"Who am I? Why… I am the King who lives in the deepest part of your soul."
"What? I don't understand a damn word you're saying." I growled. I forced myself to my feet, slowly peeling my hand away from my bleeding neck. "I don't know who you are or what you want. But one thing is clear: you aren't Valentine. Give her back, you bastard!"
"There's no need to be so rude, boy," Cocytus replied, his voice chillingly calm. "Even though I am controlling this woman's body, her consciousness remains inside, waiting for me to return it. But first… I think I'll have a little fun with you."
Cocytus extended his right hand and clenched his fist, a dark smirk playing on his lips. His body began to heat up; his veins bulged and throbbed, glowing with that familiar, characteristic blue. He stared directly into my eyes.
"Heh… I didn't know you could force a transformation like that," I muttered. "I'm not finished yet, boy. Keep watching."
"Impossible… your right leg is regenerating. How?"
"I won't tell you. You'll have to figure that out for yourself."
"Then I'll beat it out of you! Enough talk. We fight until you give Valentine back!"
"What a foul mouth you have, little one…"
"I don't care!"
"Fine. I shall teach you your place at the top of the food chain."
Cocytus lunged. I surged heat through my body until my veins flared light blue. Cocytus threw a right, I countered with a left—our fists collided with a shockwave of heat that rattled the very foundations of the building.
"Strong! You're strong, boy. But not enough to stop me."
"Don't get ahead of yourself… I'm just warming up."
The wound on my neck sealed instantly, but Cocytus was already eyeing my regeneration with suspicion.
"I'm starting to enjoy this… show me everything you've got, darling." "What the hell? Why do you sound more feminine now?"
I leaped back, never taking my eyes off the mysterious entity for a single second.
"Don't worry about that. I am beginning to merge with this woman. Soon we will be one, or perhaps two separate consciousnesses… who knows?"
Panic started to set in. If this thing merges with Valentine, what happens to her? Will I ever see the real her again? I struggled to breathe; my concentration was slipping, and my vision began to blur.
"Don't get distracted, little one," Cocytus whispered—right against my ear.
Dammit! He's too fast… I can't… breathe…
"It seems you haven't noticed a thing, have you?" "Noticed… what?"
"That you cannot win this fight."
My knees hit the ground. My gaze went vacant. "What the hell is happening to me?"
"I'll explain it quickly before I devour you. I'll eat you slowly, and then I'll give this girl her body back. Doesn't that sound interesting? HA, HA, HA!"
"Bastard… what did you do to me?"
"I simply stole your ability to breathe in this environment. You see, you are still more
human than you realize."
The world began to fade to black as I collapsed before that overwhelming power.
"Ah… what a shame. My time using this body is up for today. The next time we meet, I will devour you without mercy, boy."
I managed a weak smile before passing out.
I snapped awake, immediately jumping into a fighting stance, disoriented. "Alright, you bastard! Come on, I'll show you your place now that I've figured out your—"
"Jack… shut up, please. I want to sleep a little longer," Valentine murmured in her sleep. "Oh… sorry." I lowered my voice, heading toward the exit. How long was I out?
"I'm glad you're okay, Valentine… but what the hell is inside you? And is it possible I
have the same kind of thing inside me?" I looked up at the moon and the warm night sky.
"I promise I'll find a way to contain it. I won't let it hurt you."
I turned back, picked Valentine up in my arms, and headed into the subfloor of the ruined building.
It was like an underground bunker with a long corridor between the stairs and the final door.
Defending this hallway would be tough if something attacked, but the stairs had a reinforced hatch to keep the outside world out.
I set her down and bolted the hatch. As soon as the door clicked shut, the lights flickered on. Lucky. We still have power.
I picked her up again and walked to the end of the hall, nudging the final door open with my foot.
"Jack? Where are we?"
"You're awake. Good. I found a place where we can live for a while." "Well… I'm hungry. What are we eating?"
"Unbelievable," I sighed. "I don't believe you." "Let's find food… put me down, please."
"Have you realized you're still missing a leg?" "Ah… no way. I forgot!"
"In that case, keep carrying me like a princess to the kitchen. And don't you dare say I'm heavy!" she snapped, giving me a dirty look.
I sighed again. "Fine. Let's find the kitchen. But I'm putting you on my back… I'm beat." Valentine beamed. "Yes! Giddy up, my illustrious steed!"
This place was a bit trashed, but it was sturdy. Being underground would give Valentine some peace. I, however, couldn't be at peace knowing the world was crumbling further every minute.
"What's with all these empty rooms?"
We explored the bunker, opening doors one by one, staying on guard. Valentine gripped a metal baseball bat tightly in both hands.
"Hey, when did you grab that bat?"
"I found it in one of the rooms near the door. You were so focused on looking inside that I had time to snatch it."
"And what are you going to do with it when a monster attacks?" "I'll… I'll… I'll send it flying!"
"I see. You're terrified. You're gripping that thing so hard your knuckles are white." "I'm not scared, Jack! I'm a ve… very strong woman!"
"Sure. Whatever you say. Just don't pee yourself, please." Clatter, crash, BANG! Noise erupted from behind the next door.
"Ja… Ja… Jack. Did you hear that?"
"Yeah. It's in the next room. Get the bat ready!"
Hajajaja, she's so scared it's incredible. A total coward. There's no way a monster is in here; no blood, no forced doors. Everything is so intact it's actually tense.
"Valentine, get ready! We're going in!" "I'm ready, Jack!"
"I don't believe you."
"I am! Look, I can swing it perfectly!" "Fine… whatever you say, Scaredy-cat." I kicked the door open.
"Look, Valentine! A rat! Ah… jajajaja. Poor thing looks hungry."
"Jack, no! Get me closer so I can smash it! It nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"It's not that big a deal… put the bat down. Look, we found the kitchen."
"I am not cooking in here with a rat. I'm gonna kill it!" she shouted with a crazed grin.
"Whoa, don't make that face. You're actually scaring me now."
The "lunatic" started banging the bat against the wall to scare the rodent off. "You're lucky Jack is here to yell at me, you filthy thing! Get out!"
The rat scurried away slowly, pausing to turn its head and hiss at Valentine with pure fury.
"Filthy, rude little thing… Jack, don't you dare put me down, I'll flatten it!"
She went hysterical, swinging the bat in all directions until the rat bolted to escape its
"natural predator."
"Yeah, get lost! Don't come back until you have some manners!" She turned to me. "Jack, why didn't you say anything?"
"My condolences to the rat."
"Alright, put me down now. I'm going to cook whatever I find."
"Okay. Just don't put poison in the food, please."
"You want me to cave your head in with this bat? Billy and I are more than ready to take it
out on you…"
"No thanks… I'm going to explore."
I set her down quickly and hurried out of the room.
"Hey! Don't leave me talking to myself!"
The place was massive. I found a room with rusted bars that looked like a jail cell. What kind of place was this? I kept going. An armory with most of the gear in good condition—
doubt it'll help much out there. Then, a room with a huge bed, a sofa, and a fireplace with
wood ready for the night.
"Jack! Where are you? Is dinner ready yet?" Valentine shouted.
"I'm right here…"