A/N
Here it is the fourth and final chapter of Escaping fire, the end kind of leaves it open for a sequel buut I haven't really decided whether or not to do a sequel maybe all of you can decide if there should be thanks for reading and now I really must get back to my other fan fictions seeing as how I have found my fan fiction draft folder.
Chapter Four: Escape?
With a gasp of surprise Zola jumped to her feet and raced up the stone stairs once more, before she had gotten far she stopped abruptly, her conscience causing her a rare occurrence of indecision. 'I can't just leave him; wait what am I thinking he vowed to break me no matter what... But if I just leave him there I'll be just as bad as him, he's probably already dead…' Zola's mind debated. "Hhh, I just can't sink to his level." Zola muttered to her self, turning around Zola sprinted back to Logi almost tripping again. Crouching down Zola removed the rubble that was scattered on Logi and gently rolled him onto his back, she quickly checked his pulse and breathing, both were weaker than they should be. Grabbing hold of Logi under his arms Zola lifted Logi causing him to groan as the movement brought him back to semi consciousness; Zola instantly froze up half expecting him to attack her at any second. Logi groaned once more before unconsciousness claimed him once again, sighing with relief Zola began to drag him up the stairs towards the towers top and hopefully more breathable air.
With much effort Zola managed to drag the heavy lifeless form of Logi to the towers top and out into the semi-fresh air, she leaned him up against the towers battlements before collapsing to the ground panting. After a few moments of rest in the mostly clean air Zola got to her knees and crawled over to where Logi was motionlessly sitting propped up by the battlements, after once again checking his pulse and breathing Zola began to search him for the key to the shadow repressor. Her search was paid off as the electronic key was found in one of his pockets, she pressed the key's button to unlock the repressor and quickly removed the bangle shaped device. After a few moments of thought Zola fastened the shadow repressor to Logi's wrist before moving to the battlements edge checking their current location, a few minutes passed before she heard Logi have a coughing fit as the semi-fresh air brought him back to consciousness. "Ohhh... w where am I, What happened?" Logi questioned. 'And why do I have a shadow repressor on?' He added in his mind before noticing Zola watching him apprehensively,she was for a few seconds before answering his two spoken questions. "I found you unconscious on the tower steps covered in rubble, so I dragged you up here, your welcome." Zola answered him while leaning up against the battlements arms crossed, Logi was about to respond but broke off into a coughing fit. "You've inhaled a lot of smoke Logi and should conserve your strength." Zola half stated half ordered as she stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, Logi glared at her and slapped her hand away before responding. "Why did you save me!? I don't re...*coughing*...remember asking for your help!" Logi demanded breaking off into a coughing fit halfway through, Zola stepped back from him and summoned her shadow Killer-bat. Stepping up onto Killer-bat's left hand Zola studied him for a moment before ordering her shadow to pick Logi up and lay him on the same hand as her. "Why!" Logi shouted at Zola, fed up with her pointedly ignoring him. Zola sighed and glanced thoughtfully at him, trying to find an answer to satisfy her enemies question. Logi watched her while panting, his lungs still burning from the toxic smoke, Zola knelt down beside him and looked him directly in the eyes before answering calmly and truthfully. "My reasons for saving you are of no real concern of yours... but if you must know, I couldn't bring my self to sink to your level and leave you for dead." Zola looked at the baffled expresion on Logi's face and brushed some ash from his hair before standing once more, she shook her head in amusement before speaking to him again this time with genuine concern in her voice. "Now calm down and rest before you do your self more harm." Her concern only seemed to change Logi's confusion to furry. "I don't need or want your false sympathy or concern Zola, and I certainly don't need you mothering me!" Logi snarled at Zola his breath coming in short shallow gasping pants, Killer-bat watched the drama unfold in his left hand with mild amusement and confusion as his partner began to frantically try to calm her enemy down. "Logi! Listen to me, you need to stop working your self up and calm down, your damaged lungs can't take the strain." Zola replied trying to calm him down as she began to genuinely fear for his life, Zola ordered Killer-bat to take off and fly towards Logi's soldiers as Logi started having another more violent coughing fit. Knowing that Logi's best chance of survival lay with his own soldiers Zola hoped that Killer-bat made it too them soon, Logi's coughing fit began to subside as Zola supported him with an arm around his shoulders. "You... saving me... changes nothing... Zola... nothing..." Logi hissed in between pained gasps for air a few seconds before passing out, Zola sighed in irritation at the unconscious man she held, brushing a few more bits of ash from his hair Zola gently laid him down. Standing Zola directed Killer-bat to land a small distance from Logi's soldiers who were watching her apprehensively now that she had regained the ability to summon her shadow, once Killer-bat had laid Logi on the ground Zola jumped off Killer-bat's hand and walked over and to Logi and knelt down on his left side. She placed the shadow repressor's key next to him and tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear, then spoke softly in hopes that he could hear her. "Until the next time we meet Logi." She then stood and once again climbed onto Killer-bat's left hand and directed him in the opposite direction to the other side of the castle, Killer-bat took off to where Zola knew her friends and allies would be anxiously waiting for her.
"Zola!" The group of five children yelled in unison as she and Killer-bat landed, Zola jumped to the ground from her shadow's hand and smiled warmly at them as she relinquished her hold on her shadow, making it disappear ready to be summoned another time. The five children rushed to her almost tackling her to the ground bursting with questions, another of their friends known as Knight Master Conrad slowly walked towards them having chosen a more subdued way of approaching Zola. "Good to see you back Zola." Conrad commented as he approached the mob of babbling kids surrounding her. "Yeah Zola we're really glad you're okay." Shu commented with his arms behind his head, when Zola didn't respond Kluke spoke. "You are okay, right Zola?" She asked concerned for her friend's well being.
"Yes Kluke I'm fine... just tired." Zola replied reassuringly before beginning to slowly walk off, she didn't get far before her legs gave way. Conrad responded swiftly as he caught Zola before she hit the ground, he then helped her into a sitting position on the ground while leaving a supporting arm around her shoulders. "Are you sure you're okay Zola?" Conrad asked genuinely concerned and slightly shaken by her near collapse. "I'm fine Conrad. It's just like I said before, I'm tired." Zola replied sinking further into Conrad's comforting hold. "Just how much smoke did you inhale?" Conrad asked as he shifted her so he could pick her up and carry her. "Hhhhh, quite a bit..." Zola replied with a sigh before leaning her head on Conrads shoulder, her eyes slowly closing as she gave in to the un-relentless tug of sleep. "Conrad will Zola be okay?" Jiro asked concerned for Zola's life, Conrad looked at the worry filled faces of the five children before responding. "Don't worry, she just needs to rest. Come on let's go everyone's waiting and we need to hurry if we want to make it to the Jibral king's second castle before midnight." Conrad told them as reassuringly as he could, the five children nodded in agreement before following Conrad to the waiting group of soldiers.
After Killer-bat and Zola had left the Captain and small group of other soldiers rushed forward to their general's side, the captain checked Logi's vital signs before barking out orders. "You three gather materials to make a stretcher, the rest of you prepare the others to head to the nearest base, we'll leave as soon as the stretcher is done." The soldiers all replied with salutes and a chorus of yes sirs, once they had rushed off the captain picked up the key and unlocked the shadow repressor and removing it before speaking to his unconscious superior. "Hold on sir, we'll get you to some medics. Just hold on."