Hollows Eve

Chapter 2

. : HOLLOWS EVE CHAPTER 2 :.

Last time I told you where I was and how I got there...Now the question is why? Why am I here?

It's the same place I see in my dreams, every night I have these subliminal nightmares...a dark, dreary and scary place where you never see daylight...only darkness. The trees are black, dull and lifeless, almost like a dark forest of evil is haunting it. With midnight blue dirt roads covering the grounds. There are countless evil looking creatures surrounding the world around me with red eyes and shadow-like bodies, some varying in size from small, too absolutely terrifying from being so large.

It always scared me, and throughout my life they never went away. It's the same world, just a different experience every time...but this time...I'll soon come too know that it's neither a dream...nor a nightmare. It's real, this place is real. So my question, as well as probably yours for those who are reading this...is why? ….Why am I here? Hi...My name is Kaila Amiyuki, I'm a 16-year old girl in High School...and it seems my "destiny" is calling me.

I continued walking down a pathway that turned from a dark blue dirt road into a blue stone pavement path. I was walking with a man that had on a witch-like hat that zig-zagged at the top with a long tip & had a button with a pentagram on the strap in the middle of the hat. He also wore a scarf and a spiked brownish-purple cape with gray clothing and silver-blue pants on. He also had a pumpkin for a head with a green slithering tongue as well as black eyes with yellow pupils...it was like looking at something from Halloween season. He said his name was "Jack Von Lantern". That only confirmed that I was in a dream, who would name themselves something so cheesy?

But I would soon find out...I was WAY wrong about that. We continued to walk down the path, and as we walked I asked him something. "Uh...Excuse me Mr...Jack O' Lantern?" He looked back at me with his creepy gaze..."It's Jack VON Lantern Sheila...you better get that right. Or else you'll end up on the other side."

I had a somewhat puzzled but creeped out look on my face after he said that. "Wh-what do you mean the other side?" I said to him, my voice trembling a bit. "I mean you'll end up in a casket on your side...and you'll see the light on ours. Assumin' you've committed no sin that is..."

He uttered a creepy laugh with a sinister tone too his voice. His voice rubbed me all the wrong ways..."I just wanted to ask..." As I continued walking with him, with a still scared look on my face. "Where are we going?" I asked him.

"You'll know soon enough..." He said to me. As we continued walking, I started to gaze upon a city of all things. The city looked like a basic town that had a medieval feel too it with regal, castle like buildings and architecture inspired by Victorian London. It looked Gothic in nature as well, as everything was black, and we approached the city and came to a gate. The gate was closed, it looked of course, black and had looked like the gateway to a cemetery. Over it was the word "Nightmare" As Jack pushed the gate open and we entered, he took me through the city, and I felt like a complete outsider…..

Not only that but around me were some pretty weird looking creatures, it had a haunting Halloween feel to it that just made me so uncomfortable I couldn't bare it. Tons of weird creatures looked at me; one had a sewn together face that was mixed up in several places, as blood seeped out of the sewn crevices in his face. He had brown hair, orange eyes and he just looked at me and smiled and uttered a laugh of insanity.

Another one was big and burly, and had wings the size of a gargoyles pair of wings. In fact I think that WAS a gargoyle, as he was black, burly, and he eyed me very strongly.

"Why is everyone looking at me so weird?" I whispered too Jack, completely frightened. Who knows? These people might want to kill me or rip me apart. "Don't worry. They know what's up. They a'int gonna kill ya'. Master's orders." I was puzzled. "Master's orders?" I asked him with a confused tone in my voice. "Yeah. You'll see what I mean once we get to the castle."

I should've figured there would be a castle. Everything else in this world is like something out of a goddamn horror flick. I wouldn't be surprised if the next thing I see is Dracula or Frankenstein.

So after we exited that creepy looking city and walked along another path for what felt like HOURS, I asked Jack if we could take a break. While breathing very heavily, extremely tired, I asked him "Hey...Can't we take a break? It feels like we've been walking for hours!" I raised my voice a bit. He just peeled his eyes back a little and said "Walk it off. And quit ya' complainin'. We're almost there."

And turns out he was right, we were right in the middle of a stone pathway and in between the city of Nightmare, and the small stone pathway in front of us lied a bridge. A Bridge that led to a castle not too far off in the distance. This castle even looked like something out of a horror movie. It was of course Black of all colors. Lord knows everything else in this world is black & blue. But it had such a haunting presence too it. It of course was set up like a Victorian London castle, but it also had black roofing, Gargoyle statues all over it as well as a black presence too it, as I clearly saw a black-ish glow radiating from the castle.

That clearly caused me alarm...I didn't know what the hell to except. So I just went across the bridge and crossed the moat, and as I crossed I looked below and saw a river filled with venomous sea monsters.

That's when I decided I've had enough of this freak show. I screamed slightly and said too Jack, "I've had enough! Take me home right now dammit! This is way too scary! This place looks like something out of a horror movie, I can't stand it! Let me go please! Whatever you want with me I don't care-"

Then he suddenly interrupted me, as I felt pumpkin vines being wrapped around my mouth too stop all of my ramblings. I was more scared than ever as he lifted me off the ground and brought me face to face with him. His yellow pupils glowed as he said, in his deep, yet terrifying tone of voice...

"Listen 'ere...If you don't want to die...you'll do...exactly...as I tell you. In case you haven't noticed...you're in MY neck of the woods now...And if you make one mistake...I won't hesitate to blow ya' brains out and keep you 'ere..."

HE then took out a humongous pistol. This thing was almost as big as my head! The look on my face changed too absolute terror, and my eyes widened as he pointed the gun at my head and smiled maliciously at me without showing any teeth...

"I don't mean to be a discourteous host...but I a'int gonna tolerate ya' naggin'...So either you shut up your dolly...or I Pop me a curly one...Got it?" I just nodded as he let go of me and made the pistol disappear. "Now follow me..." He said as he walked inside of the castle's doors that looked like a wide open pair of demon Jaws. But then he suddenly stopped.

"Oh...and another thing." He then took out a small black orb and handed it to me. "Take this. You'll need it." He said. I looked at it and asked him "What's this?" "That's called a Kyouki seigan. A seigan is a spiritual orb. That seigan will protect your mind. This is called the castle of nightmares...any regular human who enters...will lose their mind upon enterin', as their most vivid fears and nightmares will come to pass...you don't want that now...do you midnight bliss? Heheheh..."

It's weird because everything he did at that moment...I could feel...I actually could feel him doing all of that too me...That's when I knew...this was real. So at that point I calmed myself down so as not to lose all of my sanity...and I followed him inside, stuffing the Kyouki Seigan into my pocket.

Once we got inside, I was walking down a gothic looking hallway lit by blue flame torches. That confirmed my suspicions. EVERYTHING in this world is black & blue. I simply walked down the hallway with Jack as we came to a chamber, with large doors that had Skulls on the handles as a way of opening them. Jack & I stopped as he pulled the doors open, and before me laid one of my most terrifying nightmares...the same figure I saw in my dreams...The man in the black Grim Reaper cloak...He had giant black claws...a black skull for a head...and piercing red eyes...and he sat atop a gothic throne with spikes and black flames radiating from it. Jack entered the throne room and bowed before him.

"Master...I have returned with her..." He said after bowing before him.

The figure before me and him said in an even deeper and scarier voice. "...Rise Jack...my loyal subject." He then rose before him and stepped back a little right next to me and said "I wouldn't be as scared if I were you. You'd be lucky if he goes easy on ya'. Eheheheh."

He said, taunting me in a way. I glared at him slightly but then the figure said... "Girl...come closer...approach me." His skull didn't even match the words he spoke out of his mouth...It just moved in a slow...but unsettling way...but I decided to approach him and finally...with the little courage i had left...I asked him...

"Wh...What do you want with me?...Are you him?...The one that's been haunting my dreams?...For the longest time?..." I said, with my voice trembling. At this point I was petrified. I had no idea what was going on. The idea of my nightmares actually taking form?! This is more than just a dream, it's a nightmare come to life. I could actually feel EVERYTHING and see EVERYTHING that was being done to me and that was in front of me. Everything was real. So as I asked my question...he said too me...

"Yes child...I am the one who has been speaking too you in your dreams..." He said in his low but somewhat booming tone of voice. "You said that I should embrace my destiny...what did you mean by that?" I asked him, still scared to death.

"Do not fear me child...I am not here too hurt you...You will not die on my watch...for I have brought you here for a great purpose. I said that you should embrace your destiny...And after that I gave you part of my power to exert in this world..." That must be the reason why he sank his claws into me...

"But why?! What purpose?! Why am i here?!" I asked, raising my voice a little more. "...Your purpose here is maintaining balance between the world of the living...and the world of the dead." My expression changed from scared, too confused. Maintain balance? What the hell does that mean?

"You see...I am known in this world as Lord Death...I control every single thing in this world...I also command every single creature...Every single dark spirit...every single entity you witness in this plane of existence is under my control...But as I am confined too this throne...my power is far too great...I cannot uphold the duties of one by myself...It is my jurisdiction that decides who shall go to heaven...hell...or Purgatory. Where we are now." I then raised my eye brows.

"We're in purgatory?!" I asked raising my voice even more. "Yes child...we are in purgatory...the fault-line between heaven and hell. And those creatures you saw before you in the city of Nightmare are called Hollows, the creatures that exist in the world of blackness known as Purgatory. That is where you come in. I am tasking you with something very important..."

He then suddenly raised his right claw right out in front of me. I jumped back in alarm slightly, thinking he was gonna s***h me with his horribly sharp claws again...but...Jack just step to the side of his claw, and then raised one of his large pistols in the air, and as he raised it, it transformed into a giant scythe blade with vines on it and a pumpkin skull on top of the staff of the blade, spewing out a long scythe blade with purple veins coming from the staff. He then chopped off Lord Death's right hand as I yelped in horror. Black blood spewed all over the floor and some even got on me, I screamed as he did so, completely freaked out as too what happened.

Jack then picked up Lord Death's right hand, as black flames flurried around it and it transformed into a Scythe. A Death Scythe…..

He then gave it to me as the scythe was entirely black with a black blade and a black Skull protruding out of the back of the blade. The Blade also was lined with black lining from the top of the skull, with a slightly lighter shade glowing around the blade itself.

"That is your weapon. The Reaper claw." Jack said too me as he gave it to me. I just looked at it, confused as ever. Wondering what's happening. But then Lord Death said too me...

"Look child...I know that this is all very confusing for you...But this is your destiny. You are now known as the grim reaper. Your job is to collect the souls of escaping demons and put them back where they belong. Collect their souls and reap the sin that they sow. I gave you this higher purpose and sent subliminal messages too you through your subconscious so that I would one day...meet you again. Kaila."

At that moment I was more puzzled than ever. "What?!...How...How do you know my name?!" I said with even more confusion.

"Because...I am known as Lord Death in the kingdom of Nightmare...but in reality...my name...Is Kazuyama Amiyuki. I am your father, my beloved Daughter." I was completely stunned...there's no way he could be my father...there's just no way...my dad is a handsome, midnight blue haired man! Not a scary death looking skeleton mass! I stepped back twice in shock, then my voice began too tremble...

"N-no...y-...y-y-you can't...you can't be my father...You just can't...Why...Why would you cause me such trauma...You know how much I struggle with these nightmares?! I almost went insane after having lost my father! How can you say that you're him! I don't believe you! Leave me alone...Let me go...I JUST WANT THIS NIGHTMARE TOO END ALREADY! MAKE IT STOP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, going completely insane.

Then, Jack aimed one of his pistols at my head. "Watch your words Midnight bliss..." He said giving me a sharp warning. "JACK! If you blow her head off I will make sure you become a black spirit with no existence!" He angrily said too Jack. Jack then backed off and bowed before his master. "My apologies master..." He said.

"...You will come to understand your place in time Kaila. I know not everything makes sense right now...but as you grow in your place...You will come to terms with what has happened. And you know exactly what I mean by that." He said, as if he actually knows about my father's death. To be honest I don't really know what to make of all this. I don't know whether too believe him or not, if he is my father, or if he's really just the literal personification of death. But I had no choice but to trust him.

"Ok...I understand." I said. Agreeing to whatever he says. At this point I was so knee deep in this I had no choice. "Jack...take her to the Royal Witch-ling Princess. It is time for her too train." He said too me. Jack then walked past me and said "Follow me again." As he kept on walking into another door on the side. I walked and followed him, still uncertain of what was going on or what was happening. But...I had no choice but to roll with it for now... I was just hoping...Praying...That I don't go insane from all of this.

Later, Jack lead me into a room filled with magic potions, deathly Gothic weapons on the wall, and for some reason...A...Crystalline lamp shade? That's when the entire atmosphere changed for me. Why was there an Icy blue crystalline lamp shade on the ceiling? And also...I started to hear someone humming…. humming happily.

It was quite strange, but I did hear it. As I entered Jack started to say "'Ey! Get your s**t in gear princess, we've got royalty in the house." Jack said, as we were looking at a pink-haired girl with a black & blue witch hat on, her hat was pointed straight up unlike Jack's hat, but it had the same design, just a different color scheme. She also wore a black & blue dress with a blue leather strap around her waist, and blue lining around the bottom of her dress. She also wore a small Cape and a collar around her neck. Her breasts however were huge. They had too at least be the size of Double or at least triple G. She had green eyes, and she wore black stockings with icy blue crystalline high heel shoes.

She looked at me and Jack and an instant smile greeted us. "OH! You're finally back! I missed you Jacky!" She said as she ran over and hugged him. Some actually happiness in this world? Wow this is a change of pace. As she hugged him, Jack stood there with an embarrassed frown upon his face. A nervous drop of sweat also beat down from his head.

"Amuki for gods sakes get off me." He said in a low tone. "Aw come on! You know you love me sweetie!" She then kissed his cheek. Jack seemed too pay it no mind, as he decided to introduce me.

"Princess, this is Kaila. Lord Death's Daughter and the brand new grim reaper past me of course." At that point I raised an eyebrow. Jack was the grim reaper before I was? I wonder how that worked out. Seeing as though he's A. Creepy as All hell, and B. Seems like he would kill anyone within a Tokyo Minute.

I simply waved and said "Hi..." Still a little scared, and a bit shy. "Hi! My name is Amuki Nagasaki, I happen too be the Witch-ling princess of hollows." She said in a cheery tone of voice. "Witch-ling princess? There are witches in this world too?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Amuki said, as she then turned into a chibi and started an explanation of what witches were in this world. Why does this feel like something out of a cartoon? "Im a hollow just like Jacky. But He's a monster hollow, I am a Witch hollow. Witches can use magic & stuff to enhance their powers and increase their abilities. We come equipped with magic wands, and our own weapons of choice! But we come from the different side of Purgatory called the kingdom of Tejiran! So where do you come from?"

She said, batting her eyes twice at me. I stepped back a bit, but at least she was friendly. So I said "Uhm...I come from the living world. I guess?" She then gasped excited and said "OH MY GOD! Really!? That's so cool. I'm glad to meet you, especially since you're the daughter of our master. Lord Death. Will you be my friend forever and ever and EVER?!" She said. Honestly now her friendliness is kinda freaking me out. Do I know ANYONE Who is this friendly? Aw well, I've seen enough weird stuff today so I decided too roll with it.

"Uhm...Sure? Why not?" She then hugged me and shouted "YAY! We're gonna have an amazing time! I assume Lord Death has already given you your powers?" She said too me with her hands on my shoulders. "Powers?" I asked her. "Yeah...When lord death gave you your death scythe, the Reaper claw...It bestowed upon you amazing powers. Powers you will soon come to understand." Jack said to me.

"Come Midnight Bliss...it is time I trained you too use your weapon properly." He said to me, as he began walking Away down a cave too another place outside. Where was he walking? Was he walking to a graveyard?

"This'll be fun. I promise your job as the grim reaper? You'll come to understand it. And don't worry about Jacky, he acts all tough, and brooding and scary, when in actuality he's really a sweetie. You'll grow too love him! Now come on. Time to enter the Chamber of Tomorau. Let's begin your training!"

She smiled as she walked away from me. Leaving me too ponder. Tomorau means "Too Mourn"...Whatever that could mean for me I don't know. All of This is happening so fast I don't know what to make of it. I also still have some questions, why did Lord Death choose me? Is he really my father? And Will I be able to go home and see my friends again?

This is so confusing...And not only is it confusing but it is also completely frightening. But for now, I'm not dead. I'm perfectly fine. So I guess that counts for something. Looks like for now I will just have to deal...Maybe this could lead to a new beginning for me entirely. A much higher purpose than I had ever dreamed of. And Like Lord Death said...This could help me finally get over my issues with my father's death...

.: TO BE CONTINUED :.