Chapter 18: A Place To Stay

I’ve been wandering around the empty streets for a day or so now, not really running into many problems. It is honestly quite uneventful.

“Find the Zierel that are hiding then,” The Voice suggests.

I think I’d already be doing that if I had any idea of where they might be. I didn’t think they’d be hiding since they had no problem killing in the past.

Finding a place to stay is a bit more important though. Killing them can come after that is taken care of.

The sensation in my arm is a lot more serious lately, almost like everything is being torn apart and put back together. It didn’t change what needs to be done.

I continue my search for a suitable place to live since wandering around aimlessly will get me killed. There are plenty of houses around but I don’t know who or what resides inside of them.

“We can kill anyone who hides inside,” It says with a sinister voice.

Killing people isn’t exactly on my list of things to do. Zierel are a different story since they are the curse in this world.

Screw it, this place will have to do.

I walk towards a small house in front of me with the door slightly open. It doesn’t take long for me to make my way up the steps and inside.

Shut.

After entering the house I close the door and move the latch back to lock the door. No signs of anyone moving around can be heard.

It doesn’t stop me from walking around the first floor anyway since I need to make sure it is safe enough to sleep in.

Creeek. Step. Step.

The floorboards like to make noise as I walk around the rooms but after a little bit of walking around I come to the conclusion that it is empty.

So I take a seat on the couch in the living room and light a small candle that is sitting on the table in front of me.

Getting stronger is definitely the way forward but I don’t really have anything to rely on, except for this infection. It could turn me into a Zierel at any moment… Can I even trust it?

It did help push me to kill the Zierel before but I don’t know if that is for its own benefit or not.

“This is a pain,” I say quietly while leaning back on the couch.

Before I realize it, I fall asleep.

Upon opening my eyes I can see a light in the distance once again. Someone is standing there this time around, but it is impossible to see who it is.

“Hello?” I call out.

They begin to walk away from me, slowly taking the light with them.

Wriggle.

I can feel it moving around in my arm once again as I look towards the distant light.

If that light fully disappears… what will happen to me? It could represent how far along this infection is in my body.

I don’t want to become a monster so it is probably smart to follow the light instead of letting it slip away from me. I’ve already let it convince me to kill… Even if that is something I needed to do.

Without any hesitation I begin to run towards the woman in the distance. It doesn’t seem to get any closer as I continue to run for it.

Almost like it is getting further and further away with each step I take.

“Come back! Please!” I plea as I continue to run.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

My heart begins to race while I continue to run towards the woman. The darkness is slowly beginning to engulf me with each moment that passes by.

“You don’t need her,” the voice says.

“I do. She’ll keep me from turning into something that I’m not,” I reply with concern in my voice.

She finally stops moving and slowly turns towards me.

I don’t waste any time and continue to run towards her while she is done moving. After a few moments I find myself standing before her.

Huff. Huff.

It takes a moment for me to catch my breath before I can finally look up at her.

She appears to be wearing some sort of white robes with a symbol that resembles a light on her chest. Her eyes are purple with some sort of weird cross within her eyes.

I couldn’t forget about her long white hair that extends past her shoulders either, and the lantern at her side.

“You don’t seem to be lost yet,” She says calmly.

“What does that mean?” I ask with curiosity in my voice.

“Lost to the darkness. Even with that infection coursing through your body, you appear to be fighting against it,” She answers with a small smile.

“I can’t let it consume me,” I say while looking down at my arm.

“Then perhaps I can help,” She replies.

Being able to stand this close to light like this is honestly a miracle in itself. That infection in my arm absolutely hates being around it so I don’t know what to expect.

Can she really help me with anything? I don’t even know if I can trust her… This world isn’t really a place filled with trustworthy people.

The academy taught me that with the beating I got from those kids.

“How can you help me?” I ask curiously.

“You can’t awaken because of it, so maybe I can help you with awakening your power,” she answers with a cheerful tone.

Wriggle.

The feeling of it wriggling around underneath my arm takes my attention away for a moment as I try to keep calm.

“It would help to awaken. I’d appreciate the help,” I say with hope in my voice.

“Why Rely on her? It is a waste of time,” the voice interrupts with frustration behind each word.

She looks closely at me and then down at my arm.

“I’ll be there soon,” She replies before disappearing.

She’ll be here, like in person? Hmm.

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