A Nightmare Reborn
Chapter 5 Part 4
Who is this man, and why is here? How did one such as he reach this forsaken place? What does he truly want? Somehow, he knows me...ah...yes! That's it! He is yet another trick from my past, some beast or ghost that refuses to let me progress. As I reached for my gun, the old man pressed forward, taking a few steps faster than I could see with my naked eyes. I froze, and he was upon me. Instead of killing me, he said, offering me,
“I am not one of them, boy.”
His boldness left me without the ability to doubt. I don't know who he is, but I felt something. My madness also seemed to belong to him. The way he carried himself, however, told me that he had existed within our delirium for much longer than I have. As his breathing became labored, I realized what I must do. I put away my gun, and said,
“I'm Henry…”
He laughed, somehow finding amusement in my offering. Instead of extending his hand, he put his arms around me, as a father would a son. I did not know why, but I felt…warm. This has never happened to me. After the old man had patted me on the back, he said,
“My name…it doesn't matter. Just call me father…”
Before my irrational mind could jump to conclusions, he said, explaining his words,
“I used to work…for...a church…”
I could not bring myself to judge this mysterious stranger. Whoever he is, he's a much needed friend. The man, “Father,” put his weapon on his back, and began to walk ahead of me. As I struggled to catch up with him, we proceeded into the deeper part of the mine, we went through a long bout of silence, which made the air uneasy. Eventually, I asked, wishing to know more about this odd father,
“How did you find me?”
He laughed, quietly, dryly, and answered,
“You might say you found me.”
What he had said made sense, in a strange way that I barely could understand. He, too, had been lured here. Whatever had brought him here, however, was not the same reason as mine. Instead of wishing to mate with Alice, I know his intention is to slay Althia, the old god. This is our intention, too. Alice hates her. She has always lived in the shadow of the diabolical puppeteer that only she knows. I had never thought life up here could be possible. This place is a fortress, indicating that this father person was not a man of mere mortal caliber. Whoever he is, he has given me what I really need, a stroke of dull sanity, which, up here, is golden. As I walked behind him, father’s garb revealed something to me. It was exactly what you would expect of a padre, except for one subtle error. He bore no cross anywhere on his body. Such a nuance could only mean that he is not a man who dies for others but instead makes them die for him. The experiences he has held throughout his long years would be ones of extreme interest to me, as I'm sure he's lived a peculiar and exciting life. Perhaps his supposed livelyhood has helped him exist in this infernal mine. Whatever it may be, his company has made my heart...warmer.
As we rounded yet another wide passage, the father slowed his pace, perhaps listening for potential assailants. We weren't to be disappointed, either. This beast was not like the others, as it lie in front of us, unaware and silent. It's head resembled an avian creature, and it's body had dark feathers covering all of its flesh. The father didn't seem at all surprised that it was here. He stalked the creature, yet I could not take any chances. As I loaded a single round into my Saturday Night Special, the father did not attempt to halt me, and I fired, hitting the bird-like monster in the back. What happened next was ghastly. It rose to its feet, turning around, revealing a scowl on its strikingly human face. It was female, and it was enraged. Before the beast could reach me and end my life, the father struck the creature, burying his blade into its neck, causing blood to run all over its feathered body, adding crimson to black. As he released her, the beast dropped to the ground, letting out a shriek before it became lifeless, twitching sharply on the ground. The father let out his signature dry laugh, and said,
“You should be more careful.”
This was one of our first memorable experiences that we shared. This father has already taken a place in my heart that had been vacant for quite some time. His age is what makes it so easy to be fond of him. His wiley nature was impeccable. This man was what I thought of as a true hunter, wishing to end the reign of the tentacled queen. She was, at one point, a goddess to me. Now, she's an obstacle to me. What was so far only a brief encounter with this mysterious father has became a catalyst to my mind's change. If I were to pray for anything, anything at all, I would hope that this man forever stays in my life. The boon that once was Alice now seems to have completely faded away. How fast things can change in this life. It's criminal, isn't it?
Chapter 5 Part 4
Who is this man, and why is here? How did one such as he reach this forsaken place? What does he truly want? Somehow, he knows me...ah...yes! That's it! He is yet another trick from my past, some beast or ghost that refuses to let me progress. As I reached for my gun, the old man pressed forward, taking a few steps faster than I could see with my naked eyes. I froze, and he was upon me. Instead of killing me, he said, offering me,
“I am not one of them, boy.”
His boldness left me without the ability to doubt. I don't know who he is, but I felt something. My madness also seemed to belong to him. The way he carried himself, however, told me that he had existed within our delirium for much longer than I have. As his breathing became labored, I realized what I must do. I put away my gun, and said,
“I'm Henry…”
He laughed, somehow finding amusement in my offering. Instead of extending his hand, he put his arms around me, as a father would a son. I did not know why, but I felt…warm. This has never happened to me. After the old man had patted me on the back, he said,
“My name…it doesn't matter. Just call me father…”
Before my irrational mind could jump to conclusions, he said, explaining his words,
“I used to work…for...a church…”
I could not bring myself to judge this mysterious stranger. Whoever he is, he's a much needed friend. The man, “Father,” put his weapon on his back, and began to walk ahead of me. As I struggled to catch up with him, we proceeded into the deeper part of the mine, we went through a long bout of silence, which made the air uneasy. Eventually, I asked, wishing to know more about this odd father,
“How did you find me?”
He laughed, quietly, dryly, and answered,
“You might say you found me.”
What he had said made sense, in a strange way that I barely could understand. He, too, had been lured here. Whatever had brought him here, however, was not the same reason as mine. Instead of wishing to mate with Alice, I know his intention is to slay Althia, the old god. This is our intention, too. Alice hates her. She has always lived in the shadow of the diabolical puppeteer that only she knows. I had never thought life up here could be possible. This place is a fortress, indicating that this father person was not a man of mere mortal caliber. Whoever he is, he has given me what I really need, a stroke of dull sanity, which, up here, is golden. As I walked behind him, father’s garb revealed something to me. It was exactly what you would expect of a padre, except for one subtle error. He bore no cross anywhere on his body. Such a nuance could only mean that he is not a man who dies for others but instead makes them die for him. The experiences he has held throughout his long years would be ones of extreme interest to me, as I'm sure he's lived a peculiar and exciting life. Perhaps his supposed livelyhood has helped him exist in this infernal mine. Whatever it may be, his company has made my heart...warmer.
As we rounded yet another wide passage, the father slowed his pace, perhaps listening for potential assailants. We weren't to be disappointed, either. This beast was not like the others, as it lie in front of us, unaware and silent. It's head resembled an avian creature, and it's body had dark feathers covering all of its flesh. The father didn't seem at all surprised that it was here. He stalked the creature, yet I could not take any chances. As I loaded a single round into my Saturday Night Special, the father did not attempt to halt me, and I fired, hitting the bird-like monster in the back. What happened next was ghastly. It rose to its feet, turning around, revealing a scowl on its strikingly human face. It was female, and it was enraged. Before the beast could reach me and end my life, the father struck the creature, burying his blade into its neck, causing blood to run all over its feathered body, adding crimson to black. As he released her, the beast dropped to the ground, letting out a shriek before it became lifeless, twitching sharply on the ground. The father let out his signature dry laugh, and said,
“You should be more careful.”
This was one of our first memorable experiences that we shared. This father has already taken a place in my heart that had been vacant for quite some time. His age is what makes it so easy to be fond of him. His wiley nature was impeccable. This man was what I thought of as a true hunter, wishing to end the reign of the tentacled queen. She was, at one point, a goddess to me. Now, she's an obstacle to me. What was so far only a brief encounter with this mysterious father has became a catalyst to my mind's change. If I were to pray for anything, anything at all, I would hope that this man forever stays in my life. The boon that once was Alice now seems to have completely faded away. How fast things can change in this life. It's criminal, isn't it?
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