Of Ice, Death & Monsters

Chapter 53 : For Friends Side By Side

Charlie sighed in relief, trying to crawl away from the madness ensuing in the background. Jane was going to be alright now. Nobody could fight back against someone who can burn away existences such as Contracts. She was nigh unstoppable at this point.

Marian, for all of her power, couldn't even compete with what Jane could do. Nobody could once she began to be serious about it… Or at least, that’s what Charlie thought.

But those moments of weakness, when she got caught off guard, when Henry shot her. If what the others said was true, then some of them really wanted to kill her. She couldn’t let that happen.

Fire raged all around the battlefield, dancing around like an orchestra of flames, twirling in familiar patterns that nearly paralyzed Charlie.

‘Get down!’

‘Move it!’

‘Run, don’t look back!’

The rain cascaded down all around her body, dripping on her face before disappearing into the river. Each time they fell, an old memory came back in her mind: Sirens, planes, bombs, gunshots. They echoed like a symphony that never seemed to end.

She almost began to crawl as if she were in a war zone, but shook her head, snapping herself out of the stupor.

Focusing on herself, she turned to find Henry slapping himself awake as his mind was bombarded with the memories of those that have constantly fought back against the raging flames of the Descendants. The Keepers who have always struggled with them before being nearly wiped out by Koschei. Those who dedicated their whole lives to stopping the destruction that the flames would bring until their very end.

They were drilled into his mind as he stared at Jane fighting Marian. If he doesn’t try to end it here, what happened to the Keepers would happen to Phorash. Thousands- no… Millions will die, consumed by fire until they are reduced to less than ashes.

He raised his pistol once more, aiming it at Jane, his senses so enhanced that he could fire off a record-breaking sniper shot from miles away. Maybe he can stagger her just in time for Marian to deliver a killing blow-

“Henry… What are you doing?” Charlie asked as she carefully readied her hand to her pistol while approaching.

“I’m trying to save the world, Charlie. Jane is going to end it all-”

“Jane is just… Going through things right now. I’m sure you understand what she went through, what she had to go through.” Charlie took another step forward as if trying to calm a wild animal.

Henry frowned, taking a step back as he narrowed his eyes towards Charlie. “That doesn’t give her the right to burn everything down. You know what she said, and you know what she wants. She has to be put down, for the greater good.”

“The greater good huh…” Charlie muttered the phrase and rubbed her dog tags, gritting her teeth as memories of war flashed in her mind. A battlefield of endless corpses piling higher and higher for some cause that’s been long forgotten.

“I heard that before. What greater good is there even, when we stand by and watch those trying to help fix the world be tortured and killed? What can we call good if we allow that to happen?”

“…So that we may prevent further deaths, so that one day, Ephitet would change-“

“They won’t change!” Charlie carefully brought out her pistol, gritting her teeth. “They would never change as long as it turns them a profit, as long as it ensures that they hold all the Magick possible, they won’t change.”

She shook her head as more and more memories bombarded her. “People in power never change, not unless they’re forced to. But no one would ever force them to. It’s far too convenient, far too much in their favor. They won’t move a muscle until it finally benefits them.”

“People are already trying their best, but sometimes, they take it too far, like the Choir. You’ve seen how they act! You know what they are like! They call in bomb threats and steal supplies from hospitals!”

Charlie slowly raised her pistol, and so did Henry. “Those supplies would have gone to waste since they cost so much! Who would have benefited from it?”

“People who need it! Who could afford it-“

“Afford it after what? They go into debt? Like you?!”

Henry sneered and narrowed his eyes at Charlie even more. It was true, he made a mistake, he fucked up. It was his fault he was in this situation, but…

“Yes, people like me. Ephitet could still help others. It’s just that-“

“It’s just that what? You will have to sell your soul to some corporation that just doesn’t care? That would all ship us out to some Abysshole so that we could all die! We’re a tax write-off! We’re disposable, made to do the dirty work until they find no more use for us!”

“Maybe… But even so, there are people out there who are just working hard, who come home every day trying to make a better life for themselves. They need Ephitet-”

“They only need it because the system they made enforces that! If it wasn’t there, then maybe-”

“Then someone else will take their place, another hydra shall rear its ugly head. They will always come back…”

Charlie scoffed and shook her head. “So we take the monsters we have now?!”

“It’s better than the worst monster that could come out! The monster that they are keeping from appearing.”

“Is it? How can we know? How could we know?! Maybe the Choir can finally help-”

“The Choir won’t help, they’re too scattered, too far apart. You’re only saying this because of Jane. I know about you and her…”

Charlie stayed quiet and looked away, her hands shaking on her gun. “This is more than just her and me… I can’t let you kill her. I can’t let her die.”

“No… It’s not bigger, it’s just you and her. I’m sorry, Captain, she has to go.” Henry aimed up at Jane, but Charlie was quicker, shooting the gun out of his hand before he could pull the trigger.

Henry yelped in surprise as his pistol was sent stumbling away. He tried to scramble for it, but Charlie pounced on his back, restraining his arms. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t let you do that!”

The storm grew once more, all around, the River Smorodina crashed into the banks as it started to swirl up into the air. The many souls began to wail like crashing tides as both Charlie and Henry grimaced, their minds starting to peel away from the sheer mental anguish that subsumed their bodies. It was worse for him as he could hear everything so clearly, thanks to the blessing of Masha.

But, it was also a great gift, with it, Henry managed to push off Charlie, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to the floor as he disarmed her of her gun, aiming up again.

“No!” Charlie punched him right in the face. Immediately, he stumbled away, feeling his whole body go dizzy as he rubbed his cheek. If this were in reality, that might have knocked a few teeth.

“Please, just listen! She’s too dangerous to be left alive! She’s going to become a monster. You heard her yourself!”

“I know… But maybe, maybe I can change that. I don’t want anyone else to suffer like she did. I failed my friends, my family… I won’t fail anyone else!”

Charlie threw a gut punch followed by a knee, staggering Henry even more as he tried to compose himself. He couldn’t really win in a one-on-one fight; Charlie was a trained warrior. But he didn't need to defeat her. All he needed was to kill Jane.

He once more raced towards the gun, Charlie noticed and tried to tackle him once more, but he was prepared; his heightened reflexes kicked in, allowing him to duck down and keep his limbs tight on his body so he couldn’t restrain him. So when she pounced on him, he struck her right in the chest so hard she started to tumble away.

She grimaced, panting as her mind was for a moment filled with the pain and agony that the Keepers felt when fighting and being slaughtered against the Descendants. That’s who she was fighting for? That’s who she was protecting?

Henry managed to grab the gun, aiming it at Jane as Charlie realized.

No, she wasn’t fighting for the Descendants. She was fighting for Jane and all those like her. To those she has failed to save, and those who have yet to be saved. This was for them, nobody else!

Charlie ran once more, before Henry could fire, she grabbed his wrist, causing the shot to go awry. But he still held the pistol. He pushed her aside and smacked her across the head with it. “Don’t make me hurt you more than needed, Charlie.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you at all. We could have just walked away. Jane can protect us.”

“It’s not about protection, it’s about doing what is right!”

“This is right! I’m going to make sure it’s right!” Charlie unsheathed a hidden knife from her pants and held it up. “And I’m going to do whatever it takes for that!”

“Don’t do this, Charlie… Please…” Henry aimed the gun at her this time, finger on the trigger.

“I will do what I must.” Charlie ducked and grabbed Henry’s wrist, aiming the pistol into the air as it fired off another round, the gunshot matching the roar of the waves as it began to draw closer and closer to them both.

“You will try.”

He grabbed her wrist, holding up the knife as they began to engage in a battle of wills. Both of them were straining against the other, staring into their eyes as they moved back and forth. Winds raged on in the background as the ever-growing typhoon doused them with more and more souls gathering around, fueling both actions as they whispered in an endless cacophony.

Henry began to push Charlie back, with each push forward, another soul whispered into his very being, showing how far the Descendants have gotten. How far they were willing to go, murdering hundreds and thousands of Keepers until barely any more were left. Jane was just a tool, a pawn, the fire upon the pyre to light and burn everything.

He couldn’t allow that to happen. He needed to stop her no matter what. Even if it meant taking out Charlie, he knew what had to be done. There was no going back after this.

Charlie was on the back foot; her resolve was tough, but she could feel herself slipping ever so slightly each time she was forced back. Her own doubts began to catch up to herself.

‘Is Jane right?’

‘Can I really help her?’

‘Can I save her?’

‘Should I let her die?’

Her own mind was bombarded with thoughts that poisoned her willpower, as she couldn’t find it in herself anymore. What was the point? Jane could be too far gone? Jane could be mad already?

She looked up at the Chosen of the Habinger, who was wrapped up in more flames than a funeral pyre. For a moment, everything went quiet as she remembered every day she walked past her when she was getting tortured, every day she simply stood there and did nothing at all. Every day, when she had to turn away and ignore her screams and agonizing cries.

Was she going to do it again?

“No… No more.” Charlie’s strength returned as she dropped the knife, pulling away from Henry before letting go of his other hand. She grabbed at his body and, with all her might, threw him aside and into the river.

Henry couldn’t hold on, couldn’t keep his grip or composure, tumbling backwards into the Smorodina as his body landed upon the River of souls. He felt his whole existence melt away, memories leaking as he became one with the spirits residing within the waters.