Darkness.
That's all I can see from where I'm standing. Hmm? Since when have I been standing? The last thing I remember is passing out in front of the demon that sucked my blood.
Ugh! This sucks! Did I actually die without even achieving my goals?
And where the hell am I? I can see nothing at my current location. There's only darkness in every direction and it looks like there's no limit to it.
If I'm dead, where's the gate to heaven? The bridge over Sanzu River[1]? The boat ride with Charon over the Styx[2]? My meeting with Death?
Wait. Am I perhaps in the boundary of life and death? In what they call a limbo?
Oh no!
Calm yourself April. You read too many things. Assess your surroundings first.
Still though. There's really nothing to assess.
All of a sudden, there's a glow. A blinding one and I have no other choice but to close my eyes and hope my eyes won't burn.
"Oh, you're here."
I look up and see a guy, or rather a kid, which looks a lot like me. The only difference is that he has black hair with streaks of gold, red and white, and a pair of blood red eyes in the middle of a black sclera.
One word; creepy.
"If you find me creepy, then that means you're creepy as well."
Ha? What did you say? Wait… you can hear me? But I'm not exactly talking through my mouth you know.
"There's no need, after all this place is inside your subconscious."
What are you smirking at you brat?
"Calling me that mean you're a brat too."
Whatever. So, you're not Death or something?
"Erm… I'm not Death. But I am friends with some of his servants?"
Dude, you're scaring me.
"Sorry about that."
So you're saying we're inside my mind. Can't believe the inside of my mind is so… dark and dreary.
"Oh, this place actually has more of me than you, but it is still inside your mind."
I don't get it.
"Don't mind the small details."
Seriously?
So? Who the hell are you? And why the hell am I here?
"Who, huh. You can say I am you, or at least a part of you."
Huh?
"We're not supposed to meet yet but you got yourself involved with a Great King of Hell so I have no choice but to come out and save your ass."
I didn't need any saving. This guy is talking nonsense.
"Whatever floats your boat April. Now as to why you're here… well, you can say your mind wandered and ended up here. It's a total coincidence that you ended up here."
Like I'll ever believe that bullshit.
"You don't exactly have a choice. Just as you don't have a choice of what's to come."
What? You better elaborate guy-I-don't-know-the-name-of.
"Haha. That name sounds a little strange."
What are you acting awkward for? It's fitting for a strange guy such as you.
Hmm? Why are you silent all of a sudden?
"I suppose you have a point. April."
What?
"From here on out, things are about to get harder and more difficult. You better be prepared."
Will I die?
"You might."
Will I be able to reach my goal?
"If you don't die."
Will I become the strongest?"
"If you don't give up."
It's the usual then.
Lastly, will I face strong opponents?
"Yes."
Then whatever you said better hype me up.
Don't click your tongue at me! And don't sigh either!
"Oh well. I suppose you really are April if that's how you view things."
Ha? What's that supposed to mean?
"Brace yourself April. Everything is about to change."
He's gone! Hey! Where the hell are you?! Explain things simply!
I gasp awake. I look around and I'm no longer at that dark place. I am inside a Japanese styled room and is laying on a futon.
"You're awake. That's good. You got me worried there for a second."
"Sakura-nee?"
What is she doing here?
"Am I still in Okinawa?" I ask, holding my head since it suddenly sings.
"Yes. We couldn't risk moving you. You've been asleep for two days."
WHAT?!
"Two days?"
The events of what happened suddenly rushes inside my mind that I have to double-over. I feel like vomiting all of a sudden but nothing's really coming up.
I'm actually thankful for that.
"What about everyone? Uncle Gio? Shizu? Nik? The nuns and teenagers? Uncle Gio's sister? The demons?"
"Geez kid, slow down. You're the one who almost stepped inside the threshold of Death's door and you're the one worried about them? They're fine okay? Shizu and Nik are resting in their own rooms and the abducted women are in the hospital. They're a bit famished and dehydrated, but they're fine."
She's pausing. Why is she pausing?
"And the others?"
"The demons that caused this incident are already dealt with. Right now, the Paladin is having a meeting with the higher ups of the Vatican on how to deal with Ferigo."
Ah! Ferigo!
"Ferigo! That guy sucked my blood! And he suddenly pledged his loyalty to me. Weird."
"That's why they're having a discussion about it. A Great King of Hell pledged his loyalty to you. Everyone's… Let's just say, everyone's being crazy about it."
And you're not?
I asked her that.
"Are you confident you can control him?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"He talked to me while you were unconscious. He said that you are now his master and will obey your every order. No one's really sure what to do with him until you wake up. At least on our side. The Vatican obviously has other plans, after all demons are their mortal enemies."
"Will that guy die?"
"Possibly."
He'll die? But… I can't let him die. Not yet. I still have some questions that need answers from him.
"He can't die yet." I find myself muttering.
"Oh? And why not?"
"He owes me an explanation."
I'm not really sure what came over me but I found myself standing in front of a door, flinging it open with no care whatsoever. I find Uncle Gio standing at attention in front of a few robed people who are obviously holograms. I see the demon, Ferigo, kneeling between Uncle Gio and the holograms, his head down.
He's seriously not fighting back or anything.
"The Pope and the Council have decided to incarcerate the demon Ferigo von Purson."
No.
"No! You can't kill him or incarcerate him!"
"April?" Unlce Gio calls his eyes wide in surprise. He probably wasn't expecting me.
"Oho? Somebody is defying the consensus of the Vatican?"
A part of me is saying I shouldn't step further and just get out of the room, but another part of me is just stubborn and wants me to get to where Ferigo is and grill him for information.
Maybe a part of me is trying to be responsible to him pledging his loyalty? Or maybe I don't want to lose my only way of getting the answers to my questions? Or maybe bot.
I'm not really sure anymore.
My head hurts and I'm very confused at the moment. Uncle Gio's voice volume is not helping either.
"Who is this insolent child, Paladin?" asks one of the robed individuals in the hologram. I just noticed that they have hoods on so I can't really see their faces.
And I guess that lone figure behind the five individuals is the Pope.
"This is… He's one of those that aided me in Okinawa."
"I see. And why is he defending the demon? Isn't he one of the casualties?"
Ugh! This is getting more complicated. I haven't thought anything this far. Actually, I wasn't even thinking at all, so I suppose this is all on me.
Damn! Let's just wing it then!
"Why are you punishing him?" I ask and stand beside Uncle Gio.
Ferigo looks a lot more like a human now. Or at least he looks a lot better and a lot more human than the last time I saw him. Which I just realized was two days ago.
"His subordinates caused for six individuals to get abducted and our priests to get murdered."
"His subordinates did, he has no direct involvement."
"He's the reason they did it!"
"But he never killed them!"
"Have you lost your mind?"
Hmm… That's a good question.