BLACK FLAMES
Colin took a seat at the counter of the popular "Bub's Grub" restaurant, laying the still folded local newspaper he carried under his left arm on the counter. His brown duster enveloped the seat as he perched upon it. Although cumbersome,it allowed him to hide his tools during his daily travels, ones he usually hoped he would never need. As he began to settle in his seat, he began feeling confident about this job. Journalism was a poor front, and the pay even worse, but it allowed him to sleuth his way about, gathering the necessary information and details required for his task at hand. Still, he disliked it. It was hard and caused many people to distrust him, including the ones he was trying to help.
Colin's attention now fell upon the round, red stools next to him. To his right, empty. To his left, a small, dark-haired girl. Odd, he had not noticed her when he had taken his seat, nor when he was entering the building. Colin prided himself on his keen senses and was slightly baffled. He glanced around looking for anyone she may be associated with or waiting for however the prospects were limited. The young, blonde waitress striding about was too young for this to be her child, or so he would hope. The couple she was serving were in their late 50's, give or take, too old to be her parents, but possibly her grandparents. Still, the fact that they were sitting at a table meant for two pretty much gave him his answer. The remaining people going to and fro seemed intent on their happenings, and therefore not missing anything. So, his eyes fell back to the black haired child. She looked somewhat dirty, as if she were playing in a nearby creek or in some sport, but her attire suggested the opposite. She wore a cute little, red dress, which was also slightly frayed and dirty as well. It had a large red bow with white edges attached to the back, complimenting her red and white shoes, and her red barrette.
Colin's focus was interrupted by the entering of the town sheriff, law enforcement usually didn't care much for Colin and his investigation techniques. He averted his eyes and tried to make himself inconspicuous. He decided to help blend in by ordering something, never mind the fact that he was actually hungry and exhausted from traveling. He slid a menu over to himself that had been sitting in front of the little girl next to him. She had her head aimed to the floor and this motion had not stirred her solemn concentration. Colin decided to repay his menu stealing ways by ordering something for the somewhat depressed looking child. "Do you like hot cocoa?" Colin asked aloud while pretending to study the menu. The blonde teenage clerk turned around while cleaning a large glass meant for holding a shake. He seemed to stare blankly at Colin. He paid her no mind, being used to odd looks in his line of work. He instead looked to the young, sad girl still staring at the floor. "Well, do you?" Colin asked again in a soft tone, awaiting the girls answer. She nodded, but it was so slight that Colin felt he almost missed it.
"May I help you, sir?" The brightly outfitted teenager asked, leaning against the counter lazily. "I would like a hot chocolate," Colin responded with a smile. "And, one for her also." Colin ended the sentence by gesturing with his head towards the girl. The clerk looked bewildered as she took the menu from Colin. "Her who?" the young clerk asked with a confused tone. Colin's eyes darted over to the girl as he tried to think of a response. As he reached for an answer, Colin's eyes fell upon the local paper, which his menu had been blocking a moment ago. On the folded part facing him resided an article of a school fire, Molly Watkins picture plastered on the front page. The picture provided showed a cleaner version of the one that now sat next to him. Without looking up, Colin replied to the clerk. " Two hot chocolates please."
The Sheriff suddenly plopped down in the seat the little girl was occupying, a quick flash dissipating the child as he did so. In tandem, the portly Sheriff yipped in pain, shocked slightly by an unseen source. "Dammit, Marcy!" he yelled in frustration, moving to the next stool. "You got faulty wiring in here or something? That stool just jolted the hell outta me." With no sense of urgency, the annoyed looking teenage waitress leaned over the counter, stared at the stool, then shrugged, pouring the shocked man a cup of coffee. "Here are your two hot cocoas, sir," she said, placing the two drinks in front of Colin. "I hope your lady friend shows up soon. If she doesn't, then maybe you and I can share a drink?" Colin peered up at the girl from behind the newspaper then looked down at the two cups. "You're not my type," Colin replied suddenly to the waitress, her jaw dropping slightly at the response. "Well then," She spat back at him quickly. "Maybe you and the Sheriff can get a room." As she stormed away, the large man two stools down from Colin chuckled, drinking his coffee afterward. "Pay her no mind," the Sheriff said cooly, looking over at Colin now. "She is one of them girls that dreams of running off and making it rich in New Hollywood. That, or sleeping her way to riches." Colin shook his head at the words but knew the type nonetheless. He had met a few like her in his travels, he didn't blame them for wanting fame and fortune, but it cost them all too much each time he heard their stories.
"Say," Colin voiced over to the Sheriff after a few minutes had passed. "Do you know anything about this school fire?" The question did not seem to stir the man at first but moments later he roused a reply. "Nothing to do with my department," the Sheriff said with an odd tone, Colin picking up on the fact that the man may be projecting. "Fire department and arson took control of that mess. Nasty ordeal, most the school burned something fierce, black flames rising up and overtaking the building. Everybody died, including that gifted Watkins girl." Black flames? Colin new this was a bad sign, one only seen in his line of work. "Anybody see what happened?" Colin pried some more, the man now showing a face of irritation. "Mister," he said quickly, with a hint of annoyance. "You are asking a lot of questions for a civilian. What is your involvement in this matter?" Colin knew he was pushing his limits so he decided to retreat, try another angle. "I am a private investigator," he said, not really lying. "The State school board hired me to conduct an investigation of my own to discern the true cause of what happened. Since there were mass deaths, this is of the utmost importance and I require any assistance concerning this case." The Sheriff rose from his seat and waddled over to Colin's stool, leaning against the counter next to him. "Well," he said with a hefty breath. "I wish you luck then. That school has had its problems. Maybe your visit can get it back up to snuff." With a nod, the man strolled out, leaving Colin with more questions than answers. He gathered his things, paid his bill, then left the business.
The flames of darkness...an omen of things to come. This was a powerful force, one that had breached the planes and reached our own. It was destruction and chaos manifest, burning with a poisonous blackness that would corrupt or consume all in its path. Colin's profession dealt with spirits and the spiritworld, ghosts and haunts, all things incorporeal typically. If something had pierced the veil between their world and another, then it was only a matter of time before others followed. This also meant that this was to be a greater challenge than normal. Before he sought outside help though, he needed to do some research, gather the facts. He hoped the story he heard was just a misconception, just heavy black smoke, not actually black fire.
The school would be a dead end, if this was in fact some kind of breacher or invader. Whatever it was, it would not hang around, it would keep moving, leaving a wake of destruction behind. Colin hoped he would find it before it had a chance to strike again but if not, the act itself would give him a trail to follow. Lives were in danger whether or not he found its location, and he knew focusing on saving people would only cost him more time and energy. Still, he would try that route first. Being a Medium was helpful to most but a burden to the psychic themselves, never being able to escape the spirit world, hindering them from really joining the world of the living. Colin needed a place to use his clairvoyance without disturbance, his claircognizance telling him that the little girl was still following him and may have more information.
The nearby park was fairly empty, save for a few joggers and dog walkers. It was cooler in the shade and helped Colin relax, allowing him to concentrate on the things unseen by the eye itself. Her energy was strong and Colin did not have to wait long for her to appear. A sound unheard by all but him pointed him toward the swing set nearby, one swing occupied by the child from the restaurant. Colin made his way over to her, the surrounding world not uttering a sound, all the living apparitions now shadows in the gray hued background. He had entered the area between realms, where the living and unliving may meet. He took a seat in the swing next to the child and swayed back and forth for a moment before speaking. As he gathered his thoughts, he noticed the girl was clean now, untouched by the disaster that had befallen her living self. This was common in the spirit realm, where a spirit would return to its favored appearance, assuming their anger or despair would allow them to do so.
"Molly?" Colin asked the girl as she sat in the swing with her head down. "My name is Colin and I am here to help you." The girl looked up at Colin, her bright green eyes radiating against her pale skin and dark hair. "How?" her question barely leaving her quivering face. "Well, you tell me what happened to you," Colin responded softly, trying to soothe her spirit. "Then, I figure out what is keeping you attached to the living realm and remove it." She began to cry now, peering around with a terrified gaze. "What if he gets you too?" she asked with concern, tears streaming down her face. "Who would that be?" Colin asked, his face becoming more serious. "Him!" She screamed, pointing behind where Colin sat. He whirled around and gazed upon a silhouette standing amidst the shadowed figures moving about in the real world. Somehow, this body was blacker, denser than the others, unmoving as well. Yet, Colin could tell that it was looking their way, whispers reaching him but undecipherable, which could only mean that it was between worlds as well. A perfect place to hide from both realms. An aura flickering like flames began to crawl and grasp around the black entity, reaching the living shadows and engulfing them. "Run!" the girl yelled at Colin, pushing him from the seat and moving toward the dark being. Wide eyed, Colin watched in disbelief as the child stood before the burning darkness, a light permeating from within her and assaulting the void-less body. The child and monster screamed at one another before both of them disappeared in whirling smoke, shaking Colin back to the living realm and his own body.
His senses exploded awake as the colors of the world and the screams of people jolted him back into consciousness. The pedestrians in the area that the dark being had stood near were actually affected by the cataclysm between worlds, burning them with black flames. Some writhed in agony while the more fortunate ones were turned into ash statues where they stood. Colin quickly got up and reached the nearest person he could, throwing his duster atop them to snuff the flames. It did not help, this was fire not of this world, stronger and more sinister, burning through his apparel and finally killing the woman it had grasped. As sirens approached, Colin trotted over to ground zero, the place where the malicious creature had stood. The grass was charred but that was to be expected, what was surprising is that the soil, concrete and everything else had been burned just as equally. This fire, once attached, would break down any composition. It was pure, and evil. Colin suspected that this ground would never return to its former state, never support life again. This was now more dire than before, and it was starting to scare him. Before he could rise to leave, a shadow appeared over him, a blunt pain knocking Colin unconscious.
Colin awoke, confused as to what happened. Remembering the shadow, he sprang up, ready to face the monster that had started this nightmare. To his surprise, he was not awake, not in the realm of the living at least. He was in between realms again, a common occurrence for a soulspeaker such as Colin. This usually only happened if he drank too much or was exhausted beyond his limits. Basically, he keeps the curtain up until he needs to visit but on occasion, he slips and enters unintentionally. This time, he could not remember what happened to cause this but it mattered not. If he were dead, he wouldn't be here so it was safe to say he was alive, but where was an entirely different matter.
Colin was still at the park, now standing in the exact spot that he was investigating the seared surface. His physical body was gone, which was troublesome. Without knowing where it was, he was stuck here until he found it. No shadows moved about, but he could tell that items had been placed, such as barriers and caution tape in the physical realm. It was also night time, although the night had no effect here he could still tell by the sky and atmosphere. This world always seemed gray and uncolored, yet this only applied to what was living. Any spirit would stand out, be brighter and louder than the silent shades from the realm of life. Colin had to be careful though, that flame wielding beast could return and he was unsure what the encounter would yield for his spirit should they clash. Using his other clairsenses, Colin moved about, between still and solemn buildings, everything somewhat skewed or darkened while he wandered this realm.
As he searched, he pondered on whether or not he had ever actually entered this realm without a reason, even the accidental times. This time felt different, more empty and more eerie than normal. Of course, this would terrify a normal soul, but not for those adept at navigating and visiting other realms. This was the only realm Colin felt comfortable entering, that he felt least vulnerable and most in control. His experiences with other realms were less than pleasant, and wildly dangerous. This place was starting to worry him, not so much for himself but for the spirits. If this black fire could consume both the physical and spirit world, then the spirits here could be just as vulnerable as the people in living one. Each thought only reinforced Colin's suspicions, that this was not an accident. This was deliberate, too powerful to be summoned by a fool all the while to dangerous to not be locked away in some realm unable to touch our own. Either this was very old or very new, either way it was troublesome. Without any details or clues, this conflict would remain one sided. It would be as uncontrollable as the very fire it wrought.
Colin decided to take a risk and seek answers from an outside source. He returned to the park and found the largest tree around, which was towards the edge of the area. Placing one hand on the tree, Colin knelt down and grabbed a hand full of dirt and ate it abruptly. Luckily, he could not taste it in this realm, choking it down and continuing the ritual. "I, Colin, soulspeaker and communer with the dead, wish to enter that of the realm of animals and beasts. Grant me this entrance and I shall offer you my services in that of the realm of the living." After a few moments, the tree shuddered and split, opening up to reveal a dark passage. He did not hesitate, slipping inside and pushing his way through the darkness.
The feeling of brambles and limbs lashed at him as he fumbled through the dark thicket, light slowly revealing itself as he battled through the brush. He forgot how vibrant and wondrous this realm seemed compared to others. However colorful, he knew he was a guest, and a rare one at that. Humans, whether living or deceased, were not typically welcome here. Reincarnation was the only time anyone crossed the boundaries but that was saved for select souls. As Colin broke through the leaves and hedges, he found himself standing in a clearing surrounded by tall trees that blocked all paths but one. With no other options, he made his way along the path towards what he hoped was his destination.
One path lead him to another, a grassy one becoming a rocky one surrounded by mountains, the mountainous one leading to a cliff, the cliff merging into the seaside. Atop that shear face above the oceans edge, Colin found what he was seeking. There at the edge, sat a very large, black wolf, peering out over the horizon, calm and unmoved by the mans presence. Colin moved to the left side of the big beast, extending his right hand out as an offering of trust. The black wolf looked down and sniffed the mans hand, then licked it, accepting his trust. With this pact now made, Colin was free to ask his questions.
"You are looking well," Colin said aloud, squinting at the bright sunset ahead. The wolf was as tall as the man was while sitting on its hind, turning its head slightly to look at the man with one yellow eye. "My spirit form will always look better than that of my human one," the wolf replied, its mouth not moving but the words reaching Colin's ears. "I will always be in your debt," Colin replied, sorrow filling his face now. "I was in a dark place when you found me with that cult, you should've left me to die. Instead, you were maimed and lost a piece of yourself." The wolf growled at the man now, scars revealing themselves on the right eye now. "Our numbers are few enough," it responded with gritted teeth. "I knew you had potential, that you could aid us in the struggle between realms. My physical body is but a tool compared to my spirit one, so the wounds mean little to me. What interests me most is your visit. What brings you to this realm, to risk such an intrusion upon a world that does not welcome your kind?"
Colin leaned over the edge of the cliff face and stared down at the rocks, watching the rocks smash against the stone wall, their constant attacks only barely wearing down the surface. "I was looking into a rumor," Colin said, still watching the water slam hopelessly against the rocks. "You know, the kind that typically lead us against intruders. It started off normal, ghost girl, school fire, but two words changed the game, "Black Flames." The over-sized, obsidian wolfs eyes sharpened but he said nothing, allowing the man to speak. "Turns out," Colin continued, leaning back and eyeing the sunset once more. "The rumor was true. I encountered something that can breach realms, and cause damage to both simultaneously. I have never seen evidence of this from any tome or book, which can only mean it is ancient or it is newborn."
The wolfs ears pinned back and he growled deeply, whirling around and gazing at the path where Colin had emerged. Far off, what seemed like miles of open land pushed up against a vast forest, Colin could see what troubled the beast. Dark fire burned wildly within the woods where Colin had breached into this realm from the in between one. "The creature followed you here, Colin," the big wolf said angrily, snarling at the man. "This is no longer your fight. Climb on my back and I shall take you to an exit unseen and unknown to you." Bewildered but terrified, Colin leapt onto the black beasts back and held on tight. With explosive power, the broad animal leapt from the cliff and raced down the path whence Colin had came. They were heading toward the black flames at incredible speed, but Colin could not understand why. He trusted this spirit with his life though and waited to see what would befall them.
The two parties grew nearer and nearer to another, within range now for the invading shadow to fire projectiles at them, the wold dodging the shots with great agility. "Do not let it touch you!" Colin yelled, helpless as the beast raced to the hidden escape point. The closer they drew, the more often the shots whirled by, igniting the land behind them with unkempt power. Colin could see the being clearly now, but to his surprise, animal spirits were emerging and attacking it. The monster was quick though, strong and fierce, slaying anything that neared it. Even in groups, he laid waste to bears, wolves, eagles, and stags. They were sacrificing themselves so that Colin could escape. This weighed heavy on him, knowing that by coming here he had caused this upheaval. Others were once again dying for his lack of caution.
The flaming monster leapt from the group of animal spirits and dove towards the area Colin and the wolf were now stopping in. There was nothing special about this spot but Colin knew better than to question the other realms rules. "Get off and stay still," the dark wolf commanded, quickly shifting away as the black terror crashed down near them. Without hesitation, the large wolf leapt on the burning husk, biting deep into its neck and shoulder and pinning it to the ground. Colin could see the flames raking around the wolfs body, beginning to burn and char it. He could not move though, that was the order, he could only watch as his savior burned and battled a creature he had brought upon them. Snakes and mice now joined the struggle, covering the body of the dark demon. Limping over, fire still lapping around his body, the wolf began to dig furiously. Seconds later, it revealed a large rock, but as soon as Colin could see it, the piece began to glow a bright blue, the ground quaking below him. Runes and lights began shooting up from the earth and Colin was lifted in the air by the hidden rune stone, his spirit beginning to return to his realm. The wolf looked up and whinced as the flames burned more and more, nodding to Colin as the light began to overtake him. "Help will arrive soon, Colin," the wolf howled to him. "Do what you do best!" Colin could barely see the wolf now but the words stuck with him. He knew what he must do, and he could not fail, not this time. He could only see the writhing shadow, attempting to burn everything around it frantically. This was only a set back for that thing, Colin knew they could not hold it for long. Blue lights overtook the mans body, pulling him from the animal spirit realm into the world of the living and back to his body.
Conscious and within his own body, Colin arose from where his body lay, which was on a coroners table in what seemed like the city morgue. Scared, he grabbed around his body to make sure it was all still there, still intact, still his. He began to laugh at the irony of the situation, being thrust into the spirit world only to return to a corpse. Naked, he hoped off the cold, metal table and searched for his clothes and gear. As he searched, the door opened and an older man entered the room, staring at a clip board with his head down, unaware that Colin was up and alive. "Heya!" Colin said aloud, startling the man who nearly fell to the ground. "Can I have my clothes back?"
Colin exited the police station, clothes and gear back in his possession, as well as a check for damages. Apparently, the Sheriff had found Colin at the scene and thought him responsible, attacking him in the process. The force of the strike seemed so severe, they thought him dead, but seeing as he is alive and well, they decided to pay a large sum for the incident, hush money to be precise. This was good though, Colin would need this money, he had preparations to make and this would help him immensely. Karma seemed to be working in his favor, for the moment, but the sight of black flames writhing over the wolf made him limit his excitement. No matter the source of this creature, it had to be defeated, for any realm to be safe.
With some information gathered from the Coroner previously, Colin headed to the hardware store first, purchasing a fifty gallon drum, rope, freestanding fans, a leaf blower, sand and some mounting equipment. Second, he stopped by the One Stop Shoppe, buying sacks of salt and flour, plastic and paper bags, and a new duster. Third, he rented a van to haul all of his purchases, now allowing him to set up in his favorite place: the cemetery.
The cemetery was ideal because no one hardly visits, especially at night. However, even though the living would be in less danger, the spirits would be in more, being a closer wedge between realms than other places. If spirits are slain in their own realm, they are gone forever, no great cycle or reincarnation, no haunting or ascending. Yet, they were more powerful than the living, usually. They possessed no fear and limitless energy, not to mention they are not bound by the laws of the living world. If they die while in the land of life, then they just go back to their own realm, tired but still existing. That is why all of the animals spirits attacks bothered him, because they were destroyed, permanently. Colin knew not of the wolfs status but he was certain the flames had consumed it, none having survived the black flames thus far.
Colin paid the mortician the money he had promised to him when he spoke with the coroner earlier, allowing Colin free reign over the area, enabling him to set up undisturbed. With the cemetery closed, he began preparations, moving the items to there designated areas, placing his traps and mentally strategizing about what to do if they fail, or if they work. He had a few plans in mind but without the truth of this creatures origin, Colin was in the dark. Night began to fall and the soulspeaker toiled on, ever watchful for any signs of the creatures sudden appearance. He was used to apparitions appearing and disappearing but they had pattern, or he could sense them. This thing was completely different, not of either realm as far as he could tell.
After completing his work, Colin took a seat on the steps of a mausoleum he had chosen, relaxing his mind and body as he began to enter a trance. This would allow him to be aware in both worlds, capable of defending himself on either front. Candles flickered around him on the stoop, a mortar and pestal with rare herbs and liquids sat before him. His duster had runes and symbols painted upon it with the mixture of ingredients from within the mixing bowl. His face and forehead also had strange marks upon it, letters and scrawlings unknown to most in the living world.
A darkness deeper than the shadows around it loomed out from the void, burning with a black intensity. The creature emerged from some other plane, its touch whittling and burning everything it touched. It moved quickly towards Colin, burning and sundering the paving stones below it, the grass burning blacker than the night above. It was now upon him, reaching out, burning with even more fervor, the black flames dripping off of it. As its arm crossed the line of candles, they blew out, and Colin awoke.
The runes lit up with various colored fires, specters exploding around Colin and halting the dark devil. Colin rolled back into the crypt and grabbed closed paper bag, hurling it at the creature. Flour and salt exploded all over it, quelling some of the fire but not all, weakening it slightly as Colin readied another attack. He lobbed more and more bags full of baking soda and sand, each puff of powder hindering the night fire. As Colin turned to grab another bag, he was blasted by dark flames, slamming him into the tomb inside, the top shifting off. The runes upon him and his clothes peeled off, alleviating the engulfing shadows, the specters burning instead of Colin. He had lassoed corrupted souls and used them as protection, allowing him to take a few hits before the flames could do any real damage. Yet, that one attack had nearly removed all of them, and Colin was nowhere near defeating this thing.
As the black beast stepped into the crypt, it burned through a trip rope, releasing a fifty gallon drum of flame smothering powder. Colin rolled quickly and turned on the fans he had placed, blowing large amounts of air and powder upon the embodiment of fire. It shuddered and skulked back, exiting the small temple for the dead. Colin hopped to his feat and attempted to follow outside but the entrance suddenly burst into flames, black and terrible, trapping him inside. The monster stepping back in view, staring through the flames, watching as Colin befell the fate of so many.
A blast of blue energized fire smashed into the void-like creature, stunning it briefly before it turned in anger to see its attacker. One man stood near a large headstone, his black starched suit as still and firm as the man wearing it. Holding a prototype weapon, Agent Shade fired more and more shots, advancing on the fiend. Suppressed by the attack, Colin faltered to find a way out, the never ending fire burning just as fierce as when it started. He was running out of room, and oxygen, sweating as the fire pushed in more and more.
Outside, Shade moved from cover to cover, using the headstones to his advantage. With each exchange, he unleashed blast after blast of his own energized fire. The two black clad figures traded shots, one standing as turret, the other scurrying to and fro, but each determined to kill the other. A black blast made Shade disappear, no longer darting about. The being waited a moment before turning back to the tomb, but as it did so an object was thrown from where the man in black had been. With a beep, the unusual grenade pulled in everything around it, black flames included, then exploded back out with concussive power. This cleared the area of chaotic flames, as well as knocking down the realm invader. With a glance over the headstone, the Agent could still see that the mausoleum was on fire, no sign of Colin.
Priming his weapon, Shade moved from his cover, firing shot after shot in succession on the downed creature. It clawed and clamored with each blast, attempting to crawl away. Shade got close enough then stopped, flipping a switch and charge his weapon, aiming at the monster before him. At full power, Shade unleashed a powerful blast that smashed into the foul being, a massive explosion blinding the area. As the air cleared, Shade could see that his target was destroyed, no trace of it left. He moved over to the tomb quickly but the fire still raged furiously, unmoved by the attacks. It was completely full of the black flames, nowhere for Colin to hide. Shade shook his head and drew a cigarette with his off hand, lighting it with a zippo from his pocket.
Colin awoke, his body crammed uncomfortably inside of the tomb within the burial structure. A light surrounded him, shining bright and soothing him. He could see the face of Molly Watkins now, her remains buried at this location. This was why he chose this place, to right the wrong that had befallen this poor child. "Colin," her voice echoing inside of the tomb. "Allow me to enter your body and I shall protect you." He nodded in agreement and the spirit child merged into his body, a cool feeling enveloping him. He pushed the lid back, black flames lapping at his hands and face as he did so. He squinted his eyes but pushed passed, exiting the tomb and moving out of the emasculate altogether.
The night fire dissipated everywhere he stepped, reeling back from his presence and fading away. As he exited the large grave, Colin readied himself to encounter the flaming entity. There was no sign of anyone, not even Shade. Colin grew worried, his eyes sharpening, darting back and forth, seeking any answers or signs. "They unleashed that thing to kill me, Colin," Mollys voice rang through his body, startling him. "Why?" Colin whispered aloud, trying to keep his wits about him. "Because I could heal people. I could return the spirit to the body. I had healed other children and teachers at school, my popularity becoming my downfall. Someone found out about my abilities, my gift, and they sent that thing after me." Colin was confused, it made no sense. Such a gift would be no threat to anyone, it would mean the end of sickness and disease, suffering and old age. "Who did this?" Colin asked, his voice angry and concerned. "ManaFirm did this, Colin," her tone serious and frustrated. "They visited me at school, in a room without teachers or supervision. When I was alone with them, they gave me a box, made from something I have never seen before. It had carvings on it, symbols. They told me to open it, but when I did, that thing emerged...It killed everyone, Colin. All my friends, my family, my teachers. But it did not count on my spirit, which is why it has not gone yet. It wants to destroy me, forever. So my gift is gone and that company can continue making money and controlling the system."
Colin was overwhelmed by all of this information, feeling thrust into an ocean of uncertainty and lies. That company provides for millions of peoples health care, not to mention pharmaceuticals and nu-science. Colin had to find the box first which meant visiting the school. Before he could go another further, he was struck by a black bolt of fire, smashing him against the ground. He could feel the flames hovering just above his skin, hungry to consume him, Molly's spirit driving them away. Colin scrambled to his feet and found his adversary, the obsidian fire dripping around the creature. It held in its hands Shades weapon, melting and warping from the flames wreathed around it.
It charged Colin, too quickly for him to react, snatching him up by his neck and squeezing tightly. The dark fire engulfed Colin, Mollys power keeping it from harming him, in turn burning the creature with white light. It dropped Colin and stumbled back, the soulspeaker quickly springing to his feet and throwing a hay maker to the fiends body, empowered by Molly's light. The hit knocked a whole into the monster, the flames clawing back in to repair the damage. Colin took a boxers stance and began to strike with his left in right, between the body and face. Each blow jolted the black bodied thing, causing it to be unable to attack while reshaping its own body. A blast of cold air cascaded over the being, slowing it in place, Colin stepping back as Shade unloaded a new weapon upon the demon. A cryoweapon of some type assailed the voidbringer, freezing it in place. Colin reeled back once more then struck the frozen enemy with a shattering blow, the spirit power within felling the creature, ice particles filling the air as the black flames about died down and burned out.
Molly emerged from Colin, standing before him and Shade, her bright light basking over them. "Thank you for your help," she said aloud, nodding at both men. "The creature has been defeated but only in this realm. I must find it the spirit realm and destroy it before it has time to recuperate. For now, be careful in the other realms, Colin. I was barely able to save your wolf friend when he encountered that demon. " She turned and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the two men alone in the ruined cemetery. "It's good to see you, Shade," Colin said, patting the well dressed man on the shoulder. "You owe Gale big time!" Shade replied, lighting up another cigarette. "Next time you have a problem, pick up a phone. Don't go half assed into another realm and lure a fanatical monster inside. If it weren't for little miss sunshine there, this would be a different ending." Colin nodded, glad to be alive to at least be scolded. He will have to pay Gale a visit though, in the real world that is.
With Shade cleaning up all of the loose ends, Colin visited the remains of the school. He sifted through ashes for a while before finding the box Molly had described. It was only about a foot wide and a few inches deep but the exterior was untouched by the carnage. He did not recognize any of the markings but he had his ways of finding out in the other realms. Of course, he now had an even bigger problem in the living realm, ManaFirm. A corporate company in the business of assassinating little girls with otherworldly demons. Rising from the ashes, Colin left the scene. He would meet back up with Shade and try and pull his resources together with him. With the other realms in danger, he would have to protect this one first, and that meant surrounding himself with allies.
Colin took a seat at the counter of the popular "Bub's Grub" restaurant, laying the still folded local newspaper he carried under his left arm on the counter. His brown duster enveloped the seat as he perched upon it. Although cumbersome,it allowed him to hide his tools during his daily travels, ones he usually hoped he would never need. As he began to settle in his seat, he began feeling confident about this job. Journalism was a poor front, and the pay even worse, but it allowed him to sleuth his way about, gathering the necessary information and details required for his task at hand. Still, he disliked it. It was hard and caused many people to distrust him, including the ones he was trying to help.
Colin's attention now fell upon the round, red stools next to him. To his right, empty. To his left, a small, dark-haired girl. Odd, he had not noticed her when he had taken his seat, nor when he was entering the building. Colin prided himself on his keen senses and was slightly baffled. He glanced around looking for anyone she may be associated with or waiting for however the prospects were limited. The young, blonde waitress striding about was too young for this to be her child, or so he would hope. The couple she was serving were in their late 50's, give or take, too old to be her parents, but possibly her grandparents. Still, the fact that they were sitting at a table meant for two pretty much gave him his answer. The remaining people going to and fro seemed intent on their happenings, and therefore not missing anything. So, his eyes fell back to the black haired child. She looked somewhat dirty, as if she were playing in a nearby creek or in some sport, but her attire suggested the opposite. She wore a cute little, red dress, which was also slightly frayed and dirty as well. It had a large red bow with white edges attached to the back, complimenting her red and white shoes, and her red barrette.
Colin's focus was interrupted by the entering of the town sheriff, law enforcement usually didn't care much for Colin and his investigation techniques. He averted his eyes and tried to make himself inconspicuous. He decided to help blend in by ordering something, never mind the fact that he was actually hungry and exhausted from traveling. He slid a menu over to himself that had been sitting in front of the little girl next to him. She had her head aimed to the floor and this motion had not stirred her solemn concentration. Colin decided to repay his menu stealing ways by ordering something for the somewhat depressed looking child. "Do you like hot cocoa?" Colin asked aloud while pretending to study the menu. The blonde teenage clerk turned around while cleaning a large glass meant for holding a shake. He seemed to stare blankly at Colin. He paid her no mind, being used to odd looks in his line of work. He instead looked to the young, sad girl still staring at the floor. "Well, do you?" Colin asked again in a soft tone, awaiting the girls answer. She nodded, but it was so slight that Colin felt he almost missed it.
"May I help you, sir?" The brightly outfitted teenager asked, leaning against the counter lazily. "I would like a hot chocolate," Colin responded with a smile. "And, one for her also." Colin ended the sentence by gesturing with his head towards the girl. The clerk looked bewildered as she took the menu from Colin. "Her who?" the young clerk asked with a confused tone. Colin's eyes darted over to the girl as he tried to think of a response. As he reached for an answer, Colin's eyes fell upon the local paper, which his menu had been blocking a moment ago. On the folded part facing him resided an article of a school fire, Molly Watkins picture plastered on the front page. The picture provided showed a cleaner version of the one that now sat next to him. Without looking up, Colin replied to the clerk. " Two hot chocolates please."
The Sheriff suddenly plopped down in the seat the little girl was occupying, a quick flash dissipating the child as he did so. In tandem, the portly Sheriff yipped in pain, shocked slightly by an unseen source. "Dammit, Marcy!" he yelled in frustration, moving to the next stool. "You got faulty wiring in here or something? That stool just jolted the hell outta me." With no sense of urgency, the annoyed looking teenage waitress leaned over the counter, stared at the stool, then shrugged, pouring the shocked man a cup of coffee. "Here are your two hot cocoas, sir," she said, placing the two drinks in front of Colin. "I hope your lady friend shows up soon. If she doesn't, then maybe you and I can share a drink?" Colin peered up at the girl from behind the newspaper then looked down at the two cups. "You're not my type," Colin replied suddenly to the waitress, her jaw dropping slightly at the response. "Well then," She spat back at him quickly. "Maybe you and the Sheriff can get a room." As she stormed away, the large man two stools down from Colin chuckled, drinking his coffee afterward. "Pay her no mind," the Sheriff said cooly, looking over at Colin now. "She is one of them girls that dreams of running off and making it rich in New Hollywood. That, or sleeping her way to riches." Colin shook his head at the words but knew the type nonetheless. He had met a few like her in his travels, he didn't blame them for wanting fame and fortune, but it cost them all too much each time he heard their stories.
"Say," Colin voiced over to the Sheriff after a few minutes had passed. "Do you know anything about this school fire?" The question did not seem to stir the man at first but moments later he roused a reply. "Nothing to do with my department," the Sheriff said with an odd tone, Colin picking up on the fact that the man may be projecting. "Fire department and arson took control of that mess. Nasty ordeal, most the school burned something fierce, black flames rising up and overtaking the building. Everybody died, including that gifted Watkins girl." Black flames? Colin new this was a bad sign, one only seen in his line of work. "Anybody see what happened?" Colin pried some more, the man now showing a face of irritation. "Mister," he said quickly, with a hint of annoyance. "You are asking a lot of questions for a civilian. What is your involvement in this matter?" Colin knew he was pushing his limits so he decided to retreat, try another angle. "I am a private investigator," he said, not really lying. "The State school board hired me to conduct an investigation of my own to discern the true cause of what happened. Since there were mass deaths, this is of the utmost importance and I require any assistance concerning this case." The Sheriff rose from his seat and waddled over to Colin's stool, leaning against the counter next to him. "Well," he said with a hefty breath. "I wish you luck then. That school has had its problems. Maybe your visit can get it back up to snuff." With a nod, the man strolled out, leaving Colin with more questions than answers. He gathered his things, paid his bill, then left the business.
The flames of darkness...an omen of things to come. This was a powerful force, one that had breached the planes and reached our own. It was destruction and chaos manifest, burning with a poisonous blackness that would corrupt or consume all in its path. Colin's profession dealt with spirits and the spiritworld, ghosts and haunts, all things incorporeal typically. If something had pierced the veil between their world and another, then it was only a matter of time before others followed. This also meant that this was to be a greater challenge than normal. Before he sought outside help though, he needed to do some research, gather the facts. He hoped the story he heard was just a misconception, just heavy black smoke, not actually black fire.
The school would be a dead end, if this was in fact some kind of breacher or invader. Whatever it was, it would not hang around, it would keep moving, leaving a wake of destruction behind. Colin hoped he would find it before it had a chance to strike again but if not, the act itself would give him a trail to follow. Lives were in danger whether or not he found its location, and he knew focusing on saving people would only cost him more time and energy. Still, he would try that route first. Being a Medium was helpful to most but a burden to the psychic themselves, never being able to escape the spirit world, hindering them from really joining the world of the living. Colin needed a place to use his clairvoyance without disturbance, his claircognizance telling him that the little girl was still following him and may have more information.
The nearby park was fairly empty, save for a few joggers and dog walkers. It was cooler in the shade and helped Colin relax, allowing him to concentrate on the things unseen by the eye itself. Her energy was strong and Colin did not have to wait long for her to appear. A sound unheard by all but him pointed him toward the swing set nearby, one swing occupied by the child from the restaurant. Colin made his way over to her, the surrounding world not uttering a sound, all the living apparitions now shadows in the gray hued background. He had entered the area between realms, where the living and unliving may meet. He took a seat in the swing next to the child and swayed back and forth for a moment before speaking. As he gathered his thoughts, he noticed the girl was clean now, untouched by the disaster that had befallen her living self. This was common in the spirit realm, where a spirit would return to its favored appearance, assuming their anger or despair would allow them to do so.
"Molly?" Colin asked the girl as she sat in the swing with her head down. "My name is Colin and I am here to help you." The girl looked up at Colin, her bright green eyes radiating against her pale skin and dark hair. "How?" her question barely leaving her quivering face. "Well, you tell me what happened to you," Colin responded softly, trying to soothe her spirit. "Then, I figure out what is keeping you attached to the living realm and remove it." She began to cry now, peering around with a terrified gaze. "What if he gets you too?" she asked with concern, tears streaming down her face. "Who would that be?" Colin asked, his face becoming more serious. "Him!" She screamed, pointing behind where Colin sat. He whirled around and gazed upon a silhouette standing amidst the shadowed figures moving about in the real world. Somehow, this body was blacker, denser than the others, unmoving as well. Yet, Colin could tell that it was looking their way, whispers reaching him but undecipherable, which could only mean that it was between worlds as well. A perfect place to hide from both realms. An aura flickering like flames began to crawl and grasp around the black entity, reaching the living shadows and engulfing them. "Run!" the girl yelled at Colin, pushing him from the seat and moving toward the dark being. Wide eyed, Colin watched in disbelief as the child stood before the burning darkness, a light permeating from within her and assaulting the void-less body. The child and monster screamed at one another before both of them disappeared in whirling smoke, shaking Colin back to the living realm and his own body.
His senses exploded awake as the colors of the world and the screams of people jolted him back into consciousness. The pedestrians in the area that the dark being had stood near were actually affected by the cataclysm between worlds, burning them with black flames. Some writhed in agony while the more fortunate ones were turned into ash statues where they stood. Colin quickly got up and reached the nearest person he could, throwing his duster atop them to snuff the flames. It did not help, this was fire not of this world, stronger and more sinister, burning through his apparel and finally killing the woman it had grasped. As sirens approached, Colin trotted over to ground zero, the place where the malicious creature had stood. The grass was charred but that was to be expected, what was surprising is that the soil, concrete and everything else had been burned just as equally. This fire, once attached, would break down any composition. It was pure, and evil. Colin suspected that this ground would never return to its former state, never support life again. This was now more dire than before, and it was starting to scare him. Before he could rise to leave, a shadow appeared over him, a blunt pain knocking Colin unconscious.
Colin awoke, confused as to what happened. Remembering the shadow, he sprang up, ready to face the monster that had started this nightmare. To his surprise, he was not awake, not in the realm of the living at least. He was in between realms again, a common occurrence for a soulspeaker such as Colin. This usually only happened if he drank too much or was exhausted beyond his limits. Basically, he keeps the curtain up until he needs to visit but on occasion, he slips and enters unintentionally. This time, he could not remember what happened to cause this but it mattered not. If he were dead, he wouldn't be here so it was safe to say he was alive, but where was an entirely different matter.
Colin was still at the park, now standing in the exact spot that he was investigating the seared surface. His physical body was gone, which was troublesome. Without knowing where it was, he was stuck here until he found it. No shadows moved about, but he could tell that items had been placed, such as barriers and caution tape in the physical realm. It was also night time, although the night had no effect here he could still tell by the sky and atmosphere. This world always seemed gray and uncolored, yet this only applied to what was living. Any spirit would stand out, be brighter and louder than the silent shades from the realm of life. Colin had to be careful though, that flame wielding beast could return and he was unsure what the encounter would yield for his spirit should they clash. Using his other clairsenses, Colin moved about, between still and solemn buildings, everything somewhat skewed or darkened while he wandered this realm.
As he searched, he pondered on whether or not he had ever actually entered this realm without a reason, even the accidental times. This time felt different, more empty and more eerie than normal. Of course, this would terrify a normal soul, but not for those adept at navigating and visiting other realms. This was the only realm Colin felt comfortable entering, that he felt least vulnerable and most in control. His experiences with other realms were less than pleasant, and wildly dangerous. This place was starting to worry him, not so much for himself but for the spirits. If this black fire could consume both the physical and spirit world, then the spirits here could be just as vulnerable as the people in living one. Each thought only reinforced Colin's suspicions, that this was not an accident. This was deliberate, too powerful to be summoned by a fool all the while to dangerous to not be locked away in some realm unable to touch our own. Either this was very old or very new, either way it was troublesome. Without any details or clues, this conflict would remain one sided. It would be as uncontrollable as the very fire it wrought.
Colin decided to take a risk and seek answers from an outside source. He returned to the park and found the largest tree around, which was towards the edge of the area. Placing one hand on the tree, Colin knelt down and grabbed a hand full of dirt and ate it abruptly. Luckily, he could not taste it in this realm, choking it down and continuing the ritual. "I, Colin, soulspeaker and communer with the dead, wish to enter that of the realm of animals and beasts. Grant me this entrance and I shall offer you my services in that of the realm of the living." After a few moments, the tree shuddered and split, opening up to reveal a dark passage. He did not hesitate, slipping inside and pushing his way through the darkness.
The feeling of brambles and limbs lashed at him as he fumbled through the dark thicket, light slowly revealing itself as he battled through the brush. He forgot how vibrant and wondrous this realm seemed compared to others. However colorful, he knew he was a guest, and a rare one at that. Humans, whether living or deceased, were not typically welcome here. Reincarnation was the only time anyone crossed the boundaries but that was saved for select souls. As Colin broke through the leaves and hedges, he found himself standing in a clearing surrounded by tall trees that blocked all paths but one. With no other options, he made his way along the path towards what he hoped was his destination.
One path lead him to another, a grassy one becoming a rocky one surrounded by mountains, the mountainous one leading to a cliff, the cliff merging into the seaside. Atop that shear face above the oceans edge, Colin found what he was seeking. There at the edge, sat a very large, black wolf, peering out over the horizon, calm and unmoved by the mans presence. Colin moved to the left side of the big beast, extending his right hand out as an offering of trust. The black wolf looked down and sniffed the mans hand, then licked it, accepting his trust. With this pact now made, Colin was free to ask his questions.
"You are looking well," Colin said aloud, squinting at the bright sunset ahead. The wolf was as tall as the man was while sitting on its hind, turning its head slightly to look at the man with one yellow eye. "My spirit form will always look better than that of my human one," the wolf replied, its mouth not moving but the words reaching Colin's ears. "I will always be in your debt," Colin replied, sorrow filling his face now. "I was in a dark place when you found me with that cult, you should've left me to die. Instead, you were maimed and lost a piece of yourself." The wolf growled at the man now, scars revealing themselves on the right eye now. "Our numbers are few enough," it responded with gritted teeth. "I knew you had potential, that you could aid us in the struggle between realms. My physical body is but a tool compared to my spirit one, so the wounds mean little to me. What interests me most is your visit. What brings you to this realm, to risk such an intrusion upon a world that does not welcome your kind?"
Colin leaned over the edge of the cliff face and stared down at the rocks, watching the rocks smash against the stone wall, their constant attacks only barely wearing down the surface. "I was looking into a rumor," Colin said, still watching the water slam hopelessly against the rocks. "You know, the kind that typically lead us against intruders. It started off normal, ghost girl, school fire, but two words changed the game, "Black Flames." The over-sized, obsidian wolfs eyes sharpened but he said nothing, allowing the man to speak. "Turns out," Colin continued, leaning back and eyeing the sunset once more. "The rumor was true. I encountered something that can breach realms, and cause damage to both simultaneously. I have never seen evidence of this from any tome or book, which can only mean it is ancient or it is newborn."
The wolfs ears pinned back and he growled deeply, whirling around and gazing at the path where Colin had emerged. Far off, what seemed like miles of open land pushed up against a vast forest, Colin could see what troubled the beast. Dark fire burned wildly within the woods where Colin had breached into this realm from the in between one. "The creature followed you here, Colin," the big wolf said angrily, snarling at the man. "This is no longer your fight. Climb on my back and I shall take you to an exit unseen and unknown to you." Bewildered but terrified, Colin leapt onto the black beasts back and held on tight. With explosive power, the broad animal leapt from the cliff and raced down the path whence Colin had came. They were heading toward the black flames at incredible speed, but Colin could not understand why. He trusted this spirit with his life though and waited to see what would befall them.
The two parties grew nearer and nearer to another, within range now for the invading shadow to fire projectiles at them, the wold dodging the shots with great agility. "Do not let it touch you!" Colin yelled, helpless as the beast raced to the hidden escape point. The closer they drew, the more often the shots whirled by, igniting the land behind them with unkempt power. Colin could see the being clearly now, but to his surprise, animal spirits were emerging and attacking it. The monster was quick though, strong and fierce, slaying anything that neared it. Even in groups, he laid waste to bears, wolves, eagles, and stags. They were sacrificing themselves so that Colin could escape. This weighed heavy on him, knowing that by coming here he had caused this upheaval. Others were once again dying for his lack of caution.
The flaming monster leapt from the group of animal spirits and dove towards the area Colin and the wolf were now stopping in. There was nothing special about this spot but Colin knew better than to question the other realms rules. "Get off and stay still," the dark wolf commanded, quickly shifting away as the black terror crashed down near them. Without hesitation, the large wolf leapt on the burning husk, biting deep into its neck and shoulder and pinning it to the ground. Colin could see the flames raking around the wolfs body, beginning to burn and char it. He could not move though, that was the order, he could only watch as his savior burned and battled a creature he had brought upon them. Snakes and mice now joined the struggle, covering the body of the dark demon. Limping over, fire still lapping around his body, the wolf began to dig furiously. Seconds later, it revealed a large rock, but as soon as Colin could see it, the piece began to glow a bright blue, the ground quaking below him. Runes and lights began shooting up from the earth and Colin was lifted in the air by the hidden rune stone, his spirit beginning to return to his realm. The wolf looked up and whinced as the flames burned more and more, nodding to Colin as the light began to overtake him. "Help will arrive soon, Colin," the wolf howled to him. "Do what you do best!" Colin could barely see the wolf now but the words stuck with him. He knew what he must do, and he could not fail, not this time. He could only see the writhing shadow, attempting to burn everything around it frantically. This was only a set back for that thing, Colin knew they could not hold it for long. Blue lights overtook the mans body, pulling him from the animal spirit realm into the world of the living and back to his body.
Conscious and within his own body, Colin arose from where his body lay, which was on a coroners table in what seemed like the city morgue. Scared, he grabbed around his body to make sure it was all still there, still intact, still his. He began to laugh at the irony of the situation, being thrust into the spirit world only to return to a corpse. Naked, he hoped off the cold, metal table and searched for his clothes and gear. As he searched, the door opened and an older man entered the room, staring at a clip board with his head down, unaware that Colin was up and alive. "Heya!" Colin said aloud, startling the man who nearly fell to the ground. "Can I have my clothes back?"
Colin exited the police station, clothes and gear back in his possession, as well as a check for damages. Apparently, the Sheriff had found Colin at the scene and thought him responsible, attacking him in the process. The force of the strike seemed so severe, they thought him dead, but seeing as he is alive and well, they decided to pay a large sum for the incident, hush money to be precise. This was good though, Colin would need this money, he had preparations to make and this would help him immensely. Karma seemed to be working in his favor, for the moment, but the sight of black flames writhing over the wolf made him limit his excitement. No matter the source of this creature, it had to be defeated, for any realm to be safe.
With some information gathered from the Coroner previously, Colin headed to the hardware store first, purchasing a fifty gallon drum, rope, freestanding fans, a leaf blower, sand and some mounting equipment. Second, he stopped by the One Stop Shoppe, buying sacks of salt and flour, plastic and paper bags, and a new duster. Third, he rented a van to haul all of his purchases, now allowing him to set up in his favorite place: the cemetery.
The cemetery was ideal because no one hardly visits, especially at night. However, even though the living would be in less danger, the spirits would be in more, being a closer wedge between realms than other places. If spirits are slain in their own realm, they are gone forever, no great cycle or reincarnation, no haunting or ascending. Yet, they were more powerful than the living, usually. They possessed no fear and limitless energy, not to mention they are not bound by the laws of the living world. If they die while in the land of life, then they just go back to their own realm, tired but still existing. That is why all of the animals spirits attacks bothered him, because they were destroyed, permanently. Colin knew not of the wolfs status but he was certain the flames had consumed it, none having survived the black flames thus far.
Colin paid the mortician the money he had promised to him when he spoke with the coroner earlier, allowing Colin free reign over the area, enabling him to set up undisturbed. With the cemetery closed, he began preparations, moving the items to there designated areas, placing his traps and mentally strategizing about what to do if they fail, or if they work. He had a few plans in mind but without the truth of this creatures origin, Colin was in the dark. Night began to fall and the soulspeaker toiled on, ever watchful for any signs of the creatures sudden appearance. He was used to apparitions appearing and disappearing but they had pattern, or he could sense them. This thing was completely different, not of either realm as far as he could tell.
After completing his work, Colin took a seat on the steps of a mausoleum he had chosen, relaxing his mind and body as he began to enter a trance. This would allow him to be aware in both worlds, capable of defending himself on either front. Candles flickered around him on the stoop, a mortar and pestal with rare herbs and liquids sat before him. His duster had runes and symbols painted upon it with the mixture of ingredients from within the mixing bowl. His face and forehead also had strange marks upon it, letters and scrawlings unknown to most in the living world.
A darkness deeper than the shadows around it loomed out from the void, burning with a black intensity. The creature emerged from some other plane, its touch whittling and burning everything it touched. It moved quickly towards Colin, burning and sundering the paving stones below it, the grass burning blacker than the night above. It was now upon him, reaching out, burning with even more fervor, the black flames dripping off of it. As its arm crossed the line of candles, they blew out, and Colin awoke.
The runes lit up with various colored fires, specters exploding around Colin and halting the dark devil. Colin rolled back into the crypt and grabbed closed paper bag, hurling it at the creature. Flour and salt exploded all over it, quelling some of the fire but not all, weakening it slightly as Colin readied another attack. He lobbed more and more bags full of baking soda and sand, each puff of powder hindering the night fire. As Colin turned to grab another bag, he was blasted by dark flames, slamming him into the tomb inside, the top shifting off. The runes upon him and his clothes peeled off, alleviating the engulfing shadows, the specters burning instead of Colin. He had lassoed corrupted souls and used them as protection, allowing him to take a few hits before the flames could do any real damage. Yet, that one attack had nearly removed all of them, and Colin was nowhere near defeating this thing.
As the black beast stepped into the crypt, it burned through a trip rope, releasing a fifty gallon drum of flame smothering powder. Colin rolled quickly and turned on the fans he had placed, blowing large amounts of air and powder upon the embodiment of fire. It shuddered and skulked back, exiting the small temple for the dead. Colin hopped to his feat and attempted to follow outside but the entrance suddenly burst into flames, black and terrible, trapping him inside. The monster stepping back in view, staring through the flames, watching as Colin befell the fate of so many.
A blast of blue energized fire smashed into the void-like creature, stunning it briefly before it turned in anger to see its attacker. One man stood near a large headstone, his black starched suit as still and firm as the man wearing it. Holding a prototype weapon, Agent Shade fired more and more shots, advancing on the fiend. Suppressed by the attack, Colin faltered to find a way out, the never ending fire burning just as fierce as when it started. He was running out of room, and oxygen, sweating as the fire pushed in more and more.
Outside, Shade moved from cover to cover, using the headstones to his advantage. With each exchange, he unleashed blast after blast of his own energized fire. The two black clad figures traded shots, one standing as turret, the other scurrying to and fro, but each determined to kill the other. A black blast made Shade disappear, no longer darting about. The being waited a moment before turning back to the tomb, but as it did so an object was thrown from where the man in black had been. With a beep, the unusual grenade pulled in everything around it, black flames included, then exploded back out with concussive power. This cleared the area of chaotic flames, as well as knocking down the realm invader. With a glance over the headstone, the Agent could still see that the mausoleum was on fire, no sign of Colin.
Priming his weapon, Shade moved from his cover, firing shot after shot in succession on the downed creature. It clawed and clamored with each blast, attempting to crawl away. Shade got close enough then stopped, flipping a switch and charge his weapon, aiming at the monster before him. At full power, Shade unleashed a powerful blast that smashed into the foul being, a massive explosion blinding the area. As the air cleared, Shade could see that his target was destroyed, no trace of it left. He moved over to the tomb quickly but the fire still raged furiously, unmoved by the attacks. It was completely full of the black flames, nowhere for Colin to hide. Shade shook his head and drew a cigarette with his off hand, lighting it with a zippo from his pocket.
Colin awoke, his body crammed uncomfortably inside of the tomb within the burial structure. A light surrounded him, shining bright and soothing him. He could see the face of Molly Watkins now, her remains buried at this location. This was why he chose this place, to right the wrong that had befallen this poor child. "Colin," her voice echoing inside of the tomb. "Allow me to enter your body and I shall protect you." He nodded in agreement and the spirit child merged into his body, a cool feeling enveloping him. He pushed the lid back, black flames lapping at his hands and face as he did so. He squinted his eyes but pushed passed, exiting the tomb and moving out of the emasculate altogether.
The night fire dissipated everywhere he stepped, reeling back from his presence and fading away. As he exited the large grave, Colin readied himself to encounter the flaming entity. There was no sign of anyone, not even Shade. Colin grew worried, his eyes sharpening, darting back and forth, seeking any answers or signs. "They unleashed that thing to kill me, Colin," Mollys voice rang through his body, startling him. "Why?" Colin whispered aloud, trying to keep his wits about him. "Because I could heal people. I could return the spirit to the body. I had healed other children and teachers at school, my popularity becoming my downfall. Someone found out about my abilities, my gift, and they sent that thing after me." Colin was confused, it made no sense. Such a gift would be no threat to anyone, it would mean the end of sickness and disease, suffering and old age. "Who did this?" Colin asked, his voice angry and concerned. "ManaFirm did this, Colin," her tone serious and frustrated. "They visited me at school, in a room without teachers or supervision. When I was alone with them, they gave me a box, made from something I have never seen before. It had carvings on it, symbols. They told me to open it, but when I did, that thing emerged...It killed everyone, Colin. All my friends, my family, my teachers. But it did not count on my spirit, which is why it has not gone yet. It wants to destroy me, forever. So my gift is gone and that company can continue making money and controlling the system."
Colin was overwhelmed by all of this information, feeling thrust into an ocean of uncertainty and lies. That company provides for millions of peoples health care, not to mention pharmaceuticals and nu-science. Colin had to find the box first which meant visiting the school. Before he could go another further, he was struck by a black bolt of fire, smashing him against the ground. He could feel the flames hovering just above his skin, hungry to consume him, Molly's spirit driving them away. Colin scrambled to his feet and found his adversary, the obsidian fire dripping around the creature. It held in its hands Shades weapon, melting and warping from the flames wreathed around it.
It charged Colin, too quickly for him to react, snatching him up by his neck and squeezing tightly. The dark fire engulfed Colin, Mollys power keeping it from harming him, in turn burning the creature with white light. It dropped Colin and stumbled back, the soulspeaker quickly springing to his feet and throwing a hay maker to the fiends body, empowered by Molly's light. The hit knocked a whole into the monster, the flames clawing back in to repair the damage. Colin took a boxers stance and began to strike with his left in right, between the body and face. Each blow jolted the black bodied thing, causing it to be unable to attack while reshaping its own body. A blast of cold air cascaded over the being, slowing it in place, Colin stepping back as Shade unloaded a new weapon upon the demon. A cryoweapon of some type assailed the voidbringer, freezing it in place. Colin reeled back once more then struck the frozen enemy with a shattering blow, the spirit power within felling the creature, ice particles filling the air as the black flames about died down and burned out.
Molly emerged from Colin, standing before him and Shade, her bright light basking over them. "Thank you for your help," she said aloud, nodding at both men. "The creature has been defeated but only in this realm. I must find it the spirit realm and destroy it before it has time to recuperate. For now, be careful in the other realms, Colin. I was barely able to save your wolf friend when he encountered that demon. " She turned and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the two men alone in the ruined cemetery. "It's good to see you, Shade," Colin said, patting the well dressed man on the shoulder. "You owe Gale big time!" Shade replied, lighting up another cigarette. "Next time you have a problem, pick up a phone. Don't go half assed into another realm and lure a fanatical monster inside. If it weren't for little miss sunshine there, this would be a different ending." Colin nodded, glad to be alive to at least be scolded. He will have to pay Gale a visit though, in the real world that is.
With Shade cleaning up all of the loose ends, Colin visited the remains of the school. He sifted through ashes for a while before finding the box Molly had described. It was only about a foot wide and a few inches deep but the exterior was untouched by the carnage. He did not recognize any of the markings but he had his ways of finding out in the other realms. Of course, he now had an even bigger problem in the living realm, ManaFirm. A corporate company in the business of assassinating little girls with otherworldly demons. Rising from the ashes, Colin left the scene. He would meet back up with Shade and try and pull his resources together with him. With the other realms in danger, he would have to protect this one first, and that meant surrounding himself with allies.