Chapter 6: Kindness

  Sweat drips, soaking through Jak’s clothes, making her lightheaded and short of breath, but she knows that stopping isn’t an option unless she wants to feel the sharp bite of a whip.

  Jak slams a pickaxe into a crack in the stone near the end of the tunnel, slowly opening up a small gap into the entrance of Xero Canin’s tomb.

  Jak knows her history. Xero was king during the apocalypse over ten thousand years ago, when the goddess Arkana took the world from the previous goddess, triggering a world war, the likes of which has never been seen in recent history. Xero had led the felina nation to victory against other sentient animal races, along with many others. Xero led all other races to near or absolute extinction. Jak still finds it hard to believe, but there was once a wolf race that placed its trust in humans but they had ultimately been betrayed.

  Jak is nearly positive these cult members worship and revere Xero. What could they possibly want from a dead hero? And why was she taken?

  I miss my mom…

  The boy next to her lifts his pickaxe, but it slips out of his hands as he collapses. Jak leans down in an attempt to inspect him, but before she can, she hears a booming voice, "Get the fuck up, worm!” A ranking cult official and guard cracks a whip, forcing Jak to lunge in between them, protecting the boy.

  “He just… needs… some rest,” she pants.

  Just as another prisoner finally breaks through to the tomb, poison gas suddenly floods the tunnel. Luckily, her reflexes are among the greatest of the Pure Bloods; Jak quickly hoists the boy onto her back and flees, the gas curling its way out of the tomb entrance just behind her.

  Screams crescendo until the victim’s voices turn to ash: bodies fall in on themselves, their skin melted off completely, leaving nothing but bare white bones in piles on the ground. The guard laughs, safely secluded at the mouth of the pyramid’s entrance.

  Jak sets the boy down and holds her breath as she watches the poison gas finally fade and dissipate. She turns her attention to the limp figure on the ground next to her. The boy is tattooed on his face, five dots above one eyebrow and a line underneath the other eye.

  A hybrid…

  In a world that demands fear of hybrids, she has never complied. This boy was probably abandoned by his family and village. His markings indicate that he is an elf/angel hybrid, making him absurdly powerful, yet the collar around his neck steals all of his aura pressure, leaving him predominately sleepy and sickly. Jak inspects his forehead with the back of her hand.

  “He has a fever. He needs medication.” She says to a nearby guard.

  “I don’t give a fuck if he is Arkana herself, you all are earning your meals by taking on the traps of the pyramid as you go through.”

  Jak feels her neck and pulls on her own collar, before saying, "You just lost three people to that trap. Now you only have two people to uncover this entrance and only two people to stand in between you and any remaining traps… you need to treat him, I cannot do this alone!”

  The guard, dressed in a loose fitting robe, thinks for a moment and then with a sneer, spits on the ground next to her. Just as he is about to crack the whip at Jak, a hand firmly rests on his shoulder, stopping him. It’s Simon…

  “What did I tell you!?” He bellows, red faced and angry. “This is the princess! We need her to be in prime condition for the ritual!”

  “I-I’m sorry, Luther… I’ll have her relocated immediately.”

  “No,” Simon says with a contemptuous smile. “I’ll take her for now. You have failed me enough already. Tell me, what if she was caught in that trap?”

  The guard begins to stutter an apology but Simon puts up his hand, silencing him and motions for him to take care of the hybrid as he walks to Jak. “I should have known…” she says.

  “Oh, come now, don’t be like that! We are like family, after all!”

  Jak avoids his touch as he reaches to help her up: She slaps his hand away, causing Simon to slap Jak across the face. ”How dare you, cat. You are just like your mother. All emotion, no logic. It seems getting rid of your little sister did more than enough to destroy her, but you will change everything! Your sacrifice shall bring upon a new era!”

  “You… you fucking bastard!” Spits Jak, as realization dons on her. “You took her away from me!? You coward!”

  Jak lunges at Simon with her sharp claws drawn, "I will fucking kill you!” But suddenly, a big felina with golden hair manifests in his place, stopping her movements.

  With a subtle twist of his body, the felina tosses Jak over his shoulder, before pinning her to the ground. “I am sure you have questions…” he says.

  “All in due time! Oh, how exciting this is!”

  “What do you want with me?” She asks, still pinned.

  “You are the vessel… Your great ancestor Xero Canin’s blood flows through your veins. You are going to bring about a new age!”

  ***

  As the sun sets, a cool breeze flows through Kiro’s hair, providing the slightest relief from the brutal heat. Despite the weaving and winding route they’ve taken, he has documented the location of the excavated sight within his mind. Eventually, the paved road ends and a trek through thick jungle begins. Many supplies have been abandoned, yet Kiro only wonders why they bothered bringing wagons in the first place. Maybe this is their first time coming to the pyramid. After a full day of travel through thick vegetation, they arrive at a sudden clearing in the middle of nowhere that houses the pyramid. It is truly a wonderful sight.

  Nature has reclaimed the massive, ten story high structure. Vines, dirt and trees scale the steep incline up the side of the pyramid. Little effort has been put into renovating the structure, yet the large entrance at the base of the pyramid was reclaimed and is cleared of debris. A large camp sits in between Kiro and the pyramid, where teams of workers have cut down trees and vines in order to better accommodate people.

  Cells are dotted throughout the campsite, holding prisoners that Kiro recognizes as some of the missing, yet what truly draws his attention is a number of ancient artifacts laid out on a black tarp. Kiro sees tools fashioned from wood, metal and rock, various metal devices of unknown origin and intricately designed sculptures made of glass, rock and wood.

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  The cult members part as Kiro is pulled through the camp, headed for the entrance to the impressive pyramid. Kiro watches as melted dead bodies and bones are dragged out and thrown aside. Traps?

  The first thing Kiro notices inside the structure is the smell; The dominating smell of boiled flesh and a potent mixture of sulfur and mercury.

  Kiro is escorted through the tunnel, passing by malnourished prisoners covered in dust and dirt, and at the very end, the entrance opens into a massive tomb. It is full of diamond encrusted helms, ruby embroidered tunics and a golden mirror that floats in the air.

  Yet, the true prize is the sarcophagus in the center of the room. A fire opal crown sits upon it, along with a shining sword and a suit of armor just behind it. The materials are from a different time entirely.

  An altar sitting just under the floating mirror has a thick, leather bound book atop it, wrapped in a delicate red fabric.

  A young girl slightly older than Kiro sits upon the altar, dressed in soiled rags and wearing iron shackles; despite her raiment, she is absolutely stunning. Her green eyes light up the dark room, yet tears crest within them as she looks upon two prisoners being forced to open the sarcophagus while the leaders of the nameless cult stand back in safety.

  Gang members, acting to enforce their numerous rules and views of the cult, file into the room, each staring at the big pile of golden coins at the foot of the sarcophagus, eyes full of desire.

  As the two felina prisoners pry the tomb open with a long crowbar, they suddenly burst into flames from an unknown source.

  They writhe and scream, rolling on the ground, yet nothing calms the blaze and soon their screams fade and their bodies lay still and lifeless.

  “How could you!?” Shouts the girl, tearing into her shackles, her words surprisingly directed at a single person.

  Sitting on a balcony above the room’s entrance is Simon Luther, his smile fiery and intense. Beside him stands Io’s rapist, watching with an expression of pure apathy as the prisoners die.

  Then, Simon notices Kiro, and asks the man beside him, "Who is this child? And why have you brought him here?”

  “He is the assassin that ASG sent after you,” replies the boss, motioning to his men to bring Kiro forward. Simon gives a dismissive wave of his hand, signaling that he will not be interrupted by this discovery and turns to address the workers below.

  “Commence the ritual preparations!” He orders.

  “Sir,” says the boss. “The boy is dangerous… he should be dealt with immediately. The excavation can wait…”

  “Ha!” Exclaims Simon, clearly voicing his doubt. “He is just a boy. What could he possibly do to me!?”

  “But… Sir… I…” the boss stammers.

  Simon rolls his eyes and sighs.

  “… Very well. Offer him as a sacrifice.”

  “Stop!” Demands the girl. “I will not allow you to sacrifice anyone more!” She stands up and walks down the altar to the sarcophagus.

  Everyone looks to Simon for direction, before he turns to her, asking, "What makes you accept your own doom, yet be opposed to the doom of a stranger, Jak?”

  So, she is the princess…

  “Those that get pushed down will be helped up by those that never fall…”

  Kiro’s interest in the girl is piqued as he internally analyzes those few words. Does she think she is saving me? She is trying to protect me?

  Ridiculous…

  Simon seems to relent. “Fine. He can keep his life. For now. But know that your fates are now intertwined, Princess.” He speaks that final word with contempt dripping from his voice. “NOW!” His voice booms as he addresses the entire room. “Proceed with the preparations and let no more time be wasted!”

  Jak grabs the crowbar and tells Kiro, ”Help me, why don’t ya’?”

  Kiro tactically moves her out of the way, grabs the stone slab still atop the sarcophagus, and with a single push, shifts it to the ground.

  Shit… Kiro thinks. I shouldn’t have shown my strength.

  “Wow…” begins Jak. “You are strong for your age.”

  Then, from above them, Kiro and Jak hear and unfamiliar voice-

  “…We had a deal…” followed by Simon’s voice in reply, "And I will fulfill that promise. In fact, go ahead and take the treasure now.”

  “You heard him, boys!”

  A wave of laughter and responses crescendo into excitement, as the gang begins to transfer the gems, chalices and gold into their travel sacks.

  Simon then manifests upon the altar, pulls away the red cloth and opens the book. When he does, the pages glow blue, then the suit of armor glows blue, followed by his sword. Psychotic laughter overflows, spilling over through Simon’s vocal chords. As the gang transfers the gems, chalices and gold, the cult members gather into neat rows, bowing once in place, now looking up to their leader: Simon.

  Following the opening of the book, Kiro feels spirits dancing around the room, creating a whirlwind of energy, yet just as it peaks, Simon abruptly shuts the cover and announces, "We are prepared!” Then, gesturing at Jak and Kiro, he adds, "Take them to their cell. We shall begin during the eclipse tomorrow…”

  “Eclipse?” Questions Jak in a whisper, as they are escorted to their cell.

  “Can’t you feel it?” Asks Kiro. “The world’s vibration is intensifying…”

  ***

  As time inevitably marches on, the effects of the solar eclipse become increasingly more evident, with each race manifesting changes unique to its kind. The air is thick with aura; the trees exhale a fluorescent green essence, while animals and plants all radiate their own unique hues of soft blues, fiery oranges and shimmering purples. Kiro watches a hawk cut through the sky overhead, trailing a ghostly grey aura in its wake. For the felinas, animal instincts are sharpened to a razor’s edge: reflexes as quick as lightning, enhanced vision able to track the flutter of a moths’ wing in total darkness, every sound fractures into clarity and their movement is as silent as falling shadows. Both Jak and Kiro’s senses have grown in intensity and complexity. The felina’s tail bristles, her fur standing on end, while Kiro’s senses stretch outward, taut and humming.

  He feels every one of the ancient spirits circulating around the pyramid. Being so close to the tomb causes a deep sense of unease to settle over him.

  Hauntings in this world are perceived as something like a cancer - invasive, consuming and lethal. Their presence is tangible, their effects devastating. Entire orders of rigorously trained priests and priestesses exist solely to exorcise these malignant spirits from such places. And this place is more than just haunted. It’s saturated.

  From within their cell, Kiro and Jak watch as hazy, ghostly figures gather beyond the bars - watching them in return with hollow intensity. But it’s when they close their eyes that the ghosts solidify: not in form, but in feeling. Like an icy breath on the soul.

  The wind carries whispers of the dead, and the cloudless night sky bleeds colorful auroras that swirl like a master’s brushstrokes.

  Despite the eclipse’s effects, Kiro can’t stop thinking about what Jak had said to protect him. Him…

  As Jak paces in the cell, her spirit ablaze with energy, Kiro asks, "What did you mean when you said you will help those that fall for you do not? That doesn’t make sense, for I never fall.”

  Jak smiles anxiously, before replying, "You don’t have to fall to be given a helping hand. I admit, I fall, yet I never remain down. Someone taught me that true strength has a foundation of kindness beneath.”

  “The strong are kind?”

  “Yes. Even when down, the strength of kindness will never fall.”

  Kiro lets out a laugh, before responding with incredulity, "Kindness is weakness.”

  Jak stares right through Kiro, making him uncomfortable, before she replies, "Only the weak would think that.”

  “Prove it,” goads Kiro, ignoring his internal turmoil.

  “Prove what?”

  “Prove that the strongest among us are kind. I wish to be the strongest, fastest and most agile among the ranks, so I am willing to be proven wrong. But I must be proven. Because my whole life the opposite has been shown to be true. Kindness is a trait I’ve seen manifest only in the weak and the weak die. The strong remain. I refuse to die.”

  “‘Among the ranks?’ What does that mean?”

  “Can you prove it?” Kiro asks again with a rising intensity in his voice.

  “You will live it. Try being kind to someone for no reason other than being kind, expecting nothing in return, and I guarantee it will come around to benefit you in many ways. Trust me.”

  “I trust no one, but I can humor you. You truly believe that I can grow stronger through kindness?”

  “Absolutely!”