Chapter XXVII-2

After that, the whole thing consisted of a bunch of superimposed images that hardly seemed real. Adrenaline rushed throughout her entire body as she wrestled with the monster. Ariel launched herself at the wolf-man, spinning and planting a large roundhouse kick in his barrel chest. His breath went oof, and the odor was just awful, like raw sewage left out in the hot sun.

But he wouldn't go down that easily. The wolf-man was back up and hit Ariel so hard her head snapped around, and she could feel a burst of blood in her mouth. She landed another blow back, but he then curled his furry palm into a fist, brought it in hard, then punched her in the stomach. An unbelievable pain exploded inside Ariel as she doubled over and dropped like a stone.

Dimly, she could hear Valinty's sobs as she tried to run away from the freak.

Get up! Ariel told herself, trying to suck in air. Get up!

In you and I there's a new land
Angel's in flight
My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away
Music will tie
What's left of me, what's left of me now

Ariel staggered to her feet, bloodlust in her eyes, ready to kill. She flew past random scraps of junk, treading at inhuman speeds. Finally she reached a clearing where both the Wolf-man and Valinty stood- where she had not arrived a moment too soon.

He was circling her, like a lion ready to kill. Valinty was scared stiff, not taking her eyes off the wolf-man.

Ariel took a step forward, and the monster turned his head to see her- he grinned nastily.

The crystal, blue eyes that belonged to Ariel had now transformed. They darkened into a deep, piercing crimson- as if blood had been poured into her eyes. Quickly, she ran up to the Wolf-man and clapped her cupped palms over his furry ears. He shrieked, and fell to the ground.

Valinty ran up to Ariel, who met her by falling onto her knees and embracing her.

She though it was over. With closed eyes, while Ariel was hugging Valinty, the Wolf-Man grabbed Valinty by her sides and threw her aside, and then fell on Ariel, knocking her down, and then pressed a heavy knee into her chest. She wheezed and struggled, but he cuffed her face hard, ragged claws digging deep welts into her cheeks. Ariel desperately kicked and screamed, pushed the animal off of her, and stood. But suddenly, he took a good swing at her face, jerking her head to one side, and knocking her out cold.

My fears and lies
Melt away

A few minutes later when she came to, Ariel heard a horrible, low moan, then realized it had come from her.

She felt like crap. Her head was exploding. Blood was oozing from her mouth, nose, and other numerous injuries.

Where the hell am I? She asked herself. All the running, screaming, fighting, horrific things that she had seen and heard were gone. Her eyes faded back to their original blue color.

Munch, munch, munch

Ariel turned her head, looking for the strange, steady sound. It took her a moment to get back onto her feet, but once she did so, she climbed over one of the rust train cars to find the wolf-man hunched over something, head bent down.

Her head was spinning, and her vision was blurry, so it was difficult for Ariel to think straight. But suddenly, realization dawned on her- or more like hit her like a rock- but she ran over to find the bloody mess of mangled flesh and blood that used to be a innocent little child.

"NO!!" She screamed, tears pouring down her face. Ariel's scream pierced the very air itself. She went to jump at the horrible monster and kill it with her bare hands, but someone behind her reached out and grabbed her, holding her back.

She struggled, kicked, and screamed, trying to break free of the strong grip with what little strength she still had.

Mr. Crepsley jumped down and pulled the Wolf-man's head back, snapping it to the side.

Ariel decided to stop struggling, turned around, and wrapped her arms around me, crying.

"We came as soon as we could." Mr. Crepsley told her. Evra heard the wolf-man's howls. He told Mr. Tall, who formed a search party, and I went to check on you two. I found Darren, and we followed your trail.."

"I'm sorry.." I spoke softly though her sobs, staring at the child who lay there, lifelessly. I didn't know what to say, the words didn't come.

"Ariel," Mr. Crepsley began. I glared up at him, warning him to make sure he thinks before he speaks.

But he didn't care. "There is something you can do, both of you, to save yourselves- and Valinty."

She looked up at him through her tears. "We can save her?"

"Not her body, but her spirit.. Ariel, Darren, you must do this. You must drink the child's blood."

Ariel had left my grip in an instant, her arm flying back so fast I could barely make out what had happened.

Her knuckles had connected with Mr. Crepsley's cheek bone, and blood trickled down his face.

"You're lucky I don't kill you for saying that. You're a monster, you know that! Valinty is dead and you still can't leave us alone!"

"You misunderstood." He replied, wiping the blood from his face, and licking it from his fingers.

"She is not dead yet, but she will be in a few minutes. If you drink her blood now, you can save her memories and feelings. I know it will be hard, but a part of her will still live on."

Ariel stared down at the body for a few minutes, taking in what he had said.

"I couldn't do that.. Valinty was an innocent child, and I could never drink her blood." She whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.

"I will not force you to, and I know that coping with the loss of a loved one can be difficult, but this will make it easier if you know that you have not lost all of them."

I sat next to Ariel as she hesitantly dug her nails into the bloody neck of the child, making deep wholes, than placing a finger on them.

"I'm so sorry, Valinty.." She whispered before leaning down and started to drink. I wanted to help her as well, and since I couldn't find the words, I decided to help her drink the blood.

It seemed as if hours had passed by, and Valinty's pulse had slowed to a stop, like Ariel's tears. She fell to her side, lying next to the body.