Chapter 24; Hell without Fire

I know this chapter has been long awaited for, and I'm sorry for not typing it up sooner. Last week, I went to Odessa of Regionals UIL, we've got TAKS all this week, and it's driving me insane...soo yea...lol.

Anyway, reviews, then on with the chappie:

FireWolfHeart: Haha, yea, I actually live, even now XD I wasn't too sure if I wasn't going to...but, yea...Yes! I love plot twist, they're always so much fun, which is why I love, love, love the Hunger Games lol, I hadn't realized 'bout my tenses, *shrug* might be the way my word document looks compared to the actual website lol.

Luna WhiteWolf: haha, I love your word, and thanks!

Jabber185: Why, thank you! I'm hoping to get some in on this chapter, just gotta figure out how exactly to do it lol

Oak Leaf Ninja: Thanks!

Dex's POV

It wasn't like the war movies, oh no. Heroes in such movies didn't let out strangled war cries that sound like someone was strangling a hawk, they didn't charge into battle with tons of kids, all whimpering under their brave yelling. It also didn't take heroes twenty minutes of fighting for the enemy to turn tail and run in the other direction.

I'm not kidding. We had been out here, fighting like crazy, when all the goons had turned towards a giant wolf fighting in the city. When they finally looked back at us, they had this gleam in their eyes that told me they knew something we didn't know. I wasn't sure what it was, but it frankly scared the shit out of me to think about it. Panic began to build in my chest, and I looked at my most recent opponent, who smiled (or was it a smile?), and I shuddered. Goose bumps travelled up and down my exposed skin.

Then the ground began shaking, tossing each of us to either side, and a giant crack opened up between just inside the boarders and outside, where I'd gotten stuck. Only a handful of kids, such as Riley and Sam, had gotten stuck with the ghost on the other side. A faint buzzing sound reached my ears, but I paid it no mind as I stared over at Riley, who was trying to shout something.

I got up, minding my leg, which had taken a beating when I'd been thrown by the earthquake, and made my way to the edge of the crack. I looked deep into the dark crevice, where the humming I'd heard earlier was bouncing off the two sides. It resounded again and again, and I thought I'd recognized the sound, but there wasn't a way to be completely sure.

I still couldn't hear Riley, who was getting anxious. It was like a giant glass wall had been placed between us. I tried to make out what Riley was trying to tell me, and began to unconsciously reach out to the barrier.

There was a zapping sound, the smell of singed skin and I felt myself propelled backwards, landing in a heap nearby. I raised my hand, the one that had touched the barrier, and almost puked at the sight of the slightly gray skin. A big blister had formed on the palm and the burning sensation increased the longer I stared at it.

"We've got to get him some help!" One of the teenagers shouted, sounding panicked and scared. "Nah," I waved my hand in his direction, and then got up very carefully. The others stared at me with a weary look, but turned their attention back to the handful on the other side of the electric barrier.

Each of them were being dragged off by the goons, who were looking quite satisfied with themselves. I watched until they disappeared within the mass of ghost before turning to my group and wondering what to do next.

Erik's POV

I guess I'm still alive, considering I'm looking at Alex's parents argue with each other again. Apparently, their debating about what to do with me, now that I know what I know. I would vote, let me go, but they're not giving me a choice. So I sit here, looking at the two in complete boredom. These are the times when I wished that Death hadn't completely screwed with my sleep patterns, because it'd be useful to just fall back asleep.

They were both interrupted by the opening of the double doors, and shouts of protest coming from the teens that were being dragged in. Riley was at the front, snarling at the nearest goon.

"Let me go!" She shouted, trying, unsuccessfully, to break the goons hold. "Why?" Death responded in an off-handed way, looking over at Summer, who glared back. "Erik!" Riley just noticed me, after surveying the room I guess. "Hey Riley, how's it hanging?" I replied, trying for a joke. My arms ached as I tried for a sitting position, and I risked a glance over at Death. He was standing stiffly, watching Riley with amusement. Summer, on the other hand, was watching me with a bit of sadness in her eyes.

"Unlock him Derrick," She sounded like she'd aged several years in that one space. Death looked over at her, and then shot me a look, before flicking his hand. The cuffs came undone with a sharp snap and I wearily rubbed my wrist. They were red and raw, but the skin was still intact. I stood up, stretching my sore muscles before walking hesitantly towards Alex's mom. I stumbled and fell before I made it, and scraped my hands on the rough carpet.

A pair of hands helped me up, and I looked over at Riley's concerned face. "Are you okay?" I mouthed, more worried about the cut that had appeared above her eye. She nodded, but it wasn't the reassuring kind.

"If you're done with the sentimental crap, lead them down to the basement," Death directed, wearily dropping back onto his "throne". A goon came up to me, smiled, and pointed to the stairs I had come up not too long ago. The other kids protested weakly as they were dragged that way as well. I stepped down quietly, getting lost in the darkness of the room that haunted my mind.

My POV

Back in the streets, the thunderstorm had kicked it up, gusting winds that knocked Luna off her uncle. The old wolf bit Danny as Luna tried to get her breath back, and Danny let out a yelp of pain. From all sides, Nikki, Sasha, Apollo, Artemis, Saffyre and Emerald came running, blocking the old wolf from leaving.

"Reinforcements? How low of you Daughter," Claw growled out, glancing uneasily at the other halfas. "Why would I need them?" She asked him with a smile. Claw backed up uneasily, only to run into Artemis and Apollo, who growled and tried to grab him. Claw jumped away and snapped his jaws threateningly. The twins smiled and took two steps forward, a slightly crazy look to their features.

Luna walked over to her uncle who was looking around him in obvious discomfort as he tried to think of a way out. "No use, we've got your ways blocked," Saffyre called out, staring wearily at the old wolf. I could always jump. Claw thought desperately, throwing his head in all directions. "You might as well give up now Uncle," Luna growled behind him, making him jump. "Give up? I don't know the meaning of give up!" Claw laughed, trying to sound strong and confident.

Danny let out another cry of pain, and Luna's attention was temporarily disrupted. Blood gushed from the two inch gash in his form arm, but the blood was all the wrong color. Green, like the ecto-plasm, that made Claw slightly sick to his stomach just staring at. I could've sworn I bit deeper than that! The old wolf screamed in his head as he stared at the open wound.

Luna's back was turned to her uncle as she moved to find a way to help Danny, and Claw looked around at the other children. All of them were focused on Danny, who was thrashing on the ground from a poison Claw had on the tips of his fangs. Something Death had designed especially for him. The poison caused pain, some delusions and wouldn't let the blood clot like it should. Eventually it would run out, and the poisoned person would return to normal, with barely any memory of the experience.

Claw pounced, digging his razor sharp claws deep in Luna's back. She yelped and turned to bite the old wolf, but couldn't reach him. She ran around in circles, the pain getting worse with each minute. Her blood coated her fur and dyed it a dark red.

"HEY!" Someone yelled, blasting Claw with a black stream. Claw screamed as he fell to the ground, burning and feeling the electricity being shot through his old bones. Shadow and Pepper appeared overhead. Shadow had a weird sword that was pointed at Claw, and Pepper had a pink ecto-energy ball charged in her hand.

"What was that?" Luna asked as she wearily laid down. "Nightfire," Shadow answered proudly, and the other's watched in amazement as the sword turned into a gold ring. "What?" He asked in puzzlement, floating down to just a few inches off the ground. "That's amazing!" Emerald blurted, then quickly covered her mouth and looked down. "What? Turning my sword into a ring? That's nothing really," Shadow shrugged it off and turned to Danny.

"You alright man?" Shadow asked as he held out a hand to pick the ghost boy up from the ground. "Yeah, I think it's healed," Danny let out a shaking laugh before turning his attention to Luna. Long jagged cuts ran down her back, but they were only an inch or two deep, and healing quickly it seemed.

Claw let out a low moan from where he'd landed, and everybody's heads swiveled in union. The old wolf's fur was ruffled all over from the electrical shocks and, where the nightfire had hit; it was slightly blackened and singed. He let out small pants to keep the pain down to a minimum, but he knew immediately he wasn't going to be able to move without help. He was a sitting duck, as far as the fighting went.

Well, what do you think? I got a little bit more violence in this one, but not much...I'm sorry if my updates are getting longer, but it's nearing the end of the year, and school is starting to get into a frenzy because of it. Monday, I get inducted into NHS, Tuesday we have awards, then I got an eye doctors appointment. But this last week was full of TAKS, and I was 'bout ready to kill myself before Friday came around. (That's when we made a visit to the Ronald McDonald house XD)

Anyway, Review! I dunno what else to say...