Jenny
What she saw was beyond the periphery of imagination. It was unbelievable. The boy was nonchalantly standing there, ready to charge at his opponents whom, Regan was afraid to conclude, weren't exactly humans. The creatures were screaming, and seemed as though shedding skin; a new layer of dark, thick fur appeared at the finishing of the process.
Their backs were growing something, too. And soon, Regan had realised that that 'something' unfurling from their backs were wings – glossy, bat wings. Those who were once men were now creatures of the darkness and shadows.
Their features were grotesque. When they smiled at the boy, the very details of their teeth could be seen – they had fangs frighteningly sharp and at the sizes of icicles. Red narrow eyes, thirsty for flesh, were intently locked onto their opponent at all times, yet the boy seemed so composed. His calmness had tricked the creatures (and Regan herself) completely, for when he summoned an attack, he executed them so suddenly and swiftly that he was successful in kicking the creatures in their faces without difficulty. His attack was strong and exceptional; almost perfect.
The creatures fell to the ground in an instant, but shot upwards again just as quickly as they had fallen – and that was when something gold was dropped by one of the winged creatures. It rolled down the path like a die on a board game. It moved slowly, but eventually made it next to her shoes. Regan picked up the figurine and ran her fingers over the carved, wooden cube. It seemed ancient, like the ones she might have had studied during myths and legends classes. Yes, might have had because she had never really paid any attention to those lessons. The carvings were like puzzles to her; none of the combinations rung a bell. It made no sense, and hinted no actual image or pattern.
Regan stepped backwards and raised the cube in the moonlight in hope of seeing more of the details engraved, but as she brought her foot down, something like a twig under her shoe cracked. The winged creatures froze and turned to her. Great.
Ton
The cube shone in the moonlight and captured the attentions of the winged creatures. Their glares hadn't left her since. The boy glowered at her likewise, too, and immediately, Regan hated herself for making matters any more difficult than it already was. The way the creatures stared at her had told her that she was being underestimated. The mundane girl had to be the easier opponent, right?
Then, one of them shrieked – a painful, bloodcurdling sound.
And abruptly, before the any of them had had the chance to escape, a swell of darkness formed out of nothing. Ten metres in front of her. It whirled at an immense speed, whipping winds and collecting dust. What was that thing? But before Regan had any longer to take in the phenomenal happening, she realised something – it was as though she was being sucked towards and into the portal. The force felt almost painful.
The winged creatures headed for her.
Regan had never been in so much fear. Sure, she had taken defensive lessons before, but never had they challenged her to such a terrifying extent. Then, a cold claw clasped around her arm, and another around her ankle. Regan struggled to break free from the creatures' grasps, but to no avail. She dropped the golden cube in her hand in surrender, and this was when the boy had appeared – just before the relic piece hit the ground.
"I gotta get us," he said, with one hand tight around her wrist and the other fending off the creatures, "out of here." In too much shock and stupefaction to open her mouth, Regan merely nodded. The boy, name and identity hitherto unknown, slipped his hands into hers and pulled, dragging Regan across the land so quickly that it had almost felt like they were flying.
******
After running for who knew how long, the couple lost the winged creatures. Or so they thought. A moment ago, the creatures had been circling them overhead, with keen eyes forever locked onto their escaping victims. Yet now, they were nowhere to be seen. In between intervals, the boy cast a quick peek behind them, but not once had he hinted to stop running.
And every time, under his breath, Regan had heard him cuss.
The road ahead still looked very, very long. She felt her stomach lurch. Regan had never remembered her neighbourhood boulevards being so complex. Then, the boy halted. Their hands were sticky from perspiration, but the boy didn't seem to notice. Unlike Regan, whose chest was heaving and not able to catch her breath quickly enough, the boy stood unaffected, as though he'd never been running with her for the last half an hour. It made Regan really wonder if the boy standing next to her was human at all.
His eyebrows furrowed. "Why'd we–?" She started, but it wasn't long before Regan understood why they had ceased running and sensed it, too.
To be continued ..
AN : SOMEONE PLEASE CONTINUE? Like I had done with these guys, I'll be responsible for all editing :)
