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The forest was ancient and thick, sunlight came down in thin streaks. The trees had twisting roots and hulking branches, rich with the fragrance of leaves and loam.
The wind stung my eyes as I swung from branch to branch, palms tingling with adrenaline. As I sailed through the air, I caught myself on a closer tree, still a good distance away. Sharp feet dashed forward beneath, avoiding the tree's roots and oblivious to my spying. Its stained claws clutched its gushing neck and cloudy salvia dripped from its panting mouth. A look through my peripherals and I spotted Nel bouncing from tree to tree behind me. How she managed to keep up was beyond me, but I didn't stop to ponder it.
My lips pulled back to expose my teeth as I hurtled through the trees. We were moving so fast, but I wasn't winded. My breath was still there, effortlessly. My muscles felt stronger as I leapt through the air and hooked my arms around bulging branches.
And finally, the Wraith stopped.
And so did we.
It was still oblivious to our presence; crouching down, it inhaled shallow breaths as the distance caught up and settled in its limbs. My eyes caught onto the pen still lodged in the Wraith's throat. It hadn't managed to pull it out—yet.
A plan instantly struck my mind.
Crouched over my knees, I pulled out the knife from my boot and stabbed it into the tree's neck. Nel—who was crouched beside me—looked up at me in confusion. "Helga," she whispered, her own voice slightly winded. "What are yo—"
Breathing through my nose, I kicked myself from my spot amongst the branches. Cold air rushed past me, faster and faster as my body plummeted for the ground. A rush of emotion hit my body, one I couldn't describe. It was the feeling you got from almost dying, but not. My heart struck with anticipation—then I heard Nel's scream, "HELGA!"
At her voice, the Wraith's shoulders tensed and it looked up, our eyes meeting surprised contact. I was so close to the ground, it didn't have time to avoid me. It clawed at the short distance between us and I saw bright stars. The force sent me reeling back and my skull smacked into the tree.
My head was spinning and I wanted to vomit.
The ground shook and I looked up to the Wraith swinging an angry, large fist. And, before I could register it, I spread my legs as it sunk into the dirt, very close to my crotch.
Fuck—that was close.
The Wraith's black eyes turned to mine.
Pulling my legs to my chest, I shoved back against its thick arm and, rolling back, I jumped to my feet. The Wraith gritted its teeth and swung another shot; I sprung backwards onto my hands and threw myself into a backspring. As I spun, the fist grazed my covered stomach. I landed on my heels and met the Wraith's flashing eyes.
It growled and threw itself at me.
I did it again—springing from my hands and throwing myself into another backspring. Followed by another, then another and another as it continued attacking. I heard its shrieks as I evaded its fists.
The hairs on my arms suddenly spiked as I crept closer and closer to another tree. Springing from my hands, I laid my hands flat against the trunk to use my momentum to rebound from its body. I sailed through the air, the wisps of my hair tickling my face, and caught sight of the awe that twisted on the Wraith's face.
I threw out both my legs and wrapped them around the branch that hung above the Wraith. Swinging down, I threw out my arm and swiped the pen still lodged in its neck. The Wraith let out a rotten scream as blood burst from its neck in violet jets of green. It thrust its hands onto its wound to stop the bleeding.
Blood slide down the pen and onto my fingers. I stuck it in my hair then turned my attention to the knife still lodged next to Nel.
Nel watched, blinking, the events that unfolded below her like it was a movie. I wanted to roll my eyes, maybe if she wasn't always hiding from the danger then this wouldn't be so 'fascinating' to her. Call me petty, but I didn't bother warning her about my intentions. Instead, I focused all my energy onto my knife, embedded right above her head, and chuckled as she gave a startled cry when it sprang to life.
The knife dislodged itself from the tree and sailed through the air for my open hand. My fingertips were burning as my weapon dove for me. But, as it got closer, I threw out my arm and the blade changed direction—cutting across the Wraith's neck.
The Wraith let out another hoarse cry as the knife flew back into my hand. Throwing my legs out, I spun from the branch in an elaborate twist and held my breath as I descended. My arms were like wings and my feet pressed against the Wraith's head.
I pushed myself from its face and, flying through the air, landed on the balls of my feet back on the ground. I heard it collapse from my kick but didn't allow myself time to ponder—I bolted from the screaming monster.
The heat from the explosion ran up my back and the air swept me from my feet. My shoulder rammed into a tree and I fell onto my hip. I groaned as a throbbing lanced through the back of my skull. Nimbly, I ran my fingers across my scalp but stiffened when I felt something unfamiliar.
"Victory is mine!" I cried, sitting up and thrusting the pen into the air. "I got Lila's pen ba—!" Bloody stickiness snaked down my hand and I sheepishly smiled. "Um, I'll just buy her a new one."
I spotted Nel's sleek body as she leapt from branch to branch. Her ears were folded against her head and her eyes hardened with concentration. She stopped when she reached a lower limb right above my head. "Did you see that, Nel?" I asked, beaming. "Wasn't I awesome?"
But my tone didn't match the look on her unimpressed face. "If you're talking about that completely unwarranted—" scrunching up her face, Nel struggled for the right word "—parade, then yes, I did see it. And no, I did not think it awesome."
My jaw dropped. Was she for real?
"Why not?" I demanded, frowning.
"It was more like a circus rather then a battle," Nel answered, only it was with a look I knew all to well—I rolled my eyes. Well, here came the lecture, in three, two, one . . .
"I mean, really, Helga," Nel went on, leaning forward on her front paws and leaping from the branch and to my feet. Curling her tail around her body, she fixed me a glare and continued. "Are you no longer taking this seriously? You could've easily handled that from the tree in seconds. But what do you do? Act like a complete ruffian—you prolonged the fight, Helga."
I made a wild gesture to the pen in my hand. "I was getting Lila's pen—see?"
"Getting Lila's pen?" Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed the item in my hand—it had once been purple and sparkly with a fluffy ball on the top. But now, with the green blood, it looked like a murky brown and the fluffy ball was soaked into a pathetic clump. She looked back at me dryly and I felt my cheeks burn.
"Is that what you're to be known as now—Blue Jay: Guardian of Hillwood and collector of pens?" She shook her head, making a small noise of protest. "And how were you planning on giving it to her—as Blue Jay, when it was Helga who said she'd return it, or as Helga, who somehow managed to survive a Wraith attack, despite being a normal teenager."
I felt my jaw tightened and lowered my gaze from her glare to my hands. Criminy—I hated to admit it, but she was right. There wasn't a way I could give Lila her pen back without connecting Helga with Blue Jay any more then I already had.
Something was burning my eyes. I swiped at it then threw away the pen. Growling, I hugged my legs to my chest and glared at the dirt.
I heard Nel sigh and looked up to her gaze softening. "Look, I know it's been a while since you've been Blue Jay," she said, in a gentler voice, "but you cannot afford to be showing off."
I narrowed my eyes. "Show o—?"
"Yes, Helga—showing off," she said, nodding. "You'll tire yourself out quicker with stunts like that and, considering Hillwood is dependent on you, this cannot be afforded."
"Well, what's the point," I asked through gritted teeth, "in learning that if I can't just do it?"
"Acrobatics are for performances," Nel insisted, purple eyes sharpening, "not as a Guardian. They're for your defence. Remember that."
The way she said that last part—it was colder then her other words. Heavier. Like it was a warning, not like her other lectures. I shook it off, rolling my eyes, and rebutted. "Does it really matter, though? I killed it, didn't I?"
Nel opened her mouth—to yell or lecture, I wasn't even sure anymore—when a familiar shrewd shriek interrupted her. Hairs stood straight on my neck and the air—suddenly colder—bit into my flesh. Nel, unaffected, turned from the direction of the scream to me with a raised brow.
Throwing back my head, I let out a strangled groan. "Criminy."
Here we go a–fucking–gain.
It'd all been so quick.
Eugene had been sitting in the hallways, waiting for the end of his Dad's meeting. His Dad was typically a busy man, working as an accountant, but he enjoyed hanging with his son when he could. He'd promised that, for tonight, he and Eugene could have a dinner out tonight, at any restaurant Eugene wanted. And Eugene wasn't one to turn down a free meal, nor one with his father, so he didn't mind the waiting.
He'd just reached for his headphones and played his favourite tunes—which mostly consisted of Taylor Swift and P!nk. The music was good for two purposes, passing the time and soothing his rattling nerves.
After much nagging from Sheena, Eugene had decided that today was to be the day. He'd tell his father today.
And that's when the chaos had struck.
An explosion had shattered the peacefulness and sent Eugene crashing to the floor. He looked up, yanking the buds from his ears, and saw that the large windows were missing its glass. The sun was setting, gold stretching far and wide, as night gather.
His confusion turned to alarm and screams were heard from all around him. Two demonic figures rose from the glass, light bouncing from the shards in tiny rainbows, as their sharp eyes surveyed their prey.
Those around him screamed in terror and jumped to their feet. The monsters stepped forward and the ground shook underneath their weight. A string of curses unravelled from Eugene's tongue as he climbed to his feet.
The people tried running—for the glass doors—but the monster advanced with vicious grins. Dizziness pounded in his skull as Eugene stumbled for the doors. He held out a shaky, wet hand and yanked it open. His worn-out tennis shoes didn't feel like enough, but he forced himself to run.
The hallways were chaotically white—so brilliant that it made snow look grey. It seared into Eugene's retinas, blinding him. The thumps of his feet bounced from the pristine walls—he didn't know where he was headed, just away from those things.
He couldn't stop himself from thinking her name. Where was she?
The screams penetrated the walls, searing his skin and clawing his mind. One of them could've been his Dad.
Fuck.
Where was his Dad? He didn't know if he was still sitting in his meeting, blissfully unaware of the attack just down the hall.
As he ran, he looked at the number along the doors, hoping to God he remembered which one that woman had mention. Shit, which was it—396? 394? Was he even on the right floor to begin with? Was there another Nate Horowitz?
Eugene felt his heart throbbing inside his chest. His orange curls whipped back against the cold air. His lungs were dry, but his feet felt so light, like they were the paws of a lioness. For a selfish moment, he wanted his friends to be here. It was heedless, but he just wanted them to witness it—him not screwing something up. Perhaps then they wouldn't insist on calling him that name.
He finally burst into one of the rooms—he wasn't sure which one—with a force so loud that one of the monsters must've heard him. The window in this room was even larger then the last, revealing a darkening sky filled with lavender and indigo. The room was lined with shadows, Eugene could barely recognise it. But the distant skies outlined some of the shapes, revealing the cluttered desks and black wheelie chairs.
The room was abandoned.
Eugene frowned, was everyone out early? Or had they been made aware of the attack
A puff of hot breath came down on Eugene's head, tickling his curly strands. His heart sunk into his belly but before he could turn, a hand came down and grabbed his throat.
The air was caught in his lungs as the hand slammed him into the wall. Eugene found himself looking into a pair of sharp, very red eyes. A white smirk spread across the face, one that contrasted against the blackness of its body. Eugene clawed at the hand wrapped around his neck, but the monster only howled with laughter.
Eugene felt salvia slipping between his lips and trickling down his chin. The monster's fingers were ruthless and squeezed until he saw stars.
It let out another howl, one that rattled Eugene's bones. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, it felt like cold fire. Letting loose an embarrassingly high-pitched scream, Eugene dug his nails deep into the monster's hands. The monster wailed, bashing Eugene's skull into the wall. He grimaced, a throbbing pain searing the back of his head, but he didn't give up.
He launched forward and sunk his teeth into the monster's flesh, he wasn't sure where. It threw back its head and let out a hoarse cry. Something salty and stomach-turning filled Eugene's mouth, threading between his teeth. The Mutant flung him across the room, a torrent of green bursting from its neck and Eugene's teeth, and his body bashed into something with a sharp noise.
For a moment, everything slowed to an almost stop—Eugene's breath echoed in his ears. Sweat slid down his face—until he heard a crack.
His eyes popped open, he hadn't realised they were shut, and he was falling.
Shards of glass swirled in and out of existence as he fell. The air was sharp, lashing at his clothes, and sent chills down his body. Colours were stolen from the sky until the world looked like an old black and white movie. He watched the stars behind his eyelids—he'd fought valiantly. Dad would be proud.
Clank!
Something warm but firm wrapped around his body. The air was suddenly warm as it swept his face—he was rushing forward, no longer falling but flying. There was a smash! and the sinking feeling of descent was no more.
Opening his eyes, he caught pale moonlight reflecting in the swaying glass shards. He no longer was outside, but back in the building, in a different room. The sky was getting darker and the lights were out, it was too dark to recognise this room.
Looking up, his heart lurched. The person whose arms was wrapped around him . . . he'd been hoping it was Blue Jay, but he didn't recognise this person.
Their face was covered in a metallic, black helmet that masked their face. Eugene couldn't see their eyes but assumed that they were looking at him. "You okay?" They asked—the voice was female, but robotic–sounding and slightly muffled.
"W–Who," Eugene stuttered, "are you?"
He couldn't see their—her face, but he felt like she was smiling at him. Lowering her stance, she let him hop to the ground. He stared at her, gawking at their sharp differences in height. Eugene had always been small for his gender, around 5'4", but standing next to her made him feel even worse. He barely reached her shoulders!
She reached a covered hand to her neck and Eugene flinched, readying himself for an attack. But she tapped something on the nape of neck and, with a whoosh!, the helmet folded up into her neck and revealed her face.
Eugene's jaw dropped. "B–Blue Jay?"
She racked a smirk, one that made her eyes twinkle. "The one and only."
He didn't know which was more of a shock—standing next to her in the flesh or her complete change in outfits.
He scanned her new attire; without her helmet, her face was still covered with the mask, only black now. She was wearing a catsuit, he realised, a sensible one but a catsuit nonetheless. Her torso as protected now, in a dark and form-fitting chest plate; she had shoulder guards in the form of grey feathers that had a blue sheen to them. Long pants covered her once bare legs and tucked into a pair of matching boots, no longer possessing heels. And her hair, which had once run freely down her back, was now pulled from her face and into an elaborate French braid.
Truth be told, style wise, Eugene preferred the first outfit. But he had to admit that not only was this one was far more practical but more intimidating. He wouldn't want her as his enemy, that was for sure.
Blinking back to earth though, he said, "But you're bla—"
"Careful," she smiled, one that dazzled him, and gave him a playful wink. "Don't wanna offend anyone."
Eugene had to admit—he was stunned.
He'd never met Blue Jay, he'd only seen her picture in articles or witnessed her abilities in videos online. Recordings couldn't capture the pleasantness of her voice; without the helmet, it sounded so human. Yet beautiful.
The door, buried in the shadows, was knocked from its hinges. Blue Jay's eyes widened, so bright against the mask, and her mouth dropped a little. Eugene heard the feet as they pounded through the room, but he didn't even get to look when Blue Jay grabbed his shoulder. She gently moved him behind her, standing with her back against his, although his scalp came between her shoulder blades.
He blinked, barely comprehending what just happened.
Looking over his shoulder, he watched as she charged forward to the advancing monster. It was so tall, it looked to be twice her size and hulking with muscle. But she didn't hesitate—spinning on her toes, she swung her heel in the air as the monster neared.
The blow connected and it was knocked into the wall. She gritted her teeth as she kicked again, but the monster's sharp claws wrapped around her foot. It swung her around and knocked her into one of the desks, scattering the pencils, phone and keyboard. The manoeuvre caught her off guard as she cradled her forehead and the monster leapt over her and onto the wall.
Eugene blinked—instead of falling, the monster defied gravity by remaining stuck there. Flattening itself out into the spider position, the monster crawled up the wall with tiny patters. Eugene screamed as it skittered across the room in his direction. His heart felt like it would explode as the distance between them rapidly closed. He wanted to run but his body refused to obey his commands.
It all happened so fast—the snarling monster lunged for him and, shutting his eyes, Eugene held his breath. Then, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind and shoved him out of the way. As he fell to the ground, the monster's claws passed a hairs breath from his face.
Blue Jay sent him a fleeting look before she slammed her fist into the monster's eye, pelting it backwards. Eugene thought he caught a sharp glint from her hand when she turned to address him over her shoulder. "Shut your eyes, kid!"
And he obeyed—well, at first.
But then he heard noises that made him curious. He heard a grisly snarling, some pained grunts and glass smashing—his eyes flew open when it got particularly close. The glint in Blue Jay's hand—he recognised it now.
It was her knife.
Her lips were pulled back in a snarl. Her blue eyes were so set, so unlike what he'd previously seen—she looked like a huntress, a predator. Gripping the handle, she sent it flying forward and the shinning blade sunk into the creature's flesh.
The monster hollered but, before Eugene could react, a gloved hand snatched his wrist. Blue Jay dragged him away and bolted for the door. Dazed and disorientated, Eugene didn't object. He was barely breathing when another monster appeared in the open door, baring its yellow teeth in a low snarl. Eugene expected them to stop, or in turn in a different direction, but they didn't—they kept going.
Blue Jay drew out her knife but yelled over her shoulder at him. "Are you keeping them closed?!"
He jammed his eyes shut. "Y–Yeah!"
There was a sharp swish! as he felt her arm thrust into the air, followed by an agonised roar. Eugene's chest tightened as did Blue Jay's grip. He could feel tiny suction pads on her gloves, it was odd against his skin. She picked up on her speed, practically dragging him like a doll.
A door slammed shut behind him and he heard their footsteps echoing as they sprinted—were they back in the hallway? His legs were getting sore and his throat was uncomfortably dry. He wanted to ask if they could just rest—just for a few seconds, when a deafening boom shook the walls.
Eugene felt his heart jump to his throat as he gave a startled yelp. Blue Jay stopped and he slammed right into her, knocking the screams from him. His head was spinning so fast that, had his eyes not been shut, he would've collapsed.
An uncomfortable silence passed.
He hesitated then raised his head in her direction, asking, "C–Can I op—?"
"Shh!"
He bit his tongue; his fingers were wet, and he wondered if she could feel it through her glove. Some more silence passed before she let out a breath. "Okay, that was all of them. You can open now," she said.
For a moment, he was blinded by the fluorescence lights that illuminated the bare hallways. He blinked then looked up at her. Turning around, she let go of his hands to hug herself around the waist. "W—" his voice was still breathless. "What just hap—?"
"Those were all the Mutants in the building," she explained, smiling. But there was something about this that felt different. It was too large, coming close to her ears, and her eyes were dark.
Her words hit him and Eugene felt himself frown, what were Mutants? Was that the name of those monsters?
"You're safe now," she continued, "You know where the emergency exits are, yeah?"
Oh—she was leaving.
Disappointment settled in his chest and he looked down. This woman had saved the city singlehandedly multiple times this week. She was an enigma—a riddle wrapped in a mystery. He had so many questions for her; where had she come from? Where had her powers come from? How did she know to fight those monsters?
But, he realised, she still had a job to do. One that didn't involve answering to his nosiness. It was a shame, considering how much of a fan Sheena was. Her eyes lit up like stars whenever she saw Blue Jay's picture and she'd go on about how desperately she wanted to interview her for the school paper.
But Sheena would have to forgive him.
Silently, Eugene nodded.
"Take them—the closest ones," she instructed in a heavier voice. Eugene looked up at her again and noticed her wiping her brow. His eyes narrowed, when had her face gotten so damp? "They'll get you out."
"But what about y—?"
"Doesn't matter about me," she offered another weak smile, wrapping her hands around herself again. "Just make sure you get out of here—find your Dad, okay? Now, go."
Gulping, he nodded and turned to leave when something in him froze—go find your Dad. How had she known he was here for his Dad?
Her confused gaze turned back to his and he grimaced. Her eyes were so intense, it was hard to meet them. So many questions had his tongue tied but he couldn't force himself to ask them. Was she supposed to know? Was she also a mind reader? Or . . . did she know him?
"Go!"
She gave him a light shove and he stumbled backwards. He was hurt at first, but then noticed how tired she looked. How shiny her forehead was getting and how low her eyelids were hanging. He clamped down on his questions and decided to listen.
Spinning around, he sprinted with all his might down the hall, footsteps getting louder the more distance put between them. His mind was reeling, thriving, with so much that everything became a numb blur.
It was only when he felt her piercing stare shift away from him that he stopped to look over his shoulder. Her back was to him, but he spotted the tightness in her shoulders. The knife in her hand was wrapped in tight fingers as she took shallow breaths. His chest tightened and he opened his mouth to say something when she left.
Disappointment sunk in his stomach. It'd been under unfortunate circumstances, but he'd been hoping to get to know Hillwood's mysterious superhero. Eugene couldn't help wondering if that would be the last time he'd see her in person.
Shaking his head, he took a breath—that wasn't important right now. She'd saved him and requested he keep safe. He wasn't quite a fan like Sheena, but he respected her. So, taking another breath, he sprinted on.
Goodluck, Blue Jay.
"Helga! Helga!"
Gritting my teeth, I ignored Nel's cries and forced myself to keep moving forward down the winding staircase. The moon pierced the windows, the stars shone like sugar spilt over black marble. Crap, when had it gotten so late?
One hand was still wrapped around my side and the other rose to wipe away the dotting sweat from my brow. I'd shoved away my knife into my boot. My lungs felt like they were burning and heat licked down my abdomen. I didn't realise that I'd stopped running, that I was practically crawling, until I was half way down the stairs. I had to bite down on my lip to stop myself from crying out. My hand shot out to grip the railing, painting the silver metal in red, and my feet came to a stop.
The sharp fire lanced through my abdomen and I felt my jaw clench—damn it.
I heard Nel's footsteps as she approached from behind, slowly climbing down the stairs. Her gaze pierced between my shoulders, wrecked with worry. "You're injured, aren't you?" she asked.
I didn't answer her.
Heat burnt behind my eyes as I ripped the glass shard from my stomach. Red poured from its sharp edges and I tossed it away. I blinked against the heat to combat the blurriness. "Helga . . ." Nel's voice shook with hesitation. "You should give yourself time to rest. Give your body the chance to heal."
I was tempted—God, I was tempted.
My body felt like it was on fire, it was getting more painful to breathe. But the screams from outside were getting louder, I knew I could rest right now.
Pushing back my shoulders, I threw my bloody fist to my side. I didn't turn to look at her but addressed her over my shoulder. "S–Stay in the building, Nel," I told her, voice heavy.
I didn't wait for her reaction, I didn't need to. I knew she was disappointed and concerned. But there wasn't any time for rests anymore.
Something was happening outside.
And I had to stop it.
Sirens pierced the night air.
Gunshots hailed like rain, tearing through panicked screams. I peeked around the corner of the brick wall, scanning the area. Tiny projectiles tore through the air but bounced from their targets in an explosion of fiery sparks.
There were two Mutants this time, and they'd picked another popular area; buildings were lined up on both sides of the road. There were no side streets that branched off from the main road.
The Mutants were giant and bulky and, upon closer inspection, were made entirely of stone. Bullets bounced from their hardened bodies, rebounding in sharp directions and sending columns of dirt and gravel splattering into the air. The Mutants had piercing eyes that shone from their horned heads—one pair orange, another red. And they each carried different weapons—the red one held a sword and the other an axe.
Gulping, I turned my attention to the people; there was a huge crowd that stood behind police barricades, watching and screaming. Some huddled with their loved ones, unable to look anywhere but the chaos, others had out their camera. The police were shooting, but their bullets held no threat against their marble bodies.
The bodies of uniformed officers lay scattered, dirt hitting their unmoving limbs. Scanning their forms, I realised that they were still alive but barely.
Glancing down, Nel watched everything under a concentrated brow. "Here goes nothing," I announced.
She looked up with surprised eyes, scanning my face. She wanted to say something, I know it. But whatever it was, it died on her tongue, because she just sighed. "Yes," she simply said.
Nodding, I took a deep breath.
The muscles in my back felt tight, but my limbs were like noodles. Underneath my gloves, my fingers were slick, so I shook out my hands. Shuffling, I clenched my jaw and released a long, unsteady breath—I could do this.
Moonlight poured from the sky as I stepped out from my spot into the streets. The soft, ivory beams swallowed me whole, spilling onto my chest and shoulders. My fists clenched and loosened; my abdomen was still searing with an unpleasant warmth. Marching forward, the light must've rebounded from my arm braces because there were several surprised cries as dozens of eyes turned in my direction.
The shooting stopped as the cops turned to me. For a moment, I thought their bullets would follow their gazes, but their weapons were lowering. The last of the bullets dove into the dirt, creating waves of gravel that rose into the air.
I paused, covering my face as the gravel splattered over me. A light from my peripheral caught my attention and I turned to a huge image of me lit up on the screen above the square. It must've been a live broadcast from the reporters amongst the crowd.
It was a few moments behind and showed me covering my face to avoid the gravel. Only, when captured on screen, it looked much different—the gravel created a perfect arch over my body that looked like a scene from a war hero movie. Moonlight splashed down, igniting the blue in the feathers on my shoulders that seem to shine.
I pushed back my shoulders and formed my features into a scowl, directed at the Mutants. Biting my tongue, I moved forward as metallic adrenaline coursed through my veins. As I got closer, I could see how much taller they were compared to humans. They had to be at least nine feet tall!
They exchanged looked, the lights in their eyes flickering like they were conversing. Their features didn't move, like they were incapable, but they nodded and turned back to me. The one with red eyes stepped forward, heaving its sword into the crock of its neck. My heart was hammering, but my face remained neutral.
We both stopped a few feet apart; it stood so close that I could smell the stench of ash that radiated from its body.
My nose wrinkled.
The Mutant's foot shot out and sunk into my stomach. Blood pooled my mouth as my guts smashed together. The force from its kick launched me high into the air. My body bashed against something steel that folded around my body before my face knocked against the ground.
The world swirled around me; stars were singing and colours were dancing. The pain throbbed deep in my stomach, deep and warm. Rumbles shook the ground and alarms went off as car were tossed into the air. The Mutant was running for me, knocking everything out of its way with one hand and carrying its sword in the other. Bile rose in my throat and I dug into my boot for my knife.
The Mutant's face stayed the same as it sent its sword crashing down for me. I rolled to the side as the blade hit the ground, leaving behind a thundering crack. One hand was pressed to my side as I hurled the knife through the air.
I held my breath as it soared closer and closer for the Mutant's shoulder. But it was quick, it spun around and slashed the blade with its arm, knocking it from my sight.
My heart was in my throat and I turned around to stumble into a shaky run. Thunder boomed from behind me and the Mutant was hot on my trail. I tried to not let that distract me; distance was what mattered. I couldn't stop, I had to find a safe spot to analysis the situation—
Something bashed into my torso, sending me flying. Heated air hurled past me and my stomach hit my throat. I landed in a jangled heap and couldn't hold back the pained cry. My side seared as gravel burrowed into my broken skin. My body curled up tight, my hand pressed to my leaking side, as I sucked in cramped air.
A whistling in my ear caught my attention and I whipped around to the Mutant that had leapt out of the darkness, blade upheld. I rolled out of the way and felt the ground shake from its landing. My fingertips flared as I felt my knife travelling through the air.
The hairs on my neck stood straight when a silver gleam caught my attention. Turning, the Mutant's arms were raised in the air and the sword held high. I heard the crowd's gasps before I saw the blade descend. I squeezed my eyes shut, but something warm and reassuring overrode my senses. My fingers reached out and caught the knife; gripping the handle, I shoved the blade into the air—
SHIN!
—where our blades met.
The weight behind its sword sent me to my knees. The air around me became hot as I struggled to push back against the blade. The Mutant howled, pulling its sword away then striking again, this time for my side. I managed to block it, but the force behind the jab send me skidding against the gravel. Moisture soaked my armpits and I choked on the urge to run.
This was going nowhere—I needed to find a weakness. There had to be something. For a moment, my eyes connected with my opponent's and I felt myself freeze.
Wait a minute.
The Mutant charged at me with its sword upheld. Sucking in a breath, I counted to three then dashed for the charging Mutant. It attacked in a foreswing and I dodged at the last second, planting my hands on the ground. I sprang to the side and felt the shot slice the fabric covering my torso. I threw myself back to my feet and the area around me spun in a silver cyclone. I heard a thunk! and turned back around.
As predicted, the sword had missed my body and embedded itself into the ground. The Mutant struggled to pull it out—
Now.
Swallowing, my trembling fingers clasped my blade and sent it hurtling through the air. A beam of light shone from the blade as it cut through the air like lightning. The Mutant looked up in time for it to sink into its eye with a burst of dark green liquid.
The squishy sound made my stomach curl into tight cramps. There were horrified gasps from the crowd, and I shut my eyes to focus on the air to calm my stomach, but it was too warm.
A shattering scream came from behind and I whirled around to red eyes that burnt with wrath—the other Mutant. Hoarse cries emitted from the people as the Mutant behind me burst into colourful rays. Sharp wind cut across my cheek and gravel rained down around me. I held out my hand to muster back my knife; my fingers burnt when the blade nestled into my grasp. The lasting Mutant screamed again, the noise rattled my bones. I barely moved when it bolted for me, swinging around its axe.
My hold tightened around my knife—you can do this, Helga.
The gravel crunched beneath my boots and moisture soaked my eyes from the harsh wind. I was running so fast, but my limbs were like lead.
The Mutant was wild, swinging with wrath, and I ducked to roll to the side. There was a thunk! as the axe dug into the floor. Gravel flew everywhere and black dust filled my lungs. I pressed the button on my neck—
Whosh!
—my vision lit up as my helmet swept over my face. Shadows sunk behind objects and illumination broke through the darkness. I could see everything—each individual piece of gravel and the cracks that ran down the Mutant's form. Looking over my shoulder, I could identify everyone that was apart of the small crowd, some faces I recognised—Arnold, Gerald and Lila.
Criminy—what were they doing here?
Their faces were pulled tight with worry; Lila's hands covered her mouth as she watched with wide eyes. Arnold's arms were wrapped around his torso, but I spotted how tightly his hands gripped his elbows. Gerald stood slightly in front of them, watching from underneath his furrowed brows, his jaw was dropped in silent panic.
Turning back to the Mutant still yanking out its axe, my mind—it formed a plan. I charged forward, whipping out my blade. The Mutant looked up, standing tall, and watched with alarm. The muscles in my thighs tingled as I launched myself into the air.
Everything was silent as I soared for its widened eyes, it was like time had held its breath. My body twirled as I threw out my arm, so the force of my spin pushed into my blade.
Blood splattered along the eyes of my helmet. Unpleasant wails knocked into my head as my knife tore into the Mutant's eye.
The gravel crunched as I landed safely on my toes. Tapping my neck, the helmet retracted from my sight and everything darkened back into shadowed blurs. Holding up my hand, I called for my weapon, ignoring the new pitch of screams. The blade threaded through my fingers and I ducked to shove it back into my boot.
Looking up, I watched as the stunned crowd gaped at the Mutant over my shoulder. Releasing another breath, I marched forward and mentally counted down the seconds. My eyes turned to Arnold and a warm rush raced through my body; my heart was in my throat when his eyes found mine. There was another explosion and a gust of wind swept up the gravel and dirt.
The Mutant was gone.
My braid fell over my shoulder from the explosion and I tsked. Maybe I should've opted for a bun instead . . .
My thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of countless firearms clicking off their safety.
I stopped, stunned.
Multiple guarded eyes focused on my form as the police pointed their weapons in my direction. Light burst from their guns and vans, piercing the velvet darkness. A prickliness made me aware of just how many members of the force stood in front of me.
My heartbeat spiked again.
"Get on the ground! Hands visible!" one of the officers shouted. The crowds behind them—civilians and reporters—objected. Some attempted to push past, but other officers forced them back. I saw the shock evident on Arnold's face and the anger that welled in Lila's gaze as she turned to the police. "Get on the ground—NOW!"
"Blue Jay," I whispered. The officers looked taken aback. So, frowning, I rose my voice and repeated myself. "My name—its Blue Jay."
"Okay, Blue Jay—get on the ground," the officer repeated, growling. Something about him rang familiarity in the back of my mind. His hair was dark brown and he had a handlebar moustache.
Rolling my eyes, I placed my hands on the back of my head—and dropped to my knees.
In those lights, my retinas became flooded and all I could see was white. The beams that shot from their guns shrouded me in their blinding incandescence. My eyes as Blue Jay were far sharper then Helga's, the brightness skewered my mind.
The crowd became an uproar as they shouted for my release. There was loud shuffling as they fought against some of the officers. The officers fought back and shouted, "Get back! Get back!"
How was I supposed to get out of this mess? My uniform had more protection then before, but not enough to withstand against those bullets—
The chaos was suddenly broken by the rhythmic sound of a slow clap.
The outrage amongst the crowd—between the civilians and the officers—calmed down as their attention turned over my shoulder.
I became aware of the sound of footsteps behind me. Panic rose in my throat as the temperature around me dropped. I wanted to turn, but my body refused. I stared up at the moustached officer—their leader—and watched as his eyes widened.
"Is this how human's treat their saviours?"
I knew that voice—I recognised its silvery tone. The way it brought chills to my neck. The way my stomach sunk in panic. I glanced around—
The bright light reflected in his sharp smirk.
—and gasped.
"Good evening, milady," he nodded and stopped beside me, glancing down in amusement. "How long has it been since I last feasted upon your radiant beauty?"
My tongue was dry, my mind broken, as I uttered, "Serec . . ."
The shadows that were cast along his face emphasised how high his cheekbones were. Silver curls now shone like purple and hung above his strong brows. And the colour of his eyes—no longer were they black, but now dark grey. His pale lips curled up, which made my eyes sting.
"Who're you?!" I heard the moustached officer. I barely could make out his silhouetted as he gestured in my direction, still pointing his gun. "You with her?!"
His eyes slid from the officers to me. "Well . . ."
"No!" I burst and leapt to my feet, turning to the officers. "He's not with me—he's the enemy, you dolts! Can't you see—"
"GET ON THE GROUND!"
I wanted to yell at him—I was Blue Jay, for christ's sake! I maybe not be as skilled as this guy, but I was stronger—but I bit my lip. Acting like Helga right now wouldn't do anything but prove their suspicions of me. Besides, like I could get to him before the bullets caught me.
Begrudgingly, I forced myself back onto my knees and raised my hands. My cheeks burnt underneath Serec's gaze and I forced myself to ignore him.
"That's one thing humans and I can agree on," he said, chuckling.
I turned to glare at him, pretending my heart wasn't pounding. "What're you doing here, Serec?"
"Is it really that hard to believe that I've missed you?" he asked, shaking his head and feigning disappointment. Opening his eyes, his gaze bore into mine. "It's been so long—I even sent you a present for every day I wanted to see you."
I frowned, a present? What was he talking about? I hadn't seen him since—
Wait.
I thought back on the past few days—how consistently every night had brought on a new attack. How much damage had been inflicted on the city. How many injuries I'd sustained.
Anger fuelled me and I felt my hands dropping to my sides in fists. "You—"
"MA'M, DON'T MOVE!"
Gritting my teeth, I put my hands back up. Criminy, could he take a break?
The heat sunk from the air, wintry air danced across my shoulders, licking away any warmth it could. I turned to look at Serec, but he wasn't looking at me. Instead, his hard-rimmed eyes were on the officers that stood behind the light. A shiver ran down my spine; this was the first time I'd seen Serec angry. "We're talking," he said, voice low and his words deep.
I had to look away. His eyes were so bold and focused, it was unnerving.
A choked noise came from the police, swallowed by multiple horrified gasps. I looked up but couldn't see past the lights again. There were more cries and I knew that I no longer was the centre of their attention. I tapped my neck and squinted as the helmet fell back over my eyes.
Shadows sunk into familiar figures.
Everyone was turned to one of the younger officers, the one who had just screamed at me. His eyes were frozen wide as his nails dug into something in his throat. I leaned forward and spotted a sparkling layer of ice was spreading across his neck. The officer stumbled back, his face turning a dark purple as he fought for air. I turned back to Serec and spied the ice that seeped between his fingers as he glared at the man.
I opened my mouth to yell about him when another cry from the officer caught my attention. He staggered around for several seconds, dodging concerned hands reaching for him, and collapsed over one of the barriers. His face smashed into the gravel in a gruesome, red splatter.
I shuddered.
The crowds screamed in horror, some cried. I watched in a stunned silence. That man—he'd barely looked older then Olga. He'd only been doing his job and now . . .
I caught sight of Lila; her eyes popped open, dripping with hot tears, and her wobbling chin fell to her collarbone. Arnold shrunk back, red eyes focused on the blood that dribbled from the barricades. Gerald clenched his jaw and reached up to wipe his eyes.
The other officer—the one with the moustache—turned back to glare at both Serec and I.
Panic rose in my heart.
It played out in slow motion; I darted to the side and crouched behind a nearby car. Horrified screams came from the crowd, but they were swallowed by gunshots that cracked into the air. Bullets rocked the car and punctured the sides, shattering the back window I was crouched under. I jumped and screamed, crawling into a ball and covering my head as shards fell over me. Not for the first time, I was glad for my change of uniform.
Looking to the side, I was stunned by how nonchalant Serec looked. He was slumped, his hands in his pockets, and an icy wall protecting him. The wall—it caught the bullets that whizzed his way. Serec's curls fell into his face, but his eyes pierced the white ringlets.
He sighed, like he was only annoyed, and tilted his head to the side. "You guys," he said, tone exhausted, "are beginning to get on my nerves."
Shards of ice winked into existence in front of the barrier. They were like sharp nails, ones that dazzled in the moonlight. My jaw dropped as they flew directly for the line of officers. Ice connected with shoulders, kneecaps and feet. The screams that came from the officers and civilians made me want to throw up.
The moustached officer was one of the many who ducked in time to avoid the attack. Gerald quickly sunk to the ground, pulling both Arnold and Lila with him. He wrapped his arm protectively around Lila, and all three of them squeezed their eyes shut as ice hailed over them.
Fuck.
I heard Serec cackle as his barrier disintegrated, shrinking into more shards—these ones chunkier—and, with a wave of his hand, sent them hurtling for the crowd. There were more screams as those who didn't manage to duck in time were hit. Frost spread rapidly, stretching for the already hit bodies and crawling across the ground.
Serec barely noticed as I darted towards him frantically. His arms were out as he fired another wave of glistening shards.
"Leave them alone, fucker!" I screamed. Pulling back my arm, I let it snap forward. His eyes found mine for a split second before my fist slammed into his mouth.
"Ow—FUCK!" I cried, pulling back and shaking my fist to relieve the agony. Right, I forgot—punching the skull was a no go and my fist was still healing.
Serec's head reeled back and red burst from his lip which ploughed against his teeth. I held my fist to my chest and looked just in time to see icicles disappearing. The frost that covered everyone melted into steam and the blue left their faces as they inhaled deep breaths.
I released a breath, thank goodness.
But a rapid drop in the temperature prompted me to turn back to Serec—and my heart dropped. His eyes were bulged with fury as he reached up to wipe away the blood. Iciness travelled though my veins, but I tightened my jaw and fought back against his glare. His eyes dropped to the arm wrapped around my torso. I followed his gaze and cursed—blood was spreading across my uniform.
The crowd shouted my name and I looked over in time to catch the shards that flew straight for me.
Shit.
Spinning around, I threw myself into a wild run. The air whistled as shards followed me like magnets. Serec's laughter came from all around as the shards shot like darts at my feet. They exploded at my heels, sending gravel into the air.
I ducked behind the hood of a car and pressed up against the metal. Ice punctured the sides and rocketed the car. Blood roared in my ears and it was getting hard to breathe. The helmet folded back in my neck and I inhaled deep, cool breaths. The air was like water to my throat and felt good against my forehead. I pulled my knife from my boot and banged the back of my head against the car.
Releasing small breaths, I waited until the ice bullets stopped and sprang up, ready to throw the knife—
Huh?
But Serec was no longer there.
I looked around for his pale form but only spotted the shocked faces of the crowd as they watched the screen above the building. I turned my gaze as well—and gasped.
I barely managed to roll out of the way when he slammed into the ground. The impact was enough to create a crater in the ground, sweeping the car up and through a window. Iciness spread from where he stood and crept up and along the edges.
Serec's eyes found mine. His gloved hand raised as a glowing fist.
And he smirked.
"Come now, milady, let's not play this again," he said, turning to look over the crowd. His smirk widened and his eyes lit up—a new idea. "Let's make up for your—" turning back, he chucked "—powers, shall we? Let's put on an especially brilliant show for your fans!"
I barely had time to blink when icy darts flickered into existence and threw themselves at me. I managed to jump out of the way, but their impact caused dirt and gravel to splatter over me.
I spluttered and wiped the dirt from my face. I heard Serec laughing as he sent more rounds of icy splinters for me. Holding my breath, I threw myself backwards into the air and landed on my hands. I sprang off my hands and threw myself into a backspring, followed by another, another and another to escape each round.
Air whooshed from my stomach until I stopped—landing in a crouch as I drew in heavy breaths. White wisps stuck to my face and slipped between my lips. Serec let out a low whistle, grinning in approval. "I see you've gotten better since our last meeting."
I smirked—and sent my knife flying.
He sighed and stepped to the side as it came hurtling for him. It brushed past his hair, but he didn't flinch, placing one hand on his hip. "Doesn't that ever become tedious?" he asked dryly.
He reached up to push back his curls, which flopped back over his eyes, and leapt to the top of another car. His movements were so smooth and graceful, they reminded me of a lioness. "Let me take the lead in this dance, milady," he said, smirking. "It's much more entertaining when I'm in charge."
He outstretched both his hands. The wind roared, pulling at his clothes and twisting his ringlets. Squinting, I held up a hand to block the air that stung my eyes. The air bit at my face, my nose burned red and my braid knocked into my cheek. A bright blue surge of something rushed from Serec's palms. It looped around and danced in the air until the light dissolved to resolve a blue chain that fell into his hands.
He looked back up at me and winked; his lips stretched into a smile that looked like the one he wore when he strangled me. He swung one end of the chain in the air, mimicking helicopter blades, and fired it at me.
It snapped into the air, like a bullet. I couldn't force myself to move as it got closer to me. It shone like an April morning against night air. It cut across my ear and flew over my shoulder. Blood roared in my ear and I turned to look—the chain wrapped around the headlight behind me. Small patterns of ice twirled from the chain and crackled as it grew across the headlight.
I took a step back, hands shaking by my side. The headlight shattered and a blast of icy wind knocked me over. Fire nibbled on my stomach and I choked on dirt—fuck. I wrapped my arms across my stomach and tried swallowing air. But it was so cold, it stung my lungs.
Serec looked down at the chain in his hands. "Huh," he said, frowning. "Its harder than it looks." He looked up at me and made a clucking noise with his tongue. "Oh well, guess it only makes it more fun."
And he fired again; the blast cut through the frozen air.
I stumbled out of the way.
He swung again—and I dodged.
It continued like this—him attacking and me dodging. He cackled as he did it, it was sharp like knives and left my ears scolded. "Dance—dance, milady!" He laughed as I fell to the ground to avoid another swipe. The corners of his mouth were so stretched that they met his gaping eyes.
The air pinched my skin and iciness chewed my abdomen. It all bunt and stung so deep in my body. I was reaching m limit—I knew it.
I darted for the windows of a jewellery shop to catch my breath—the ice irritated my lungs. My vision was blurry as I hacked up large bursts of air from my chapped mouth. I didn't know how long I could keep doing this. It was so cold but sweat slid down my face.
Looking up, I glanced around at the cars that had been knocked onto their sides, black smoke rising from their broken engines. Jagged edges stuck out where windows once were and a burst of water shot out from broken fire hydrants.
I had to lead the fight somewhere else.
Lifting up my arm, my fingers pressed down on the heel of my palm and a silver projectile shot out from my wrist. It cut across the air and attached to the top of the building that showed the screen. I forced myself to ignore the large image of a bleeding and wounded Blue Jay.
Squeezing my fingers into a fist, the wire yanked me high into the air and I shot forward toward the building. A wink of light from the corner of my eye caught attention and I looked down to Serec watching me in disappointment.
He clucked his tongue again and the chain vanished from his hands in a burst of light. His lips moved and my sensitive eyes managed to make out his words. "Where're you going?"
His hands went back into his pockets and his gaze moved to my wires.
Reeeeeeeeee.
My heart frozen and I turned in time to see the iciness that nibbled along the wire that held me so high.
Reeeeeee—SNAP.
My eyes popped open—I was falling.
The world rushed by in a dizzying black blur. Cold air lashed my face as I shot for the ground. My stomach hurtled and jammed into my wind pipe—I couldn't scream. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
The moment I hit the car, I assumed I was dead.
But I kept waking and waking. I wanted to be unconscious instead. Because, when I was awake, I could taste the blood that pooled my mouth. It grazed my teeth and soaked my tongue. My head throbbed as a ringing sound assaulted my eyes. It was so loud, it pierced right between my eyes. The ringing pressed I in on me, crawling under my skin. I wanted to rip it from my bones. I sucked in a cramped wisp of air, but it was like my lungs were full of water. The ringing noise—I recognised it as the car alarm.
For the first time, I wished I couldn't heal. I wished I didn't have Blue Jay's durability. I wished that someone would run me through and let me bleed my way to death.
But I was left in agony.
I moved my hand—wincing at the white pain—to my abdomen. There was so much blood, it slipped through my fingers and down my body.
I was so tired.
But I—had to keep going.
I placed my free palm down by my side and pushed to hurl myself up—
Shit!
I landed on the ground in a crumbled heap.
There was a piercing scream I didn't recognise until I realised those sobs belonged to me. My hand still clung to my side, but no matter the pressure, blood gushed between my fingers and oozed under my hand.
My head was full of static and my vision . . . it flashed with darkness.
"Ah, isn't this a turn of events?" Serec's voice rang distantly but I knew he was close. I avoided looking up at him and fought against the throbbing to crawl on me knees, but I felt him approaching. "You're on your knees. Truly an astonishing sight." His feet stopped next to my hands and I clenched my jaw. I felt his cold breath on my ears. "Not that I mind, of course."
His foot connected with my wound and fire exploded in my abdomen. My voice was hoarse as I screamed. My body caved in, falling from my knees, and black spots were in my eyes.
His boot slammed into my nose.
My head knocked against the ground. Eyes watering then squeezing shut, copper burst in my mouth. The tip of his boot slammed into my cheek and my head snapped to the left, spit bubbling down my lips.
The world was swimming in black, I barely noticed when Serec's boot pressed into my cheek. But the touch was softer this time. "As I expected . . ." he chuckled. His foot left my face and his breath washed over me again. I shut my eyes, the coolness felt good on my hot cheek.
"You see, the thing is, Blue Jay, you can flip all you want, change as many costumes and call yourself a hero." His grin touched my ear. "But that'll never hide who you really are—weak." He spat it out like it was a slur, I shuddered. "You're pathetic. Nothing more then a scared little girl."
I opened my eyes and, though the dizziness and nausea, saw something that had plagued my nightmares. It was his eyes, but they were no longer lit up with sadism or a thirst for my blood. They stared right past me.
He stood up and turned to address the crowd—they looked so scared and hopeless. I spotted even the reporters lowering their cameras. "This is your hero—this!" He shouted, flinging his hand in my direction. I had to look away when they turned to me and Serec cackled, "You're doomed! You're nothing more then cattle! And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it!" His smile was drawn so wide that salvia shone from the corners of his mouth. "We're going to come with greater numbers then you've seen! The end is near!" He looked over his shoulder at me. "And you all have your precious hero to thank."
My mind fell blank as I stared into those burning eyes. It was like I was caught underwater, everything was slow and warbled as he watched my face, admiring the horror that transformed my features.
He turned back to the crowd, the grin lighting up his face again. I watched them, watched how their faces fell at my silence. Arnold's face was red, I couldn't tell if it were from anger or exhaustion, and his fingers wrapped tightly around each other. Gerald's arm was still around Lila, but he watched Serec like he were a predator.
And Lila—shit—she looked so disappointed. She gripped onto Gerald's arm, but her focus was unblinkingly on me. Dried tears left trails down her face, right to her clenched chin, and her eyebrows were pushed together.
Criminy I'd never seen her angry.
Serec rubbed his hands together, shoulders hunched, as he stepped in their direction—
"That's not true."
The voice was weak, it shook from its lack of air. But it was enough for him to hear. Serec paused, without turning. "Pardon?"
Blood fell in tiny droplets onto the ground as I pushed against my hands to force myself to my feet. "W–We're nothing like you described—" I coughed. My bones ached and the world spun, but I kept my eyes on the back of his head. "We're more then cattle—we're stronger then you give us credit. And—" red salvia ran down my chin. "We're not going to let you destroy our home!"
I watched awe transform the crowd's faces, watched as the reporters picked up their cameras again. Light shone from behind me—the screen must've been active again, showing a larger image of me. Lila's eyes widened and she stepped out of Gerald's arms, lips parting. Something burned in my stomach, but it didn't hurt. I couldn't tell if it were my wounds or anger.
Serec scoffed, still not turning, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Please, just stop," he said, looking over his shoulder. "There's absolutely nothing you can do or say that will stop me." The corners of his mouth suddenly turned up and he turned around to face me. "Your breath is much better spent begging and I'd much rather that."
The way his eyes dragged up and down my body made me tremor. He was so unaffected by me, so unbothered with me as a threat. I felt like I was caught in a trap that I couldn't get out of as my lungs struggled for air.
My red hand slid up from my abdomen to my heaving chest, on top of my pin. "I am Blue Jay—" he snorted "—Defender of Earth and Guardian of Hillwood. How dare you attack my people—"
He turned away. "The shows ove—"
"—and as a Guardian—"
"We're don—"
"—I'll protect my people!" I suddenly screamed, feeling myself starting to tip. I'm not a scared little girl, I wanted to shout. He turned to look at me over his shoulder again, his dark eyes striking his white curls. Desperation clawed at my insides, forcing words out I'd already told myself. "The pin, it—it chose me!"
My words turned into frosty puffs of air. The wind felt so much colder on my face, nibbling my cheeks. Serec's nose scrunched up and his eyes—so wild before—looked so cold. Everything settled in my mind when I realised that . . . I was crying.
"Well," he said quietly, voice low and rumbling. "It chose wrong."
His words choked me. They grabbed my skin and pinched and squeezed my throat so I couldn't breathe.
No—no, he was wrong—he had to be. I was chosen. I—I wasn't a mistake. My lips trembled and I wiped away the tears with shaking fists. I wasn't a fucking mistake—I was Blue Jay.
A sob teared from my throat and he turned from me with an air of disgust. The wind was so cold, my heart dizzying in my ears. I didn't look up at the crowd anymore, I couldn't. "I was chosen," I whispered to myself, voice shaking.
I moved my hand into the air, they burnt as I called for my knife. It wasn't a welcoming buzz but a scorching pain that ate at my fingers. But I felt the knife coming closer for me—
A large burst of icy air swept me from my feet and knocked me into a large window. The glass fell apart and skittered across the floor. My head knocked against something—hard. The world was spinning and I felt my food in my throat.
A wooden surface pressed against my cheek and distant screams shouted my name, but I didn't want to listen anymore. My head—it felt so full of static and cloudiness. And my bones were so heavy, like I was drowning. I was just so . . . fucking tired.
Helga . . . Helga!
It was distant at first, I thought my mind had conjured up her voice. But she kept repeating my name, shouting for attention. Nel?
Helga! Her reply was instant but strained. Y–You need to get out of there now!
I felt myself frowning in the darkness. Why?
Against the fogginess, I fought to open my eyes—where was I? The moonlight fell through jagged shards of glass where a window once resided. Pale light struck various objects that surrounded me.
I was on a table—it was cold, dark and small. And there were many like it, all of them surrounded by tiny wooden chairs with plush red cushions. The walls were olive, so dark it looked black, but the back was of red bricks. I spotted the colourful equipment against this wall and the marble counters—it was a coffee shop.
Nel, I don't underst—
Then, I saw it.
Beneath my hands, frost spidered out from the wooden cracks along the table. I jumped up, stepping away and watched as it rapidly spread like a disease. Cold air washed over my skin, whisking the heat from my uniform, and leaving me shivering and chattering. The frost jumped from the table to the chairs and floors and ceilings—it shined and sparkled. An ugly cackle echoed, and I whipped around in its direction.
I gasped.
Silver shimmering ice climbed down the wall, covering the bricks, and nibbled on the heater in the corner. Helga, you have to get out!
As I hurried for the door, fire shot through my abdomen and black clouds took over my vision. The building, Nel insisted, it's about to—
The heater shattered in a loud explosion and my last line of vision was a large chunk of shrapnel flying my way.
I cannot tell you how much I loved writing Eugene's part; he literally was just so easy to get into the head space of!
So, what was everyone's feelings - love it, hate it? TELL ME IN THE REVIEWS. Sorry, Arnold was barely in this! But he'll be featured more heavily after the next chapter, promise!
NOW ONTO MY FAVOURITE PART: THE REVIEWS
Kryten: Thank you so much, dearie! I love me some good genre blending stories too ;))) hopefully this chapter was decent for ya!
Lena2244: Sorry about the wait, boo! Hopefully the next chapter shouldn't be too long rip :))
MoonFlower9184: Aw, thank you so much! Yeah, I'm trying really hard to keep this in character while going with my own thing. I hope this chapter was good!
Yali. Page: Hello, old friend! It shouldn't be too long before Helga finally gets some recruits, I'm just cutting my chapters in half to get them out quicker, but I CAN'T WAIT TOO! Helga's so lonely and struggling, I just wanna give her friends right now!
dvd123: Oooh, yess! I love writing Helga with the gang, her and Gerald always keep me on my toes XD and Helga and Lila is definitely among my favourite to write, FOR SURE (besides Helga and Nel & obvs Helga and Arnold ;))) Lila actually has a huge part in the next part! And poor Helga's got quite a battle ahead of her, but she'll definitely have friends by her side, thanks for your review, hon!
curiousitykills314: OHMYGOD, THANK YOU You have no idea how much that means to me! I hope this chapter was good for you (but oh my god, I hope it didn't make you cry, please don't cry)! And do not worry, her powers WILL be explained very soon!
bluegirlalexis: Thank you so much, girl! This warms my heart! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter (hopefully I shouldn't take another half year to write the next one rippo) If it helps, I've updated some of my earlier chapters, so there's little changes to the story ;))
Guest: Thanks, dearie! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :3
miladyswords: ahaha, thank you so much! The guardians shall be revealed soon ;)) YES, random reviews are the BEST way to kick my procrastinating ass into gear! Thanks so much for the review!
And that's a wrap kids! Tell me what you think about this chapter in the reviews! I know it doesn't seem it, but they really do encourage me to keep writing everything!