Chapter Ten
For a moment, I stood there, contemplating on what exactly I should do. The city was in danger. My home was under attack. Should I defend it from the wolf that was terrorizing it, my own brother? If so, that meant injuring my own sibling, my own blood. Possibly even killing him. Or should not take a stand at all, simply hide in a safe spot until the peril was over, then find Zephyr, take him along, pack up our belongings and flee the city, leaving everyone to fend for them selves, just like we did to our hometown? Yeah, I know it would be cowardly, and I know that I was going to pay for that later in the future, but at least the two of us would be safe and still have a future. That much was important. Such slim options…So hard to choose…Or maybe I didn't have to choose either of them. Maybe there was a third choice. Perhaps…
A terrified cry yanked me from my thoughts. Looking up, I saw a woman a few feet away running across the port bridge away leading away from the right tower. An infant was clutched to her breast, shielding the young child from harm. Behind her was the wolf, its paws pounding the ground as it chased the female, tongue trailing at the rear, a yearning look in its eyes. The woman's breathing was ragged, her legs stumbling and tripping on her long skirt and loose rocks as she fled.
Sensing that its prey was weakening, the wolf pounced. Claws dug into her back, causing the lady to fall forward with a frightened shriek. The infant tumbled out of her arms, sliding to a halt a few feet away. The woman whimpered and tried to get up to retrieve her child, but before she could move, fangs sank into her throat. There was a grisly ripping sound. Blood sprayed out her neck like a fountain, splattering the wolfs' muzzle and the body. The woman's body went still. Noticing its prey was dead; the wolf raised its head and howled in victory. Trotting over to where the infant lay, he gazed down at it in disgust. The young child was wailing fearfully, wondering where his mother was, and longing for her care and comfort. One swipe of the paw cut the cry short, along with the baby's life.
"Noo!" I screamed. The wolf lowered its head, searching for the speaker. Blue eyes locked onto mine and it detached itself from the body and began running towards me. I whimpered and drew out one of my pistols from its holster with quaking hands. Aiming near the wolfs' feet, I pulled the trigger.
Sparks flew up from the ground as the bullet made contact. The gun jumped in my shaking hands, making me nearly drop it. Before I could fire again, however, the wolf was upon me. Shoving me roughly against the cement, its paws on my shoulders, it stared down at me with a predatory grin of delight.
"No…Please brother…Don't do this…" I begged, but my pleading went unheard. Slowly, as if savoring its prize, the wolf leaned down and opened its mouth, teeth directed at my jugular.
This is it, I thought as the fangs neared my neck. This is how it ends. Just like in the dream.
Just as the incisors scraped my throat, something slammed into the animal, making my whole body shake with the impact and sending the wolf flying into a pile of rubble. Struggling to my feet, I saw a figure rise from the ground, and realized that it was my rescuer.
Only it didn't look like one. Instead, its appearance was one of a beast. Pale blue skin covered its body, and its wild mane of a hair was tinged bone-white. Black horns jutted out of its skull, sharp fangs protruded from the sides of its mouth and long claws adorned the ends of its fingers, about eight inches in length. But the most frightening feature was its eyes. They were pitch-black, with no pupils, like a pair of endless holes you could dive into and never come out of. Scary.
Then I saw the familiar blue tunic, with its large iron ring in the center held there by thick leather straps, and realized who my savior was: Jak! But why did he look like that? What had happened to him while in the bar?
The wolf pushed itself onto its paws, growling furiously, and crouched. The demon snarled back and struck a fighting stance. Accepting the challenge, the wolf leaped into the air, fangs bared and claws unsheathed. But the monster did nothing, merely turned to one side, causing the wolf to sail and land past him. The animal scowled in anger, spinning around and jumped at its opponent again. This time, the demon swung out a clawed hand, connecting with the wolf's eyes. Blood splattered onto the floor as the wolf staggered to a halt on the ground, shaking its head back and forth, yelping in pain as it was temporarily blinded. The demon smirked and lashed out with his leg, catching the wolf on its side and causing it to slam into a wall. The wolf whimpered as its back was smashed against the cement barrier, the bones splintering and cracking with the force of the blow. Grinning evilly, the dark being strode forward, meaning to finish off his worthless adversary.
"Don't kill him!" I shrieked, dashing up to the beast. My arms curled around his own and I tugged, preventing him from going any farther. Looking casually over his shoulder, the demon sneered at the feeble restraint and swiped at me with his free limb. Jagged ebony nails scraped across my skin and into my flesh, leaving five pointed lines on my arm. I screamed in agony and jerked away, grasping my bleeding appendage. The demon ignored my reaction and turned back to his prey.
Only to find that it wasn't there. Recovering from the harsh beating its enemy had given it, the wolf had made use of the distraction, and had taken off. Gazing up into the sky, the demon and I saw the animal hovering a few feet above us, wings spread and slowly fanning the air, creating a cold breeze that blew on our heads. On the ground, the dark being turned and hissed in my direction, as if blaming me for letting his challenger escape. I glared at him, and the demon snorted in response, facing back to where his enemy hung in the atmosphere just out of reach.
Something flashed across my vision, distorting the sky. A blur smashed into the wolf, causing it to loose its balance and keel sideways. Quick as lightning, the shape disappeared, only to reappear a few inches in front of the wolf's muzzle, where I could get a good look of the attacker.
It was another beast, though unlike Jak. Snow-white skin swathed its body, along with strands of shoulder-long hair of a similar shade. Claws tipped its pale fingers and fangs filled its mouth. A pair of glowing wings was attached to his shoulder blades, radiating calm and intimidation. A long, thin, catlike tail, laden with spikes, flicked out from the end of his spine. It eyes were pure black save for a diagonal streak of white. And like the blonde, I recognized the being by his clothing. It was Terence.
Regaining its balance, the wolf snarled at the new foe and, flapping its wings, sped forward, intent on bringing it down just as it had done. The creature did nothing, merely watched as the animal flew straight towards it, eyes glinting menacingly as it neared its opponent.
Then…it vanished.
Puzzled, the wolf stopped and looked around for its enemy, wondering where it had gone to. The creature re-emerged on the wolf's left side, and before its adversary could react, raised one clawed hand and slashed at the vulnerable area. Black talons grazed the grey fur, tearing into the soft tissue and flesh underneath it. Traveling upwards, the sharp nails pierced the wing fastened to its back, cutting through the delicate veins and muscles. Roaring in pain and unable to fly, the wolf began to fall, tumbling through the sky with its wing trailing behind. In the cascade of feathers, the wolf crashed onto the bridge attaching the right tower to the rest of the city. The creature, sensing its rival's defeat, let loose an ear-splitting screech of triumph, making those down below cringe at the sound.
Badly injured, the wolf struggled onto its paws, whimpering in agony. Numerous gashes and bruises covered its rough grey fur, some crusted with dried blood, others still bleeding profusely. Feathers from its torn wing, tucked securely against its body, were scattered on the cement, a few floating in the murky-blue waters below. The poor animal looked as though another severe hit would end its life.
"There it is!" A Freedom League guard shouted to his two companions, pointing at the wounded wolf. His order cut through the air like a razor-sharp knife: "Shoot it!"
It happened as if in slow-motion. I saw the guards raise their weapons, aimed at the wolf, and saw their fingers pull the triggers; saw blazing-red lasers and blinding bolts of electricity spit out from the ends of their rifles. I saw the projectiles strike the wolfs chest, saw its eyes widen in shock and pain, saw drops of blood fly from the upper torso, arc through the air and splash on the ground. I heard the animal's howl of agony, as it reeled back from the intense blow, and topple sideways onto the hard cement with a sickening thud.
I had seen everything. Yet I did nothing.
At last, I reacted. "ZEPHYR!" I screamed, running as fast as I could across the port, jumping over corpses and wounded people lying on the ground, desperate to get to my brother. As I ran, I saw him transform, changing back into his original form, his arms and legs twitching as though someone possessed him. By the time I reached my younger sibling, he was entirely human, with no trace of his alter ego left. Except for his horrific wounds.
Kneeling beside his lean figure, I stared at him. Blood was smeared across his clothes, hands, face, arms, legs and both upper and lower parts. Basically his whole body. The crimson liquid was especially prominent on his chest, where several small holes were embedded. Cuts and many other wounds littered his stature, gained from the battles he'd fought with the guards and two beasts, which hadn't moved from their positions, aerial or ground.
Hands pressed gently against his form, moving back and forth purposefully, while lips opened and closed, repeated a single phrase.
No reaction.
Frantic, I shook him harder, shouted his name louder. Zephyr remained still, his dark eyes closed, face pale. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I couldn't lose him. Not now, not ever. Yet here he was, as motionless as a statue, and here I was, begging him to wake up. It couldn't be true. It simply couldn't. He wasn't…was he?
Behind me, I could hear the leader cheering, celebrating with his fellow soldiers, congratulating each other over their latest victory, that they had done their duty, ridding Haven City of a so-called evil menace that was my brother.
Who was, by the way, dead?
Author's Note: Yay for Spring Break! Otherwise, this chapter wouldn't have been submitted so early. The twist isn't really over, there's a third part to this that I forgot to mention. Sorry! But the worst is over. For now, feel free to submit a review. I really want to know what you thought of this.
Terence: That's it?!
Me: Hmm? What do you mean, Ter?
Terence: I mean, that's all you did?! Just turn me into some flying freak that attacks Zephyr?! Come on, that's gotta be the lamest thing you did ever did to me!
Me: Even lamer than the time Selik and Zephyr tied you up and tossed you into a closet, dressed up in a costume and made you think you were captured by aliens?
Zephyr: (Snickers) Man that was funny…And by the way, Ter that cut you gave me hurt! (Rubs side)
Terence: No, that wasn't funny! And quite crying! I didn't hurt you that bad.
Zephyr: Yes you did! I…
Me: Alright, get over it, you two. (Rolls eyes) Boys…Hope you all liked this chapter, and as always, I do NOT own Jak, Daxter or the rest of the cast. They belong to Naughty Dog. I only own Selik, Zephyr, Terence and Lazrael. Bye and see you all next time! (Waves)