TM
“No… not again…” Crichton stared blankly at the massive darkness that covered the sky. He looked down at Jade who was still sleeping on his chest. “…not…now…” he said to himself having a worried look on his face. Slowly he felt his head warming as if it was being set ablaze. “…no…no…no…no…” He clutched his head trying to stop the burning sensation, still it got hotter, pain was searing deeper into his head and in his mind a dark chilling voice spoke.
“Death… shall… come… for… us… all…” Every word echoed in his head, every word sent pain into his mind, unspeakable pain that he could no longer endure.
“Noooooooooooooooo!!!!” Crichton yelled, finally giving up his resistance to the ache.
Startled, Jade sat up. She looked down at Crichton and she saw him writhing in pain, his hands were still clutching his head.
“Crichton… Crichton what’s wrong?” Jade shook Crichton’s shoulder, looking very worried she edged herself towards him.
“G-g-get away J-j-ade… run… please…” Crichton forced himself to speak.
“W-w-why what’s wrong? Crichton what’s wrong?” Jade was now very worried.
“R-r-r-run… Jade … p-p-please.”
“I won’t leave you here! “ Jade yelled at him, trying to shake him to his senses.
“H-h-he draws near… h-h-he i-i-s coming…”
“Who’s coming Crichton, what’s happening to you? Answer me!” Jade was now in tears, she was shaking Crichton madly.
“D-d-death is coming… r-r-run Jade, please. “ Crichton’s twisting was beginning to fade. The pain was diminishing but still he grasped his head.
Jade pulled him close, holding her arms around him tightly as tears flowed from her eyes. Even in the darkness her eyes seemed to glisten. “I won’t leave you here.” She said softly as she stroked Crichton’s wavy black hair.
“It has been a long time Janus…” The same dark, chilling voice from Crichton’s head spoke once more. But this time the voice came from behind them.
Jade turned her head to see where the mysterious voice came from. She looked around only to find nothing. Then on top of the cave from where they came she saw something that sent fear into her heart.
It was a dark figure wearing a torn black cloak. The cloak was so long that it spread on the floor in different directions looking much like vines that stretched outwards. A big hood covered its head, leaving nothing too see of its face except for its white, menacing and glowing eyes.
“…are you still lamenting over your failure? Or are you prepared to prove yourself? …” The figure’s voice became grimmer and spoke on a mocking tone.
Crichton stood up shaking in anger, leaving Jade confused, still kneeling on the sand. “I… will… kill… you…” his every word seemed to resonate with fury. He clutched his sword and was literally crushing the handle in rage. “You…will… PAY!!!” He viciously ran towards the figure while anger clouded his judgment. He leapt to the air with his blade ready to strike. Inexplicably the figure didn’t even give one sign of movement. Just as he was about to strike, a fierce blow hit him on the stomach. He flung back and hammered to the sand face first just a few meters from Jade’s side.
Jade ran towards Crichton hoping he was okay. “Crichton…” she shook his back but there was no answer. She turned her head to look at the grim entity, scared, confused and puzzled. “The figure did not even move… but somehow it hit Crichton so hard… how?” Jade looked down at Crichton and shook him again. “Crichton… Crichton are you okay?
“J-j-jade… run… go… run away, please.”
Jade looked back at the figure only to see that it was standing right in front of her. It gave a menacing stare. Then it spoke in its dark, chilling voice once more.
“…you haven’t changed Janus… still the weakling you once were… either you show me your true power or witness history repeat itself.”
“I AM NOT JANUS!!!” Crichton stood and swayed his sword at the menace’s head only to be hit by yet another invisible force right at his chest. He flew ten feet away crashing and rolling to the ground with bone breaking force.
The hooded reaper looked down at Jade still bearing its cold stare. From under its cloak a thin, black hand emerged and gripped Jade by her throat.
“…I see you have found a friend… pity you’ll have to lose her…” the figure taunted.
“Don’t… you… touch… her…” Crichton said softly as he forced himself to stand up, his knees were constantly giving away and his arms seemed to weigh a ton.
The black figure’s long torn cloak swept following the gentle ocean breeze. It lifted Jade up until she was three feet away from the ground. Then it looked at Crichton, its eyes glowing brighter. From its long cape emerged another hand gripping a large scythe with a five foot crystal, black handle and a large and smooth metal blade. “…and what are you to do if I don’t? …” The reaper said mockingly while pointing the scythe’s sharp tip towards Jades throat.
Jade was struggling to free herself but she was beginning to lose strength, she was choking as she clutched the figures arm. She looked at Crichton with tears flowing down here face. Through the grip she still managed to speak. “C-c-cri-cht….H-h-hel-p”
“Release her… or I swear… I will kill you…” Crichton’s voice was now darker than and as grim as the figure’s. He was now standing with sword in hand, fixing a gaze at the figure who was ten feet away from him.
“Let me see you try…” said the figure as it looked back up at Jade who was starting to give in to the coldness of death.
“I said… release her…” Crichton mysteriously appeared beside the dark figure. His voice was dark and emotionless and a white aura surrounded his body. He clutched the reaper’s arm as he stared blankly up its towering size. “…or I will… kill… you…”
The reaper let go of its hold and Jade fell to the floor coughing and gasping for air. The figure backed away from the two. Eerily it seemed as if it was floating in midair. “…Finally…” The figure spoke as its menacing eyes grew brighter.
“Leave us or die Xerxes…” Crichton spoke with the same emotionless tone.
“You’ll regret those words Janus…” The figure mocked
“You’ll regret yours…” Crichton took his stance. His feet were spread apart and he held his glistening black sword in a thrust position. His face was still impassive and his white aura grew brighter. He ran towards Xerxes swiftly, his movements were deceiving to the naked eye for he was suddenly disappearing and reappearing left and right as he ran. His once black blade was now glowing white with energy. He leapt to the air and struck down at Xerxes with an earth shattering force. The ground exploded with white energy creating a massive crater as waves of sand rose to the air scattering in different directions. As the dust cleared, Crichton who was kneeling on one knee saw that his opponent was no where to be found within the perimeter of his attack.
“You claim to be an Embodiment when you are nothing compared to me? Your powers have faded through the times Janus… Such a pity…” Xerxes ridiculed as he stood behind Crichton. He swung his scythe’s handle at Crichton’s back, sounds of splintering bones echoed on the quiet surroundings as Crichton flung to the air. He fell on his back on an area nearby with a loud thud.
Xerxes suddenly appeared in front of Crichton. He picked him up by the collar and lifted him a few feet from the ground. He edged his hooded black face towards him. In a soft yet dark whisper Xerxes spoke. “…Now I ask you once more Janus… where does your loyalties lie?”
Crichton’s aura was fading and blood was beginning to drip from his lips. “…my loyalties remain the same Xerxes… even if I die you will never have me… never.” He was staring blankly into Xerxes glowing eyes.
“Have it your way Janus…” Xerxes released him from his bind and Crichton fell to the ground with a thud. His white aura was gone and he was coughing up blood. Xerxes floated to where Jade was lying and he pulled her hair. He placed his scythe to her throat once more. A helpless look was visible in her face. Crichton could do nothing but watch. “…I thought your parents’ lives were enough to convince you… history does repeat itself…” Xerxes was beginning to force his blade deeper into Jades throat when a small white ball of energy hit his scythe sending it flying a few feet away. He looked at Crichton who was now standing but barely able to carry the weight of his body, his hand was pointing towards Xerxes. Crichton gave a last look of hatred before he fainted. He fell to the ground unconscious.
Xerxes released Jade from his grip. She too was unconscious probably because of fear. He picked up his scythe and he stared back at Crichton.
“…I will leave you to decide for now Janus, for your loyalty to the Sacreds still proves strong, but eventually you will give in…”
“…after all…”
”….death shall come for us all…”
With this Xerxes vanished into the darkness.