Our car screeched through the streets of Magnolia and came to a juddering stop in a back alley just behind Kardia Kathedral. The sky had turned black with ominous clouds and the smell of marshmallows told us somewhere close by was burning.
'The guild is just over that ridge!' I yell out of the window to Toby. He nods, but doesn't say anything. Me and Eva jump out of the car, and as she runs off to check the area, I go round to the front. Toby is stark white and shaking. I silently curse myself. What a great idea Lucy, let the weak, recently escaped convict deprived of magic drive the car.
'Go on,' he coughs, 'they need you more than I do.'
'Are you sure you'll be alright?'
He nods, unhooking the cuff from his wrist. Hesitantly I turn away and run out along the avenue and out onto the main tourist square.
And stop dead.
It is completely trashed, the cobbled pavement torn up and strewn everywhere. A hat shop on my left has a huge hole gaping at the front of it and dust has been spewed up to hang densely in the air. I cough, tripping over the uneven rubble as I struggle towards the guild hall. I run along one street, then another, past my house, when an echoing roar reaches my ears.
Noone is out, Magnolia is completely deserted. In a fit of rage I race to an abandoned warehouse and start to climb, finding foot holes in the chipping brickwork. When I reach the top, I brush my hair out of my eyes and search. From this point I can see what the hell is actually going on.
'Luce! Over here!'
Eva waves me over from a neighbouring rooftop, so I rush to her side to see where she's pointing.
'That's the problem.'
I squint in the direction of the tall Fairy Tail building and see something hulking, something huge, loom up out of the gloom.
Eva glances at me fearfully, looking as young as ever. I nod, a hand clasping my keys.
'Let's get to work.'
