Firetaker

Kanji coughed tainted air. The world spinning and blurry, he elbowed himself off the tiles, his palms brushing against the stone pillar as he dragged himself behind it. Panting, he searched for her. The half-wall was overblown; the closest pews burnt, and so were the bottom stairs to the balcony. But she was nowhere to be found.

“I can hear you!” the sorcerer’s voice cracked as it echoed, “You… little rat!”

The sorcerer extended his arm, and a thin fire sword appeared.

Shit!

Kanji curled himself into a ball. Explosion. The heated blast burnt against his skin, but not nearly enough to cause any harm. The fire-sword ricocheted against the pillar and exploded to his side.

“Tsk,” the sorcerer said as he impatiently prepared another sword.

What should I do? Should I look for Yuki? I can’t go out like this, I’ll be scorched!

Explosion. The pillar cracked by the direct impact. On the balcony, a flash reflected on dark hair. Kanji knew immediately: It’s Yuki!

I need to help her get a clear shot. Should I blind him with my flashlight? Kanji reached shakily for the flashlight in his bag. I’ll go out in three, two, one… Oh fuck, I can’t do this!

“Fine! I’ll bring the WHOLE thing down.” the sorcerer said as he raised a finger above his head. A nail-sized fireball appeared, and began expanding. It grew quickly, until it became as big as a car, making the whole room drown in light and heat.

Gunshot.

The sorcerer fell to his back as the ball flailed forward wildly, landing on the furthest corner. The blast filled the room with heat, a yelp sounded from the balcony as a revolver flew to the middle of the room. The sorcerer gurgled, clutching at his throat.

Kanji’s eyes widened. A moment passed before he came back to his senses. “Y-yuki?” he said with a hoarse voice as he made his way towards the stairs, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” she said, “Take the revolver and finish him off! Be quick!”

Kanji froze. “Finish him? Isn’t he dead already?”

“Don’t you see he’s still breathing? Go!”

Kanji nodded hesitantly to himself, before quickly running to the revolver. Each step made the gurgling louder. His hands shook as he gripped the cold metal. Heavy. Heavier than he expected. He raised it with both hands, trying to steady his aim, but the barrel wavered.

The sorcerer lay between the sights.

And for the first time, he could see his eyes.

He expected to see the same rage from before. But the man’s eyes were wide with fear, like a cornered animal.

The sorcerer clawed at his throat, fingers scrabbling, desperate. He’ll… He’ll surely bleed out in a minute.

Kanji’s finger found the trigger. The metal was cold. He just had to squeeze to end it all.

But, this is a person…

Movement at the wound.

Snakes.

Green snakes writhed from the man’s throat. Sewing it, sealing the wound with their bodies. The gurgling stopped. His gasp was long and desperate, a pull of air that filled every inch of his lungs. He breathed ragged bursts. Coughing and gasping at once. Then slower, and slower.

Tears ran down his eyes, and he let out a small giggle as he sobbed.

He’s alive. Kanji’s arms felt numb. He’s really alive.

The sorcerer stood, slowly, still staring at the ceiling. His chest heaved.

Can I really… Am I really allowed to take a life?

The man spoke, his voice high and distorted:

“Us free spirits have one thing in common.” he smiled through his tears, “Shit… we really hate dying.”

He extended his arm towards Kanji.

“Sorry, kid. It’s nothing personal.”

The bolt hit Kanji’s chest directly, a sharp burning pain spread throughout his whole front; the gun flung out of his hand, and his back slammed against a pew, making him gasp for air. Hot smoke entered his lungs.

A flashlight flared from the balcony, a desperate attempt to save him. A bolt hit the balcony, breaking it apart; Yuki screamed as she fell down with the rubble. I have to get her out… The thought was immediately ridiculed by his pain.

The sorcerer walked towards the rubble. He smiled. Fire thrusted out of his hand in a constant flow into the ground, as if he’s saying: ‘look at me, look what I can do to you…’

Kanji crawled in the dark. Where is the gun… where is the gun…

Thump. Kanji’s head bumped into something. Someone.

It was the girl from the game.

Not older than ten, wearing a white dress; she stood between the pews, staring at the pedestal, at the saint tied on the cross.

W-what in the world?

“Die, rat!” the sorcerer turned his fire towards Kanji, “Ah! Girl, out of the way!”

Firebolt. Kanji pulled the girl onto the ground with all his weight. The explosion behind them covered them both in burning pew bits. The revolver lay in front of his nose.

Yuki’s flashlight hit the sorcerer’s head, thrown from the rubble. “Ow! Bitch!” He stumbled. With both hands, he started raining fire on the pile.

Kanji picked up the gun.

What kind of person… can’t save another?

Yuki risked everything for me so willingly… Barely even knowing me… An angel of kindness…

Yuki screamed.

Kanji raised himself off the rubble and pulled the trigger.

His aim was way off, the bullet hit an iron standing lamp, then ricocheted into the sorcerer’s skull.

Thump. The body laid motionless on the ground.

Kanji ran towards the pile. He stumbled. He kept running. He pulled Yuki out. She was still coughing, her face covered in soot.

“Are you okay?” Kanji said, as he handed her back the revolver.

“Yeah,” Yuki said, pocketing it, “A bit burnt, but nothing bad. And you?”

“I’m good. We need to get you out of here.”

“You think I’m going to leave now? Your whole skin is blistered, if anyone needs a hospital it’s you.”

He could not feel much of anything, but he knew one thing.

“Please… I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to you.”

Humming. The little girl stood above the sorcerer’s body, humming a song familiar to Kanji, yet he could not tell what it was.

“And what should we do about her?” Kanji said, “she’s… she was also in the game. But we can’t leave her here.”

I am a murderer.

“You’re right—”

The thought jumped to his mind and yet he refused to understand it. The body lay there lifeless, and he’s the cause. He’s the monster who took its soul away.

I am a murderer.

“Are you listening, Okimoto-kun?”

“Y-yeah…”

Yuki glanced at the body, then back at him. Fire and smoke filled more and more of the room.

“Let’s go.” Yuki said before starting to walk out of the room. She offered the girl her hand, who followed her willingly. Kanji followed them.

Scorching fire overtook the sorcerer’s body, and its remains were covered by burning rubble.

*****

The light behind them became slim and distant as they moved through the upper hall towards the lab.

Only now the pain came back. His hands shaking, the cold water in his shoes contrasted with the heat on his torso’s skin.

Something’s different here… he examined the environment around him.

“It’s strange… there’s so many rooms that were locked inside the game, but here they are open.” Kanji said.

In front of them was one such room, a glister reflected the flashlight. He hadn’t considered entering, but a familiar sound emerged from the doorway. A laugh, the Evil Surgeon’s laugh.

“Run.” Kanji whispered.

“What?”

“Run. I know his attack patterns, I’ll survive long enough for you to surprise him.”

She looked at him with an indiscernible expression, and ran towards the entrance. The girl ran with her, tiptoeing on her small feet.

A purple light filled the room, purple smoke engulfing him. A man stepped forward, holding a sawbone. His leather shoes echoed on the planks with every deliberate step.

Kanji pumped his fists, shaking.

The surgeon raised his hand. A bright yellow light blazed from it, sparkling.

A voice, sounding like three voices of different pitch, spoke.

“Sleep.”