《Poison City》Book 2 Chapter 46. Sounds and Shadows
Advertisement
Among the six people in the internet cafe right now, aside from Gloria, all 5 others were slovenly dressed men. The owner was sweating through his already dirty shirt. The two “guests” that drew their knives at Gloria were also shaking. As for the other two guests, one was a young man who did not seem to have a very clear idea on how terrifying the situation was; the other was a slightly sickly looking middle aged man, who kept rubbing his nose and scratching his ears.
“Wait - did you hear something?” One of the real guests, a man wearing a pair of comically thick and large glasses, shivered and looked around: “And - do you feel cold?”
Gloria looked around and shook her head: “No - not really - ”
“No - nonono - ” The chubby man with a bald spot on his head in a flowery buttoned up shirt, who drew his knife at Gloria earlier, started looking around as well: “I - I can hear people crying and laughing - and is that - are those dogs?”
“Yes! Dogs!” The first man with glasses snapped his finger and pointed at the chubby man: “I think - I think it’s a small one, like a pomeranian or a chihuahua.”
“What are you saying? What are you talking about?!” The other man who drew his knife earlier, a slightly thinner man in a black cotton vest and a pair of short khaki pants tried to wake his friend by shaking his arm and shoulders: “Hey man, snap out of it!”
“I - I think it’s drowning - what is this?” The chubby man with a bald spot appeared confused.
“Wait - I think I am hearing something as well.” This moment, the owner of the internet cafe shivered and sat straight: “Wait - what is that? I hear - I hear some kind of rumbling, and what is that - chairs and tables falling?”
Advertisement
“What the hell?” Another guest, the young man with a crooked haircut and a strip of blue and green bangs, frowned and looked at the owner: “Boss Man, what are you doing? What are you hearing?” He then looked at Gloria for help, who seemed to be the one with the clearest head right now.
“Hold them down. Don’t let them move.” Gloria took a look at these people’s eyes then said to the guest: “I don’t know, but I think it’s the Blood Rainbow causing something in their heads.”
“We must do something! We must do something!” The young man with a blue strip in his hair helped hold the owner down to prevent him from moving: “I - I think I am beginning to hear something as well - please! Do something!”
“Hang on, don’t resist.” Gloria jumped up, rushed to this young man’s back, and tapped him and the man in a black cotton vest on the backs of their heads and shoulders, infusing him with a little bit of her Qi. Another simple trick to help temporarily boost their vigor and vitality. But it won’t hold for too long. “Do you know if there’s paper here? And ink? Do you know if this internet cafe has any blessed artifacts, or talismans, or even some beads?”
“Yes! Yes I think I might know a spot! There is a - a - a small drawer in the back room, the boss kept his expensive stuff locked up in there. Just go there and see if you can find anything!” The man in a black vest nodded profusely: “Please! Go! I - I don’t know if I’m gonna lose it!”
“Stay calm! Stay calm, okay? Clear your mind, focus on yourself. The more stressed and afraid you are, the easier it is to get infected or possessed.” Gloria raised her voice at the two remaining men: “Hold it!”
Advertisement
The drawer was made of hardened wood and had a thick metal lock. The key was nowhere in sight, so Gloria just raised her arm and smashed a hole on the top of the drawer with her fist.
There was a small cloth pouch inside the drawer. She picked it up - it was heavier than one holding talismans would be. It was coins, there were three heavily weathered old coins, tied together using equally weathered red threads and had square holes in the middle. But despite the looks, Gloria could tell that there was something special about the coins and the threads. A kind of grand, blessed grandeur.
Without a hint of hesitation, Gloria grabbed the coins in her hand while looking through the rest of things in this drawer - there were two pieces of very meticulously made red paper talismans tucked to the side of the drawer. But when she opened it, she could not recognize the patterns - they were not the common evil-repellant talismans, nor were they any other kind with which Gloria was familiar. After a short moment of thought she just put it back - she did not need another wildcard that could potentially make things worse.
“Quick! Please!” The man in a black vest yelled: “I can’t hold them anymore!”
“I can’t hold them! They’re so strong! Help!” The young man with a blue strip in his hair yelled as well: “Please hurry!”
Holding the coins in her hand, Gloria rushed out of the back room. Even though she did not know what the coins were, she was convinced that if there was anything that could help with the situation, it would be these old coins.
Right now, the only two men who still had clear minds: the man in a black vest and the young man, were trying to hold down three men who had fallen into some kind of collective illusion.
“Oh my god! So much water! Water everywhere!” The owner of this internet cafe flapped his hands in the air like he was trying to swim. It was not an aggressive move, but he was somewhat panicking and screaming like the other two, which made them extra difficult to pin down.
“Please! Get out! Get out of the way!” The chubby man coughed and heaved as if he was really choking on water. His body was just flopping around on the ground, a few times his arms almost knocked over the incense burner in the middle.
“Please! Help us!” The young man yelled once again.
Gloria’s eyes glowed in a dim blue light, and in her vision, she saw clouds of gray fog looming over the three men’s heads and shoulders. Even the two others who were not hallucinating also had them, just seemed to be lesser in terms of density or size.
She thought for a quick moment, then fixed her eyes on the incense burner. Three incense sticks, the middle one seemed to be burning slower than the other two. She then rushed to the burner, stretching the threads that tied the coins together out a little and then sliding the coins down the sticks by letting them go through the square holes. When the coins reached the bottom and rested on the ashes in the burner, Gloria almost felt a breath of warm air blowing in her face.
The same warm wind also blew by the other men in the room. And almost at the same time, the three of them in illusion all stopped moving.
“Wait - what’d you do?” The man in a black vest chuckled, almost asking out loud: “It worked? It worked!”
“What is happening?” The owner of the internet cafe groaned and rubbed his eyes.
Advertisement
- In Serial68 Chapters
Changing My Life with A Level System
As years went by and Earth evolved into a foreseen futuristic, sci-fi world, everything went through changes; the buildings, vehicles, weapons even the vegetation and animals didn't remain unscathed. Yet one thing stayed the same throughout all history, something indispensable for the human race, something no one could ever think of leaving out in their daily lives and yet being the very cause of human demise, work.During the whole change process not even once was the human work ethic thought of as a problem causing a rise in the demand for entertainment and distraction from the daily routines. Those a new game system called Virtual Reality was created, giving everyone the possibility to fully immerse in other worlds and escaping the trials of life. Bao, threw himself in such a world but without thinking of the consequences of such a deed, for nobody asked themselves, what if life in this virtual world is better than reality and even worse what if the boundaries between the two become indistinct? © 2021 All rights reserved to the author under the pen name Q_Yuumo.
8 473 - In Serial28 Chapters
Candor: The Forgotten House
*** Please read note below *** As a 16-year-old mage from a powerful family, Jayce Candor had known from a young age what his future would hold. As the fourth son in his family the possibility of him becoming the heir to the household was very small. But, with his talent as a mage, his potential accomplishments in the military could lead to titles of nobility and political power. However, on what would otherwise be an unremarkable night, everything he had ever known, the only people he ever cared for, and all of the plans for his future were destroyed. House Candor, one of the six great houses that helped build the Eldoran Empire had been erased from history. By imperial decree, all those bearing the name Candor were hunted down and executed as traitors of the Empire. With no home, no family, and only death waiting for him, Jayce decided to escape north to the uncharted Northern Territories to begin a new life. Forced into situations he was never prepared for and trying to cope with his past, Jayce tries to find safety in a place spoken about only in legends. There for the first time, he will make true friends and find people he will come to see as family. He will encounter strong enemies, build powerful alliances, and become a person his ancestors would be proud of. But surrounded by creatures he thought only existed in tales and pressed by the Empire’s constant expansion, Jayce’s safety may be only an illusion. To survive a world fraught with danger Jayce will need to grow stronger with each new experience and rebuild his once forgotten house. ********************************************************************** Note: The story starts slow. Although there is more action as the story progresses, there is a fair amount of introspection and character introduction in the first 30 chapters. Jayce is the main character, however, other characters play a large role and the story is seen through multiple POV's. This is a draft, it is not a finished work. This is not a story that focuses on an OP MC who beats up on weaklings. At times there can be a fair amount of internal monologue. Some of that may be edited out when I rewrite the story. I decided to keep it in the draft because I think it is better to have too much material rather than too little when I edit. Constructive criticism is appreciated as it helps in the editing and rewriting process. Check out my other story Shattered Mind here
8 334 - In Serial15 Chapters
LMF = Legendary Midnight Farmer
""""I want to be a farmer like gradpa!"""" This was what I declared on my 16th birthday"""NO"""" was of course the natural response that I got from my parents that's in the middle of divorce. After a fight with my mom, I asked my dad to help me live by myselfMy unfaithful father who was the reason for the divorce then sends me a VR Capsule and tells me that since I can't become a farmer in the real world, why don't I become one in the Virtual One?Unfortunately being a farmer in the world of Royal Road isn't so simple or is it?Set in Royal Road 20 years after it launched. 4 Continents will be present in this Fanfic including VersaillesContinents: Versailles, Vermillion, Asgard, MU
8 152 - In Serial23 Chapters
Alpha Jax
He's a werewolf. She's, not exactly human. But she doesn't realize this until she gets into a car accident and she starts thinking she hit her head hard afterward, considering she was looking at a bunch of cats that only her and her sister could see. Will her werewolf mate accept her? Or will there be a conflict between their fathers because of old memories, as well as the need to never let go of his children?
8 218 - In Serial28 Chapters
Necromancer Kaius
The king of a small kingdom, Kaius, was on the verge of transcending his mortal limits and becoming a higher being through his mastery of necromancy. Feeling threatened, the demigod Diamund ordered his forces to annihilate Kaius and his kingdom. Before his death, Kaius managed to cast a transcendent magic spell that allowed him to have a second chance at life. The next time Kaius opened his eyes, he seems to have transmigrated into a planet that is currently experiencing a zombie apocalypse! The name of this planet happens to be called Earth…
8 206 - In Serial7 Chapters
flowers !
your eyes burned like the cascade of flowers .
8 196

