My breathing was rough as I collapsed to my knees…
How was this possible? To keep on repeating and dying...this didn't make any sense. My whole body moved on it's own, pulled by hate and willpower as I fought the urge to pass out.
The pain was all around me. It was located in my torso, but it was like a virus, infecting all my other limbs as I pushed down that road that I have walked so many times. I should have only walked down it once though, but by some turn of events by fate or destiny.
"Fate…" I scoffed as the words came from my mouth. Fate and destiny, my death should have been in the slums by that assassins. Luckily, as I kept on walking the pain began to slow down and began to slowly leave my head, the feeling of hate though was growing.
I dipped into that familiar alleyway as I dropped my backpack to the side. My head resting comfortably on the brick wall. "She is...unbeatable." The words came without realization.
Though they were true. She was a...demon. How could such a person ever exist? A person that could take a shotgun blast and keep on moving, or even get shot in her eye and able to keep on fighting like nothing ever happened.
I felt a scowl begin to form as my body began to slide down the wall. "She took out the bullet...out of her own damn eye!" I yelled out in a maddened frenzy
My fist connected with the wall. "How can, how can I defeat someone like that?"
I didn't want to ask for help, because she killed me and that girl before with ease. I would only invite others to just get slaughtered and also I wanted my own revenge, not to let some random schmuck take it from me, also how could anyone else kill her?
She slaughtered the old man, the little girl with her magic, and me with my own personal arsenal. It was by luck that I was able to save Satella and Felt during a couple of the loops. But a thought dawned on me, my eyes opening wide in fear, the sweat beginning to form as my hand went to my face.
Did I actually save them?
The woman was quicker than me, so was it possible that my sacrifices were meaningless? My right hand slammed onto the hard floor. "Damn it!"
How do I solve this endless loop, back in the war nothing was this hard. But sure nothing wasn't this hard, I was dealing with average men. Not women who could dodge or outrun a bullet.
The worst part about this whole thing was how she was in pain and sometimes I would feel so close to victory, for it to only be snatached away from me at the last possible second.
Maybe it was impossible to kill her. Maybe this whole thing was a waste of time and that I was defying fate, maybe this was punishment. To repeat this fateful day, this endless limbo.
That was when a thought came to me, and I felt my lips widen into a smile.
Before I was able to hurt her and I was sure that she had been killed. Maybe I actually did kill her, or those injuries actually did hurt her. But something was able to rebuild her, or maybe she was immortal.
So what would happen if I was able to trap her, or find a way to run away with everyone. How would something like that possibly work?
My eyes were glued to the sky as I tried to rearrange my thoughts into a decent plan. What would happen if I was able to pin down the women, and I burnt the whole building to the ground?
In the last couple of loops the building was in flames in a matter of seconds. So it would make sense that the moment a molotov is thrown we will only have a matter of a couple of seconds.
Okay…
I picked myself back up as I heard the familiar three boys come towards me. I felt my smile once again widen. I heard their faint snickering and before they even turned to enter the alleyway a gunshot echoed from the alleyway.
Now I needed to wait…
I turned my head before he even arrived. His faint red hair poking from my vision, I needed just a little bit of money.
The conversation played out exactly like before. I didn't want to divulge or change anything from the prior loop, this had to work out perfectly. Even the slightest mistake of the plan I was trying to create can lead to a horrific end.
I brought him into a hug once again and stole the coin pouch from him, but this was where the loop began to divulge. "Hey Reinhard can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, Alex."
I nodded my head presenting my best and most friendly smile. "There is this girl with strange ears, amethyst eyes, and silver hair. If you see her, tell her that I found that strange gem that she had been looking for, there selling it in the slums."
His eyes widened as his gaze felt more alert and concerned. "The slums, that seems to be a very strange place to recover some sort of gem."
"Don't worry Reinhart. The place is safe and the only place where we could get it…" I said
He groaned as he ran his hands through his hair, hopefully trying to convince himself that everything was okay. "Okay I believe you...but are you sure there is nothing for me to worry about, you can tell me."
I quickly shook my head, my smile slowly diminishing. "Nothing at all, you have a good day."
"You too!" He shouted back
I was about to leave but there was another question bothering me and I knew that it could have compromised me but I had to know.
"Hey Reinhart can I ask another question?"
His eyes locked back onto mine. "Sure."
"What is a divine protection...or a divine blessing?" I asked
His eyes shot open wide as he stared at me. "Wow, you really aren't from around here. A divine blessing is something you are born with...do you have one?"
I began to scratch my head wondering how to respond. "Before...I did something with the wind. Someone was trying to hurt me and it just activated, the wind cut into them and surrounded me."
"Most likely that is a divine protection that involves itself with the wind. But I don't detect you having any divine protection."
Wait...but didn't that assassin say right before I died. That I was blessed with something? "What makes you say that?"
"When you have a protection you instantly know about it when you are born, but I also have a divine protection that allows me to see if you have one...but I don't see anything." He glared at me
He looked around me once again and softly nodded his head like he could see some imaginary letters.
Wait, so what happened before. That doesn't make sense I could swear that right before that assassin was going to cut me down something happened. Damn, this didn't make any sense.
Well what did I know about this world for anything to make sense to me? This was my first day here...I felt my head dip as I began to walk away, the realization beginning to dawn on me. What was this, my fifth or sixth day here?
Nearly a full week, filled with death and despair as I tried to fight my way out of this sinister loop. What was the meaning of all this?
Why was I the one given this rare ability to avoid death and to keep on fighting? Rather was this a curse, a way of penance or punishment for my past sins. Was this what my life as a thief and a murderer got me?
A constant cycle of damnation and loss of hope. My hand went to my face as I began to softly rub my eyes. Everytime that I had died I had felt the sting of pain, even the horrible sensation running through my body.
But luckily I had been refreshed...if my senses weren't alert then this plan that I was forming would fail before it would even begin. So I walked to the slums but right before I took a stop.
Next thing I was doing was carrying a massive crate of useful goods. A whole basket of fruit that I had not stolen, but I had bought with the knights coin pouch. Maybe it was stealing but I laid it down in the middle of the street of the slums.
The broken homes and broken buildings made this a very eerie place. Even now how the people began to stare at me with interest as I dropped the crate on the floor.
I tucked in my scarf around my face to hide my identity. "Listen here...free food! Take only one and stay around for my message."
There was something that began bothering me about the previous loops. This whole area was full of battle and if things got bad then the whole area may very well erupt into flames. There was also some hot psycho who wanted to cut people up.
As the people began to come out of the destroyed buildings and began surrounding me. They all began to eat, as a decent crowd began to form. It kinda looked like a rainbow with their different colored hair.
I faced the crowd. "Listen as compensation for giving out the food. I am going to need everyone to leave. A massive fight is going to break out on this block. Anyone that didn't come here for the food, please be a good friend and tell them to also leave."
I began to walk away to the house that I had died in before. The broken windows and the faint hole in the roof haven't changed one bit. My hand rested along the massive doors, I removed my scarf and took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself.
My hands were still shaking but I knew alcohol or a quick smoke were not going to help with that. "Fuck…"
That was the last word I uttered as I pushed through the massive door. Seeing the familiar old man as his massive hands were holding a dish rag as he wiped the cups.
He eyed me as I made my way closer. The pistol was to the side of me, and the knife was tucked into my belt. "Old man, get me something to drink." I spoke as I dug into the coin pouch
I flicked a coin over to him as it bounced along the table. "A few drinks to keep me on my toes, a few games of cards to keep my reflexes sharp and alert." I slowly muttered as I made my way to one of the seats
I stopped as I took a seat next to the bar. "...Should be enough to keep me out of trouble until you know who comes."
The old man slid a glass of something towards me. I downed it one swig. "Give me another hit, and keep them coming."
After the third hit that was when the girl came back, and luckily the shaking of my hands began to ease up and thankfully the voice of despair began to silence itself. What was I planning on doing again, damn.
I can't get drunk…not right now. Maybe later, as celebration for a job well done. Who knows, maybe even pick up a girl. I chuckled at the last thought as I took a final sip from my drink.
My eyes felt tired and I felt weird as I gazed at the old man and the girl who were talking about something. Damn, how was this going to work now.
That was when I saw her. The women dressed in black as she came into the bar. I instantly sobered up as everything began to come back towards me.
I felt my lips once again curl into a smile. "Relax...remember she can smell your fear." I mumbled to myself as I took another sip from the strange liquid.
Maybe being intoxicated will help me out. Just stay calm, this isn't any different when you had to remain calm and collected when you were robbing coaches or when you would get into gun fights.
If this plan was going to succeed, then I needed to remain...calm. So I took a deep breath, stopped drinking and I began to take out my knife as I used my cleaning rag to clean it.
I was overhearing their conversation but it was hard to hear. They were talking about holy coins but I leaned over as I saw the rock going into play, if I was going to get the old man and the girl to fight with me.
They would have to see the women for the monster she actually was. I had her at point blank range, but unlike last time I knew better. Even after it was shot into her eye she was able to keep on moving, but another thing happened…
Her movements and hostility were more erratic and violent. She didn't waste any time toying with us like last time. That means two things...she was either in so much pain and only fueled by hatred, or she just wanted revenge.
If she was able to feel pain then that would be a plus for me, but if she couldn't that would be an issue. Damn, or maybe the gun could handle her but it didn't go through her head but was instead lodged into her eye.
She passed out from the gunshot but maybe she was acting…
Why was this so hard! She was like one of those strange people that mom used to read me stories about. Heroes of legends...demigods, men and women who were gods among men.
I felt my eyes squint together as I got the thoughts out of my head. "If she bleeds...then she can die, and that means there must be a way of killing it."
"Well that seems to be everything…" The women said. Her faint seductive voice caused my ears to perk up.
Damn, why are all the beautiful women always crazy! I began to turn around as I implanted the knife into the table, the silver glint of her strange kukri dancing along the setting sun.
My left hand shot out as my thumb pressed down and cocked the gun, they all looked at me like they were frozen in time.
Felt and Brom coming to the realization of the assassin. And the assassin now intrigued holding the knife in the air.
Then I pulled the trigger...
The strange sound caused everyone to stop and turn towards me. The red scarf tucked around my face, the color of blood and crimson.
"Down the rabbit hole, Alice." I felt my lips curl against the softness of the scarf
The gun fired off and at point blank range. She was launched across the room, everyone grabbed their ears from the sound of the gun firing.
The smoke tickled my nostrils as I jumped from the bar stool. "Felt...old man, we don't have time I need you!"
Their gazes fixated on me as they slowly came back to their senses. "She was about to…"
"I know, Felt. But the bullet isn't going to stop her...not right now, so I need you to get ready."
A faint whizz in the wind came towards us. My instincts reacted as I shielded the girl and knocked over the table, the faint throwing knives piercing the table but luckily not breaking through.
"Old man, the club!" I shouted to Brom as he leaped behind the bar
"I got it, kid."
He reached over the bar grabbing his weapon as I released the girl. She pulled out her knife as I quickly went over to the table as I pulled out my blade.
The shotgun or rifle wouldn't do me any good here. I needed to block the blade, and my freehand needed something to shoot.
The assassin looked down where the bullet was lodged, seeing the hole and the blood seap as her gaze went towards my scarfed face. "Well this was a change of circumstances."
I threw my head back to avoid laughing. "Yeah, I guess the deal is off. Sweetheart." I cocked the gun as the old man and Felt went to my side. "Listen we can't fight her off…"
"What do you mean kid, there are three of us and only one of her. And with that strange magical item, she is limping."
I gazed at the assassin. The gunshot had her limping, it pierced her lower stomach and she was grimacing in pain. She definitely couldn't move properly with the bullet scattered inside of her, if we were lucky the bullet hopefully fragmented and scattered up her insides.
"No...we can't win this. Old man, use that club to diorient her." I commanded
He nodded his head as he began to walk towards her, my direction turning to Felt. "Felt...I want you to use your magic and cut her up as much as you can. I will offer range support and use my knife."
I took out the molotov and matches from my backpack and looped both of them inside of the coat.
"No turning back. Take the road to it's very end." I scoffed as the words came out from me. "Nothing but darkness, and misery."
The assassins leaped towards us, but the old man slammed the club into the ground. A micro shockwave shook the bar as me and the girl recoiled back.
Felt leaped through the air, the wind coursing all around her as the strange wind moved around her. Amplifying her speed as it surrounded her, my whole body moved on it's own as she slashed at the assassin only to instantly be blocked.
Another shot came from my revolver as she narrowly dodged it. Felt moved once again as another one of her slashes missed their mark.
The assassin tried to lunge and stab Felt, but I leaped through the air, the gun echoing from myself as the shot ripped into her arm.
She scowled as she recoiled back, blood dripping from her arm and dousing her knife. The gunshot definitely messed up her elbow, with a light toss she maneuvered her knife into her good hand as she stared down at the three of us.
"How about you stop bothering the kid. Did you know I'm immortal? Come, see for yourself...you ugly hag!" I ribbed as I pointed my blade at her
"Filthy dog!" She shouted back as she vaulted over the broken wood. Only to be stopped mid leap as the old man's club slammed right in front of her, he actually connected with her as she was sent flying into the wall, her body imprinting the wall as she fell down.
She was bleeding, clothes in tatters, and one of her arms were hideously bent in the wrong direction. But she still had that ugly and seductive smile on her face, like nothing…
"Bothered her…"
I felt sick. She hasn't felt any of this, was all I was doing was for nothing. That was when I began to realize something, her face looked familiar. That motherly face of care and concern.
The blood seeping from her lips, as her body fell aimlessly over...him. I glared at her as the soft tears began to come, the madness and anger setting in uncontrollable bursts.
I gripped the gun and knife as my voice echoed. " You...you have her face!" I shouted out. Everyone stopped, even the assassin looked at me like I was a mad man.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE HER FACE!" I shouted. The gun went off as I ran towards her, the knife connecting with her flesh as she narrowly dodged.
She grinned at me. "Oh...I see now. Me and you, are similar. The eyes of a murderer."
"Don't compare me to you, bitch!" The sweat began to douse me, the darkness and madness setting in. "It was a reflex...I didn't mean to. I didn't know they would be there."
She used her words to distract me. Her knife cut through the coat, but luckily not touching skin as I barreled back. As I heard a faint sound coming…
"Stop, villain!"
I turned my eyes towards the right of me and I saw her. The silver hair dazzled in bright shades from the bright white of the moon. Her amethyst eyes were filled with concern, but devoid of fear.
"Satella…" I whispered, but I caught myself.
A piece of ice came whizzing by my head as it was aimed at the assassin. The old man, Felt, Satella, and myself recoiled back until we were standing forth like a line.
"Thief...I demand what was stolen!"
I turned towards her. "Listen she will return what she stole from you. But we need to deal with this crazy bitch first, so are you with us."
She nodded her head. I gazed at the women, she was damaged but it wasn't enough, we had to completely immobilize her.
"Girl with the strange ears, I am going to need you to cover us with your magic. Old man I am going to need you to gather all your alcohol, your strongest stuff and toss them all around your shop. Make sure to get some at the windows!" I ordered as my knife hand pointed at the reinforced wooden windows
"Wait...why?" The old man said as the club began to fall to the side of him
"Listen to my orders and don't question them...or this formation will be doomed to fail!"
He slightly nodded. "Now Felt activate your blessing or protection whatever the hell it is called. Don't attack her in places where she would die, aim for areas of her body which could cripple her."
"Why…"
Damn why do they question my orders! Just follow them...
"This was never about killing her, defeating her, yes. But we can't handle someone like that, aim for her legs and arms."
She grunted as the wind began to surround her once again. That was when I felt it, like I was being graced by the sun. Without the harshness of it's glare, a wonderful sensation of heat caressing through me.
I felt...quicker!
"Two children...blessed by the world!" The assassin muttered, a faint crack echoed as she reset her elbow back into place
The sudden sound and movement caused Felt and the girl to stifle their throw up. It even had me feeling queasy, and I saw men bleed to death...
"Now, Felt!" I shouted as I fired another round
We both leaped through the air, the wind coursing through me as for the first time of my life I felt like I was flying. "Now, weird ears!"
"Don't call me that!" A faint icle formed over my head and the assassin dodged it by an inch. Felt moved around her and her knife connected with the assassin's blade.
My knife dragged through her abdomen as she gritted from the pain, but I overshot and my whole body slammed into the wall behind her. The wind was circulating around me, my hair getting in my eyes.
"Damn it, Felt how do I control this damn thing!"
A furry of throwing knives came into my direction and I jumped. The force of the blessing sent me flying through the air as I nearly slammed my head into the roof.
I threw my elbow around one of the roof beams. I looped my arm around it as I quickly fired three shots, she was about to dodge but Felt was running at her, and the girl had an icle shot at her.
We had her surrounded...
She couldn't dodge. The icle pierced her lower abdomen, as the three bullets ripped through her left thigh, two of them went through her but the final one was in there.
She screamed from the pain…
Felt, she ran like the wind as her knife cut through her right foot, it was a clean cut that if it was longer would have slit her foot off from her body.
"Now it's time!" I shouted as I released my grip from the roof
Their gazes looped towards me. "Felt, old man, weird girl! Get the fuck out!"
Maybe because of the absurdness of the whole situation they all bustled out from the front door with zero resistance.
As the woman slouched onto her body, her legs not working. I dropped down as I stared at her. "This is for all the deaths that you have caused."
I took out the molotov from my jacket and struck a flame. The faint smell of the destroyed alcohol filling the whole bar, even the dry wood will help...finally, revenge.
The past loops broke through my mind in scattered fashion. "You don't deserve to get off this easily, but what can I do."
Her strange purple eyes broke from the darkness, aimed at me. "Really...don't forget that me and you are the same. It was just a relex…" She mimicked
Their faces came at me as I felt my eyes widen with hatred and wraith. Her face, the blood seeping from her lips. The tears of the memory, of my mistakes and the blood that was drawn from my hand.
My hands began to shake as the lit molotov danced along my senses. "A reflex...I didn't mean to..."
What was the point of this anymore? I saved them, so why do I keep on fighting? They are alive and safe now.
I felt my lips touch the soft cloth as the molotov was about to slide from my hands. Killing us. "If the guillotine is inevitable, let it fall here, now…" I softly whispered
All this blood that I have spilt, there is no redemption waiting for me. No, atonement. All I have left are the memories and scars of my past sins. "Sleep, just like Lisa...sounds so very pleasant."
I felt the tears well up in my eyes as I fought the urge to just give up. "Why did I trade her for this life? She loved me…"
No!...I won't give up!
My feet moved on it's own as I broke from the broken down house. The molotov flew from my hand as I threw it towards the assassin. The lights dancing along her purple eyes. I began running as I turned my head once again.
As I saw the flames dance towards the night sky…
"It's over, she's gone…"
They were waiting for me at the end of the road. I waved as I used my other hand to slowly wipe the tears away, a mixture of the smoke and the memories of prior failings.
"Kid, did you…" The old man began to say
"Burn down your bar? Yeah, but here you can have whatever is in this."
I tossed the coin pouch to him as he grabbed it in his massive hands. His eyes opened wide as he and Felt began walking away.
"Damn, no thanks…"
The girl turned to the side of me. "You did burn down their store and their home."
"Damn, the fire is pretty." I spoke avoiding the last part of her sentence. She was mesmerized by the flames too, so I left her there as I began walking.
I began to walk away. Walking away from this endless road, that offered no destination or solace. My destiny and dreams are empty and devoid of light as I pushed through.
WIth my backpack, the pistol...and my knife. I pushed through even as the dense rain began to pour down on me.
The horrible feeling settling down. This was no cause of celebration, and I just honestly felt tired. So I kept on walking…
Even as the rain plastered my hair, I kept on going...along this never ending road.