chapter10

When the train stopped, no one said a word. I dont know if it was the confusion, or the shock that caught on first. Dustinville was a barren waste land. Miniature sand storms gusted through the streets and nobody was outside. I, along with Eloise and Cody put up the hood to my ecko sweatshirt when we got outside. The dense fog near the ground of the place was freezing, my legs wouldnt stop shaking. The very few passengers that were with us on the train were already gone, and we were all alone.
"Octivian." Eloises voice piped up over the loud gusts of wind. It startled me, and I jumped back a little.
"Wheres Marina house?" She asked me. She was holding her hood on her head so it didnt fall off. I motioned my hand to her and Cody who followed me down the street. No one was in the stores. They all had their closed signs up and it was pitch black inside. I never thought Id ever see Dustinville like this. The sun was always here, everyday. Now it was just as dark as Nightbridge. When we got to Marinas house it had started down pouring, mixing with the sandstorms creating a mud mixture that had slapped me in the face a few times. When we reached the door all three of us were coated in mud. I looked inside the windows. It was just as dark as it was outside in the house. When Cody went for the door it wasnt open. I pushed him aside and shook on the door knob.
"COME ON!" I shouted in panic now. Eloise put her hand on my shoulder.
"Chill Octivian." She told me calmly. I fell back, fighting not to take my anger out on her. Instead I looked up at the door and charged it. It fell to the ground with a slam. I was so lucky that I was strong enough to do that. Eloise and Cody stared at me, then shrugged and followed me inside. All the lights were off. We had completley searched the whole first floor of Marinas house when we heard the screams from the basement. It sounded like Marina herself. The wind was pouding so hard against the stone walls of the house, almost everyone was afraid that the walls were going to cave and the house would collapse. I ran to the door of the basement, and knocked that one down too. Thats when I froze, and I saw her. The penguin. Lady Auroura. She bellowing some kind of chant in the direction of the back right corner of the room. In that corner, was Marina, Cheif and Genji. They looked disgusting, like they had been rolling around outside. Marina was screaming in pain. Cheif and Genji were gaping at her.
"STOP!!" Cheif was screaming. "DONT HURT HER!!"
Marina was cringing in pain. I could see it in her eyes. When she saw me I saw her confusion even in the grimace she had on her face. I saw Cody walk past me towards Auroura.
"STOP!" He told her. Auroura turned towards him.
"Oh look!" She looked past him... at me.
"You made it! Now you can join your friends in their last hour!" She cackled. She was taking up the most space in the room, levitating a few inches above the ground. I looked back at Marina who was sobbing in the corner. Cheif was holding her, asking if she was alright.
"This little squid here.." Auroura began. "Was about to have her insides explode from her body!" She laughed again, the shrillness stung my ears and I covered them in the pain.
"But now since you guys are here- well," Suddenly we were off the ground. All three of us. I struggled to get my feet back to the earth again, but it was no use. We were thrown into the corner on top of Cheif who yelled in agony as we toppled over him. Genji was suddenly knocked unconcious.
"Ladys First!" Aurouras witch like laugh continued to bellow through the house as Both the screaming Eloise and the weak Marina were lifted and thrown against the opposing wall. They both fell in a heap on the ground. Eloise struggling to find her balance to sit upright against the wall. On her face was pure terror.
"Well, how would you like to go about this girls?" She floated closer to them, scanning their faces. Marina, I could see could barley keep her eyes open, since the blood from the gash on her forehead was coating the entire right side of her face.
"Slow and painful? Or fast and over with?" She laughed again viciously.
I was horrified and I didnt know what to do. Thats when I saw Cody reaching for his book that he had dropped when we were thrown with Cheif and Genji. I pushed him forward to help. Auroura was still cackling and laughing at Eloise and Marinas pain, when he finally grabbed the book. He flipped through the pages shakily, and pointed out a piece of writing.
"You have to read this..." he told me, his voice stuttering.
"Only y-you c-can defeat h-her" He gave me a warm smile, that didnt seem to fit the moment. I closed my eyes and thought.
I heard a zap, then both Marina and Eloise screamed.
"Go!" Cody hissed. "b-before they d-die!"
I arose fast, the book in my hands. Auroura was too preoccupied to turn around. Then I started chanting.