Hello, everybody, here's part 54 of Into the Hellmouth! As usual, if you like it, give it a bump, and I'll get more out soon! Here's [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/212862215?showBanned=0&path=0]part 53 [/url]if you missed it, or, if you're looking for a different part, here's the[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/209303839?showBanned=0&path=0] master post[/url]! Stay classy, Guardians! Eriana pulled the trigger on the fusion rifle again, but the only sound was a dull click. Out of ammo. As the horde closed in on her, she pulled out her auto rifle, and let loose. But the Hive were too many. They were upon her in seconds. They roared, and began to shred her with their claws. They tore through her shields, and began to rip at her armor, peeling it away, piece by piece. And no matter how many Eriana killed, there was always another to take its’ place. There were too many of them, too many! Too many! Too many. . . too many. . . too many. . . At last, she fell to the ground, buried by the sheer weight of their bodies. She couldn’t move, only wince as she felt her body torn by the Hive. All of the sudden, there was a deafening roar, and the Hive quieted. They stepped off of her, and retreated, forming a ten foot circle around her. A knight stepped forward. He looked down at Eriana, and then looked at the Hive around him. He spoke in the guttural language of the Hive, and his audience screeched in approval. He grabbed Eriana by the neck, and held the semi-conscious warlock up for all to see. The Hive screeched again. He let Eriana drop, and then spoke once more to his audience. Her vision flicked. The light was leaving her body. Soon, she would be dead. Just like Sai. And Omar. And Vell. And Wei. Suddenly, a metal boot appeared next to her. Eriana frowned, and looked at it. Then, she looked up and saw the rest of the body. It was a Guardian. His helmet was off, revealing a face with short, cropped black hair. “Wei,” she whispered. The titian nodded, and kneeled down next to her. “Hello, Eriana,” he said. She blinked. “Is this a dream, Wei?” she asked. “Or are my memory banks corrupted?” The titan chuckled. “I suppose it is a dream of sorts,” he said. “But it’s also real.” Eriana blinked again. “I’m sorry, Wei,” she said. “I’m so, so sorry.” Gently, Wei stroked her cheek. “Listen, my dear friend,” he said. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” Eriana sniffed. “Why are you here, Wei?” “I’ve come to take you away, Eriana,” he responded. “To where?” “Where isn’t important right now, Eriana,” he said. “First, there’s work that needs to be done. And I’m here to help you do it.” He looked around. “We’re here to help you do it.” Eriana looked around, and her jaw dropped. The Hive were still there, but now, there were others. They seemed to be cast over the hive, as though they were there-yet-not. She saw hundreds of faces - some familiar, and some strange. “Sai,” she whispered. The hunter nodded, and smiled. She was holding hands with Sylvia, who’s long, white hair fluttered as though in a breeze. “Vell,” she said. The titan nodded at her, his face somber. She looked back at Wei. “What -“ she said, “I don’t -“ “Understand?” Wei finished. “You warlocks are like that. Always needing an explanation. However, right now, you don’t need one.” Eriana frowned. “What do you mean?” she asked. Wei smiled. “I mean,” he said, “there’s work to be done.” He extended his hand. “Are you ready?” Eriana blinked. Then, she reached out, and clasped his hand. “See how they fall before us!” Urúk shouted. His audience was in a frenzy now. The knight smiled. “The Darkness! Shall! Claim! All!” The ensuing screams were almost deafening. Suddenly, there was a loud whoosh! and Urúk was flung, head over heels, down the tunnel. He landed with a deft thud, crushing several of his underlings beneath him. Groaning, he stood up, and turned around. Where he’d been standing only moments before, he could see a figure wreathed in flames. He inhaled. It couldn’t be. . . it wasn’t possible . . . The Guardian. . . It was alive! Eriana looked down at her hands, and watched her armor slowly crumble away. She stood exposed in the darkness of the tunnel, but she was cloaked in flames. She looked around her, and saw the dead Guardians. Then, she saw Wei. The titan nodded at her. “You know what to do,” he said. Eriana nodded, and began to walk forwards, her armor slowly breaking apart as she did. She moved towards the knight who, only moments before, had paraded her about like a trophy. Hive rushed at her, but she simply raised her hand, and let them burn in her light. A trail of ash was left in her wake. Soon, she was upon the knight. It flat on its back, gazing up at her. Eriana reached down, and grabbed it by the shoulders, hoisting the creature off the crowd. Then, she looked towards the ceiling, closed her eyes, and took in one last breath. For a moment, she felt a brief pain inside of her. And then, Eriana-3 knew no more. The explosion of solar light ripped through the Hive army, turning them to ash before they even knew that they were burning. Thrall, acolytes, wizards, knights - all were reduced to charcoal. They died by the hundreds as the explosion tore through the tunnels. The shockwave was even powerful enough to reach the Watcher, as she made one last attempt to reach her friend. Eris was blown back by the force of the explosion. Dazed, she stood up, and saw a distant light - a funeral pyre for a thousand. Eris knew, deep in her gut, what the explosion meant. She could feel it in her bones. Quickly, she took out the orb. “She’s dead, isn’t she,” she asked. The orb remained silent, as they strange rock floated in its center. “She’s dead.” Eris leaned back against the rock walls of Crota’s world. When Sai had died, she’d sobbed. But now, there was only a dull ache in her chest. She could only sit down, and stare at the lunar rock before her. Eris Morn was all out of tears. The shockwave had also affected the lone ghost making his way through the Stills, propelling it forwards, towards its final destination. On it went, on and on and on. It could see the bridge - the one that Vell had died defending. It was almost free - it just had to go a little. Bit. Farther! However, as it passed out of the light from the explosion, it’s strength ebbed. The blue light flickered as it went over another column. Just a little bit farther . . . Then, the ghost stopped, and fell on top of the column, coming to rest there. It’s blue light flickered once. . . twice. . . And then went out for all eternity. Edit:[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/213517569] Part 55[/url]