Chase

Francis. Chase heard the subtle voice of Sofia in his mind. He was about to shot the deer they had been chasing with a sharp arrow on his hand but he halted, letting the animal escaped. He heard Tristan instructed him to release it but he made no action. It was odd. He felt odd. He felt something was not right. His heart beat with a different rhythm. Sofia flashed on his mind. Something was definitely out of order. Chase turned to leave. Tristan followed him with Raven on its side.

  “What happened?” his friend inquired.

  “It’s not a good idea to leave them behind,” Chase murmured and continued on his way. The two went with him back to the clearing. No one was there. His heart beats faster. If his instinct was right, Sofia was in great trouble. “I will find them. You two stay here,” he announced.

  “I’ll go with you.” It was Tristan. The young man took a gripped of his shoulder. Chase took a deep breath and shove away its hands but his friend put it back again. He turned to face Tristan. “Sofia and Iris had been missing. I can’t afford to lose you and Raven too.”

  Tristan stared at him, loosening its grip. “Bring Sofia back.”

  He narrowed his eyes and said, “I definitely will.” Then, in a swift pace he left the two behind. He tried to use a spell to find them but it was no use. His magic was getting weaker and weaker. It was a matter of human ability now. He almost seek the whole thicket but none of Sofia or Iris had been found. They disappeared without a trace. He soon came to a cliff but nothing was there. Chase turned to leave but something caught his attention upon its edge. A red substance. He draw near the edge and touched the core. It was blood! It was still warm. Someone might have hurt.

  “Sofia,” he whispered. He hurriedly turned to leave when he heard something. A sound of falling rocks. He bend his knee and looked down the cliff. His eyes widened in fear. It was Sofia. She was bleeding and pale, almost unable to breathe. Her hands were stuck and got caught up on huge vines that were hanging beneath the cliff.

  “Sofia!” Chase called in a worried voice. She lifted her head but she seemed not to recognize him. She might have lose much blood. He tried to use his spell but it faltered. He hurriedly grabbed the vine and pulled it up. His wound restrained him from excessing too much force but he keep on going. The vine was not that strong to hold her up. Chase hurriedly offered his wounded hand without even thinking. “Here, grabbed my hand!” He commanded. He suddenly heard a discordant noise. The vine could have been cut in halves within a minute or two. “Hurry!” Sofia reached for his hand before the vine had split on two. He tried to pull her but his strength was not enough due to the severe wound on his hand. He keep on trying but still, he could not pulled her up. There was a way but it was too risky to perform the spell without much concentration. Suddenly, Sofia spoke on her weak voice.

  “Let go,” she said with a faint smile on her face. He could see her suffering. It shattered his heart. How would he defend her later if he could not help her now? He keep on pulling her up. She cannot die. Of course, she would not. He would never allow such thing. His hands bleed. His blood begun to drip on her face.

  “I said let go! You’re bleeding!” Sofia yelled at him. “I — I’m gonna die anyway. I saw my death in my vision.” She paused and looked up at him. “What’s the difference of dying now or later? You cannot die with me. You must find the book. There’s no use of me n — ...”

  “Cut that off! You stupid girl!” Chase yelled back to her. “We’re going to find it together. No one’s gonna die!” He felt her hands slipping from his gripped. Before he could do anything, Sofia spoke again.

  “This is goodbye I guess.” Sofia smiled at him and let go of his hand.

  Chase tried to reach it back but she fell so quickly. “This is not that part, you dummy!” He jumped to follow her. He inscribed something on the air using his blood. It was the summoning spell he used before. His eyes changes its color into a fiery red. Red scales began to appear on his hands and on the corners of his face. He would definitely risk everything for Sofia, even his life.

  ***