Geist Warriors 2: Chapter 11

Dick awoke with his face against the cold hard ground, rocks poking his face. His head ached and he pushed himself over onto his side. The moment he did he felt the bindings on his wrist as he rolled even further to fall flat on his back. Staring at the ceiling or whatever that dark spot up there was he sighed.

“Where am I?”

Sitting up slowly he turned and stared at the bars in front of him. It was some make shift cell and to make it worse he restraints on. Twist ties from the feel of it. Rolling backwards a few times he found a wall and pressed his back against it. He began to push himself to standing up right.

Walking toward the bars he leaned against one of them and it was cool to touch. He tried to call his chains but he couldn’t focus enough to get them to manifest. Scowling he tried one more time before just giving up entirely and leaning against the bars. “Bueno, not getting out that way.”

He remembered fighting with Samantha, getting caught by the rogues and getting knocked out. Moving quickly he looked around but didn’t see her with him. Did they not take her too? Or worse did they kill her? The thought made his heart twist and he took that thought and threw it across the room. “Samantha’s alive. I’ll figure my way out of here and then see her. She’s probably annoyed and looking for me.”

Walking toward the bars he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Looking around he could barely make out a stone hallway. Something like shelves lining them with lots of tattered old cloths.

“Why did they bring me here?”

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?”

Dick stiffened as he stood up to the voice. His brother walked over, standing in front of the cell with the exact face he imagined. Granted that wasn’t hard to imagine. Dick felt his heart tearing as he spoke but he couldn’t look away. “Yeah you said to leave. But this is mi casa. I’m not gonna abandon it.”

He chuckled, “You sound like I always imagined you would.”

“And you sound. No se Rey,” he moved to rub his hands through hair but he couldn’t reach. “Why am I here?”

“I need someone of my own blood to become whole again,” he tapped his own chest. “To finish what was started.”

“What happened to you?”

Lowering his head Rey took a few steps toward the wall then shook his head. “The honest answer?”

“It’d be the easiest one.”

Rey laughed. “I died. The night the wraith attacked us. It killed mama. Papa. And it devoured me. Everything that made me me was eradicated that day. But then for some reason a year ago, I was pieced back together. Reborn from an ether older than you or me or any force humanity has ever known. I was born again lost, confused and clinging to life.”

He looked at Dick and for the first time since meeting his brother again he felt the alienness of him. The way his brother looked at him, made him shudder and take a hesitant step back. “I didn’t find clarity until I ate my first human. Devoured him like a starving animal. It brought knowledge, of what I was, how I came back to life. And what I had to do. To keep hunting. To keep searching.”

“Then came the wraiths. Eager to turn me into an easy meal. Something young and defenseless. And that’s how I gained this.” He held his hand out and the whip appeared in his hand. Grasping the shaft, the chain clinked across the ground as he raised it. “This has saved my life numerous times. And fed me an equal amount.”

The weapon disappeared and he looked at his brother. “The more I ate the more I learned. Learned of wraiths and the geist warriors and the fact that I was something wrong. Not a warrior, not a wraith and definitely human. Some sort of thing stuck between them all. But the more I ate, the more I remembered what little life I had before I was eaten. Of you and our familia.”

Dick stared at the being that was his brother, what his brother had become and didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to process this bevy of information and it showed on his face. Glancing away, Rey let out a breath and stared at the ground. “I don’t expect you to understand it Richard. I just barely understand it myself. And unfortunately, this will be the last time we meet like this.”

“What are you talking about?”

Rey touched his chest and took a very slow breath. “My form, the way it is now. It is unstable. And if I don’t fix it soon I’ll die.”

“Then let me help you. My friends and I. We can figure something out.”

“You don’t understand Richard,” walking toward the cell he pointed at his brother. “I was born because of you. I was given form because of you. My life is tied to you.”

“And by allowing him to devour you, you can help your brother. Truly help him,” said another voice. Smooth like a snakes subtle hiss. Something he didn’t recognize but he was all too familiar with. Flash backs to that night a year ago.

Instead of seeing that wraith he saw a well dressed figure. He couldn’t guess its gender. Its long hair was swept back and a burning smile rested on its face. Both arms behind its back it approached and Rey stepped aside lowering his gaze.

“Devour me?” Dick repeated and looked at his brother.

“Twins are truly a marvelous thing,” the wraith said. “When a mistake such as he is born, the forces that give us life seek to correct it. And in its eyes, there’re few ways to restore that balance. Your brother doesn’t have much time left.”

Dick stared at his brother and Rey looked back but he couldn’t meet his brother’s eyes for long. Moving over his brother leaned his shoulder against a nearby wall and his shoulders sagged. The wraith squeezed his shoulder and a small glow of light jumped between them and Rey shuddered. But he was able to stand up again.

“It is almost time. I suggest we complete you before the time is here. You’ll need some time to recover afterwards.”

Rey nodded hesitantly. Walking toward the cell he gripped the bars and slowly swung it open, a sharp screech echoing as it scraped the ground. Grabbing his brother’s arm tightly, but not painfully he pulled him forward. Dick stumbled before catching himself and stared at his brother.

The wraith turned around and folded its arms behind its back leading the way but the twins were slow to move. “You want to kill me Rey?” Dick asked staring at his brother.

“No. I told you to leave. More than once.”

“And what would you have done if I left?”

“Found substitutes.”

Dick dug in his heels for a second and Rey stumbled turning to stare at his brother. “What does that mean?”

“It means I wouldn’t have to kill you.”

The brothers glared at one another and it must have looked interesting to an onlooker. “Never would I want innocent people to die in my place.”

Rey let go of his arm and laughed. A sound that was dry as sand paper and sad even to Dick. They started walking again slowly and they were silent. They didn’t talk much and the echo of their footsteps on the ground was muted. Dick glanced at the walls and saw what must have been coffins or at least the remains of them. Old rotted boxes with skeletons poking through and plant life creeping up.

Dick kept his gaze down before glancing at his brother. “You came back to life a year ago right?”

The question surprised him and he nodded. “Yes. If I trace the time back I was suddenly alive a year ago. No idea who or what I was.”

“Last year is when we killed the wraith that killed mama y papa. The one that ate you.”

Rey looked at his brother, missing a step. He was silent for a long moment but nodded finally. “It makes sense. You released me. With it being killed for whatever reason I was allowed to come back. Perhaps you awakening your geist awakened my soul as well. And that’s what wants me to consume you. Turn me from this hybrid into something more. I’m tied to you in more ways than one Richard.”

“Seems so,” Dick frowned harder as he looked at him. His twin’s face was torn, a hard frown tearing at his mouth and his eyes down cast but he didn’t stop walking. Dick didn’t either, not wanting to force his hand at this point.

The disjointed trio walked down the entirety of the hall and into an open chamber. It was a wide box of a place with a tall ceiling. More of those coffins lining the wall at least three levels deeper. There were a few glimpses of light from strange blue torches.

Dick looked back in front of him and saw a short set of steps leading up to an altar. When his gaze scanned the area he saw the two rogue’s in the area watching him. Hunter looked bored and Bruce’s face was blank. The other wraith walked to the top of the stairs. Dick glanced over his shoulder at his brother and the torn look remained.

As he finally approached the wraith approached him and tilted its head slowly. “There. The twin to my associate and the key to his salvation. Tonight, you will free him. Be glad about that. Become more than this shell.”  It rested a hand on Dick’s shoulder and the pressure that was there almost made him flinch away.

But he stood his ground and glared at it.

“That fire inside you. It’s what I expect from you warriors.”

“We’re going to stop you,” Dick replied. “If I don’t my friends will. We’ll stop you.”

“Such a bold statement. You think highly of your friends,” it said and Dick nodded quickly.

“I always have. Always will.”

The wraith smiled and pressed his hand against Dick’s shoulder harder. Something passed between them that caused his ears to ring. His eyes rolled back and he let out a grunt. He felt the hands of the wraith digging into his head and grip at the depths of his soul. His knees wobbled and he felt himself sink to his knees.

Grunting at the impact he stared upwards and felt his body grow weaker. It was like he’d run a mile or three. The wraith let out a hiss of pleasure and chuckled darkly. “Such power. Such life. Yes. He will be everything that you need. Follow the steps of the old ones and devour him. Become whole in a way that you were never allowed to be.”

Rey stared at his brother, watching him writhing in pain and he couldn’t do it. Before his brother had bene an obscure idea. A child that he vaguely remembered but treasured. But now looking at him he was real. He was his blood and he didn’t want to lose him. Didn’t want his blood on his hands as well.

Narrowing his eyes, he crouched down behind his brother and swiped his hands behind his back. The bonds that tied him fell away and in his free hand the whip came to life. With a loud crack he struck the wraith with the tip, the explosion sending it flying backwards toward the far wall. He stood over his brother grasping part of the chain and pulling it taught. “I won’t do this. I’m not going to eat my brother nor will I let you.”

Dick slumped forward his hands barely catching him in time. Coughing and gagging against the ground he slid down to the ground further and pressed his forehead against the stone. Taking a breath, he finally vomited retching and coughing. “So, you’re not going to eat me now?” he mumbled. “Took your sweet time hermano”

Rey let himself smirk but watched as the room fell silent. The wraith shifted from the wall and dropped to the ground with a solid thud. Standing slowly, it shook off its shoulders shaking its head. “Disappointing. You are not going to escape this tomb. It was theirs and it will become yours soon,” it hissed and walked forward. “But first I’ll finish your warrior brother. I don’t want any more surprises.”

Jumping forward the wraith crashed against the ground and stood over Dick. He looked up at it shocked and tried to move but the wraith grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Before it could initiate anything, the ground shook like an earthquake rumbled past. The wraith paused and the ground shook again, harder this time.

Gnashing its teeth together it looked around and watched as one of the far walls exploded outward. All eyes were on the newly created hole in the wall. A light flashed and the wraith dropped Dick raising a wave of fire.

Rey’s whip wrapped around his waist and dragged him to his brother’s side. He groaned dizzily. “Alright. Next time can you just pull me off the ground like una persona normal?”

“Sadly, being a normal person isn’t likely to happen for me,” he said with a bit of a wry smile and Dick rolled his eyes. “I thought it was good idea.”

“It wasn’t,” he extended his hand and Rey took it dragging him to his feet. With both of them standing together he looked at his brother and smiled. “You come to your senses finally?”

“Something like that hermano. Let’s hope we get out of this alive. And then we can talk.”

“That’s a big ask.”

The twins turned and several explosions ripped through the air and they ducked down covering their faces. Dick lowered his arm and braced as a shape barreled into him. Gasping in shock he felt arms around his throat and held onto him tightly stumbling back before wrapping his arms around Samantha. She held him tight, taking a slow breath and shook her head. “I’m not losing you like that ever again.”

He took a deep breath nodding slowly. Her saying that made his heart flutter, “You saved me again. I guess I owe you another rescue.”

She shook her head squeezing him harder before kissing him hard. That almost made him fall over and she was one of the few things keeping him standing.  Pushing off slowly, she started to say something but an explosion made her rethink it.

Turning to survey the battle she finally noticed Rey and glared raising her fist. “Wait no!” Dick shouted stepping in front of her. “He saved me. Long story short he’s on our side.”

She glanced between the pair of identical faces. One she trusted and the other she had to tell herself wouldn’t stab her in the back. Rey held up his hands, the whip clinking against the ground as he moved. “I want to help get my brother out of here.”

Staring at his face and catching his eyes she scowled. “You were on the train, weren’t you?”

Rey blinked but then gave a slow nod. “Yes. I remember.”

She pivoting she shook her head,. “I don’t trust you but we deal with that first.”

“Gracias Samantha,” Dick nodded and glanced at his wrist before throwing both hands forward. “Manifestar!”

His chains came to life and clinked against the ground. He could hear his brother holding back his laughter. He had a response but his chains jumped to life and deflected an arrow of fire. He winced at the impact but watched as the wraith came forward leaving burning foot prints.

Lowering both arms, the bow appeared in hand. Drawing its arm back quickly it fired a shot the arrow hitting the ground at their feet. The arrow exploded with enough force to send the trio flying through the far wall. This area was far more open, as if they left the opening of a cave. Rolling to his feet Dick watched as the wraith flew into the room another arrow drawn back.

Grasping the chain, he whipped it around deflecting the arrow as to explode in the distance. The wraith came crashing down atop him, swinging the bow into his leg. Letting out a cry he sank to his knee and jerked his head up. The wraith drew back another arrow but turned, firing the arrow at Samantha as she darted toward them.

Crossing her arms she blocked the arrow the explosion blowing her backwards. Turning the wraith stomped on Dick’s chest, its foot aglow with heat. Gritting his teeth through the pain he threw a chain at it. The chain wrapped around its arm and the bow evaporated. Dick yanked on his arm and the wraith stumbled off him.

Rey whirled his whip on both sides before stepping forward and sending it at the wraith. It turned toward him but took the full brunt of the attack in the chest and flew backwards. Samantha launched herself off the ground meeting the wraith in the sky and punching it square in the face. Ice erupted from the impact and shoved it back to the ground. Clapping her hands together she created a block of ice and sent it crashing into the wraith.

Dick got to his feet holding onto his free chain tightly and the other one remained taut under the ice. The ice shattered as the wraith stood up wearing a fierce snarl. “Enough!” its eyes were aglow and shape shimmering. Dick watched as his chain vibrated glowing a bright orange.

Yanking his arm back the chain flew to his side and hissed against the ground. The wraith took a step forward and brought the bow back to life. Firing off a trio of arrows each one flew in a flash too quick for any of them to see blowing them backwards.

“I’ll devour you all and then this city,” It lowered the weapon and started walking forward as Samantha got shakily to her feet. “And I’ll start with you.”

She raised her fist as a layer of ice formed over her chest as additional armor. “Just try it.”

It fired off an arrow’s and she slid to the side, avoiding it narrowly. It fired another and she continued sliding away leaving behind a clones of herself. They exploded one by one before she boosted herself off the ground by a pillar of ice. The wraith took a step to the side and raised the bow.

Rotating her hands in the air she created a disc of ice taking the brunt of the arrows. It crouched rapid firing four arrows before lunging at her. The arrows slammed into the disc cracking it with each impact before it shattered the disc and it appeared choke slamming her back to the ground.

Knocking the wind from her lungs it moved forward and placed another hand on her head. Its eyes glowed as it opened its jaw wide, its entire face engulfed in golden light. Like hooks going deep into her, she felt the pull of the wraith as it started to feed. To suck the very soul out of her. Her Geist flickered, trying to protect her best it could, but she was tired and it was failing.

Before it could continue it was struck in the chest by a small explosion. Flexing its arm it took a step back and yanked on Rey’s whip dragging him back. It brought its arm back from Samantha, forming the bow and preparing an arrow when another chain wrapped around its wrist.

Rey squared his feet and both brothers pulled on their geist, forcing the Wraith to its knees. It tugged on both of them but neither twin budged. A screech left its maw that pierced Dick’s ears. Hissing and keeping his head down, Dick wrapped his hand around the chain tighter keeping him in place.

Readying the other chain his hand he spun it around slowly. Flexing his arm, he tossed it forward and it whistled through the air before spearing through the wraiths chest. It jolted and slumped forward leaning on the chain the glow fading.

Normally the wraiths faded away when they died but this one was like his brother so he had no idea what to expect. Rotating his wrist, he yanked the chain out of its chest and back to his hand. Whirling the chain around again he narrowed his eyes, twisted his wrist and slung the chain forward.

It thunked through the wraiths forehead and he jerked his arm back ripping the head of the wraith off. Bouncing against the ground it crunched once before fading away into sparks. The body shuddered bursting into flames as both of their chains clinking to the ground.

The moment it went slack Dick sprinted over to Samantha. She groaned, rolling onto her side and vomiting on the ground. He crouched beside her his hand on her back relief flooding his face. “Yeah, it’s not a pleasant experience.”

“No kidding,” she whispered and turned to look at him and then glanced at Rey. “So. you two finished it off?”

Dick nodded quickly and then a slow grin formed on his lips. “You know capitan. I think that counts as me saving you.”

“. I’m the one who actually ripped the wraith off her.” Rey said coming over folding his arms and smirking at his brother. “You were late.”

“Yeah but who actually killed it? Not you and your whip.”

“If it weren’t for my whip she’d be devoured.”

“I would have gotten there in time.”

“I really doubt that.”

“Will you two stop it,” Groggily Samantha got to her feet and Dick caught her and steadied her. She glared at him for a second before letting her gaze soften. “It’s bad enough just having Dick around.”

“Well it looks like you three didn’t need us.” The trio looked at the hole in the wall see Betty and Lily walking over. Betty let her Geist fade away but Lily kept the cloak around her shoulders, chest heaving.

“What about the two rogue warriors?”

“Defeated and restrained,” Lily said raising her mask. She stared at Rey cautiously and he slowly went to his knees and lowered the whip to the ground. Dick stared at his brother confused but looked back toward Betty.

“What’s going to happen to him?”

Betty gave a slow shake of her head. “Honestly I don’t know. Your brother’s case is unique in many ways. The legion will have to make a decision about him. Likely he will be deemed too dangerous to be allowed to wander freely and remain under Legion supervision and custody while being tested to learn how he was created.” Dick’s eyes narrowed and she caught the look. 

Dick was ready to argue when Samantha said, “What if we don’t tell them? Say in the commotion of the fighting the hybrid disappeared. We had our hands full taking care of the other wraith and the rogues that we lost him.”

She took a step back looking at Rey for a moment and then turned back to the catacombs. “Maybe.” Lily raised her eyebrow and even Dick was surprised by this but none so much as Rey. “I’m risking a lot on this but I want to believe that he’s a lot like you. Me and Samantha both are putting our necks on the line now.” She sighed and said, “You wouldn’t be able to see each other. So I’d say your goodbyes.”

Dick shook slightly as he looked at him. Samantha squeezed his hand and gave him a slight push. She nodded at his gaze and stood shakily but steadied quickly. He stepped away from her to stand in front of his brother. Rey tried to smile but Dick was barely holding it together and wiped his face.

“I just got you back. And now you’re leaving. No es justo!”

“I know Richard. But its alright. We’ll find each other again.”

Dick took a breath then stepped forward and hugged him trying to keep his tears in check.  Rey hugged him back, holding his brother tightly. They stayed embraced together for a long moment neither one wanting to be the first one to break apart. “Te amo hermano,” Dick whispered.

“Te amo hermano,” Rey said back before they both stepped away.

Both twins wiped at their eyes and Samantha grabbed Dick’s arm lightly. He looked at her, startled for a second but gave a slow nod. It made more sense for them to leave and for Rey to figure out where he was going next. They got to the hole in the wall where Lily had been waiting and she squeezed her friend’s hand.

He glanced over his shoulder and Rey gave a slow wave. Dick nodded one more time and raised his hand to wave back. He leaned on Samantha to keep him going just as much as she was leaning on him. It took a long time to get back to the top, especially with Hunter and Bruce in toe.  But when they finally got back to the surface fresh air had never tasted so good.