"Where's Pam?" I asked Mary, scanning the area frantically. The adrenaline from the battle was still coursing through me, but a gnawing worry had taken root in my chest.
Mary glanced around, her brow furrowing. "I thought she was with y'all."
A sense of worry washed over me as I recalled the last moment I saw her. Pam had been right beside me during the fight, but in the chaos, I had lost track of her. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Without another word, I sent Reaper, my most trusted summon, to find her. His shadowy form melted into the darkness, slipping away to search for any sign of Pam.
My face must have shown my concern because Mary placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "We'll track her down, Ace," she assured, her voice unwavering despite the concern etched in her eyes.
I nodded, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "I hope so."
As we waited for Reaper's return, the rest of the group began to gather. Deborah, Keinan, Emi, and Hiro were all looking worse for wear but alive. Their relief at surviving the battle was palpable, but a new tension hung in the air as they noticed my anxious expression.
"What's wrong?" Deborah asked, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting another threat.
"Pam's missing," I replied, my voice tight with worry.
Keinan cursed under his breath. "We've got to find her."
Emi, now fully recovered from her injuries thanks to the potion, squeezed Hiro's hand. "We'll help look," she offered, her determination clear despite the exhaustion etched on her face.
Suddenly, Reaper materialized in front of me, his expression grave. "I've found her, my liege," he said. "She's in trouble."
My heart sank. "Where?"
"Follow me," Reaper instructed, leading us through the aftermath of the battlefield. The ground was littered with the remains of mutants and zombies, and the stench of death was overpowering.
As we hurried after Reaper, I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
It was only a short time ago that we had fought to save one of our own.
Now, we were doing it again.
The thought of losing Pam was unbearable.
She had been through so much already, and she was a vital part of our team.
We finally reached a secluded area, and there, amidst the debris, was Pam.
She was surrounded by several mutants, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
They were not just attacking her—they were groping her, their hands violating her in ways that made my blood boil.
Pam fought bravely, but she was clearly outnumbered and struggling to hold them off.
Seeing her like this made my vision go red with rage.
"Get away from her!" I roared, charging forward with my weapon drawn.
The others followed suit, their faces set with grim determination as we pursued the mutants through the wreckage of the battlefield.
Keinan's held his shotgun while gun blazed through "Bang!" "Bang!" the sharp cracks of his shots punctuating the air sending metal shrapnel blasting mutant's heads cleanly off upon contact. He took down another mutant with precise aim "Bang!" "Bang!" the mutant body drop without a head with a thud.
"You bastards!" he shouted, his words cutting through the din of battle.
Deborah's katana danced through the air with deadly grace, each stroke a testament to her skill and fury. She sliced through another mutant with her dual katana, her voice shaking with raw emotion.
"How dare you!" she screamed, her eyes blazing with anger.
Hiro and Emi stayed close behind me, their expressions hardened by the brutality unfolding before us. We fought not just with weapons, but with a deep-seated fury born of seeing Pam's suffering firsthand.
As we clashed with the mutants, I felt a rage boiling inside me, fueled by the injustice of Pam's torment. Each strike was fueled by that rage, each blow meant to exact vengeance on these monsters.
Finally, I reached Pam, her eyes wide with fear and pain as a mutant loomed over her. Without hesitation, I charged forward, grabbing the mutant and hauling it off Pam.
With a primal roar, I slammed it to the ground, my blade finding its mark in its chest. The mutant writhed in agony, and I twisted the blade, ensuring it felt every ounce of pain it had inflicted.
Pam looked up at me, tears streaming down her face but relief shining in her eyes.
"Ace..."
"It's okay," I said softly, my voice gentler now as I knelt beside her.
"You're safe now."
We dispatched the last remaining mutants, each one meeting a fate as brutal as the torment they had inflicted on Pam.
When the last mutant fell, we gathered around her, offering comfort and support. Pam was shaking, her clothes torn and bloodied, but she was alive.
Pam turned to look at me, her expression softened by exhaustion and lingering emotion. "Ace," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire. "You did everything you could. You saved me."
Her words were a balm to my guilt-ridden heart, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had failed her when she needed me most. "I should have been faster," I admitted, the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders. "I should have seen it coming."
Pam placed a gentle hand on mine, her touch grounding me in the present moment. "We were all caught off guard," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering tremor. "It happened so fast."
I nodded, grateful for her understanding but unable to silence the self-criticism echoing in my mind. "I promise," I vowed, looking into her eyes filled with flickering firelight. "I won't let this happen again. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Pam squeezed my hand, offering a small, tired smile. "We're in this together, Ace," she assured me, her voice carrying a quiet strength. "We'll watch each other's backs."
The weight on my chest eased slightly as I sat beside Pam, feeling the warmth of the fire and the solidarity of our companionship. Around us, the camp was a mix of weary souls finding solace in rest and quiet conversations. Mary and Keinan were quietly strategizing by the fire, their expressions grim yet determined. Emi and Hiro were huddled together, sharing a whispered conversation filled with reassurance and plans for the future.
As the night wore on, I found myself grateful for the bond that held us together amidst the chaos. Pam leaned against my shoulder, seeking comfort in our shared presence. The scent of smoke mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest, a reminder of the battles fought and the challenges yet to come.
"We'll get through this," Pam said softly, her voice carrying a hint of hope.
I nodded, turning to look at her. "Together," I agreed, the weight of responsibility balanced by the strength of our unity.
In the flickering light of the fire, surrounded by friends who had become family, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it as one.
Pam shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. "It ain't yer fault, Ace. We were all caught off guard."
"But I promised to keep you safe," I insisted, my fists clenching in frustration. "And I failed."
Pam reached out, her touch gentle on my arm. "Ya didn't fail," she said softly. "Ya saved me. Ya and the others—ya came fer me. That means everythin'."
I looked into her eyes, seeing the mixture of pain and gratitude there. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her emotions. "I'm... I'm shaken up, but I'll be alright. It's just... it was downright terrifying, Ace."
Her voice wavered, and she glanced away, tears welling up. Seeing Pam like this, vulnerable yet resilient, tugged at my heart. I gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
"I know," I said softly. "I know it was terrifying. And I can't begin to imagine what you went through. But we're here now. You're safe."
Pam's shoulders shook as she started crying in earnest. "It was awful, Ace," she sobbed. "I felt so dang helpless. But then I saw ya, and I knew I wasn't alone. I knew you'd come."
I pulled her into a hug, holding her tight as she poured out her fear and relief.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered again, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
For a long while, we clung to each other, finding solace in our shared embrace as the night deepened around us.
Eventually, Pam pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Thank ya, Ace," she said, her voice steadier now. "For everythin'. I don't rightly know what I woulda done without ya."
"You don't have to thank me," I replied firmly. "We're a team. We look out for each other. And I promise, I'll do everything I can to make sure this never happens again."
Pam managed a small, bittersweet smile.
"I know ya will. And I'll do the same. We're stronger when we're together."
We sat in companionable silence for a while longer, the weight of the day slowly lifting from our shoulders. Despite the hardships and dangers we faced, there was a sense of hope between us, a quiet resolve to continue forward, no matter the challenges.
As the night deepened and the stars glittered above, I knew our journey was far from over. But with Pam by my side, and the unwavering support of our team, I felt a urge to keep pushing on for all of our future.
Balance Update: In the last chapter, Ace's balance of good karma points shifted slightly:
Good Karma Points:= Hero deed's=11B
Bad Karma Points:=1B
In this chapter, Ace good karma points shifted slightly.
Ace Lackey's:
Ibliss: Guarding Kingdom gate, cant be summoned.
Cronus: Guarding Kingdom gate, cant be summoned.
Reaper: Summoned.
Demoniac: Can be summoned
Dawn Jester: Can be summoned
Undead Soldier: Can be summoned, 1000 units
Samael: Can be summoned