Where the Truth Lies

The tower looms over me like an enormous shadow; its black glass walls show nothing inside like an abyss. The peak of the structure pierces the dark, cloudy sky. Thunder rumbles, trembling the air.

Goosebumps rise around my arms as I stare at the entrance of the tower.

I’m finally here. It’s time to end this long journey.

Approaching the black door, I give it a push as it screeches open. Inside, it is as dark as the outside walls. The front desk is completely wrecked to pieces, along with the other chairs and tables. Dirt soil the tile floor from pots of plants. And along the walls are splashes of blood.

I slow my breathing as I draw my gun. Then Tamamo raises her arms up and embers light up between her fingers. With a gentle blow from her mouth, the flames float in multiple directions, brightening up the room.

“Thanks,” I nod

Tamamo smiles warmly back at me.

Down the halls, there are shattered pictures and a map that’s ripped to shreds. Broken windows show the insides of what looks like labs; there are the human test tubes like the one Tamamo was once in. Glass cracks as I step on them, entering one of the rooms.

There are papers everywhere with notes and numbers randomly jotted down. Sketches of human and animal anatomy. There are little things written about combining genes and swapping limbs from different creatures onto humans.

A lump forms in my throat, making me burp as I read the more detailed notes. Tamamo, however, doesn’t seem bothered by any of this as she’s prancing around. Tossing the paper, I take a deep breath and continue down the dark hall with Tamamo following behind.

The elevators are dead, so we travel a flight of stairs, going all the way to the top. To a door that says, “Dr. Cretin.”

It’s time. Time to settle this matter. Time to end this long journey.

As I reach for the doorknob, I can feel the heat rising off of my hands, feeling the sweat building up. My breathing grows at a rapid pace, and my heart begins to race. The cold brass knob twists in my hand, then the door creaks open.

Shelves pile on each other. Books and papers are scattered all over the floor, along with pieces of furniture. A sizeable broken desk a few feet away from me with a chair facing away. And I can see someone sitting there.

Now.

I rush in. Pulling my sword out and sinking it into the dark silhouette. My hands are wet but cold. There’s a vague stench of rotting meat. Tamamo quickly bursts some light in the room. My heart sinks.

A rotted corpse of a dead man in a moldy white lab coat sits in the chair with my sword pierced into its skeletal chest. I pull my blade back, sinking down to the floor.

“Liam!” Tamamo rushes to my side and picks me up by the arm and back on my feet.

“He’s already dead. He’s been dead.” My chest tightens, looking at the corpse. Blood rushes through me, then my grip on the sword tightens, and I push Tamamo off of me. I swing. Slashing and cutting away at the dead body. Pieces of flesh and bones fly to the side. “Why are you dead? I was supposed to kill you! ME!”

“Liam, stop!” Tamamo wraps herself around me and pulls me back.

“Let go! I’m supposed to kill him!”

“Enough, Liam! It’s already over! Forget about it!”

Heat flushes within me. Then I push Tamamo off of me. I stare at her, grinding my teeth hard and feeling pain in my jaw. “Forget about it? This was what this whole journey was about! Everyone, everyone, everyone, EVERYONE! Pushed me to save this world!”

Familiar faces flash through my mind, and their dying wishes lay stacks on me, echoing and vibrating my skull.

Liam, you are the only one…

Go kill the doctor!

We’re counting on you, Liam!

Save this world, Liam…

Liam… Please… Save…

Liam!

“What the hell was the point in me coming here!” I slam the pommel of my sword, smashing the desk to bits.

“Liam…” Tamamo approaches me

“Don’t.” Hot tears run down my cheek, blurring Tamamo from my vision. “Everything I did to come here was all for nothing. The damn doctor had already died years ago! What was the point of me coming all the way here!”

“It’s not been for nothing.”

“What?”

“I got the chance to meet you.”

I stand with no words in my mouth. Just shaking my head. Eyes still blurred with tears.

“If it weren’t for you fighting against the feline Chimera, I would still be asleep in my tube.” Tamamo takes a step forward, holding both her hands on her chest. “It’s thanks to you I’m here now.”

“No. I was supposed to save the world. Our meeting was nothing but a coincidence!”

“I don’t believe that it was.”

“Enough! Carl, Evelyn, Hunter, Amy, Melanie, Deckard! They all counted on me! And I had already failed!”

“No, Liam, you didn-”

“Stop it! You wouldn’t understand! You’re a Chimera!” My eyes clear as the tears drop. Tamamo is also crying. Her face is red and hurt. I avert from meeting her gaze, kicking debris up, then rubbing both of my eyes and releasing a loud sigh as I stare at the window.

A dark figure is outside.

Crash!

Clash!

My sword quickly deflects something that glinted, and I am sent flying across the room, crashing onto a pile of bookshelves. I groan, shaking the dizziness off of me.

“Let me go!”

I gasp.

Someone in dark clothing is clutching onto Tamamo’s waist with black wings.

“You are more lovely up close, my bride.”

My heart sinks. My hands start to shake.

Black Wing.

“I said, let me go!” Tamamo presses her hands on Black Wing and bursts flames into his face, burning a part of the room and shattering a roll of windows. But Black Wing doesn’t budge, nor is there a single strand of his wavy jet black hair burned. He just stares at Tamamo with wide, beady eyes. And Tamamo looks like she’s whimpering.

“You’re too noisy, wife.” Black Wing growls. He swiftly knocks Tamamo out with the pommel of his curved blade, and then his eyes find me.

I grit my teeth and lunge forward with my blade above me.

Clash!

Sparks light up the room with my sword once again, greeting Black Wing’s scimitar with a hack. I push my weight forward, but he doesn’t budge and instead grins at me. “Let. Her. Go," I growl.

“I remember you. You’re the one that got away when I slaughtered the anti-Chimera group.” Black Wing cackles and pushes me back. “What brings you all the way here?”

I only grunt through gritted teeth, pushing my sword forward, feeling my arms and legs aching.

Black Wing laughs again. “You don’t need to answer. I know why you’re here, but it’s okay. I already did the deed for you.”

“What?”

“I killed the doctor.”

“Why?”

“I was bored.”

“Bored!?”

“Enough about the old bastard. I applaud you, human, for making it this far. You’ve really got my attention after you awaken my beautiful wife from her slumber.”

A sudden coldness hits my core. He’s been watching us since the beginning.

Then Black Wing leans in toward Tamamo, puckering his lips.

Heat explodes within me. I roar, pushing my sword, but Black Wing out-strengthens me and slashes my cheek. Quickly, I grab my gun and shoot.

Bang!

But I miss. Black Wing’s talon-like feet clutch onto my whole body, crushing me. A yelp escapes my throat then he flaps his wings. Black feathers scatter through the room like miniature bats; the wind rushes past me, and then I crash into a wall. I cry out, then gag.

“I like that reaction, human. I like to invite you to my wedding.”

The talon releases its grip on me, letting me fall to the ground. I cough out more vomit and force my aching body to get up. I glare up at the sickest smirk I haven’t seen since he killed my friends.

“Come to my nest, and we’ll have a grand party! You’ll see it. It’s not that far from here. Don’t keep me waiting.” Black Wing flaps his wings and bursts through the window.

“Tamamo!” I push myself up and rush toward the window. “Tamamo!’ But Black Wing is already a speck in the sky, soaring toward two buildings leaning on each other with a tree spiraling around them. “TAMAMO!”