Chapter 11

'What did you call me?' Terra asked nervously as she stepped forwards. Hayden grabbed her shoulder to stop her going any further.

'An Esper, Terra.' The man said. Terra was shocked that he knew her name. 'Don't be frightened. I know a lot about you. You're the last of your kind you know.'

'What do you mean the last of her kind?' Zack asked. 'She's human isn't she?' Terra's heart sank. She knew that Zack meant well but hearing the possibility that she might not be human made her feel alone. What has happened to all the other espers? Was her mother in Winhill really her mother? Hayden held her arm tight as he saw that she was distraught.

'Espers are a breed of human that have the ability to call upon the earth's magic and to use it to become stronger and even cast it.' the man replied, staring at Terra in awe. Terra sunk her face into Hayden's chest. She was happy to find that he didn't seem uncomfortable with this and even hugged her in return.

'You can't take her!' Hayden suddenly blurted out. 'We don't care if she's a different race to us, she is still our friend and we will fight for her to the end!'

'Too damn right!' Zack chorused. Kai stood tall and upright in protest to the man's words. Terra was so happy. She had only known Zack and Hayden for a short while but already they would risk their lives for her.

'Fine then. The mistress won't be too happy that we couldn't convince you to come,' the man began. Terra felt her heart release a little but as she did, the man shut himself back inside the mechanical spider and it began to move. 'So I guess we'll have to take you by force!' The spider fell to the earth with a crash, landing perfectly on all eight metal feet. Hayden suddenly released his grip on Terra. He threw her back behind him.

'Stay back, Terra!' He called to her. Terra didn't know what to do. Her friends were going to get hurt and maybe even killed. Would she never find out whether there could be more to her and Hayden? Terra couldn't bare it.

'No!' she screamed as she dove forwards, her katana out in front of her. She ran as fast as she could towards the giant spider, ignoring the calls behind her from Zack and Hayden. She knew that Kai would be protesting too and it raised her spirits. She would die for them. The spider retracted one of its legs and sent it flying forwards, catching Terra square in the chest. She fell to the floor, winded. Her watering eyes looked up towards the giant form that was creeping over her. A bright light began to shine from the centre of its face. Suddenly, three figures ran past her. Terra could hear the sound of gunshots and metal coming into contact with metal. Terra forced herself to stand and dried her eyes. Kai, Zack and Hayden were all attacking the spider with full force, but none of their attacks even made a scratch. She watched as Zack was sent flying by one of the spiders arms and as Kai was propelled backwards by a beam of light. They both collapsed on the floor, knocked out, leaving Hayden on his own. Terra ran back towards the spider, her katana flurrying in every direction, slicing small scratches into the robot's strong armour.

'Hahahaha! You may be strong, Esper, but you cannot penetrate this shell with those pitiful blades!' The man's voice came out clear via a megaphone on top of the spider's head. Hayden yelled and jumped up, slicing the megaphone off, leaving it sparking on the floor.

'That'll shut you up you bastard!' he shouted as he dove in again for another attack. Suddenly, the spider began malfunctioning, it's legs collapsing under its weight. A gunshot sped through the air past Terra's head. It came into contact with some piping, which split open and began spewing brown liquid across the floor. Terra turned round. Kai was standing there, smiling, his gun smoking. He had helped Zack off of the floor and was resting him against his shoulder. Terra grinned at him and then turned to watch as the spider collapsed in a heap. The man and a few others sprang out of the trap door just in time to avoid being crushed. Hayden grabbed the man around the throat and held him up, threateningly poising his claw near his face and allowing sparks to course across it.

'You wanna explain what's going on?'