“Blitz? Are you alright?” Gemini had just reached him, looking concerned. She caught sight of the paper in his hands over his shoulder. “What’s that?”
Blitz crumpled the paper in his hand and ran off, shoving others out of his way and ignoring Gemini’s cries of, “Blitz, where are you going? Blitz?”
But he ignored her and stepped out of the gates, just in time to see a familiar tall dark silhouette running with astonishing speed.
“Wait!” He shouted, running after him. He may not be an athlete but he had spent many hours in the gym back in Washington DC. Thank goodness the muscles he had been working on are paying off. He launched himself into a sprint and managed to kept up with him, who is dressed as the Phantom on their very first encounter.
“Hold it!”
He suddenly slowed into a halt when the figure threw back his hood and gave a twisted grin, causing him to stare in shock.
“Surprised to see me?” Sigan sneered.
Blitz grabbed him recklessly by his cloak and shouted, “Where is she?!”
Sigan yanked his hands off him. “Get your hands off me, vermin. What makes you think I’ll tell you?”
“Give her back, darn it.”
“Oh, but she’s never yours to begin with, boy.” Sigan taunted. “He had always been after her for a very long time…”
“Just what on earth are you people?” Blitz asked, shaking hard.
Sigan looked amused. “Do you really want to know, boy? Then, go to the place where it all started.”
Blitz was about to answer when Sigan disappeared into a flurry of wings, laughing.
*************
Luna clung onto him tightly as he leapt from building to building without slowing down. She was surprised how calm she was too despite this is her first time being taken away and being leapt in between buildings, though not by her own will.
“You seemed very calm.”
His voice chilled her, caressing her ears. She did not look up to see his face in fear of meeting those eyes that lusted for her, like a hungry wolf wanting to claim his prey. It scares her to see what look like an obsession behind the eyes.
“Why me?” She asked, keeping her eyes downward, not looking at his face.
“I told you before, didn’t I? I love you, and only you alone.” He shifted her into a more comfortable position. “And nothing can ever change that.”
Luna, looking very confused stared at the surroundings. From the top, they have a very great view of the town. The thick leafy green heads of the Shadow Woods seemed to look like mushrooms from above. Sierra Peak seemed to loomed over them like some monstrous skyscrapers.
He finally stopped in front of somewhere familiar. The shrine. Her shrine…
“You can put me down, you know.” She muttered.
“Just a little longer.” He chided. “Let me hold you just a little longer.”
“Let me go…” Luna said as he tightened his grip on her.
“No… I won’t. I failed last time and I won’t repeat the same mistake a-Ouch!”
Luna bit his hand hard and he let go of her. She failed to fall down the correct way and instead her elbow knock hard on the concrete ground followed by the rest of her body. A painful shock zaps through her body and she can’t help but crying out in pain. But she wasted no time running down the flights of stairs and into the woods , her other hand cradling her painful elbow.
Seymour stared in astonishment and pulled back his sleeve where a set of bite marks are visible. The thought made him want to laugh. He never expected her, so innocent and fragile like spun glass to go offensive.
“You want to play hide and seek?” He said outloud to no one in particular, his eyes fixed on the running figure in the distance that is heading for the Shadow Woods. ”Then, let’s play.”
*
“What on earth wee you thinking, Blitz?” Carla was exclaiming as he made his way back to the Sacred Heart High School entrance where Gem is also waiting. “You left Gem behind like that just to chase after some random kidnappers? What if Gem’s kidnapped as well?”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Carla.” Blitz said softly, “But it’s complicated.”
“Blitz, you’ve been acting strange ever since you met that girl…” Carla said, looking worried. “Did she…influence you in some way?”
“No, Aunt Carla. Why do you all keep pointing fingers at her when she never done anything wrong???”
“No, Blitz, but you always seemed to be involved in some kind of fight whenever you’re around with her, and…there’s bullet holes on your car…”
“I was attacked by some mad man who was after her, Aunt Carla!” Blitz snapped, losing patience. “You all weren’t there, you don’t know how ruthless he is. ” An image of Seymour kissing an unconscious Luna on the forehead back at the other town suddenly flashed back into his mind, causing to clench his fists tighter. He could feel static electric gathering in his fists. “I’m only doing what is right, and if you can’t seem to see that way, then fine… I’ll do things my way.”
“Blitz, wait just a minute…” But he had already ran off, leaving Carla looking worried.
“Madre…” Gemini said softly from her side. “Just let him be.”
“Why would you say that, cara?”
“Because…” Gemini said in her soft-toned voice. “That girl…Luna, is not a bad person. I can feel her aura. It’s not a bad aura, but more like…confused.”
Carla gave a sigh and clasped her hands as in prayer. Please, Madonna, let him be safe and sound…
*
Luna turned to look back around her shoulder and much more to her relief, he’s not behind her. Thank God. As she stopped to rest against a tree, she heard a soft thundering sound, the sound of flowing rapids. From the sounds of it, it should be nearby.
Relaxing herself, she let the sound guide her deeper into the woods, enjoying the feeling of her bare feet treading on the earthly soil when some trees parted to reveal a fast-flowing rapid. The white foam smashed into the granite rocks, spraying bubbles all around. There’s no hope of getting across, because the rocks are slippery, even though they are within stepping range. One wrong slip and it’ll all be over, being carried away by the rapids, thrown against rocks like a mad game of pinball, with the fallen victim being the ball.
She closed her eyes and let the sound of thundering water pound into her ears. It’s strange, but whenever she feel frustrated, angry or sad, the sound of flowing water always soothe her. The sound of a waterfall, the ripples of a pond, drops of water droplets falling onto the ground… No matter what it is, water will always make her feel relaxed and soothe her soul.
Pulling back her sleeve, she stared at her throbbing elbow and stared at the huge blue black bruise against her pale skin. Cupping some water with her free hand, she applied gentle pressure on the bruise.
“You had always enjoyed water…” A voice said softly form behind her.
Her eyes snapped open but he was already holding her into place, his arms wrapped tightly around her from behind.
“Did you remember anything yet? Our time together in Ajora… Or Terra?” He said softly into her ear.
A shadow loomed over him, tilting his head up a little, he felt a lurch of surprise as the thundering rapids towered over him like a massive tsunami. He barely had time to gasp when it came crashing on top of him like a giant hammer, and pulling him into its embrace, leaving her alone, clutching her head in pain. Long deep buried visions of memories are surfacing around her that she never even knew.
A vision of her dressed up in a silk gown, riding on a carriage to somewhere. Her expression looks as though she’s on her way to a funeral.
A vision of her running through a thick forest with monks armed with firearms chasing after her.
A vision of herself being chased by…Sigan? He was lashing out at her with iron-hooked claws. In order to avoid him, she had stepped back and fell, crashing into the river, her screams lost in the thundering water flow.
“Just what on earth happened to me???” She cried wrapping her arms around herself, hot tears pouring down from her eyes. She could feel herself shaking uncontrollably and sobbing hard, unable to help herself, she sat down on the ground and brought her knees close to her.
“Luna?”
Blitz came bursting into the clearing, his tux which had been smart, now looks rumpled and limp from his sweat, both the tux and shirt untucked. His shoes are covered with dirt and looked worn out. From the looks of him, he had been running all over town, looking for her.
“Luna? Are you alright? Did that jerk hurt you?”
“Blitz, what am I?” Luna clutched his jacket. “Tell me…”
A raven swooped down and hit him from behind, sending him sprawling a few yards away.
“We come to pick you up, princess.” Sigan said, morphing into human form.
“He doesn’t want us to delay any longer…” Demise said from above, sitting up on a tree, holding his scythe. His expression as angelic as ever.
The surface of rapids suddenly exploded from behind her like a water sprout and he hovered above the rapids, looking completely unscratched, but dripping wet. His skin is as pale as ever, and his clothes clung to him tightly, showing off his thin yet muscular figure.
“That was unexpected…” He landed both feet firmly on the ground.
“What on earth are you?” Blitz stared at him with utter distaste.
Sigan and Demise laughed, their sound are sort of like bass and alto, ringing together in the woods that made his hair stand up on his back. Even in the woods, their laughter echo all around him.
Seymour was the one who spoke. “I think you have pondered long enough. Very well then, I’ll tell you.” He gestured at his allies. “We are a race of beings called Terranaians.”
Blitz couldn’t help but snort. “Terrawhat?”
“Terranaians. A being with powerful magic abilities.” He turned his gaze on Luna. “She’s one too.”
“Me?” She pointed at herself.
“Of course you are, my little princess. You had always been one.” His eyes seemed to flicker for a moment. “The people of the town had been keeping things from you ever since they found you washed up here. No, they never tell any outsiders about their little well-kept town’s secret.”
“What on earth are you blabbing about?” Blitz asked, his eyes getting narrower.
“Haven’t you noticed, boy? This little town is in the middle of ley lines. The humans here are pretty much aware of magic, it’s just that most of them don’t practice the art, preferring to live a simple life. Eventually, they forgotten their roots and get on with their boring daily life. You.. I never sense any aura coming from you, but now that I come to think of it, you weren’t in town long enough.”
Blitz could feel his memory being recalled. It seemed a long time ago when he went to the library and opened that journal. The town is built on top of ley lines. Was it a coincidence, then?
“We shouldn’t be telling him any of this.” Sigan said, flurry of raven feathers spinning around him. “We should just nab that girl right here and now.” He lunged for her, about to grab her neck when a bolt of blue lightning struck past him, giving him a nasty zap from the hand to the elbow.
“I don’t know how to control this ability of mine, but I sure know how to use it to zap crazy maniacs like you. ” Blitz’s palms crackled with blue sparks, reflecting in his opal eyes. He then turned to Luna. “Even if you’re not human, you’re still my friend. So snap out of it already.”
Murasama conjured out of thin air in his hand and he tried to run him through with its blade but Blitz side-stepped him and hurled a bolt of lightning from behind. Although it didn’t seemed to do much damage to him, he was pleased to see that it had hit his mark.
“Now you done it…” He hissed, swinging his blade dangerously.
As Blitz prepared to take his stand, thick vines slithered towards him and try to whip him. He did a hand flip and blasted them apart with lightning, causing them to sizzle and wither.
“My plants!” Demise wailed. He was actually near to tears when he saw the withered vines. “How could you kill my lovely plants?”
“Your plants were never lovely, it’s deadly.” Blitz yelled, holding out his static electrically charged fists. “Who wants a piece of this?”
A painful sensation is tingling from his side. Looking down, he saw a spot of red blossoming rapidly like a crimson flower.
I got cut, he thought dazedly.
“I’m going to kill you slowly.” Seymour said softly. “You’ll die all alone in the woods, and no one is going to hear your screams.”
Despite the wound on his side, Blitz lunged at him, streaks of lightning shooting out from his palms. Seymour knocked him backwards and he was sent flying into the air. There was an almighty splash and he was thrown into the rapids.
“Electric doesn’t work on water, so don’t bother trying.” He taunted.
Blitz’s head emerged out of the water and his hands just managed to clung onto the boulder as the current slammed into him. Even so, he can’t hold much longer. His fingers are barely clinging onto the edge of the rock, and his arm muscles are screaming with strain, the cut wound near his ribcage is not helping either. All three were looming over him, not even lifting a finger, watching him suffer. Any minute now he’s going to be swept off, either he’ll drown, get smashed by the water pressure or get cut by the sharp rocks. Either way, he’s heading to his death.
His fingers finally gave in, and he was swept into the river, his head bobbing up and down half blinded by the spray, fighting with the current, gasping for air.
“He won’t make it.” Sigan said as Blitz flailed blindly to grab hold of another rock. The last rock before he was thrown into the rushing current.
Something dashed past the three of them, causing Seymour to go, “No!”
Luna, burning with resolve, leapt over the first rock, nearly stumbling as she did so, the spray whipping at her face and her hair, fast soaking wet clung to her face. Even though it’s extremely dangerous, she reached out and grabbed hold of Blitz’s hand, which he in turn tightened his grip.
“Luna, it’s dangerous!” He shouted over the roar of the water.
“I know…” Luna replied him, not even shouting, but her voice carried over to his ears.
“Princess, get back here. It’s dangerous!” Seymour was looking worried, worried for her.
Blitz’s grip slackened and he was swept off by the river, thrown around like a ragdoll.
Luna gasped and without even thinking, ignoring Seymour’s pleas, leapt into the water herself and barely managed to get ahold of Blitz by his index finger. She pulled herself close to him and shielded him from the rocks, letting them smash against her body.
She wasn’t feeling scared for herself, but she was scared for him. Bubbles erupted from all over the place and they were thrown over and over by the sweeping current. It was foolish and reckless that she jumped into the rapids after him, now they’re both going to die in the cold depths all alone, where nobody will ever find them.
Oh God, please… She thought. Don’t let him die. Please, someone, help him…
Losing consciousness, stars swimming in her eyes, she let darkness take her in gracefully, but never letting go of him.
The End for now...
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