"I'll... kill... you..." whispered the girl. Aksel looked a bit amused that she could even talk.
He laughed softly, walking toward where her body lay. The girl howled out as another jolt of pain wracked through her. "You're going to kill me?" Aksel's smirk broadened and he gazed down at the girl distastefully. She saw something in his eyes that sent a wave of fear mixing with her hate and pain. It was age. Vast amounts of it. "Not even time could kill me and certainly not some second rate, mortal, filth will."
The Girl's vision went red and she pulled against the shackles madly. Aksel watched with dawning horror as the girl's skin slowly became lighter, her eyes darker, with every passing moment until her eyes were black and her skin silver. Claws formed from fingers, fangs grew from her canine teeth, and her face twisted into something demonic. With a loud clang, the steel bindings holding the girl snapped like a thread. She lunged forward right at Aksel and tackled him to the ground. Both rolled for a moment and the young baron shoved the demon off of him easily. When he looked up, there were claws diving right toward his throat. He gave a shout and then forced all of his energy into one mental blast. The girl screamed, but it didn't sound like her voice at all. It was more of a roar of two or three voices, each a different pitch. She flew away from Aksel, crashing into the lab table, and then was motionless. Gradually, her body shifted back to its normal state, dark, blue eyes staring blankly up at the fluorescent lights.
Looks kind of like angels...
----
Melina woke up to the noise of patter. She lifted her head and looked around. Melina looked around carefully, not aware of where she was. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the images from her last dream. What did they mean?
Melina made her way down the steps, and opened the door, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Ready for your next lesson?" came a memorable voice. Melina stopped what she was doing and looked up, a bit astonished.
"Just let me get dressed." Melina said as she ran up the stairs and put on her equipment. She ran back down, stumbling a few times before she reached the door and walked out, breathing in the morning air.
"So what am I learning today?"
"Vehicle skills." Jak said, looking down at Melina who was fiddling with her fingers.
"Yeah, okay." Jak looked down again at Melina and grinned wildly.
"You're learning from the best."
"Yeah, whatever." she said, rolling her eyes. She looked around then back at him as they continued towards the car yard.
"Where's Daxter?"
"At our place. Still sleeping." Melina opened her mouth to say something but was scared to death by a loud noise. She then realized it was only the yard door. Melina caught her breath and walked in with Jak. Melina looked at the cars.
"Uh...I've driven one of these before, but uh…I kinda crashed…a lot…" Melina said, looking down at the ground.
"Ya. Now choose which one we're driving in." She looked up at him with her mouth half open. He closed it grinning,
"We don't have all day." Melina grinned and jumped in the Desert Screamer; Jak getting into the driver's side.
"Good choice." Jak said. Melina then turned her head and looked at him.
"Wait, what about the Marauders?" He smiled and raised and eyebrow,
"That's the fun part." Melina stared straight ahead in horror as he moved toward the entrance to the wasteland. The door they both faced when she first got here opened slowly and immediately Jak hit the gas all the way down. Melina squealed. Jak laughed at Melina who was clinging to the seat, screaming at the top of her lungs. He yelled over the noise,
"Oh yeah", he reached under his seat;" You'll need these!" He handed Melina a pair of red goggles that looked sorta like ski goggles. She nodded and then strapped them on, but almost poked her eye out because of Jak's mad driving skills. Melina watched closely, looking out of the side of her eye, seeing that three Marauders racing close behind. Melina looked ahead, only to see three more aiming at them in hopes of destroying both Jak and Melina. She held her hands up in horror covering her face; Jak lowering her hands.
"Watch!" Jak yelled, punching the turbo button, crashing through one of them. They went so fast that they made it in one piece and not a scratch to be seen.
"Aye newbies", said Kleiver, who was speaking over the intercom. "Me radar shows a group of metal heads moving in the desert. Go get 'em. Good luck. Heh heh…" Melina's eyes widened in apprehension.
"Bonus lesson." Jak spoke grinning from ear to ear. She looked up at him with terror written on her face.
"Are you crazy! Take me back. Take me baaaaack!" He rolled his eyes still smiling,
"It's just a few metal-heads."
"A FEW METAL HEADS! Have you seen how massive a wasteland metal head is?" He just stared at me and shrugged. Melina shrunk in her seat. Sure, she's already done this before but almost got herself killed in the procedure!
Jak continued driving until they saw a large figure in the distance. Melina tensed up and held onto her seat even tighter and shut her eyes as tight as she could. She could feel the vibrations of the beast closing in. The metal head swung its head furiously, giving Jak just enough time to quickly clear its path and to start fireing.
The metal head fell and Jak headed off in search of the next colossal creature. He shot it down and went on to the next. Melina watched as he took down the third one. Jak then switched sides with Melina and smiled.
"Your turn!" Melina hesitated for a moment then grabbed a hold of the Wheel. She has never driven this vehicle before. Melina turned it around, shooting at the metal head. It turned around, of course and ran straight into them. Melina screamed even louder and the buggie was sent flying. Jak yelled,
"Hold on the edges of your seats and put you head between your legs!" Melina ducked her head and placed it in between her legs as the buggie crashed into the ground. Melina got up and turned it around, shooting at the metal head once again. This time it fell with a large thump. Melina hopped out and went over to scrutinize the wretched beast.
"Not bad at all!" Jak yelled, bending over to examine a hologram crystal. Melina looked closer, her mouth hanging open. The hologram crystal crackled, then showed a head of a certain villain that Jak had to battle numerous times before. Melina even knew who it was.
"Errol!" Melina alleged watching it talk. Jak snapped his attention back to Melina with a perplexed yet vexed look.
"You're kidding right!" Melina shook her head.
"He killed my parents", she said, lying. Jak turned looked back at Errol. Errol looked up at him,
"Oh no. Not you- Ahhhh!" he yelled as Jak crushed the generator. Melina and Jak looked at each other and walked back to the car. Melina took the driver's seat and drove back to Spargus city and hopped out, starting towards the door. Melina walked in front of the car and Jak lifted his goggles and held the crystal in front of her face.
"The dark eco is in your system. It won't go away so you might as well master it." Melina just looked at him uncomfortably and stared at the ground. She messed with her fingers before reaching for the semiprecious stone. Melina grabbed it and awaited the reaction she would get from the gem. Her hand started to tingle as her eyes turned pitch dark. Claws formed form her fingers; fangs forming from her canine- like teeth. Her skin had a silver tint to it as did her hair. Melina looked at Jak who swiftly ran behind her and held her arms against her back.
"Melina, I know you're in there. Can you here me? Follow my voice." Melina growled at the sound of his voice and struggled against his hold.
"Come Melina", Jak said twisting her wrist. Melina yelled out, still struggling.
"COME ON DAMMIT!" Jak yelled, tightening his grip on both of her arms and wrist. Melina yelled out again, her features slowly returning back to normal. Jak let go as Melina fell to the ground onto her knees, holding onto her injured wrist. Jak knelt down next to her and lifted her chin, looking straight into her eyes.
"You're gonna be alright. Sorry I hurt you." Melina nodded slightly as Jak wiped away her tears and helped her off the ground.
"Thank you" she said, embracing Jak in a tight hug. He was astonished and then returned it, watching as she fell asleep in his arms.