CH 24 - Into the Abyss

Nica growls as she looks through the room, staring at the monsters that tormented her. The ones that killed Sera over and over again in her mind. They will not get to her or attack the woman she has saved.

She will not allow them to tear away the one good thing she has done. The one time she put her life at risk for someone else. Gritting her teeth, she watches as the monsters back away from her, and their skulls gnaw at the bones. Nica's eyes are narrow as she senses desperation within the creatures as a few heads return to the darkness.

Where is the creature that demanded her submission to the Gods? The depth of the voice shows that it isn't these monstrosities. They cannot speak to emote their thoughts beyond the skittish movements backing away as she steps forward.

Looking at each creature with hard eyes, she steps forward, her mind focused on the dark portal beyond their reach. Walking towards the exit, she takes a deep breath, knowing something is missing. The monsters do not move but remain frozen in fear, fear of what?

Looking behind her, Nica realizes that the creatures are regaining courage. She only cast the spell, but once, she tried to again, but the second time, the words failed her. Luckily she didn't move her hands, so they didn't see the failure.

But there is a change in the air, a static charge that grasps at night. The dull static charge is muted as she moves quickly toward her exit. The monsters closing in behind her, Nica jumps through the portal as the creatures give chase.

As she moves through the portal, she feels herself falling forward. It takes minutes of weightless falling in the depths of the darkness for her to splash deep into a pit of liquid. Pulling herself from the edge of the pool of putrid decay, she climbs forth. Smelling a scent that she only felt at the edge of the forest where someone's pet had been purposely left. A sickening fate for a beloved animal.

Pulling herself from the liquid, she reaches for her wound and finds it... healed. Walking forward, Nica feels startled by the sense of nothingness around her. Not even her footsteps are heard as she walks across the void. She focuses on placing one foot before the other, wondering where she is walking. There are muffled voices, but no matter where she looks, no one is around her.

Walking in the darkness, she feels a cold sweat drip down her body. She wishes she could stop walking and moving forward, but there is a drive, a compulsion. She feels the need to move forward in a way that makes no sense. Which way is ahead?

Turning, she feels exposed, utterly vulnerable to the world. Nica pauses as she wonders where she is meant to go; what is her purpose in this realm? Is this where she goes to die? The afterlife that was promised by the scriptures? Moving forward, she is drawn to nothingness as she struggles to find meaning.

"Nica..." a deep voice whispers.

Spinning on her heels, she turns, looks behind her, and sees nothing. The absence of all light is hauntingly eerie. Moving her hands to her face, she can feel her touch. As she tries to blow on her hand, she feels nothing. Is this where those creatures come from? It can't be because this isn't the cave from which women unleashed the monsters.

"Nica?" the voice calls out to her again.

Turning on her heels, she spins in a circle and sees nothing around her. Her arm twitches as she tries to cool her nerves.

Closing her eyes, she prays to the unknown that she doesn't lose control of herself. She would hate to arrive where she is going feeling like she soiled herself. Terrified of the booming sound of the voice as it shakes the world beneath her feet.

"Follow the light..." the voice commands.

"What light?" Nica asks, turning in a circle sees a light in the distance. Turning her body to the light, she begins to walk, worried about disobeying the voice. She moves forward with this preserved knowledge without knowing its purpose or desire. This is the end. There is no way she can escape.

"Nica, please help me!!!" Zoe cries out in terror.

Nica's eyes flash wide as she begins to run toward the light. The cold sweat, the aches she endured from the walk. Upon hearing her sister's voice, all the discomfort vanishes as she runs forward. Runs towards the sound of her sister crying out in vain for her never to come.

As she reaches the edge of the light, she witnesses her room. The dark red fog moves through the space as Nica sits at the wash basin. In shocked horror at her memories, Nica watches herself move the fabric around the curves of her petite breasts and toned legs. How long has it been since this night? It has felt like years, but it could only have been a few days. A week? Longer?

Nica flinches as her father calls for her to fetch her to see the Guardian. As Nica hears herself screaming and running out of the house, she is ashamed. Her stomach lurches as she sees Zoe trying to hide under the bed.

Her nightmare is unleashed onto the world as her father finds her and pulls her from under the bed. Nica screams out for the world to grant her the justice that she needs, that she deserves to save her.

As she looks at her sister's horrors, Nica's anger builds within her soul. As she cries out in pain and sorrow, she struggles to breathe. The monster is on top of her, trying to hurt her in a way that would haunt her.

As Nica collapses, gasping for air, she feels a shift in the room as a cool breeze blows out from the room. She gasps for a deep breath. She rushes forward and, without even thinking, runs towards her father.

Naked, angry, and vicious, her eyes glow red as she puts her hands on him and throws him against the wall. He tries to call out for mercy, but her anger, hate, and vicious mind overwhelm her soul as Nica hits her father as hard as she can in the throat. Grabbing his arm, she throws him into the emptiness of the world.

Nica's body twitching with anger, she knows that, finally, Zoe is safe. The coward is begging for his life, saying it wasn't his fault to be cursed with such daughters. A man lusts for what he can't have, and it is only natural to want the best for himself.

There is a moment of darkness when her mind snaps, and she reaches out. Using her fingernails, she cuts away his eyelids, forcing him to watch the world. To be left in the darkness, to watch Zoe, constantly out of his reach. His only desire was kept from him for all eternity. As her body trembles, twitching in exuberant bliss, she spits on the monster before her...

"And now you fall..." the booming voice commands... as Nica again falls from the world, traveling into the unknown depths.