Chapter 2
Astrid's POV:
Zero loosens the grip of our hands. What's he doing? Before he enters the building, I stop him.
"What do you think you're doing?" After leading me all this way, he's going to leave me? He's such a jerk!
"You stay here. It's too dangerous for you." As if! He can't even compare to what I've been through. If I could go through those dangers, I can go through this one.
"I'm coming with you. It's even more dangerous alone."
"No. You're staying here and that's that." He had that look on his face, saying he doesn't want to fight anymore. Weakling, huh? Then I'll just play it another way. He enters the building alone, for now.
Zero's POV:
That girl just doesn't understand. I know she's been through a lot, based on my senses, but this is different! She's pretty lucky I'm here. If not, the chasers would be after her. I sneak up closer to the main room. A dining room. In good shape. Missing table. Chasers in a circle around something. Cannot identify. Notes get jotted in my head immediately. Good thing I have my skill by my side. I plan my attack on them. Surprise attack. Far distance. Before they notice. Keep them distracted. Good things come out of being a cyborg. As I ready my attack with my air arrow, I see a silhouette belonging to a little girl... Astrid! Not now! Not when I'm attacking. My hand slips and hits bulls eye. 3 down, 4 more to go. Rebuffing... Loading skills... fire arrow ready... aiming... firing. Automatically, the remaining 4 burn into ashes. Wait, one is getting up. Impossible! A cyborg's arrow is not able to be dodged. Unless... Astrid! I look her way to see her with a signature smile. So childlike. Because of her, I missed my chance to kill more chasers! Could she be... My program couldn't comprehend this anymore. Before I could ready another attack, Astrid extends her arm preparing... no it can't be. Lost magic? My program is heating up with all this confusion. Astrid uses a spell to attack- no seal the remaining chaser. What is wrong with her?! Does she not know they're dangerous? After she seals him, I walk up to her.
Third Person:
Zero grabbed Astrid's shoulders firmly. "What the hell do you think you were doing?!" Zero's face was furious from his stolen victory.
"You're just going to kill them without a reason?" Astrid protested.
"They're Chasers, you hear. Chasers!"
"What are those?" Astrid uses her 'cute' childish looks on Zero.
This 10 year old knows nothing, huh? Zero thought. "You're a Runner, right?" Before Astrid could ask what a Runner is, Zero continued. "A Runner is a powerless person who gets abandoned and runs away from Chasers. Runners are nomads and are always by themselves with no belongings. Chasers are a clan of sacrifice. They use the abandoned runners for their needs. They say it's sacrifice for the Chasers to obtain power, though it's fatal." Zero pauses for a few seconds, then concludes the lesson. "That's why I killed 6 of them. Now unseal the 7th so we can get this over with."
"That... still doesn't give you a right to kill them."
"Are you nuts? They're after you. Why would you want to save them?"
"What's wrong with being friends with the enemy? In this book, I read about a vampire and his prey being friends. Isn't this the same thing?" Astrid displayed her book to Zero.
Zero couldn't take this anymore. "That is a book. This is reality. You either kill or be killed in life. It's not like the fairy tale in that book.
"But it isn't a fairy tale. The prey risks everything in order to stay with the vampire. She ends up dead and the vampire dies in vain for her. That means I can risk protecting the enemy and the enemy will become my friend!"
Naive little girl. I should just let her regret this. Zero didn't care anymore. "Fine! Do what you want but don't involve me in your silliness." Just as Zero let go of Astrid's shoulders, something lit up in the dining room.
Astrid's POV:
When Zero finally let go of my shoulders, the dining room beside us lit up. Go in there. Explore the item. Do not bring Zero with you. He'll try to stop you again. Thoughts ran through my mind. Must be that glitch again. I walk past Zero into the dining room. I hear his protests but I don't care to listen. I see this box. Is there a ring inside? In the book I read, the vampire proposed to his prey with this box and it had a ring inside. I try to open but Zero stops my hand from pulling off the lid.
"What do you think you're doing now?" What does it look like I'm doing? Opening this darn box! I ignore him, push him away and pry the lid open. I see these colorful fireballs, or so I think they're fireballs.
"Well would you look at that. Not exactly a surprise for you to set their souls free since you're so naive." Oh shut up Zero. I'm just following my program. So these colorful fireballs are souls, huh? Oh! Just like in Soul Eater. (Hehe. ;D) I pick one up and observe it. No temperature. Squeezable. Goes back its shape no matter what I do. Edible. Edible?! This thing? Isn't it a soul? If I eat it, will I then have 2 souls? Experiment time! I hold the colorful fireball soul near my wide-open mouth.
Zero's POV:
I see Astrid attempting to eat the soul. Is she some kind of animal? I hold her hand back in order to stop her.
"What are you planning now, Astrid?"
"To eat it. It's edible, isn't it? And I'm hungry." I never knew a 10 year old could be so improper!
"Yes, but not for humans! It's basically suicide eating that as a human."
"Who said I was human?" What? There's no way she can't be human. I don't see any signs of being a cyborg... or could she be...
"What do you mean by that?" I need answers.
"Just by what I said." Just tell me!
"So you aren't human?" Obviously."
"No, I already told you." No, really? Just tell me what you are!
"What are you then?" I'll get my answer now.
"Not human." This kid thinks she can outsmart me...
"If you're not human, what are you?" I'm getting frustrated now.
"Are you stupid? I just told you-" I already know what she was going to say.
"Don't think you can outsmart me. I know you're not human. You're not a cyborg neither. You couldn't be a chaser, right?"
"Is that all you can think of? Are you quitting? Wow. Can't believe how dumb a 12 year old is!" Astrid stuck her tongue out. This little...
"Yes. I quit. Now tell me." I can't hide my anger.
"An unique runner!" She winked. What the hell? That doesn't answer anything! I try to retain my anger.
"How... unique?" I dare to ask.
"Unique with powers. Just like in the books I read!" I think my facial expression showed how angry I was because she surrendered with her little game.
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you. Popcorn time!" I reveal more of my anger to her. "I'm sorry, sorry! Sheesh. Okay, so I'm just like I said, a unique runner. I have these powers. After I researched into it more, I found out my powers were something called Lost Magic. There's no records of a runner to have it but me. Happy?" Finally.
"That's not true, there is a record of a runner having Lost Magic. Though, it's a myth. That runner was named Dirtsa. She was known as a naive. She would risk anything for her friends, allies, and even enemies. During her time, Lost Magic was common, it was just plain magic. She was determined to master hers but wasn't able to. Her enemies got there before her and killed her. There's something fishy about the myth though."
"So... does that mean I can eat it?" That's all you have to say to all I've said? I sigh and respond.
"As long as you're not human nor cyborg, then whatever." She digs in before I even finished. Talk about rude. After she finishes, I get up.
"Alright, lets go."
"Go where?"
"Anywhere I lead you." Astrid wore an annoyed face but she followed anyways. I held her hand again and walked out of the demolished building. Right when we got out, the building collapsed and disappeared in sparks. What was that? A hallucination? But my program didn't pick up anything. Astrid must have noticed my shock and tugged my sleeve. I shouldn't worry about little things. I continue to walk to the aimlessly, hoping to find an end to this burden.
Author's Note: It's a bit longer, yay! Please leave reviews, I really appreciate them. I know I got no sense of humor, but I'm just expressing the character's personality. Tune in for another chapter?