Chapter 5

“No, it couldn’t be. It was just there…” the thoughts of doubt and hope encircled in Michael’s mind as fear clouded it.

“Are you sure you did not misplace it?” asked Thomas, foraging the room for any possible clue to Michael’s loss. Michael just shook his head wildly as he continued to find his gauntlet.

“You must remember the last time you saw it, don’t you?” asked Thomas as he crouched down to peer under the bed.

“Well, I can only remember having it in my fight with Satan… You don’t think he took it?” replied Michael as he tore of the bed sheets and emptied the drawers. Triton suddenly rose and headed for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Thomas shouted, “You’re supposed to help Michael find his gauntlet.”

Still heading towards the door, Triton retorted, “I am helping. I am going to ask that boy Satan whether he took your gauntlet.” He seized his hammer which was lying on the side of the door and headed off.

A feeling of pity built up inside Michael and he thought that it was best that he followed him, leaving a flabbergasted Thomas behind.

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t do it.” said Michael in authority.

Triton turned around, his emerald eyes glared in to Michael’s. “Look, do you want your precious little gauntlet or not?” threatened Triton slowly.

Michael felt anger rising into him but shook it off. He just nodded his head and Triton gave him a smirk. “I thought so” mocked Triton.

They reached the room in which Satan was kept. Triton slammed the door open and marched in. There lying like a corpse on the bed was Satan. Michael inspected his injuries and found that Satan’s condition was much worse than his. He even had some parts still stained fresh red with blood from their encounter with the unknown being which seemed to emerge from within Satan.

Triton showed no pity and snatched Satan’s collar, hollering, “YOU! IF YOU TOOK MICHAEL’S GAUNLET, YOU BETTER GIVE IT BACK OR I SWEAR THAT I WILL BREAK EVERY, SINGLE, BLOODY BONE IN YOUR BODY” With that, Triton threw Satan back down, who just moaned in reply.

Triton pointed a long and meaty finger towards Satan and screamed, “DON’T FAKE IN FRONT OF ME! I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE IT! GIVE IT –”

“STOP IT! Can’t you see he is an injured man? If you want to question him, do it when he is better!” interrupted Michael with his voice rising after each word.

“I don’t trust this worthless piece of trash. He might very well be the assassin who attacked me! He might be the host of a demon who would one day destroy everything! You think this “thing” deserves pity?” argued Triton with a voice which could challenge he sound of thunder.

“How do you know that he has this “so-called” demon inside him? LOOK! His gauntlet was lost as well. If he took my gauntlet, then why would he lose his as well?” Michael’s anger was building up so rapidly that he found himself hand ready at his sword.

“I still don’t trust him. They are all the same. Demons, they raid towns, villages, cities just for their amusement. And when they are finished, they leave the dying to rot.” Triton’s tone suddenly becomes extremely solemn, “You do not know what I have been through Michael, the pain, the misery, the suffering. They attack your homes not only at night, but some in broad daylight. I have seen it, felt it, and even embraced it. You know little of these demons.”

Triton then took one last look at Satan and then left the room. Michael’s anger for Triton was suddenly flushed away. He gazed at Satan, and realized that Satan was feeling a same pain as Triton did before. He needed to help him, but how?

As he re-entered his room, he saw Thomas still helping to search for his gauntlet.

“Some discussion, what happened?” asked Thomas as he lifted up some chairs and tables.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” replied Michael as he lay on his bed, “You better get some rest.”

Thomas nodded and left the room quietly, leaving Michael, who was immersed in his thoughts.

Suddenly, an idea to save Satan hit him like a ton of bricks. He immediately rose and rummaged through the desk beside his bed. He held up a piece of paper and on it, was the sign that he had drawn earlier. He smiled to himself, extremely satisfied with the idea that he had thought of and treaded out of his room.

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It was the last match of the day and Triton was watching at the sidelines. The sound of swords and shields colliding into each other seemed to amuse him. He chuckled as the one of the competitors stumbled and fell nearly costing him the match.

Thomas ran into the hallway looking completely exhausted and said to Triton, “I finally… found you… (pant) Do you know where Michael (pant) is?”

“How would I know? He is probably with his new best friend. The injured man in the room upstairs.” scorned Triton who was still facing the arena as the last competitor fell.

“He has been missing since this morning. Come’ on, you experienced the same thing as he did. Furthermore, you are his friend.” Thomas tried to persuade Triton as best as he could.

Triton turned to Thomas and said, “Firstly, I am NOT is friend. Secondly, if he is missing, why should I care? He has that “coach” Samuel to take care of him. And thirdly, I don’t think he like me very much either.

“Well, Samuel has been missing too after he went of with Frederick. And you are the only one who can help us. What’s more, Michael broke you from your trance. So technically, you do owe him something.” argued Thomas and he glared at Triton.

“You know, you and Michael are so alike. Fine, I’ll go on your little “scavenger hunt”.” smirked Triton as he walked ahead of Thomas. Thomas just smiled and followed behind. Triton went up a few flights of stairs, through a corridor and passes a room where the sick are treated. Thomas then knew exactly where they were going and immediately spoke.

“Look, if you are thinking of going to his room, I have already checked it.”

“Do you trust me or not?” replied Triton as he made his way down another hallway and into Michael’s room

“It is not that, I just checked there before and I am telling you he is not-” Thomas paused as the gazed at Michael who was busily packing supplies into three rucksacks.

“Told you so” laughed Triton, but Thomas ignored that remark and asked, “Michael, what do you think you are doing?”

Michael wrapped up the rucksacks and tossed two of them to Triton and Thomas. He carried the last rucksack and explained to Thomas’s confusion, “Well, I decided to find out what that mark I saw meant and how to remove it. So, I would need your help to do this task with me.”

Thomas and Triton looked at each other in bewilderment as Michael gave them a small grin.