The area around them was black and empty, and a single humming noise vibrated from somewhere in the distance.
“S-Skell …”
Joe McShoots slowly opened his eyes. He looked around at the darkness, and a cold air chilled him to the bone. “Skell … are you there? … Are we alive?”
Skellian was lying on his side next to McShoots. His sword was back in its scabbard, and his stab wound was gone. “Lad. I fear. I fear this to be the shadow realm … or sumin’.”
“The what?” McShoots choked.
Skellian spat. “Place you go when you’re brown bread. Only thing is, I don’t know if this is really us, Mcshoots, or just our souls. Or ghosts. Or whatever they are.”
McShoots fumbled around on the floor, trying to get closer to Skellian. “Speak again Skell, I need to find you!”
“Lad, you ain’t that stupid now. You know I’m over here.”
“That’s better,” McShoots said. He dragged himself over to Skellian, feeling around for him, before grabbing hold of an arm.
“Aye lad, that be me arm.”
The humming noise seemed to get closer. It was a horrible sound which grated on the pairs ears, and made their minds go fuzzy.
Through the darkness came a robed figure, holding a long beaded chain between his skeletal fingers. A soft white aura glowed around his being, and he glided across the floor as if floating.
“Ah,” his guttural voice boomed. “I was waiting for you two. Finally, you have come to me.”
Joe McShoots and Skellian both lept up onto their feet. “Skell, what the heck is that thing?”
Skellian grabbed for his sword, but his arm froze just as it touched the hilt.
“I don’t think so,” the voice boomed again. “You cannot cut me down, Skellian of the Salts. Not in my realm.”
“Who are you?” Skellian asked, his arms and feet still frozen in place.
The figure flung back his head and laughed. “Not important. Just know, this is my realm, and through your death, you have entered it. Now, I will explain why you are here, and you will listen.”
Joe McShoots looked up at Skellian, and gulped. “Shit, Skell. I think I’m gonna piss my pants!”
“Quiet, lad,” Skellian said. “Let’s hear what he’s got to say.”
“You see, you two are nothing but characters in a story. A story I created. When I’m not reaving souls, I write stories, you see. In this case, boredom overcame me, and I killed you both. Was I proud of my terrible deed? A little … but eventually I craved for more. On your journey to the afterlife, I snatched you for my own. I sucked you into my realm, where I intend to set you on the correct path.”
Joe McShoots raised his eyebrows. “Alright, hold up now. What the FUCK are you talking about?”
“You didn’t always have that foul mouth, McShoots,” said the figure. “I may have gone a little far there.”
“Wait,” Skellian cut in. “Are you going to bring us back to life or somethin’?”
“Exactly right, Skellian. You two are going to be part of an arc.”
McShoots scratched his head. “Is that one of those boats, Skell?”
“I dunno lad,” Skellian said.
“Ah, you two do amuse me so. Now, I shall send you on your way. One piece of advice, look for the red dragon. That, will be your destiny. Be gone with you.”
With that, the robed figure raised his bony hands. And from them exploded a huge blast of white light. Skellian and Joe McShoots heard nothing but laughter as they flew through the light.
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