My Insanity (The Insanity Series Book 1)

by Martin Länger

  “You're quick,” Emily greeted him, as he stepped through the almost collapsing door of the house.

  “Well, I know what I had to look for,” he scrunched his nose.

  “Are you ready to go?” the aspect asked Emily, who already jumped up.

  The three followed Gieldan to a canal that was at the side of the cliff, next to where the crypt had been constructed. Just as they thought, there was a sewage system also built in underneath, large enough for them to enter.

  “You really think that’s a good idea?” Emily's aspect asked worryingly.

  “It's a start,” she turned herself towards Olivia. “You will stay here, Olivia,” Emily said to her newfound friend as she put her arms around her.

  Not being able to answer her, the enthusiastic woman continued “Don't worry about me. We won't leave you behind, but you have a very important task ahead of you.” She took her by the shoulder.

  “You have to be ready to secure any of the people we manage to save. I'm sure a lot of them will be disoriented or scared. I need you here because I believe in you, Olivia.”

  The young girl didn't know how to respond to that, and so Emily nodded to her in agreement before climbing into the sewer, followed by Gieldan, as both of them disappeared into the darkness of the canal, leaving Olivia and Ansia all to themselves.

  Chapter 13 – Imprisonment

  Left alone without another choice, the black haired woman was fighting her own battle, as she thought about what she should do until Emily returned. Getting more and more impatient at the mere glance of the dark sewage canal, she eventually sat herself down on a fallen log. Complete silence surrounded her. Olivia tried to control, even somewhat stop her breathing, so that she didn't have to hear it time and time again. Slight fog started to cover the town as she looked around. The light of the moons reflected itself in the puddles of water around the canal. With every continued heartbeat she was reminded of the blunt strokes she heard in the arena. They wouldn't leave her alone while her body started twitching in response. In her bewilderment she started to chew on her fingernails, hoping to relieve some of the stress she was feeling.

  Olivia flinched as a hand started to move on her shoulder, moving towards her neck. It was Ansia who slowly got closer to her. She started to hug her while her tender lips were touching Olivia's ear.

  “Do you see what happens? You've been left alone once more. She forced this on you. They are all the same. Nobody cares what we think or feel. We don't need them. Let's get out of here while we still can,” Ansia whispered.

  “NO! Emily needs me…”

  The aspect cut her off as she answered. “If that's the case, then why did she leave you here all alone? Isn't that just more proof that I'm the only one who will stay by your side no matter what? I bet she just wants to die on her own so that she doesn’t have to deal with us any longer.”

  “But… she said she needs us…” Olivia’s voice started to crack as the seed of doubt started to grow inside her mind.

  “Shh… Olivia, my sweet child.” Ansia pulled her tightly towards her chest.

  “Don't be afraid. I know it's hard to accept the ugly truth that we're all alone, but I won't leave your side… ever. Forget about that hypocrite and focus on us, just like back then.”

  She silently accepted Ansia’s words inside her heart. She even thought her aspect was right in her own way since Ansia had always been by her side. Maybe it was time for her to accept that humans can only rely on themselves, no matter in which world they're trapped. Her doubts grew with every word that left her aspect’s lips, as Ansia clung closer to her body with her long black claws fondling over the young woman’s body.

  “Maybe you're right… maybe the only way to get rid of all this pain is to detach myself from everybody. After all, who can understand me if not my aspect?” the young woman mumbled in a hopeless sigh.

  “Of course I'm right. That's what I've been saying to since the day we met. We don't need someone else to be happy. What counts in our reality is you and me,” the aspect cautiously whispered to her.

  “After all, I couldn't have done anything anyway,” Olivia answered. “That's why they're leaving me because I can't do shit on my own. FINE! If you want to die by yourself then do it,” she exclaimed. “Then I don't need them either.” Tears were beginning to roll off her cheeks as she spoke those words.

  “Shh, darling,” the black claw of her aspect cautiously wiped away the tears. “I'm with you, Olivia. Don't concern yourself with anything else. We will leave this rotten town and return to Lussuria where we are safe. Everything will be as it was before,” she comforted her.

  Ansia took her arms off of her human partner, trying to stand her up.

  “That's it, take my hand.” Graciously her long arm extended to Olivia and encompassed Olivia’s hand. She twitched again, as she felt a slight piercing pain in her fingertips. It came from the finger that Emily had bandaged herself with a piece of her dress.

  “Oh, please forgive me, Olivia. I forgot about your finger,” Ansia apologized on the side. “But this too will pass, I promise,” she extended her arm again towards her.

  This time the same obedient reaction didn't follow. Olivia still looked at her wounded finger, as she reminisced about Emily. The way she laughed as if her heart was full of joy. The words that could encourage everyone around her. Her infectious, bright smile. Even Olivia’s aspect realized that the atmosphere around the black haired lady started to change.

  “Huh? What's up, Olivia?” Ansia asked innocently and surprised.

  “We will wait for her,” Olivia answered abruptly as she jumped up and took a step forward on the dried mud underneath her feet.

  “EXCUSE ME?!” Ansia seemed staggered. “Why should we wait for that traitorous bitch? We don't even know her. I bet she lied about liking us. It was just a feint to gain our trust. Don't you remember what happened last time, Olivia?!”

  “I remember,” a quick answer followed. “I remember how helpless and dumb I felt when we arrived here. Everything changed as it broke down before my eyes. More so than ever before, and I begged for shelter,” she paused at that point, even though it was the first time she spoke without her voice breaking while arguing.

  “We should wait for her. We owe her at least that much.”

  Ansia, however, seemed to be more and more agitated with every argument.

  “Everyone can fake a laugh, Olivia. I cannot always protect you from the piercing, harsh truth. We have to work together. First and foremost you have to trust me,” Ansia tried to persuade her as she stroke her claws over woman’s face.

  “I know you care about me. Just like Gieldan does for Emily, but somehow I have a gut feeling that this time will be different. A feeling as if it this time, it wasn't a lie.”

  Eventually, Olivia stopped frowning, as a little smile was brought forth on her face because she couldn't believe that she would be capable of uttering these words. Her doubt was rooted deep in her heart, but also a form of pride found itself growing inside of her. At least one more time she wanted to try to trust someone. She folded her hands onto her chest and turned away from Ansia. In shock, her aspect threw herself off of her.

  “Ksk, that damned whore. You will pay for that one day,” she hissed as she floated away.

  Meanwhile, Emily and Gieldan were still on their way through the dark sewage tunnels. The paths lead to wide, wet passageways that were connected to each other. All of them were leading to a dungeon they found at the end of the path. Everything was even dirtier than around the pit from before, and the disgusting smells of feces, mold and general trash arose.

  As they both covered their mouth, Emily signaled Gieldan to hurry as she wanted to go in and out as fast as she could.

  “I have a bad feeling of leaving Olivia alone with that aspect of hers,” she whispered to the man at her side while they were cautiously sneaking around. There was an aroma of rotten flesh and sweat that burned in their noses as the haze made its wa
y through the canals.

  “We shouldn't trust them so easily. I bet they're already gone…” he eventually answered. “Ouch,” it spurted out from him directly afterward as Emily pulled at his long hair. “What was that for?”

  “Stop being so distrusting. It doesn't fit your handsome appearance. I bet she's already frightened enough as it is without us bitching about her. Concentrate on our task at hand, okay?” she scolded him as they felt their way through the dark. Eventually, they reached a point where single torches were lit at the side of the walls that were not of the crypt, but the mountain itself the building had been incorporated into. Water came out of little holes inside the stone walls, and the disgusting smell intensified with every step they took until they reached the end.

  They stumbled upon a narrow anteroom with seven corresponding corridors.

  Just as they were cluelessly guessing which way to go, they heard a soft whimpering and moaning coming from one of the pathways. Immediately Emily stormed forward, closely followed by her aspect.

  It didn't take long until all their suspicions and expectations were fulfilled by the bitter reality in front of them after they arrived at a corridor that also served as a cell block. With a disturbed expression, Emily examined the cells where many bodies had simply been stapled on top of each other to a massive pile. Most of them weren't moving anymore, and the bodies that did move were hiding in the corners or wallowed in their own filth. Many of them had no clothing and were cowering in fear when Emily made eye contact with them, if they were able to move at all.

  “How could they do this to living and breathing beings?!” Emily was raging with anger.

  “Calm down, Emily. We have to make sure, whether we are able to help them at all. Most of them look disfigured or distraught, which makes it impossible to get all of them out of here at once,” explained Gieldan who closely inspected the bars, scaring most of the prisoners even more. Eventually, some frantic voices could be heard after all.

  “Leave us in peace.”

  “No, no, no … stop! I'M NOT READY!”

  “I can't go on like this, please. Take that guy over there! He deserves to die!”

  “Please, kill me. I don't care how you do it. Just end this suffering already…”

  Emily rushed to Gieldan’s side and spoke to the captives.

  “We don't want to hurt you, please don't be afraid. We're here to help you escape,” but her well-meant words couldn't reach anyone.

  The only things she received were more turmoil and frightened whimpering as they crawled further into their cells. Every following word she said was met by silence. Right as she almost gave up hope and sank down on her knees, a voice replied to them at the end of the cell.

  “A-are you r-really here to save us?” a young woman asked timidly. She was like the rest, covered in wounds and scratches. Ragged and dirty pieces of linen cloth were her only clothing. She could barely stand as her legs looked like they would give in any moment.

  “If th-that’s tr-true… then w-we will come with…” she stuttered. Surprisingly more voices reached out to her from the dark chambers that were encouraged by the woman who took the first brave step. Emily's face started to gleam as she realized that her words didn't fall on deaf ears.

  “Great!” she shouted in excitement. “Come with us, we will get you out of here.” She started to point at the man by her side. “This is my aspect Gieldan, he will protect you.”

  After these words, the eagerness inside the cells rose as well, while Gieldan clicked his tongue. “Ksk, you're not keeping any secrets are you, Emily?” while also grinning as he gained more admirers.

  He got into position, and in an instant, the bars were cut through so that the rest of them were falling into place to make an entrance. The figures from within followed through and made their mournful way out.

  “Are you really a human? And you still have your aspect? We’re truly lucky,” an old man concluded while looking at Emily as he stepped out.

  “You old fool, as if it matters who gets us out of this shithole,” scolded him a young man behind his back, but he still went on.

  “I thought we were the only ones here. You have my thanks. I really don't know what to say.”

  “That I really see the day where a human rescues a Persona,” a woman, roughly in her thirties from the looks of it, emerged next to the old man.

  “Hmpf, it would've have mattered what you are. When my little lady gets something stuck in her head, then she will follow it through,” Gieldan wrinkled his nose.

  Emily's smile grew with every sentence, and she got herself up to help the few that followed out of their cells. It was a moment of euphoria and bliss. Until mere moments ago, most of them were without hope and willpower to even breathe their next breath, ready to die at any moment, until it all changed. Most of them were gathered around Gieldan in continued admiration, marveling his red-gold engraved blades. In turn, others were hugging Emily in tears and expressed their gratitude.

  “We should hurry, our luck might not be permanent. At the latest when they need new people for their games, we will be exposed,” Gieldan interrupted the joyful moment. Emily nodded, and they continued their search for prisoners who wanted to escape. But with every passing cell more and more were discouraged, even though their support had risen exponentially. The hopelessness of this place had engulfed their hearts fully.

  Ultimately, they managed to rescue nineteen people. Even Emily had to heavy-heartedly admit that they could not take everyone with them. She couldn't bring herself to force the remaining ones. Yet, this tiny shimmer of hope invigorated the few that were coming with Emily, making their way quickly to the anteroom.

  “Hurry, which way did you two come from? If we don't make this quick, Akui will return”

  “Akui?” Gieldan asked.

  Just as he expected an answer, they heard heavy footsteps moving in the pathway behind them. Followed by the rattling of a chainmail that echoed through their ears. A deep voice resounded in their ears.

  “A whole herd of little sacrificial lambs that aren't where they belong. Malice won't like that at all. I fear that I will have to bring you to him at once,” a sinister growl ensued bringing every escapee to shake in their boots.

  Two last steps could be heart until a gigantic monstrosity emerged from the shadows of the corridor behind them.

  It was a beast on two legs, being twice the size of Gieldan and thrice as wide, with a dark purplish skin color. Unexpectedly, only a small portion of his massive body was protected by armor. Merely a half broken metal helmet with two horns, two shoulder plates, and a scratched breast-plate that went down to his waist were shielding his body. Underneath the damaged helmet they could see an equally battered up face, which was marked by scars and deformations.

  From his lower jaw, a broken off fang could be seen, that looked like it held his mouth in place.

  In his hands, he held a black, iron glaive. The grips of the pole were littered with decorated skulls and covered in gray bandages, which were already exfoliating.

  Reflexively Gieldan got into position and covered the group.

  In the whiff of the moment, he pulled out his daggers, resembling little flames that engulfed his body. This illusion was only furthered by his fast reflexes and the color combination of his blades that were spun around him as he got ready.

  The many edges of the branchlike blades made it seem like they were glowing in the light of the torches. Meanwhile, Emily showed the escapees the way, as well giving them the most important instructions, with Olivia awaiting them at the end of the canals. They were reluctant for a moment until the panic inside of them won and they began to run without turning back again.

  The patience of the colossus had already been diminished. He flexed the muscles in his weapon arm and squatted down. With a loud bang, he ejected himself off the stone floor, bursting the place he stood on into pieces, hurling towards Emily. The giant glaive in his hand was ready to decapitate her. With a
heavy impact, his weapon collided with the blades of Gieldan, who elegantly blocked the attacked meant for his partner.

  “Hitting on the only girl around here already? Pace yourself, big guy. The party has just started”, spoke Gieldan with confidence while winking condescendingly at his opponent. With these words, he pushed the giant off of him and brought some distance between them.

  “Why are you aspects always so blatantly naive? You yearn for your materialization and have not the slightest clue who or what you're messing with,” the giant huffed deeply, as if he prepared something. “It really always seems like I don't have a choice but to rip apart every living human in this world.”

  “Ha, then you must really be quite incompetent when it comes to your work,” taunted Gieldan, making the beast rage even more.

  “How dare you?! Since an eternity I've been with master Malice, who thanked me for my excellent service and loyalty with this weapon.”

  “That dull thing you got there? I cannot say that I'm overly impressed,” the aspect laughed self-assuredly.

  “Enough words, little aspect. I am Akui, the warden of this crypt. Your existence will end here. The dreams of humans are meant to wither and die.”

  Gieldan tightened his grip, trying not to let his enemy noticed that he tensed up. With a serious look on his face, and without turning back, he spoke to Emily.

  “Listen well, Emily. I know you want to support me, but this is unlike anything we've faced in the other cities. One wrong move and both of us will die. That's why I beg of you – get your butt to safety.”

  “Never,” she answered abruptly and indignantly. She took up a stance behind his back and focused her sight at the disgusting beast.

  “Haha, what else is new? I should've known better than to order you around,” he rebelled back at her, while also starting to smile dauntlessly.

  “Well then, Emily, I hope you're ready to live with the consequences of your choices. This time there is no turning back.”