19 Chain Reaction (2/2)
The smuggler's eyes turned, as he peered back to see the blue haired hare on the other side of the fountain. He seemed in terrible shape, with a black eye, and other noticeable bruises. He was holding his arm, as the two of them stood looking to the other, with the water fountain to their side now.
”Oy, Hige?! What the heck happened!?” Shane gawked, in obvious concern.
Shane had taken a step closer, staring at the rabbit. Hige narrowed his eyes weakly, as he looked off. ”I messed up... The templar caught me in their leader's documents.” Hige timidly glanced over, behind his bloodied lip. ”They tortured me Shane... I-I don't know what to do... I had to warn you, cause they know now... They got me to talk... Shit... I really screwed this one up...” He held his head with both of his hands in fear.
Shane drew closer, his hand reaching to pat the hare. ”Dammit... I'm just glad you're safe now. This area's infested with those knights though... Did they follow you?” Shane was looking around anxiously. ”We should abandon this mission, and get out of dodge before they find us here.. Come on.” He urged the rabbit, taking a few steps away.
Without warning, Shane was suddenly lassoed around his ankles, and tripped face first into the stone ground. He gritted his teeth, fumbling to glance back. There Hige stood there with a shadow covering his face, and a deranged grin. In his hands was his fishing rod, the fine string of it leading to the Smuggler's feet.
”Ku-hoo...” Hige was snickering devilishly.
”Hige! What the hell are you doing!?” Shane exclaimed.
”What's wrong Shane? Hee hee, don't like being outfoxed by a hare? They gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. Consider our partnership, at an end. I'm a free bunny now. It's only a matter of time before the templar show up, 'boss'.” Hige spoke softly, in a creepy manner.
”You two timing hare, You set me up! Dammit Hige! whatever happened to our comradery!? Don't do this, can't you see that they're lying to you!” Shane grunted, trying to get lose.
Hige could only smile, as Templar began to flood around them from the various alleyways. Shane was sweating, and anxiously cut the wireof the rod, before bolting for it with the Templar in hot pursuit.
”You'll never escape Shane! The templar know everything I know! Hee Hee Hee!!!” Hige laughed wildly with a deranged grin; watching his former master fleeing through the city streets.
As Shane ran, from the horde of templar, Lyra emerged. She smirked at him, causing Shane to halt, glancing back nervously to the incoming troops.
”No where to run, and no where to hide.” Lyra chuckled. ”We can't have someone stealing from my precious Aoba. You will pay for your crimes, just like the others involved have.” She kept that confident smirk on her face, with her cold gaze.
”You and your army are nothing but pathetic scum, witch!” Shane gritted his teeth, as he swung his chain claw at her.
Lyra merely held up her hand, crystallizing the weapon into ice. It instantly shattered before Shane's panicked eyes. ”You were saying, human?” Lyra licked her lips, in an intimidating manner. ”Thou best surrender, before this situation can get ugly.”
”Fat chance.” Shane took a step back.
”Resuming this game of cat and mouse? You'll never leave this city alive.” She smirked.
”Watch me.” Shane scoffed, rushing ahead, and using parkour to evade the Templar's pursuit.
”I love when they run. Hahah.” Lyra chuckled, deviously.
The point of view shifted, following Shane, as he made a mad dash through the city, stumbling to avoid conflict from his pursuers. He was anxiously glancing back as he ran, when a massive reptilian tail swung, and bashed right into his face. Shane was immediately sent flying into a horse drawn carriage, which startled the restless stallion. His back had broken the wooden wheel, and the friction caused him to cough up some blood from the impact.
The dust was clearing, as the smuggler weakly squinted open his eyes to the nearing figure. Before him, was a very tall dragon man with black wings. His green horns seemed almost bull like, from Shane's point of view. This hulking savage like man seemed infuriated, literal smoke was trailing from the corners of his mouth, as a faint green flame shined through his pearly white fangs.
”I'LL TEAR OUT YOUR PUNY LITTLE SPINE IF YOU TRY TO RUN AGAIN!!” The Terra roared, with his booming vocals.
Shane tried to get to his feet, however a surge of pain shot through his entire body, emanating from his leg. Wincing, he peered down to see there was wooden spike through his right thigh. The blood was streaming from the infliction, pouring into the misty cobblestone streets. The Terra was coming his way at that very moment as well, but he couldn't move his leg.
Shane felt something wrap around both his ankles, and hoist him into the air. He hung upside down, blurry vision of the male dragon leering at him.
”Grrrrr...” The dragon flared his fangs as he snarled, bringing Shane's face right up close to his. Shane was sweating anxiously, as he quickly pulled to a hidden knife in his boot; proceeding to strike at his attacker. ”RAAAAAAAAAW!!” roared the wounded beast. Shane had managed to get his blade stuck hard in the dragon's collarbone; however the tail whirled him hard across the street.
”....U-Ugh....” Shane grunted, laying on his back, his side was now in excruciating pain. There was blood rushing to the surface of his skin, right above his lower ribs. Something must have been broken from that last impact. He struggled to open his squinting eyes, as some blood was tearing out the corners of them.
The aggressor seemed twice as angry at this point, charging at Shane. The dragon spat out flames at the wounded man, however it was countered by a blast of chilling ice magic. This neutralized both attacks at once. The templar Calvary was quickly arriving the facility, with Lyra at the front.
”Gaigas, stand down.” Lyra intruded, coldly. Her frosty eyes trailed over to Shane. ”It's my turn to play with the human before he dies.” She said, her eyes looking back to the dragon.
”Hmph! Do as you like, just make it hurt...” Gaigas scoffed, shoving passed some of the medics that attempted to retrieve the knife from his chest. Some actually fell back to the ground, he was so strong.
Lyra's attention turned to Shane, in amusement. ”You can either surrender or die. Whats that? YOU want ME to choose!? Hehehe! You should have obeyed me when you had the chance, human. Now... Heh... You're just another toy for me to pick apart.” She chuckled, menacingly, as she took his chin in her palm.
As Shane blinked, in fear, the scene transitioned; panning out to show a crowd of onlookers, with knights, and other templar in the surrounding area. It was in one of the nearby districts of Oakwood city, where a the wooden platform for the gallows was in the center of the surrounding buildings and people. Three nooses hung above closed trap doors on the platform. The sun was out, and Shane was struggling to stand, with his feet positioned right on top of the middle one, with the noose firmly around his neck.His arms had been bound behind his back, making it impossible to escape.
Lyra grinned, pulling his head back, by gripping the top of his hair. ”Look now human. Does thou see those innocent faces? DO YOU!?” She shook him, making the man flinch briefly.
She grabbed his face, forcing his head to remain in place, and eyes open to the crowd of scared old folks, woman and children. The men seemed more livid then them however. Shane could see Hige amongst the templar, but the rabbit refused to look at him. Shane was trembling. ”(Is this the end...?)” He thought, fearing this might be where he draws his final breaths.
”Due of thou's actions. your spies, the lives of these people, and hundreds of others were placed at risk. It has been confirmed that you have been harboring the whereabouts of the 'Angel of Death', Aiding the Amygdala and the fiends. Your spy was also stealing from Grand master Aoba; while you and your associates were plotting a rebellion, and even commandeering several of our templar officers for your own gains. As a former pit fighter, thou shouldn't even have been allowed to leave the arena... Because of you, we had to revoke the knighthood of a templar Chevalier, and place her in prison. We also lost the lives of Ser Astrid, and countless others due to your alliance with the man who has the Spider tattoo.” Lyra listed off his accusations, facing the audience of the poor folk, and the templar officers. ”What say you, people of Desdemuna? Does this man deserve to die for his actions of treason?”
The crowd of civilians seemed to be rallying in response. ”Kill him!” ”He's responsible for the death of Mr. Zetto!” ”Make him suffer! The bastard deserves it!” ”Long live the templar!”
”Under jurisdiction of the Grand master, and the Maker; as well as the free people of Desdemuna, I, Viceroy Lyra Daigneau, sentence you to death. Does thou have anything to say in defense of these claims, or will thou remain silent, and die like the traitor you are?”
Elsewhere, Nye and Jack were traveling through the underground tunnels, in direction of Wynorex. The fiends around the passageways seemed far more hostile in temperament than before, making it difficult for them to travel ahead.
”Something's not right.” Nye mentioned, still holding the unconscious Nikolai in her arms, but she seemed a bit more on edge due to the wild fiends around them.
The glimpse of a close up set of eerie lips came into view. ”Eheheheh.... It's time...” Snickered the silhouette of the oculus fiend, watching from afar.
One of them lunged in their path, forcing Jack's hand to strike. He quickly tore out it's chest cavity with a few slashes of his daggers. However, It was only enraging the fiends further.
”Just keep moving.” Jack stated, coldly as they attempted to get passed the savage monsters swarming in.
Nye was still not in full health from her last encounter, and holding Nikolai made it near impossible to fight back. Little did she know, while the fiends were clustering in, Jack had caught a scent in the air. This made him turn towards a different passage then they were traveling.
”(That scent.) Dammit...” He softly spat out.
”Jack?” Nye seemed unsure.
”Just get back to Wynorex!” He insisted, rushing off through the swarms, taking out several of the hostile fiends as he rushed through.
More were coming after Nye, as she watched him vanish into the darkness. Nikolai was starting to come to, tiredly gazing upon to Nye. ”Mistress?...” He asked her, weakly.
”...” Nye gritted her teeth, turning off to rush to Wynorex. She barely avoided the attacks of the oncoming beasts in the process. ”(Just what are you up to Jack?)” She thought, seeming conflicted.
Meanwhile, the view of the gallows resumed. Shane gulped, feeling the rope snug against his neck, which already made it difficult to breath. The hooded executioner, who stood beside him, pulled the lever. The floorboard below his feet was released, sending the entirety of his weight dropping through the opening. His suspended legs flailed around, as he tried and tried to get loose as he continued to fall. The rope stopped his body suddenly, from reaching the ground below, immediately snapping his neck. His body hung there, motionless, as the rope gently swayed from the instant motion.
Amidst the crowd of people, Jack had slipped in, witnessing the entire end of Shane's life. His eyes were completely shocked from this moment, yet his blood was boiling, the rage flowing through his veins. He found it difficult to refrain from tearing up from the sight of it all. His best friend murdered right in front of him, by the people who hunted him. He was clenching his fist, trying to remain calm, for there was nothing he could do with how crowded the surrounding area was.
”Such a quick death. I wanted to see him struggle more. What a shame.” Lyra mischievously pouted.
Jack could tell the people were starting to disperse, but he wouldn't have any clear path to Lyra. ”(... There's just too many witnesses. FUCK!... Dammit Shane...Those fucking templar...)” He was struggling to keep calm.
However a shrouded figure passed by him, stopping as she faced the opposite way. Her massive witch hatconcealed the majority of her face, her eyes were hidden from her bangs, and the shadows that casted over them. The movement of the crowd, made it near impossible to focus on the witch. ”Is it wise to be here? I sense that not only your safety, but another are at risk with your presence in this area.”
”What?” Jack whipped around, not even seeing the woman there. He seemed unnerved, glancing back to Shane's body. ”(Whoever that was... she's right... There's nothing I can do to save my friend now.)” He clenched his fist, before fleeing the area.
Not long after Jack fled Oakwood, the crowds finally made their way from the central area of the execution. The Templar still remained as one of the lower officers approached Lyra.
”How should we dispose of the body?” One inquired.
”Dump it in the chamber of death. He doesn't deserve to be sent to the maker by fire. Let his corpse fester.” She said, climbing on top of a Pegasus mount, that had been kept nearby. ”I must inform my dearest Aoba. Come along hare.” She called to Hige, who timidly followed her directions, getting on the horse behind her.
”Ser.” The templar saluted as she took off into the sky.
Shane's body was cut down from the noose, and tossed into an underground mass-burialchamber, where several human bones, and remains were scattered about.