Nightmare Mythos

"By the way, I didn't give you my thanks on treating my wounds. Without your help, I'm probably would not be here now. So thank you."

"Don't mention it," Joshua waved his hands dismissively as he added, "Thank me when we're both of us get out of here in one piece. However, the road is far ahead and risky so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's stay pessimistic."

Reyna shrugged as she watched the still waters remain motionless. She wanted to ask a series of questions just like what she had been doing for a couple of hours now when something break her jovial demeanor that almost shook her entire soul.

The Still Waters wasn't still any longer as a fin protruded out from its surface.

At last, something disrupted the unending silence which Reyna didn't like a single bit since a Nightmare was already under their boat.

It didn't seemed to attack it as it was more like it was ignoring their presence. However, the fear that struck them inside was traumatizing as they observed the humungous fin circling around.

Reyna appeared to be visibly shaking. Even though she was already aware of Joshua's warning to not make any noise once they spotted a Nightmare in the vicinity, the fear of being under the depths were haunting her head.

Rustle—

Her nervousness soon died down after she saw Joshua approach her and grab her hand. And for some reason, it made her calm down.

Plop—!

As their boat was being swayed by the currents that didn't seem apparent to the naked eye, the two of them held each other's hand as their gazes followed the fin's direction, praying that whatever roaming around under would not eat them whole.

After a solid hour of being at the edge of their seat while being at the death's door, the two saw the fin going down under the water.

That didn't die down their nervousness as it only made everything worse. Thinking that they are going to be eaten any time soon, their senses were heightened to the max, their hands still tightly touching each other in desperation.

For the next few hours, being aware of the behemoth from the depths was the only thing they could do.

…

Joshua and Reyna had completely become lost in time as their mental and emotional state was already in its worst state. They weren't even moving a single inch, and it was too long until they realized the monster was gone.

Reyna shifted her gaze at Joshua, her eyes tired, "A-are we going to experience this most of the time we're here?"

Joshua wanted to yawn loudly but did it very discreetly before whispering back, "What do you even want to do? Fight some of them and hope we see their weak spot and attack it. So yeah, we're going to be completely quiet and wish we were alive at the end of it,"

Reyna let out a low sigh as her gaze fell below. Then a bit further, she saw that her hands were still touching together with Joshua.

Staring at Joshua, she waited for him to notice that they were holding each other's hands. Once she was able to notice that, Reyna snickered and smiled, "Oh? What's this? Are you desperate to get laid, man? Well, I wouldn't mind if we were not in this situation. How about it? Once we get out of here… let's get a room—" Discover exclusive tales on empire

Joshua tapped Reyna's head aggressively before forcibly removing her hands from his. Snickering at the situation she put herself in, he then teased.

"You might not be able to handle me."

Reyna rubbed her head as she pouted, "Darn you…! My skull feels like splitting…! Besides, as if I would want to sleep with you…!"

Joshua gestured a quieted sign teasingly as he commented, "Your tone. Not too loud,"

Reyna clicked her tongue and wanted to rebut once more but had to abruptly stop when a droplet of water touched her finger. Joshua who wanted to continue teasing her, also had to get back his focus as droplets of water started dipping down on them.

Just not after getting out of their previous predicament, the two braced themselves as they watched an incoming storm coming from their direction.

"What in the shitty unluckiness is this?" Joshua chuckled nervously as he prepared for the worst situation to come.

…

Joshua and Reyna had lost count of how many disasters went through their way that they managed to pass through without losing any of their insanity.

Their boat was already fragile from the start was reduced to a state that the only thing both Joshua and Reyna were riding was the platform itself. In fact, it was the only lucky thing that the goddess of luck had given to them.

Full of fear while depending on each other's warmth to keep themselves company in the harrowing situation, Joshua and Reyna observed dozens of fins circling their area, completely ignoring them in the process.

Splash—!

Reyna, amidst her calm composure she was keeping up outside, was absolutely scared inside. However, the exhaustion was taking over her whole body and she didn't mind the slight shaking happening in her body.

She tried to keep it down but the experience she had to suffer was already too much for somebody like her.

The only one who noticed her condition was Joshua, who started to get nervous.

"Hey, hey, hey… Get a hold of yourself. Control your mental state and emotions…" Joshua clicked his tongue as he held her hands, "Damn it, Reyna. You're losing control…!"

Her condition started to worsen as seconds went by. Her hair started to get longer as her skin started dripping down to the ground.

"You woman…! We've come this far and gone through shit, but you're breaking down now?" Joshua started talking as he watched those fins start to get agitated and his tone kept rising.

But he had no words to speak to her right now. Not like he knew what to say anyway since he was bad at it.

Yet Joshua knew that if Reyna continued being like this, he would also be involved at her demise as well.

He had to do something.

And there was only one thing that came to mind.

Splash—!

'Damn it!'

Joshua removed her hand from his before he moved closer to her face and kissed her.