11 Dreadful Trepidation (1/2)
Chapter 11: Dreadful Trepidation
Around the Wynorex underground city. Nye wasjust stepping out of her domain, proceeding down the stair case to the lower level.Miles was sitting there with his phoenix, which had gotten a bit larger. The feline seemed to be eating a fish, while sharing scraps of it with the over-sized red bird.
Miles happened to notice Nye, just as she was approaching. He got to his feet, excitedly. ”Okay Nye! I'm going with you, and there's no stopping me this time.”
”As I mentioned beforehand, you can explore outside with Solitaire. It's safer for you that way.” Nye explained, proceeding passed him.
Miles got in her way, his ears arching back. ”Nye. What's going on? Why are you acting so distant?”
”I'm not.” Nye replied calmly, as she raised an eyebrow.
”Then why do you keep going off on your own? You got hurt once, then brought back that 'Jack' guy last time...” Miles was sternly gazing to Nye, not letting her pass. ”Just what are you looking into?”
”Miles. Listen. The Templar are on more high alert as of now. If you go out there with me, you're not safe. They know I'm an Amygdala...” Nye was explaining. ”It doesn't help as it is, that I'm trying to recruit more forces.”
Miles seemed surprised, but let her continue speaking.
Nye's emerald eyes trailed off to the door. ”As per your other inquiry. I'm investigating many things. It is how my kind are. We like to expand our knowledge, that way we're prepared for whatever comes our way. Templar, magic, history, locations, other species, what have you. There are much details of the Amygdala, that you know nothing about.”
”...” Miles sighed, furrowing his brows. ”Maybe I don't, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to go with you! Going alone isn't safe either! Let me tag along, Nye.”
She shook her head. ”Sorry Miles, but it's wiser if I go on my own.” Nye stated, proceeding out the gates.
”Nye! Hold up!” Miles rushed after her, leaving his phoenix alone in Wynorex.
As he made his way into the deep roads, he found himself alone. It was dark, and the creepy sounds of lesser fiends lurked around him. He was a bit frantic, but sniffed the air. He proceeded through, trying to follow Nye's scent.
He came into a large chamber, connected with four pathways. His ears crept backwards, as he glanced around nervously. ”Where... Where did she go?... Nye...”
Lesser fiends began to loom around more closely, growling and grunting as they eyed the leashed.They drew nearer, swarming around him, like flies. Miles was beginning to become fearful, as the drooling mouths of monsters were close enough, that he could feel their breaths. ”No... Leave me alone!” He held his ears, as he latched his eyes shut.
The monsters slinked back away, hissing in uncertainty. They backed off enough to catch Miles' attention. He slowly lowered his hands, looking to them in disbelief. His eyes peered around, trying to spot the source of their fear.
”Nye?” He asked, trying to spot the blond haired Amygdala.
However, she was no where to be seen. Miles' ears went back again, his timid side showing more than usual. Something immediately dropped from the ceiling, concealed by the darkness. The female form was right behind Miles, a crescent moon shaped grin appearing on her lips. Miles hadn't noticed her yet, due to his back being turned to silhouette.
The form began to come closer, the sound of clawed feet brushing along the ground. Then before he knew it, she was lingering overhead, as a large claw outstretched from behind the cat. His eyes shot to panic, feeling it grip over his mouth. ”Eh heh heh heh.... Hun...gry...” A wide,psychotic smile came into view, from the ghoulish face of the female oculus fiend. Her sharp fangs grinnedear to ear, as the hundreds of eyes on her body focused to her prey. Her bone-like tail angled to his abdomen, like a knife.
”........” Miles was shaking in utter terror, unable to choke up a single syllable.
”We think ... we'll... eat you now... Heh heh heh....” She cackled, crazily.
”(We?!)” Miles gulped, his body trembling without control. He was frozen solid from panic.
The sound of quick paced footsteps, rushed their way. The female fiend leered over, with that same crazed expression, licking her lips. A massive metallic blade slashed her way, but right as it was about to connect; her body shifted into an eerie red mist. Miles dropped to his knees, his shaken eyes glancing up fearfully to his rescuer. There stood Solitaire, her scythe arm formed.
”Bloody hell... Just what was that thing?” She was looking around, urgently, but her gaze turned to Miles, as she crouched down to him. ”Oy. Are you alright there, mate?” Solitaire asked, uneasily, her hands to his shoulders.
”...” Miles was trembling, his eyes focusing to the red fog around them.
In the mist loomed hundreds of eyes, each and every iris was locked onto them. ”Eh... heh... heh... heh...” Echoed the reverberating voice of the oculus fiend. ”We have you trapped now... heh heh... Trapped... Like rats... EHEHEHEHEHE!!!”
”This ain't too jammy, innit?” Solitaire helped Miles to his feet, her eyes trying to pin point the fiend. She too seemed on edge about this scenario.
”We... We n-need to find... find Nye...” Miles was growing frantic.
Forming from the mist, the fiend lunged at them; slashing her massive claws. Solitaire happened to catch her movement out of the corner of her eye. She responded quickly, deflecting the blow with a counter attack. The fiend retreated back slightly, grinning sadistically.
”I'm getting real brassed off, ya wanker! Just who the bloody hell are you!?” Solitaire snapped, leering to the fiend.
”...” The fiend's expression became bored, all eyes narrowing in irritation. ”Our name is... Sclera... We're going to eat you now...” She then sharply grinned, before charging at them once again.
”Bugger off, ya stupid twit!!” Solitaire demanded, slashing her bladed arm at Sclera.
Sclera avoided the blow, jumping up to the ceiling of the cavern, squinting one eye slightly. Her insane smile did not leave her face this time. ”Ehehehe....”
Sclera leapt from above, her claws posed to strike. Solitaire knocked Miles out of the way, as she took the blunt force of the fiend's attack. She gritted her teeth, using multiple blades to hold back Sclera. Sclera however was already gripping her throat. It also seemed, that some odd green colored blood was escaping the infliction on the fiend's arm. Solitaire was in a stalemate, her body now trembling. Sclera pulled her closer, leaning in to lick the morphious' cheek, with her long forked tongue.
Without warning, Solitaire shrieked, letting out several blades in defense. ”Eeeeeekkkk!!!” She cried out, but right as the metal surface her body, Sclera dove backwards; releasing her. Solitaire stepped back, closer to Miles, she seemed panicked. ”We need to flee, before this monster devours us!!”
Miles was breathing heavy, his eyes trembling as he nodded. ”L-Let's book it then!”
With that, the duo made haste for the nearest escape route. Unfortunately, Sclera was hot on their trail. The horrifying fiend slithered along the ceiling, keeping up with them.
”We're done for!!” Miles yelped, tears escaping his eyes.
”Don't give up now!” Solitaire exclaimed, grabbing to his hand. She pulled him along with her, barely dodging a tentacle lashing strike from Sclera. There was flowing water near them now, as they progressedfurther. Then the duo noticed a light. ”Hurry! Maybe she won't follow up into the light!” Solitaire called, urgently.
Quickly, the two rushed for the tunnel exit, slamming open a rickety sewer door. The sunlight beamed in, shunning back Sclera. She hissed at the light, slinking back into the safety of the shadows. Both Miles and Solitaire collapsed to the grass outside, gasping for air.
”How... Did you... Know... that thing wouldn't... come... outside?..” Miles panted.
”... Just a hunch ... Suppose we got pretty jammy there...” Solitaire smiled, trying to calm down still.
They found themselves under a bridge, with water flowing nearby. Both rose to their feet, spotting the industrial city. Many middle and upper class people seemed to be bustling around the streets above them. There was many buildings, and what seemed to be a railroad station. Solitaire and Miles had wandered into the city, peering around at all the commotion.
”(So... This is what the world looks like now...)” Solitaire thought.
Up held, there was crowd that surrounded a strange looking man, with a trader mustache, at a booth. ”Come one, come all! Alereif city's grand bazaar and festivals are one of a kind. Be sure to stop by before departing to your next railroad travel. You won't regret it!” He was speaking to the crowd of people, that must have been visiting the city from outside of town.
Miles seemed a bit curious of them, but turned back to Solitaire. ”Where should we go now? Nye could be anywhere, and that 'thing' is still in the deep roads.”
”Not sure. Hmm, maybe we can get to another city from the train, that bloke was speaking about. With how vast the underground passageways are, we might be able to find another access point back. Either that, or find Nye somehow. I don't know.” Solitaire shrugged.
”Then let's take the train.” Miles replied, pocketing his hands, with a slight shrug,
”Not sure how much it'll cost, mate. I don't exactly have any money.” Solitaire scratched her head.
Miles held out a small sack to her. ”I can't buy anything, being a leashed, but Nye left some Zircon if we went outside of Wynorex.”
Solitaire took it, smiling. ”Not really fair to you, but I get it. Someday maybe you won't have to be treated like that.”
Miles seemed a bit surprised, but softly smiled. ”Yeah.”
”Well, let's get our arses moving before the train leaves the station.” Solitaire chuckled, leading the way to the staircase. They reached it, scaling up the steps to a ticket booth.
”Welcome to the Alereif railroad, the train will soon be departing to Possebiggo, then over to the Feirela station. Just you and your leashed, miss?” The woman inside the booth greeted, cheerfully.
”Um. Yes.” Solitaire replied, hesitantly. ”How much would that be?”
”It will be thirty Zircon, round trip.” The woman smiled.
”Alright.” Solitaire replied, pulling to the coin purse. She took out the Zircon coins; placing them to the booth's counter.
The attendant then handed her two tickets, one of which was marked 'pet'. ”Please keep your leashed close to you at all times.”
”Thanks mate.” Solitaire nodded, turning to Miles. ”Let's go then, come on.” She said, having the feline leashed follow her over to the entrance of the train cabin.
There was a brief line, before they were ushered to the next cart. A conductor stood there, taking the tickets from Solitaire, before they stepped inside the train. They entered a cabin that was closer to the end, and seemed to be fairly empty. Only one other was present, sitting near the back doors, that connected to the next cabin. He had a cloak on, concealing the majority of his body. Under the shroud of his hood, was Zyron.
Solitaire hadn't noticed him, since she and Miles took a seat near the front. Zyron's eyes grew uneasy, catching notice of her.
”(It's that chick again! What the hell is she doing here!? Crap!)” He thought to himself, growing uneasy.
The cabin doors closed, and the train began to slowly move on it's way. Miles was looking out the window, becoming excited. ”Oh wow. This is pretty cool!” He exclaimed.
Solitaire leaned to her palm, glancing out the window. She seemed lost in thought. Zyron in the back, slowly got to his feet.