Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
I made sure I was on time this week. It feels a little early, but that's to be expected.
It's around this point in which the story gets a bit more brutal, I'd say. And I think that the plot picks up again, in case you haven't already noticed by last week's chapter.
Anyways, let's get on with it!
The woman before us, standing atop the stage, was familiar. From where, I wasn't entirely sure. I searched my mind for a name to place on her face, but Gazini beat me to it.
"Cinder Fall" He said.
"Gazini Void." She replied, "It's so great to finally meet you in person"
Something about her scared me. Her voice was sinister and yet smooth as silk, seductive even. I was almost attracted to her voice. Had I not known of her past acts, I think any man would want to be with her.
"So you know me" Gazini said.
"Yes" She replied.
"Well, I suppose that we should-"
"Sorry," she started, cutting him off mid-sentence, "I don't have time. Got to run, you know? Apparently my brother has been having some trouble lately"
I suddenly remembered: This woman killed Xeyrus. As she turned to leave I called out, "Stop!"
She froze, turning her head around to sneer at me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Weren't you paying attention?" She asked, "I'm off to find my brother"
"Why did you do it?" I demanded.
"Do what?" She asked, snickering.
"You know what" I replied.
She opened her mouth to answer, but turned and dodged backwards at the last second. I saw Wintanweorth and Ember charging towards her, their weapons swinging.
As if on cue the curtains snapped open, revealing a small army of Heishi. They spread out, as did we, finding opponents. I went straight for Cinder.
She had two black short swords and fought off both Ember and Wintanweorth. By her facial expression and the reddening color of her skin I could tell that she was struggling. Another opponent will break her, I thought, drawing my hammer and bringing down on her. It slammed into her shoulder, cracking the bones underneath.
She dropped a sword, but persisted in fighting us off.
"Why did you burn down my village?!" Wintanweorth cried, swinging his katana down on her. She rolled, dodging the attack, but didn't respond.
I swung my hammer sideways, hitting her hard in the gut. Wintanweorth charged her, grabbing her neck between his fingers and pinning her against the wall. His sword went straight to her neck.
"Why?!" He demanded.
"HellFall" She replied simply.
"What does that mean?!" He yelled, slamming her head against the wall again.
"Do you know how long we've had this plan in motion?" She asked, "The Nalakians were a threat. We needed to eliminate them all"
"Why?!"
"HellFall"
"What does that mean?!"
She sneered, her body thrusting slightly. Wintanweorth backed away, dropping his blade. Cinder's second black short sword was lodged in his gut. Blood dripped heavy and crimson from the handle.
For a second I was still, watching him shuffle backwards. When I turned back Cinder was gone.
I ran past the curtains, hoping to find her. Sure enough, there she was, running backstage. I followed after her, hammer over my shoulder.
She glanced back, seeing me, but kept running.
As I ran I transformed my hammer into a gun and pulled the trigger. Her aura was up, so the bullets simply bounced off her skin. I sheathed my hammer and pumped my arms, focusing as much strength as I could into catching up to her.
Finally I was mere feet away from her. I dived, barely grabbing her ankles and throwing her to the floor. Her face crashed against the wooden boards.
Pulling myself up, I dropped sharply onto her spine and pulled her head back by her hair.
"Why did you do it?" I demanded fiercely.
"Do what?" She spat.
"You know what" I replied.
"Look, I already told your buddy there, the Nalakians were-"
"I don't give a shit about those Nal-whatevers!" I burst, "Why did you kill him?!"
"Who?"
"Xeyrus Love!"
"What?"
"Xeyrus Love! You killed my teammate!"
"I've never seen the guy!"
I slammed her face against the wood, "Liar!"
Her body began to shake slightly, but I stayed where I was, unsure of what was going on, yet unwilling to lose my position. Suddenly everything burst into flame; the floors, the walls, everything.
The next thing I knew I was laying on my side. Opening my eyes, I saw Cinder standing before me.
"You know what happens next, right?" She said. I looked up, seeing her face covered in blood. Her nose was twisted sideways, and I swore I saw some bone sticking out. She may have been pretty before, but not so much anymore. "I'm going to burn you to death"
"Don't count on it princess" I said, trying to stand. Instead I felt a sharp kick to the face. My hands went straight to my nose as I groaned.
"It doesn't feel good, does it?" She asked, kicking my hands away, then kicking my nose again.
I felt warm blood dripping from my nostrils, and yet I continued to try to stand. She allowed me to this time. I staggered a little, but held my gaze with her the best I could.
She smirked, "Wow, whatever shred of beauty you had before is completely gone. How does it feel?"
"I don't need to impress a little shit like you." I replied, "So come on, let's go" I raised my fists, ready to fight. My hammer hung from my back, but I'd probably be too slow with it. The thought that it was there had also slipped my mind for the time being, so I didn't use it.
She smiled, raising her hand and throwing a fireball at me. I tried dodging, but I was so disoriented that I simply fell over.
Now she laughed. "Nice moves" She mocked.
I stood back up, raising my fists again. If anything, I had to rely on my aura, which I assumed was almost depleted by now. Still, I gestured with my fingers for her to fight me.
She frowned this time. It was an ugly frown, but maybe that was because of all the blood. She threw another fireball, this one much bigger.
I raised my hand and activated my aura. The flame flew straight into my hand, as if being absorbed.
Both our faces showed surprise. What happened? I thought, unsure of how to react.
Cinder backed up, smiling. I assumed that she caught on to the fact that I had no idea what had happened. And then came the fireballs: too many to count at the time. I brought up my aura, and my whole body absorbed each wisp of flame.
When she finished I smiled; trying to give off the impression that I knew what was going on. Cinder finally brought up her fists, realizing that her flames were futile.
I charged to punch her, and as I swung my fist put up my aura to avoid scarring my own knuckles. A ray of flame shot from my clenched fist, spraying across her face as my fist collided with her.
She fell backwards, the look of surprise and confusion plain as day across her face.
"Don't think you can trick me," she said, regaining her posture, "I know you have no idea what you're doing"
"Do you?" I asked, smiling contemptuously despite knowing she was right.
She rolled her eyes, raising her fists again.
I swung my fist at the air in her direction, and yet again fire spouted from my knuckles. She simply adjusted herself, avoiding the blast completely.
She charged, and as she neared me I ducked down and swept my leg. She leapt at the last second, reaching out to me with her hands and grabbing the top of my head. Her hands found their way to my dreadlocks and she yanked.
I reached back and grabbed her wrists, then ran backwards as fast as I could, slamming her back into the wall. You wanna fight dirty? I thought, Fine.
While she was still limp and recovering I pulled her over my head and slammed her against the floor. She was surprisingly light. I heard something crack, but persisted without a second thought. My foot found its way to her broken face and I pushed, pulling her arms at the same time. She flailed in a desperate attempt to escape, but I wouldn't have it. I kicked her multiple times, cracking her skull against the floor over and over.
"Now, that's not way to treat a lady" Someone said. The voice was familiar, but from whom I, once again, didn't know.
I looked up, seeing a woman emerge from the shadows of another room, and gasped. Her skin was pale, and her eyes a deep brown. She was clad in a violet vest which defined her figure quite well, and black tight pants covered her legs. A blue-green cloak rested on her shoulders and covered her arms. It almost appeared to glow.
But none of that stood out to me as much as her hair. It was the same blue-green as her cloak, and again, appeared to glow.
It was Gale Sheng.
She smirked, cocking her head towards me a little, "Surprised?" She asked.
In my shock Cinder escaped, scampering to her feet. She raised her fists and slugged me hard in the face. I fell to the ground, the punch hurting more than it probably should have.
As I stood I spoke a single word. "You"
"Me?" Gale asked, snickering, "Yes, what about me?"
"You did this" I said.
"Did what?" She asked, "Take your beloved semblance?"
My hand felt its way to Thunder Cyclone, which I'd almost forgotten was still there.
"What?" She snickered, "You want to kill me?"
I shook my head slowly, "No," I replied, "I'll make you give it back. Then I'll kill you"
She smiled, "I wish I could stay and play, dear one." She said, her high voice mocked me, "But I really must be going" At that she started to turn to leave. As she did I caught a glimpse of something behind her, but before I could identify it Cinder was on me again.
"Get back here!" I called, grabbing Cinder's face and trying to push her away.
"I do want to fight you," she replied calmly, "but I have important business to attend to. Nor are you in any condition to fight me"
"Oh yeah?" I called, "Try me!"
It was too late. Gale was gone.
So there you have it. The last chapter's ending was a little misleading, I know. It wasn't Pyre Fall, it was Cinder (all will be explained, don't worry). Of course, there's the fight that is clearly ongoing. Apparently I'm pretty good at stretching those things out for a while now. And, of course, one of my favorite villains of mine is finally revealed in full: Gale Sheng. Hit me up with a review and tell me what you think was behind her. I'm curious as to what everyone thinks after all this time.
Anyways, not much to say. I need to do more writing, as if I haven't said that enough already.
As usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!