CHAPTER 40: SECOND DREAM

The walk back home was a long one mostly because, Emilia and Nellie had to avoid the prying eyes of the cops, and the Exorcist’s around the area, now of them are strong enough to fight a spirit warrior without weapons, or aid.

Still the tension between the two girls where palpable, as it was heavier than any fight they had ever been in.

The streets buzzed with the low flickering of the lights, and the passing traffic, as flickering neon signs where glinting off puddles left by the earlier rain.

Emilia walked ahead, her shoulders slouched, and hair damp and clinging to her neck. She hadn’t said much since they slipped past the cops, and Nellie explain how she manage to escape and defeat an Exorcist, as such her silence alone said enough to her current emotional thought.

Nellie followed a step behind, limping slightly. The adrenaline had long faded, leaving her body to ache in all the places she hadn’t realized were bruised. The faint stench of smoke still lingered in her clothes from the fire.

Soon enough though as they walk in the rain, they turned the corner, approaching a run-down apartment complex with a rusted iron gate.

The Dogs of Heaven ran the entire block, alongside half of the business here, and extort from the other half, and so long as you paid your dues and didn’t make noise, or cause unnecessary trouble you were safe, well as safe as safe can be atleast.

But as the approach the building, entering it and climbing the stairs to the upper floors, they heard a voice up ahead. "Morning, girls." A tall man with a shaved head leaned against the stairwell railing, cigarette glowing between his fingers. His vest showed the gang’s insignia, silver fang dripping with blood. Emilia gave him a respectful nod, as she responded back saying "Evening, Mr. Rix."

"Y’all came back later than usual, hmm, you look bang up there Emi, did you got into a fight or something?" He exhaled smoke, his eyes trailing their dirt-streaked clothes.

"Kind of yeah." She responded back honestly, and Rix nodded as he continued to speak, saying. "Figure as much, still I heard some shit went down near the market, where you two involved."

"Yeah." Nellie muttered, forcing a grin. "Something like that." Rix just hummed and waved them by, tapping ash off his smoke.

"I see, well stay sharp girl. The Boss has been on edge lately. Those Council dogs been snooping around again, and it getting worse by the day." Nellie nodded, and they moved past him. A few other members passed on the stairs, greeting with casual nods or tired smirks.

The building smelled of cheap booze and burnt incense, the walls marked with faded graffiti and bullet holes patched with duct tape.

When they reached the second floor, Emilia finally spoke, her tone quieter, like her voice had been sitting heavy in her throat.

It was obvious she wanted some privacy before they got into a deep rooted discussion. As Emilia was the first to speak, saying.

"You really don’t get it, do you?" Nellie blinked. "Get what?" Emilia stopped near their door and turned, her expression soft but sharp at the edges.

"I’m mad. Or, I should be mad. You know that, right?" Nellie looked down. "Yeah."

"But... Emilia sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Given the situation, I can’t even stay mad. That spirit, or whatever the hell he was, the point is he saved you, and believe me I am utterly thankful for that, it’s just that he kept his part of the deal, and got you out of that horrific situation, but the main problem here now is you.

"Me?"

Nellie asked quietly, as she point at herself, with a clueless expression.

"Yes you?" Emilia’s lips curved into something between a smirk and a tired grimace. "You still haven’t done your part. My point is this Mija, you went ahead and made a contract with a thing we don’t even understand... It goes without reason that a Negative Spirit isn’t something you trust easily. We don’t even know what kind of game he has in store for you."

Emilia explained, trying to educate her big sis, just how dire of a situation she is currently in. Nellie already knew, but unlike her Emilia is a very serious when it comes to stuff regarding there love ones. "I didn’t have a choice." Nellie said, her voice trembling. "I know." Emilia admitted. "That is why I can’t hate you. But it doesn’t change what is coming. Whatever he wants, it is not over."

The silence after that was sharp, almost cruel, as Nellie sighed and said. "Look I get it, we will talk about this later, just open the door I am freezing here." A low sighed escape Emilia mouth as she said. "Ok." At the same time, the metal door screeched as Nellie pushed it open. Their apartment wasn’t much, two rooms, a flickering light in the kitchen, and a window that didn’t close all the way. Empty bottles lined the counter, and a half-broken fan clicked every few seconds.

Emilia dropped her jacket over the couch and said, "When that thing shows up again, tell me. No matter what time it is, can you promise me that?" Nellie nodded faintly, knowing Emilia won’t drop it, as she said with a reassuring tone. "Yes, I promise."

"Good, I am glad we have this talk." Emilia stretched her arms, her muscles stiff from strain. "Now, if you don’t mind, I am taking the first bath ok." Nellie managed a weak smile. "Yeah, Yeah Go ahead." Emilia didn’t waste time, she quickly vanished into the bathroom, and it wasn’t long before Nellie heard the sound of running water filling the space.

Nellie sighed and collapsed onto the wooden chair near the kitchen table. Her clothes were still damp, the smell of smoke clinging to her skin. She didn’t want to ruin the couch either by sitting on it in her current state, hell, it wasn’t even theirs. "Today has been one long-ass day." She murmured, rubbing her temple, as she lay her heard down on the table, and close her eyes. "So tired."

Her eyelids drooped, and her body finally began to give in to the build up exhaustion. The faint squeaking of the broken fan was oddly soothing. She didn’t even remember when she closed her eyes, and darkness took her mind, and she fall asleep

The room shifted quickly. When she opened them again, she wasn’t sitting in the same chair anymore. The kitchen was gone. The squeaking sound of the fan as well. Even the flickering light had vanished. Instead, she found herself standing in a vast, open space, endless, but somehow suffocating.

The world was pure darkness, and only a single light was present, and that was the light from above that illuminated her form, yet there was no light source only a mysterious light that showed her bean, the world was black, pure utter black.

"Wha...what the hell... She whispered in horror, and then came a familiar voice, one she was all to familiar with, as the voice beckon her. "Come human, keep walking straight, it is about time we played our game."

"You." Nellie said in shocked as she began to question. "Where are you, no where the hell am I!?" She asked a little scared by the world of pure darkness she now finds herself in. Then Dante replied. "Your inside my domain, or a dream is the best way to describe it, just keep walking till you find a door, cross that door and we will speak."

"Umm, your not going to kill me are you?" She asked, more afraid that anything else, and Dante reassured her safety by saying. "You only die, if that is what you wager, but no, your your more useful to me alive that dead, so no human, I won’t kill you, however all these questions will be answered soon, now kindly walk."

Nellie sighed but trust his words, as she began to walk, the place was dark but the light illuminate a path which she followed.

More and more, closer and closer she walked, till eventually in the distance, she say a wooden door, on that door in gold, but one Letter. As she said it out aloud. "D"

Then, she open the door, and the moment she did a bright light blind her for a bit, but eventually, she open her eyes from the light, that’s when her eyes open up in wonder, and shock.

"Haaa, wh-eh..ahhh, what the hell is this!?" She said in pure shocked, from the other side of the room where she was at, the world was nothing but darkness. But on this side, the world was different, a seemingly endless space, or rather beautiful interstellar space, full with stars, galaxies, planets, all the wonders of the universe where here, and then, meteorite pass by one by one as if to make a bridge, that leads further down into this world. Finally Dante voice range once more. "You will find me at the end, come now, we have much to disgust."