Arc of the Souls Chapter 87: Arc 3, Chapter 11 - The Hall of Memories

Read chapter 87 of Arc of the Souls by Noyr on NovelPedia.

Jumkou stumbled forward, missing a step on the stair. Sachiel caught her with a smile. “Watch your step, Jumkou.” He said, in a concerned but teasing tone. “A- ah...” She stammered. “Sorry...” She tugged at her neck, still intact. She looked at Flynnigan, who was climbing up the stairs, huffing and puffing. She looked at Asheera, who was talking to Sachiel about her. She was alive. But that memory. That was so vivid. So real. The feeling of Sachiel's fingers digging into her throat, the sickening lurch as Asheera fell, the final, silent cut. She could still feel the phantom sensation of her own skull splitting. Why can't she remember those deaths? Why does it feel like death? Is she dying, or is the library trying to show her something? I can't think. “You must be out of your mind, Asheera...” Sachiel said. “It is true that Jumkou is misplaced. She is from the future... but she cannot be erased from existence. If that were the case, she wouldn't be here.” “Then why is she in so much pain?” Asheera asked. “She's been scratching her throat and her neck for a while now.” “She's seeing things.” Flynnigan chimed in, breathing heavily. “She mentioned a woman before that we couldn't see. I'm starting to think that she's making things up.” “...No... It's not that far-fetched.” Sachiel thought. “I am feeling weird as well. Not as much as Jumkou, but... I feel a presence watching over me. Judging me. It may very well be the woman that Jumkou has seen.” “...Then I'm not the only one.” Jumkou said. She was relieved, but at the same time, she was terrified. “That woman is definitely there... I just don't understand why I'm the only one who saw her while you guys haven't.” .:. A place existing only in the future... Is it because I'm from the future? That only I have the ability to see her? .:. Jumkou rubbed her temples as she climbed up the stairs. .:. No... That can't be. If it was, why was Sachiel, Flynn and Jumkou subject to that? I still remember it clear as day. .:. Jumkou shook her head. .:. It has to be a farce. Some sort of memory that has been planted to my head... Or a memory from my past loops. I don't know. .:. Jumkou stopped in her tracks, her anxiety booming like crazy. It almost certainly felt like she was dying everytime. The vertigo that she has been feeling only got worse, almost playing tricks with her mind. She almost fell into the void because of it. She held her head, looking down. .:. What is this library doing to me? .:. “You okay, Jumkou?” Flynnigan asked, noticing her stop. He's been acting like a brother to Jumkou lately, despite the latter's annoyance to the former. “... I think I've been looping.” “... What?” Flynnigan stopped. “As in... looping back in time?” He was confused. Even Asheera and Sachiel stopped at their tracks. Jumkou looked up, her face a contorted sight of confusion and fear. “... I don't know... I can't quite explain it. I feel like I've been here before... and I feel like I've died before.” “...” Sachiel's face grew serious. “This woman keeps appearing in my mind at key times... like those are the times where I probably have died.” Jumkou explained. “I keep feeling the pain and I keep hearing the voices that I heard before I 'died'. Like my brain exploding, my throat being slit or my head being split in half.” “We're almost there, Jumkou. Besides, we've got Mr. Eria by our side. What's there to worry about?” Flynnigan said, trying to lighten the mood. He was trying to be supportive in his own way. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise.” Flynn's words, meant to be comforting, landed with a strange thud. A promise. He'd made a promise. Where had he heard that before? Not from himself. From... someone else. A memory that wasn't his, a weight of a vow made in a life he hadn't lived. .:. ...Huh, when did I say that? .:. Flynnigan shook his head before walking behind Sachiel. He looked at Jumkou one last time before continuing to walk. “... Flynnigan.” Jumkou