Running through the destroyed streets, I gasp for breath. The concrete has ben turned over this way and that. A few trees have been recently toppled down. Above, black figures fly over me and I duck under a bush that's off the side of the road. I lick my lips before darting into the forrest, running as fast as I can. I definitely can't fly, no way. Even if I could, it'd probably be the stupid decision and they'll find my faster.
I hear the trees rustling behind me and sink behind a few bushes. Peaking out through the leaves and branches, I see claws on the ground with black leathery feathers; four of them. Gulping, I try to keep my breath steady. If they find me I'll never be able to get to Rima. She's probably back at the lab, scared, alone. God, I just hope Hikaru and Rikka are with her.
The claws and tips of their feathers leave from my vision and I hear a gust of wind. It's quiet. Sighing, I straighten up. The Vultures are gone, thank God. I sprint out of the forrest and down the road to the mansion.
The bronze gate is twisted and turned in different directions. I slip through and run up the pathway and around the back to the pool. The water in it has been emptied out and the trap door in the middle has been opened. Black smoke pours out of it and I climb down to it. My arms are sore and there's a deep gash on my left cheek that I try to ignore. I have to see for sure. Black feathers are everywhere, but no Vulture is in sight.
Coughing through the smoke I call out for Rikka and Hikaru. The lab is in ruins and a lot of wires pulled out. The only thing going through my mind is how the Vultures even found where Rima was. I hear a groan from the examination table.
Running to it, I see Rikka's red hair through the thick smoke. I rush to her, getting to my knees and holding her face in my hands. She's beat up pretty bad and can't open her eyes. Her perfectly kept hair is messed up and clothes have been torn. I keep calling out to her.
"Rikka where is Hikaru? Why isn't Aruto here? What happened?" I kept throwing questions this way and that. She grips my shirt collar and pulls me down so that her lips are right next to my ear.
"They took her," she croaks out, before fainting in my arms.
"Rikka! Rikka!" I keep shouting. The smoke in the room has thinned out, giving me a better view on what happened. The examination has been completely destroyed. Wires pulled out of the walls, computers destroyed, monitors toppled over, and a whole rack of medicines are scattered on the floor. Some of the medicines have been shattered and the contents sprayed out all over the place. Licking my lips, I look at the table next to me where Rima just lay a few hours ago.
A few hours ago, the room was pristine, not a piece of dusts out of place. Hikaru was at the monitors that are against the left walls. Rikka and I were re-organizing the medicine cabinets that are along the right wall. Aruto came down to check up on us, and Rima. Oh Rima, she was just showing signs of life. Aruto went to the back of the small room and typed away on the highly advanced computers only me and him are allowed to touch.
All of our work, all of our progress, gone. There's a blood stain on the table and I can only pray that it's not Rima's. She's still so weak. Even the slightest infraction can break her.
I hear quick footsteps come down the stairs and in comes Aruto.
"Why is Hikaru covered in blood?" he immediately asks. I turn to the other side of the room where Hikaru is leaned up against the empty medicine cabinets. Aruto is right; he has blood stains on his clothes and hands. Why didn't I notice him before? Aruto turns to Rikka and I. "What happened to you two?" He then turns to the table and widens his eyes. He looks at me for answers, but I don't have them. I have no idea what went on either.
I only left to go shopping for Aruto so he could keep doing his work. On the way back, the Vultures ambushed me when I reached the gate. They tore my wings to the point where I couldn't fly. I couldn't fight so many off. I took off. I should've done something. I should've known better than to run away. The only question is, where was Aruto during all this?
"Where were you?" I ask.
"I was in the basement, the secret passageway here was sealed. Nadeshiko, what happened?" he demands. Aruto goes over to Hikaru and picks him up into his arms. I part my lips, but nothing comes out. I don't know what happened. I have a faint idea though.
"The Vultures." Our attention is drawn to Hikaru, who looks so weak and frail. "They came. Rikka and I, we did our best. They took Rima. They just took her." Aruto and I look at each other in fear. Our worst fears have come to life. The Vultures took Rima.
"That's not all though." I turn to Rikka. I'm still on the floor, with her head cradled into my lap. When did she wake up? "Nade, you did it. You did it."
"Rikka, what are you talking about? What did I do?" I ask urgently. What's going on. I take care to calculate every word that comes out of her mouth.
"Rima, she...she opened her eyes." Hikaru finishes it for her.
"She awoke. You brought Rima back."
Yeah this is a really sucky epilogue. I think I have the sequel well thought up, sorta? I'm halfway in the process but I know the title will either be "Lost In Memories" or "End of the End".
I'm planning on starting on it right after this. The first chapter should be up by the end of the month. I'm really pushing myself to work and solve out what I want to do and get this sequel to you all. This trilogy is turning into a series. I've always wanted to do this, to write a series of books.
However I am busy also. If anything happens I have a list of one-shots. if something comes up and I can't update i'll just post the one-shot and show you all i'm not dead.
I'm probably gonna pre-write it so it might not come out until end of september or october. I know it will be before the end of the year though! I'm not gonna leave any of you hanging with this. I'm determined to get this out to you and make this the FINAL story in the, what I like to call it, Angel and Evil Series.
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See you all (hopefully) soon!
