She narrowed her gaze. “Let him go!” she calls out. Her voice was strong. I was just about to ask her for her name when she added, “Your battle is with me, not these children.”
Children!? Children!? Anger blistered through me as I squirmed, trying to get out of the ugly weirdo’s grip. My earlier pain was nothing compared to the rage fueling me now!
It took Orpheus only seconds to agree; he discarded me simply and easily enough, straight into the window of the school.
The shards of the glass shattered underneath my weight as I rolled through; when I opened my eyes (and peeled my hands from my face) I found myself sprawled out on the floor of a classroom.
I struggled to sit up and catch my breath. I crawled over to the window sill, trying to pick the glass fragments out of my bloody hands. As I managed to get a good look out the window, I saw Mikey peek his head out from behind the wall, gawking at the archer-girl.
Gwen was curled up on the ground, less than three yards away from Mikey, obviously terrified to death.
Orpheus stared up at the angel-archer. “Who are you?” Orpheus asked. “Where did you get that bow and arrow?”
“Why don’t you tell me who you are first?” the fighter responded, a charming sneer on her face. “Who do you serve?”
Orpheus grinned. I guess he liked her, at least enough to humor her, which made me angry for some reason. “Very well. I am Orpheus, the future ruler of this planet. I serve my Master, the Bringer of the Void.”
I watched the bow tighten as the eyes narrowed, as if to deny that. “We shall see.”
Gibliom, meanwhile, was steadily gaining back his strength. I saw him breathing deeply, and I knew he would make his move soon. There wasn’t much time to make a plan.
Orpheus continued his speech. “I will be the one to turn this world into one of complete emptiness. I will rule over it, at the right hand of my Master.”
“Gwen! Look out!” I called. Gibliom was fully back to his old self, with a ball of lightning in his hands.
“Augh!” Gwen screamed frantically as she struggled to get up off the ground.
The bow tightened hard, and the arrow of light was released. It shot forward, cutting through the side of Orpheus’ arm and digging its way into Gibliom’s chest; the creature hollered as his essence begins to fade away.
“You shall return to the hellish realm from where you came,” the archer-girl told him firmly. “You belong back in the memory of this world, and the void of your own, but nowhere else.”
Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, Orpheus lashed out an attack of his own against her. The black flames licked at the air where she’d just been standing. “I don’t know who you are, but you will die for what you have done!” he cursed as his arm and eye socket continued to bleed out oozy blood.
It’s now or never, I decided. I made my move while they were fighting.
I hopped over and scraped Gwen off the ground. “Run!” I told her, tucking her good arm over my shoulder.
“Dinger!” Mikey hurried over from his hiding spot and carefully took Gwen’s other arm and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s head towards the park! It’s big and there are plenty of places to hide.”
“What about her?” Gwen asked, nodding to the pretty soldier as she dodged another attack while unleashing one of her own.
“She can take care of herself, obviously,” I snorted indignantly. I was still not happy about her ‘children’ remark from before. “Let’s worry about us.”
By the time we reached the entrance to Shoreside Park, there were police cars, a couple of ambulances, and fire trucks heading towards the school.
“Now they come!” I exclaimed in exasperation. “Honestly, it’s been a horrible week for timing!”
Mikey and Gwen ignored me as they babbled together. “Mikey, did you see that girl?”
“Did I ever! She’s amazing!”
“And she’s so graceful! How kind of her to save us from those monsters.”
“Did you see her shoot? Perfect aim and release. She got those guys bad.”
“Did you see her hair? I’ll bet that she goes to the most expensive hair salons in town.”
“I’m going to ask her out on a date next time I see her.”
“Uh, guys? Hello?” I waved my arms persistently to get their attention. “People trying to kill us, remember? We’ve got to move.”
“But they’re not following us anymore!” Gwen protested.
“Yeah, Dinger, are you blind?” Mikey frowned. “We’re talking about something way more important here, anyway.”
“She saved our lives, Hammy! We owe it to her to be her friend and thank her,” Gwen insisted.
“I’m sure that’s exactly why you want to find her, too.” I rolled my eyes, annoyed. If I saw her again, I was going to make it clear to her I was no more a child than she was.
12
Starry-Eyed
Mikey, Gwen, and I stopped running upon reaching the park. It’s close to the school, but there were a lot of ideal hiding places to veg for a while, which we needed for more than one reason.
Gwen yelped as I examined her arm. “Hey, watch it,” she pouted.
Geez, I never knew Gwen could be such a wimp, I thought. After all, Gwen used to be a cheerleader. They didn’t take whiners on the squad, only winners – or so the catchphrase went. She’d quit for some reason unknown to myself; I’d just assumed it was because she was trying to focus on getting her grades up. Her parents were pushy when it came to that, I knew.
“You think she broke it?” Mikey asked.
“Looks like it,” I said. “I should know; my dad’s a doctor.”
“Yeah, a heart doctor.”
“Shut up. I still know the basics. It’s not like my dad was a doctor overnight,” I retorted. I looked back at Gwen’s wrist. It was swelling, and there was a definite limp to its appearance. “You’ll have to go to the hospital,” I said. “You’ll need x-rays.”
She sighed. “Will I still be able to play Juliet?”
I nearly choked. “Are you kidding me?” I asked. “You were almost killed, and your concern is for the play, which is the whole reason you were there in the first place? Wow, that’s touching and sad at the same time.”
“I know,” Mikey agreed. “But, Gwen, think of it this way – who else knows all your lines that can perform your role? And, even if there are others, who would willingly take the title away from you?”
“You’re right.” Gwen sighed and slumped over, relieved but still slightly depressed.
“Besides, the play is probably going to be canceled now anyway,” I told her. “So you shouldn’t have to worry about it at all.”
Gwen glared at me. “They won’t cancel it. You’re so rude sometimes!”
“Well, Mr. Lockard is dead or something, so you don’t have a director! And anyway, if I really were such a rude person, this wouldn’t be the second time I’ve saved your life,” I reminded her abruptly.
She softened, but I could tell she was still reluctant about it. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “Thank you for saving me again.”
“You’re welcome.” Despite the forced tone, my ego swelled with pride.
“You know, that girl saved you, too,” Gwen smiled. “I guess that makes me indebted to her even more.”
And then my ego popped, just like a balloon (What was it with Gwen and crushing my pride lately? I had to wonder.) “We don’t owe her anything,” I declared. “Gwen, think about it like this; if she wanted to really save us, she would’ve done it earlier, when all the people were running free and stuff. She was just waiting around for the best moment to get what she wanted.”
“Well, what was it she wanted?” Mikey asked. “Because once I know, nothing wi
ll stop me from getting it for her. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen before. I must know who she is!”
Gwen and I exchanged wry looks. “Whatever,” we shrugged. It’s just another girl in the phase of Mikey’s affections. It usually happens every week. Or every other day. Nothing special about this one.
“I’m serious you guys!” Mikey insisted.
“Good, good, that’s nice,” I agreed. Gwen sighed.
“You guys are awful!”
“Then allow me to take them off your hands,” a new voice offered.
“You wouldn’t want them –” Mikey’s sentence died fast as he looked up. I turned to see a pair of dark eyes gleaming under the skin of a policewoman. “Uh, can I help you ma’am?”
At the sight of the blue face, I backed up immediately. “Guys, it’s her!” I whispered. It was the smurf-lady in disguise! “Let’s get out of here.”
“What are you talking about, Hammy?” Gwen asked. “It’s just a cop.”
“No it’s not! It’s her! Are you blind?” I shook my head. No time to worry about the discerning abilities of my best friends at the moment. “Excuse us, ma’am, we’re just heading… to the docks,” I lied. “We’re in a hurry.”
“Not so fast!”
Mikey tried to back away, but it was too late. The ‘lady’ grabbed for him just as he tripped, falling down.
I picked up Gwen. “We’ve got to move!”
We were hit by a blast of dark power as we tried to turn away. Thrown through the air once more before, I (less than gracefully) crashed into a tree, while Gwen skidded across the grass.
Mikey started hyperventilating, scurrying away from the deadly woman as fast as he could manage. He backed up into a large boulder and fainted.
“Humans are amusing, that’s for sure,” Maia laughed.
The ache in my back grew as I stumbled to get up. Weakness had overtaken me. There were scratches from the broken window, and a large bump on my leg from the pavement. There’s nothing I can do, I realized.
I collapsed in the shadow of the tree, torn between fighting for consciousness and letting myself exit this living nightmare. Fighting won out mostly because I was sure I would just have nightmares about this later whether I was awake or not.
“Hammy!” Gwen cried out to me. “Hammy, no!”
The demonic eyes of the blue lady glowed scarlet. It was all over now.
Maia grinned, her nails sinking into Gwen’s shoulders. “Girls have so much life,” she told Gwen. “Let me take some of yours off your hands. It’ll make things so much easier. You won’t have to do anything at all; not anything. Wouldn’t it be nice to rest?”
Gwen had this look on her face; she’s being entranced. Her fear had paralyzed her beyond emotion. Or something like that, something where she didn’t have to care about anything, and something where she was unbelievably tired. “What are you talking about?” Gwen asked.
“I’m telling you you’re overworked. You need rest, a long rest, to heal, to gain strength, and energy… wouldn’t you like that?”
“I have been working hard,” Gwen admitted softly.
Don’t give up! I wanted to shake her. Don’t give into this creepy lady creature. I was helpless to stop her. “Gwen, don’t do it.” I whispered, even though I knew she couldn’t hear me now.
“I’m here to help you… to help you find rest…” Maia said to her. The nails sank in harder, a black steam rising as she released toxins of deceit into Gwen’s blood.
“Stop! Let her go.”
I groaned to myself.
Whoosh.
“What!?” Maia flung around just in time to dodge the arrow of light. It whizzed by her, missing her by only a breath.
Gwen smiled lazily with recognition and hope. “She’s back!”
I looked over to see the sight. I was not disappointed. Even in the night time, the warrior maiden glimmered with a bright aura.
Maia rolled her eyes, her own angry aura flaring. “Just who do you think you are, anyway? This is no time for games, little girl!”
The ‘little girl’ squared her shoulders, ready for battle. “I am Starry Knight,” she called out. “And I will not let you harm these humans anymore! Their Soulfire is their own, and not for you.”
“Oh, boy,” Maia muttered. “This isn’t good.”
“The Bow of Righteousness never fails to stop evil,” Starry Knight called out, warning Maia. “I sent Gibliom back to the darker realm, where he belongs. His demon spirit is gone, cast away.”
“Will that be my fate as well?” Maia asked sarcastically.
There was no answer. Just a hardened glare.
I was confused; terribly, terribly confused. What in the world was this girl talking about? And why was she saying things more appropriately found in a video game?
Was I insane? Was this even real?
“Very well.” Maia sighed. A ball of blue energy formed between her hands. “You must die!”
If the battle had not been as fearsome and awful to behold as fights usually were in the movies, I might have noticed the small shadow creeping towards me.
I could hear him, somewhat, but I was more distracted by the action going on in front of me; it was like ignoring the person in the movie theater who insists on talking on his cell phone during the show.
“This is it? What a pitiful excuse. Not much to work with. I would’ve preferred the fighter-girl over there to this boy lying here.”
There was a sigh. “This better not be some kind of joke,” the gruffness muttered. “I’m going to tell if it is. Wake up!”
My eyes drowsily winked over in the direction of the voice. “I am awake,” I slurred. My arm and back tingled like they’d fallen asleep, and I was starting to feel burning hot. “Who’re you?”
“Who am I? I’m your only hope of surviving at this point!” the voice answered. “Now, get up. You’ve got to help Starry Knight. You’ve got to seal away the Sinister.”
“What?” I squinted into the distance, looking around the park. Where’s the voice coming from? And what is it talking about?
There’s a sigh. “I’m down here, kid!”
I looked down and nearly fainted. The oddest creature I’d ever seen was looking up at me. It looked like a kind of lizard-snake or mutated eel. “Where are you? I don’t see anything but this ugly reptile,” I said.
The ‘ugly reptile’ rolled its eyes. “Uh, I was the one who was calling you, kid. Are you some kind of idiot? After all these years living here on Earth, I guess you’ve finally lost your mind.”
“Hey! I’m not an idiot!” I replied. “I have the highest grades in my class, you thing, you!”
“The name is Elysian,” the lizard-snake huffed indignantly. “And where I’m from, grades don’t matter,” he said. “Now, are you awake enough to fight?”
“I’m not awake at all!” I remarked. “I’m sitting here, talking to an iguana that’s like a person…” my voice trailed off. “This has to be some kind of dream. But nothing at all like the other ones I’ve had.”
Elysian put his claws on his head in exasperation. “Oh, no! This is never going to work!”
There was a loud explosion; Gwen screamed as one of Maia’s power attacks came dangerously close to hitting Mikey.
“You see? You’re not dreaming!” Elysian yelled at me. “You’ve got to help.”
“How can I help?” I asked, anxious and fearful and probably about to vomit. “I can’t fight these things! They’re not even human; at least, I don’t think so –”
Elysian just stared up at me. “You mean you don’t remember?” he asked, incredulously. He clawed his way up my shirt and stared me in the eye. “You really don’t remember!?” Elysian shouted. “That’s impossible!”
“Ho
w do you know what’s impossible? I’m stuck in the middle of a park in the middle of the evening talking to some strange gecko thing while watching the wresting channel for some alien network! Is that impossible to you?”
Elysian chuckled for a moment, obviously forgetting the task at hand in light of the question. “Yes, that’s impossible.”
“Augh!” I turned to see Gwen getting hit by a blast of energy. She slumped over, motionless.
Resolve found its way into me at last. I stood up, grabbing onto the tree I’d been flung into for support. “My friends,” I murmured. It’s time to stop playing with my imagination.
I didn’t have the strength to fight. But I had to. I had no choice. I less than eagerly started to head over.
I was only a few yards away from Maia when she turned on me.
She smirked at me. “Still alive? Try this!” she threw an energy ball straight at me.
Regret had conjured itself in me as quickly as she’d conjured up the energy ball. My life started to flash before my eyes as the space between me and pain exponentially disappeared. The only coherent thought in my mind was that there was no way to escape…
“No!” My eyes, squeezed shut in preparation for the attack, suddenly opened for a quick peek. I gasped.
Starry Knight had jumped in front of me, shielding me from the attack.
It hit her square on. She tumbled into me, and we were forced backwards. Before I could think, I wrapped my arms around her.
All of a sudden, I was screaming. Not with pain, but with something else, something more than pain. Uncontrollable suffering. I barely noticed Starry Knight also wore a pained expression on her face as she was pushed away from me by the torrent winds of the attack.
As I looked over at her, my blood started pulsating. My forehead was blanketed with sweat. The pain in my back left, but there was this feeling like something was there…
My hollowed heart racing, my mind lost in confusion and outrage at this injustice, my very soul seeming to cry out. I screamed again as a powerful beam of some kind of white light burst out of me, lighting up the night sky.