Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 87: Be Afraid

The water around the collapsed creature became muddied with its colorful blood, seeping from the gaping hole left through its head.

"It's finished?" Charlotte asked as though surprised at how quickly it was put down.

Jasper nudged his boot against the side of the fallen creature, "Yup. That's pretty dead."

While Finn brushed the droplets of its blood from his cheek, he glanced over to replace Magnus walking beside him while leaving a pat on his shoulder.

"Nice assist, Finn," Magnus complimented.

"No problem," the assassin said before pointing up at the rocky wall. "Though, I'd be careful about that."

There was a perfect hole left in the cave, exuding steam from the aftermath of the cannon's expelled beam.

"Such things are unavoidable," Magnus simply said.

"If this place comes crashing down, my sword is going to be unavoidable up your arse, mate," Jasper responded to the cannoneer.

Charlotte mediated with a small clap of her hands, "What matters is, we dealt with it so we can keep moving forward. Right?"

"Right," Finn agreed. "Let's keep moving."

Leaving the body of the fish-headed giant behind, the path onward was left unimpeded as Finn led the way. It led seemingly deeper into the cavern, with a downward slope of running water that opened up into a vast section of the hollow mountain.

"This doesn't look like an exit to me," Magnus observed.

"No, but look up there–this place isn't completely off," Finn pointed out.

Up ahead where the slope leveled out, a few tables were left standing in the middle of the cavern, with lanterns still lit amidst the crystalline walls.

It took some treading through the shallow water to arrive at the dry area, occupied by the abandoned tables. With a barely-lit lantern situated on a wooden pole, it looked to be a small outpost within the cavern, though not in much use anymore.

"What's all of this?" Charlotte asked, looking at the papers scattered on the out-of-place furniture.

Magnus took a look for himself, parting the rolled-up parchment, "Well, it's…something. The ramblings of a mad man, perhaps?"

"What?" Finn asked, looking at what the cannoneer was analyzing.

The tattered, stained papers only held blotted ink that was messily inscribed with barely legible writing.

It was the same phrase, written over and over again–"Fear what cackles in the darkness. Be afraid of the laughter."

"What the hell is that about?" Jasper wondered when reading it.

Charlotte unrolled the other papers, checking them out as well, "It's the same thing on all of these, too. What's it mean?"

"'Fear what cackles in the darkness'...Don't know for sure, but I don't like the sound of that all too much," Jasper remarked, glancing between Charlotte and Finn.

"I wouldn't try to look too deep into the writings of somebody clearly deprived of their sanity," Magnus remarked, putting the ink-scattered papers down.

"Probably a fair assumption, but…I wouldn't write it off completely," Finn cautiously advised.

"Hey, look here," Jasper said.

The helmed man stood in front of a paper that led to another, then another, forming a trail that led into another tunnel. It was left dark and unseen into the path of ink-blotted notes, with a subtle wind whistling by.

"It's not too late to turn back the way we came," Magnus remarked while looking at the ominous passage.

Finn took the first step along the eerie trail, "I get what you mean. I just think the way we were brought to this place, the path we were set on–this is the intended way. Whatever constructed the Tower, I feel like this is what was set."

"I wish I had your optimism," Magnus sighed, choosing to follow along with the others.

"Even if you're right, mate, do you really think whatever is responsible for the Tower is something you really want to follow?" Jasper asked.

Finn thought about it briefly before answering, "It can be cruel and unfair, but I do think part of whatever all of this is wants to give us a chance–at least to put us on the right path."

"It's what Oliver told us before," Charlotte said, looking at him.

"Right, he did say something like that," Finn confirmed.

"And what's that? This Oliver fellow again–I would've liked to talk to him," Magnus said, putting his hand to his chin.

Charlotte recalled, "It was that there is an entity that is against humanity, and one that favors it; like a wager between two gods, is how he put it. The Tower…I think it's set up to benefit us."

"To make us stronger–to make us ready," Finn said.

"Perhaps. Perhaps it's all a death trap, but I suppose only time will tell," Magnus said.

"I'm leaning more towards death trap currently, mate," Jasper said. "But, I'll trust your gut, Finn."

"I'm not entirely sure myself," Finn said.

It was beginning to become questionable just how vast the caverns of the mountain were, though Finn couldn't help but explore deeper. Part of it was his own inclination to RPGs, replaceing the aspect of secrets—loot and such, alluring. Still, it was only a minor part of what led him to walk, only a guiding bit of courage.

"You're not this fearless because there might be treasure here, right?" Charlotte asked while hugging close behind.

Finn brushed it off, though hardly hid it, "Ah—no. I mean, if there is, that's a bonus."

"Really…" Charlotte said with a disappointed furrow to her eyebrows.

"Just a bonus, that's all I'm saying," Finn defended.

The passage was noticeably more narrow than the last, going on for some ways with the papers leading the way. On and on the notes were left until they came to a stop.

"This is the last one," Finn pointed out, crouching down as he looked at the last piece.

Of course, it had the same, maddening phrase inscribed on it, only more washed out and hard to read. All that was left leading ahead into the dimly-lit chamber was blood that painted the uneven stone.

"Meaning…" Jasper lingered.

"Meaning we're probably going to replace something unsightly ahead," Magnus answered.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The echo of droplets hitting the ground moved through the cavern. Finn slowly moved forward, replaceing what waited was a place far different from the rest of the mountain cavity.

Chains hung from the ceiling in abundance, with only a single torch presenting meager light into the chamber. There was a strong, copper stench that filled the dark area, enough to make one lightheaded from a prolonged inhale.

"This place…It stinks," Charlotte quietly said.

"Luckily my sense of smell isn't what it used to be," Jasper responded.

Finn took deliberate steps, gently pushing the hanging chains out of the way as he moved. The only guidance was the weak flame of the lantern ahead. Though the sides of the chamber were shrouded in darkness, untouched by the faint light, he could tell it wasn't as vast as the earlier sections.

"—Stay alert. I have a bad feeling," Magnus whispered from the back.

Charlotte agreed, staying crouched so as not to disturb the slumbering chains, "Me too. My stomach is in knots."

Sight was kept on the lantern that seemed to dangle from a single chain, hanging on its side as the flame seemed to flicker every moment as if every second could be its last. There was something coming from the weakened fire; a suppressed cackle, like a raspy breath.

Finn carefully approached it with the others behind him, unknowing of what to make of the peculiar chamber.

Taking a step closer, he squinted, observing the hanging lantern, locked onto that flickering flame before–crack.

The glass of the old, hanging light crinkled as the glowing fire was snuffed out by an unseen breath, as if expelled like a birthday candle. With the absence of the flame, the room was immediately swallowed up in darkness.

"What happened?--" Jasper asked hastily.

It became lightless to the point of not being able to see the person standing just a few steps away, utterly engulfed in shadows.

"Did you put the fire out?!" Magnus questioned.

Finn answered, turning side-to-side, "No–it went out on its own."

"How?!" Magnus asked further.

"I don't know!" Finn responded, looking around as he struggled to even see where his companions were.

Just a moment prior, he was sure that Charlotte was right behind him, with the others not far behind, yet all he could see was darkness; suffocating, impenetrable shadow. The panicked shouts were gone, leaving only a deafening silence drumming against his ears.

"Hey! Charlotte! Jasper! Magnus!" Finn shouted desperately. "Hey!"

With anxiety, his heartbeat swelled in his chest, feeling that isolating darkness around him likening itself to bitter memories carved into his brain. Breaths left his lips uneven and panicked, not perhaps for his own life, but out of fear of what may be happening to his comrades.

As he turned side-to-side, calling out to the others, only one thing met his ears in response–

Laughter; a twisted laugh coming from the darkness.

It was unnatural; inhuman, it felt–that sound made the hairs on his arm stand and his yells for his companions to be squelched.

Hearing that disembodied laughter, the words endlessly written on the notes surfaced in his mind: "Fear what cackles in the darkness. Be afraid of the laughter."