Chapter 6: A Crimson Wind Blows Through the Capital

Chapter 6:
A Crimson Wind Blows Through the Capital

 

AFTER MORNING PRAYERS, Sara waved goodbye to her fellow nuns-in-training and left her home in the Central District church off in the direction of the West District. Elune Enjeanar, one of Sara’s many caregivers, watched with concern as the girl ran down the road. “She’s been heading out a lot lately.”

A fellow member of the church nodded next to her. “Maybe she’s found a boyfriend?”

“Oh, shush. She’s only ten.”

“Kids grow up faster nowadays. Who knows, it could be Ed or Jonny…”

Elune clenched a fist and narrowed her gaze in anger. “I’d kill them if they even tried.”

“If it were me, I’d be happy to hear that she’d made friends outside the church. I believe it was you who said that keeping yourself secluded would narrow your horizons, wasn’t it, Elune?”

“That’s right. We need open-minded people now more than ever.”

The nuns were all too aware of the corruption running rampant in the church. They had no direct knowledge of its research and experimentation, but the upper echelons—even the pope and his cardinals—had clearly become obsessed with hoarding money and power as of late. They’d outlawed medicinal herbs, raised the costs of healing treatments, and greatly increased the church knights’ numbers, all to the detriment of the regular citizens. Though public complaints were now a daily occurrence, the nuns could do little more than look the other way and secretly offer discounts on healing.

“I just hope Sara grows up to be a happy and healthy adult.” Elune continued to watch the young nun until she finally faded from view.

 

***

 

“Heya!”

Ed and Jonny both waved as Sara approached the church.

“Back so soon? Elune’s gonna get pretty mad if you keep leaving like this, ya know.”

“It’s fine, it’s fiiiiine. Unlike you, Ed, I’m actually good at my job.”

“Whoa, whatchoo say??” Ed reached out and pulled Sara in close to start mussing up her hair again.

“CUTITOUT!! I’m not here to play today!”

“Fine, fine, I was just sayin’ hi.”

“Well, you could certainly find less annoying ways to do it! Anyway, why’d you drag me out here?”

The previous evening, Sara had received a letter from the West District church, signed by Ed. The message, written on a single page of paper in his ugly block letters, read: “I heard a rumor about that thing you were talking about. Come over when you can.”

“Aaah, about that. So anyway, Jonny and I did a little digging of our own.”

“I don’t think this is the right place to talk about that, Ed.”

“Aah, yeah. Hey, let’s go somewhere else, Sara.”

“Huh? Is that really necessary?”

Ed and Jonny glanced back at the chapel before prompting Sara out of its line of sight and into the shadows. “Well, I don’t exactly want to be seen spreading scandalous rumors about the priests, now do I? They’re pretty scary, y’know.”

“Scandalous rumors about the priests are already everywhere, dummy. I’m pretty used to it.”

“Yeah, well, this one is a little different. I don’t think it has anything to do with that Ink girl you were asking about, though, so just think of it as an urban legend for now.”

“An urban legend?”

Tales of inexplicable sightings and occult phenomena spread like wildfire in the city. Taking every story at face value was easier than attempting to discern which monsters and arcane powers were real threats. Regardless, many tall tales held a kernel of truth; Sara refused to write them off right away.

“There are reports of ghost sightings at night in the West District, specifically around the church.” Ed waggled his arms around, imitating a ghost.

“Ghosts? What kind?”

“Children, apparently, probably younger than you. Boys and girls, according to the stories.”

“So there’s more than one?”

“Blonde ones, ones with brown hair, ones with white hair. A few green ones. Accounts vary.”

Sara looked suspicious. “Some pretty colorful ghosts, then. But what does that have to do with the church?” It wasn’t exactly unheard of to spot urchins roaming the West District in the middle of the night.

Jonny put his hand to his chin. “That’s where the story gets a bit weird. See, urban legend has it that the kids are the church’s guinea pigs for all kinds of experiments.”

“And where did that story come from?” Sara didn’t need any convincing on that particular premise. Could someone have leaked the info on purpose?

“How the hell should I know? Anyway, apparently a side effect of the experiments replaces their faces with this twisting void, like a chunk was carved right out of their heads. Pretty creepy stuff.”

“…No way.”

The ogre instantly came to Sara’s mind. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Had their research developed enough in the interim that they could give such immense strength to humans, too?

A look of concern washed over Ed at the sight of Sara’s pale complexion. “Hey, you okay, kiddo? Too gross for you?” He patted her gently on the head; Sara made no move to stop him, which only concerned him more.

“So, anyway,” Jonny continued. “Apparently, the research facility is somewhere underground in the West District, and the kids they experiment on have these bizarre powers.”

“Do you know what kind of powers?”

Jonny shook his head, adding that it seemed anyone who tried investigating the matter just up and disappeared. “Not sure if this helps at all or not, but apparently they’re called the ‘Spiral Children.’”

“That’s definitely interesting. Anyway, uh, thanks for looking into this, guys.”

“Huh? I told ya this is all an urban legend, didn’t I? Don’t go takin’ it at face value, kid.”

Ed flashed a bright grin at Sara, but the younger girl’s usually playful demeanor was nowhere to be seen in response. Putting aside for the time being whether or not these so-called Spiral Children had anything to do with Ink, Sara’s fears and Flum’s suspicions about the church were all but confirmed now.

“Y-yeah, I got it. Anyway, I think it’s best that you guys don’t investigate this any further.”

“You’re talking like you’re involved somehow, Sara.”

Sara winced at Jonny’s pointed observation.

“You’re…you’re not involved, are you?”

“No, I mean…” Sara had always been an awful liar. Worse still, Ed and Jonny were like family to her. They could read the truth in her face.

“In that case, we definitely can’t just leave it be.”

“That’s right. It’s what big brothers gotta do.”

“But…if you dig too deep, I’m worried the church might decide they don’t need you guys anymore. And then, y’know…”

“That just means that we should… Huh?” Jonny reached back to rub the back of his head. It felt almost like something had touched the back of his neck before melting into his skin. Even now, he could still feel it, like something ticklish moving just underneath the surface.

“What is it, Jonny? Did a bug bite you?”

“Nah, just a funny feeling is all.” “It’s nothing, no need to worry.”

Two different responses came out of his mouth in unison.

“Jonny…?”

“Why’re you looking at me like that, Sara?” “What’s so scary, Sara?”

Ed and Sara stared at their friend in horror as a second head began growing out of the back of his neck.

“Huh? Something’s strange…” “Why are you two looking at me like that?”

“I can’t move… What’s wrong?” “There’s something going on with my body…”

The two stared in horror, unable to speak, as a white ball dropped to the ground behind Jonny. Upon closer inspection, it was a bloodshot eyeball with a deep crimson iris…and it had silently fallen off the church’s roof. It rolled toward Jonny, climbing up his body. It embedded itself in his neck, and moments later another head sprouted from the same spot. Now all three mouths spoke at once.

“Wh-wh-what’s going on…on…on? I feel st-strange. Sara. Sara strange?” “Don’t be so scared not scary. No. I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt at all, I’m fine.” “Spiral Children. R-ru-run…this is…ga…ngaaaa…”

His words tangled and bent around each other as his mind frayed; long tails of drool dripped from his mouth, and his body began to shudder.

“What the hell… Run, Sara!! Get outta here!!” Ed cried.

“What? But…but we gotta help Jonny! He’s gonna die if we don’t!”

“He’s already a goner!”

“I’m not going to give up just like that! Jonny, Jonnnnny!!!” Sara reached out toward her friend one last time, but Ed grabbed her hand and took off with her in tow.

He wanted to help Jonny, too, but it was clear that there was nothing that could be done at this point. Even if they severed the extra heads and tried to heal him, it was unlikely that would do any good. Jonny was already dead. He just didn’t know it.

“R-rrrrrrrr-run!! Sssssssssara…Edddddddd, runnnnn…” “Gggaaaaa pluuppppp gaaaaaugh…” “Aaaaaaugh…ssss-sorrrrry…I…w-w-wish we…coulda…spent more…t-t-t-ime t-toge…ther…aaaaaaaaah!”

Tears poured out of Jonny’s six eyes. It was unclear if he could still actually process sadness, but liquid streamed from his eyes all the same. He reached out after his escaping friends, though the rest of his body refused to obey his commands. Even with his rational mind turned to mush, something in him he couldn’t name stirred at the thought that they would have no future together.

The eyes continued to pour into Jonny, his body the clay that they would mold to their will.

 

***

 

“Jonny, not Jonny… I can’t believe it…” Sara was finally able to run under her own power but still struggled with the immensity of her grief. Tears poured ceaselessly down her cheeks. She doubted she’d forget what she’d just seen as long as she lived.

“Damn damn damn daaaaaamn!! What in the hell was that back there?!”

Sara wasn’t alone in her grief. Jonny was also Ed’s family, his lifelong partner in crime. He’d always thought they’d rise through the ranks of knighthood together, but that future had been shattered in an instant. All because of one mysterious eyeball.

“Why are they after us?!”

“How should I know? Maybe it was because we said something about the church?!”

If that were true, then the capital should have been littered with corpses. It had to have been something more specific than that. Or maybe there was no reason at all. Maybe it was just pure, cruel coincidence.

Unsatisfied with claiming Jonny for their first victim, the eyeballs poured down the street in pursuit of Ed and Sara as they sprinted for all they were worth, their questions left unanswered. Running at full speed in armor was no easy task; Ed threw off his gauntlets, though it hardly helped. The tide of eyes came in from all directions now, leaving fewer and fewer avenues for escape.

“This is all my fault…”

“Huh? What the hell are you talkin’ about??”

“I mean, I asked you to look into this in the first place!” Sara wailed.

“Don’t be so stupid! Now’s not the time to get down on yourself!” This was the first time Ed had ever actually raised his voice at Sara. “Jonny didn’t wake up this morning intending to die, but I’m sure he’s glad that it was him and not you!”

Sara began to sob. “B-b-but…!”

“You heard him, right? Even with all that, he still told us to run away. Jonny mustered up all he had to make sure his little sister was safe. I…I just know that he died proud.” Ed clenched his jaw, unable to say any more as he fought to keep the fear and anger welling up in him battened down.

Reason and passion did battle in his mind for a moment, before concluding that he needed to protect Sara, no matter the cost. He stopped running.

“Ed?!”

“I also need to protect you, Sara.”

His mind was made up. He knew what it meant for him. Ed drew his sword and faced the swarm.

“Stop it! Please!! Don’t leave me alone, Ed! I can’t lose you, too!!”

The pain in Sara’s voice was palpable. Ed hesitated for a moment. His heart ached. He’d love nothing more than to run away with her.

“I really looked forward to seeing you grow up and get married, kiddo. I was hoping to be there as part of your family.”

It didn’t change his mind. Jonny had wanted nothing more than to protect Sara, and Ed would give his life to make that happen, too. He would make a fine decoy.

“Hyaaah! Sa…Hyaaah! Ra…hyah!” He pulped multitudes of eyeballs with each swing of his sword, but it was like trying to bail out a ship with a thimble. It was a matter of moments before they were at Ed’s feet, infiltrating his body. A new leg sprouted from where they sank into his flesh. “Nnng…this is…disgusting…!”

“Ed!!!”

He couldn’t run anymore. It was all on Sara now.

“I was really hoping to see you in a dress, your makeup done up all nice, and then tell ya that it really didn’t suit you and mess up your hair. Then you’d get real mad like you do, and…” Ed’s newly-sprouted leg waggled around. “But…aaugh! But…maybe I can still do that from the afterlife. We won’t see each other, sure, but I’ll watch as you live your life.”

“Don’t talk like that!”

“Hey, if no one stops ’em, then we’re both gonna die, Sara!”

“Please…please don’t leave me! I don’t care if we both have to die!”

“Don’t be so stupid! This isn’t the first time I’ve been selfish, ya know? Now get the hell outta here, Sara, and don’t forget that super awesome brother of yours who gave it all to save you!”

Sara bit down hard on her lip till she tasted blood. Tears poured down her cheeks. Every fiber of her being rebelled against this.

“Please? For me?” Ed’s soft plea broke down her last wall of resistance.

“Nnnng…fine!”

No matter how much it destroyed her, she couldn’t let his loving sacrifice be for nothing. Sara knew that this would be the last time she ever saw him, so she had to make sure her last words counted. She shouted as loud as she could. “I…I love you guys! No matter how many years or decades may pass, I’ll always love you, Ed and Jonny. You’re my brothers forever!”

Ed let out an embarrassed chuckle. She took one last look at his smiling face, before she finally turned and took off running.

Didja hear me, Jonny? Ed thought. She said she loves us. That little punk finally said it. And now she’s gonna make it and live on for us…

He and Jonny could share that feeling.

Sure, maybe they weren’t connected by blood, but the three of them were family. Though he’d always known that, hearing it straight from Sara’s mouth was different. A feeling of ineffable happiness warmed his heart.

I don’t know how or why this came to be, but…who the hell cares? At least we got to keep her safe and die without any regrets. Well, some regrets. Dammit, Jonny, I still got a lot of regrets. I’m gonna die a virgin, unlike you and your girlfriend, jerk.

They were far too young to die. They still had so many things left undone, futures and dreams unfulfilled.

Ah well, at least I got to die keeping Sara safe. If not, this would be a really crappy, pointless way to go.

“Love you too, sis!!!”

Ed hacked away with all his might as he felt his body transform into something far beyond human.

 

***

 

Sara sniffled and ran as hard and as fast as she could, gritting her teeth and wiping away her tears with the backs of her hands. She ran down unfamiliar streets, never once stopping to take stock of where she was or where she was going.

Her family was dead. Everyone she loved, dead.

Or, rather, they had suffered a fate worse than death.

“Wh-why’d I survive? Ed…Jonny…why?”

She couldn’t help but feel at fault for their loss. She groped desperately for ways to absolve herself, but the timing was too damning. When Sara first caught sight of the eye that fell from the roof, she felt the same uncanny pang the ogre gave her back in Anichidey.

If these were part of the church’s research, did that mean the Spiral Children were, too? In any case, it seemed someone was out there, working behind the scenes to dispose of anyone who might expose the church’s dark secrets.

Sara ran with the sole goal of telling Flum what she’d learned. Ed and Jonny’s sacrifices would not be in vain.

“Huff…haaah… Wh-which way…haaah…was it again?”

She was well and truly lost, though she noticed the city wall off in the distance. If she could just make it there, then she’d find herself in a much bigger street—and beyond that, the slums. If the church was trying to keep their creations entirely under wraps, then she could get away as long as she found a crowded place. Under normal circumstances, she’d do her best to steer clear of such a dangerous place, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

She crossed into a large, open square before heading for the west gate. The east and west gates were connected by one long thoroughfare that bisected the capital. There, she could reorient herself and make it back to Flum’s house.

Sara mustered the energy to pick up speed and bore for the wall.

The tidal wave of eyes chasing after her grew as she inched ever closer to her objective. They dropped in number briefly thanks to Ed’s brave sacrifice, but they were reproducing quickly.

“Thanks, Ed.”

No one was there to say “you’re welcome,” but she didn’t have time to dwell on that.

Sara chanced a look back, only to see a ceaseless wave of eyes cascading down the streets, over walls, and off roofs. She doubted she could ever get used to the sight.

“You guys still ain’t satisfied?? You already killed two of my friends!”

The hatred in her voice didn’t register. Or did it? After all, the eyes must have heard them spreading rumors—that was how it all started. That could only mean their failure to react to her cries of anguish was their own way of agreeing with her. Yes, her two dearest friends hadn’t been enough to sate their hunger.

She could feel a white-hot rage building up inside her. She had no idea where to point it.

Sensing that the creatures were looming ever closer, Sara pressed on. Her body was already down to the last of its reserves at this point, and it was hard to keep her balance on the uneven streets. She nearly tripped over herself every few steps, but slowing down was tantamount to death. She had no idea how long she could keep it up, but it was the only choice she had.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!!” She released her anger and fear in one loud, primal scream.

Undeterred, the eyeballs massed together as they poured off rooftops, out doors and windows, and pushed up and out of the sewers. The way they filled every crevice reminded her of maggots crawling over each other.

She decided to not look back anymore. It only made her situation seem even more dire.

She slapped at her thighs to try and get her mind off the pain in her muscles and the sounds of her own ragged breathing. All she could do was pump her arms as hard as she could to overcome the feeling that her heart was about to explode.

As the slums drew close, the smells around her began to change. Never before had she thought she would welcome the stench of rotting garbage: she was nearing people at last. Sara pulled right onto the thoroughfare at full tilt. Though a small girl dressed in immaculate white garb must have been a rare sight in these parts, no one paid her any mind.

“At…at least th-they won’t…haah…chase me out here…haaah…” She finally let herself slow down and cautioned a glance behind her. Her shoulders heaved. “Hah…haah… Wh…what?”

What she saw left her wide-eyed and mouth agape. She was witnessing literal hell on earth.

“There’s…there’s no way. That’s impossible.”

Sara had been so focused on running that she must have not heard the voices of everyone around her. She’d gambled on the eyes giving up in the presence of others…and she’d lost. Just as they did before, the grotesque orbs continued their endless procession down the street—and into the innocent people in their way.

“Eww, what are these disgusting things?? Hey, hey…stay back! Staaaay baaaaack! Aaaauuuugh!!” A man standing at a street corner was caught in the leading edge of the swarm. Within moments, his arms multiplied. The shock froze him, and the tide swallowed him up. Within moments, he no longer resembled a human.

“Eyaaaaah!!! God, oh, God Almighty, please spare me from this menace! Please…please, God, I beeeeeeg… Aaaaaugh!!!” A woman kneeled in the street, praying to the mark of Origin; the eyes piled around her waist, causing her body to puff up like a balloon. Her screams of terror were abruptly replaced by drool and froth. The eyes filled her to capacity, and pink organs began to press up and out of her mouth.

“No, please…stay away! Spare my child…at least spare my child!!!”

“Mama! Mamaaaaaa!!”

“Get out of here! Run!!”

“Mama!!! I’ll sa…” “Save…mammmma…s-s-save…” “Ssssssaaaaaaa…maaama…saave…”

“What?!”

In spite of her best efforts, the young child in the mother’s arms now had three heads. The mother, overcome by horror, dropped her child to the ground momentarily before scooping him back up when she saw the procession looping closer. The young boy continued to contort and transform in her arms.

There would be no attempt to conceal this. If this was a conspiracy’s way of hiding the evidence, its methods were inexplicably coarse.

“Sorry!! I’m so sorry!!!!” Even though she’d done nothing wrong, Sara still felt compelled to apologize for the terror unleashed on these people as she took off again. “I’m…I’m so, so sorry…!!”

More and more died in the name of the enemy’s pursuit of the last surviving holder of the information they aimed to suppress, as Sara pulled another right onto a small alley. She could still hear the cries for help calling out behind her, but there was nothing she could do about that now. She could stop running and give herself up, but being forced to choose to sacrifice her own life so that others might live was a tough pill for a ten-year-old to swallow.

She balled up her fists, digging her nails deep into her palms to bring herself back to reality. Tears stung her eyes. Run…run…keep on running…

She did her best to stick to largely unused streets in the hopes of avoiding anyone else. At this point she’d completely lost track of how long she’d been running. She’d reached what she thought were the absolute limits of her endurance long ago, and her whole body ached, but she somehow forced herself to keep moving forward.

Her enemy, however, had no such limits. Every time she thought she shook them, more would appear out of nowhere and surround her. Was there really no way to get away? Had her fate been sealed the moment she learned about the research being conducted at the church’s underground research lab.

Sara’s breath came out in ragged gasps. That was right. It was over. She was destined to die.

Eventually, she ran out of road. She ran her fingers over the rough exterior of the wall before her legs gave out from under her in exhaustion.

That was it. She was done. In a small way, she felt relieved that she no longer needed to run anymore.

“I’m sorry Ed ’n Jonny. It looks like you weren’t able to save me after all. I guess I’ll see you soon…” Sara sat down and leaned against the wall for support. She would’ve been concerned about fouling her robes, but it was about to be a moot point.

Her arms dangled limply at her sides as she stared off into the distance at the oncoming parade of eyeballs. They looked to her like a hunter that had finally closed in on its prey. There were already so many of them, and yet, they still insisted on growing in number. They poured through the entrance to the alley. Yet more came tumbling off roofs and crawling up out of the ditches lining the street. There was a kind of vicious cunning to how they got about.

“It’s a shame, really. I managed to survive this long, but it looks like my time’s up now.”

Images of her caregivers back at the Central District, the people who lost their lives during her escape, and Ed, Jonny, Flum, and the rest of her friends ran through Sara’s head. She apologized to each one of them for her failure to do more, turned up to face the sky, and closed her eyes.

She felt a crisp breeze caress her cheek. It seemed out of place in the dry, oppressive West District.