“I must thank you two. Each time I have made it here those damn wolves have brought me low. Now that my family is out of the way I can finish the job. Just as I was meant to long ago.”

  The walls of the room once soaked in the purple miasma of the spiritual world trembled. A great earthquake devoured the walls as red spurts sprung out like poked holes in a water balloon. Lupita’s face shifted with horror mixed with anger and shame. Nate turned round to face the woman or what was left of one.

  When he turned she was in mid transformation. Her short squat body rippled under her checkered dress. Long silvery legs clacked into either side of the wall as they unfurled outwards. They were tube shaped with a small wood piece located around three fourths down the leg. A single long arm flapped out the hand the same size as her own body. Her last limb was the same as her legs. Three of her limbs had become some amalgamation of fleshy shotguns. Complete with the tube for the ammo and a pump. Her face pulled wide into a toothy smile.

  “CACACAHCAHCAHCAH”

  Her body cackled in excitement. The off putting appearance had stopped Nate dead in his tracks. He would have been if not for the wolf girl. Seeing the leveled weapons she rushed forward. Karah hadn’t had a chance to stand yet. The girl tackled Nate pulling him to the side of the door.

  *BANG BANG BANG*

  Each limb shifted in order to shoot off a cold slug into the room. The first had been her left arm cannon. With extreme dexterity she replaced it with one of her legs before pulling the other up. The process was repeated once more before she stopped.

  *CHA-CHUNK*

  Karah could see her from where she sat. The slugs had been aimed at the center of the room. If Lupita hadn’t grabbed Nate the both of them would have been meat chunks. The woman's long arm reached around rearming the first limb. Scrapes formed in the wall as she began to lower herself. Needing to infiltrate the room to finish her work.

  “Come out now. Abuela wants to give you something you won’t forget.”

  Nate recovered, still wrapped tight in the fuzzy arms he tapped her twice to release him. Her strength was remarkable for someone so soft and squishy. Looking down at him where she pinned him to the ground the both of them realized her restraints had been ruptured.

  “Don’t worry I’ll protect you.”

  His mind had been made up when she saved him. No matter the story, no matter the truth, or what decisions the girl had made. She saved him in that moment, that meant he owed her a debt. In the hideout he felt his fathers energy surge.

  Wayne hadn't yet explained to Nate the details of how a soul becomes stronger. Nor the details of how one would recover. In his haste he was omitting much that one would learn in their first week let alone first year. A pact, or contract wasn’t just something one made to enter service. It also acted as a pathway to advancement, and recovery.

  *BANG* *WHAM*

  The bean bag chair rocketed out of the room. Karah had thrown it with enough force that it would shatter bone. Grandma wasn’t made of bone. A single shot wasn’t enough to arrest the force of the beanbag, punching through the object. With lessened force it sailed forth the remaining energy slapping into the old crone.

  Beads rained down in the hallway obscuring everyone's sight. Sounds of the metal limbs scraping into the carpet were still audible as she grew closer. Karah rushed out of the door attempting to slam into the old woman. She had been prepared for her. Maybe, she’d even watched their whole previous fight. It would make sense if she planned to clean up after their battle.

  Karah passed through the space below the old woman. A large hand slammed into Karah’s chest targeting the fleshy part of her body. It looked like a scorpion's tail striking out venomously. Wind shot out of her instantly. The hand then grasped and tossed her body between her legs. She flew out into the fields of carpet. Nate wasn’t sure if she’d even be able to make it back here. Or how long that would take.

  “Damn it.”

  Using the cane he stood a small amount of pain creeped in from his recently sealed wound. The life saving tackle had opened some of the wounds. Peeking around the corner he pulled his head back just as quick. A blast into the door frame sent shrapnel and wood peppering the side of his face.

  Lupita’s eyes went wide as he was knocked a step back. That same feelings of worthlessness, helplessness filled her body. Her memory of the events were still hazy near the end. She knew who was innocent but the voices. The sound of the thousands of people telling and retelling the story echoed in her mind.

  Memories fought back against the tide of the “truth”. Cast a drift within her own mind she fought a silent struggle. Her gaze fell on Nate, these two were no different than her family. Trying to protect her even in the face of a monster. The faces of her parents entered her mind. Their looks of horror as they tried to stop Abulea and the loss when they failed.

  The injured man in front of her stood once more in spite of the blood running down his face. Unsure if it was the light or her own broken mind, Nate’s face to her in that moment was congealed into one of anger and something dark. A crazed smile covered his face, the lust for battle or something else.

  Nate knew she would reach the doorway soon. Once she was there they would be sitting ducks. There was only one thing he could do. He let himself cut loose. The wolves had been dangerous, but he hadn’t felt the fear of death. Now she loomed low Death’s scythe a bullet away.

  “Don’t move if you can help it, the corners are the safest.”

  Leaving those words he took a step back. The plan was simple: he needed line of sight to cast the spell. It only flew out in a straight line, if he could hit her with the bleeding soul. There was a chance he could kill her. Feeling the spirit approach he took a deep breath. The same he took before every fight in his youth. He couldn’t help the thrill run wild as he leaped.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Body sent hurtling across the threshold, he knew she would shoot him or at least try. He turned his body even if he could sense her it was better to view the enemy. The large barrels pointed into the room.

  “SHIT”

  He cast three spells at once. The silvered daggers shot out with fury quicker then the woman could fire. One managed to knock a barrel wide, another went low sailing into the distance. The last made a thunk as it rattled the main body. Blood dyed the red of the checkered white and yellow dress.

  *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

  His body was sent spiraling off to the right. Turning over in the air he slammed heavily into the ground. Blood pooled from his chest out onto the carpet. Lupita’s eyes grew wide. This shouldn’t be happening, they’re dying because of her again.

  Thoughts rampaged inside of her as the memory’s snaked through the avalanche of stories. A memory that she wished to forget. Now could not, no matter what she tried. That final moment at the end when the weight of the world had pushed down upon her. She had broken.

  Fresh wet warm blood splattered across her face. The youngest had just died and Abeula had killed him. Despair gripped her body at that moment. The bodies laid out around them, she’d positioned everyone where they were meant to sit for dinner. The face of Abuelito. He’d always tried to get her to do better, be better. Now his once smiling dimples were dark, lifeless.

  “You caused all this. You're the reason they all died.”

  The present and the past overlapped as the malformed woman entered the room. Limbs slamming into the wall to fill the doorway, making the prey unable to escape. Blood drained from her face, palms turning clammy just as back then. Back then her Aubela treated her like an animal.

  “Go on, eat out of your bowl. Do it you dog.”

  She was forced while surrounded by corpses to eat dog food from a bowl. The same crazed eyes now stared into her. Was there truly no escape? She felt a gentle touch on her back. It was just how her Abuelito would comfort her. It was in moments when she needed his strength.

  Jumping up she had bitten her face. If she was to be treated as an animal then she would show her one. The scuffle for the gun had led to her pulling it away. She’d pulled the trigger before even the thought passed her mind.

  “This time I won’t be stopped.”

  The vile voice spoke from beyond her tightly shut eyes. There wasn’t a point to fighting back. She’d learned that the first time. Everyone was dead, the only people to show her kindness and support her. At the time she didn’t see a point in living. The fact it was all her fault weighed heavy on her mind. Her will slipped away.

  Falling to her knees she spread her arms wide. If this would end her grandmother's rampage then she could have her life. Even random strangers were being affected now. She would not allow that to continue.

  “Aubela. Let's end this. I don't want you to become more of a monster. I shall take that title for you.”

  “You were always a monster. Down to your very core. In death as in life.”

  *CHA-CHUNK* *CHA-CHUNK* *CHA-CHUNK*

  She rearmed all three, not taking a chance at leaving even a small amount of her left. This thing would be destroyed once and for all. Victory, redemption was finally at hand. The stain upon her family would finally be removed for good.

  *THWACK*

  A silver dagger struck her head with enough force to topple her. She’d been balancing on the large arm, the force slammed her hard into the doorway. Nate now stood propped up by the bed. Blood poured from his face, chest, and left arm. Still his hand was wrapped tight around the cane.

  “I don’t think so, you bloody old crone.”

  Blood began to shoot out of her mouth. Whipping around she splashed blood across the walls as it poured from her barrels. Panic took over her body as she rolled around attempting to plug the bleeding. It began to pour from her eyes and ears.

  “The only monster here is you.”

  *SSCCREEEEECCHHH*

  A deafening sound released from her mouth along with the blood. Still she persisted unlike the wolf from before. The blood flow even began to slowly subside. Seeing this he ran at full speed tackling her. It was all he could manage to shove her out of the room. More blood poured from his wounds as he knelt on the ground.

  “Nate? Why would you? She’s right I let everyone die. If you let her kill me it will all be over.”

  “Shut up. I do what I want. No one can stop me, not you and not your self-destructive mindset. Where’s that pride you took in calling yourself an enthusiast. If you think you're a monster then act like one and fight. Would the wolves you love so much just lay down and die?”

  “But she’ll just come back. Just like this time.”

  Nate in a burst of strength stood. Grabbing her by the front of her sweater he hauled her up. Gazing into her eyes and with every ounce of fierceness he mustered spoke to her.

  “So what if she comes back. That just means you have to kill her again. If someone hurts my family there’s nowhere in the world they can go that I won’t hunt them down. No where is safe for them.”

  *CHA-CHUNK*

  The crone wobbled on one blood soaked shotgun leg. Another was being painstakingly cocked. The large hand had seemingly lost its strength. Scents of iron burned the air. Pressure pressed down on Nate he didn’t have the strength yet, none of the spirits were ready. Pushing Lupita away to safety he faced the woman.

  “Don’t worry. I have this one son.”

  He heard a voice soothing and calm from within. A bubbling power forced its way out rough and full of hard edges. It nearly knocked him back to his knees.

  *BANG*

  The force of the shot took her off her single leg. Flying through the air the shot reached just in front of Nate and then thudded into a glimmering shield. A skeletal hand print held the shot at bay. As the slug fell to the ground Nate could feel a push. The hand shot out at the same speed and strength. Slamming into the old woman it launched her out of the hallway disappearing into the plains beyond.

  “How?”

  “This is the power of my family. I believe in those I love and those who love me. I won’t just die here. I will conquer death itself if need be.”

  Nate shouted at the top of his lungs as his body slumped into the doorway. Hard breaths pushed out of his mouth as his fathers spirit settled back down. Lupita stared at his back. All the energy that had pushed him to stand faded.

  Was this what it was like? When her family had supported her, when they’d paid with their lives? Would they truly have wanted her to just give up? Realization flooded her mind. She’d made a mistake that she couldn’t take back. Still her family didn’t want her to die; they had been so desperate. That wave of sorrow had been too much but now there was nothing to lose. Nothing other than the respect of her family she’d let down before. She would gamble it all to redeem them.

  “Tell me what should I do? How can I fight her?”

  “I’ll be honest. I don’t know. I can only offer you a chance that could work.”

  “I’ll do anything.”

  “Sign a contract with me. You will forever be bound to me; it should make you stronger. But I mean forever.”

  “Deal.”