Chapter 152 “Undecided…”
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Duncan had never expected that his casual question would uncover such vital details about the infamous Vanished, particularly from Dog, the enigmatic demon. While Dog had mentioned the ship’s fearsome reputation in the perilous depths of the ocean before, Duncan had never imagined that the ship had earned its ominous name through such terrifying and brutal means.
According to Dog, the Vanished is not just any ship—it’s a ghost ship that exists in a state of flux between the subspace dimension and our physical world. It’s like a cannonball ricocheting ceaselessly between the roof and the foundation of a building, disrupting both spaces in its journey. With each oscillation, the ship violently disrupts the spirit realm and the depths of the ocean, leaving nothing but destruction behind. Any object or entity it comes into contact with is sucked into this alternate subspace dimension. And according to Dog, this has been happening for a long time.
It’s no surprise then that even a formidable creature like Dog feels an intense sense of foreboding when it comes to the Vanished. Imagine a devastating force appearing out of nowhere to unleash chaos, only to pause and have its captain cheerfully greet you. It would be enough to make anyone’s knees buckle with fear. While Dog may not have actual leg muscles to weaken, the sentiment is clear: if he could feel that kind of physical dread, he would!
However, it’s not just the cataclysmic actions of the Vanished that bother Duncan; it’s the unanswered questions about the ship’s original state and what was really happening with the so-called ‘Captain Duncan’ that run the ship. Was the oscillation between dimensions a deliberate act, or was it accidental, like a ship adrift without control? Was Goathead, another mysterious entity onboard, aware of these dimensional shifts? If the chaos was intentional, what could possibly be the motivations behind Captain Duncan and Goathead’s actions? If it was not intentional, the implications are even more horrifying.
Could the Vanished spiral out of control again?
For Duncan, the Vanished has always served as his primary source of support, and his existence is deeply connected to the ship. He has always believed that his exploration and mastery over the Vanished were safeguards for his own well-being. However, if the ship has the potential to unpredictably plunge back into subspace, could any degree of control he thinks he has over the Vanished actually be effective?
Is it even possible to rein in a ghost ship spiraling wildly into another dimension?
Currently, the Vanished appears to be on a stable voyage across the Boundless Sea. However, this might just be a temporary equilibrium. Duncan can’t shake the thought that the ship’s actual ‘normal’ state could be one of utter chaos and unpredictability. This unsettling notion keeps growing within him, making him increasingly anxious.
Adding to his anxiety is a specific detail: the door at the bottom of the ship that leads to the subspace dimension. Goathead’s tense reaction upon finding out that this door has slightly cracked open seems to subtly confirm Duncan’s worst fears— and this has only intensified his restlessness.
The Vanished was far from being a stable entity; the gravitational pull from the subspace dimension toward the ship was relentless, never pausing for even a moment.
Duncan took a soft, almost imperceptible breath, striving to maintain his composure while betraying no external signs of his growing apprehension.
Regardless of how deeply he pondered the issue, he was presently unequipped to meddle in the mysterious matters of subspace. His grasp on the intricacies of this alternate realm was woefully inadequate.
To acquire a deeper understanding of subspace, he knew he’d benefit from interacting with supernatural phenomena, such as the peculiar church standing before him. The sanctuary might very well have been touched or even invaded by forces from this other dimension at some point in its history.
Snapping himself back to the present moment, Duncan shook his head and mused aloud, “If subspace entities have indeed infiltrated this underground sanctuary, then the events that occurred here eleven years ago are far more complex than anyone has yet understood.”
His eyes shifted to the massive door that had once been sealed shut, a monument to a bygone crisis. “The nuns who lost their lives here must have barricaded that door, presumably to keep whatever was in the sanctuary confined. But can mere wood and metal truly restrain an entity from a realm as unpredictable as subspace?”
“Subspace invasions are unique to each situation,” Dog responded, his tone contemplative. “Despite my general disdain for them, the gods do provide a certain level of effective protection to our physical world. It’s rare for entities from subspace to cross over in their true forms. More often than not, what comes through are projections, distortions, or even illusions that find manifestation through human emotions and beliefs…”
Dog suddenly halted and stared intently at Duncan. The complex interplay of light and shadow within Duncan’s physical form had turned chaotic, emitting an eerie glow strong enough to unnerve even the most seasoned of demons.
“Go on, what else did you have to say about subspace?” Duncan inquired, tilting his head as if eager for more details.
Regaining his composure, Dog meekly continued, “Under normal circumstances, the sanctified structures within a church could offer a barrier against subspace entities. Given that these invaders often manifest as mere projections of their actual selves, severing their connection to subspace could effectively dissipate their presence in our world. However, the costs involved in such an intervention are another issue entirely.”
“Ah, I see,” Duncan nodded, his expression thoughtful. When his gaze returned to the deceased nun, it was tinged with newfound respect. “She must have exhausted every ounce of her strength to avert a catastrophe during those events.”
“Yet, she likely failed, didn’t she?” interjected Shirley, who had been silent up to this point. She had found it challenging to keep up with the intricate and unsettling dialogue between Duncan and Dog. “The great fire did take place eleven years ago, after all.”
“The great fire that happened eleven years ago was supposedly ignited by a fragment of the sun. However, we’ve also found evidence suggesting that this church was influenced by subspace activities. The connection between the two phenomena remains a mystery,” Duncan articulated, his face revealing a blend of perplexity and deep thought. Then, as if struck by a new idea, he ambled slowly towards a statue of a goddess located at the center of the underground sanctuary. “Something has suddenly caught my attention.”
His gaze fell on the statue, which was noticeably distinct from the one depicting Gomona in the chapel above ground. This statue remained perfectly intact, untouched by decay or damage, its details visible even in the subdued lighting of the chamber.
Shirley followed Duncan’s gaze to the statue and gently inquired, “What has piqued your curiosity?”
Duncan gestured towards the sculpture of the goddess and said, “Look at this storm goddess here. The church has clearly been invaded, its clergy have been wiped out, and outside we have an apparition that seems to be in an eternal state of prayer. Why hasn’t this goddess taken any form of action? Shouldn’t she have alerted her worshippers in other sanctuaries to come and assist?”
Dog let out a low murmur, adding, “I might not be an expert on divine matters, but even I find this odd. Although gods don’t interact directly with our world, they do have a vested interest in their ‘sanctuaries,’ which act as conduits connecting them with mortal worshippers. And now, one such sanctuary has been invaded, with not a peep from the goddess for over a decade. It’s unnerving, to say the least.”
Duncan fell silent for a moment before suddenly raising his right hand. A small flame, tinged with a greenish hue, materialized at his fingertips, casting flickering shadows around the statue.
Reacting almost reflexively, Dog took several steps back, his eyes widening in caution. “What are you planning to do?”
Duncan grinned and replied, “When you’re uncertain, sometimes a small spark can shed light on hidden truths.”
Dog was initially inclined to caution Duncan against his actions, reminding him that they were in a place deemed sacred and that they might invoke the ire of Gomona. However, he chose to remain silent. Given the sanctuary’s deteriorated state and that Duncan himself appeared to be involved in some subspace-related activities, verbal warnings seemed pointless.
Quietly, Dog shifted to the side, pulling Shirley with him as a precautionary measure. If divine retribution were to rain down, Duncan might be resilient enough to bear it, but he and Shirley were not as fortunate.
Duncan noted Dog’s cautious repositioning but chose to disregard it.
He had no intention of drawing the attention of the storm goddess, Gomona. Earlier, in the chapel above ground, he had already ascertained that this so-called “holy place” was tainted, including the statue. Given that this unsettling situation had gone unnoticed for eleven long years, it was likely that the bond between this sanctuary and its associated deity had been severed a long time ago.
What was once a sanctuary imbued with an aura of holiness now lay shrouded in an unsettling emptiness devoid of any sanctity, as if abandoned by the divine. The only things remaining were shadows and the weight of unsolved mysteries.
A soft ethereal flame, tinged with a mysterious greenish hue, flickered silently at Duncan’s fingertip. Its embers detached from the flame like droplets of water, cascading down and scattering across the floor. These spectral drops radiated an otherworldly glow that rapidly expanded, filling every nook and cranny of the underground chamber in a split second.
Then, as quietly as it had ignited, the fire that had momentarily occupied the entire room began to fade away, its once-vibrant flickers diminishing into darkness.
Shirley and Dog exchanged puzzled glances, a mixture of confusion and subtle concern registering in their eyes. After a beat, Shirley finally broke the silence, speaking in a cautious tone, “So, did you discover anything?”
Duncan appeared equally baffled. He looked from the minuscule flame still dancing on his fingertip to the underground sanctuary, which seemed unchanged, almost as if nothing had occurred at all.
Had the exercise been futile? Was the sanctuary truly empty of secrets? Or could it be that the ethereal flame he conjured lacked the potency to penetrate the mystical “veil” obscuring the true nature of this place?
Lost in thought, his eyebrows furrowed in contemplation, Duncan suddenly heard a faint whisper so soft that it almost seemed illusory:
“Who’s there?”
The voice jolted him, causing his eyes to dart toward its source. There, amidst the all-consuming darkness, stood the statue of Gomona, enshrouded in silence and shadow yet suddenly imbued with an enigmatic sense of presence.