Chronicle XVII: Despair (1/2)

I don't have the strength to get up...

I feel like I'm dying. I am short of breath. It's hard for me to breathe. My hand feels soaked, and I'm sure it's not from water.

How the fuck did this happen? I don't know where it came from...

Gah, fuck, motherfucker!

I can't stop the bleeding, I'm even spitting blood... It hurts, it hurts too much.

I-I was winning! avenging them! T-They couldn't against m-me...

They don't even bother to look at me. They rise as if they were getting rid of garbage. I feel their gazes dig like blades into my body, they probably want to make sure I'm going to die. They look at me like I'm a despicable cockroach.

Zarathos... I can't communicate with him either. I swear that if I could transform myself, I'd kill them all...

No, wait... I remember I was transformed... I was using Sophia's power... Then why...?

H-Huh?

I can see a person approaching me. A woman. She looks at me with contempt and disgust, but mostly anger. Damn, I can't recognize...

Ugh, fucking shit!

It just ripped out whatever was buried in my stomach!! Shit, I'm losing more blood now than I used to. I swear if I knew who the hell you are, I'm gonna...

W-Wait. I-I can see it. Her face.

Golden hair.

Wings white as light.

Her face...

N-No...

It can't be.

E-Elizabeth...?

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Night had fallen. The teenager, after his battle, called his family to assure them that he was fine, and that he would be helping in the search for Elizabeth. Without giving them time to even answer, Dante had cut the call.

And there he was, driving through the streets of the city. Hours passed since the fight against that demon, and during that time the boy tried to get information from street demons, criminals in the suburbs and anyone who had a shred of information. In a world where superheroes, supervillains, supernatural beings and gods existed, it was not unreasonable to assume that even a human knew about all these things.

He also found out that he had awakened the other part of his power, Justino's power. The man didn't give him much information, just some instructions on how to use it and that he would soon start training him to get used to this new ability.

The wind hit Daniel's face at the speed he was going, and the smell of pines and trees filled his nostrils. The moon was half hidden by the tall trees of the forest, but it offered enough illumination to see.

Daniel's concentration on the road was suddenly broken when a magic circle formed in the middle of the road, surprising him and forcing him to maneuver his motorcycle to avoid it.

With a resounding skid, he was able to brake. His eyes immediately focused on the figure emerging from the magic circle, and to his surprise, it was the one he was looking for.

- Elizabeth! he exclaimed, clearly surprised.

He quickly got out of his vehicle, running towards the girl with a relieved smile on her face.

- Stay away!

Daniel stopped approaching her. His happy expression changed to one of confusion. His plea was not one of warning. It was a scream of panic and fear. He opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out of it. He again tried to close the distance, however every time he moved forward, she backed away.

- Eli, it's fine! I know you're confused by everything that happened, but now I'm here, everything is going to be alright. You have nothing to fear, okay?

- Was that the same thing you said to Mrs. Williams when you killed her? - she replied, after a dead silence.

Daniel stopped in his tracks, not expecting that from his closest friend.

- What?-he whispered, pained.

Elizabeth looked him straight in the eye. Instead of a terrified expression, the girl was crying with a furious expression on her face.

- I know everything!-she yelled-I know you're a demon! I know you killed Mrs. Williams because she was a hindrance to you! I know you lied to me all this time! And that you hunt people's souls to give them to Satan!

- What...? What are you talking about? -replied the teenager, getting over his shock and confusion at her shouts- I'm not a demon, Eli!

- Stop lying to me! - she yelled - Were you planning to kill me too?! And the Johnsons?!

Pain and anger, combined with frustration, began to bubble up inside Daniel, who was still trying to explain himself.

- No..! They… Just let me explain!- he exclaimed - I'm not a servant and I don't hunt souls, Eli! I-

- Then what are you?! I saw how you killed that thing! What do you want from us? Were you sent to collect souls from people with faith in God? That's what monsters like you do, right?! - She interrupted once more.

Those words ended up filling the boy's patience, and his heart.

- 𝙄'𝙈 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝘼 𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍!

Unconsciously her eyes turned black and her pupils glowed an intense red color. That ended up breaking Elizabeth's courage, and she fell sitting on the ground, letting out a scream of fear. Daniel reacted, realizing what he had done. Justino warned him that after unlocking his power, his rage and patience would run out faster than normal for a while.

Calming down and allowing his features to return to normal, Daniel showed a regretful face.

-I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to scare you... Eli, please... You have to believe me... I... -the boy was dejected- I don't want to lose you. You've been with me since my mom died. You were there, and even if you didn't know it, you helped me... All these years, you supported me. All the time. I was terrified of telling you this... But, Eli, I-

Interrupting his speech, a crimson portal sprang up behind the girl. Both Dante and Elizabeth stopped to look at the newcomers. One of them gently took the girl and helped her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace.

Daniel recognized him, and his sadness turned to full anger.

- Crane!- he roared.

- Are you okay, beautiful? - Crane asked, completely ignoring his opponent.

Elizabeth nodded slowly, giving him a low thanks.

The redhead turned to see Daniel with a serious look, who was furious and confused at the same time.

- What's going on, Zarathos? Your plan didn't work out as you expected, right? Crane spoke, flashing a sly, confident smile.

- Zarathos..You even lied with your own name?!- the girl exclaimed, overcoming everything the teenager had said before, throwing him a look of indignation and anger.

-What did you do to her?! - Dante exclaimed, ignoring his best friend's outburst.

He was getting impatient. He was about to pounce on Crane if it weren't for two things: he had Elizabeth in his arms, and through the portal that formed to one side, in front of the two embracing teenagers.

However, that magic circle was different, as whoever it was came out of it. Daniel felt a sense of enormous pressure and danger, transforming into the Ghost Rider immediately. He heard the girl gasp in fear, but he didn't care. . His gaze was fixed on the newcomer.

Long black hair. Long, sharp horns. A fanged smile and demonic eyes that were fixed on him. Dante felt his instincts screaming at him to leave the place quickly, but instead, he stood his ground, ignoring how his hands they trembled slightly.

- So you are the demon that haunts this city and its inhabitants. Tell me... Did you have fun massacring my people, Herald of Satan? - a deep and harsh voice came from those lips, sending a shiver to Rider.

-𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚? -for each minute that passed, the boy went from being alert to losing himself in anger- 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧, 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮... 𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩... 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙮. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨.

- Sick games?- Crane repeated, laughing- An interesting word for someone who did exactly the same thing, and worse!

- 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙩 𝙪𝙥! - shouted the Rider - 𝙄'𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚... 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧?

-Show her the truth -Astaroth replied- Simply show her the reality in which he lived; one that you disguised with your lies...

The Ghost Rider couldn't stand that demon anymore. He completely ignored his instincts.

- Your manipulations...

He ignored his fear.

- And the blood on your hands... Like Erika Williams' blood.

And he gave in to anger.

The Ghost Rider let out a roar worthy of a beast, and attacked both demons with his chains bathed in flames, deliberately without hurting the blonde girl. When he saw that his attacks were avoided, he charged at Astaroth and began to fight melee, throwing punches blinded by fury. The flames on his head turned reddish as he attacked.

The Emperor of Hell caught his attacker's arm and kneed him in the stomach, knocking him off balance, following up with a sledgehammer blow to his back that buries him into the ground, causing a small crater. He then grabbed him with both hands, lifting him over his head, and crashing it back to the ground, but with more force. After this he grabbed his leg and threw him away from him, forming a ball of fire between his hands and impacting it against the Ghost Rider in mid-air.

The burning skeleton rolled to the ground roughly after the explosion of the attack. Pain overwhelmed him, and he struggled to get up, but a foot on his back forced him down.

- It's interesting how encounters happen, don't you agree?- Astaroth said- You gave us so many problems in the past, and now, this part of you makes exactly the same mistake you made centuries ago- the demon spoke in a low voice, smiling sadistically-. You admired so much to humans, and look at you now. Betrayed by the human you swore to protect... Yeah, I know you. I know you were trying to push her away so she wouldn't suffer, but you did the exact opposite... You know? Looking back, this situation is ironic. You are blinded by an unrequited love, betrayed, confused by your own words and lost in your odyssey for a goal that you will never reach... You are nothing of what you once could have been! -he exclaimed, picking him up and landing a devastating punch on his chest, sending him flying.

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On the other hand, Crane was enjoying the spectacle that was taking place before his eyes. However, Elizabeth watched the battle with mixed feelings. She knew that she had lied to him, but she couldn't help but want that demon to stop beating up the person she loved.

Love is a complicated jury, who does not dictate the rules of the heart.

Her feelings collided with her conviction that Daniel Williams lied to her throughout her life. Her insecurity and doubts assailed her, countering Astaroth's power.

But Aaron Crane realized this. And by pressing on a nerve in her body, he knocked her unconscious.

-Sleep well, princess...-he said, with an evil smile- Thanks to you, the plan started perfectly.

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The Ghost Rider got up slowly, stunned by the beating he was taking. He finally sat up, looking down at the ground. In front of him, Astaroth was advancing towards him, intact and smiling.

-Do you want to know something curious? Humans. You show them a false reality, twist their minds and play with their hearts. Although they don't accept it at first, sooner or later, they will believe you. Is it because they are manipulated by the unknown, or because they simply refuse to accept a reality that deep down they want to be true? Just look at them. They believe that they are the culmination of the evolution of all races, full of security and confidence. However, when we arrive and they see us, they beg for pity and mercy. There is always someone superior to the other in your society. They wallow in their own wealth and trample on those who are inferior to them... And you come here with your morality to defend the innocent. There are no innocents in this world...It is full of corruption, evil, selfishness... A feast for demons, a true utopia for us! Anyway, I have my goals. And right now, you and your morals are the only thing standing in my way of achieving them. I was right that girl is special to you... After all, every beast has its beauty. I wonder, if you reacted like that just by messing with her feelings... How would you react if I just... Killed her?

The Rider clenched his fists, and anger washed over him again, but this time, on a full scale.

He let out a monster-like roar and lunged at his enemy, who didn't flinch. Before he could even make contact with the Emperor of Hell, the Ghost Rider realized that they were both in very different leagues. One was vengeance, anger and kindness in equal parts. And the other was pure and supreme evil.

In some stories, the good guy doesn't always win.

The Rider clenched his fists, and anger washed over him again, but this time, on a full scale.

He let out a monster-like roar and lunged at his enemy, who didn't flinch. Before he could even make contact with the Emperor of Hell, Ghost Rider realized that they were both in very different leagues. One was vengeance, anger and kindness in equal parts. And the other was pure and supreme evil.

In some stories, the good guy doesn't always win.

Astaroth braced himself and brutally landed a blow charged with demonic power to the face of his enemy, slamming him squarely into the road in a colossal and definitive manner.

Instantly, Daniel lost his Ghost Rider form and was left lying between the pieces of concrete, with bruises and blood coming from his nose, completely knocked out. Astaroth looked at him impassively, unchanging, allowing a small but evil smile to adorn his face.

-Not even my dear brother is a challenge for me... I could kill you here and now, however, I prefer to destroy your mind and spirit as well. Until the next time we meet, brother...And rest assured that it will be the last.

With these words, the emperor and Aaron Crane entered through the same portal that brought them, leaving behind the totally defeated teenager.