Array
(
[text] =>
AN: THIS IS IT! RAHAS IS FINALLY DONE WITH BEING A SPECTATOR! This chapter was satisfying to write, if I am to be honest. One more chapter to go! After this, I’ll probably take a couple of weeks off, maybe write some oneshots and such. But I’ll definitely be plotting and scheming for my next project.
Anyway, hope you enjoy~!
Warnings: Violence and murder
–
Chapter 5:
Ahimoth continued to taunt. Continued to mock. Continued to find sheer joy in the pain of others. His laughter was that of insanity. Damn sicko was getting off on all the pain he was inflicting upon Shiki, Gerald, and poor Simmons.
But…not for much longer.
With a silence, with a confidence he didn’t know he possessed, Rahas walked up behind Ahimoth. His footsteps were silent against the grass. He hadn’t heard him. Hadn’t seen him.
But soon he would. He had ignored him. Dismissed him. And he was going to regret it.
Rahas’ stare, cold with distain, was to be the last thing that man would ever see.
“Well, Shiki, maybe if I threaten dear ol’ Gerald’s life a little bit more, you’ll-” Ahimoth’s threat abruptly halted when a knife broke through the clothing of his right shoulder. The silver blade stained a crimson red.
As he turned his head to look at it, muted surprise on his face, Shiki’s eyes also widen. Rahas, however, ignored both men. He tightened his grip on the handle of the knife, his knuckles turning a ghastly white. And dragged the knife downwards. Through the muscles and tendons. Through the bones. Through the flesh and his clothes.
Ahimoth’s arm immediately dropped down to his side. Limply and utterly useless. Unable to keep the hold of his sword, it, too, falling uselessly to the forest floor.
Hm, the knife was quite sharp. Likely by design. Though, this knife in particular was probably crafted for the final blow. After he had his fill of his ‘pleasure’.
As Ahimoth grasped his shoulder with his left hand, he lurched himself away from Rahas and staggered back a few steps. He looked at Rahas with utter astonishment on his face. Surprised. Appalled by his actions.
“Looks like Lynus’ ramblings of bodily anatomy finally paid off.” Rahas leaned down and casually picked up Ahimoth’s dropped sword with his free hand. “Hope you can wield a sword with just your left hand there, asshole.”
Blood seeped through Ahimoth’s fingers, coating his clothing, staining the green grass a crimson red. Ahimoth glowered at him, truly furious at having been caught off guard by that dark hunter boy, let alone actually being attacked by him.
The sheer audacity of it all.
Rahas ignored him, however, and spared a moment to glance at his surroundings. He tapped the sword idly against his leg. He didn’t want to do the deed, as it were, in front of everyone. Especially not with Simmons there.
“Who would have thought that Taksony’s kid would be the one.” Ahimoth bit out a mocking laugh. “You’re no different than me.”
Rahas rolled his eyes in clear distain. “That’s cute, but your manipulations won’t work on me.”
He had heard it all before. Nothing new. The same drivel. Touching on a person’s insecurities. On their natural fear of doing wrong. Of being seen as a monster. Of being like them.
Just lies.
Better to shut him up. It was getting annoying.
Hm. That bruise on his face. Ah, it was when Axel punched him. That must have hurt. He should make it worse.
Before Ahimoth could bite out some manipulative remark in a desperate attempt to regain control over the situation, Rahas lunged forward. And stabbed the knife into the hinge of Ahimoth’s jaw. Severing the muscles and tendons on the side of his face. Maybe even badly injured that vile tongue in his mouth.
Ahimoth lurched himself backwards, instinctively rather than in reaction to his attack. The knife remained in his head, the sharp tip glinting clear through to the other side. After staggering backwards, he stared at him, eyes deranged and slacked-jaw. He reached up with his only usable arm and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the knife. His gaze remained absolutely unhinged and narrowed in on Rahas as he ripped the knife from the side of his face.
And his mouth dropped open further.
Rahas stared back at him. “Try blowing on that whistle now.”
Ahimoth was going to have a hard time uttering any of his curses and spell, also. It didn’t take Ahimoth long to realise that, too. His grip tightened on the knife, so tight that his whole body was beginning to shake.
He then turned and fled down a narrow path.
Running, huh? Couldn’t say he was surprised. An appropriate response from a murderous coward. Still, worked in his favour; he didn’t have to drag the bastard away himself.
“Rahas!” Shiki called out to him.
But Rahas dismissively waved a hand over his shoulder at him. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
He moved to follow, but paused in his steps a moment later. He then half-turned, looking directly over to where Simmons was, slumped, possibly unconscious against Axel’s chest. The redheaded supporting him as he stared at Rahas, clearly torn on what he should feel, what he should do.
“Hey, Axel? Protect everyone here.”
Axel opened his mouth, likely to protest something about him not going alone. About him being foolish to follow an obviously dangerous individual into a dangerous labyrinth. Yet, he held back. Possibly seeing the determination on his face. Or maybe he had come to the same realisation that Rahas had moments ago.
“Sure,” was all he said.
If there was one thing that redhead could do well, it was protecting others. So, Rahas turn and headed deeper into the labyrinth. He didn’t need to rush. Not really. The blood laid a trail for him to follow.
“Why are you running, Ahimoth?” Rahas called out, unable to prevent himself from using the bastard’s words again him. “You were talking a big game just moments ago.”
Of course, he didn’t expect an answer. Not anything more than an incoherent gurgle of blood through an unhinged jaw.
Whoops.
Tracking him down wasn’t going to be difficult, either. Not the way he was bleeding all over the place. That was going to catch the attention of some of the monsters, too. He had better find Ahimoth before the monsters did. Just so he could ensure that the bastard was dead.
And he found him, not a few moments later. Ahimoth leant against a tree, his right arm useless and still by his side. He had his working hand clutching his chin, likely attempting to use his war skills to heal his injuries enough to attempt to fight back. The curse he would spit at him would be diabolical.
If he could heal himself.
Ahimoth, with his wide and deranged eyes, soon noticed Rahas’ approach. He desperately staggered away from the tree and raised his only weapon, a single knife, in his direction.
Idly tossing Ahimoth’s sword to his left hand, Rahas grabbed the handle of his whip with his right hand. He quickly unholstered it from his side, and with a rapid flick of his wrist, in a motion that Shiki had taught him long ago, he unfurled his whip. And wound it around Ahimoth’s wrist.
“I know how bastards like you think,” he muttered as he pulled harshly on the whip, pulling Ahimoth off centre. And with another sharp tug, threw him to the ground. “How dare you treat me like this? I only brutally murdered and killed, stalked and tormented the ones you love. But now you’re attacking me? You have the audacity to treat me with the same murderous, violent disregard that I treat others? That your inner monologue, hmm?”
Ahimoth tried to roll onto his back, to attempt to scurry away from him. Probably in the same manner that he forced his innocent victims to endure as he laughed and jeered at them.
“I hate bastards like you.”
Rahas snapped his whip on Ahimoth’s thigh, paralysing the muscle. Causing his leg to drop in a dead weight. Greatly inhibiting his attempt to escape. Ahimoth would no doubt growl in frustration, or maybe spit out more manipulative insults, if his jaw was in working order.
He did utter a gurgled, hollow sound when Rahas planted his boot harshly in the centre of his chest, pinning him on the labyrinth floor. Stabbing Ahimoth’s own sword on the ground, a hair’s breath away from his throat, Rahas leaned forward. To look down at him. Into his wide, deranged eyes with his cold, dismissive ones.
“I am going to kill you. And when I do, when your rotten, worthless corpse is torn apart by monsters and scattered to the winds, know this; you are meaningless. After I kill you, I will waste no further thoughts on you. Your victims, your would-be victims will live their lives. Be happy. Be content. Move beyond this. Move beyond you.”
He raised the sword and pressed the tip against the Adams apple of his throat, his hand tightening with white knuckles around the hilt.
“When you cross paths with Taksony in hell, tell him I sent you.”
He brought the sword down, cutting through Ahimoth’s throat, and embedding the blade half way into the ground beneath him. A loud rush of air escaped his lungs as back arched off the ground and his eyes somehow widened further. But the air did not return to his lungs and his body went slack as his beady dark eyes stared unblinkingly back at him.
The sword severed the spinal cord and cut through the bones and tendons of his spine.
Rahas breathed a loud sigh as his shoulders released the tension he hadn’t realised he had been carrying. He unfurled his fingers from around the sword’s blade, leaving it where it stood.
It…was over.
Huh…Relief. That was all that he felt. Nothing else. Just relief.
Was what he had done ‘right’? No, probably not. But was it necessary? Yes. Yes, it was. It was the only way.
“Rahas…”
Shiki. Figured the old man would break out of his own paralysis long enough to follow him.
Rahas idly wiped his hands on his pants as he turned to look behind him. There, using his sheathed blade as a walking aid, was none other than Shiki. How long he had stood there, Rahas didn’t know. Probably long enough to know what Rahas had done. What he did willingly. If the look of…guilt on his face was any indication.
Better than fear and shock, he supposed.
“How’s Simmons?” he asked as he casually coiled his whip and placed it back to his hip.
“He’s…slowly regaining his senses.”
Good.
“Rahas…” Shiki tried again.
Rahas uttered a purposely loud sigh and rubbed the back of his neck, purposely looking annoyed and defiant. “Jeez, stop with the guilt. I made my decision.”
He paused for a moment and allowed his arm to drop to his side. He stared up at the darkening canopy above their heads. “And you’re free now. You, Simmons, Gerald. Everyone. He said that only death would stop him. I just helped.”
Turning his gaze back down to Ahimoth, he found himself passive, disinterested. He was dead. He was beyond dead. He wasn’t a threat anymore. No point in wasting any more time and energy on him.
He leaned forward and picked up the whistle that rested against Ahimoth’s still chest. He easily snapped the string that tied it around his neck, and clutched tightly in his hand as he stood back up.
As he did so, he heard the familiar sound of rustling of twigs and fallen leaves. The distinct sound of scurrying of a certain large caterpillar monster that liked the hunt around the stairs to the second floor.
Annoying bastards, they were.
“Let’s go. Monsters are coming,” Rahas instructed to Shiki.
He then stepped away from Ahimoth’s battered corpse and didn’t grant the man a second glance. He instead walked over to Shiki, grabbed his arm and holstered it over his neck and shoulders to help the older man walk. Shiki’s gaze lingered on the bloodied corpse before he, too, turned away and didn’t look back. Even as the scurrying of monsters increased. Even when the monsters began to bicker and fight amongst themselves over a free meal.
There was no point in looking back.
The journey back to re-join with the others was done in silence, which Rahas was grateful for. Shiki no doubt had a lot he wanted to say, but either couldn’t find the exact words or he was more drained than he was letting on. The old man will no doubt pull him aside for a serious conversation at a later date, but it didn’t matter. Rahas held no regrets.
It simply had to be done.
Helping Shiki into the clearing where it all began, Rahas wasn’t surprised to realise that there were a couple more figures. Jhon, Tobyn, and of course Hamza. They must have been alerted when Tiffany and Kerri returned to town with Ghali.
The three newcomers were spread out in a clumsy circle, inspecting their surroundings for threats while Axel and Gerald were gathered around Simmons. Gerald had his arms around Simmons, practically cradling him against his chest while Axel remained crouched nearby, blood smearing the front of his armour and clothes.
Simmons appeared listless as he allowed Gerald to hold him.
After ensuring that Shiki could stand under his own weight, Rahas stepped from him and made his way over to Simmons. He crouched down in front of him, Gerald leaning back slightly in order to allow Simmons to tiredly lift his head to regard him.
“Here.” He raised his hand and unfurled his fingers, revealing the wooden whistle in the palm of his hand. He allowed Simmons a moment to take in the sight and register it in his mind. The very thing that caused him to endure “It”.
He then curled his hand tightly around the whistle, breaking it clean in half.
“It’s over now,” Rahas said as he allowed to shattered pieces of the whistle to fall from his hand and onto the grass. “You’re safe. Everyone is safe.”
He took the same hand to curl his fingers against the back of Simmons’ neck, pulling him forward so that their foreheads touched, and he looked him straight in the eyes. Eyes that were still tired, but glistening softly with unshed tears.
“No one is going to hurt you again. Not with me around. Alright?”
Simmons closed his eyes, a single tear slipping down his cheek. And he nodded his head.
… … … … …
Lynus stood on the landing of the hospital steps; his gaze directed toward Yggdrasil. Toward the road leading to the entrance of the labyrinth. Night had fallen, casting the sky into an inky blackness, allowing for the sparkling stars to shine brightly.
At his feet rested Farley, the blue-furred wolf quiet and still. His head rested upon his paws, releasing quiet, sullen whines periodically as he, too, stared out at the large tree on the horizon.
The fear, the torment he had felt earlier was not his own. And it had dissipated. A strange calm had fallen over him. He knew not of what happened, what was possibly still occurring in the labyrinth, but he knew that the danger had passed.
A time of recuperation was upon them. And it was his turn to be useful.
Footsteps behind him pulled Lynus from his vigil. He turned his head to the side, to glance over his shoulder. Although, he didn’t necessarily need to do so to know it was Darrell who made his way over to him.
“They back yet?” he asked simply.
Lynus turned his gaze back toward Yggdrasil and stood silently for a moment. Soon, the comfort of an all-too familiar aura touched his senses and he uttered a small sigh of relief at the knowledge of several more presences. “They’re on their way.”
“I suppose I need to get a couple of rooms ready?”
“Close to each other if possible.”
“Right.”
Lynus remained at that top landing as Darrell turned on his heel and walked back into the hospital. He stood silently; eyes trained on the long path before him. Sensing their presences was reassuring, but what he truly wanted was to lay his eyes upon them. He needed to see them.
And, he hoped, they’ll be relieved to see him, too.
From the corner of his eye, he was as Farley suddenly perked his head up, his ears straight and facing forward. A moment later, he was up on his feet. His tail gave a half wag, moving slowly.
Lynus smiled.
Finally, moving slowly but steadily along the path, a group of familiar figures. At the forefront was Axel. With Simmons slumped over his back, chin resting on the shoulder next to his head. A mere step behind them came Shiki being aided with Rahas. And behind them was Gerald, supported by Jhon and Hamza.
They bore injuries and he sensed a couple of stubborn curses. But, they were alive. There was no relief greater than that. Their injuries, their scars he could help. And with the safety of being together, they can heal.
As a few other medics and nurses exited the hospital, prompted by Farley’s excited barking, Lynus moved down the stairs and stood before Axel. He stopped in front of him, still carrying Simmons on his back and made no attempt to pass him off to someone else. Lynus framed Axel’s face with his hands and looked into his eyes. Axel returned his gaze with a soft look of his own.
Guilt. Worry. Concern. Relief.
So much had occurred in that labyrinth, didn’t it?
Lynus rubbed a thumb over Axel’s cheek. Silently promising him that they can talk when they find a quiet moment to themselves. Axel would tell him everything that happened. And Lynus will comfort him, should he need it.
“Take everyone inside,” Lynus instructed as he reluctantly stepped away from Axel. “I’ll be there shortly.”
As everyone moved inside the hospital, Lynus stood on the stairs with Rahas. He took a moment to simply take in the sight of him. His hair was pulled from his face, revealing two golden clear eyes. Though blood smeared his hands, his clothes, it…wasn’t his.
And he carried it willingly, without pride. No.
He…wished it didn’t have to come to that. But, sometimes, it was the only way to ensure the safety of others.
Lynus walked straight up to Rahas and looked into his eyes. Rahas returned his gaze. He didn’t look away, like he had done many times before. His gaze was unflinching, but not hostile with untold guilt.
He…
“The suffering is over,” Rahas said simply.
“And healing can finally begin,” Lynus finished. A small smile spread across his lips, but it held a tinge of sadness and guilt. Yet, pride, too.
Rahas had pushed past the guilt, the desire of revenge. Instead, his actions were that of necessity. He knew…he knew it was the only way. The only way to end the suffering. For Simmons. For Shiki and Gerald. And for Ghali.
But…he had more important roles to play.
“They still need you.”
Rahas didn’t answer immediately.
Lynus reached up and gently touched the side of Rahas’ face. “Do you really think Shiki will allow you to become some shadowy vigilante after all of this?”
That caused the corner of Rahas’ mouth to twitch into a half smile. A small one, but it held a genuine warmth. And relief.
“Let’s head inside,” Lynus urged. “Simmons will need comfort when he awakens.”
[text_hash] => 0dff5cd7
)