Panolethria: Saving the Multiverse

Trigger Warning: Blood and gore

[AKI'S POV]

Chills were running down my spine as I stared into the figure of destiny. Contrary to how fantasy books illustrated this being, destiny was not a welcoming or warm being at all. It was a dark figure that bore no structure, surrounded by an ominous aura. It didn't have arms, legs, eyes, ears, lips, or a nose—nothing about it was human-like. All you could see is a dark being that burrows fear and despair into your heart the more that you look at it.

"Aki." A whisper broke the thoughts that were rummaging in my head. I looked to my right and saw the worried expression of my sister, Akari Prescott. She held my hand as she gazed at me with teary eyes.

We spent two full years looking for this place—even going to the extent of sacrificing the life of our uncle just so that we can fulfill this task. I cannot, in good conscience, waste this opportunity.

I'm the older twin—I will bear the burden of pain and fear for my sister.

"Don't worry, Akari. Trust in me, okay?" I reassured her. I took a deep breath and looked at destiny once again. I swallowed the lump in my throat and broke the silence between us.

"I have one r-request." My voice cannot help but tremble as the pressure and presence of destiny began to weigh on my very soul.

"Speak," Destiny replied. It was a deep harrowing legion of voice filled with the agony of thousands, a piercing sound that made me feel as if my heart broke into a million pieces.

My grip on Akari's hand tightened as I endured the pain. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew it was going to be this painful.

According to the ancient scroll passed down in my family, one of my ancestors sacrificed the purity of his heart for the once in a lifetime chance that his future kin will have the means to meet destiny. I don't know the full details since this ancient text was barely readable but it did say something about a premonition—that the world will end if his kin does not successfully make a demand to destiny.

To make sure that it happens, the ancestor created a complex spell that will allow the people of his bloodline to enter the spiritual realm and meet destiny—with the cost of his and every firstborn's purity. After performing the spell, the ancestor had to be locked up since he began craving for blood with murderous intent. We cannot let that sacrifice go to waste.

Entering the spiritual realm and bargaining with Destiny had to be diligently and carefully done because any form of failure will result in death. It was a sacrificial chant that places the chanter's soul on the line—the ultimate price to pay to enter destiny's door. This is why my uncle lost his life.

"A-Aki." My sister gently nudged me as if to bring me back to my sense. I mouthed a 'thank you' for her. I didn't notice that all of the fear and pain swelling up inside of me placed me in a trance.

I have to be more alert. I can't die here.

I clenched my fist as I endured the overwhelming presence of Destiny. "I n-need you to change d-destiny and m-make sure the world w-won't end."

Silence.

After speaking, my sister and I were immediately enveloped by pure silence—the kind that makes your ears pulsate. Destiny did not move nor speak. It was just staring at us, deep into our very existence. With this evil-like atmosphere, doubt and panic started to well up within my chest.

Did we perform the wrong chant? Is this being not destiny? Did we summon a different being? Are we going to die? Is this the end of it all?

As negative kinds of thoughts plagued my mind, destiny took a step closer—making me and Akari take a step back.

"Very well. I shall grant your request but it will not be for free nor will I do everything for you. You will be the ones to make your request a reality. I will simply give you the means and abilities needed to do so," Destiny replied after minutes of deafening silence.

"What do you mean?" Akari spoke up even though her legs were trembling in fear. It was evident that she was extremely bothered about Destiny's proposal.

"I'll end your lives in this world and transfer you to a new universe—one where you and your sister can acquire skills beyond your imagination. But of course, this generous act comes with a price."

"A price? What price?" It was my turn to ask.

"Oh, you'll know it soon. When the right time comes, I'll make both of you repay this debt of mercy." The pressure and aura of destiny felt heavier. It's as if it likes to torment and dominate others.

"No! That's not what our ancestors told us. They said that we just needed to make a request once we found you. It said nothing about us dying and being transported somewhere else," Akari reasoned out. Tears were starting to form in her eyes.

"This is how I plan to fulfill that request. This is Destiny's Will." Darkness was starting to loom over us at this point.

Acting on impulse, I tightly grabbed Akari's hand and began to drag her with me towards the door that we came through.

We are NOT going to die in this place and go somewhere else. Who knows where this godforsaken being will bring us? For all I care, it might send us straight to hell.

With just a few meters away from the door, I thought we were going to make it.

"Just a little bit more, Akari!" I told my sister but before we could even get closer, fire immediately started to encircle us.

"Did you really think you can outrun me in my domain?" Destiny spoke with a booming voice.

Akari and I avoided the fire and looked around for any place to escape to but there was none. We were just in an infinite space of darkness while trapped in fire.

"Fools. You can never outrun destiny."

With that, hellfire began to inch closer towards me and my sister.

"Holy sh—" I didn't let my sister finish cursing.

"STUPID! Don't just stand there—RUN!" I exclaimed whilst dragging my sister again—deliberately forcing us to pass through that circle of fire.

I was about to hold the doorknob when I felt a cold presence hover over the side of my neck.

"Trying to escape?" Destiny's voice mockingly whispered at my ear.

Due to panic and instinct, I forcibly tried to open the door again but it wouldn't budge! I groaned in pain as I endured the burns I got from the fire.

I looked back at Destiny and saw it slowly raising something that seemed like its hand. A huge distorted grin started to surface on its face before abruptly putting his hand down.

*KRRRK

The moment his hand moved, the bones in Akari and I's knees got instantly dislocated. Both of us fell on the ground screaming with tears flowing down our eyes.

We were both enduring two kinds of pain—one from our knees, the other from the fire. The more we screamed, the more bits and pieces of the fire grew and ate our flesh.

*KSST KSST KRRK KSST

At this point, our skin was not bubbling and crackling from heat. In every second that passed, I could feel how the fire burned deeper into my body. Our screams filled this entire chamber of darkness.

No matter what I did to put the fire out, it wouldn't stop from enveloping my body. It was as if it was a living being that enjoyed eating flesh.

"You trampled on my pride and for that, you shall pay." That was the last thing I heard from destiny before the fire engulfed me more and sent me spiraling in pain and despair.

Our body was a disgusting sight to behold—burnt off flesh with boils and charred bits. Both of us were coughing blood too, given that our internal organs are beginning to boil as well. We were literally being eaten alive by fire and all we could do was squirm and shout in pain.

"AKARI!" I screamed as I fell on the floor. The pungent smell of burnt flesh was all over. I just kept screaming and writhing in pain on the floor while wishing everything to end. My hair was already beginning to thin out as the fire enveloped my body.

"AKI!" My sister screamed. I looked over to her and saw her body almost reduced to char. There was blood everywhere. We couldn't even say more than one word—go beyond that and it would feel as if our organs are rupturing.

I wanted to vomit as soon as I saw our pitiful state. Powerless and desperate, I went towards Akari and held her hand. I was slowly blacking out when I saw destiny reach out to Akari and whisper something in her ear.

"A...ka...ri..."