Chapter 8: Drowned in Darkness

(Alex's POV)

Night has fallen, and I have set out to find the missing person who I rescued from the mines. According to Blaire, his name is Matthew, and he had suffered psychological trauma of survivor's guilt. This morning, he escaped from the clinic when Blaire wasn't looking. She managed to narrow down his location.

I ran up the long stairs after asking a few bystanders if they saw him. They said he was seen walking in the direction of the cemetery up on the hill but according to them, he looked strange.

I finally ended up at the entrance of the cemetery and proceeded further. The graveyard was rather big so more than a minute to traverse through. Eventually, his efforts finally come to fruition when he sees Matthew standing over three graves, alone.

"Matthew, was it?" I called out his attention.

Matthew does not seem to move from his posture, so I spoke to him. "It's getting late. Your doctor wants you back."

Again I'm met with silence. Then I saw him quivering.

"I....It should've been me..." his voice shakes.

This left me confused for a moment, he turned around to face me. I saw his state full of despair, his eyes were void with dark circles around them, there were tear marks down his cheeks, and he looked like he'd barely eaten or slept.

"A monster killed them and what did I do? I watched and ran as they were killed when I could've helped them. They shouldn't have sacrificed their lives for a loser like me and now the other hunters judge me for it because I'm a coward that left his comrades to die. It should've been me...Unless...I know you. You're the Reaper, aren't you? Will you...kill me? I deserve to die."

I knew hunters get some trauma and people would make rumors whether truth or false, even to the point where they're driven mad or lost all hope. But to grant him a swift end would insult the sacrifice of his comrades.

"I will not. I'm here to take you back whether you like it or not." I said indifferently.

"Please...you have to...The pain, the guilt, the rumors...I can't live with this pain."

I can only give a scowl as I listen to him, but moments later something was wrong.

"What the...?" I exclaimed.

I saw shadows and dark mists running past my feet and they were gathering at Matthew. I stepped back, letting him go as I watched the darkness latch onto him, crawling up to the rest of his body and swallowing him. I can only hear his last words.

"I want it all to end."

I was shocked and confused, it was the same darkness I saw with the Chupa and now it has taken Matthew as it stands across me in a form of a humanoid silhouette. Then I didn't expect to hear a different voice.

"Greetings Alex Crowe." it spoke with a soft male voice.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" I asked.

"I have watched you from afar. I know your past and more importantly, I know your pain. The feeling of loss, the feeling of betrayal, the feeling of hatred."

"What?!"

"I can heal you, I can give you solitude, rid you of your pain. You only need to accept me."

That is a red flag on its own. "Sorry, but my answer is no."

"But why do you resist? Do you not want peace?"

"Did you not hear me? I said FUCK OFF!!!" I shrieked as I unloaded my rifle with red magic-like shots to the dark humanoid.

Then in response, the darkness around me began to spawn more humanoid silhouettes and began to charge at me.

I fired more upon the dark figures as they dissipated at my shots. The ones that are getting closer, I kicked them to gain some distance before I fired my last shot to one, but more kept appearing.

"Shit!"

As they were getting close, I transformed my rifle into scythe form and began to slice the humanoid silhouettes coming my way.

____________________________________________

(Elsewhere)

In the city street, a man in white was walking in the direction of the graveyard, where he could hear gunfire.

But he also saw shadows heading towards the chaos. He could sense the magic there, one that is familiar to him, then the idea to him on who it might be.

"I found you, Alexander Corvus."

____________________________________________

(Luciana's Graveyard)

(Alex's POV)

I sliced one and the other on both sides and stabbed the third before it dissipated. Then I ducked the horizontal swipe coming from behind me and sliced its stomach area. I saw one attempting to lunge at me so I shadow dashed through and slashed it. As I fight and kill them off, I do not feel like their numbers are waning as I keep seeing more spawning. So I continued to fight as my annoying grew.

"Who are you!!!" I demanded.

As I continued to fight them off, the voice responded. "I am humanity's solitude, an end to their pain and guilt. But I realized I am as much of a stranger to you."

I sliced off the last of the dark as it dissipates. Just when I thought I could relax, more have spawned out of the shadows.

"Tch." I cursed mentally.

"I shall bestow you some time. But rest assured, you will accept me."

The dark figures began to approach me. I entered my combat stance, preparing to cut them down.

But suddenly from the night sky, a bright light shines. Then from it, swords made of light began to rain down, eviscerating every last of the dark figures, each dissipating and the shadows retreated.

I look at the light trying to figure what to make of it. But then it shines brighter, causing me to shield my eyes. Moments later, the light died down, I opened my eyes and looked where the light was, only to gaze upon what I did not think I would see in my lifetime.

There is a woman wearing white with gold accents, brown pants with white thigh high boots and she has angel wings. Looking at her face, she has white hair, fair pale skin with some sort of rune on her forehead, and her eyes glowed white.

I was shell shocked. I had faced monsters, demons, and humans with absurd abilities. But never have I encountered an actual angel.

"Alex Crowe, I command you to hear me." the angel spoke with authority.

I continue to look at her with my usual scowl as she bares her cyan sword with a pair of golden wings for cross-guard.

"I am Sauriel, the Arbiter of Order and enforcer of the Seraphim Council, and I have descended from the heavens to eradicate you and rid this world of your darkness."

I narrowed my eyes along with a frown. Why would an angel come down to the earth just for me after all this time? Judging by her stance and disdain towards me, I don't think I'll be having a meaningful conversation.