I can't dodge this. Emilia thought, her eyes wide open.
Her body moved on its own. She closed her eyes and her arm moved up in front of her face.
No… I don't want to die.
A heartbeat passed.
Then another.
The blow never came.
Emilia slowly opened her eyes.
Aziel stood in front of her.
His boot was on the severed hand of the Mindreaver, pinning it to the ground. The massive hand that no longer looked like a hand except a limb made up of rubber. It twitched beneath his foot, fingers clawing weakly at the air.
"Are you alright?" Aziel asked, glancing back at her.
Before she could answer, the severed hand jerked violently, trying to tear itself free.
"Tch." Azik clicked his tongue.
He rushed forward and drove an iron rod down with force, skewering the hand into the ground.
Aziel stepped back, turning fully toward Emilia.
"It's alright," he said calmly. "You're alright… right?"
Her hand slowly lowered. She nodded.
"Yeah," she said. "I'm alright."
Azik's gaze snapped past them.
"It's not over," he said sharply. "Look."
Aziel turned.
At the far end of the alley, the Mindreaver was reattaching its head.
Thick, black flesh stretched and crawled as the severed head fused back onto its neck. Red veins pulsed violently. The creature let out a shrill, creepy scream that sent a chill straight down Aziel's spine.
It's angry, Aziel thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Aziel and Emilia exchanged a glance. Both knew what to do.
They both sprinted toward the other street where the Mindreaver was.
As they burst back into the street, Lucius was swinging Ignivar again and again.
Flames roared but every strike passed straight through the Mindreaver's shifting body.
None of them landed.
Is that sword just for show? Aziel thought with a grin. It looks cool, though. Maybe I should borrow it.
Then suddenly.
Lucius came flying toward Aziel.
"What… hey!" Aziel shouted.
But it was too late.
He crashed into Aziel, and Aziel's head slammed against the road with Lucius on top of him.
"Concentrate, Aziel," Emilia called out, taunting Aziel.
She moved forward and stopped few meters away from the Mindreaver.
Bang.
Bang.
She shot two bullets at once at its head.
The Mindreaver twisted aside, narrowly avoiding both shots and started to run away from them.
It's dodging them now, Emilia thought. And no longer attacking.
Her lips curled into a thin, unsettling smile.
"It's weakened," she shouted. "We can kill it."
Aziel and Lucius stood up. As they heard her voice.
They looked at Emilia and Then at the Mindreaver.
They both looked at each other and nodded.
They all followed it, shooting bullets, but none of the shots were hitting it.
Then they reached back to the house, and it ran inside the house.
"Lets go in." Aziel said, following it inside.
"Stop." Azik shouted behind him.
"What now? We are so close to kill it." Aziel said, lowering his gun slightly.
"It is dangerous to follow it inside." Azik said. "After all… it is its house."
Aziel looked at Azik and stepped away from the gate.
"Understood." Aziel said, his fingers tightening around the pistol.
"So, what will we do?" Lucius asked, eyes full of confusion. He shifted his weight from one foot to other, glancing at the house nervously.
"Give me a few minutes." Azik said. "And then I will tell you guys what to do."
After few minutes….
All three of them were sitting on the footpath, waiting for Azik. Aziel's hand hovered near his pistol.
How much longer? Aziel thought, as he watched Azik.
Azik was standing in front of the house with his left-hand finger on his forehead and his eyes were close. He stood there motionlessly.
He has been standing there for the past few minutes.
Not even saying anything. Aziel continued to look around.
Emilia rested nearby, sipping water slowly, her eyes flicking toward the alley. Lucius leaned against the wall, flipping through the worn pages of his book.
"What are you reading?" Aziel asked. "You always carry that book with you."
"Oh, it is nothing it is just a book that was present in my dad's room." Lucius answered, closing his book.
"What is in it?" Aziel asked, moving closer to him.
"There are sword fighting techniques written in it." Lucius answered.
Oh…. What even I excepted from him. Aziel though looking at him.
While Lucius looked at him and passed the book to him.
"Read it." Lucius said his eyes were bright, looking at him with a smile. "You will love it."
Aziel took the book from his hand and opened the first page. On it was written Author: Volt.
Hmm another weird name just like Ninja.
But before he could read the book Azik shouted.
"It is ready."
All three of them stood up and moved toward Azik.
"It is on the top floor." Azik said, pointing his finger on top floor. "Look at that window. It is in that room."
"How do you know that?" Emilia asked.
"I will explain it later. It is getting late." Azik replied, looking at his watch.
All three of them entered the house while Azik stood outside. As Aziel was entering the house he looked back at Azik.
Azik was waving his hand at them and had a wide smile on his face.
"Good luck." Azik shouted, standing behind them.
Tch… he is sending us to die. Aziel thought as he entered the house.
They slowly climbed the stairs.
Lucius in front with his sword. Emilia in the middle and Aziel at the end with their pistols.
The stairs creaked under their weight. Dust floated in the air, catching the dim light. Every step echoed, a quiet warning.
As they reached in front of the door, they all stopped and stared at each other.
Lucius nodded at them and slowly opened the door.
Before the door could open fully, it burst open as a massive hand slammed through it. They all jumped back.
Smoke filled the room as the attack also shattered the wall in front of them.
Aziel moved and looked up. Emilia was on her knees, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, her breathing uneven as she struggled to steady herself.
"Emilia!" Aziel shouted as he raised his pistol.
He moved to the front of the room and started to shoot at the Mindreaver standing within the smoke.
He fired until the magazine ran dry.
Is it over? Aziel thought, sweat running down his face. Please… tell me it's over.
Then the Mindreaver came rushing through the smoke. Its body was riddled with holes, torn apart by bullets.
No… it's not dead.
He pulled the trigger.
Click.
Oh shit…
The magazine is empty.
Suddenly, Lucius leapt in front of the Mindreaver and, in an instant, cut its head off.
But the Mindreaver's body still moved. It swung wildly and punched Lucius in the face, sending him crashing into the wall.
Lucius screamed as blood spilled from his mouth.