Chapter 16: A Nightmare in Excess

With the clamoring against the cobblestone road getting closer, something draws closer into view along with it. No, it’s someone. Someone riding horseback in dark leather clothing, their face shrouded behind a black cloak. And with the form fitting nature of the outfit around their waist, it’s a woman.

She tugs the reins on her raven haired steed, stopping it in its tracks. All of this somehow feels familiar.

“Welcome back, did you sleep well?” She asks, towering before us on horseback. It then hit me. The black cloak covering her face, this ominous presence looming over me, as well as the shrillness in her voice. It’s Ava.

“I can’t say I exactly feel well rested, but you did help me figure a few things out.” I say while rubbing the back of my neck.

She laughs. “Playing it cool, huh? It must have been a nightmare for you.”

“Not as much as it must have been for you…”

Silence falls between us, as if the weight of my statement alone fell upon her ears with a bang. But it shouldn’t be a surprise to either of us, for we both know her past.

Ava scoffs. “She showed you all of that in the hopes that you’ll pity her, and luckily for her, it seems to have worked.”

“I knew it, you’re her Tale.”

“And you're the visitor who gave us so much trouble. The tragedy surrounding that woman's death was far less troublesome without your interference. Now, all of what involves your meddling feels the most real to us.”

I was right. I didn’t just change the past, I made it worse.

“Although, I will say, it’s thanks to you that we’ve assimilated further. Ever since then, she’s been allowing me to be more in control.” Ava says while pulling back her hood, flashing her that familiar grin.

It’s just like back then. She may look like Ava, but the soul behind those eyes is far from the woman I know. And is even farther from the girl that wanted to escape her loneliness.

“I suppose things just keep getting better for you, huh?” I say with a sigh, glancing at that The Man standing beside me. “How is it that you're able to remember everything?”

“Both our mind and spirit live outside the realm of time and space. I admit it does sound a bit dramatic, but it’s the price we pay for having The Cats Cradle and all of its unpredictabilities.”

“So that means-”

“She remembers everything as well.” she laments, her voice fading to a mutter along with her grin.

Not only did I fail to save her from her future, but I forced her to experience the same despair twice. I can’t even imagine how that must feel, yet I’m the one that did it.

What’s still surprising though, is that despite my involvement in her past, everything up until this point seems to have remained the same. Is this what those two meant by inevitability? If so, does that mean I’m somehow a key part of her Tale?

Staring into her jade green eyes, they look almost dim. Even though the one speaking is her Tale, I’m not sensing any murderous intent nor are her eyes glowing. Something isn’t right. Have I forgotten something important?

“Look at you Sintobi, it seems you’ve still got a knack for breaking women's hearts.” says a familiar voice, filling me with disgust.

Hopping down from behind Ava is the infamous fat cat himself, Greene. With that sly look on his face, along with the navy blue suit and bright red tie wrapped around his rather wide frame, you’d believe him to be someone with an overinflated sense of self-importance. However, you’d be wrong to assume that, since he is a mayor.

To many of his citizens, he is the one creature they can rely on during this war. And with everything being the same as before, that must be the case for Ava as well. While she was at one point a thorn in his side, through a stroke of luck, he took her in during her moment of weakness. Orchestrating the worst aspects of her Tale and turning her into a tool. A tool that, judging from the rosiness of his cheeks and the thinness of his smile, he is proud of.

“And you seem to have a talent for showing up when you’re not wanted.” I snap back at him.

“Wow, quite the comeback! It’s good to see you're still able to talk like that, but I’m afraid my involvement from this point will only become greater.” He says with a nod before looking up at Ava.

“Is that so? Is that why you've decided to show yourself? I seriously doubt a coward like you is capable of contending with me.” I say, raising my fists.

Greene laughs, his large belly bouncing with each chuckle. “There seems to be a misunderstanding here, but this should clear it up.”

Putting his hand forward, a rope appears out of thin air. It looks like any other length of rope, but something so ordinary wouldn’t just materialize. With a smirk, he pulls on it, causing her to yelp as her head jerks back.

“Judging by the look on your face, you understand what’s going on. It’s too bad really, I mean it could have been you in this position instead.” he says to me with a shrug of his shoulder.

“Hey, would you quit doing that? Simply calling my name would suffice-” Ava manages to say before he pulls on her collar again.

“I really do wish there was a way to do away with that rebellious personality of yours, but I guess that’s just one of the tradeoffs of being your rider.” Greene says with a sigh, as if this wasn’t his first attempt at compliance.

She winces in discomfort, yet she doesn’t seem to want to retaliate against him. If she’s allowing him to treat her this way, then what he said must be true. He’s gotten what he wanted and I wasn’t by her side to prevent it. I really did fail her…

I feel someone grab my shoulder. It’s The Man.

“You mustn’t let him get under your skin, it’s exactly what he’s hoping for.” he warns.

He’s right, but… I can’t stop my blood from boiling. There’s just something about him that brings out this side of me, even when I shouldn’t let it. Which reminds me, Mikel often reminded me to mind my temper as well.

“I see your little sidekick is continuing to obscure himself.” Greene remarks with a squint in my direction, reminding me of the fact that he’s somewhat visible to them.

“It could be your conscience. You do have quite the terrible past, perhaps someone is haunting you.” I remark.

“Hmm…It's funny, you don't seem to be affected by The Cats Cradle at all. In fact, you seem to have gained new vigor.” he says with a raise of his eyebrow, rubbing his chin.

“What, are you disappointed that everything didn't go as you planned? You claim The Cats Cradle is somehow yours, but you're nothing without Ava. ”

“My, what an enlightening assessment of the circumstances, was that really the extent of your evaluation. I’ve gotta say, you're sounding like a real disappointment right now.” He laughs, his suit almost bursting at the seams.

Glancing at Ava, she averts her gaze. Dammit…

“That’s not all! Not only do you share The Cats Cradle, but the instinct itself belonged to someone else long before you came along. It was never yours to begin with!”

The fact that he’s claiming Ava’s power as his own is just unforgivable. The burden she bears is heavier than anything a young woman should have too, let alone the girl she once was. It’s an insult to Tiffany and Ordelia as well, considering they fought for her sake until their last breath. All of the blood, sweat and tears they shedded, only to be cut down in the name of tragedy, is something I can never forget.

Tilting his head upwards, Greene squints at me with glare. “And how exactly did you figure that out?”

“You can blame that rebellious streak of hers.” I say with a smile.

Greene sighs, scratching behind his pointy feline ears. Judging by his lax posture, he isn’t nervous, but seems rather annoyed that I know that bit of info. He looks up at Ava.

“Ava, care to explain the meaning of this?”

“It was in hopes of garnering his sympathy sir. In fact, that has been our strategy from the very beginning.” She explains.

“Sympathy you say…”

“Yes, and judging by his-”

Greene yanks the rope attached to her collar, bringing her tumbling to the ground. Ava gags right as her face hits the cobblestone path, leaving her in a coughing fit. Raising her head, she clutches the collar almost in defiance.

With a grimace, he takes a handful of her hair and lifts her up by it. “Do you take me for an idiot? Someone like you doesn’t deserve sympathy, you are a monster whose purpose is to kill. To consume until you’ve found that perfect meal!”

With tears welling up in her eyes, he starts tugging on her collar. Instead of fighting back, Ava grits her teeth while yelping in pain. Seeing her give in to him, it's as if she’s already submitted loyalty to him, like some kind of pet.

“Honestly, even with how powerful you are, I guess some things just never change. Even after becoming your rider, you’re still just as useless now as you were before!” the mayor complains, pulling her face closer to his.

“But don’t worry, as you know I’m not someone who gives up easily…” he says with a low tone of voice, moving his face closer to hers. Ava averts her eyes, realizing the closeness of their gaze. Yet he continues to gaze at her with a smirk, his lips inching ever closer.

The ground beneath my feet disappears. No, am I levitating? It feels as if I’ve been granted flight, but by who? Is this The Man's doing, or perhaps this is some sort of trick being played on me? No…it’s neither of those things.

I open my eyes, only to find Ava standing between Greene and I. Looking down, I notice her bare forearm blocking against my blood blade. When did I… There’s an intensity in her eyes, and for some reason it’s directed towards me. Then it hits me. That sudden sensation of flight was neither The Man, nor was it something mysterious, but was in fact my own impulse. An uncontrollable one.

“What was that?” The Man asks. I’m not even sure myself.

Behind Ava’s shoulder, Greene backs up and stumbles to the ground while trembling.

“H-heh. That’s quite the speed you’ve got there…Thank you Ava.”

Despite his gratitude, her expression remains unchanged. With the heightened awareness in her gaze and her growing Influence, I bolster my own as well.

“Why are you doing this? Why protect him?” I ask her in the hopes that this won’t lead to fighting.

“Because the Necropolis yearns for brave souls, and it seems I’ve found the perfect meal!” Ava admits, leaning towards my face with a huge grin and a lick of her lips.

She swings her forearm forward, knocking me away. Landing on my feet, my legs buckle, leaving me to kneel on one knee. It seems my body still has yet to recover from the absence of my soul, as well as my self-inflicted usage of Blood Puppetry during our first encounter. While I’m not sure how long it’ll take for me to readjust, it’s not like she’s just gonna wait until it happens.

Ava draws her scythe from her back and lunges forward with its blade shrouded in her jade green aura. Sidestepping her first swing arcing downward, I sprout up a blood barrier from underneath my still crushed fingernails as she takes another horizontal swing forwards. The air whistles like the wind during a cold winter’s night, as she swings with reckless abandonment, in an attempt to disembowel me.

Noticing this, she hastens her assault against my barrier. And with her Influence continuing to rise, my body still has yet to recover. With each swing, she hacks away at my barrier, resulting in spatters of blood that scatter like tree bark splinters under an opposing axeman. The whistling sounds filling the air twists into an almost desperate cry, one that shrieks of murder.

“You need to think of something quick, she won’t let up!” The Man warns me from my left.

“She isn’t making this easy for me either.” I say to him with a glance, as a flash of green light twinkles out of the corner of my eye.

If it’s what I think it is, it should take her at least a few seconds to charge her beam. Which gives me enough time to hit her with my blade.

Conjuring my blood blade in hand, I turn towards her, and it is then that I realize my mistake. The second our eyes meet, I’m met with a shrewd cheshire grin. One that gleams in parallel to the opulence of her gaze, reaffirming my lack of awareness. My foolishness.

She isn’t charging her beam at the tip of her tongue, but is aiming to hit me with something else. And because I expected that beam to come straight at me, I never noticed the attack coming towards my left until now.

Along the arc of her swing comes the manifestation of her green aura in the form of a projectile, shattering my blood barrier in an instant. A searing pain is slashed across my torso, but is more than just physical. This must be the feeling of having someone carve into your Influence.

As I’m propelled backwards into the many gravestones sitting alongside the cobblestone path, my limbs go numb. Which leaves me in a situation where my collisions with each stab is involuntary, akin to a wet rag flung midair. Next thing I know, I crash into the stone mausoleum’s wall, causing an explosion of dust and debris.

Even though all of this occurred in the matter of a few seconds, I feel as though I’ve been put through the ringer. My heart is racing, causing the numbness in my arms and legs to wane but this is introducing a new problem. My head is feeling fuzzy, like an old television with a signal. My body is heating up. No. I must control myself, I don’t want to succumb to this feeling. No while I’m against Ava.

My eye twitches. My arm springs into action by itself, grabbing something to my right. When I look at what’s jerking around in my hand, I realize I’m holding on to the blade of her scythe. Despite my senses still feeling a bit fuzzy, I somehow grabbed it without being aware of the incoming danger. It’s a good thing my hands are covered in blood, since the Influence emanating from it would cut me.

The scythe howls as it tries breaking free of my grip, but I won’t let go. Keeping it at bay will increase my odds of ending this without too much of a fight.

“You’ve got some quick reflexes, but I know you're still holding back!” Ava shouts while hopping towards me atop each gravestone in her path. And given her black clothing, her appearance is like a shadow chasing its own form.

With her assault now imminent, I raise my hand while clenching my fist, squeezing more blood from the cuts and lacerations on my palm. Thin ribbons of blood slip through my fingers onto the ground, forming something akin to serpents before lunging towards her.

Each serpent arcs and twists in a flurry midair like ribbons riding along the wind, yet she seems unfazed by their presence. Despite them being what stands between us, she’s still gaining momentum from jumping atop every gravestone before her. Then I’m reminded of our first encounter. Every move she makes is intentional, like a ballerina performing her routine with ease. There isn't an ounce of exertion on her part during this ensemble. A Dance with Death.

Ava ducks under one of my serpents as it comes close to piercing her neck and, with a side glance, dodges the next one nearing her waist. And with a twist of her upper body, she blasts away the rest of them with her Influence.

With her black cloak swaying in the wind, droplets of my blood shower her, creating an almost harrowing sight as our eyes meet. When facing an opponent, one would expect them to show at least a shred of fear. It’s a subconscious understanding between those involved that someone, at any point, could die. It’s a simple concept, even to those that have never fought. Fear is what separates the prey from the hunter, yet even the hunter fears retaliation.

But when I look into her eyes, I don’t sense that struggle for survival. Only the joy of killing.

Waving my left hand, I conjure up more serpents in an attempt to slow her down. But right as they spring up like lengthy claws, Ava spins forward with a kick that connects with the side of her face, dissolving the serpents creeping up from below in an instant. Using brute force alone, she’s managed to annihilate my defenses twice, and this is just the beginning.

Feeling a bit dazed, my hearts skips a beat. Aren’t I forgetting something…Wait.

With a slight of hand, I conjure up a blade using the blood seeping from my left hand and block her scythe midair. That split second of dizziness from her kick was enough to release my grip on the blade, allowing it the freedom it yearns for.

“Give me some space, dammit!” I shout, knocking her blade aside with my own.

Jumping to my feet, Ava leaps towards my right and grabs her scythe. I raise my sword in anticipation, but she instead punches me in the stomach. The sudden impact leaves me winded, causing the wound across my chest to open up again. Gulping down the air caught in my throat, I grab her forearm and hit her with a left hook.

Not enough. She turns her head against my fist with a smile. I know I didn’t channel enough Influence, but punching her felt like I’d hit a wall. Despite my fist being planted against her face, she looks pretty much unfazed.

“Don’t tell me that’s all you've got? I know you've just woken up, but come on! Wake up and smell the roses already!” Ava shouts, right as she hits me in the face with a right hook.

The Influence behind it feels dense, almost sporadic. That just proves that she isn’t breaking a sweat here, but that can’t be possible. Am I not trying my best right now?

“Heh, ‘smell the roses’ huh? All I see is a bunch of poor souls pushing up daisies, so I’m afraid that just isn’t possible!” I laugh.

She chuckles. “I suppose I’ve misspoken. Saying ‘daisy’s’ would have been more precise, though I’m more disappointed at the fact that you noticed there was a difference at all. I’d rather you focus on our fight, and stop hesitating.”

“Me, hesitating? Nonsense!” I blurt out.

“You mean to tell me this is really all you've got? I’m not buying it! This is no different from the first time we fought.” She hisses, digging her feet into the dirt with a step forward. “When you rushed towards Greene, I felt what your Influence is capable of. That same potential you used while puppeting our dear mother.”

I can’t even recall exerting myself to that extent, but if what she’s saying is true…

“...No.” I say, placing my hand on my chest.

“No?” She repeats with a tilt of her head.

“You must have been imagining things. Can’t you just admit you were caught off guard?” I smirk.

“Me, getting caught off guard by your mundane tactics? Don’t make me laugh-”

I clench my chest. The blood leaking from the open wound bubbles up and gushes out, creating a barrier between the two of us. In the same instance, large spikes spring up from the surface, hitting her before she has a chance to evade.

Leaping back into a kneel, Ava grasps one of the gaping wounds on her chest. But she can’t cover all of them. With each hole running deep into her flesh, her blood is leaking profusely like a broken pipe.

I figured this would be easier if she were distracted, which is why I started mocking her in the first place. Allowing anyone to believe they have the upper hand, pretty much conditions them into lowering their guard a bit. Even the slightest change in footing is enough, which is the exact misstep she made when stepping forward. Still, poking fun at her commitment to fighting worthy opponents was a gamble and I doubt it’ll work twice.

Seeing her eyes wincing in pain, my lips tremble into a grin. “You’re ready to admit it now?”

Along with the words themselves, slips out this feeling of bitterness. While I did outsmart her, she is also correct. I am hesitating.

I hate to admit it, but I still can’t bring myself to go all out. It’s a promise I made not only to myself, but Mikel and Theresa as well. I couldn’t forgive myself if I did, especially against Ava.

Ava glares at me. “So, you were just feigning weakness. I have to say, I didn’t expect that from you. S-I-N-T-O-B-I!”

While reciting each letter of my name, her Influence rises. It’s to the point that each blade of grass around us flattens to bow in accordance to the pressure. A phenomenon she caused during her Turning Point as well.

“I believe you were the one assuming that I was weak. It was almost like you wanted that reality to be true.” I say to her with a shrug as the wound across my chest heals; closing up like a zipper along its track.

She chuckles. “No no, you’re mistaken. I was hoping that such a world was just my imagination. It would be such a huge disappointment if after all this time…you were just another cocky vagrant.”

“Heh, you seem to enjoy putting me to the test. I get the sense that I’m being toyed with almost, perhaps you’re afraid I might break.”

“It’s to the contrary, in fact.” Ava says, getting up on her feet. “I’m interested in why someone like you would put up such a facade in the first place. You, the eldest son of the Temory’s. You, the boy with an indomitable spirit and a lofty dream. Yet, you refuse to stand up against your greatest obstacle. Why is that?”

I clench my fist. “It’s because I’ve realized that my greatest obstacle isn’t you, but the gods that created you. The fact they would let a girl go through so much pain, is something I cannot forgive!”

“Enough!” she snaps, stomping her foot. Such an outburst is unlike what I expected from her Tale, yet that look on her face.

With teary eyes, she continues. “You keep saying that I am not in control of my own actions, but that just isn’t true. The Tale that follows me, along with the mission it seeks to achieve, is the real Ava. The real me!”

It’s what I expected, the real Ava has surfaced. I thought she’d be buried beneath the desire of her Tale at this point, but it seems like that isn't the case. And if what she’s saying is true, was that ever a possibility?

“This isn’t the real you Ava, you’ve been convinced of a lie. It may feel impossible, but Tales can be broke-”

“Then what?” She interrupts with a glance. “You believe everything was a lie? That everything I’ve been doing has been solely the will of my Tale? Without my own innate desires, none of it would’ve ever manifested.”

She outstretches her hand forwards, reaching towards me. With a solemn expression, her tears spill over and trickle down her face. An ominous feeling emanates before me and it feels imminent.

As her tears trail down her face, they start to blacken into a familiar substance. The miasma.

“Sintobi…” The Man warns, reappearing next to me.

“I know.” I say with a nod, bolstering my Influence.

The miasma starts leaking from both her ears and nose, as well as from the corners of her lips. There’s far more oozing out of her than before, which can only mean one thing. Those two are here…

“That look on your face, is it fear? Is it sorrow? Perhaps it’s…both?” She inquires, as her sclera darkens to a pitch black, leaving behind an iris of shimmering jade in an otherwise endless void.

“It doesn’t matter, because I know you’re still the same.” I respond to her, raising my fists with a forward stance.

“I’m glad you’re still fearless Sintobi, because a Tale is nothing without its plot. And in this Tale, it’s nothing without its hero.” Ava explains with a tilt of head, still holding out her hand in longing.

“If that’s the case, then she must be the antagonist.” remarks The Man, perhaps with the hopes that I’d accept that reality. Yet I already know it to be true…

I step forward. “And a hero I will be. I will save you from your Tale, from that mayor, and from the damned gods themselves! All in the name of denying the natural course of this world!”

“Ah, words befitting of a true hero! Refusing to falter as he stands before his adversary, preparing to take on his biggest challenge. His own mistake…” Ava shouts, but calms to a whisper while touching her collar. “…You could have stepped up, early.”