Dizziness had overtaken my vision, it was hard to continue on in this opening. White strings were coming from the thousands of gravestones, some restricted me and I think they were taking my energy as well. I can hear Alex shouting something, but even my hearing was brought to a state of distortion.
These things were placing me into a deep sleep, my eyes were closing .
"Don't give in!" Andrew screamed. "Damn it! I would help him, but it look like those things would do the same to me."
"We need to get him out of there!" Alex cried.
"And how..."
Isaac interrupted Samantha by leaping into the opening, the white strands seemed uninterested in him. He got to me and tugged at those things, until finally he freed me. I still felt exhausted, even speaking was a struggle.
Isaac took me back to everyone else.
"He's breathing." Samantha placed her hand on my chest and began healing. "He isn't injured anywhere, I think they just made Darren tired."
"So they absorb energy from people." Andrew looked about the area, he used his clairvoyance to possess a bird to scout more of the seemingly endless landscape. Once he was over the mass graves, however one of the white tendrils attached itself to the animal forcibly pulling it downwards. They watched as the bird fell asleep then withered away.
"Even height doesn't matter." Andrew groaned. "We should go around this place, it's a bit dangerous."
Isaac slumped me over his shoulder and we began to circle around the cemetery.
"So many graves." Samantha stared in wonder. "And those things too what are they?"
"We aren't here to ask questions." Andrew pointed out. "Just to deal with that fury, and the only guy to do it is taking a nap. I'm jealous."
"Now's not the time to joke." Alex growled.
Andrew shrugged and continued on leading the group.
Night had fallen and we all decided to rest, this place was large and we were half way through getting around it. Andrew claimed we should be fine, there was a path leading from the back of the town. We took this as a sign of people, with people can come a grand amount of information so we can navigate this foreign land.
My eyes slowly opened to see the starry sky, everyone else was around a small campfire.
"What... Happened?" I got up still feeling a bit off.
"Those things almost killed you, but Isaac saved your sorry butt." Andrew stated bluntly. "We're trying to take a detour from that place. For now I suggest you rest dude."
My strength was coming at a slow yet steady speed. I felt my legs being able to work again as I stood up and went near the campfire.
"This place is strange." I stated. "I wonder what happened here to cause all these graves."
"Might be something that's still roaming to this day." Andrew said in a dramatic voice.
"Don't scare me!" Alex slapped his arm. "This really does feel off. Whose gonna keep watch tonight?"
"I'm sure sleeping beauty can have his eyes used tonight."
I felt Andrew wrap his arm around my shoulder.
"Fine." I removed his hand.
Everyone laid about the campfire, my gaze was mostly fixated on the dark before me. Isaac was also awake, but he seemed more deep in thought than me.
"You can rest too." I pointed out.
"No need to." He smiled. "A robot has no need to sleep."
I recalled that Aria seemed cybernetic. It's not too surprising when I think about it honestly, the Institute did create a robotic army. It felt militaristic, seeing those faceless things march down the roads of New Port.
"Is there anymore androids here?" I scanned my sleeping teammates.
"Just Aria and I." Isaac answered. "Madam Cleondra made sure we are well and able to take on any form of dangers."
"So she created you two."
"Just me." Isaac shook his head. "Madam Cleondra wasn't the one who made Aria, files of her creator are still missing from the Greek Institute Data Storage."
"Oh..." I turned to the graveyard watching the tentacles dance about to whatever inaudible tune they enjoyed. Amber came across my mind and I needed someone to talk with, seeing the zero signal on my phone screen was soul crushing. "I need a walk." I announced. "Your on watch anyway Isaac, I won't be far."
Our campfire was getting farther from me, dark places had not much of an effect on my eyes I can still see pretty well in these circumstances. So when I was seeing a moving orb wrapped in a golden aura I was caught off guard. My fingers clutched at Jerub's handle, edging closer I soon saw the orb took the shape of a bald old man. He was small and adorned in a yellow and orange robe, his small mouth began to move saying something.
""Never before have I seen night in a person's heart as black as yours." Sharply his voice rasped. "You must be another blight upon my poor homeland."
"What?" I scowled.
From the ground came those white tentacles, I leapt back getting away from them. More started to appear under my feet, causing me to stay in a constant sprint around the old man. His hands waved about as if controlling these things.
"Your here to collect the bodies of my brothers." His face shifted in anger. "I have watched you and your cohorts, they are just biding time while Zhong creates more Jiang Shi and..."
"Woah!" I interrupted. "We came here to stop the Jiang Shi, he brought them to my island."
His demeanor shifted.
"So we came here to stop him." I continued.
"Your words... They are true." He let out a breath. "Still that darkness that resides in you is quite disturbing."
"Yeah." I agreed. "A lot happened, but this is the only way to stop whoever that Zhong guy is."
"Fighting black with blacker." He chuckled. "I apologize for my misconduct, I am Shi Yong the previous Abbot of Emei a Monastery that is still standing even amongst this bloodshed."
"Uh... Shi Yong?" I called out. "We're new in this place and we need some kind of lead, this Zhong guy sounds like he's in charge of all the Jiang Shi and We came to put a stop to him."
A silence enjoyed it's moment in the air as Shi Yong contemplated if I was worth to trust.
Isaac and the others soon appeared behind me.
"I thought you were gonna watch us sleep." Andrew jest.
"Don't say it like that it's just plain creepy." Shivered Samantha.
"Hey." I smiled. "This is Shi Yong, he lives here."
"Then he would be a perfect guide." Alex smiled brightly.
"Well he didn't agre..."
"I never said I wouldn't" Shi Yong hushed me. "I didn't trust you yet." His eyes turned from wise to lecherous as he scanned the two females in my group.
"I feel like this old man is violating some laws." Samantha hissed.
"Now won't you tell me your names?"
"As if I would!"
Samantha was completely grossed out.
"It's been years since I saw foreign beauties in this place." Shi Yong laughed. "Anyways I didn't catch your names."
This time the question was directed to all of us, we each gave our name for him.
"Well then, Darren." Shi Yong turned around. "Follow me, I will take you to the Monastery."
---
Maybe it was the feeling of his body being lighter or probably the salty air lashing across his skin, Japheth's eyes fluttered a bit and he was awake. His heart leapt as memories of what Davy did to him accelerated across his mind, the surprise on his face was understandable as he saw a completely healed body instead of a broken one.
"What?" He examined himself
Lock entered his cell unannounced and gave Japheth some food, Japheth saw the other occupied cells and wondered why he was the only one being fed.
"What about the others?" He pointed out.
"The dead don't need to eat." Bhok emerged from above.
"Your the only live crewmate we have." Sharrel came behind Lock.
"Live?"
Japheth looked closer, soon he understood what she meant. All of them were spectres, he knew this because of their pale bodies or their lack of feet that seemed to have fade away.
"I.... If I don't get off this ship I might end up like them." He gritted his teeth and slammed a fist into the iron bars. "Damn it! I can't use my powers to beat that bastard, I might die here and my friends... My family..." Tears began welling up, the facade he held for so long began to crumble thanks to frustration and a reality check.
If he didn't get out of this place then even after he died he'd be on this ship.
"Look kid..." Sharrel began. "We all felt the same way it was unfair for us to be stuck here, but we learned to endure somehow..."
"Endure my butt." Bhok growled. "It's only thanks to us having each other that we didn't become mindless like the rest."
"What do you mean?" Japheth asked.
"We're siblings who ran away from home." Lock explained. "Our step mother wanted us dead, because dad was giving his inheritance to us. We escaped that place and got lost at sea, we eventually found Davy, but he told us the conditions of being saved on his ship."
"Of course we didn't agree." Bhok added. "But that old cod fish didn't care, tears, threats all the riches in the world didn't move the man. He only respected strength and we didn't have it. We all lost it and attacked him all together..."
"And that's how we ended up as we are now." Sharrel finished their tale. "Look kid, we apologize for our way of joking around, but once your on this ship your doomed."
She slowly drifted and disappeared into the ceiling, her brothers followed carrying their melancholy.
---
"We're here." Shi Yong showed the massive structure before us.
It had the appeal of a holy place, I felt it would be a sin to even gaze upon it.
"Knock let them know your here."
On the center of this massive metallic door was a dragon's head, it held a golden door knocker within it's maw. My hands went about it and did it's job for it. My knocking resonated about this large place.
The doors slowly creaked open and within wrapped about darkness and some light from a flickering flame on his candle was a monk. His clothing was similar to Shi Yong, his eyes were caught by wrinkles thanks to age.
"Visitors?" He raised an eyebrow. "This late..."
"Um..." I began. "Sorry for the late visit, Shi Yong guided us here and..." I turned to not see the old man beside us anymore.
"Where'd he go?" Andrew exclaimed.
"I see... if he brought you here then you are good people." The man smiled. "Apologies my name is Sei I am the abbot of this monastery, first I must show you something. If you will, please follow me."
We also introduced ourselves.
We were all behind Sei. The doors closed, pushing all who were before it.
"Sorry we didn't expect visitors." Sei waved his hand, a golden aura came from it and scattered about the long hallway. One by one small candles on the wall became alit, showing us how vast this place truly was.
"That energy..." I felt that feeling before, except it felt stronger. "That's Sin Jayeon."
Sei smiled.
"Oh my your quite knowledgeable." He chuckled. "Yes this is Sin Jayeon in it's most holiest form. May I see yours?"
I coated my hand in the red energy I was taught.
"Your still a novice for sure." Sei explained. "You see, we train our minds and bodies so that we will be walking in the ways of Bodhidharma. He brought about our way of peace and taught us self defense only for delaying death from people who wish to harm us."
"Can I learn how to make mines like that." I dissolved the aura about my hands, curiosity was eating me. I truly wanted to learn how to use that.
"I'm sorry." He sighed. "You will need a mind of inner peace, and I can see the darkness about your heart."
Damn Malvick...
"Still you lot must be exhausted." Sei stopped before two sets of doors. "The ladies can take their rooms, and you boys will take one. I will speak more to you in the morning." He left.
We each took respite into our rooms, I took one of the four beds and sank into it.
"Finally!" Andrew cried as he rolled about the soft mattress.
It was getting harder to stay awake as sleep took me in it's usual hold.
---
Calypso looked out to the sea as the ship sailed away into the horizon, it was strange she always saw Davy go out to sea and she knew he was strong enough to protect himself.
But what was this feeling...
It was as if he wasn't going to come back...
Her hand tightened around Bart's.
Davy walked about the brig, he saw how Japheth still held the fire in his eyes.
"Be mindful, boy." His tone was a warning. "The next time we fight I will kill you, you've been given enough chances and once your dead I will have complete ownership of your soul."
He didn't answer.
Davy left, and what remained was a frustration that made Japheth go into a rage.
"Damn it!" He punched the damp wooden planks. Japheth got up with his fist still tightly gripped and began punching anything in his way. He kicked the food he was given to the side, and headbutted the wall. With a scream of pure anger, he launched for the iron bars and sent his hands through it.
"What the hell." Japheth noticed something.
His hand had completely went through the metal and there was a grey line running vertically on his left hand. Japheth placed his right hand on the bars and concentrated, he watched as the iron disappeared and started fusing with his skin.
"I... can absorb iron?"
New Port was quiet, no zombies, no gangsters controlling the dead, and no furies either. With Chris inside of the institute getting rest, Joshua found himself more bored than he can imagine.
Misery grabbed the three ice cream cones and gave one to Evelyn and then Joshua.
"Thanks." They told her.
Cerberus walked about Evelyn's leg impatiently.
"You mortals have me suffering in this heat." He growled. "You will rue the day you..."
Evelyn stooped down with a scoop of ice cream in her hand.
"You must be hot Harry." She smiled. "Here have some of this."
"I will follow you til the ends of the Earth." He gratefully started to lick at the frozen dairy product.
"So how was the Great States?" Misery asked Joshua.
"Apart from the many skeletons and having top de-arm someone I'd say it was alright." He sighed.
"At least Chris is alright." Misery chimed.
"Yeah at least."
A man holding a purse tightly about his body ran past, following him was the screams of a woman.
"He has my purse!" She exclaimed. "Someone stop him!"
Joshua pointed his hands and had the purse slip from under his arm. The item was returned to the rightful owner in a split second.
The robber turned in disbelief, he removed a knife from his waist.
"Oh wow!" Misery was holding back a laugh. "Watch out for the big scary knife, Joshua."
"Your making fun of me!" The man launched at the hysterical woman.
Again with just his finger, the wind swept the guy into the air as Joshua made him spin multiple times at a fast speed then set him down. The ride knocked the guy out instantly.
Police arrived and took the perpetrator into custody.
"Hey, Joshua." Suzanne came to him. "I heard what you did for Chris, so I owe you a double thanks."
"No problem Ms. Suzanne." He smiled.
"Out on a date?" She nudged.
Joshua felt his ice cream attack his throat. He choked a bit and wheezed.
"D... Don't joke like that." He stammered. "She's my work colleague at the Institute."
"After all the time we spent together." Misery joked. "What about our child?"
"Yeah, dad." Evelyn said slyly
The two laughed uncontrollably.
"You two..." Joshua felt his teeth sinking into his gums from how he gritted them.
"It's good to see you make some good friends." Suzanne chuckled. "Even becoming a hero of New Port."
Just then, a small army of the G.I Bots walked by. Leading them was Aria who was singing a song.
"I don't know but I've been told, you smell like feet when you get old." She sang
Suzanne folded her arms.
"I still can't get used to those creepy things." She groaned. "After those Jiang whatever's were dealt with, the President, decided to make those things a department on the force. So now they are patrolling for any abnormal situation throughout the Dracon New Port I was on board at first cause you guys were apart of the institute... Now I feel off about it."
Joshua can relate, it felt strange. First it was working with the Rusian and then after that they were able to mass produce a robotic army. It's as if Samuel is trying to claim power through connections.
"Anyways, don't think to hard on it." Suzanne turned around and went back to her squad car.
"She's sharp." Misery smiled.
"What?" Joshua turned to her. "Misery... Is Samuel really after power?"
"The elections are coming up." Misery gently took Evelyn's hand in her own. "Let's just say the candidate is an interesting person we both know." They left with Harry following.
Joshua looked at his phone and pulled up one of the daily newspapers, he never really read it, and for the first time in his life it shocked him with information.
One of the candidates who was running for President of the New Port was... Samuel Hernandez...
Amber looked at her phone hopeful that during her time away from it she'll see a message, still no notifications. Her hope was diminished instantly.
"When he gets back I'm gonna..." She held the thought. "Yeah... When he gets back..."
She turned to her window to see my mother just arriving home.
"She look like she'll need help with the groceries." She smiled and went to her.
My view was filled with a young girl's face
With a start I jumped up in fright hitting our heads together, we rolled around in pain for a bit.
"That hurt ya jerk!" She yelled.
"That's my line..." I groaned.
Light had entered the room from the morning sun, compared to the dark last night this place had taken a dramatic turn.
"Master Sei told me to get you all." The girl rubbed her forehead. "Your Darren the guy who Master Shi Yong guided last night. I'm Yu Rie." She introduced herself. "To be guided by the late master is a blessing so you better be proud of that."
"Kid." Andrew called out to her.
"Yu Rie!" She corrected him.
"Yeah, whatever." He waved his hand about. "When you said late, you mean he kicked the bucket?"
"Affirmative." Isaac chimed in. "After you all went to sleep I travelled the monastery and found a graveyard, within the center was a grave stone dedicated to Shi Yong."
"Huh!" Me and Andrew exclaimed.
"Show us where!" I demanded.
Isaac, Andrew and I were rushing through the hallway, confused faces of the many monks who resided there was in our view.
I didn't mind them at all...
"Here we are." Isaac pointed at the open area of this place.
Above was an opening in the ceiling, while scattered about the floor were tombstones each dedicated to a person of this place.
Alex and Samantha stood with shocked expressions at a certain gravestone.
I went towards them and looked down.
"Here lies Abbot Shi Yong." It read, and judging by the moss about it...
It was here for a long time...