The Star Of Depravity - Chapter 6

—alive, answered the voice he always loathed even in his sleep.

He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t believe it. Ervin refused to believe it.

I’m not alive…

The thought made him irate. It was to the point that he wanted to rip all the hair on his scalp.

He can’t be alive. He felt repugnant as a shiver coursed up his spine.

Ervin jerked his head. He couldn’t help but look around him. Where was the voice? Was it here the entire time?

A chuckle rang near his ears, I’m here. And yes, I’ve been with you the entire time.

Ervin whipped behind him. The vast area greeted him with emptiness. He took a step backward, his hand gripping on his wrist just in case it tries to control him again. No wonder he felt distasteful about the compelling force that ruled him like a marionette.

“Where are you?” Ervin called. “Show yourself!”

The voice released a snicker, inside—

“Why am I still hearing you?!”

I told you, I’m inside.

Ervin’s eyes shot toward the obelisk the same time it pulsed to confirm his assumption. The voice…

A Deity? He thought, the confusion apparent on his face.

Ervin didn’t notice The Keeper waltz from behind the obelisk he stood in front of. It curled its glorious wings on its broad back, tucking it safely from the strong wind. He noted that it was at least two feet taller than he was.

“Child of Paradise,” it looked beyond the dunes, “touch the obelisk,” it said without sparing Ervin a glance.

Ervin found its voice as an inebriating command. His left hand began shaking again as he fixed The Keeper his glare. Even with a reasonable distance, he still couldn’t get a glimpse of the face beneath The Keeper’s red, hooded cloak.

Very good, commended the voice. Perform your task. It’s the only thing you’re good for—convincing these mortals to be our tools. 

The Keeper’s mouth tightened in a thin line.

“Touch it,” The Keeper took a step inside Ervin’s circle. With its massive, metallic hands, it forcefully gripped Ervin’s wrist and dragged him toward the obelisk’s surface.

Ervin tried to snatch his hand back, but The Keeper kept a grip of steel on his wrist.

He kept pulling his hand away as if anytime the joints connecting it to his arm would tear from the impact. He won’t let them take away his choices.

Ervin didn’t emit any sound. He seized control of his movements as he non-stop kicked The Keeper’s hand of steel, and it didn’t matter if he twisted his ankle, or his arm ripped away from his upper body. He considered to shift his target on its organ of reproduction—but he was unsure if it even had a gender. Nevertheless, he began kicking the space between its thighs until he felt his ankle crack, the numbness seeping for a second before a blinding pain replaced it.

Ervin bit his tongue until he tasted iron. His breath became ragged; the pain was soon fading into a dull ache. He wasn’t going to give these creatures the satisfaction of being vulnerable. He eventually limped away from the obelisk.

Touch it, said the voice. Ervin glared at the pillar in front of him.

He tipped his chin below and answered inwardly, I won’t.  

He didn’t want to be a vessel. He didn’t want to be held prisoner in his own body. He barked a laugh—he didn’t even want to live!

He checked his ankle and almost winced at its sight: it swelled bad and was curved in a ninety-degree angle.

Ervin didn’t heed it much attention as The Keeper dragged him back near the obelisk.

The throbbing pain from his fractured ankle felt as if it were burning his joints. He couldn’t correctly think for an entire minute.

The Keeper seized this opportunity to press his palm to the surface of the obelisk before them. His palm was almost half an inch away from grazing it—

Ervin panicked when a purple mist lingered outside his circle, the light on the inscriptions glowing as he vehemently yanked his hand back. When he realized what The Keeper was about to do, he began inserting force on his arms and pulled it further away from the obelisk’s surface.

Don’t struggle. It’ll be more comfortable that way. The voice sounded as if it wasn’t amused by his behavior anymore.

Ervin laughed with malice at the thought of causing inconvenience to both of them.

The Keeper continued to press his palm back on the surface.

As expected, Ervin didn’t let them have their way.

But Ervin overlooked that The Keeper was far more potent than a human, and he was harshly reminded of the fact when it firmly dug its heels on the sand, and without exerting too much effort, it remained motionless, its grip sliding on the cuff of his arm.

With one swift pull, it detached Ervin’s arm from his shoulder, his blood splattering in the air, the sound of ripping flesh, muscles, and bones lulling him into shock.

He didn’t feel pain right away, but he bellowed like a wounded animal when he did.

Ervin dropped to his knees as he clutched at the spot where his arm had once been. He couldn’t think anymore.

His blood gushed endlessly on the sand below. It pooled on the surface like it was building its own lake of blood. The pain gnawed at him that he found it difficult to breathe.

His vision blurred, but he fought to keep his eyelids from closing. He didn’t know how he managed it, but he watched with an intense glare when The Keeper marched fast toward the obelisk as if its armor was light as a breath.

Ervin’s facial muscles tightened as he let out several curses toward the creature and the voice that continuously mocked his actions.

The voice sighed as it held its laughter, I didn’t expect that.

So did Ervin. His nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply. Then, he pushed his knees upward as he charged toward The Keeper. He almost tripped but managed to maintain his balance and grab hold at the sleeves of his detached arm.

“I won’t let you…!” He let out a cry as he attempted to retake his severed arm, but The Keeper brought its knees up to his ribcage, making sure he’d crack a bone or two.

He felt his ribs snap underneath layers of muscles. It was enough to throw and immobilize Ervin on the ground.

“Ack!” breathing was becoming possible now as pain engulfed his entire senses. He gasped for air, reaching his other arm out toward The Keeper.

You just don’t know when to give up, do you? 

“No…” Ervin crawled using his remaining limbs. “I don’t want…a second life…”

“Too bad,” said The Keeper as two purple orbs shined underneath its red hood.

Ervin recognized that voice. He couldn’t have mistaken it for any other. In fact, it had just been speaking inside his mind earlier.

When The Keeper talked again, it was as if another voice was speaking with it at the same time, “You will be my vessel, whether you like it or not.”

Ervin laughed sorrowfully as the scene unfolded before him.

Let me die…

Ervin watched in dismay as The Keeper pressed his severed arm’s palm flat on the obelisk’s surface.

Let me di—

He didn’t finish his chant as the inscriptions pulsed brighter before a white flash of light claimed him.