others could read his heart, they would certainly mock him.

The idea crossed his mind, a sort of self-deprecating mechanism for coping, yet it did him no good.

…

It was then, he heard a voice, and he could not help but visibly flinch—

"Excuse me, sir—"

!!

He looked down to see the source of the voice… It was…

Zephyr, the kid he was tasked specifically to keep the closest eye on.

"What is it?" The guard responded as calmly as he could.

"I'm sorry to ask, but could you pardon me for a second to go relieve myself?"

AGAIN!? The guard's face visibly tensed, yet it remained shrouded by the night's darkness.

Everyday, he's been doing this… But why today!? Wait… Why am I even surprised about it today!? The gears in the guard's mind turned in hyper speed.

Should I say no? But if I do, then he might think it's suspicious right!? But… AUUUGHHHH!!!!!?!??! WHAT AM I THINKING… It's just a pee! I can't risk him suspecting anything now! He's in chains and has been doing this every day! Fuck it!

"Go right ahead… Just make it quick…" The guard held his usual disdain in his voice and spoke as he normally did.

Zephyr's face slightly widened at the response, the picture of dead innocence.

"Thank you…"

He dipped his head, before promptly running off into a crevice in the walls.

Although they could not see him, the sound of his piss punctuated the air so loud, and the head of his shadow peaked from the corner. They knew exactly what he was doing.

_______________________

They called her the Violet Specter. Not for the faint lavender hue of her armour, but for the piercing amethyst glare that emanated from her full-face helm. Twin pinpricks of light, like caged stars, burned through the metal and wires, eyes that could instill dread in the heart of a dracoid.

A gauntleted hand, each knuckle a callous ridge, rested on the hilt of a sword black as the abyss. She moved with the unnatural grace of a predator, her every step radiating an aura of power so oppressive it stole the very air from the lungs of those who lined her path. Guards snapped to rigid attention, but their salutes were less out of respect, more out of an animal instinct for self-preservation.

As the Specter passed, a trail of silence followed in her wake. Men did not breathe, they barely dared even blink. All that existed was the rhythmic clang of her boots on the cold stone, a death knell echoing down the vaulted hallway.

Finally, as she made her way through the parted guards, she halted at the front, a few steps ahead of a peppered-haired man, her eyes casually clasped behind her back.

"Speak, Alton… I heard your report…"

"Y—yes ma'am…" Even Alton, a man of vast renown and a near-infinite sense of certainty, could not help but shudder in her presence. "I requested—"

"I said… I already read your report… Speak to me about what's important… Zephyr… Do you honestly think he is the one behind all of this? Possessed by a spirit? That certainly is interesting… Sounds like a perfect research subject…"

Alton dared a glance up toward the warden's face. She was laughing, and although he could not see her face beneath her mask, her eyes twisted in satisfaction, and her twitching helmet told him all he needed to know.

"Yes… And that is the reason I've requested everyone here. I left behind a few to patrol elsewhere, a skeleton for essential potrols made of those that I deemed too risky to bring. The spirit sounds powerful, so I made sure to take extra precautions," Alton responded.

"Why what a safe choice… And I assume you ordered most of the prison guards here? I see quite a lot…" She began looking around, the guards in her line of vision visibly shaking.

"It is as you say… But why say a 'safe' choice, and not the 'right' choice? Is there a reason for that?"

"No, just a hunch…" Suddenly, the Warden's gaze shifted from Alton to beyond the bars to her left, and up at the hole that exposed the black, starry sky and the full moon.

"You seem rather calm… Mistress…"

"Well of course I am! I knew this day would come the moment I laid eyes on that boy,"

"But—"

"Yes, it was also just a hunch—" She looked back at him, and Alton had the immediate urge to look away.

Her gaze remained fixed, piercing, and suffocating as she continued staring into Alton's soul… "And my hunches are never wrong…"

Alton gulped, then a spark reignited in his brain… Hunches… I've heard the exact phrase from 'that man' as well…

"Are you sure this Zephyr will be coming this way?"

"Yes mistress," Alton took a deep breath and responded, "I am more than positive. This is the perfect place for ambush…"

"Well… My hunch says you're wrong…"

HHHHE!? Alton's heart skipped a beat, and his brain spun working thinking, of how such a thing could be possible.

"You've missed a crucial detail… Too many of us are here… And he's down there with 'him'… But worry not, nothing will happen. Simply command your most trusted man to— !!!"

It was then, suddenly, the warden, tall, powerful, like an insurmountable mountain, fell on her knees—

Her hand flung towards her left breast, and her eyes began twitching and shining in an odd, unrhythmic pulse—

He could hear the grinding of her teeth, feel her breath in the air…

He, and every single guard around wanted to come help her, yet they found their breaths taken, and their feet glued stiff where they stood. They could not even find the energy to utter and ask her what was the matter!?

It was only by her own will did she stand back up—

Slowly, her mouth beyond her gritted teeth, where she only spoke one sentence—

!!!!!

__________________________________

Meanwhile… In Zephyr's Cell…

"What took you so long!?"

The cell was quiet, dark as the enveloping night. The fire usually found at its center did not crackle…

The only sound that invaded was the creaking door, and the arrival of a figure only slightly visible from the outer hall's lights.

"Answer me dreg!" Rayah continued, her voice unusually high, the highest it has been in over a week.

Silence met her demand.

The figure simply walked in, dismissing the voice as though it was the buzzing of a bug before taking a seat in her usual spot.

"Where is my slave!? Samsara!"

It was then, finally, did she respond, a long sigh puffing air through her mask.

"I know not where your slave is… How would I?" She casually dismissed.

"You take me for a fool!?" Rayah's voice rumbled, "You and that cretin have been talking excessively! If you wanted him so bad, I could have lent him to you if you begged and asked nicely! Of course, there would be an upper cost!"

"You think too highly of yourself… Your kind disgusts me…"

The cell's temperature seemed to plummet.

Rayah's expression took on a completely new form. Her icy blue eyes narrowed to slits, her fists clenching, as she slowly paced towards the sitting masked girl.

Samsara, however, remained seated, as if Rayah was a mere breeze against an impenetrable pyramid.

"Guys guys! Please stop it! You can't bring attention to this cell! You can't! You can't! Can't you see this is a stupid argument? The spirit needs safe passage! Don't anger it, please!" It was Gwynn's voice, calm, playful, yet laced with an unusual urgency, cut through the tension.

All eyes turned towards Gwynn. Despite his earlier tone, even in the darkness, his agitated movements and strained breathing betrayed an unsettling change in his demeanor.

"Arthur… You have to stop them…" He continued…

He looked over towards Arthur, but there was no response— In fact, this should have been expected. He wore a blank, yet somehow tense look upon his face as he stood one step from the cell bars, staring at the moon and open sky hole…

"Hey hey! Arthur! Be the stand-up guy and stop them already!" Gwynn tried once more, but there was no response.

Gwynn furrowed his brows, and his tongue clacked…

The tension between Samsara and Rayah did not lesson, but in fact intensify, is if his words were fuel stoking a fire.

"Zephyr will come soon… I know he will… Still… He has to… Rayah… He and Skylar will soon be here… You never cared before, so why now!? Just calm down for a little bit and—"

"WHO ARE YOU TO USHER ANY COMMANDS TO ME!?" She finally turned her attention away from Samsara, and finally towards Gwynn.

"Me!? I'm in fact your superior! Your authority is superficial, especially here!! You're the one who thinks too highly of themselves! I'm the demi god's chosen! Who are YOU to look down on me! Challenge me, and I promise you'd soon regret it!!" Gwynn's words, though laced with bravado, lacked their usual playful lilt, replaced by a frantic edge.

"Is that so…" She inched slowly towards him.

Without feeling it, Gwynn unconsciously took a step back.

'Zephyr's late… WHY IS ZEPHYR LATE!? He should have been here by now… WHERE IS HE!? DID SKYLAR DO SOMETHING?! I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET THAT BITCH BE!! Did they get him?! No that's impossible! Stop thinking about that for now! I can't start a fight with this ridiculous female Ox in front of me right now!'

"Just back off Rayah! Fighting won't solve a single thing! The guards will come and then—"

*PUNCH*

The sound of flesh striking flesh reverberated through the cell as Gwynn tumbled to the floor, the taste of blood filling his mouth.

"YOU THINK I CARE?! I'M TIRED OF THIS LIFE!! WHERE ON SANCTUM DOES A DEMENTED RODENT LIKE YOU THINK HE'S ANYONE'S CHOSEN ANYTHING!! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A FOOL!! I'M SICK OF IT ALL!! I THOUGHT I'D WAIT IT OUT! I'D BLOCK IT ALL OUT UNTIL IT'S SOON OVER!! BUT I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!! YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SPEAK OF BEHIND MY BACK!? YOU MAKE ME SICK!! SICK!! DON'T YOU DARE—"

"I SAID TO—"

Gwynn gritted his teeth, struggling to rise, but before he could react, Rayah's fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying into the stone wall with a sickening thud.

"Said to what!? Spit it out! Lick my feet and bark, and I'll consider not crippling you after Samsara!"

Gwynn's eyes wide with pain and shock, panted, his teeth grinding together. He could barely hear her incoherent ramblings. He had no time to entertain such blasphemy.

'After everything…This happens!? Of all the times, what did she suddenly snap now?! THIS WILL RUIN EVERYTHING!! I have to stop it!!!'

Wiping the blood off his face, he summoned his remaining strength. He clenched his fists and looked forward, dead into her eyes of icey blue… It felt almost otherworldly, his hands loosened, then his gaze found itself looking to the edge of the cell, by the iron bars.

"ARTHUR!! What are you even doing!?!? THERE'S NOTHING UP THERE IDIOT!! What's up with everyone all of a sudden!? Help me calm this girl down!!" Gwynn screamed, yet there once again was no response… He was like a statue.

"This girl you say?? Hmhmhm… How amusing… You might be the first to address me in such a way… But most certainly also my last… You should have waited for your turn to come after the dreg…"

A smile stretched across Rayah's face, but it was a grotesque parody of joy, devoid of warmth, filled with a chilling coldness. It was unlike anything he'd ever bore witness to.

Was this truly just a small girl? She appeared more like a monster.

'I… I… guess I have no choice but to fight…'

But then—

!!!!!!!!

_______________________

5 minutes prior:

*snap* *snap*

*Psssssssssttttttttttt*

All stood quiet, waiting… None dared speak, only the tapping of the guard's foot, and the sound of liquid spraying on rock punctuated the air…

Every few seconds, his eyes would shift towards the sound. Zephyr's shadow remained extremely still, and the tone of his pee was somehow even stiller.

As time went on, the guard's foot-tapping increased—

It's been almost a minute… Is he still peeing?! He's never taken this long before!?

"Speed it up!" He hounded, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

…

Silence.

…

No response.

…

The odd feeling present in his heart, for some reason intensified not hearing an answer, for what reason? Why worry? Why overthink something so petty? He still did not know.

Yet, he could not handle this feeling anymore.

After receiving no response, he took his first step toward Zephyr's crevice, but that was when—

"Sorry! It's taking a bit longer than I expected!"

Suddenly, he responded.

For that moment, the guard felt a serenity wash over his heart, and his tense muscles fell relaxed.

"Well then hurry it up! I have places to be! Just for this, there will be no next time!"

No next time… The guard could not help but inwardly chuckle, 'There will be no next time after we're done with you… So enjoy this last moment if you can…'

He took a moment to himself and smiled, leaning onto the prison bars overlooking the giant center hole. Then, he simply waited…

*Pssssssstttttttt*

Yet another minute passed, and Zephyr had not yet returned. The sound of his pee was as loud as ever. It did not diminish over time as one would expect.

It was then, The feeling returned, gripping him with renewed intensity, a cold hand squeezing his heart.

"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" He screamed, yet—

…

Silence.

…

No response.

…

The guard gritted his teeth, a vein bulging out his head.

With a loud, reverberating march, he rounded the corner onto the crevice where Zephyr was peeing.

And it was then, as he turned the corner he saw…

Nothing—

Ahh— ahh— his mouth unconsciously gaped open, and his stomach sunk to the deepest depths.

*Psssstttt*

Zephyr was gone. Vanished.

The sound of peeing was still heard— his head snapped to the left, and Zephyr's shadow was RIGHT THERE!! he should have been right there—

But all he saw was a damp patch on the wall, and a pair of handcuffs, dangling from a protruding rock.

The guard's heart began beating so hard, so fast his heart threatened to burst out his chest—

"It must be a bladder problem! I'm almost done!"

Abruptly, Zephyr's voice reverberated from all around him—

'What's going on!? HIS SHADOW IS STILL RIGHT THERE!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!? WHERE IS HE!? HE HERE!? WHERE IS THIS SOUND COMMING FROM!?'

It was like he was taunting him.

The guard's head snapped to every corner, looking for the source, yet he could not find it.

WHERE!? WHERE!? WHERE!? WHERE!? WHERRREEE!?! He didn't want to believe it, yet reality was staring into his face. His legs grew weak, shaking— he felt like he could not even take a single step.

He still did not understand how he did it, but Zephyr… had just disappeared… Like water evaporating into thin air.

His hairs stood on ends, his head snapped back, and he screamed.

"HE HAS ESCAPED!! ZEPHYR HAS ESCAPED!!" He screamed so loud that he nearly damaged his vocal cords, yet there was no echo.

He looked over, and the prisoners had had strung with him simply stayed in place with no reaction. His voice should have been heard throughout half the prison, yet there was no response.

WHAT'S GOING ON!? DID THEY NOT HEAR ME?!

"ZEPHYR HAS ESCAPED!!" He screamed once again yet, the same occurred.

The only response he received was his own ragged breathing.

Crazy— Was he going crazy!? He nearly wanted to rip his hair out and wish it was a dream. but he knew deep down that was not an option.

Quickly, he ran out of the crevice where Zephyr once stood and back towards the prisoners he was escorting, as he overlooked the entire prison and yelled out into the sky for the final time.

"ZEPHYR HAS ESCAP—"

—

!!!!!