A/N: Hey guys. I know its been a while since I uploaded a chapter. Work's been killer so I've been really tired. Well, here's the next part. It's kinda small, but that's fine. I'll finally be wrapping up this day with the next chapter, so look forward to it. And I'll try not to wait a month before doing it lol. Hope you guys enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe. Reviews are appreciated!
An unpleasant mixture of heat and cold wrapped itself around my body as I lay on my front in the crimson patterned snow. Shaking, I slowly lifted up my head to see
the behemoth of a lion standing proudly before me. Even with his skin broken and muscles enlarged disproportionately, he was still very beautiful, his golden mane
blowing slightly in the light breeze. Panting, I shakily pulled myself up on one knee, the claw marks across my chest healing painfully, the cool atmosphere invading
the new tears in my shirt, prickling my skin. And it wasn't just my shirt; I had several new claw-shaped tears in my jeans as well, on both of my legs, thighs, and side
and back. My jacket was shredded as well, and my favorite bra was permanently removed for me, a tattered heap on the ground next to me. My body healed its
wounds, but my skin was tinted red with blood in several places, and it didn't help that my strength was escaping me. Even with my healing factor, I felt no safer with
this beautiful monster.
I shook my head slightly, my golden and crimson hair clumsily flaying in large clumps as I did so. After catching my breath somewhat, I quickly lifted up the gun in my
right hand and fired at the lion, but he vanished once again. Gritting my teeth, I clumsily and quickly stood up before a searing pain ran through my back again. I
cried out as I lurched forward, my body rolling on the snow, crumpled in a heap as a warm fluid trickled down my back, before the sensation was replaced with
another burning pain mixed with cold air. Cursing under my breath, I slowly pushed myself up on all fours, breathing deeply, my breath a foggy mess. My vision is
starting to get blurry now. Damn it. What can I do? I can't keep up with him. I dared to look up at the lion again, and he was once again standing away from me. Why?
Why won't he kill me? Is he toying with me? Or… is he cautious? Does he still see me as a threat?
I sat myself down on my knees, my eyes never leaving the beast, but it vanished again, the pain of my skin tearing erupting in my brain as I slid on the ground, the
force of the lion's attack pushing me again. I remained laying on my side, my hair falling over my face, partially blocking my view, but I could still see the beast, albeit
sideways now. I was shaking now, and it wasn't because of the cold; it was fear. I might actually die this time. The thought echoed in my head as if someone yelled it
in a cave. My fists clenched in a mix of anger and sorrow and I was actually starting to lose hope. How can I beat him? How? How? HOW?
The lion could sense my despair. He broke me. He won. And he knew it, for he started to trudge toward me slowly. I was no longer a threat. All I could do was curse
my weakness. So, in the end, I really couldn't do anything? Did Eve really win? I closed my eyes, the soft footsteps of the lion getting ever louder as he neared. I
guess… this was all I could do…
"Aya. Don't give up." a soft voice spoke out to me. Wait, a voice? Am I hearing things? Maybe my mind is playing one final trick before the end… "Aya, don't give in.
You can still win." the voice spoke out again. No… it's not in my mind… I slowly opened my eyes to see the mysterious little girl squatting next to me, looking down at
me with a small smile, her eyes bright. I simply stared at her for a few moments, before I realized the lion behind her… stopped? It didn't just stop walking, it stopped
moving all together, as if someone pressed the "pause" button. And not only the lion, but everything around us. Snowflakes hovered in place, and the leaves of trees
were still. Did time stop? Slowly, I pushed myself up on my elbows, looking up at the squatting girl. "Who are you?" I finally asked her, but she merely gave me a
smile. "Don't give up, Aya. You can still win. You just need to believe. If you wish for it bad enough, you'll learn." she told me lightly, closing her eyes as she smiled
wider. I just looked at the little girl before me, trying to understand what she meant. But then, just as quickly as she arrived, she vanished. The moment I blinked, it
was as if she was never there, the snow continuing to fall, the leaves continuing to rustle in the wind, and the lion continuing its advance. My eyes fell on the lion, my
vision still a bit blurry. If I want it bad enough, I'll learn? What exactly did she mean? My mind turned toward this entire encounter with the lion, and the same burning
question I had crept back into my mind: How? How is this lion so quick? How does it vanish? How? I kept asking myself that same question, yearning for the answer
more and more, despite the lion standing mere feet in front of me. But it was then that I saw it; glowing specks of light. My eyes lit up, literally, as the lion before me
also started to glow, with light seeping out of its body like heat. Is the lion doing something? No… it's… my eyes…?
It was my eyes. Almost as if a new vision was upgraded to my retinas, I saw a glow coming from the lion's body. But how? This feeling… this warm feeling in my
eyes… is it… my mitochondria? I remember the same thing happening in Carnegie Hall when I faced Eve for the first time. A warm feeling erupted in my body, and I
was showered in green light. So does that mean that this is the lion's mitochondria? But, it's strange… if this light represents mitochondria, then the lion's mitochondria
is—
At that moment, I knew. I finally understood. The fear that shivered my body was starting to vanish. Of course… that's what she meant. But the question was, could I
do it? Only one way to find out. I was starting to feel renewed strength now that I have another hope, and the lion sensed it. He stopped walking toward me, his fangs
bare, but I remained unintimidated. Grabbing hold of my gun beside me, I aimed it at the lion, but it already vanished. But this time, I could see him. He sprinted to
my right side and reared up on his hind legs, ready to strike me again. When he reached his peak, he swung at me ferociously with claws extended… but he missed.
Just as the lion swung at my head, I vanished just as he did before. And before he could recover, standing behind him, I lifted up my gun, pointed it at the back of his
skull, and fired.
One shot was all it took. The lion slowly and silently fell on the ground, unmoving in a pool of its own blood. I figured out how he did it. By focusing mitochondrial
energy in his paws, he was able to enhance them beyond their natural limits. The lion's mitochondria was unbalanced. Instead of his body glowing evenly throughout,
his paws were exceptionally bright compared to the rest of him. So, I did the same. I don't know how, but I just instantly knew how to do it. I suppose it was my
mitochondria that learned, and maybe I acted on that.
I stared down at the lion's body, before closing my eyes, my head hanging. "I'm sorry…" I muttered. "You're a victim too… You, the rats, the alligator… you're all
victims. But, thanks to you, I've learned something new. With this, I'm one step closer to Eve." I spoke out to him, bowing in respect. After a few seconds, I turned
westward, where Eve flew away toward. New strength welling up inside me, I marched forward.
