Rhys: [H-hey!
Will any of you please listen to my plan?!]
Strangers kept walking faster and faster away from Rhys.
Not wanting to interact with its horrifying features.
Wolf watched in dismay as everyone around them either ignored Rhys or acted like he was some sort of ghoul.
Rhys: Why the hell am I even doing this…
Then, someone put their hand on Rhys’s shoulder and covered his mouth before he could say anything.
???: [Don’t fuss, just come with me…]
They dragged Rhys away from all the surrounding people, and to some place he had never seen before.
Rhys and they end up in a back alleyway, with nobody else in sight.
The farthest part was really dark, so they didn’t bother going further than intended.
Rhys: [Who are you??
What do you want from me—]
He got turned around and saw something that he thought he would never see.
A guy in his mid to late twenties, with long dark hair and a nicely shaven beard, was looking Rhys in the eyes with a level of intensity and jealousy that could only be from one person.
Rhys: [Tom??]
Tom: [Shush for a second and let me speak!]
Even with his assertiveness, Rhys could tell that Tom still feared him immensely.
With his darting eyes looking away every couple of seconds.
His shaky voice.
It all came together as something that seemed more desperate than anything else.
Tom: [Hollow has fucking lost it!
She has lost it!
And it’s all because of you, Mogi!]
He pointed to his own chest.
Tom: [Yes!
You!
You’re the only one who has set her off this much!
I’ve seen her with so many other potential candidates, but you somehow pushed her over the edge!]
Rhys could feel his emotions pouring out.
Making him feel for him to a certain extent.
Tom: [She has pushed everyone away!
Everyone who has ever been close to her in any way!
I’ve seen it all happen!
The only reason I became a guard to her is that she wouldn’t push me away as well.]
Rhys: [Why?]
Tom: [What?
Are you so alien that you don’t understand love?
Oh, I forgot you don’t give a shit about anything!]
Rhys: [Alright, you dick!
Why’re you acting like I’m purposefully doing this because why not!]
Tom: [Alright, well, if you care about this so much.
Then tell her off already!
Or just stop her bullshit!]
Rhys: [I… can’t do that…]
Tom: [What?!]
Rhys: [I don’t think she’s stable enough to handle me leaving.
Who knows what she might do to bring me back.]
Tom: [Well then… godammit!
Rhys: [She doesn’t want your help dumbass!]
Tom stopped for a second to hear out what Rhys had to say.
Rhys: [Tom!
Listen to me!
I’ve seen people who are like this!
There’s no way for her to change now that she knows I exist.]
Tom’s face shifted.
Rhys: [I knew she was insane from the start!
That’s why I didn’t question her!
After all of this was said and done, I was going to leave anyway!]
Tom: [Then why don’t you help me now?
If you truly care about people!
You should say something!
Anything!!]
He got more and more emotional and erratic by the second.
Tom: [Please!
Just make her better!]
He got on his knees and tugged on Rhys’s dress shirt.
Fully losing every single bit of dignity that he once had as a guard.
Rhys wasn’t too keen on helping him out.
With his disgust and hatred Tom holds for him, and they all think he should be bat-shit crazy about something from more than a decade ago.
Rhys: [I… can’t do that…]
Tom: [What??]
Rhys: [I said do that!
I can’t do anything like that!
I don’t know why you guys keep thinking that I’m some sort of god, or evil deity that can do anything!
It’s so annoying!
I know for a fact that I can’t do anything for anyone!
That’s just not me!]
Tom: [Yes, you can!]
Rhys: [No, I can’t, Tom!
You have no idea who I am!
None of you do!
I’m a piece of shit who only cares about my own happiness and safety!
I can’t handle it when people try to stop that from happening!]
Tom: [You’re such a goddamn liar!
You are the ONLY person who can save her from this path!
And the only thing I see and hear from you is complacency!]
Rhys: [What?
Have you given up because you’re too much of a bitch to talk back?!]
He stepped away from Tom’s pleads and stray remarks he was dishing out.
Rhys wanted nothing to do with any of these guys anymore.
Just wanting him and Wolf to live out their days in the forest.
He hated everyone like him.
He hated him.
Tom: [Fucking hell… I already told you… she’ll just push me away if I tack back.
I’m a guard, I’m not allowed to have an opinion on what someone like her thinks should be done…]
He looked up into Rhys’s piercing gaze.
Tom: [At least use your chokehold on her… to help her get better… that’s all I’m asking…]
Rhys was done with their conversation.
Wait, where did Wolf go?
Wolf: [WOOF!]
Rhys turned back and saw Wolf barking at something deeper in the alleyway.
Just out of view because of the lack of light.
She still seemed to sense it, though.
Rhys: [What is it Wolf?]
He slowly stepped his way closer to her.
Not sure if he should make any sort of noise, just in case.
Tom also got up from his kneeling and wandered right behind Rhys and over to where he was going.
The ominous void in front of them was not pleasant to Rhys’s senses.
He felt a sense of being lost whenever his eyes opened back up after blinking.
He swore that swirls of fog were somewhere deeper in, or at least that’s what it looked like to him.
Suddenly, crackling and bones snapping shot out of the void.
Startling the three of them immensely.
Rhys: What the hell?!
Wolf started glowing with mana out of instinct.
The same went for Tom.
The only one who seemed defenseless was Rhys at this point.
Then, a light was lit.
And something, no, someone was illuminated.
A tall, handsome man with brown hair and heterochromia was seen with a lit candle in his left hand.
His eyes protruded from their sockets.
And blood dripped from the deep cuts in his forehead and stomach.
That man had died a minute ago.
Rhys: [W-who are you?]
Tom: Oh my God…
???: [Divine’s Wrath is coming in a couple of days.
I heard that’s a big problem that you were having.
Am I right?]
Rhys: [How the hell do you know that?!]
The man slowly placed his index finger on his lips.
Really wanting Rhys to shut up and listen to his speech.
???: [Start preparing for Divine’s Wrath.
I also heard that two of you will be preparing to defeat it.
I’ll love to see it!]
The guy suddenly blew out the candle.
Rhys and Tom were wondering what he was going to pull off next.
Until the crackling and snapping noises returned immensely.
Tom: [H-hey!
What the hell?!]
He bolted into the void before that guy could continue on, but it was too late.
Wolf and Rhys both followed in as well, with Wolf using some fire magic to light up their surroundings.
Just not as much as the candle did.
They found Tom trying desperately to shake the man back awake, with his forehead and gut wounds returning as well.
Rhys: [Who the hell was that?!]
Tom: [I know this guy!
His name is Erik!]
He was still shaking him, hoping that his old buddy would return to him.
But…
That man had died a minute ago.