Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, places, etc., are either product of the author's imagination used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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DAY SEVEN OF DEATH GAMES:
The Freakin' Iciest Ride
一一一一一回回回一一一一一
Day 07 | 6:00 P.M |
Status:
Blackwoodian Citizen's HeadCount？
THIRTY-TWO
Kills:
• FOUR QUEEN CARDS: THE SIREN'S
• SIX RANDOM NUMBERS: THE VIEWERS AND BETTORS
• FOUR JACK CARDS: THE 'ISLAND' FISH
• SIX RANDOM NUMBERS: THE VIEWERS AND BETTORS
Challenges Accomplished:
• THE SIREN'S CHALLENGE
• THE 'ISLAND' FISH CHALLENGE
一一一一一回回回一一一一一
"Nooo!" Avy cried as she and Light fell, and fell, and fell down the icy tower. He pulled his shield off and put it underneath the two of them. Soon enough, they were flying down the steep slope on the makeshift sled.
"I think we lost him," He said breathlessly as they skidded between the giant columns of ice.
But there was a loud, angry shriek from directly overhead.
"Uh, I don't think so, Light," she replied grimly.
The Solturga swooped overhead and dove again. Still, they slid and faster and faster. Avy could see the Arcadia in the water below. Would they make it? She wasn't too sure of that. The Solturga dove at them again and again. The giant worm-bird hit a column and sent it crashing into its neighbor. Suddenly, the vast columns were coming down in front of Light and Avy like dominoes. She struggled to hold on as they catered inside the tower. It was too fast. The columns were too close!
Huge chunks of ice flew at them as they dodged left and right. Light spotted an opening in the ice tower and leaned hard to turn the sled. But the Solturga smashed through the wall shattering it into circles. The Solturga was still trailing behind them and was closing in. It shrieked and dove. Light stood on the moving sled like a snowboard and pulled Avy closer to her feet. They leaned left and right, skittering over the shards of ice inside the tower. But Light kept the sled on course, dodging the flying ice and snow as well as the Solturga's oddly-looking talons. Suddenly, he spotted a ray of sunlight through the narrow opening in the ice wall.
"Hang on!" Avy yelled.
Before she could even protest, he planted his dagger in the ice and spun the sled out over the cliff. The two of them hung in the air for what seemed like forever before tumbling down into the giant slope. Luckily, they landed in the soft canvas of the Arcadia's sails, far below.
"There," Light said breathlessly. "Just as what I planned."
Avy stared at him for some seconds, then she laughed. Light might be a little crazy, but she had to admit that he knew how to get things done.
He grinned back at her, "Falling for me, babe?" He asked, sounding so mischievous.
The crew raced over to untangle them. "It's Avy!" the men cried happily in chorus. Someone helped her to her feet. Ray rushed forward to hug her.
"Yeah, man. I'm fine," Light said wryly with a sarcastic tone in his depths. "But I'm fuckin' touched by your concern." He grimaced as he stood, and his back let out a loud crack of protest.
Moments later on, from somewhere nearby, there was another crack. Then a rumble and crash were heard by the next. They all looked around and saw the ice tower falling into the sea. The frozen surface shattered, and a wide waterway opened up before them.
The ship was finally free.
ج
The Arcadia sailed on through the night, following Eris's star. As Avy wandered around the deck, she saw Light at the wheel. She walked over to join him. She was sure that there was something she had to say.
"Uh, hey. Light," she started speaking, only sounding hesitant at first. "T-thank you for coming after me."
He turned with a smile. For a moment, Avy thought he was going to crack a joke. But that didn't happen. Instead, he simply said,
"You're welcome."
He turned back to his task after that. Avy watched him for a spun of seconds. He seemed so relaxed and at home there at the wheel, overlooking the ocean glide by them.
"This life suits you," she told him sincerely.
"Yeah, damn. I know I wasn't made for dry land ever since my mind kicked in."
He glanced at her, "How about you, lady? Is it the shore or the sea?"
"I've always loved the sea." She admitted. "I even dreamed of a life on it. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. Fate decided it wasn't for me."
Light went silent for a moment. Then he took her hand and placed it on the wheel. "You know," he started. "I've traveled the world—seen things no other man has probably seen. But, babe. I'm telling you... nothing compares to the open sea."
They stood there together, overlooking out over the great waves. And for the very first time, Avy felt they understand each other, at least a little.
For the very first time, it felt as though they were friends.
ج
A few minutes later, there was a crash of thunder. A flash of light undeniably cut through the calm night sky. It was a shooting star. There was another flash, and because of that, Light frowned.
"The gates of Xebyss," he said.
Avy looked forward. Eris's star was hanging in their path, seeming to touch the calm yet dangerous waves of the open sea. Everyone stared in awe and amazement at what lay before them. Eris's star was really an enormous gateway in the night sky. Ray hurried up to the crow's nest and reported that they were approaching the edge of the world. The gateway to Xebyss lay just beyond, floating in the dark sky, just beyond the edge of the ocean.
She glanced at Light, looking uneasy. Now what?
"Men!" He ordered suddenly. "All hands to your posts. Free all ship's sheets and wait for my command."
The men stared at him. Avy could tell they were wondering if he had been gone crazy. She was wondering the exact same thing.
"Now!" He shouted. "Go! Go! Go!"
Light continued to shout orders. Avy had no idea what she was trying to do. But, there was no time. They just had to trust him. She swung into action along with the others, following Light's instructions.
Finally, the sails were positioned as ordered. "Pull!" he shouted.
The crew strained the ropes. The sails billowed. The Arcadia sailed closer and closer to the edge. The men tied off the sails and waited.
The ship rocked at the edge of the ocean. Everyone braced themselves. The prow tipped over the edge. The rest of the ship followed. It felt as though they were falling off the edge of the Earth.
For a terrifying moment, Avy thought it was all over. Her stomach flipped as she felt the ship dropped like a stone. Then the sails filled in the updraft. The ship bubbled and lifted up! It floated there in the air beyond the edge of the Earth.
"It worked!" Light murmured to her. He sounded relieved.
Cheers rose from the other crew members. Avy just smiled in amazement and relief as the Arcadia flew across the abyss towards the gateway.
Light stared into it. Then he turned. "Hard to port, Grim," he called to one of the men.
The ship turned. Light called Ray forward, "If I don't make it," he told him, "the ship is yours, man." He saluted the rest of the crew. "Gentlemen, it's been a privilege robbing with you."
Avy understood immediately. Light wasn't going to risk his crew's life. He was planning to go into the Abyss alone.
She stepped forward, "I'm coming with you."
Light started to say something. But she cut him off. "You don't tell me the realm of Darkness and Chaos is no place for a woman," she warned.
Light pulled her towards him. He wrapped a rope around her waist, then around himself too.
"I would never say that babe," he told her while smirking.
Avy smiled. She held on as Light jumped over the rail and swung them towards the arched gateway.
♤ • • • ♤
To be continued...