Amaryllis wobbled a bit on her feet, blood lightly dripping from her chin on the floor, hair matted from the impact. The gun in her hand didn’t waver. Her hand didn’t shake, her aim didn’t shift, even as her body struggled to function. Her finger hovered lightly over the trigger; the safety was off, the weapon was cocked and ready to fire. She held it one handed like a character in one of Stan’s action movies - one Jacob swore he hadn’t seen, despite watching several in college. Her left hand dangled at her side, holding a box that blinked with a small red light.
“Now that’s a twist I wasn’t expecting.” Stan raised an eyebrow, then raised his hands above his head. Jacob slowly began to move his Exiled Hamster Warrior towards his equipper, lowering his hands and moving them behind his back.
“Cast this card and none of you make it out alive.” Amaryllis’ voice was sharp and disciplined, completely different from the nearly silent figure she had been during the rest of the tour. “Unlike your equipper, mine is voice activated.”
Jacob moved his arms out where she could see them, hanging them lightly by his side. He glanced at the arm holding the gun, which hadn’t wavered in its aim. A card was placed into the equipper on her forearm, which blinked in standby mode. She hadn’t turned her gaze away from Rama, who stood with her hands held up lightly. There was a slightly disappointed look on her face, that appeared to hide a small amount of amusement.
“Put your cards back into your deck.” Amaryllis ordered, not moving from where she stood. “And put your hands behind your head. Same for you movie boy.”
“There’s five of us and one of you.” Stan took a single step forward “You can’t shoot us all before one of us gets that gun away from you.”
The gun fired as Amaryllis ever so slightly shifted her aim, moving faster than Jacob could see. There was a cracking sound as it blasted through the wood just below the head of Rama’s walking stick. Fragments of wood flew off of the stick, and the figure of a bird on top leaned heavily to one side. Rama’s expression darkened as the bird listed over, held onto the staff by a few remaining pieces of wood that looked like they could snap at any time.
“That is something I cannot forgive.” Rama said darkly “Nor overlook.”
“All of you place your hands behind your heads.” Amaryllis ordered “Or I start putting bullets in them.”
Jacob slipped his cards back into his deck box, and raised his hands behind his head. Next to him he saw Stan doing the same in his peripheral vision, neither wanting to risk further harm. Whatever Amaryllis was up to appeared planned, not a crime of opportunity. Her demeanor was too calm, her handling of the weapon too practiced. She had clearly been heavily trained to have such a calm hand and close accuracy, especially holding the weapon one handed as she had been. She had been looking for the perfect opportunity, and the box in her left hand continued to blink ominously. This was a long time in the making, and her training had to have been government provided for her to maintain such calm and stillness. The purpose however was a mystery. Her and her sister’s nearly silent act had clearly fulfilled it’s task, as the standoff had taken Jacob completely by surprise.
“Alright Amaryllis,” Jacob spoke softly, trying to remember the primary the CEA had given him on hostage situations. He didn’t remember much; this was far and away from the type of situation he usually handled. “Let’s talk through this. Who are you calling?”
“What do you mean calling?” Stan muttered
“She’s holding a transmitter in her left hand.” Jacob spoke loudly enough to ensure Amaryllis could hear him “A transmitter that isn’t going to be reaching anyone this deep underwater.”
“That one will.” Rama met Amaryllis’ gaze the two staring each other down in an unspoken game of chicken. “It’s a DefTech card transmitter. It’s been active since the Ceasarion.”
“You knew about this?!” Jacob looked over at Rama, struggling to keep a level tone
“I’ve known about both of them since they got on the boat.” Rama didn’t look away, amusement creeping into her tone “Or at least I knew about the weapons and transmitters.”
“And you still let them on board?”
“Her hubris blinded her.” Amaryllis smirked “No surprise given where she comes from.”
“The question is where you come from.” Rama cocked her head, looking at Amaryllis curiously “And who you think is coming.”
“You’ll find out when they get here.” Amaryllis stared down Rama cockily “They’ll be here any moment.”
“Who?” Rama continued to press Amaryllis, still amused “Can’t be a private navy, we’re too deep - even for DefTech. What government are you working for?”
“You’ll find out.” Amaryllis’ smirk flickered for a moment, slipping into a grimace for a brief moment before projecting confidence again.
“Whoever it is, I hope they’re prepared for Laverne and Shirley’s friends.” Rama’s tone slipped from amusement to boredom “Otherwise we’ll be waiting here for quite some time.”
“They’re prepared for anything.” Amaryllis replied “They can reach anywhere on Earth, and no one can stop them. They’ll seize this factory and everything in it, and there’ll be nothing you can do.”
There was a faint sound, and the room shook ever so slightly. Jacob glanced up as dust shook loose from the ceiling. There was another faint sound, a dull thud that seemed like the faint sound of an explosion. A few more sounds joined it, all barely perceptible.
“Those must be some massive explosions to be heard all the way down here.” Rama goaded Amaryllis “I hope that isn’t your friends.”
“You’ll find out.” Amaryllis’ smirk vanished, her expression growing as cold as ice. “Nothing will stop them.”
The two women stared each other down, the muffled sounds continuing. Amaryllis’ expression continued to darken as the sounds continued. Suddenly the transmitter in her hand began beeping. The lights flickered green, and Amaryllis smiled.
“They’re here.” Amaryllis’ grinned eerily, her perfect teeth gleaming in the light. The thuds grew louder, and Jacob could have sworn he heard the faint sound of monsters screaming. There was a sudden snaping sound, and his head whipped over to Rama. The final strands of wood holding the head of her staff cracked, and the great metal bird that adorned it fell to the ground. There was a light clanging sound as it hit the floor. Amaryllis’ gaze moved towards it, distracted only for a brief moment.
“Time’s up.” Rama spoke softly, staring at Amaryllis.
Faster than Jacob could see Rama dropped to the ground, sweeping Amaryllis’ legs out from under her. The gun fired, the sound of the shot thunderous in the space. It fired a moment too late however, and Amaryliis found her legs thrown out from underneath her. Somehow the South Korean woman managed to keep hold of both the transmitter and the weapon as she landed hard on her back.
Before Jacob could blink Rama was on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Rama smiled as she stared directly into Amaryllis’ eyes, her gaze hidden from Jacob behind the locks of her hair. Rama began chanting something under her breath, and Amaryllis’ face paled even further with fear. Sheer terror gripped the South Korean woman, and she whimpered slightly as Rama continued. Through the locks of hair Jacob caught the faintest glimpse of a savage smile; Rama was enjoying whatever was happening. The lights in the room flickered and dimmed, and whispers echoed through the walls. Jacob had no other way to describe what he was seeing and hearing besides magic; real magic, not through a card nor special effect. It felt like something ancient and unspeakable was in the room with them, tethered to whatever words Rama was speaking.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Rama placed a hand on the South Korean’s forehead, and there was a flash of light. The woman screamed, and Jacob looked away at the sudden bright. It faded away, and the room fell into silence. Jacob looked back to find Rama rifling through the South Korean woman’s pockets.
Amaryllis’ body had turned completely into stone.
More precisely, her body had turned into a beautiful white marble, looking almost as if she was cast by one of the ancient masters in perfect detail. The statue was slightly warped, like it was carved by an artist with a wicked heart, its face locked in absolute terror. Tears continued to stream down the statues face, coming from frozen eyes trapped in fear. Her clothing, weapons, and the transmitter all remained as they were - allowing Rama to rifle through them.
“Jesus Christ.” Stan’s voice was barely perceptible “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing she didn’t deserve.” Rama passed and glanced at the group, then sighed and pulled the card off of her equipper. It was a wonder Corp card, though it was too far away for jacob to make out which one. It appeared to be some sort of wormhole card, of which Wonder Corp produced several “This card is marked. It was produced at the request of the United Nations in a limited number, and planted in packs near several black market locations. The only way to get ahold of it is through Card Smuggling.”
Rama continued to rifle through the South Korean’s clothes, pulling out another firearm and what appeared to be one or two flash bangs. She sighed, and stood up. She looked around the mess of the room, then glanced over to the train station.
“Alright little ones, you can come out now.” Rama studied the card, then pocketed it. “Gun Fight is over.”
There was a small beep, and a cluster of small cylindrical robots rolled out from behind a few of the columns in the train station. They began to move about the space, clearing out broken machinery and invention parts. One of them rolled over to Rama and beeped a few times.
“I suppose I should introduce all of you to my workforce.” Rama tapped on the bot, and a series of holographic screens appeared showing men in military gear battling machines and monsters throughout the rooms they had passed through. The military men were fighting fiercely, but taking heavy losses. “These are EvBots; every machine and robot you see in the factory is some varient of them. Card powered of course. Their name is short for Everything bot, because that’s what they do. Everything. This little one is EvBot 52 Alpha.”
Jacob hopped down from the conveyor belt and walked towards Rama. He stopped next to her, looking at the screens. Several flashed over to the massive docking bay they had entered from, where marines continued to flow out of mutliple battered military submarines. two more submarines emerged in the port as they watched, moving to dock next to the others. Rama sighed and looked through more security footage; in one of the hallways a dinosaur like creature was facing down a squad of several men firing automatic weapons, a group of mauled soldiers at the monster’s feet. The creature screamed silently as bullets lodged into it, before leaping into the squad of soldiers. Several other identical creatures rushed into frame behind it, diving into the men with vicious fury.
“I almost feel bad for them.” Jacob didn’t take away his gaze from the screens as the rest of the group crowded around the two of them, looking at the security footage of the factory under seige.
“This isn’t the first time the factory has been attacked.” Rama said darkly “We learned from the last few times. I’m afraid everyone on those submarines is doomed to die before they reach this room.”
The footage swapped to a small group of clearly injured military personnel slowly making their way through the catwalk of the card room. One stopped and pointed upwards, before the frame was filled with gelatinous tentacles. The tentacles quickly wrapped around the marines, pulling them upwards out of frame within seconds.
“Zoom into that frame.” Jacob pointed to a screen showing the card casting room, where a marine had died directly in front of the camera. The shot increased in size as Rama pressed a few buttons, and Jacob inhaled sharply.
“Is that flag-” Stan started, before being cut off by Jacob’s grandfather.
“North Korea.” the old man said solemnly “The soldiers are North Korean.”
“Technically they’re marines.” Rama pressed more buttons, and the screens disappeared entirely “But yes, the DPRK has found the Factory. Took them long enough.”
Rama tapped the bot affectionately on the head “Start lockdown procedures, and begin standard defensive fleet deployment. Movement pattern 26.”
The EvBot beeped, and rolled away. Rama sighed and looked around for a moment in thought. She walked over to where her staff head had been left on the floor, and knelt down to place her staff next to it. Jacob noted as she did the shape of the second gun in the side of her cloak. Rama reached into her vest and pulled out the siver card she had used several times thus far on the tour. She lined up the staff and metallic bird figuring, then placed the card over the break. The card and staff glowed for a second before Rama pulled the card away, revealing the staff to be as good as new. She picked it up and inspected it, then turned back to the group with her usual whimsical expression.
“Shall we continue?” Rama dusted herself off, and tucked the silver card back into her vest “Lots more rooms to see, we have some especially interesting rooms ahead.”
“Are you insane?” Stan gasped, looking down at Amaryllis’ stone figure “Your factory is filled with soldiers, and you want to continue the tour?”
“The power of the cards will protect my home.” Rama’s voice darkened once more, as she turned to stare intently at Stan “The only ones in danger are those who intrude upon it.”
There was a slight sound of gunfire from the room directly behind them, and the sound of men screaming. A sound almost like a shredder cut through the sound, and the room fell back into silence. Jacob felt his stomach rise slightly, but he tamped it back down.
“Well we certainly can’t go back.” Jacob’s grandfather said “The only way out is through.”
“Indeed.” Rama swept her cloak behind her dramatically as she turned to walk to the second door on the other end of the room. “On we go!”
There was a retching sound, and Jacob saw Veronica crouched next to the conveyor belt heaving. He had completely forgotten about her in the conflict, as she had melted fully into the background. Jacob glanced over at Stan, and walked over. Veronica’s father held her hair back as she vomited against the equipment.
“Are you alright?” Jacob spoke softly, glancing back at the group. Stan and his wife were slowly walking over to catch up to Rama, while his grandfather continued to stare at Amaryllis.
“We’re all going to die here.” Veronica wiped her mouth with a fine handkerchief, and took a deep breath. She coughed slightly, but didn’t retch again “I don’t want to die here.”
“We haven’t died yet.” Jacob leaned over, and met her eyes. The eyes that looked back were rimmed with tears, struggling to maintain their courage. “As long as we follow the rules, we’ll be ok. Rama will get what’s coming to her.”
Veronica’s eyes searched Jacobs for a moment, before hardening. The woman nodded, and Jacob stood up straight. The woman took a deep breath and stood from where she had crouched. She shook out her hair slightly, then looked at Jacob with a defiant expression. They looked at each other for a moment, before she wordlessly turned and began marching after Rama.
“Thanks.” Her father said softly, before moving to follow her.
“Now why don’t you give me that tenderness.” Jacob’s grandfather teased from behind him “I’m scared too.”
Jacob frowned, then glanced backwards at the door they had entered through as another muffled explosion could be heard in the distance.
“I didn’t know North Korea was capable of this.” Jacob looked to his grandfather “Those submarines looked new.”
“Wonder Corp. isn’t the only ones who’ve been building in secret.” Jacob’s grandfather didn’t look away from the door. Jacob nodded and began to turn to join the waiting tour group. His grandfather grabbed his arm, and he stopped.
“You did really good in that duel back there.” His grandfather turned to look at him seriously “And in the duel on the submarine. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.” Jacob stuttered lightly at the old man’s praise. His grandfather gave many things freely. Advice, stories of the past, the well placed on liner; heartfelt compliments were rarely one of them. He was raised in a time where wise words were more important than re-assuring ones. The old man saying this now showed he truly meant it.
The old man nodded, and turned towards the tour group. The two walked through the ruins towards them, passing the prone figures of Amaryllis and Ku Do-Yeon. Jacob shuddered as they passed; thus far every victim of the factory had been due to an obvious disregard of the rules, but there was every possibility that could change. The contract they had signed was long and had been sprung on them subtly; what happened when they violated a clause they didn’t remember? Would they turn out like the South Koreans? Or like the North Korean marines that were being torn to pieces behind them?
The two rejoined the tour group, and Rama smiled at them.
“Well that was exciting!” Rama looked over their serious faces, none of which echoed her smile “Hopefully these next few rooms are a bit more… homely.”
She placed a hand on the doorknob and opened it. Beyond the door appeared to be a large living room from an upper-middle class suburban home Jacob had seen in old television programs - the kind of home he doubted still existed in Cascadia.
“Welcome all of you.” Rama gestured grandly towards the door “To my humble abode.”
Well that was intense. Sorry the chapter is two days late, and that several of the most recent chapters have been late. Some days are harder than others, in more ways than one. Yesterday was one of those days; we all carry our own worlds, some days they’re especially heavy. I try not to let it affect my story or schedule, but I don’t always succeed.
Speaking of the story, SURPRISE! The twist regarding Amaryllis and Ku Do-Yeon is a little bit sudden, I know, but it was planned to be that way from the beginning. It’s why they were constantly watching, rarely speaking, rarely apart, and almost never in the foreground. Everyone has a secret on this tour; no one is visiting the factory without ulterior motives. I did my best to (mostly) resolve this fight without cards; Jacob has been through a lot and just got out of a duel, it was nice to finally force Rama to take some action. She doesn’t step in often, but when she does it’s always dramatic. I look forward to your theories on what her involvement means in this instance.
As always, if you liked the story comment below, give the story a follow if you haven’t, and consider rating and reviewing it. Yes, I’m going to put this call to action in the author’s notes just like every obnoxious YouTuber; Authors have to market their stories on their own, and all of those things truly do help with the algorithm.
And until the next chapter, trust in the cards…
Why do you think Rama took the gun?
