White
1883 Words
We were in a room full of white. I could not see anything aside from white. Was it because of what Girly did to me? She kept messing my heart and mind that it felt like they are separate bodies within me. My thoughts wavered as I ran my hands on the wall.
“What is this place?” Girly looked around the room.
“This place reminds me of our local hospital. I don’t feel good about this,” Vampire felt the walls.
“There has to be a door somewhere,” I slashed the walls but I got deflected.
“Amictus, are you there? Hey, get us out of here.”
“I don’t think he can hear us,” Girly sighed.
“We have to try something.”
I activated Hero’s Resolve, then followed by Devil’s Tongue and ended with Cross s***h. The walls absorbed all of my attempts. Girly and Vampire used their individual skills but it did the same to them. Suddenly, I saw Kun standing beside me.
“Kun! How did you get in here?” I felt relieved.
“There is no time to explain. You must get out of here before it gets to you,” his voice sounded grim.
“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand. Speak clearer to me, man.”
“Please be safe. Goodbye,” he vanished into nothing.
“Where did you go? Don’t leave me.”
“You have to let go of him, man,” Vampire pulled me to his side.
“No, I know he is real! He wants to tell me something.”
“He is gone. Give it up, Keita. Return to your senses.”
“You think I’m crazy? But I really saw him in the flesh. Girly, you believe me, right?”
“I think we should focus on getting out of here,” it sounded cold and distant.
“Fine, the way out of here it is.”
“You know what? I am sick of you behaving like this. I understand you but I cannot understand you all the time. I am getting tired of understanding someone other than myself. Is that selfish of me?”
“No, it is called loving yourself, or at least the first part of it. Understanding yourself is another matter completely,” a man in a red robe suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Amictus! How did you get in here?”
“What do you think of me, a visitor in my homeland?”
“Uhh, right,” Girly chuckled nervously.
“So, what do you think of this place? This is one of my recent inventions,” he spread his arms wide.
“I see nothing,” Vampire replied.
“Precisely. This room is used to induce troublemakers to confess their wrongdoings. Its use has been proven effective for the past few years.”
“Sorry to interrupt but I thought that the guards submitted this thing we were in for testing?”
“Luckily, you got out of there in time. We have this substance called the White Plague. It corrodes the object in question with a white substance that reveals its true form.”
“What happens if we lingered longer in there?”
“Your bodies will bend and twist until you become part of the object in question.”
“Can we get out of here now?” I applied pressure to my head.
“Ahh, I see that it has taken effect already. Hush now, follow me to the exit. Hasten your pace and you must not look back.”
He led us to one side of the room. The wall absorbed and excreted us to another room. I held tightly on Girly’s thin arm like a child waking up from a nightmare. I looked at the things and people around me with utmost suspicion. Everything in this room might be an enemy.
This room had racks of colored robes of red, white and silver. Suddenly, one of each color hopped off their hangers and headed towards me. Emerald eyes hid under their collars. Their lengthy sleeves reached up to me. I summoned my sword and tore at the shoulders.
“What are you doing? Have you gone mad?” Amictus pulled the rack away from me.
“Their sleeves aimed at me. I only acted upon their advance unless you had something to do with this,” I pointed my sword at him.
“There is no need to resort to this. I am here to help you pass through.”
“You are lying. I know you and Orcana put us up to this.”
“What are you accusing me of? I have done nothing to harm you.”
“Then what are we doing here?”
“I brought you here so that you can blend in without rousing suspicion.”
“Keita, enough already. What he’s saying is true,” Girly placed her hand on my sword.
“Girly, why are we here again? I have missed you so much. Please don’t leave me.”
“I think this White Plague thing has got to him. Is there a cure to this?”
“We must hurry to my room,” Amictus picked up the destroyed pieces.
“The sound is coming from this room. Tear down the door,” a throaty voice commanded.
“Aye!” Men from the other side cheered in unison.
“They are ramming the door. Quickly, hide yourselves. Take these pieces with you,” Amictus ushered us to one of the racks. Then I heard a loud thud.
“What was that?” My shoulders jolted.
“Shhh… Be quiet,” Vampire peered through the thin gaps.
“Ah, Amictus. Where trouble comes, there you are. What brings you to the wardrobe department?” A commanding voice asked.
“I am helping with the monthly quality check,” Amictus replied.
“But you are days too early for that task.”
“Something caught my attention recently. See this?” He grabbed the torn pieces from Girly.
“My word, what devil did this?”
“There has been an intrusion. You should focus your unit in catching the culprit instead of disrupting my work.”
“Have you seen where the culprit went?”
“I think he jumped into the White Room.”
“To the lab it is! Follow me, men. By the way, you smell like rotten breakfast Amictus,” a group of footsteps dashed out of the room.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Mind it not. We must clear this room before they return,” Amictus handed us white robes.
We passed the halls occupied by silver robed people. Their eyes affixed to the ground as we passed them. Some handed us Garnets while the others sang praises for the Shining Guardian. The open air refreshed my mind by a fraction.
“What are you really, Amictus?” Vampire asked in awe.
“As I said, I work for the Shining Guardian. The robes that you wear are worn by his officials. Keep your head down to avoid detection. Only a small group of people wear this,” he replied.
“What is silver for?” Girly matched his pace.
“Get back, only I get to lead this group,” he scolded Girly. “Silver is for common people. They shine like stars that we commonly see at night.”
“I am curious as to what color the Shining Guardian wears,” Vampire was still in awe.
“Nobody, not even me, has seen the Shining Guardian directly. It is said that his brightness is so magnificent that a single look at him melts your eyes.”
“I cannot seem to find Kun in the crowd. Where has he gone?” I scattered my eyes towards them.
“Who is this ‘Kun’ entity? Is he your companion?”
“He was until he vanished. Come on Keita, it is not that far now,” Vampire gripped my shoulder.
“Aww… I hope I can see him again, Vampire,” I looked at him.
“You must not do that. Away with your heads quickly before anyone notices!” Amictus snarled at us.
“Ahh, sorry. Vampire, who is this cranky guy? Why are we following him?” I lowered my tone.
“We have to trust him, for now. Do you trust me?” Vampire leaned close enough for me to hear him.
I nodded. The long hallway of white robes continued praising the Shining Guardian until we reached a door. It opened to a hall full of multicolored robes, still admiring the carved pillars. We stopped on our tracks as did our guide.
“We have finally arrived. You go on ahead,” he pushed us in, then followed behind.
“Where is the cure?” Girly browsed the shelves lined with labeled cans.
“I assure you that it is not one of those but those of which that forms it.”
“Can you not swirl your tongue? It’s twisting my head,” Vampire sighed.
“Anyway, could you pass me some things there while I prepare the cauldron?”
“Sure, what do you need?” Girly replied.
“Give me those cans with labels: Boarger’s Liver, Dried Pistils and Star Dews. I also require a strand of your friend’s hair.”
“Ow! Watch it, Vampire!” I hissed at him.
“Got it!” Vampire passed it to him.
“These are what you asked for, right?” Girly handed him the labeled cans.
“Hey, what am I to do?” I called out to them.
“Ah, would you like to assist me? Come and stir the pot while I gradually pour in the ingredients,” he handed me a long stick.
He began pouring the ingredients slowly, then added my hair strand. The color changed from black to violet. Soon it looked like a discernible swamp of mush. It hardened until stirring became impossible. I forced it, but I gave out.
“I think it’s done. You may have the first taste,” he urged me.
“I don’t want to. It looks icky and dangerous,” I shook my head.
“Cover your nose and slid it in your mouth. It’s time to take your medicine.”
“Nooo!”
“Say ahh… Here comes the train…”
“No--,” he stabbed a heap in my mouth. It tasted like sweaty socks soaked in murky water. “Ack! Are you trying to kill me?”
“Chew, swallow, now who is a good boy?”
Images from the start of our journey flashed before my eyes. Water formed around my eyes when I saw Kun’s fleeting moments. When my brain reprogrammed to reality, their eyes stared at me like cats aiming for their prey.
“Hey! What are you staring at?” I backed away.
“Gah! He’s alive! Alive, I tell you!” Vampire recited.
“I am not a modified zombie. What happened here?” I slapped his pale face.
“Goodness Keita, you had me so worried!” I felt something wet touch my nape as she circled her arms on my neck.
“Huh? I am so confused.”
“Don’t mind that. You are back and that is all that matters to me,” she whispered to my ear.
“Thank you, Girly,” I whispered back then brushed her smooth cheeks.
“I missed this. Can we stay like this for a while?”
“As you wish, princess.”
“Ahem, don’t forget that we are still here,” Vampire cleared his throat.
“R-right,” she pulled away, biting her lip.
“So, what was it that you want from us again, Amictus?” I turned my attention to him.
“Sigh. Let us settle it this way, tell me what you need so you can be off my hair. Does that sound fair?” He placed his hands to his hips.
“Can you tell us how to reach Sursum Ante? I browsed the map, but I cannot seem to find it,” I rolled out the ancient parchment.
“No map will show you where to locate Sursum Ante but I know someone who can give you some directions.”
“Who is it?”
“The Shining Guardian might know the way, but there may be little chance that he will agree to help outsiders.”
“Do what you must. You are our only hope.”
“There is no need for a summoning, Amictus. Lead them to my table,” an authoritative voice interjected.
“Understood, my lord. I must prepare them for you.”
The room flashed like a dazzling diamond in a second. The veins in my eyes burned when I tried to look up. I spun halfway, but Amictus forced my legs to kneel. My heart wanted to sing as he lingered a little longer. Then the feeling vanished the moment darkness took over.
“We must reach the table without delay. He does not like waiting. Hurry, be on your heels now!” Amictus opened the door for us.
- Writer
