When All Was Lost...
Chapter Two
2
It took some doing...But luckily Akarii found herself to be limber enough to be able to slip into the main hall through the vents. After making sure her way was clear, she kiced in the grate and let herself drop to the floor.
"...This looks like some kind of...Garage, maybe?" she said to herself as she ran her hand across some crates. Sha managed to catch the label on one however-
"Spare parts Exclusively for...Jack Atlas." she said softly, "Jack Atlas...?" somehow that name rang familiarly with her...but also quite painfully...as heavy pulsations in her had would run her through each time she said that name.
"Well, what are you aiting for? Come along then, Girlie."
...What?
"You could...come with me, you know."
She whinced with a tight clenching of her teeth.
What was that!?
She thought to herself.
I don't have time to-
She froze, eyes shifting and holding their gaze for a long while on that name...Jack Atlas...
Until finally she managed to shake it off and weasel her ay into the halls. But it seemed she wasn't the only one who was sneaking in.
"OW! Hey- WATCH it pal!" a girl with thick bottle glasses fell before her after the two had had a brief smacking from rinning in each other's direction.
"Crap..." Akarii hissed, "No one else was supposed to be in here- who the hell are you!?"
"Who the hell am I!?" the girl huffed, "I beg your pardon, I am Carly Carmine- I'm a reporter! Freedom of the press! WHo the hell are YOU!?"
"A reporter!?"
Great. That was just great. Now this job just got a whole lot harder- Of all people to run into...the Press was certainly not an ideal choice.
"Hey, wait a minute..." Carly paused, "I recognize that uniform-" She gasps, "AH HA! You're from the Arcadia Movement, aren't you!?"
"Wh-what!? NO I-"
Perfect. Sayer was not going to be too happy about this.
"Oh my gosh this is a total scoop!" the girl squealed, "Hey Hey, would you mind letting me interview you!?"
"What!? Of course I'm not gonna do an interview-" She gasped as she heard one of the mechanical doors slide open and she quickly tackled over the girl called Carly.
"Hey what do you think you're-"
"Shh!" Akarii hissed, "I take it you weren't exactly planning to get caught either, were you.
"Ahh...you know what, good call." she said softly.
"So then shut up and come with me!" Akarii huffed as she grabbed the girl by her wrist and quickly moved to duck in the shadows.
"Now now, Mr. Atlas...everything should go according to how we need it to be."
"Hmph."
Mr. Atlas?
Akarii thought to herself.
"Oh my gosh, that's Jack Atlas!" Carly whispered, "An interview with him would sure get me one heck of a bonus!"
"Seriously!?" AKarii hissed, quickly shushing the girl.
"Oh sorry!" she quickly capped a hand over her mouth and peeked over Akarii to watch the two conversing gentlemen making their way down the hall, "Aw, he's so dreamy up close though~"
Following Carly's eyes, Akarii assumed she as clearly talking about the tall blonde gentleman walking with a heavy step.
"Hmmm..." Akarii wouldn't say that the guy wasn't good looking...but he certainly didn't do it for her...but still...there was something about him...
So that's Jack Atlas?
Akarii thought to herself as her eyes burned on his image for a while.
There's something...familiar about him...but I can't...
She whinces, feeling the burrowing dig harder into her head.
"Hey, are you okay?" Carly asked in a soft whisper, "You're not looking so good..."
"Never mind about me, where are they going?" she asked.
"Well it looks like maybe the Duel field but-" Akarii pauses, "Hey what gives, huh? You still haven't even told me why YOU'RE here-"
But before Carly could even finish her arguement, an unearthly shriek shook the place, causing a high pitched rining in her ears.
"What the hell is that!?" Akarii asks in a visible cringe of pain.
"I-I'm not sure!" Carly stated, "We should get to the stadium pronto and investigate!"
Carly took off in a dash, and almost without any other though, Akarii followed her. Unbeknonst to her that that cry...was a calling.
"What is that!?" Carly asks, "There's some giant Crimson Dragon in the sky!"
"A what!?" Akarii huffs and follows the girl's gaze, amber eyes growing wide as her flaming red hair blew all around her.
She was right...
A magnificent creature had taken over the sky in that moment...loosening out its fierce beastly cry. The rining in Akarii's head grew louder, and a sharp pain burned into her arm, leaving her in confusion, as she couldn't see anything there.
What IS that thing!?
She thought to herself, gripping at her head as though that would numb the pain...but it only got worse...the ringing got louder...and so did the creature's cry, pulling a scream for Akarii as well.
"Wh-What's the matter with you!?" Carly called out, "Are you okay!?"
But Akarii could barely hear her.
"H-Hey, be careful!" Carly hurried over to Akarii's side, to catch her before she fell to the ground she stood on, gripping at her head, curling and tangling her fingers into her hair as she screamed.
Flash images played behind her tightly closed eyes.
And so did many...many voices...
It was all moving so fast, she couldn't even manage to match the voice to the faces she was seeing...
Wait...there was Jack-?
"Looks like it as a breeze for both of you, huh?"
Wait...who is he talking to?...Me? Do I Know Jack Atlas!? Does Jack Atlas..know ME!?
"Well of course it was!"
No there's another guy here next to me...who is he?
"When have we ever been caught, huh? Right Akarii?"
He's turning to me...and smiling. He's talking to me...Who is he?
Who are you?
Whoever he was...whoever he is to her...it made her heart constrict in her chest. It Hurt...
Sudenly...the vision of a black bird flew off into the sky...and she felt a calm ash over her...
"...Crow..."
Was the last word Akarii managed to mutter out before letting her heavy eyes fall closed in Carly's arms.