I look over just in time to see Ci-Ci dive in front of
Jonah, one of his hands piercing through her side as he drove her into the
ground. Shit, I guess that means she’s out of the game. I rush the last few
people out hoping he doesn’t see me and I can leave with them.
“Hey,” Jonah calls out, almost growling. “You hear me,” he
keeps calling. A gust of wind makes me stumble.
“Are you talking to me?”
“You’re next. I already killed your girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. You’re more my type. At least
before you started looking like waling death,” witty banter, please save me.
“That’s good to hear, should make this easy. I’ve never
killed a dark elf before,” He forces his face into a smile, almost as if the
bones had to lock into place. “Don’t fight back, just let it happen.”
I throw my hands in front of my face and close my eyes as he
rushes towards me. Fighting has never been a strength of mine. I keep expecting
an impact, but I feel nothing. I open my eyes to darkness, more darkness than
I’ve ever seen before. I can’t see anything at all. No, there’s a light. I make
my way towards it. It’s a long walk before it gets big enough or me to check
out. Just a hole, big enough for me to step through. Am I dead? Did he kill me
that fast?
I step through the doorway and watch as Jonah crashes
through the side of a food stand. I’m back where I was a few minutes ago, at
least I think I am. I moved somehow, away from the danger. I make my move to
check on Ci-Ci while Jonah is out of the way. Hopefully she’s alive.
It seems like a thin red film has covered her. Most likely
blood, but she doesn’t respond to me. I don’t think she’s dead, she seems
mostly alive at least. But she’s in no condition to fight Jonah, and I’m not a
fighter. Jonah is climbing from his wreckage and it seems like I don’t have
much of a choice.
I try to run and hide but he’s too fast. I don’t even feel
the impact, but it becomes hard to breathe as he wraps his hands around my
neck. The world goes black again. I can breathe again. Another pinhole, I
follow it and walk through just like the last time. This time I’m behind Jonah
as he stares at his hands in confusion. I use the moment to sneak away and hide
in another food stand.
I know what’s going on here. Sometimes people are just born
with too much magic. It happens to all different species. Children shooting
lightning bolts. Teenage boys burning holes through prostitutes and barbecuing
their abusive family members. All kinds of things happen. For these people it
important that they learn to control their emotions from an early age. I was
all messed up, so my magic didn’t show up like it normally would. Showed up
during an emotional moment.
I did learn to use it when I was in college, but it was just
too much to control. Flushing the decades’ worth of drugs out of my system probably
brought it back. I’ve been moving through the shadows. I never learned that
trick, has to be some kind of defense mechanism. I guess I have to fight back
now, since that’s what my body wants. I remove my jacket, and fold it neatly.
I’d just burn through it.
“Get out here and fight me you coward,” Jonah yells.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you,” I step in front of him.
“There you are. I’ve had enough with your tricks.”
“Do you have a cigarette?”
“What?”
“Cigarette, I could use a smoke.”
“I don’t smoke,” I can’t tell if he’s annoyed or amused.
“That sucks, your sister flushed all of mine.”
“I’m not going to play your games.”
“Alright, let’s get this over with then. Do you want the
chest or the head?”
“What?”
“Chest or the head.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Jonah starts to rush at me.
“I guess it’s the head then.”
I fling a left-handed fire ball at his head he dodges. I
throw one with the right at his legs. Party trick, I earned a few beers in my
dad with my aim. As few stick him, but he rubs them off. Maybe I’m just not hot
enough. I make a run for it, zig zagging, making him work for it. Really would
love if that shadow thing would kick in right about now.
I feel one of his bony elbows slam into my back and send me tumbling.
For the best, I couldn’t have run much longer anyway. I throw my hands in front
of me, and shoot a steady flame. He tries to walk through but it’s too hot. The
more fear inside me, the hotter it burns. All of my emotions do it. That’s why
I stay high, or at least had been. The flames are starting to toy with turning
blue, it’s hot. It’s keeping him back. I can see he’s being burned. But he
isn’t stopping. And I’m tired. I’m so tired.
I’m tired of always fighting. I’ve been fighting just to
keep living for a long time. Unfortunately, it seems like my body has finally
given out. The last of my fire burns out and I stare into the eyes of a burned
and pissed off Jonah. Entire pieces of flesh have been burned from his torso
and face, yet he still stands and inches towards me.
I just close my eyes, and accept it. I don’t have any energy
to fight back at this point. Lore from my homeland says when you die your soul
wanders Earth, unable to interact with anyone or anything until you have atoned
for your sins. Eventually you’re able to ascend into the great desert and
commune with all others. I wonder how long I’ll walk for. I’m not sure if I’ve
been a good man or what qualifies being a good man. I really wish I had
cigarette.
A hot and thick liquid lands on my face, bringing up some
sensual memories. Not sur why that’s where my brain goes in death. A soft thud causes
me to open my eyes. Ci-Ci stands before me, holding her side, a blade on her
arm and Jonah’s decapitated body lies before me.
“I’m sorry, we’re even now,” Ci-Ci utters before collapsing
next to him.
[Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] [Exsanguinate] [Next Chapter]
