SHADOW CURSE
Later that evening in New Berry Town, the trio has covered approximately 54% of the town in their search. They decide to set up camp in the town center. Conor, seeking answers, questions why the Shadows would take Duke. Mai reveals that Duke isn't the only one who has been taken by the Shadows. With a clap, she unveils a computer screen on wheels from the van, displaying footage of more individuals from Old Berry Town, Radiant City, and the forest being abducted by these shadow figures. Frank, connecting the dots, asks if Conor was responsible for clearing most of the zombies in the forest between Old Berry Town and the Cabin. Conor affirms, stating that he had to ensure his mother's safety from potential threats.
Conor, curious about Mai's curse, brings up the topic. Frank is taken aback, as nobody has directly questioned Mai about her curse before. Frank starts to interject, but Mai signals to him that it's fine. Mai proceeds to explain that, over the past two years, her curse has inexplicably subdued. However, the curse revolves around a tragic pattern – whenever she falls in love with someone, they meet their demise. This curse has haunted her since her teenage years, where anyone expressing affection towards her mysteriously vanished or they would die. She then explains that Post-apocalypse, these shadow figures would emerged to shield her from potential threats, but tragically, they also became the cause of death for any man who approached her with even the slightest hint of love.
Frank adds that the curse doesn't seem to affect Mai's brother, Xai, presumably because he's family. This suggests that the shadow figures have a personal knowledge of Mai and her family. Conor, intrigued, inquires about the connection between the shadow figures and the young boy within the shadows. Frank reveals that the boy appeared in Old Berry Town during the abduction of Duke, but due to certain circumstances, no cameras could capture the boy's face. The individuals who encountered the boy faced their own issues: Jean and Kayla are kids and couldn't provide a detailed description, Agustin was quickly knocked out, and Barbra, preoccupied with Adam's recovery, doesn't recall much. Conor, recalling seeing the boy's face, expresses uncertainty in describing facial features but suggests he can illustrate using magic.
Conor raises two fingers, placing them near his eyes, causing them to illuminate with magical energy. He then directs his two fingers upward, releasing beams of magical light that take the form of images depicting Conor's battle with the shadows. The lights vividly portray Conor slicing the shadow in half with his radiant knife, unveiling the face of the young boy. Witnessing the boy's face, Mai is visibly stunned. The magical lights gradually fade. In response, Mai exclaims that she recognizes the young boy from the shadows. Overwhelmed, she steps away, taking a moment to collect herself. As night falls Frank follows her, offering comfort and attempting to calm her down.
Mai then mentions that some aspects of the shadow curse mystery are still unclear, but she now knows who is involved with her curse. Frank inquires about the identity of the person involved. Mai, momentarily overwhelmed, struggles to respond. Frank reaches out, holding Mai's hand, reassuring her that he is there to assist in breaking the curse. Mai glances at their joined hands and looks around, realizing that her curse is not taking effect. She takes a deep breath and questions why Frank would go to such lengths to help her, knowing the potential risks. Frank, with conviction, states that he shares the same reasons as the others who faced the curse before him, adding, "It's because I love-" At that moment, Mai swiftly covers his mouth with her heart racing, believing that the curse may take Frank's life at that moment, and that she does not want to lose Frank.
Frank delicately lowers her hand, assuring her that he is willing to face death for her. He explains that not confessing his love to her would be the greatest regrettable decision ever in his life. Frank confesses that he fell in love with her the first time they met, and despite being aware of the curse, he has become more determined to help her break free from it. He believes that even if he were to die, it would be worthwhile if it happened in the arms of his love. Mai is left speechless, her heart racing. Frank tenderly kisses her forehead, leaving a warm sensation. In that moment, Mai recognizes the feeling—love, something she hasn't experienced in a long time. She admits that it would be a shame to grow old without expressing the joy of love. Mai reciprocates her love for Frank, expressing her deep affection for him being the person he is, helping the weak even though he's not strong like the others. Tears well up in Frank's eyes, and he never anticipated this day would arrive.
Frank hugs her tightly, expressing their proximity to unraveling the curse, anticipating the day when she can freely declare her love. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mai tears up and clings to Frank, admitting her desire for freedom and a life spent with him. As they share a heartfelt moment, on the verge of a kiss, the surroundings are suddenly disrupted from buildings exploding infused with shadow magic. Conor clutches his knife, sensing an unprecedented intensity. Prepared for battle, they confront the unfolding chaos as more structures succumb to the shadow magic. Undeterred, Frank declares that if the curse is here to claim him, he will fight against it. Armed with a short double-barrel shotgun, he fires at the encroaching shadows, while Conor shoots magic-infused arrows in their defense.
Conor concentrates as his magic envelops his knife, causing it to radiate a bright light. In the illumination, the young boy within the shadows is revealed, and Mai calls out the name Aiden. Conor releases his magic knife from his bow, striking Aiden's shoulder. The shadows begin to retract, converging back onto Aiden, who screams in pain before collapsing. The shadow magic lifts Aiden from the ground and takes out the knife from his shoulder, causing the entire town to quake. As the shadows take Aiden away, numerous shadow figures loom around them. Conor attempts to reach his knife on the ground but is struck by a shadow hand, crashing into a nearby building. Meanwhile, Frank persistently fires shotgun shells at the advancing shadow figures. Mai retrieves the rubber lightning bolt from her pocket, but just as she is about to press it, a Shadow hand forcefully pins her to the ground, resulting in her dropping the rubber lightning bolt. The shadow figure engulfs Mai, prompting a desperate scream from Frank, who, in turn, is hit by a shadow figure and thrown against the armored van. Powerless, Frank watches as the shadow figures carry Mai away.
A giant shadow hand crashes into the building where Conor is located, firmly holding him at its center. Despite being ensnared, Conor extends his hand toward his knife lying on the ground. Frank, now on his feet, passionately declares his love for Mai. The surrounding shadow figures encircle Frank, who vows to free Mai from the curse. A shadow figure envelops Frank in a sphere of darkness, and a voice urges him to die. Suddenly, a shadow beam pierces through Frank's arm, followed by another through his thigh. Though Frank screams in agony, he withstands the pain, asserting that it pales in comparison to his love for Mai. Multiple mini shadow beams then converge on Frank from all directions, saturating his body with shadow magic fluids. Black fluid begins to seep from one of Frank's eyes, and he struggles to breathe as his mouth overflows with the dark substance.
Simultaneously, Conor's eyes glow with magic, and his knife gracefully flies into his hand. Swiftly, Conor whirls and slices the shadow hand into pieces. Closing in, Conor swiftly bisects the shadow sphere, severing all the shadow threads ensnaring Frank. Coughing up black fluids and bleeding from the numerous mini holes in his body, Frank bravely endures. Conor vigorously defends Frank against a barrage of shadow hands attempting to reach them, leaping and slicing apart any that come too close.
Frank urgently instructs Conor to stop fighting and run away and that he'll sacrifice himself to buy time for Conor's escape. However, Conor persists in the struggle, emphasizing his determination to continue fighting for the sake of his family. Channeling immense energy around his knife, Conor shoots the magical blade into the night sky using his bow. Frank points out that the Shadow figures aim to capture Conor but they are trying to kill him, so if he wants to live he must run.
Conor turns around and insists that Frank must track down the source of the shadow magic. A shadow hand abruptly seizes Conor, and as he is taken away, Frank attempts to resist the shadows. Another shadow hand captures Frank, and he watches helplessly as Conor is carried off. The shadow hand then hurls Frank high into the air. Soaring through the sky, Frank reflects on Mai, apologizing for his perceived powerlessness and acknowledging that he is indeed a man without the means to face such formidable adversaries.
Frank descends from the sky, resigned to his fate, but just as hope begins to wane, he spots the magical knife descending above him, radiating intense magical energy. Witnessing the knife amassing more magical power as it descends, Frank reaches out and grabs it, instantly being enveloped in its magical aura. Channeling the power, Frank thrusts the knife downward, striking a Shadow figure upon contact with the ground, triggering a substantial magical explosion. After the explosion subsides, Frank opens his eyes to find the knife firmly lodged in the ground. He rises and discovers that a magical barrier surrounds him, shielding him from the encroaching shadow figures. Coughing up blood, Frank crawls to the armor van, where he tends to his wounds by applying bandages across his battered body. Frank shifts his gaze to see the rubber lightning bolt resting on the ground near by.
The following day, Mai regains consciousness in an apartment, finding herself restrained to the bed. Despite her attempts to break free, she remains unable to. In the adjacent room, Conor awakens to the presence of Duke. Conor urges Duke to release him, and Duke agrees but sets a condition—he must refrain from attacking the shadow figures and Aiden. Although Conor is perplexed, he consents. Duke proceeds to unlock the chains around Conor's arms and legs. As Conor inquires about their location, Duke cryptically responds, "Home." Looking out the window, Conor realizes they are in a large apartment building in New Berry Town. Expressing the need to rescue Mai and escape, Duke explains that they cannot, as Aiden and the shadows won't permit it. Conor questions Duke's weird behavior, to which Duke discloses that they have no choice but to be friends with Aiden, emphasizing that Conor owes his survival to him.
Suddenly, they hear Mai's voice echoing through the apartment building, calling out the name Simon. In the basement, Aiden(14) walks down a lengthy hallway with many tubes all around floor and ceiling. Shadow magic is covering Aiden's wound on his shoulder. Reaching the end of the hall, he opens a door to a sizable room where a man lies on a hospital bed, tubes connected to his body and scattered across the surroundings. Aiden informs the man that Mai is awake, and the man, with half his face covered in shadow magic, he agrees that Mai is awake since she called out his name. Aiden mentions that they would be a body short since Conor is Duke's friend, but Simon(30) insists that they need one more body to be complete. Aiden then says that Duke would be sad if Conor had to go, and Simon, though angered, agrees, acknowledging that they must devise another plan or go find another body. Aiden then leaves the room.
Duke leads Conor out of the room, guiding him down the hallway of the third floor where shadow figures observe their movements. Descending to the first floor, they enter another apartment. Duke reveals it to be Aiden's room, and Conor takes in the surprisingly neat surroundings. Aiden opens the door, causing Conor to tense up. Duke encourages Conor to take a seat, and they all sit on sofas in the living room. Aiden, acknowledging his injuries, expresses his inability to go out and find another body as Simon insists on perfection today. Duke queries how they could procure another body, prompting Aiden to ask Conor if he genuinely desires to be friends with them. Conor responds affirmatively, stating that if he's friends with Duke, then he considers Aiden his friend as well.
Aiden grins and suggests that if Conor truly wants to be friends, he must pay the price for the harm inflicted the previous night. Utilizing his shadow magic, Aiden retrieves a knife from the kitchen and, with the same dark magic, thrusts it into Conor's shoulder, propelling him across the room. Colliding with the wall, Conor grips the knife embedded in his shoulder and asserts that he willingly accepts the concept of blood for blood. Aiden commends Conor's resilience, expressing his admiration. Aiden, employing his shadow magic once more, levitates another knife and impales Duke in the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the floor beside Conor. Wincing in pain, Duke acknowledges his comprehension. Aiden declares that they all must sacrifice blood equivalent to one body for his brother Simon. Removing the shadow magic around his own shoulder, Aiden reveals his wound and positions himself between Conor and Duke. Employing his shadow magic again, Aiden extracts the knives and introduces miniature tubes, connecting each wound to its respective tube that leads out of the room.
Aiden harnesses his shadow magic, coordinating with the shadow figures across the entire first floor. They press buttons next to each room, a total of 20, initiating a grim process. In every room, individuals are depicted in chains with tubes connected to their bodies. The occupants experience the extraction of their blood through the tubes, and the screams reverberate throughout the apartment building, reaching Conor and his companions. Conor witnesses his blood being drained from his body, coursing through various tubes throughout the apartment, all converging in the basement. In the basement, a massive vessel contains the swirling pool of collected blood. The blood then descends to the base of the container, entering additional tubes that extend to Simon's awaiting form. Simon revels in a perverse sense of pleasure as the blood inundates his body. One by one, each person in their respective rooms is drained until their bodies can no longer supply blood. Abruptly, Aiden detects something and shifts his gaze toward Conor. The tubes, responsible for siphoning their blood, come to a halt. Aiden remarks that Simon would be eager to meet Conor, as his blood holds a distinct quality.