Chương 106: Chapter 101-Chosen Ashfall Part 2

Standing in frustration, I look around at the orange sea. It's taking longer to find Papa than I thought. You would think he would be closer and… What does Papa look like? Does he have horns like me? Is he purple like me? He has to be handsome. After all, I'm the most handsome boy in the world, so it only makes sense.

"Spirits, do you know what Papa looks like? You've been with Mama longer than I have. You must've seen Papa," I say to the empty void. The empty void doesn't answer back. Mama said the Spirits are shy, but aren't they too shy? Well, either way, I'm sure they'll warm up to me. Just like the other kids. They might say things like 'Scary, he has red eyes' or 'Ill, he has horns', but they'll warm up to me eventually. After all, I'm the most handsomest boy my Mama has ever seen. Why wouldn't anybody like me?

"That's okay, Spirits. I'll find Papa myself. Just you watch," I say with a toothy smile. Running further into the endless sea, I eventually start to laugh. It's like I'm on an adventure. A grand adventure to find Papa. Nothing can stop me no- Finding myself on the ground, I look up to see nothing. Not a tree, not a rock, or even a wall, but I ran into something. Rubbing my head, I look around and shrug. I must've tripped. Walking forward, my face smacks into something invisible. Is it a Spirit?

"That's not nice, Spirits!" I yell. Continuing to walk forward, I stop at the same place. This isn't a Spirit. It's a wall. Placing my hand against the invisible wall, I smile in amusement. Why is there an invisible wall all the way out here? Keeping my left hand on the wall, I follow the edge of the wall. I wonder where this goes. Maybe it'll lead me to Papa! Running along the wall, I don't notice how late it's gotten until I finally stop. The once orange sea is now a pitch-black void, and I don't know where I am.

I'm tired and covered in dirt. I'm scared, and I want to cry, but I won't because the Spirits are here. I'm not alone. I'm sure- SNAP. I turn in fear towards the sound. What was that? Two glowing eyes peer out from the darkness. A large grey doggie steps out from the darkness. Its grey fur is illuminated by the blue moonlight. Growling, it steps forward, and I prepare to run, but before I can, the doggie falls to the ground. With a cocked head, I look at the doggie more closely.

Blood stains its foot, and a large metal device with teeth is clamped around it. It looks like it hurts.

"Spirits, I think the grey doggie needs help. Should I help the doggie?" I ask the void. With no answer, I nod. It's what Mama would do. After all, if you don't help, who will? Taking a step forward, the grey doggie growls.

"I'm just going to help you. Don't be worried," I say as I inch closer. The grey doggie head flops back to the ground. She seems tired. Don't worry, I'll get this off of you. Looking at the metal device, I flinch. That looks like it hurts. Grabbing the metal, I try to pry it open, but the only thing I manage to do is cut my hand. The grey doggie gives a low growl.

"Sorry, I'm not strong yet, but don't worry. I'll get you out of this," I say as I go over and grab a fallen tree branch. Jamming the branch in between the teeth, I pull as hard as I can. The teeth open up ever so slightly, but it's just enough for the grey doggie to slip out. The moment the doggie is free, it runs into the darkness.

"Bye!" I yell as I wave. Now, how do I get home? Dropping the branch, I hear a loud thunk. What was that? Brushing away the leaves and dirt, I find a metal hatch. Papa!? This must be where he's staying! Not wasting a moment, I open the hatch and climb down the ladder. Reaching the bottom of the ladder, I look around. Blue pools dot the inside, illuminating the area. Papa must really like taking baths. Walking over to one, I look at my reflection. I am handsome.

Reaching towards the surface of the glowing blue water, I dip my hand in. Immediate pain rips through me, and I pull away from the water. Ow! Looking back at the blue pool, I watch as a purple glow begins to grow and grow until the blue of the room is no more. Oh no! I feel like I did something wrong.

"Go back to blue. Come on, go back to blue. Why am I… feeling… so… tir-" Waking up, I look around the stone room and the purple pools. I fell asleep. Mama's going to be so angry. I need to get home. Climbing back up the stairs, I eventually make it back outside. How am I going to get home in this darkness? Looking around, I see it! The bonfire! The one from the founding festival! Mama! Running towards the distant fire, I jump and dodge various branches and trees.

My feet hurt, and my lungs sting, but I keep running. I know Mama will be angry with me, but if I tell her why, I'm sure she'll understand. I'll have to apologize to Mama and Auntie Cynthia and everyone else who was probably worried, but I'm sure they'll- Breaking through the brush, I make it to the town square. Catching my breath, I… I… What is happening? The stalls are broken apart. The doors to the homes are broken down. Blood stains the floors, the walls, and… the bodies.

The Human men who were drinking with the Magena are now strung up together with them. The bonfire is covered in charred corpses. The laughter of the Vashrin children is gone. The head of Auntie Cynthia is placed on a stick along with so many other heads. Each with names I know, people I know. A man I do not recognize comes out of Auntie Nina's house carrying her bloodied corpse.

"Another one for the pyre!" he yells. Right next to me, another voice booms.

"Hurry it up! We don't want to keep the boss waiting." The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ducking low against the house, I hide. Who are these people? What are they doing? Where's Mama?

"Also, don't forget to light the houses on fire. We must wipe this place from the map. This den of impurity should never have been built," the man says as he goes back into the house. My eyes scan over the bodies until I find her. Mama! Rushing out into the square, I lean next to the pile of bodies. Mama lies there underneath all the villagers." Mama. Wake up, Mama!" I say louder than I should. As I shake her, I feel the coldness of her body. Why isn't she moving?

I shake her harder and harder as tears start to stream down my face." Carlito…" Mama whispers weakly." Mama! It's me. I'm sorry that I left. I wanted to find Papa. I-," I say hurriedly." Carlito… It's okay. Listen to me. You need to run. As far from here as possible," she says weakly." But what about you, Mama? Aren't you coming with me?" I ask as I brush the hair out of her face. A warm smile crosses her face as she wipes the tears from my face." I will, Carlito, but I need you to go first.

You need to run as far as you can. I'll catch up with you later. Okay. I love you, Carlito. I always will. You be a good boy, okay?"" I lov-""Hey! I found another one!" the man carrying Auntie Nina yells as he sees me. He drops the torch he was carrying along with Auntie Nina, lighting the pile of bodies with fire. The fire quickly envelops the pile and Mama. Through the flames, she yells, " Carlito, run! RUN!" Turning away, I run.

I run as fast as I can through the blood-covered streets, through the flaming houses, and through the screams hanging in the air. Multiple men peer out from everywhere with blades drawn and terrible smiles, but I don't stop running. The blue moon guides me as I fly into the brush, but I am not alone.

"Get back here! I only want to play!" a man yells as he chases me. Tears block my vision as I run and run and run. It's all I can do. Mama will find me later. I know it. I just need to run. The sounds of the man's footfalls grow closer and closer until I finally trip. Crashing against the ground, I feel the stinging pain across my hands.

"Finally! I thought I was going to chase after you all night. Well, if you would look at that. A Devil with red eyes. A rarity," he says as he draws his sword that has a silver chain bound around it. As he goes to attack me, a streak of grey fur crosses my vision. Teeth tear into the man's throat. Blood pours everywhere as he struggles. The silver chain is quickly draped in blood. The man stops struggling. The grey doggie releases and then turns to me.

The grey doggie from before locks eyes with me as it approaches. Then the doggie nudges me until I get up. The doggie goes between my legs as it lifts me onto its back. Holding onto the doggy's fur, we walk into the night. We walk and walk until I fall asleep with a single thought in my mind. Mama will find me. The village smolders around me. The houses are burnt, and the charred bodies pile higher than me. The men are gone. It's only the Grey Wolf and me. I'm alone. My mother never came to find me.

Looking down at the smaller me, I sigh. I remember this. After the Purists left, it was just me, the Grey Wolf, and the bodies. I waited four weeks for somebody to come, but no one ever did. I watch as the memory quickly moves around me. I had heard from my mother that when someone passes, their soul can not find rest until they are buried. Until they are honored. With nothing else to do, I did the only thing that I could. The younger me passes by in a flash as he digs and buries the remains.

I couldn't tell who was who, but I knew everyone in the village. Auntie Cynthia, Auntie Nina, Uncle Turith, Grandma Lola, Yulia, Hector, Bari, the list went on and on. I buried what remains I could find and placed a stone with their name on it. Day and night, I worked. I didn't know what else to do. I mean, what could I do? The memory slows as the younger me places the last stone. The most important one. I walk over next to him and look down.

'MAMA' it says. The younger me disappears. After this, I left. There was nothing left for me here. I walked as far east as I could until I found a city. The Grey Wolf stayed with me up until that point. She returned to the forest, and I never saw her again. Looking at the stone, I close my eyes. The feeling of rage that has infected me… Of course, this is where it would be rooted. My eyes open to see the now visible red tendrils around my mother's grave. Sick sadistic fuck.

Reaching towards the roots, I fall to one knee. A wave of debilitating rage passes through me. The screams, the fire, the bodies. The smell of iron and the smoke. Everything burns through me as I reach for the tendrils.

"How dare you use my mother's memories!" I yell as I fall to the ground. The rage grows and grows as I struggle to breathe. The only thought burning through my mind is one of violence. Mindless violence. My hand goes limp as the roots are mere inches away. Everything begins to fade. I… I can't… I… As the darkness grows around me, a single flicker of green-red energy appears above me. A glowing energy that is faltering against the darkness. I grab it. The light builds and builds until the darkness is batted away.

A renewed sense of life burns through me. With no time to waste, I grab the base of the tendrils.

"This is my memory. I get to decide how I feel about it. Whether it makes me angry or sad. Whether I hide from it or embrace it. It's my choice, and I'm sick and tired of you using it against me." With one strong pull, I rip the tendrils straight out of my mother's grave, shattering the memory around me, "So, get the fuck out!" Wrath Seed LvL. 21 has been Defeated. Level Up!! +1 CON