Chapter 30: Walls - Part 1


THIRD PERSON

Unsure of what to say, the room fell to a deafening silence the moment Sam had screeched in terror. Where Hydra's corpse used to lay would now be replaced with a familiar Zoroark, Loki.

Although alive, the black fox was visibly hanging on within a string of her life. However, that did not stop her sly smirk towards the angered Braixen in front of her.

"Someone figure out what happened here." Sam uttered through her gritted teeth. "I'm going to go. When I come back, I better know everything."

With that order, the older Braixen was dragged away into thin air by her Gengar staff.

Everyone's priority was to investigate Loki, seeing as how she was still lying flat on the ground.

"Are you alright? Can you hear me?" Vanta was the first to rush over and check up on the Zoroark, seeing as how the shame from the furnace event was settling in.

A few were still processing the situation—some even questioned if it was still Loki.

"This is b-bad..." Sammy walked over next to the Umbreon and kneeled to face the other fox. "She could be in enormous pain, seeing as how badly Talus also suffered."

After a closer look, a faint scar was seen on the Zoroark's stomach—which caught Vanta's attention immediately.

"She didn't have this before." The Umbreon noted with a slight frown.

Before anyone could say more, Loki would make her best efforts to move. The attempts were in vain, however, as all she could manage was a jolt and a moan of pain. Without Hydra, everyone seemed lost at the thought of assisting someone medically. Sam left instantly, leaving everyone to be on their own in this situation.

"Loki..." Grace whimpered next to the weakened Zoroark.

No one could earn a response from her, as her body was too damaged even to speak.

Yet they had to do something.



ZANTAI'S POV

I was still having a hard time putting it together. Just a few hours ago both Hydra and Loki were stuck in the furnace. Not too long after, they were found dead inside. So how in the hell could this have happened?

The smell of burnt fur was still lingering in the air—what a horrible scent.

Now that I think about it, Loki's body was never actually found, but it wasn't far off to assume she was burnt to death. I couldn't be more confused.

More importantly, the current goal was to help Loki. We didn't know just how bad her state was, but Leon's aura gave us a warning that she was suffering.

Instead of moving her and risking another injury, we decided to bring all the needed comforts to where the Zoroark was lying. After a little while, we had created a makeshift hospital bed for Loki to sleep in—since Sherwood had snatched a mattress from an unused room.

It was also clear that Grace wasn't going anywhere, the poor Eevee seemed to take a liking to the black fox, so you could only imagine just how bad she felt entering that furnace.


...

I can't get my mind off it. How the hell did Loki come out of that resurrection? Not only that, it's still horrifying that Sam could bring us back to life whenever she wants to. At any point in this trial, she can bring someone back and have them suffer through this all over again.

Arceus, I could never. Even right now, I'm trying to find a reason to keep going.


...

Now I'm wondering how I didn't go through this crisis earlier. Is it really worth it to survive this? Aren't I just going to be traumatized for the rest of my life? Or will she just strip us from our memories if we win?

I'm sure the future me would love to live and forget about this all, but he would also understand if the current me just wanted to die right now instead.

Yet I can't stop worrying about what would happen if I die. Is there anything after? Will I just be resurrected into an even more painful life?

Is there just darkness forever?

"You're sure in deep thought." Sherwood muttered next to me, which instantly cut me out of thinking.

A blank stare was all I could offer at the Sceptile before leaning my weight against the cold cement walls.

"...It was a pretty big scare, I know." The grass-type heaved a small sigh and picked at his beak. "But there's somethin' important I realized."

"What?" I humored him with a small turn.

"Hydra's still dead." Sherwood frowned. "Checkin' inside, I saw nothin' that could resemble a body."

Right, the pain wasn't just for Loki, it was the fact that we had lost Hydra. It made me think about where that Lucario's corpse could have gone—especially since we just had it under our control.

"Yeah, that's something to worry about. Sam wants us to figure out what happened, right?" I huffed lightly in awe. "That's basically impossible."

"Tell me about it." Sherwood scoffed. "Anythin' that happened there is a mystery. She's the one with the power to control our memories, can't she just find out herself?"


Find out for herself, huh?

Actually, that doesn't sound too bad of an idea.

I don't have many good ideas, but a thought hit me just now. If that room is filled to the brim of memory gems, then wouldn't it be easy to tell what happened through someone else's perspective? There's a small chance that one of the two could have created a memory inside of there.

However, another sad realization could be that maybe the memory gems simply don't work that way.

"Where's Sammy?" I muttered to the Sceptile.

As if I just summoned her, both Leon and Sammy made their entrance down the stairs and into the basement we were in. Their spirits were down, however—even more than the already negative vibes down here.

I tried to not let it bother me though, as I quickly approached the two with a hopeful gaze.

"Sammy, can you still read memory gems?" I quickly spoke—any faster and I would have sounded like I was pleading.

She offered me a gentle nod before parting from Leon's side and practically hooking next to mine. We both hesitantly made our way back inside the furnace; as the impossible thought of finding another body seemed to ache our minds.

Either way, we halted our tracks the moment the darkness grew too close. Below me was a large pile of seemingly blank memory gems, as they all were completely clear in opacity.

However, there was one that caught my eye; a pale red one jabbed into a line of ash. I didn't even have to point Sammy towards it, as she had already rushed over and swiped it into her paws.

"T-This is a used memory gem!" The vixen gasped and held it out for me to marvel.

"Can you read it?" I crossed my arms in curiosity.

The younger Braixen took a nervous gaze before gulping. She nodded, but it was an almost unsure one.

"Here, hold my hand so you see it too!" Sammy stepped forward and tightly wrapped her paw around my talons—basically doing it for me. "Okay, here we go. Are you ready?"

"Like never before." I shrugged.

"Ahem...Loki." Just like everyone else, she muttered the name of the memory she wanted to process.

...and before I knew it...


...


...



LOKI'S POV

"Are you sure that's how it works?" I turned curiously towards the stone in my claws. Something about what Hydra was saying seemed a little off from what we had previously witnessed, but I wasn't going to question it in a situation like this.

"Indeed." The tall jackal frowned. "Why, is it not what you wanted? I'm not sure what saving a memory will do in this situation...other than preserve our deaths."

"It's context." I heaved a deep sigh, as I could only hope that this memory gem gets in the hands of the right person. "My plan is a little...questionable."

Hydra's gaze narrowed, and his once caring gaze grew rather concerned. "What would that be?"

"I have a question for you first." I cleared my throat, trying my best to keep the stone in my paws.

Deciding it was better slipping it into my mane for now, I quickly leaped back onto my feet to face the scarred Lucario. "How much do you think Sam likes you?"

"Well, we're siblings...so it's almost a granted." Hydra frowned at my inquiry, seemingly not enjoying where it was being taken.

"Right..." I only exhaled.

Taking a moment to think was also a bad idea. It only made me realize just how little I could do at this moment. Actually, thinking feels rather impossible right now. It might have something to do with the burning chemicals in the air—if there was any air left to begin with.

"Hydra, if I die...Sam couldn't care less." I turned to him with a shaking frown. "B-But if you die...I think...I think she might revive you like she did with Talus."

Hydra stared at me with a guilty expression before leaning his head back into the wall. "You're probably right. Although we know how horrible that process can be...it's better if I go through it."

"You're going to go through it no matter what..." I huffed and crossed my arms. "This may seem selfish, but I can't die here. Not right now..."

It is selfish, anyone else would have probably accepted their death—or freaked out and leaped in the growing fire. I guess Sam wins this time; all those memories that she allowed me to have just made me want to keep being hopeful of my survival.

A nasty cough escapes both me and Hydra. There's too much carbon dioxide in the room now, it seems as if all the breathable oxygen is gone.

Needing to kneel for some leftover air, I crawled toward the tall jackal with a pained frown.

"I don't know how else for you to trust me...but I can't trust this place either." I shook my head. "Something tells me this machine isn't automated..."

"What do you mean..?" Hydra's breathing was growing more labored, and yet he didn't seem to mind.

Something quickly played back in my head; Vanta mentioned that Hydra was similar to him by some degree. Maybe he also has difficulty feeling pain?

"The machine's control room..." I turned to point towards the violent fire next to us. "When we reached the end of the furnace, the ceiling shot up about thirty feet higher...and there were a pair of eyes staring down at me. I think that's where it is."

The jackal took as deep of a breath as the air allowed him before placing a gentle paw on my shoulder. "I don't know how safe it would be for you to go up there."

"I know..." I shook my head at him. "But you can."

Only now did Hydra understand my message. It wasn't gonna be an easy task to get up there, but I can't do that myself. One step into that fire and I'm burning up with the dried gasoline on my fur.

"Alright...I'll trust you on that." The tall Lucario exhaled in preparation. "You seem to have a lot of faith in me."

"It's a hunch." I muttered with a small smile.

I don't know if I could tell him that my hunch was from Vanta's memory. Something about that told me that Hydra was a lot stronger than he was letting on.

"What about you?" He frowned at me, still holding his paw against my shoulder.

I didn't answer him yet, but I guess I would just die here if I don't follow him. Now that I realize it, my plan is flawed...I would still die regardless of what I choose.

That's great, just when I was starting to have hope.

Hearing everyone's cries from the other side of the furnace door isn't helping. I can hear Grace's voice from here too...what an awful feeling.

"Am I going or what?" Hydra uttered to me before attempting to stand up.

Wait...maybe there's something after all. If Hydra manages to find that control room and isn't here when the furnace finishes...

"Yeah, go without me. I have an idea of my own." I muttered lowly, watching the jackal get up on his feet with a small cough. He was so tall that the air above had converted to nothing but smoke, causing him to lean down for air.

A horrible feeling was settling into the pit in my stomach. This might seem obvious, but I've never died before. I'm not some sort of crazy scientist like Sam who has probably killed herself for an experiment.

I'm also afraid of the idea that I am revived and have to suffer like Talus...but I may have to try that plan.

I'm not finished with this life yet, and there's so much I haven't done. Dying right now would mean I would lose everything I wanted to try...


But I have to die once to try that.


"Hey, I need something first." I cleared my throat to call for the older jackal's attention once more.

Not having many words to give him, I decided to check something I've always wanted off my bucket list.

Hydra acknowledged my words by turning and curiously humming at me. I approached the jackal with a small smile, fully knowing that my story was coming to a temporary close.

He was very tall, so I had to keep hold of the fur on his chest and balance off the ends of my feet. Luckily, Hydra didn't move—almost as if he was expecting this.

Our lips met with a warm and tender kiss. Closing my eyes made me abruptly forget about the fire surrounding us, and if anything, it made me feel like I was falling in the sun. The jackal's embrace was a different kind of warmth, one that the flames could never replicate.

I could feel his paw trail down my hair to gingerly hold my sides closer to him. The longer the kiss went on the more lightheaded I grew; we were desperate for air but continued in each other's embrace.

Finally, we parted lips to stare at each other's satisfied looks. We could barely breathe, but at least...we enjoyed that. Is that how it feels like to kiss someone?

"Sorry..." I muttered through my shaky breaths. "I didn't want to die without my first kiss."

"I get it." Hydra lightly chuckled and ran his paw against the top of my head. "I felt it beforehand."

After a small nod, I focused my energy on my body. "I'm going to Illusion into you. Don't freak out if you witness yourself dead."

"Whatever it takes." The jackal nodded.

Before I knew it, he leaped into the growing fire to disappear for what felt like forever. I can't get distracted, I have my own plans to execute too.

The smoke in the roof had worsened, and it's taken me down to sitting. Luckily, I could still work under these conditions.

My first plan was to try and pique someone's curiosity when they find my body. It wasn't going to be easy, though, as my only thought was to stab myself in the stomach. I can't be sure that this memory gem will stay intact by the time they find it.

Taking a labored breath, I shot my wrist back and reeled back. The first contact didn't do much of anything but hurt my skin, but the second hurt like absolute hell. I would be surprised if I didn't break any bones in the process, but I definitely felt blood gushing out my side.

Only after I finished could I then transform into Hydra. It felt weird using my Illusion; I've rarely used it, nor have I had a reason to...until now, I suppose.

And now, to sit here writhing in pain until I finally die.

Is this what you wanted, Sam?


I can't wait to see the look on your face if this works.




ZANTAI'S POV

By the time we woke up, Sammy and I were propped up against the empty furnace walls.

The only thing we could do was stare at each other in shock.

"I-I never knew there was a room up there." Sammy's head turned to face the darkness down the hall.

It would shock no one to say that I didn't know either, but what bothered me the most was how willing Hydra was to try it out. Jumping into that fire looked like a long and painful death, I wouldn't be surprised if he was part of the ash pile now.

I also felt like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to see. Loki and Hydra kissing in an active furnace was not something I would have prepared myself for.

"Are you guys good in there?" I heard Vanta's voice call out from the entrance. "I don't want anyone staying inside the furnace for too long."

"Right, give us a sec." I replied in the same heightened tone before locking eyes with the younger Braixen once again. "Well, what do we do with this info? It's not like you can come back to Sam."

"I'm going anyway. I still have to ask her why she wanted to revive Hydra so badly, even Loki predicted this." Sammy commented before quickly jumping back onto her feet.

We made our way outside of the furnace before Vanta quickly shoved the door shut. As much as I would like to explore the hidden room inside there, it would be a death wish if whoever was up there caught us. All they would have to do is start the machine and another death could happen.

"Are you sure about this?" I heard Galant worriedly question as the Braixen announced her temporary leave.

"I have to." Sammy frowned. "Especially if we want Hydra back, we have to find where that room leads."

"I see." Vanta frowned and sat on his haunches to shake his head. "Well, if you can try and sneak your way through like last time, that would be ideal."

"Gonna be hard with Sam active." Luster muttered and turned to the Manectric next to him. "Rayne, you feeling this energy too?"

"Yeah, for a good minute now." She heaved a small sigh. "It would be ideal to check it out."

"What's up?" Laker made his way down the stairs with a curious look. "What do you mean energy?"

"We're electric types." Rayne turned to motion towards her and Luster. "We can feel any electrical interference from miles...and there's undoubtedly been a surge ever since Loki was revived."

"Even more of a reason for me to go." Sammy added sadly.

"Let us waste no time, then." Leon crossed his arms and slid his paw on the Braixen's back. "I'll escort her to the wall...maybe we could try a distraction for her?"

"I could fake an escape attempt." Vince stepped forward with Grace still in his arms. "Sam probably keeps a close eye on me when I'm scoutin' around."

"That could be worth it, actually..." I placed a thoughtful claw against my beak. "Especially if I joined you."

The Greninja turned to me, and even through his tongue scarf I could see his sly smirk. "Are we back, then?"

"Maybe for a lil'..." I playfully shrugged.


And so, our next plan had begun.

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