The Witch of Jakarta

Chapter 10: Sea of Flames (Part 2)

    Humans are pathetic little creatures. They squirm and beg for the threat to stop, forgetting that most animals will claw their way out of a corner. Amo stood still, cradling the coughing girl under her. She couldn’t help but dart her eyes around, hoping to dear stars that she’d find something, anything she could use for a healing spell of some sort. The coughs were getting more frequent as the pool of smoke seeped further into the room.

    Finding the last burst of strength in her, she quickly ripped the bed’s blanket, tearing it into four pieces big enough to block out the airway from the metal door. Frantically, she rummaged around for water, dousing the sheets to absorb the smoke. She hissed in pain, carelessly touching the metal door with the tips of her fingers.

    ‘We need to…Open the door,’ Mandy whispered, coughing more and more mucus.

    ‘No, we can’t,’ She quickly said, ‘we need to block off smoke until help arrives.’

    ‘…Phone.’

    'I’ll try again, just don’t fall asleep.’

    The girl hummed in agreement, eyes fluttering open as she rolled around the bed in another fit of cough. Amo’s eyes darted around, every cell inside of her screaming for her to flee. There were no windows, no doors, no weapons worth a damn, and barely enough strength to muster a spell. She couldn’t help but look at her wounds, red flesh covered in gold blood. Even through water stained eyes, she could see the gold in her coagulating, quickly turning to a sour, almost jet-black hue.

    ‘Help!’ She screamed, her words filling the room as if it were thunder.

    ‘HELP!’

    ‘HELP!’

    Frantic hands threw everything the room had, banging on the door until it breaks or melts away from the heat. They must hear her; someone must hear her. White smoke slowly seeped back into the room; the water-soaked blanket unable to contain it. Amo’s hand rummaged around the bag she’d carried, saving one last bottle of water before dumping the rest into the blankets. Shaky legs carried her into the tiny nook in the room that served as a bathroom, unaware of the trail of blood she’d splattered around the floor. Quickly, she turned the faucet. Nothing.

    ‘Help!’

    She choked up, coughing the ash and dust in her lungs. She stilled herself, praying that she could at least stand. Though her legs had weighted a thousand tons, leaving her body to succumb to gravity. She called Mandy’s name, hoping that the reason she couldn’t hear the girl’s voice had only been the painful ringing in her ears. Slowly, she carried herself back onto the bed, trying not to get any of her blood on the girl as she shook the body next to her. Coughing again, she called her name.

    ‘Where are we?’ The girl asked, her voice no louder than a calm wind’s whisper.

    ‘Please don’t go to sleep,’ She pleaded, not knowing how long her shaky voice could last. ‘We’re in the cell and there’s a fire, please don’t go to sleep.’

    Shaky hands gripped tighter on the girl’s dirty clothes, the smell of burning concrete quickly filling the room. Her vision slowly turning red. The concrete turned to neatly paint walls, charred and littered with flame. She closed her eyes, shaking the girl under her once more.

    The girl groaned, her delicate voice nearly fooling Amo as someone falling asleep. She gripped tighter on the girl, only to realize her hands could no longer feel. She heaved another panic breath, thick dark saliva splattering all over her mouth. Watery eyes darted around the room for a thousandth time, hoping that magically there would be another door that would lead them out.

    ‘Where are we?’ The girl asked again.

    ‘We’re in the secret witch hideout,’ Amo replied, tears streaming down her place.

    The girl hummed, ‘…Are we…In your lab?’

    'Y-yeah…Yeah, we’re in my lab,’ She replied. ‘Can you smell the flowers?’

    'They smell lovely,’ Mandy giggled.

    Amo held her hand, trying her best to distract herself from the burning window haunting her vision. Slowly, she rubbed small circles into her palm, drawing a fine shape of a little flower. The girl’s eyes opened, revealing brilliant dark pupils beneath the fine strands of her long messy hair. Amo recognized the look, knowing that it wasn’t usually the fire that killed humans but the smoke. With that thought in mind, the room seemed more suffocating than it ever was.

    ‘You’re holding one of the flowers,’ She continued, ‘Do you remember what it is?’

    A small groan escaped the girl’s lips. ‘Th…The silver one…The one that can sing.’

    ‘Can you feel it under your palm?’

    ‘Yes,’ The girl whispered, squeezing the finger circling above her palm.

    ‘Do you remember why it can sing?’

    The lightbulb in their room started to flicker, a small line of smoke escaping its worn-out fixture. Amo hummed an old tune, drowning out the sound of cracking concrete above them. With her remaining strength, she swayed the two of them as if they were on a rocking chair. Forwards and backward, as she felt the oxygen inside the room slowly depleting.

    After a while, Mandy’s voice finally found her ears. ‘It’s because they have souls.’

    ‘And what else?’ Amo hummed a tune, her raggedy voice filling the smoky room—she felt the flesh under her relax, imbibing on the pipedream she’d created.

    ‘We can’t hear them…But, but you can,’ The girl replied, hitching between each breath. ‘Because you’re connected…You…You’re the same.’

    ‘How so?’

    Mandy’s body squirmed, her body arching forward as she coughed another thick mucus. Amo let loose of her body, letting the girl prop up sideways to let all the liquids in her lungs spill. She couldn’t tell much from her teary eyes, but the sensation of warm, soot-like liquid dripping down her thigh was enough to tell they won’t have long. Her mind swarmed back to an old memory as if it had been a beacon; how long was she in that house? Does it matter? How’d she got out?

    Mandy’s breath hitched beneath her. ‘You’re the same,’ She said again. ‘You know suffering, promised it since your first thought.’

    ‘Pain does create unity,’ She replied, realizing what she must do.

    The electricity cuts out, leaving their only source of light diminished. Amo trod carefully, setting down Mandy’s head on the mattress as her shaky feet slipped off the bed. Finding solace that she could still hear her friend’s sickly coughs, she planted herself in the middle of the room. Teary eyes focused on nothing but the tiny c***k of light from the edges of the door, indicating all the water she’d spilled had been dried out by the heat. Another indication she must hurry.

    She took a stance, burnt and bloodied hands reaching to her front; pain as the only insurance she wouldn’t die just yet. She could do it; she’s done it before. All she needed to do was will it into existence. The one thing that kept her alive was her fear. Fear of dying, fear of loss, fear of failure; as it had been foreseen, it wasn’t all for naught.

    She whimpers for a moment, biting what flesh she had on the insides of her mouth. She mustn’t cast, she must will it else it wouldn’t work. Fresh blood dripped down her elbows, the force of her stretched hands enough to rip open wounds. Her eyes couldn’t help but dart back at the bed, just for a moment; enough to look at the foam, forming around Mandy’s mouth. She couldn’t help but scream.

    ‘COME ON!’

    Coughing up more and more smoke, she felt her arms grew heavy. She focused on what she knows best, the fear she’d known more than a lifetime quickly enveloping her mind. Her eyes closed, her breath hitching as she tried to steady what oxygen was left in her lungs. What was left of her senses dragged her back into the damned room, prompting her up like a w***e to her own harrowing trepidation. She stood as she was once were, small and helpless against the window by her room; the city set ablaze as they killed the rest of their kind. She felt the familiar pressure on her neck; strained vocals falling into deaf ears, still, she screamed, it would be different at this moment.

    Dark sooty blood slowly glowed a fine gold, seeping back into burnt flesh. She could feel it, torn nerves and blood vessels slowly stitching back together as if it were a hyped-up internal aurora borealis, a tidal wave surged relentlessly up her arms, what was once dead blood cells climbing back up inside her veins and arteries as if they’d refuse to die.

    Her legs grew weak, and her body turned to dumbbells under gravity. She couldn’t bear to open her eyes, instead of focusing on the soothing feeling of hot tears trickling down her chin. She could no longer hear Mandy, and what was once something she could control had suddenly broken free.

    She knew the feeling well, the unstoppable fireball boiling in her stomach. Nothing else mattered, nothing but saving her. Amo’s heart grew louder, her mind firing a rapid train of horrid, unspeakable thoughts. She opened her eyes, quickly brushing off the damp hair across her face, realizing that her hands were now scratch-free. For a moment the grip of silent panic loosened, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

    ‘Come on,’ She said to herself, ‘third time’s the charm.’

    She stood up, noting that the small c***k of light she’d saw had disappeared. The entire hideout’s power must’ve been cut off at this point, though she’d hope that lights were still on in her lab. Her plan was to heal herself and Mandy, wait until someone comes to break down the door. Though she knew that option was dwindling by the second. Trembling legs made their way to the front of the room, stopping when it felt the torn bedsheets strewn under the cracks of the metal door. Her priority is only getting one of them out of here, and she’d be damned if it were her.

    She lifts up her arms once more, coughing at the sudden increase in smoke. Lax fingers grazed the hot metal, quickly forcing a sharp his from Amo. Another thought slammed into her mind; one she couldn’t ignore like the rest. Though it was a simple thought, just as it was a simple choice to her.

    For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

    Amo took one last feel of her arms, knowing that magic cannot create something out of nothing. For every potion and spell, one must sacrifice energy and life; for every speckle of dust and for every fibber of flesh stitched back together she’d sacrificed something within. She knew well beyond her tsunami of adrenalin that the pain lying within the smooth flesh will be a swift consequence. Firmly, she replanted her stance, a simple choice pre-emptively made.

    Her eyes made another quick glance at the girl lying in bed, no longer being able to see Mandy’s pale face under the smoke and shadow. She prepares herself, destroying what’s left of any coherent thoughts for the most destructive spell she could find. She wouldn’t push her luck with this door, knowing a spell would be her best bet. Though with that in mind another problem arises, as both the cell and door were designed to put away both normal humans and magic casters. Her mind flashed back to the gatekeeper, who’d certainly expounded on what spells and potion the cell could withstand on numerous occasions. Bullets, acid, fire…What was it that the cell couldn’t withstand? A low but threatening hiss forced her out of her thoughts; she stepped away from her stance, quickly dawning that the heat had melted the tips of her shoes.

    ‘Metal…It’s still metal’ She whispered, finally finding the perfect spell.

    ‘Amo?’ A voice croaked, soft enough to mistake as Amo’s thoughts. ‘Wh-Where…’

    Amo sprinted towards the bed, melted soles squeaking against the dusty floor. Shaky hands held Mandy’s head to the side of the bed, letting the girl puke out the toxic build-up in her esophagus. Amo was meticulous, making sure none of the girl’s hair or clothes touched the fluids ad blood. Though in spite of her efforts, the girl’s breath came out heavy and frantic. A haggard cough escaped the girl under her, yearning for clean air only to be filled relentlessly with ash and dust.

    ‘Don’t speak,’ She quickly said. ‘I’m getting us out of here, just wait here okay’

    Cold shuddering hands traced along Amo’s wrists; the girl was no fool. Amo pulled away at the touch, gesturing the girl to lie back down and wait. She’d be lying if she didn’t saw the worry in the girl’s eyes, masked beneath painful tears and pale sunken skin. She placed herself closer, not caring to avoid the vomit and blood. Her hands made their way to the crown of the girl’s mane, only to be pulled back down by the same cold and yearning hands. Dried thin lips attempted to speak, only to utter nothing but croaks and mewls.

    ‘I’m okay, we’re okay,’ She quickly said. ‘We’re getting out of here.’

    Another throaty protest came from the bed, though she was quick to avoid the girl’s grasp. She walked towards the door once more, feeling the room grow smaller with each step. Any enchanted objects can be stronger, sharper, and more poisonous than any of their normal counterparts. Though an object is still an object, and no matter how strong or durable its enchantments are it still has a limit. Call her crazy but the laws of thermal expansions should still be able to work on this atrocious block of metal.

    She wasted no time, planting her hands just an inch away from the door. Her senses grew sharp with adrenaline, a splitting sensation growing between her fingertips. The mere thought of uttering such spell enough to make her vision go white. Closing her eyes, she knew she’d regret the day after.

    ‘GUMPHALON!’

    A surge of energy coursed through her, as if a bullet had spat through her fingertips, white noise filling in the darkness. The cold and numb sensation quickly filled in what was a momentary but torturous pain, weighing on her hands until she thought she’d lost them. She felt herself falling on the torn bedsheets, the smell of snow quickly filling her white vision.

    Mandy was quick to catch Amo, the weight of two bodies quickly sunken by gravity. broken voice frantically trying to shake awake the unconscious girl. Jittery hands made their way to hold Amo’s face, quickly pained by the freezing sensation of the girl’s pale skin. Silent, agonizing panic sets in, what’s left of Mandy’s coherent thoughts suggesting that normal humans should’ve died by such temperature.

    ‘Please…’ She whimpered, rocking the stiff body back and forth.

    Her digits couldn’t help but trace over what’s left of Amo’s hands, careful not to damage the torn stubs. Knowing nothing more she could do, she placed her ears on the girl’s chest, trying her best to ignore the stench of snow and blood as she searched for a heartbeat. She pulled away, petrified by the sooty blood sticking onto her hair.

    It was her scream that brought the dead girl back to the living realm. Dark sunken eyes shot up, feverish ice-blue irises staring back at the weeping girl. Lungs heaving for air as if it hadn’t breathed in several years. For a beat there was nothing in those eyes but bewilderment, darting upon Mandy’s skin as if they’d seen it for the first time. The two of them laid still, encompassing each other as if the whole world was collapsing above them.  Quivering lips churned to a misshaped smile, realizing that they were no longer locked with the door destroyed.

    The next thing to come was the pain. As the initial shock fades away, the dawning realization that Amo was no longer able to hold Mandy’s hair set every nerve in her body ablaze. The cobalt haired girl’s mouth turned agape, unable to scream nor hear Mandy’s plead to not look down. The icy-blue hues washed away from her eyes as her pupils traced down what would be her arms and fingers—now nothing but ragged flesh and bones.

    Gummy, jet-black substance trickled down the open bones, already drying out against the hot and dusty air. She squirmed away from Mandy’s grip, every new prick of pain a salt-washed into the fiber of her senses. She cries again, whispered wails met with helpless ears as the ashes on the floor penetrated the cells that once was protected by smooth skin, now forced open and raw.

    ‘We have to…we need to go,’ Mandy urged, her eyes growing dimmer.

    ‘…Heavy.’

    Amo slumped forward, the flooding sensation of stretched, bleeding flesh impelling her vision to go white. She could feel taken over by gravity, met halfway-down by Mandy’s clutch. Wincing at the breaking momentum, her thoughts swirled without clemency. A weightless sensation filled her lungs as her head lolls backward, consciousness but a fading conviction. Though the taught feeling between her ribs from the attentive hand under her was just enough to keep her awake.

    The two of them shuffled up, a putrid gash of jet-black liquid pouring from Amo’s shattered ossein. A shrieking wail, quickly dwindling to a low whimper. She was heavy on one side, prompted up from Mandy’s certainly limited strength. A hand left her for a moment, whipping away their mixed blood and mucus before coming back to pillar her. They stood still for a beat, just enough to register the sprinting footstep drawing near. Amo’s mind was pulled from the white noise, just enough time for her to realize Mandy was falling back into unconsciousness. Instinctively she reached out to grab hold, only to realize there was nothing to hold with. The two of them fell back on the floor, a creeping silhouette slipping into the broken door

    ‘Sam!’

    ‘Come with me!’ The man yelled, arms reaching into the small hole he’d made.

    ‘No not me!’ She screamed, ‘Take her first!’

    The walls above the door collapsed in an instant, unable to bear the aftermath of Amo's spell. The man ducked back into an opening; dark eyes fixated on the unconscious girl Amo was dragging behind her. The first thing he’d notice was not who the girl was, but the fact the girl was carrying one of Amo’s protection charms. He disregarded his thoughts, quickly carrying the girl outside the cell as Amo pushed.

    ‘How’d you know I was here?’ She asked, coughing up more smoke.

    ‘Pinot sent me,’ He replied, letting out a frustrated laugh. ‘You’re two birds of a feather.’

    ‘…I’m sorry.’

    ‘Grab on my sweater, I can’t reach you from there!’ He said, not hearing what she’d said.

    Amo’s hand could barely reach him, finding that there was too much rubble in the way. She quickly burrowed herself deeper into the back of the room, yelling for him to shoot another explosion to make the hole bigger. Sam yelled something incomprehensible, before telling her to reach her hand out once more. The dim lightbulb in the room cracked, leaving her only source of light gone. She screamed again, not knowing if the man had answered her calls.

    His silhouette was all that remained, framed by the tiny hole in the metal door, slightly faded by the thick smoke. She ran back to the door, feeling rubbles quickly falling just behind her. Frantic hands reached out, visions of a burning house invading her hands.

    ‘Grab on!’

    ‘I can’t it’s too-’

    Sam’s hands anchored on hers, pulling her out with all his might. Amo’s body hit the floor as if she were dead meat, the cell room quickly buried in the rubble. She saw nothing but the white lights from the dusty hallway, lungs halfway filled with ash and smoke. She could hear someone screaming her name, just a few feet away from her.

    Sam spared no time carrying Mandy away from the rubble, his torn body half split between carrying her and making sure Amo is saved from the debris. With the less injured girl half-way unconscious he screamed for the other, the painful rise of heat took over his abdomen.

    ‘GET UP!’

    The man pulled harder on the girl’s shirt, startled by the jet-black substance that touched his fingertips. He flipped the girl over on her back, quickly lifting up her shirt up to her belly. He hardly felt when Mandy’s limp body slipped off his back, heaving for air. All he saw were flesh torn from bones, deep and warm sensation quickly seeping into his hand as he desperately wipes her blood away. The thick golden substance quickly turned jet-black, reaching deeper into what flesh remained intact in her abdomen.

    ‘Amo…Amo please get up,’ He whispered, fingers gripping tighter onto her shirt. ‘We’re still underground, we have to go.’

    The man quickly tore his sweater, soaking up the blood before putting bones back into place. He mumbled a spell, uncertain if it would work. A supple green light emerged from his hand, only for it to quickly fade away. A bandaged hand rested on him, the feeling of cold and raw flesh plunging his heart deeper into a dark place. Wasting no more time, he quickly carried the two girls, mumbling a spell to help him see through the smoke.

    ‘…Lab,’ Amo mumbled, her eyes fluttering shut once more.

     'I’m sorry,’ He whispered, knowing everything she’s worked for had been burnt to ashes.

    Stumbling halfway across the hallway the smell of burnt concrete suddenly turned sweet, marking that they were close to the lab. Amo slipped away from the gatekeeper’s grasp, the sound of protest and dissent fading into the background as her legs connected with the door. Frail and burnt wood hit the ashen floor with a loud bang, wafting forward hot air into her blood-stained skin. The sweet syrupy smell grew stronger, and the sight of burnt floras only confirmed it. She winced at the stench, the instincts inside her only registering it as nothing but soiled blood. Her pace was relentless, a beat, and sway within her legs that refused to stop in spite of the bitter feeling swelling up her core.

    Her watery eyes darted around broken pots and spilled soils, trying to fight the vivid, prismatic coalescence of smoke. Carefully planted floras and ground crystals reduced to nothing but its weakest effects, vibrant colors, and sweet smells both destroying and healing her from within her lungs. Torturous, relentless and it was killing her—as if someone were tearing open her lungs only to sew it back in, over and over again.

    Surrounded by wreckage, a wounded and hunched body crutched beneath her desk, barely breathing. Amo’s instinct was to run towards him, save him while she can—though a force pulled her from behind, tugging at what remained of her torn shirt. She could tell it was Sam, those vigilant yet attentive grasp was easy to recognize. She turned towards him, noticing that Mandy was no longer on his back.

    ‘Look up,’ He quickly said.

    Above the transparent ceiling, all that awaited her were a melted concoction of what allowed her to see the sky. Slowly dripping as if it were melted plastic, dripping and pouring in chunks before turning jet-black as it spilled onto the floor. However, another problem arises when she realized he was already half down from the effects of the smoke. Their eyes met for a moment, a blink of realization sparking between them.

    She braced herself, noting that the biggest spill was right between her and Pinot. Almost impatiently, she waited for Sam’s signal. A second pass by, maybe two, but she wasted no more once Sam let go of her shirt. Her legs bolted forward, ignoring the tiny splashes of boiling jet-black liquid sticking onto her legs.

    'Pinot please wake up!’ She yelled, not knowing how else to carry him.

    The body shifted, warm jet-black liquid pouring from the side of the man’s ribs. Amo stopped herself from gasping, knowing the air was more dangerous. She placed herself closer to him, a low grunt escaping her throat as the hot jet-black liquid seared through her pants and skin. There was no longer telling which was her blood, his blood, or the poison spill. Swiftly, she placed her knee near the wound, causing the man to jolt awake. The scream was well earned, as was the slap across her face.

    'f**k you!’

    ‘Oh, thank stars you’re awake,’ She breathed out, her torn hands reaching to soothe her cheek only to realize there was nothing there.

    A panicked grumble came from the man, shaky hands pointing at the stumps wrapped with torn sweater; what used to be her hands. Amo shook her head, signaling towards the door—Pinot knew better than to pry. She quickly gestured him to cover his nose and face, just in case he couldn’t stand the fumes as much as her. Wasting no more time, the man rested his weight on her shoulders; taking good care not to harm her arms. The two of them wobbled for a moment, before settling on a standing position that didn’t merit a painful yelp from either of them.

    ‘Can you walk?’ She asked.

    A firm nod. ‘Your potions saved my ass.’

    ‘The new ones?’ She replied, raising her eyebrows. ‘if it weren’t for the serpent I wouldn’t have even tried, you can thank her later.’

    ‘She told you to make it?’

    Amo shook her head, ‘Didn’t you remember? She only told me to focus on healing potions, especially ones that focused on-’

    A leg caught on a chunk of rubble, the two of their heads hitting the floor before any of them had a chance to figure out who’s leg it was. A sickening splat echoed across the room, a string of swears and hollow coughs following not far behind. Pinot quickly whipped away Amo’s hair off his face, accidentally taking another heave of the colorful fumes around them.

    ‘I remember,’ He finally said.

    It had been nearly 8 o’clock, and Jakarta had been reduced to a sea of flames. Merciless inferno licked through brick buildings and engulfing anyone that came its way. Nor rather, any buildings its igniter deemed guilty. The stretched overcast of velvet sky smeared and plastered in a sea of red, yellow, and orange. Ripping through the crowd Ralph and the serpent watched as the familiar colors mutilated what was once their home. The hideout’s doors—every entry lit ablaze as thick tendrils of smoke slithered through its defaced structure like a snake.

    Screams raided through the streets, though not of fear. Quelling within the deep voices of everyone that has ever come to know their name, their kind, the words seared through flesh deeper than any harrowing flames. Ralph looked around him, crowds pulling at his body like a tidal wave; the serpent was already gone, though certainly still near. Familiarly alien faces pass by, not quite yet recognizing what he is. Veneers of horrid and disgust, racing through the burnt buildings with glass and tools to tear down what PURE had started. His pace quickens towards the dark alleyway, making sure to cast a spell to conceal the alley—making sure their whereabouts stay unknown.

    ‘Burn the witch!’

    ‘Burn the witch!’

    ‘Burn the witch!’

    The two of them stopped by the entry to room six, peppery ash raining from the top of the brick wall as if it were snow. Scorching heat blazed from within the cracks, a silvery hope that perhaps the rest of the hideout will be just intact. The serpent’s figure slowly slithered pass the outermost reach of his eyes, still to attune to the tumultuous screams resonating within the heart of the city.

    ‘How many of us are in there?’ She screamed. ‘We need to call the others!’

    Ralph fell silent. ‘You did this.’

    ‘Ralph, we don’t have time for this!’ She replied, half hearing what he just said. ‘We need to-’

    ‘No, you answer me right now!’

    ‘My love our people are trapped in-’

    ‘Shut up!’

    It was as if the flames in front of them hesitated, flickering just for a moment before slithering back into momentum as the ashes above grew motionless. Ralph’s eyes finally met her gaze, long-dormant anger suddenly re-ignited, flaring up across his teary eyes. Petite hands hesitantly approach him, a yearning whisper of his name sending him over the edge of a ridge he didn’t know he was standing in.

    A blazing firestorm filled him from within, bursting ever so slightly from his fingertips as he shoved her away. The only thing that kept him from doing more was realizing she’d nearly touched the flames. A low hiss escaped her lips, bleak eyes slowly turning red. He couldn’t help but pull at the base of his hair, the rhythmic tugging feeling at his scalp slowly easing him back into a less vicious emotion. The serpent reached out again, her soft pale hands coming in faster as if to mask her indecisive intent. That hand, that f*****g hand.

    He swatted it away, the voice in his throat growing louder. ‘Why the hell did you take us to Depok!’

    ‘You needed to know,’ The serpent answered. ‘You needed to see it for yourself.’

    ‘You cost me my people!’

    The woman stopped, rough and clawed hands quickly sinking into his chest. ‘That was your doing.’

    The flames grew bigger and for the first time in all his life, he saw her in fear. His eyes drawled at the woman, silhouetted by the ember in front of them, stepping away from the lick of its flame. He wished he would never have to see that expression again. His senses flooded back, unhindered by the filters of anger and disparity—the acrid smell of brick and concrete, and the sudden wave of cheers and riots raced towards his head. Everything seemed to fall into place and stopped moving at the same time. However, time in its current realm didn’t bother to entertain him. He opened his mouth, ready to let out his customary vexation; making sure it would stick on her this time.

    ‘Everything I did back there, I did under your circumstances.’

    ‘You-’

    ‘No, you let me finish,’ He cuts off. ‘You took us there and we reaped what we’ve sown.’

    'You refused to believe the possibility of treachery,’ She barked, ivory fangs peaking beneath her quivering lips. ‘You focus yourself on killing the wrong people.’

    ‘And look where that got you!’ He snapped, ‘Look at our home!’

    A beat of silence followed them, the deafening sounds outside the alleyway a mere white noise, everlastingly just out of reach to plague their mind. Though as most things are, it was much more petrifying once one can no longer hear them. Ralph could feel the serpent staring into him, dark eyes filled with a cacophony of unspoken words—seeking something he could never dream to unearth.

    ‘Is this what you want?’

    A frustrated bleat came from her lips, now quivering as it spilled her thoughts. ‘I needed you to see, there was no other way.’

    Ralph broke their gaze, dissevering what felt a thousand lifetimes and death between the air they’ve breathed in. He couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he must’ve looked like a lunatic in front of her now. His hand shuffled through his pocket, though not retrieving the key just yet. He nearly laughed again as he noticed her perk up at the gesture, connecting the dots. He’d notice the tips of her skirt had been grazed by the flame behind her, black ash floating down her figure as if she’d been bathing in the fire. Her hair suddenly flowed, the light of the fire giving her the glow of the sun, pursed and trembling lips hidden under the long, fine strands. 

    'I’ve always taken you for a good liar, Daiva.’

    Her fangs disappeared, and her lips growing into a weak smile. ‘I’d still like to take that as a compliment.’

    Ralph set his thoughts aside, in spite of the boiling ball forming in his throat. He retrieved the keys to the entrance, hoping the door would still function. The enchanted brick still had a place for the key, it’s markings undefiled by the flames. The man briskly plunged the rusted gold key into a small hole, sandwiched between the two marked bricks.

    The golden glow underneath his hand felt too much like hope, though only as bright as a matchstick, as it slowly soared back to his hand. The familiar sound of something clicking echoed through the alley, unheard by the crowd outside and the brick wall quickly parted in the middle, the pressure of the rectangular entrance quickly diminishing the licks of fire—letting them pass through unharmed.

    ‘What is it?’ He finally said.

    ‘I did what I’ve always done best,’ The serpent replied.

    ‘You bargained,’ He chuckled. ‘With them?’

    ‘You seem unsurprised.’

    'You seem to forget I was with you in the last revolution.’

    Their conversation was interrupted by the smell of smoke and burnt flesh. The almost needle-like light from the golden key enough to tell them what’d happen under the darkness. Truly, there was no more life behind the veil of obscurity. The smoke pierced what used to be the thickest shroud of darkness, the white and putrid vapor dense enough to hinder the serpent’s vision.

    All was nothing but crumbs, a proof that even the dead can die once more—yet to scratch another trace in what was once their glory. The lives that was once so exceptional some had doubted to call it living, a shame and unneeded m******e for ones who earned the title doorkeepers. So, they thread their paths cautiously, making sure to avoid stepping on any tails and or limbs. Ralph could hear the rest of them dying if he riveted his senses hard enough, tiny little squeaks and coughs, its source hidden beneath the smoke.

    ‘There’s nothing left.’

    ‘They were human once,’ She added. ‘Just unfortunate enough to not die.’

    'It’s a lot less work,’ He entertained.

    The two of them laughed dryly, filling the once eternally silent cave with laughter for the first time. Though when their laughter stopped, it was as though the cave had never been more muted. The two of them kept walking, trained minds searching for the sound of dripping water as they treaded to avoid the dead. Ralph wasn’t the kind to shy away from c*****e and butchery, but the sight of something so long hidden, now massacred, was enough to churn his adrenaline. His eyes shifted for a moment, catching a glimpse of the almighty serpent, not so far petrified as she was incensed.

    ‘I’m not about to waste your time,’ She finally said.

    ‘So don’t,’ He replied. ‘We both know your backup and my backup is already on their way with how much damage’s been done, so what are we dealing with here?’

    ‘They're sending their regular task force.’

    ‘Any of those freaks tagging along?’

    'Doubt he’d make a grand entrance in front of this crowd.’

    'That’s easy to handle,’ He chuckled. ‘Considering they spent so much energy burning the city down, I’m willing to trust you on this.’

    ‘You’re not going to ask?’

    Ralph stopped in his tracks, the boiling ball in his core reappearing once more. Though he wouldn’t give in just yet, not when there were so many things to distract him. The stench of burnt bodies had only gotten more vigorous, forcing its mark on his skin and slithering his way to the back of his throat. It must’ve been more than a second that had passed where he merely stood still, the serpent’s gaze growing relentless despite the dim golden light in his hand.

    ‘Fine, I’ll bite,’ He finally said. ‘What was the extent of your deal with PURE?’

    ‘Reluctant,’ She pointed out.

    ‘No, just tired,’ He corrected. ‘We’ve done this song and dance before, Daiva.’

    Too far, that had been the only word that crossed his mind. She seemed hesitant for a moment or perhaps disappointed. Ralph looked away, denying his consciousness that he’d saw her eyes turn black in the dim light. His instincts flared with remorse, not knowing what to say or whether saying anything would take away the salt from the wound. His hands lifted for a moment, only to realize he would be doing what she’d been doing. Time falls back, the essence of urgency lost in them yet again.

    ‘Back then, we all know…I know it wasn’t your fault,’ He finally said.

    ‘Leave it be.’

    A beat of silence. ‘I’m sorry.’

    The serpent backed away, cold pale complexion drifting away from the light. She gestured for them to keep moving, a grim reminder that their people were still trapped inside. He walked alongside her, the turmoil of emotions and repentance just within his bay. It would be a callous lie to say he wasn’t aching to turn back time, not by much, he’d bargained.

    ‘Once I heard what happened with Andrew, I knew that we needed a way to cure or counter that creature somehow,’ She stated, the poise in her voice seemingly immutable.

    Ralph said nothing, letting her continue.

    ‘I needed to know how they work, see them up close to find a weakness.’

    'That’s why you took me to Depok,’ He finished.

    The woman nodded. ‘The bargain was that they’d have a chance to either kill us then and there or expose you if we survive, in exchange for information.’

    ‘That was the extent?’

    ‘I had a feeling they might track us down somehow,’ She replied. ‘Not so soon.’

    The sound of water finally grew to a crescendo, and the key slowly glided away from his palm. The laws of gravity grew loose around them, and they too begin to drift. The two of them braced themselves against the shifting pressure, as Ralph passed the key to Daiva—who’d already gotten her hands on the metal ball. The serpent carefully placed the key into one of the holes and turn it upwards. The keys turned with a familiar clicking, sinking into the slits. The final hole slowly unsealed itself, and the key mechanically slides down the hole. Just as so, the once subtle sound of splashing water suddenly went boom.

    ‘Arakata!’

    Ralph’s hands formed a protective stance, summoning a half-sphere that acted as a shield. His eyes glowed brighter than the key, the calming sunbeam-yellow coating his iris as the half-sphere closed into a full sphere—shielding them against the monstrous mass of water swirling beneath them, forming a thunderous whirlpool. Daiva quickly let’s go off the ball, which was no longer glowing and passed the golden key back to him.

    ‘Why did you feel you need to lie?’ He suddenly said, almost unaware the words had slipped out.

    ‘Force of habit,’ She replied. ‘Stepping on the same hole twice doesn’t look good for someone like me.’

    ‘What’s different now?’

    The key was glowing brighter than ever, as the water loomed over them, tempting to flood Ralph’s shield at any moment, all he could focus on what any of the new information meant towards their plan. He’d speak up to ask, though something inside knew he wouldn’t bear the answer with open arms. Though none of it matters now he’d broke his concentration. His shield quickly dispersed once he got distracted, vaporizing into thin air as if it were shattered glass, the water already swallowing them whole.

    He growled and cursed as he tried to cast the spell again, the intense waves quickly sweeping the two of their floating body as if they were a feather. His eyes darted around, searching for Daiva as pigments of the dissipated spell remaining in his eyes. A sudden force pulled at his ankles, signaling she was very much a jolly snake swimming under the whirlpool.

    ‘A little help?’ He managed.

    ‘Why I’m having the time of my life,’ The serpent cooed.

    ‘That didn’t answer my question,’ He pointed out, a heap of water quickly rushing over his head.

    At the moment the freezing water rushes in, it was too late to cast or summon anything; the piercing tidal waves having knocked the wind out of his coherent thoughts. He surrendered himself, entertaining his eyes by looking at the dancing squiggle under the water. The serpent seemed to get the gist, twisting herself and wriggling more to help him ignore the need for oxygen. He was almost impressed by the way this form of hers danced, letting the small snake pass by his once frigid dark hair. It was good to see her happy once more, by the looks of it at least.

    Once the water calmed, Ralph quickly diverted his eyes to the water, its blue swirling waves highlighted by the golden key’s ethereal glow, and the water suddenly receding. Ralph coughed up the water from his mouth, quickly attempting to free himself.

    ‘What the hell?’

    ‘Someone must be using the same door,’ Daiva replied.

    Though not by much, the water had only dissipated by half of what it was, the rest of it quickly spread around them in huge globs and beads—the laws of the magic’s physics intertwining between their mortal bodies as if it were a sick game from God. Still, it was preferred over the tidal waves. Ralph pulled out his key, its golden hue ever the same. His eyes glanced back up towards the serpent, who was undoubtedly no longer a serpent by physical form.

    The two of them glided to the ground, with Ralph taking good care to keep his eyes elsewhere in case Daiva’s skirt was lifted from the maniacal gravitational release. Though the fact remains that they can’t travel anywhere, with the clear remains of the tidal wave still floating and encircling them. Experimentally, he lets go of his key, observing pointlessly as the glowing metal floated just the same as them, no longer seeking the metal ball. He tugged at his shirt, discomforted by the piercing cold sensation sticking so closely to his skin.

    ‘You still hadn’t answered my question,’ He said. ‘What’s different now?’  

    'The difference is, we got the upper hand now,’ She finally said, looking above.

    Ralph looked up to see a pool of water bigger than the waves that crashed his shield, a calm yet growing light illuminating from nowhere and everywhere inside the water. Before he could begin to open his mouth, the small light quickly turned to bright light. It had almost felt as if they were drowning once more, the floating sensation rushing back as the beams of light peaked through the water. Though Ralph’s senses came back just in time when the light surges through the water. He clutched at Daiva’s arm, pulling the two of them away as the beam hit the ground. Alike a show curtain, its rays steadily turned transparent, revealing four silhouettes. Thus, for the first time in the war’s history, everyone survived after the fire.

    'Late again, old man,’ Amo retorted.