Running, not escaping

Raya: What are you talking about!? You almost just died!

Raya, who had been sitting near my head had gotten slightly annoyed by my joke. Though it might not actually be a joke. At least, I know it’s not a funny one.

Before getting lost in introspection I decided to keep the “joke” going.

Adam: That means I did my job well. Make sure to praise me more… But did you really think that we could make it out of there without either of us dying? We were up against at least 50,000 monsters and an overgrown sea serpent. I purposely gave myself all the most risky tasks so that you at least had a chance of getting out. I’m honestly surprised at how well things turned out.

I’m not sure why I’m telling her all this.

Gloating? Pity? Do I expect a reward for deceiving Raya? Do I expect her to love me more if I sacrifice myself for her?

I see, it’s none of the above.

Raya looked shocked at my question. Her head drooped down and she put her hands on her forehead.

Eventually her gaze shifted towards her precious sword.

We sat in silence until we heard the ding of the elevator and the doors opened up.

Outside the doors was complete darkness. The light from inside the elevator seemed to be unable to even touch this void.

After a few seconds the doors closed automatically.

Adam: Can we rest for a few minutes before checking that out?

Raya: Yup, I see no problems with that. How about we have lunch?

Raya rummaged through our meager supplies and pulled out some rations and a flask of water. She helped me sit up against the wall and then offered me some.

Raya: We only have enough for one more meal. Otherwise we could wait in here until you fully heal.

I nodded as I chewed on the hard rations.

Before the fighting started in Labyrinth City Proper, Raya and I had lightened our equipment by as much as possible, only bringing food and supplies that were vital. Unfortunately, I had lost my backpack at some point so now we were left with nearly nothing.

Additionally, absorbing some of Raya’s mana had messed with my soul on some level. Casting any sort of magic was difficult to the point that healing anything that wasn’t life threatening would cause more harm than good. This problem should resolve itself on its own, but it will probably take a few days. Needless to say, this situation was not ideal.

After I finished eating I leaned on Raya, who was sitting next to me, and closed my eyes to rest for a little while.

She should be fine with this much, right?

- - - - - - -

I woke up to the sounds of metal clashing against metal.

Raya was nowhere to be seen.

For some reason the elevator door was open. I still couldn’t see outside but I knew that the fighting was coming from that direction.

I willed my broken body to crawl out the door.

As soon as I passed the doorway, I saw Raya facing up against a monster.

It was at least 12 feet tall, bipedal, and had short black fur completely covered its body. It wore nothing other than a loincloth and carried two gigantic cleavers. It had the head and snout of a cow but otherwise was humanoid.

A minotaur.

However, there was something very strange about this minotaur other than its monstrous size. All over its body were small but disgusting horns, the same type and size that sprouted from a horned rabbit’s eye sockets. Atop the minotaur’s head were much larger horns. They sprouted from its head and curled themselves into a shape reminiscent of a crown. Additionally, its eyes were oversized, bloodshot, and would rapidly dart around in crazy directions.

The dim lighting provided by the luminous moss would only ever leave it partially illuminated, making it appear even more menacing.

This thing could probably take on that sea serpent.

And Raya was right there, taking it head on.

She was getting pushed back as the two traded blows.

I wanted to rush over and help.

I wanted to do something other than sit and watch from the sidelines but my body couldn’t even stand no matter how hard I tried.

The crazy minotaur swung its massive cleaver at Raya. She ducked and moved to its side, making some space between the two before noticing me.

She smiled then faced the minotaur once more and threw the sword she had been holding to the side.

Raya: I can’t let things continue the way they are now Adam.

After making this statement she reached to the sword that she had always carried on her back.

A thunderous roar resounded throughout the cavern as she drew the blade.

The previously dark cavern became illuminated by a bright blue glow.

Electricity jumped from her entire body as she appeared to take on the characteristics of a tesla coil.

The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the minotaur’s head flying from its shoulders.

- - - - - - -

“She's ready to see you now Pax.”

I hesitantly took my father's hand and hopped off the chair.

I held his hand as hard as I could and closed my eyes.

I hate these shiny white floors. I hate these fluorescent lights. I hate the smell of hand sanitizer and death.

At the sound of a door opening, I looked up with my eyes half open.

That woman on the hospital bed was not my Mom.

My Mom was strong and energetic. She would run with me and play for hours.

This woman in front of me had her eyes sunken in, muscles that had atrophied and shrunken, a breathing mask over her face, and several tubes coming out of her.

Her eyes seemed to tear up a bit as she looked at me. Then she called me over with a hoarse voice.

“Hello Pax, how are you?”

My father stepped into the room but for some reason I resisted.

It wasn't until he forcefully pulled me in that I hesitantly walked over to the side of the bed.

I couldn't bear to look her in the eyes so I stared down at her hand.

It didn't look like my mother's hand. It looked closer to that of a skeleton’s.

The hand turned it's palm towards me in a gesture to hold my hand.

This simple act seemed to take a huge amount of effort from her. I started tearing up at the pitiful state my mother was in and reached my hand out to hers.

“How much longer are you going to be in here mom?”

Her hand squeezed mine but it had barely any strength. It was if she were barely holding on and would disappear at any moment.

“Pax, I decided to stop the chemotherapy”

No…

“NO! WHY ARE YOU GIVING UP MOM? YOU CAN STILL GET BETTER! DONT YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND PLAY IN THE PARK? DONT LEAVE ME MOM!”

I looked up at my mom now and saw tears streaming down her face.

Behind me, a hand that was normally so strong and reliable was placed on my shoulder. But now, it seemed to be shaking from its very core.

“I’m sorry Pax, I can't keep fighting anymore”

“BUT MOM YOU GOTTA! THE TREATMENT WILL WORK THIS TIME! DAD, TELL MOM NOT TO GIVE UP!”

But instead of knocking some sense into mom like I thought he would, Dad just crouched down and hugged me.

I screamed at him for letting mom give up. I screamed at mom for leaving me. I screamed at the world for making things play out this way.

But in the end I could do nothing.

In the end I calmed down enough to hear my mom's last words.

“I’ll always love you Pax, so be good and grow up big and strong.”

Adam: I'm sorry mom I'm so sorry. I couldn't take it anymore and I broke our promise. I'm sorry.

I awoke from my nightmare with tears streaming down my face.

No matter how long it's been I can't forget that day.

Now it was me on the hospital bed. Light blue curtains were drawn around me and I had new bandages wrapped around me.

I also noticed that I could use some mana so I turned off pain nullification to check what was actually wrong with me in hopes of forgetting the dream I just had.

Pain nullification worked by altering my neurons and stopping the signals from pain receptors from getting to my brain. It only required mana to be turned on or off.

Just as I turned off the pain nullification I heard some talking coming from the other side of the curtains.

???: You can't stay here, he's coming for you. Raya, don't you get that fighting him is just suicide?

Raya: Well, I’d rather commit suicide than keep running away forever.

For some reason these words struck deep inside me.

This feeling, combined with the physical pain coming from all over my body and the spiritual pain coming from the mixing of mana made me feel as if my soul had been ruptured and everything was crumbling around me.

The nightmares and memories that had yet to be pushed deep inside me bubbled back to the surface to strike at my psyche once more.

Overwhelmed, my thoughts became chaotic and dangerous.

???: Raya? Suicide? Don't… No.

???: I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry

???: Don't you see how it feels now? Don't you understand what you did?

“She” stared back at me through the gaps in my fingertips.

Pax: Don't leave me alone. I'm scared Mom, what's happening to me?

Adam: I can't see it anymore. Where did everyone go?

???: Calm down, you can rest now.

Pax: No, I don't– I don’t want to die.

- - - - - - -

Perspective 4:

The two of them stared at the young boy curled up on the bed in silence.

Just a moment ago he had randomly woken up, only to scream some indecipherable yet horrifying things, start convulsing, and lose consciousness again.

Raya had immediately gone to his side to try and calm him down but he didn't seem to recognize her even as he shouted her name.

Duke Telantra had simply watched the entire ordeal in shock. After a long silence he finally managed to form some words.

Telantra: I didn't think it was this bad.

Why did I think that this broken child would be able to save Artenia?

Did my Eyes deceive me?

As Raya caressed Adam’s head, she spoke to him even though he was asleep.

Raya: I'm sorry Adam, for letting it get to this point. I promise to never leave your side.

Telantra: So you'll leave this place and flee south?

No doubt, if Raya stayed here she would die when Kael Drogo inevitably showed up.

Now that Ryuzu’s Fang had been unsheathed completely, Kael Drogo knew where they were and all hopes of Raya’s revenge had gone up in flames.

Raya: …yes, Adam and I will run away together.