"Harold, we will not wait any longer. We simply can't with the skin becoming active."
Thomas, ignoring the panicking people, walks next to Harold. Harold, overlooking Joshua's charred corpse and the ruins surrounding him, takes out his sword and directly cleaves Thomas in half vertically. Near instantly Thomas recovers, the half rejoining and sizzling. "I am a knight before I am a servant. Should you or her attempt anything then hundreds of heads will fall if need be." Just as the tension between the two reaches its near violent peak Crim and Will appear between the two.
Immediately Thomas moves to kill Crim but is stopped, cut in half and tossed backwards by Harold. Crim, seeing this puts on a teasing grin in response and speaks, Will following immediately after. "So ya's a knight ain'cha. Gotta ask, what's so honorable bout lettin all these innocent die?" Unlike Crim, Will's expression is serious, fully understanding this might be the only opportunity he gets to talk to the immortals behind his hope. "Sir, is it really not possible ta let em out?" While Harold remains silent Thomas responds near immediately.
"I see no people beyond us gathered here and the corpse of one who only nearly qualified."
Despite distance the entirety of the town hears his words.
Silence.
Looking at Thomas, Will loses himself to his thoughts. What exactly qualifies as a person then. It can't be just shifters since I'm included in the group despite having no potential as one. Plus, nearly qualified? Does the ability to influence reality make you a person in his eyes? But there's the issue of me qualifying as a person. Is it because of my status as a severed member? Or is it because I'm a servant of hers just like them?
Meanwhile, Crim doesn't care, instead choosing to focus on why Thomas immediately tried to kill him. At least for now he's safe, Harold seems truly willing to protect him but when that protection ends he knows full well he's doomed. He didn't get to react to Thomas's attack let alone Harold's defense. Not only that but his injured arm is still an issue. Before he can collect his thoughts Harold speaks.
"There is no escape for the ordinary."
Instantly something snaps in the people, a violent outpour of enraged and despairing cries ringing out. Some beg for freedom, some beg to just end their lives, and some clench their fist desperately holding back the urge to deck Harold. For a few seconds chaos takes over, at least until Roland speaks up. "You want the boy right? If we hand him over can we be freed?" Without a speck of emotion he stares at Harold and Thomas. Instantly, they think over his offer. While they can't do anything directly in this case, indirect actions should be okay. Neither one of them moves, showing neither approval or disapproval. Seeing this Roland takes out his gun and aims for Crim's legs. Maybe it'd be better to aim for the kill considering Thomas's actions but Crim might become a powerful bargaining tool so he can't get rid of him downright.
Will, watching everything devolving decides to make a hasty move. Calmly he pulls down his chest to reveal his tattoo while grabbing a small handgun from his backpack. "He's under the protection of the severed, touch him and even if you live, I can guarantee a fate crueler than death." Surprised, Crim stares at Will, immediately noticing his lack of accent.
He's a severed? One a those church hating maniacs like the grounded? Tha heck I thought theys was supposed ta be insane but Will sure as hell ain't. Wait, why am I under their protection? Tha hells so important bout me?
Instantly the crowd goes silent, an overwhelming chill filling them to their core. Everyone's heard the stories. People gone missing and churches burnt to the ground. Those who abandoned their faith and in return abandoned the world. Roland lowers his gun, sending a strong glare straight to Will. Unnatural rage fills his eyes, his finger twitching on the trigger. Thankfully, or somewhat unfortunately Lia stands next to him in tears, glancing at the remains of the shop her mom left her. "Come into town and you die." Signaling to his men he walks back into the town, stumbling through the ruined shambles left by Joshua's rampage.
In the end he can only care about himself and what's left of his family. Despair overwhelms the town. Many abandon their god, many simply resign themselves to fate, and a small few choose to take their own lives. Hanging, cutting, or overdosing the amount of dead spikes despite the strands all burning to ash. The four now left alone stare at each other. Again Crim is the first to speak, followed immediately by Will.
"I want an explanation please an thank ya."
"Ill give you one once we escape."
Crim tilts his head in clear confusion, a bit of hope returning to his previously dead eyes.
"Escape?"
"Harry will come back soon. I assume he'll be rather upset when he returns, in which case, at least our own personal safety is secure."
Crim, remembering Harry, and after taking in all information starts to think, wondering how much of this situation might have to do with him and if there might be underlying plans in action.
Lets see, first, why is it Harry knew about the calamity and why is acting as more of a trap. Calamities are supposed to be short bursts of near absolute destruction. The knight and butler have a connection and so does Harry, does the calamity have some connection to the world beyond the crack considering how Harry seems so close to it. Not only that but certain timings are weird. Tommy said he would take us out in a few days, a few days we shouldn't have if the knight and butler just killed us all, something I know they can do easily. For now I can be sure of three things.
One, we have a few days to live when we realistically shouldn't so that means there's something of value here. Whether the incident itself was planned or not is uncertain. There's also a real possibility Tommy plays some kind of role despite being relatively uninvolved.
Two, I have some kind of connection to the calamity. I came here because of Harry's most recent happy hour, the butler just targeted me, and Harry has to have some reason for joining our group. Not only that but Tommy's disappearance lines up too closely with my decision to go to Lindbourough. Maybe this was all planned from the start?
Three, Harry has some kind of association with the knight and butler duo and whatever is behind the calamity breaking the pre-established rules of staying within a set area.
As for why the severed are involved, I can't think of any reason let alone why I'd be under their protection. I can at least be certain they run counter to the knight and butler considering their goal is protection while the duo's goal seems to be my death. Was planned to be a part of our group from the beginning? If so, what's his goal?
Suddenly, Harold and Thomas vanish, almost as if they were never there. Seeing them gone Will lets out a relieved sigh. Crim on the other hand immediately stands up, walking up to Will and instantly pulling out a dagger, placing it a nail's width from his neck. "What's happenin? Tell me everythin now or I slit ya throat." Smiling, Will puts his hand on the dagger's blade and pulls it down. "A long time ago a seal broke, parts of it went off and fused with some people. One of those seals is your stomach." Crim looks Will dead in the eyes, checking for even a spec of anxiety or falsehood. Unfortunately, his eyes are clear.
Letting go of the dagger he remembers Tommy's answer to his question. It really bugged him but now he has an answer as to why. "The most precious thing huh." Not a person but a thing.
Meanwhile, as calm takes over, Tommy watches on from the stars. Standing on the moon he prepares the usual ritual, listening to the ancients from beyond the stars. Voices incomprehensible guide his instincts. From in front of him a great crack opens, a bodyless brain floating out. Iris flowers immediately bloom from the crack, spreading all across the moon in a matter of seconds.
Suddenly, everything goes black.
In a flash the flowers are gone, the crack vanished, and Tommy gone. Despite the seeming disappearance of everything, the moon remains the same. Eyes watch from the stars afar and let out relieved gazes as the moon remains closed. Tommy, on the other hand has returned to the maze, coming across Harold and Thomas. Despite Tommy being directly between the two they don't notice him, continuing their conversation.
"Harold, we have to return the seal. Is your honor truly worth all of existence!"
Gripping the handle of his blade Harold takes a moment to respond.
"I am a knight, not a slave. Promises made will be followed, should you attempt to force me then we will have our long overdue war."
"Bloody idiot! We have the same goals! Has that fool Harry truly influenced you? Are you so desperate to undo your sins you'd sooner waste time with revival than sacrifice the few?"
"Victims of my folly, a mistake I must reclaim. Thomas, you serve her but I serve my honor. I will not destroy the souls of the damned, instead they will live again. I owe him at least that much."
At his last word, a head blooms from the sky above. Something sprouts from it, an ancient order undeniable to all. She commands Harold, he must obey. He has too, unfortunately, Tommy is around. A vague illusion of the moon appears behind him. Slowly, it cracks and creaks, opening to reveal a massive eye.
As ancient as time itself?
Soon, the first day will end. Armageddon has begun as the wills above move.
Two days to the first confrontation.