Chapter Fourteen

The Yera plunged toward the ground, it's nose pointed at the dark green earth.

"RUN!" Clarissa screamed, "Everybody run!" Our small group of rag-tag passengers scattered in separate directions. Marley grabbed Felicity's arm and ran with her into the thick nearby underbrush. Meanwhile Daniel scurried off to the right, running fast and far for such a small amount of time. Hank turned to the left, pulling Katie with him. River and I turned the other way, hurriedly avoiding the oncoming beast. The few other passengers that stood near by ran as well, not once looking back at the monster in the sky.

Only two people remained in our once-circle. The first of the two was strong Bella, now seemingly paralyzed with an unmoving fear. The second was a young girl, whose name I did not know. She, like Bella, stayed put, eyes shining with a terror and tears. The girl was a little thing, no older than thirteen with curly red hair and a large brown coat that looked like it didn't belong to her. She had entered the train alone,without any family or friends just her and the small tan backpack that rested at her side.

"BELLA!" I screamed loudly, wanting to call out to the girl too but still not knowing her name. "BELLA, GRAB HER AND RUN!" But Bella didn't move. Instead she stayed perfectly still, head pointed upwards toward the Yera in the sky. I tried to run to her, to save her from her destruction but River held me back.

"NO," I screamed, my voice cracking, caked with fear and sadness. The Yera lunged, it's claw outstretched. I watched in horror as it reached toward the two girls. Then a realization came to mind. It could only take one of them.

But which one? Surveying the scene I could already tell who. It would be Bella. It would have to be Bella. She was the cause for the terrible burn marks upon the Yera's disgusting skin. He would take her for her sins. And he would destroy her.

But as I looked up, a moment too soon, I realized I was wrong. For the Yera had barely skidded past Bella and thrusted his hand around the nameless girl. To alarmed to scream I broke out of River's firm grasp, pickpocketed the knife from her pocket and ran toward the no-name girl.

But I was to late, for as I finally reached them, knife at the ready, the Yera snapped her neck. A whale escaped from my mouth as I to late plunged the knife into the burned scales of the terrible monster. But was the Yera a monster? Or was it just avenging the death of his friend and mate? Was it all just a life for a life? But then why kill the no-name girl? Why not me or River or Bella? Or even Hank and Daniel and Katie for that matter. The no-name girl was innocent. So why did she have to be the only casualty?

I pushed all thoughts of the Yera behind and slumped down next to the no-name girl's lifeless body. I felt a single tear slip down my face and watched as it landed on her bloody neck.

"I didn't even know her name," I whispered quietly, and then again louder. "I didn't even bloody know her name!"

Bella, who seemed to finally be out of her trance, leaned down and put her warm, tender hand on my shoulder. Gingerly she picked up the girl's bag that was still around her shoulder. She pulled it close to her eyes and carefully said, "Darla Jones. The tag says Darla Jones."

The others slowly started walking toward the two of us, going cautiously slow. Finally, Hank worked up the courage to speak. "Is she dead," he asked.

I nodded carefully. Hank sighs and whispered, "Now… Now what?"

"Now," Bella answered, "Anthony and I are going to make sure that the Yera that did this to Darla is dead. For good."

I nodded again and accepted her hand as she pulled me up and walked me away from the gang of mourning passengers. We headed a few yards away to the massive Yera corpse.

"How are we even supposed to know if it's dead?" She asked, trying to soften the damper mood.

I managed a shrug and started to poke at it with the knife's handle.

"What do you think the police are gonna make of this?" Bella whispered lightly, "I mean, they'll find the corpses of two dragons and a thirteen-year-old girl, a tipped over train and a buttload of missing passengers. How will they spin that?"

Again I shrugged, "Maybe they'll make Darla out to be some sort of hero." I glanced back at her body, "She deserves it."

Bella nodded and suddenly grabbed my hand, rubbing at the dried blood that was a mix of Yera and human. "I'm sorry," She said, "But-" She froze, eyes widening. I turned to look at what she had seen.

The Yera's eye had opened.

Hastily she let go of my hand and stared. Unknowingly I started to back up. Slowly, with lots of effort, the nearly dead beast lifted its claw and barely grazed Bella's arm. Just at it came in contact with her beautiful skin it disappeared.

And it had taken Bella with it.