Good morning everyone! Here we are once again, and I'm just going to say now that this chapter is going to reveal a few things, but it's also going to (hopefully) keep you at the edge of your seat. So without further ado, please enjoy this next update!
Wind growled as he felt the canvas bag that had been tied around his head get yanked off, hissing at the sudden flood of light to his vision as he sat in what was used as an interrogation room within the palace of the Vi. He glanced over to see that Chase was sitting beside him, looking just about as displeased as he was. When Wind noticed only prince Alexandrite before him, he growled lowly.
"Where's the king?" He asked.
"You will not speak unless I tell you to, Imugi. This is the only time I will warn you. He is attending to other matters, so I decided to begin the questioning sooner rather than later. You're lucky that I don't make a slave out of you for this. So, this is how it will work. My brother will be coming here later in the day, expecting information to you and the Trold. However, you're going to give it to me, first. Not too difficult to understand, am I right? Even dogs can…" He chuckled darkly. "Oh, wait. Even dogs know how to obey their masters, unlike feral animals such as yourselves."
"Like I'll tell you anything! After everything you've done to my family!" Chase piped, Wind closing his eyes as he swore under his breath.
"Bad idea, kid." He whispered.
Alexandrite approached Chase, staring at him a moment. "Speak to me in that manner again… and the rest of your filthy pack of cannibals will suffer for your folly." He spat, backhanding him so hard that a bruise began to blossom on the corner of his lip. Chase glared up at him, baring his teeth.
"Just ask us questions already and get this done." Wind said, Alexandrite smirking.
"I actually agree with your sentiment, Imugi. Now. Why were you and the Trold roaming about the cliffs when we found you? By the looks of it, you seemed to be something akin to an old married couple."
"We had just escaped becoming the next drink on the Valkyrie's menu." Wind spat.
"Indeed, my brother already questioned the Valkyrie. The reason they captured you is because they seemed to have questions of their own. If it were up to me, I'd have that savage bitch here alongside the two of you suffering the same fate."
"If it were up to you, you'd have this whole island slaughtered. That's no surprise." Wind snapped. At this, he growled as he was backhanded in the same fashion as Chase had been. Wind's eyes lit up with anger, snarling.
"I told you to speak when asked to, Imugi, and no more." Alexandrite warned. "According to the Valkyrie's claim, you took something- no… some ONE from them. You know the price for unwarranted abduction of another clansperson. If their claims are true, then their seizing of you would be justified, and you would both face the most severe of judgements. If they are false… then it will be the Valkyrie who will receive such a judgement. So… what is your answer? Who is speaking the truth?" He asked, looking right at Chase. "They specifically said it was you they saw run into the night."
"I didn't kidnap anyone." Chase said lowly. "I wouldn't hurt anybody."
Alexandrite snickered. "That's laughable coming from you. The Valkyrie claimed that this person was a girl. Did you make a succulent meal of her? You're young and robust, perhaps you decided to play with your food before devouring it!"
"I'm not lying! I would never do that to her!" Chase screamed before mentally kicking himself as Alexandrite rose his brows in surprise.
"Do you mean to say that this girl is someone important to you? Is she a Trold?"
"… No."
"What clan is she from? Let me guess… you care for the girl, but your love is forbidden."
"It isn't like that!" Chase shouted.
Alexandrite threw his head back in laughter. "To think I would be so entertained! Who could ever love a scrawny varmint like you?!"
Chase's breathing deepened. "She does… she gave me a gift to remember our friendship."
Alexandrite scoffed. "Lies."
"It's true! The bracelet I'm wearing, it was from her!" Chase exclaimed.
"As if I would care about some ratty string tied around your filthy wrist. If you are as close as you say… then where is she? Where did she go?"
Chase bit his lip, looking down. Wind looked over at him, wondering how long it would take for the merciless prince to break him. "She's dead." He said suddenly, Alexandrite looking over at him.
"I did not question you, Imugi." He snapped.
"Tell him, Chase." Wind looked over at him, the two exchanging a silent agreement.
"Tell me what?" Alexandrite asked, looking between them.
"… That you will never find her. Wind's right, she's dead." Chase said, hoping that this story would be able to convince the prince better than it did the Valkyrie. "The dark creatures… they killed her. She… she gave me her gift as I watched her die!" He shouted, biting his lip. "She told me how she tried to stop them, but they were too strong! She isn't the one who you need to look for, you have to find the dark creatures in the forest and kill them!"
Alexandrite pursed his lip, nodding slowly as he paced about the room. "That would have been a convincing story… if I had not received this from Cyanide this morning. He dropped in for a surprise visit in the Phoenix village." He held up a note. "This was found in the cottage of one lady Ambrosia. See, her cousin wrote to the King, frantic for her life. It is our sole oath to protect them, and that oath has been threatened!" He flipped open the note, shoving it in their faces. "This was written anonymously, but I know Hulder script anywhere. This was requesting assistance from lady Ambrosia for someone who needed immediate and urgent care, and to meet the writer of this note upon the secondary path in the north western woods. Let me see, what is in the north western woods… oh, yes… the Trold territory!" He shouted, throwing the note to the ground. "You will tell me where the girl is or I shall take drastic measures!"
"I- I told you, she's dead!" Chase exclaimed.
"You will either tell me what this arrangement entailed or I shall slaughter you here and now." When Chase said nothing, he turned to Wind. "Perhaps you would care to give me the answer."
Wind shrugged. "Wasn't there. I have no idea. Haven't seen her since she left my territory, and you already know what happened after that."
Alexandrite hissed, about to open his mouth when the door behind him opened instead, Barium entering the room. "Always so impatient." He sighed, shaking his head.
"They know where the girl is, brother! See this note here? The Hulder too are involved. I wouldn't be surprised if they were using this girl as a weapon to start a revolution! They made some kind of exchange outside the Trold territory. It was Cyanide who brought me this note from the house of lady Ambrosia! She is a pawn in their game, Barium. If they will not talk, they will have an example made out of them."
Barium read the note, sighing lightly. As much as he didn't want to… this time, his brother had a point. He knew the Valkyrie hadn't lied to him, he had tried to test Wildfire and he concluded her testimony to be valid. He looked over at Chase and Wind, approaching them. "I don't know the exact details of what's going on here… but there is no doubt that your actions are suspicious. If you can't clear your names and prove that you weren't doing anything traitorous… I can't promise that you'll make it out of here alive."
Chase widened his eyes. "N- No… Wind, he had nothing to do with this!"
"But he does. He is the closest to the place where this girl fell from the sky. He would have been one of the first to witness her. There is little doubt that he hasn't been tracking her movements all this time, and I suspect the same with you. If you won't tell us anything about her or show her to us, then I have to expect that what you're concealing isn't good."
"That's not fair, we didn't do anything wrong! We didn't hurt anybody! She's our friend and I'm not going to watch you kill her like you did to my brothers!" Chase once again silenced, widening his eyes when he realized what he just slipped out.
"So… she is alive then, after all? Lying filth. You see, brother? Make an example of them. To those who continue to protect this girl, if they are threatened with execution as they soon will be, they will bring her forward. If we determine her to be a weapon as I suspect, I will have her head as well."
"No! No, don't you do anything to her, she's not a weapon!" Chase shouted.
"Onyx." Barium sighed as he called him in. "Put them back in. I've seen enough."
As Chase continued to shout, Wind yanked his shoulder away to lean towards Barium. "I'm telling you right now. I don't know how I know this, but I have a feeling. If that girl dies, we all die. The roses. You saw them. Look at the white one. She isn't the enemy here, and neither are we. If you know what's good for you, you'll convince your insane brother that what I'm telling you is the truth." He said lowly before Onyx seized him, dragging him away.
Barium furrowed a brow, remembering the roses from when he had found them. For the first time since he could remember, his mind was in limbo. Who was right? Who was wrong? What was the answer? He closed his eyes as he stood with his back facing the open window, hoping its light would somehow shed some kind of epiphany upon him.
Kapra wandered about the corridors, her head a bit in the clouds until she realized she was once again nearing Viktor's bed chambers. She sighed lightly, increasing her pace by just a bit as she made her way towards his door when she stopped short, Lylith blocking her way as she looked down upon her sternly. Kapra sighed, rolling her eyes.
"What do you want?" Kapra asked flatly.
"You haven't learned yet, have you, human? You believe that Arsenik has taken favor to you. Perhaps for now he has… you are entertaining to him. But that will wear off. You are not the one he truly cares for. I have seen it. He will eventually throw you away when he's had his fill of you, for you are nothing. You believe you are worthy of him? Of Viktor? My heart has kept him near since childhood, do you think a cursed wretch such as yourself will prevent my heart's desire now?" Lylith spat.
Kapra raised a brow. "Sorry, but none of your rambling really answered my question."
Lylith hissed. "Your arrogance is becoming most tiresome. Just who do you think you are?"
"Me?! I'm not the one going around harassing someone like a creepy stalker! Just get out of my face already!" Kapra exclaimed.
"You are a danger to us. You made that very clear the other night in this very corridor." Lylith narrowed her eyes.
"What in the hell are you talking about? Look, if you like Viktor, that's not my problem!"
"Arsenik said himself once that I would be a fine selection as a mate for his nephew, that I'm one of the fairest women of the clan." Lylith spat.
"Okay. Lylith, let me put something straight here. I have more important things to take care of, and in case you weren't aware, I'm trying to figure out how to save- let's see, you, this whole island, including the guy you claim to like so much. So instead of getting on my case, just leave me alone, okay?"
As she stood in silence, staring at Kapra with bewilderment, Arsenik began approaching from down the hall. "Ah, Lylith." Arsenik said her name, not exactly smiling. "I trust you were about to accompany miss Kapra to check on Viktor's condition? I'm sure he would appreciate her company and well wishes." He said, his stare not wavering from her as she frowned a bit. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
"We were just talking about how worried we were." Kapra said, glancing at her for a second. "She's pretty good friends with him. I was just telling her that I'm sure he'll be fine. He's got a lot of support."
"Indeed… after all, Lylith, you never cease to make your presence about him unknown, no less your ambitions." Arsenik shot her a look. "You may go now."
She started to back away, her expression becoming one of shock as she turned on her heel, striding quickly down the hall. He watched her through the sides of his eyes until Kapra spoke.
"She's been on my case since I've been here, but I think she really does care about him." Kapra thought aloud.
"Hm… you may be right, miss Kapra. Forgive my coldness. I do believe I felt that way about her behavior at one time as well. My thoughts and feelings seem to have changed quite a bit as of late." He cleared his throat. "At any rate, if you are ready, I would like you to join me in the temple."
"Oh, yeah... we have to see that vision thing, right?" She asked.
"Yes... I admit this is very risky, and I hate more than anything to place you in such a situation, but it may reveal answers which will assist both of us." Arsenik said.
"Very true. Alright then, lead the way." Kapra smiled lightly.
Arsenik returned her smile, placing a gentle hand at her back. Once inside the temple, he guided her to the altar. "Miss Kapra, I ask that once we begin, you do not look behind you until I tell you to. Viktor was attacked by this essence... there is no doubt that it could do the same to us if we aren't careful."
Kapra nodded, the two proceeding to the altar. Arsenik took out the same bowl Viktor had, filling it with water. He then reached into his pocket, withdrawing the small bottle and uncapping it. He poured the dark liquid inside as smoke from incense danced about the air. Kapra watched for a moment as Arsenik closed his eyes, jumping when suddenly, the heavy doors slammed shut on their own, the sound echoing in the wide space. Arsenik took her hand as she went to look over her shoulder, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes and shaking his head. Dark smoke began to rise from the bowl, Kapra furrowing her brows when she heard something. At this, Arsenik looked over at her.
"I hear a voice." She said.
His eyes widened then. This was the last thing he expected. For something to have the ability to reveal itself to one individual, but not all present... he realized that this had become very dangerous very quickly. "Miss Kapra, listen to me carefully. Close your eyes and make your way to the door. Wait there for me to fetch you, but do not open your eyes, understand me?"
'Kara…'
"Miss Kapra, look at me. You must not listen to anyone's voice but mine. This is extremely critical." Arsenik said, beginning to internally panic as she seemed to be in a daze.
'Kara. I can make you well again. I can make you strong. You can have any life you choose. You can be loved.'
"Can't you... hear it…?" Kapra asked.
"No, I cannot. Kapra, your eyes are becoming distant, I'm losing you. You must do as I tell you." Arsenik insisted. "If I had any idea this was going to be this dangerous, I would have never brought you here. I'm no longer taking this risk, now please close your eyes-"
"Miss Kapra?"
She gasped, turning around to see Viktor standing a couple yards from her. Arsenik swore under his breath, gripping the edge of the altar as he hung his head. "Kapra, you must turn around."
"Viktor?" Kapra blinked. "You seem like you're all better-"
"Kapra." Arsenik said shakily. "That is not my nephew. You must turn around."
She looked back at Arsenik, confused as something began to move inside the bowl. "What are you talking about, he's right behind-" Kapra had turned back around halfway when it was revealed that this was indeed not Viktor.
As she quickly realized, it became a terrifying apparition.
Arsenik growled as he heard her being seized suddenly by an invisible force. He saw out of the corner of his eyes as her head was shoved into the bowl. Hands emerged from it, keeping her face submerged. Unable to remain idle, Arsenik spun around, now able to then see what Kapra saw, but risked himself at the same time. The apparition of Viktor appeared to be much like him in likeness, but his skin was like flaking ashes, the whites of his eyes nearly obscured by darkness. He hissed lowly as his fingernails seemed to dig into the back of Kapra's head, helping the hands sprouting from the bowl to keep her face submerged. Arsenik began to hear the voices swirling about the room, seizing the apparition and forcing it away from her. He curled his lip, angered that it had taken his nephew's likeness. He drew his blade, swiping it through the air when it lunged forward at him. When he did, it froze, trembling as it smiled darkly, blood dripping from its mouth and throat as it seemed to crumble into a pile of ashes. Arsenik watched with a racing heart as the ashes dissipated into the air, fading from sight. He snapped out of it a moment later, whirling around to see that Kapra's face was still being held submerged, her struggling waning.
'Give into the inevitable. It is your fate. Your death will bring us life.'
Arsenik strode over, trying to yank Kapra away from the bowl, but the hands kept a tight grip on her face. He struggled, finally managing to pry her away as he stumbled, falling to his knees. He hissed, feeling a twinge of pain. It was from an old wound, one that would remind him of its presence every so often. Kapra gasped for air, trembling as she looked behind her.
"A- Arsenik... I saw... I saw-"
"Miss Kapra, I must get you out of here." Arsenik stopped when she gently freed herself from his grip, crawling over towards the right pool, seeming focused upon something.
"The first… sacrifice… made by will of the… self…" She went into the water, wading for a bit until she pulled something from it. A mirror shard. Arsenik hissed as a vision came to him, smoke from the bowl and the incense swirling to form the environment around him. He opened his eyes to find himself in a dreary hospital.
'My name is Amanda… I came here to escape… I thought it would help the pain… getting away from the ones who hurt me… but it became my prison…' The girl with strawberry blonde hair whispered.
Arsenik saw a doctor walk past him with a medical chart, never having seen anything like this. He assumed that this was a vision from the world of humans. 'Amanda… suicidal, trauma from being abused by her father, unsocial. Keep an eye on this one.'
'I did make friends… they were here because they were sick too. But then, I met a boy. He lived on the other side of the fence. We spoke every day. One day... he told me he loved me... that someday, we would run away together.' Arsenik watched her walk up to the fence, but there was no one on the other side. 'Why did he leave me…?' He watched her wander down a hallway, a sobbing mess. 'I didn't want to do it anymore. I heard a voice in my head telling me I had to do it. The voice promised that it would end the pain. I couldn't refuse it. I remembered the lights began to flicker as I snuck into the bathroom…' He watched her punch the mirror, cracking it as she grabbed the shard Kapra was now holding, slicing her own throat with it. As this happened, he heard an ear piercing scream, the environment fading as, just as Kapra was staggering over to the pool on the left, the first vision melted into a second vision.
"The second sacrifice… made by the will… of another…" Kapra whispered, this time, taking an axe out of the water as a new voice spoke to Arsenik.
'I am Mary. I was twelve when it happened… I woke up in a sweat. There was a sharp pain in my stomach. I was so frightened at the thought of dying. I cried for my mother… but did she comfort me?' Arsenik watched as she emerged from the smoke, older, while he saw the younger version of herself crying. Her older self smirked darkly. 'She mocked me, laughed at me and my fear. Bloody Mary, she called me... just like the legend. Well, I became the new legend that night. I made my mother and father pay for all the times they made me feel like dirt. That was the night she appeared. It was my reflection in the mirror… but then, it wasn't.' A mirror appeared as he watched the little girl look into it, her reflection staring back eerily as it whispered to her. The little girl hurried out of the bathroom as the reflection laughed maniacally, going to the garage to grab an axe. Arsenik hissed as he witnessed the girl murder her parents in cold blood.
"You are the one my nephew saw… you are the one who assaulted him." Arsenik growled.
Mary chuckled lowly, her eyes burning into his. 'I was admitted to the same hospital as her… where all the insane girls and boys go. Every time I saw my reflection, I saw her, the girl in the mirror. She screamed her words of darkness and hatred to me in soft whispers. The more I listened to her, the more like her I became.' Surprisingly, Mary's expression softened. 'There was... that one doctor. For some reason I felt… human… when he was near me. It… frightened me... because I thought I had lost the ability to feel. He comforted me. He was the only one who could tame the demon inside of me. Until that night…' She curled her lip. 'I was assaulted by one of the janitors. I broke the mirror… just like sweet little Amanda did- but he was the one who bled. I had lost my mind. I found the emergency axe and I killed anyone who got in my way.' She kept stepping closer to Arsenik, slowly, like a predator cornering its prey. 'The authorities were on their way when I finally made it out. As they arrived, the doctor I mentioned ran to me. I was swinging away when the sound of his voice stopped me. For a moment... I could see the light when I looked into his eyes. He was my clarity, he was everything I wanted, deep down. I had finally dropped the axe and started going to him when-'
Arsenik gasped with shock when he heard the sound of a gunshot, the sound foreign and- dare he say- frightening to him. He saw blood pooling on Mary's hospital gown where her heart would be, barely registering this when the sound rang again and again, about a dozen more times until the final one pierced through the back of her head, her forehead beginning to bleed. Her eyes were rolled up, her knees folding as she fell forward. Arsenik caught her, hissing as he lost his footing and fell into the left pool. Trying to regain himself, he saw an arm within the thickened, bloodied water, grabbing it before surfacing. He gasped for air, realizing it was Kapra. He quickly pulled her to him, dragging her out of the water and placing her down. As she coughed, he looked around to see that all the blood and apparitions were gone, the bowl on the altar empty, and the smoke from the incense having ceased. The visions he had seen were nothing short of disturbing, and the manner in which these humans had died…
He slowly helped Kapra to a seated position where she looked up at him. "You saw it too."
Arsenik nodded. "Yes. Miss Kapra… we are dealing with very dark forces here. I did not realize just how dark until now." He looked around as his wet hair clung to his face. "This was not the insight I hoped to see. Nevertheless… I will do what I must to prevent a similar fate from happening to you. However... the answer is still quite unknown to us."
He helped Kapra to her feet, the two proceeding to the temple doors. As they opened, a Hulder on the other side looking for him took a step back in surprise.
"Sir Arsenik?"
"You may speak." He replied.
"Oh, er-" He cleared his throat, a bit confused by the scene before him but chose not to ask about it. "I came to tell you that your nephew has awakened."
Kapra sighed with relief as Arsenik straightened up. "I shall make myself presentable before seeing him. Continue to monitor his condition until that time." He said, the Hulder watching as the pair made their way down the corridor, leaving a small trail of dripping water behind them.
Wind rested his head against the cold stone of the prison cell, Chase scuffing his feet as he paced around.
"You're wasting your energy by doing that, you know." He said as he rolled his eyes.
"Okay. I'm going to take the blame for everything. You weren't the one who took her from the Valkyrie or were involved with that meeting outside my territory. I'm going to do what I have to so you get out of here." Chase replied.
"And give away the girl's location in the process? They'll kill her, too. They'll make up some crazy excuse like they are with us." Wind said.
"But we can't just let this happen! If one of us gets out, she can be warned that they're looking for her."
"Look, kid. You think I couldn't just slice those idiots' necks open? Trust me, I really want to right now, but it would fall back on us, our clans, hard. We took a risk and this is what's happening."
"But if we break out, we could run and hide! They'd never catch me again." Chase smiled.
"Yeah, just like they didn't catch us last night. You know Alexandrite. He's a persistent son of a bitch that will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he wants. That's nothing new. They've got us in a stronghold. Struggling is only going to make them grip tighter."
Chase sat down next to him, hugging his knees. "So are you saying to just... give up?"
Wind was silent for a few moments. "No. I'm telling you to learn when to take a hit. A chance to hit back will come up eventually."
Just then, the doors to the prison chamber opened, Onyx and Night approaching.
"The Vi council has arrived to begin your judgment and sentencing. You will be present and be required to submit to answer for your crimes." Onyx said as Night opened the cell, seizing Wind and Chase. Onyx took hold of Wind, the two being brought to a large, circular courtroom, almost like a small, enclosed coliseum where many pairs of eyes stared down at them as if they were a part of some exhibit. They were forced into the middle of the room, the ground floor about six feet below the first row of seats. After Onyx shut the door to that area, he and Night reappeared in the front area of the first row where Barium and Alexandrite were seated.
"Wind of the Imugi clan and Chase of the Trold clan. The charges being placed against you are as follows. For Wind, you are being charged with mutinous secrecy, conspiracy against the royal house, Vi and Phoenix clans and aiding a separate suspect in criminal activities. The sentence for such charges in combination is death or- because you are an Imugi- a life sentence of servitude to the Vi. How do you plead?" Barium asked.
"Not guilty... but you're not going to believe me anyway, are you?" Wind spat.
"Hold your tongue, you filthy mongrel!" Alexandrite slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair.
"Alexandrite." Barium shot him a look. "Chase, you are being charged also for mutinous secrecy, conspiracy against the royal house, Vi and Phoenix clans and for the potential instigation of a revolt. In addition, you are charged with unwarranted trespassing against the Valkyrie clan and abduction. Again, the sentence for such charges in combination is death. How do you plead?"
Chase looked up at them, furrowing his brows as he shook his head. "I didn't hurt anybody. I was just trying to help."
Barium cleared his throat. "Chase... a gentle reminder that you must answer with one of the following responses; 'guilty,' or 'not guilty.'"
"... I'm not guilty then." Chase said. "Does that mean you'll let us go?"
Night couldn't help but burst into laughter, the room echoing as many of the Vi councilmembers did the same.
"How can this uneducated Trold be expected to defend itself when it doesn't even know the first thing about how a trial works?" One exclaimed.
"... Is this what you did to my brothers?" Chase looked up, all around him. "Put them down here like this, and... laugh? Ask them questions and punish them for things that they couldn't even say no to?"
"Kid, knock it off." Wind hissed.
"Silence!" Alexandrite shouted.
"Order!" Barium exclaimed.
Just outside the doors, Bo Peep listened in on the trial ensuing inside, her curiosity once again getting the better of her. As she listened to what was transpiring, she furrowed her brows a bit, quickly taking leave. She threw on a cloak, heading out of the castle as she made her way towards the nearby village.
"Wind, allow me to address you first. Tell me what you saw the day the great storm took place." Barium said.
"I had a pretty clear view of it. Thought that's all it was at first, a bad storm. Then, I saw something coming from it. It wasn't rain, or lightning. It was dark creatures falling from the sky. And I saw someone with them. I didn't get a clear view, because the creatures began to land onto the island, climb up from the cliffs. I ran to tell my clan, but I didn't get to anyone before I blacked out."
Barium nodded. "Do you remember what happened when you next awoke?"
Wind exhaled slowly. He had to be careful now. "Everything was spinning. I had a nasty cut on my leg." He held out his leg to show a very light scar. "There was a girl. She was helping me. She said she came from the sky. She warned me that the dark creatures were here to hurt us but that she was not a part of them." He paused. "After she helped me, she went on her own way. That's the last I saw of her."
"Did you tell anyone of what you saw? Anyone in your clan?"
"No. I tried to track her and make sense of the signs at the place where she fell myself." Wind replied.
"When did you meet up with Chase?" Barium asked.
"… While I was tracking her."
"Tell me how that interaction went."
"Well, I was heading up north, and he was heading down south." Wind paused for a moment, glancing at Chase. "He told me he wanted to see where she fell and asked if I had seen it... being my territory is right where the impact happened. I asked him if he had seen the girl, and he said he did... but the dark creatures had taken her from him. That's where you found us and that's what we were doing." He stood up a bit straighter. "You're here accusing us of treason. We're not the ones you have to worry about."
"That's enough, Imugi." Alexandrite growled.
"While you're all sitting up there like idiots twiddling your thumbs and wasting your time, the real criminals are out there, causing havoc and sucking the life out of the woods! Haven't you noticed everything growing slower, like time is stopping?"
"I said enough!" Alexandrite roared.
"You won't be saying that when those things are at your door and it's too late to do anything about it!" Wind growled as chatter swelled in the room, Barium shutting his eyes for a moment as he sighed.
Alright, you can all take a deep breath now. Leaving you all on a bit of a cliffhanger here, but not to worry! There are plenty more updates to come. So, will Wind and Chase be able to clear their names? Will the testimonies of the first two sacrifices, Amanda and Mary, help Kapra to defeat the dark ones? Find out more in the next chapter- in the meantime, please leave a review with your thoughts! As a little side note, the stories of Amanda and Mary were based off of the book No Hope For the Hopeless at Kings Park by Jason Medina. Thanks again for reading, and see you next time!