Chapter 16 Head Smack

"How long does that thing intend to chase us?"

Ernest ignored Ioan's question and focused on running.  They vaulted over boulders left by the flash floods.  The erosion had weakened the walls which collapsed here and there; revealing scores of man-sized grubs devouring fresh roots.  They continued running through the gullies, avoiding the Warwicks that gorged on plants, burning them to increase their numbers.  Wherever Warwick and grub met, conflict arose.  In all the chaos, new threats took to the skies.  Newer.  Bigger.  Hungry threats.

"That beetle-thing is huge! Like five times my size!  How is that thing flying?"

No response from Ernest.

"It's covered in all that black armor.  I don't know if its size means the armor is strong, but those sharp pointy bits it has for limbs look dangerous enough.  And then to top it all off (apparently) it spits acid-"

Ioan was cut off as a blob of green goo sizzled past his hair, liquefying stone.

"-like it's doing right now!"

They avoided the toxic phlegm puddle and dived under a stone arch.  It was little more than a speed bump for their flying pursuer.

"I mean where is it keeping it all? How much acid do you think those things have Ernest?"
"Too much.  Quick in here."

There was a small crack in the canyon wall.  A welcome sight for something that would otherwise have been a dead end.  They squeeze inside just as the bug crashed into the sandstone wall.  One of its massive scythes scratched at the entrance, questing for soft skinned morsels.  Ioan kicked at the limb a few times before Ernest dragged him further in.  After a few futile scrapes it glanced inside and gave a sound of frustration.  Then it was gone.

"Whew that was close.  Glad we finally found a safe place."
"We need to leave Ioan."
"I know the bug left, but it might still be out there Ernest."
"This isn't a safe place Ioan."

Sensing that Ernest wanted them to move carefully, Ioan looked at what he was so concerned about.  They were in a natural dome.  Above them the cave-like walls opened up to a massive raised ceiling.  A single circular hole filled the cavern with harsh sunlight.  In the darkness there were small specks of glowing light from grub mounds.  Around those grub mounds, Ioan saw what Ernest was talking about.  Cocoons.  Lots of cocoons. 

"Cripes, the bloody things cover this place from the ground up to the top.  How are we supposed to get out Ernest?"
"Very slowly Ioan.  And from the way we entered."

Their shelter shook as something heavy landed above.  Their eyes watched as the light shaft flicked in and out as it moved.

"Mrrgg.."
Ernest snapped his hand over Ioan's mouth.
"Mmrrmm...ghh..  huk..huk.." 
Ernest glared at Ioan as the coughing sound continued.  Ioan's eyes were wide, his hands pleaded innocence.  Whatever was up there took notice of the strange sounds.  Each of its steps sounded like a giant knocking.

"Nrst IP Mmreeder-"
"What?"  Ernest removed his hand just enough so Ioan could speak.
"Reader-It's-Reader-coming-to!"

Ernest craned his neck and sure enough Reader's eyes were flickering.  Ernest didn't like what he saw.  Reader was coughing up something sticky all over his shoulder.

The shaft of light flickered to nothing.  Replaced by a luminescent eye that looked down at the three morsels below. 

"It's the beetle Ernest."
"I know.  Come on move out the back.  Quick."

The light returned.  It brought a claw.  One strike.  Two strikes.

"Out the back Ioan come on, stop staring at it."

Three strikes, four.  The hole got bigger.

"I can take it Ernest.  I got this."

Ernest stopped shoving Ioan towards the entrance they came through.  At the end of the cramped corridor was a distinctive blue fire light. 

"Alright we do it your way Ioan.  Up.  Get up!"

The vampire needed no more encouragement.  He leapt from cocoon to cocoon to reach the exit.  More light came into the cave and where it struck a bundle of silk, the thing inside wriggled to life.  Ernest mimicked Ioan as best he could with Reader on his back.  He made quick work of the first few, till he ran into silk walls covered in what felt like glue.  His fist sank into one.  Something inside moved.  Try as he might the stuff stuck to his sleeve.  A foot got stuck next.  Whatever was inside was investigating his shoe.  He kicked his foot in deeper till it stopped struggling.  The cavern was getting brighter, but not with yellow light.  With blue.  Glancing up Ernest saw that Ioan had made it to the sunlit hole.

A black scythe came in like a hook and fished Ioan out. 

Ernest grimaced.  But he had to focus on his own plight.  Just as he got his foot out the cocoon the one holding his hand revealed a miniature version of the beetle up above.  It was large as a dog with a face only an entomologist could love. It gave an impressive screech which went higher in pitch once Ernest shoved his fist through its abdomen.  With a deep breath he wrenched out his stuck arm, shook the dead beetle hatchling off his other hand and plodded on.  Down below he could hear a struggle between Warwicks and newly hatched beetles grow in intensity.  It wasn't long before the cavern was filled with blue flames.  The sunlit hole crawled with new beetle hatchlings which he encouraged to buzz off with a few kicks.  He couldn't tell whether or not it was a good time to go outside, but the sound of the bigger beetle -making what sounded like a victory screech- left him with little choice.  He crawled out. 

Sunlight.  Blinding sunlight.  The glare quickly faded as Ernest took a look of his surroundings.  He recognized the sharp black stalks of what must be the bug.  He dodged around them and took shade under the screaming creature's bulk.  Looking around he noticed that the bug was struggling with something in its front appendages.  Another loud cry, this time from an impaled Ioan.

The vampire laughed despite the fact that he was run-through.  His blackened tongue had snaked its way between hardened plates of his adversary which allowed him to suck away at the beetle's juices.  The bug made another horrified shriek before swiping the vampiric leech off its arm.  With the obstruction out of Ioan's chest, the injury stitched together and was healed by the time he rebounded off the stone floor. He tried to rush at the beetle, dodging a swipe at his head.  It hopped back and hissed at him.  Denied closure, Ioan hissed back. It pulled back its head and spat out a glob of acid.  Ioan was ready and dodged most of the green gunk.  To the beetle's shock, the little fleshy thing spat some acid back.

While the bug was distracted, Ernest used his claws to dig into the beetle's carapace, allowing him to get on the thing's back.  Now the predator was prey.  The beetle tried to figure out which soft skinned ant to go for.  It danced in circles in an attempt to send Ernest off its back, while avoiding the strange leech at its legs.  Down in the cave below, blue flames spat out of the circular hole as the struggle reached its crescendo. 

"Get up here Ioan!"
"I'm trying the thing won't- Grah! It won't stand still!"

Ernest punched the beetle's head hard enough to crack the shell, distracting it long enough for Ioan to get on top.  Terrified, the bug opened up its wings and took to the sky. 

From their new vantage point, the clinging pair could make out what was happening below.  It looked like a war zone down there.  Large formations of Warwicks marched like fiery ants, swarming over munching grubs trapped in pockets of growth.  Beetles filled the sky, diving on clumps of Warwicks, scattering them and eating whatever got stuck on their scythes.  Plant pods burst, sending large airborne seeds into the skies.  Gusts of wind choked the lungs with dense pollen mixed with the sand.  Beyond the canyon conflicts was the massive desert.  Its numerous blooms matched by the growing clumps of aggressive forces.  Above it all was the blazing sun watching the war for resources with its fiery eye.

"Ioan do you think you can control this thing's flight?"

Ernest's claws left tracks in the thing's armor as he held on.  He snatched at Reader who nearly flew off his back. 

"I can try Ernest, keep these two plate joints separate."

The two pinned Reader between them, and then Ernest went to work.  His claws gripped the underside of the beetle's armored plates, holding open the joint between head and body.  Ioan got close, and shot his tongue in.  The beetle jolted, causing Ernest's grip to slip and pinch Ioan's tongue between the plates.

"Unnn!! UN! UNN!"
"Sorry Ioan."

With a grunt Ernest tugged at the segments until the crack he made earlier widened, allowing Ioan to fish his tongue deeper.  The bug shuddered a few times, and then stopped flying erratically. 

"You did it!"
Ioan beamed an impressive smile for a vampire with his tongue out. 

Ernest took the time to look at Reader - lips and eyes were moving, but there was no recognition in those eyes.  Reader then began to vomit black fluid.  Ernest's expression turned dark.  Ioan turned just enough to see what was going on.

"Dat's naught gud."
"You're right Ioan.  This is really not good."

With the sunlight, there was no mistaking that Reader's eyes were getting cloudy as if being filled on the inside with ink.  And then there was the skin.  And body.  The skin contorted and danced as the body writhed to some silent song.  Small black beads rolled off the skin instead of sweat.  A constant dribble of black fluid came out of the nose and eye ducts. 

All the while Reader's lips moved.  Reciting some foreign conversation that must have been happening inside. 

The beetle bucked.  Ioan snapped his attention forward while Ernest covered Reader's body with his own.  Their flying bug clipped another.  The hit and run brought on the attention of other flying bugs, who took notice of their companion's riders. 

"Take us down Ioan!"

The vampire grunted as he swished his tongue around.  Ernest clung on as the beetle rolled in the sky.  It rose suddenly then dive bombed.  Reader's body slipped out into free fall.  Ernest soon followed.  Opportunistic beetles took hold of the falling Reader's body.  Ioan got enough control of his mount to crash into it.  Ernest clawed at one and missed, ripping the beetle's wings and sending both spiraling out of control.  In the maelstrom of sky, scythes and patient earth, Ernest's world filled with the pain of colliding into something soft on the outside, but boney on the inside.  It was Ioan.  With tongue no longer in control, they soon tumbled off their ride into the hot sand dunes below.  Ernest got up as quickly as he could, and like an automaton on a mission he began searching for any signs of Reader.  Ioan's world was still spinning as he circled to his feet. 

The beetle was hissing at the vampire, and Ioan pointed at one of the three beetles he saw, daring it to fight.  He stumbled back as a larger predator insect pounced on the beetle, immediately ripping into the bug like a can opener to get at the gooey flesh inside.  Ioan got his wits about him and moved behind the dune before this new bug took interest in dessert. 

Ernest found Reader further down the depression.  Amber light filled with space between dunes with deep pools of shade, plant bunches and canyon bits.  He jogged over to Reader.  He was glad to see that Reader was on those feet again. 

Where am I?

Walking about. 
Not this place again.  No water. No food. Constantly hunted.

The closer Ernest got the more concerned he became. 

Running low on ammo. No suitable replacement resources. | Wait ammo? What am I thinking about? I don't have a weapon.

Reader was walking around alright, but what stood there wasn't Reader as he remembered. 

Companions.  Dead.  Natives sacrificed them. | Companions? Ernest? Ioan? No they can't be dead! Wait.  These faces. I don't know these faces. 

The entire body was covered by a black film. 

Injuries are getting worse.  Infection is spreading.  |  Am I sick?

The strange gauntlet lock was the only distinguished feature that stayed constant.  The rest of the body rippled and contorted. 

The rain was a false gift.  The growth only brought more conflict.  | Did it rain? How long was I out?  Aargh... why... why does  my head hurt so much?

Bubbles formed like the surface of a tar pit.  When they burst, strange collections of color and images appeared like vapor.

More of those things are coming.  I need to find shelter.  I need water.  | These aren't my memories.  Who is this?

"Reader!"
Ernest caught up to the stumbling shape.  It seemed shocked to see him.  Then it lunged, grabbing on like a drowning man.  The face contorted into a semblance of a desperate smile. 

"You're alive! There is hope yet! -Ern-est.. Something's wrong with me- Did you find it?  Did you?"
"Did I find what Reader?"
"Reader? That's not my name."

The face gave a contorted look of confusion and frustration.  The eyes showed a deep internal conflict, as if some memory was lodged away in the back of a dehydrated mind; behind some crevice buried under junk.  Then those eyes rolled back.  That face stretched and deformed bringing a familiar voice to the surface, speaking angrily through the melting-wax of a mouth.

"That's not my name Ernest," it bubbled.  "I don't know why you keep calling me that.  My name.  My name is-"

The whole thing rippled - the black film bursting goo all over Ernest - then the body went limp.  Without hesitating, Ernest threw Reader over his shoulder and looked around.  Ioan wasn't in sight, but there were plenty of bugs in the sky.  He felt a tremor, then another one in a rhythmic pattern.  Looking at the ground he could see bits of sand jumping to the beat.  A long shadow vaguely shaped like a walking pillar of flame filled the depression between dunes.  Ernest ran for cover amongst some scattered boulder chunks.  Behind him, in the direction of the old town, came a true giant of a Warwick.  Much larger than the one they dealt with in the skies.  Giant would be too small to describe it.  It was a titan.  Its massive form crawled with skeletal frames.  The thousands of fused faces breathed in unison, giving the whole bulk a visible pulse to its flame.  It gestured to a growing shadow to the East. 

In a body shaking growl it declared, "The foul creatures will not defile our paradise!  Purge this filth!"

Behind it a deep call of approval shook the ground as the pale sky filled with gouts of blue flame.  The Warwicks marched behind their giants towards some distant threat to the East.  Their numbers filling the land as far as one could see.  As if in response to their battle cries, a low drone filled the air with a constant clicking sound and the beat of a swarm moving on gossamer wings. 

"I need to get out of here." Ernest muttered to himself. 
"Did you find it..?"
"Find what?  Reader?"

He felt movement on his back.  Reader was coming to again.  He lowered the body into what he hoped was a comfortable position, one eye on Reader, the other on the conflict.  A blob that must've been an arm burst, revealing a hand, not as Ernest remembered Reader having.  Oily film sucked in and out over where the head should be, simulating breathing.  Ernest watched in discomfort, not knowing whether or not Reader was actually able to breathe through that covering.  The black film of Reader's face rippled as something underneath tried to come to the surface.  Then.  It burst.  The substance slinked away from half of the face.  A familiar looking eye looked at him with recognition.  The other half was a pool of black fluid that had no visible bottom.

"Ernest.  You know my name isn't Reader."
"I know.  You can tell me later."
"Why...al-always with the later... *sigh* Sure.  I'm just glad we're okay.  We're okay right?"
"Yeah Reader, we're okay."
"What's wrong Ernest?  There's something you're not telling me."

Ernest couldn't disagree.  That familiar eye and those features gave an expression of concern.

"Ernest.  What's wrong?  Is there something on my face?"

He pushed some of the hair away from that face.  He brushed that hair gently to expose the head injury.  It wasn't healed.  It was spilling out ink at a steady rate like a mountain spring. 

"You could say something like that Reader."

That face gave a wiry smile.

"You always say these weird things.  Do you have a mirror on you Ernest?"
Ernest felt the mirror in his pocket like a lead weight. 

"No."

The face scrunched up curiously.

"I'm sure you had a mirror before.  Now that I think about it, we went through those caves... where was your flashlight?"

"I lost it in the storm."

"Ernest.  You're ... lying to me..?"
"No.  I lost the flashlight in the storm."
"Ernest what is wrong with my face?"
"Nothing."

It looked back unconvinced.  It was such a strange experience.  Ernest's own features gave away his discomfort. 

"Well.  I'm sure you have a reason not to tell me right now.."
"Yes Reader.  Let's... focus on getting out of here first.  Then we can see to your ... injury."
"Is it that bad looking Ernest?"

His expression was all Reader needed to know that something was wrong.  It was something that Ernest must not have experienced before.  Or something that he wasn't sure how to deal with.  There was little time to dwell on these thoughts.  The sounds of battle were matching the beat of Reader's throbbing headache which returned with a vengeance; along with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.  

"I'm... getting really tired Ernest."
"We'll be out of here soon Reader.  I promise."
"Mm.."

Ernest put Reader on his back and took a peak around their hiding spot.  Waves and waves of Warwicks were marching into a -deep- all consuming cloud.  Their flames becoming ghostly emissions before vanishing entirely.  The once life filled landscape was now a scarred wasteland of ash and burned corpses.  The sun blotted out by dark clouds.  Ernest had a feeling they weren't filled with rain.  Ioan still wasn't in sight. 

"Where am I supposed to go?  What am I supposed to do?" Ernest whispered out loud. 
"Did you find it?"
"What?"