Weeks had passed, the sunset was seen by Lilian and Andrew, with the yellowish rays echoing through their faces, leaning over the top of the building, the young people watched the clouds moving slowly and the song of the birds that flew over their heads.
"The perfect setting for a family get— together. Andrew said
"Perhaps it would be more wonderful if we were all together.— said Lilian coldly turning and walking towards the door "Lilian...— Andrew sighed.
My heart told me it would take time to meet everyone again. But a spark in my soul said that we were at the beginning of a great battle, where we would be tested in different ways. There would be blood, sweat and tears.
"Ruby, where are you?— asked Lily
— She's still unconscious, I'm not sure how long. Andrew replied
— We can only wait. said lilian
A dark cloud suddenly appeared in the sky, coming towards the building where Andrew and Lilian were.
"It can't be a good sign. Andrew said
"Let's protect Natasha's body. Get ready. warned Lilian, drawing the revolver in her hands and cocking the bullets
Andrew positioned his sword, waiting for the rivals to attack, the main glass of the room shattered into thousands of pieces, large claws cut the curtains that protected the place.
Ghostly creatures , grim reapers settled throughout the room, trying to get close to Natasha who remained motionless and pale with the snow that was falling outside the city.
"They won't go near her.— said lilian
— We are not here to fight, but only if necessary we will. said the reaper
Lilian shoots at one of them, who dodges the bullets and with the scythe shoots black smoke, levitating Lilian in the air. Impairing your vision.
"Let her go. Andrew said
"Give me the girl's body.— And we will go in peace. said the reaper
— Not without fighting first! Andrew exclaimed
The scythe nodded, raising his scythe. Spinning in a spiral, moving your arms. Throwing Andrew against the door.
On the terrace that led to the other floors, a body fight began, in the middle of the stairs, Andrew gets up and attacks with his sword, cutting the air and hitting the reaper.
"I may fall, but I will fight to the end. Andrew said
"Then stay alive, to gain your victory. said the reaper
Andrew drew his gleaming sword, its reflection illuminating the blade, the skies thundering with red lightning as the scythe floated by. One of the bolts hit the ground near Andrew, who with a somersault quickly dodged.
— Get ready boy, your fate is in my hands. said the reaper
The reaper's scythe swung with great agility, slicing across Andrew's face, hitting and wounded, he fell to the ground. Remaining lying down, the reaper approached him to check what had happened. As he got closer he noticed that Andrew wasn't breathing, wielding his scythe up to finish the job done. The boy opens his eyes, knocking the creature down with his legs. And with his own scythe he struck him. Causing the reaper to disappear in embers.
"Game over, asshole. Andrew said
In the room Lilian still remained motionless under the effect of the stunning blow she received, the smoke made her eyes go completely black, her breathing was labored. A hallucination began to echo in Lilian's mind .
Lillian's Hallucination
Lilian was in a room, similar to the one she had at home. Lying down with her red dress and black hair tie, when trying to get up, roots and leaves covered her entire body. There was a lot of water, running up and down the walls, flooding the room.
— Help
My voice signaled across the room, like an echo. Nobody answered, I moved quickly, the roots also to the point of almost losing my breath, it was a matter of minutes before I drowned.
I close my eyes and suddenly everything disappears, there was a field of flowers. I was lying on Natasha's belly while she placed a wreath on my head. Everything goes dark. A dark room, several metal chairs and every member of my family trapped in a glass tube.
— Oh no.
The wreath turned into thorns. I remove it from my head, throwing it to the ground, thus turning into white and red snakes.
I run to try to catch up with my family, when I try to walk I realize my legs are trapped in some kind of electromagnetic current. Pulling my body to the ground, the current sent out shocks with every movement I made. "It was all in my mind."
I cross the floor and stop at the top of a building, everything was on fire. Running into the flames, I tumble down the stairs, crashing through a glass door. I realize that I am falling from thousands of heights with small shards of glass around me glistening in the sunlight.
— Lilian! Andrew shouted
Lilian wakes up, pulling air into her lungs getting rid of the smoke, Andrew throws the sword towards the second reaper who disappears in the air. — All good? Andrew asked
"I... am... fine...— sniffed Lilian.
Natasha opens her eyes.
Getting up slowly from the bed, she leans against the walls, with a broken voice she says:
— Hi Lillian.
Lilian widens her eyes when she sees her sister before her eyes, running to hug her. Her eyes filled with tears that flowed faster with each blink.
"God, I'm glad you finally woke up. said lilian
"Lily, you don't know how happy I am to see you. Natasha said
"Nat, you, I mean, you...— said Andrew
"Yes, Andrew. Natasha said
Andrew hugged tightly Natasha, who looking around and realizing she was in a different place, Natasha noticed that something had happened.
"Best not to ask what happened around here.— say
"Let's find a safe place to spend the night.— Andrew said
I am hungry. Natasha said
"I can't wait to eat something Andy made.— said lilian
True! Andrew we miss your food. Natasha said
"Don't worry, they'll have my seasoning soon.— Andrew said
We left the building cautiously so as not to be followed, we started the car, the tires scratched the ground, Andrew accelerated. The windows open and the wind blowing Natasha's hair, hiding most of her face.
"So Nat, where have you been?— asked Lily
"In a horrible place, you wouldn't think I would tell. replied Natasha turning her sight to the buildings
After a long walk, Andrew spotted the street sign with the address Liam had given him before he disappeared.
"I think we've found our hiding place.— Andrew said
We got close to the house, which was hidden by a long abandoned garden surrounded by leaves and bushes that prevented our passage, Natasha wielded her ax, cutting the small branches that covered the ground, I ran to help her while Lilian stayed with her gun pointed towards the street.
My eyes were fixed on every nook, corner and street so we wouldn't be caught off guard.
— Dear survivors, good news! said the sinister voice. Our challenges will be postponed for a while, we will give your fighters a dignified rest. I beseech you to get enough rest, for what lies ahead. It will be something... unimaginable.
Andrew looks up, frowning, he says something to Natasha. Turning my face back for a moment, I end up distracting myself from focus, making myself vulnerable. Taking it by my neck and throwing it into the house. A terrible monster, appeared in the dead of darkness. I feel my body slide under the wooden floor, hitting my head on the end of the stairs, I pass out immediately.
— Lilian! Andrew shouted
Cracking its needle— thin claws, the creature's image flashed in the light from the power poles. It appeared to be a large bird, a hawk with bright red eyes, with a thick, sharp tongue. Snarling a song of terror, in the midst of its slashing flight, from its wings, bright feathers hit us, scraping my arm, drops of blood fall to the ground.
"Natasha, are you okay?— Andrew asked
"I'm hurt, be careful, the feathers cut.— answered Natasha
Andrew took the ladder in his right hand, cutting off a piece of his shirt.
"I'll staunch your blood.— Andrew said
I rolled it up, intertwining the piece in her arm, I stare at Natasha's face, the brightness of the stars, embellishing her sweet and strong face at the same time.
Brushing her hair out of her face, I see the look of concern in her eyes. In the distance I see the creature approaching, I immediately hug it, throwing us to the ground quickly, when the bird tried to attach its claws to Natasha, rolling over the sidewalk stopping on the asphalt surrounded by earth and small limestone pebbles.
"We have to get rid of that bird. Andrew suggested
"You're right, I have a plan. said Natasha
The plan was to separate us, Natasha ran to reach Lilian unconscious in the house, passing over the dead garden, with her boots she ran near the stairs that connected the front of the house, a whip got entangled in Natasha's legs, throwing her against the trunk of the tree that was on the other side of the garden, being levitated in the air with only his feet positioned at the top.
— Natasha! Andrew exclaimed
"Go on, I'll handle this here."
Andrew ran to face the giant bird, with a deafening noise like a high— pitched scream, the monster flew over the boy, with a flap of wings, threw Andrew away. Falling back onto the avenue, he stands up wiping the sweat off his forehead.
— Come on little bird, do you want to play!?
From the top of the building, the bird dug its feet, crouching and prowling the perimeter with its hollow, eerie eyes. Downstairs, Andrew raised his gleaming sword to shoulder height and waited.
The animal remained motionless for a few agonizing minutes, until suddenly a sound echoed from its long yellow beak.
"Winged knight, your fate has already been written. If you think a hero just wielding a beautiful sword, it takes much more than that to become one of the greats.
— The disposition of the strong and brave in heart. Equivalent to the size of your greatness. I may not be the hero, but I have qualities needed to fight evil and darkness. Andrew replied
The eyes of the birds, were becoming more and more red, until deadly lasers began to come out and burn the ground hitting Andrew, with agility he made a deadly double getting out of the situation with perfection.
"What an impressive move, knight. said the voice
"I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.— Andrew replied
...
Natasha was trapped submerged around branches and roots trapping her legs, as the more she moved, her body became trapped in a slow coil. It was only a matter of time before the roots took over Natasha completely.
— Think, Natasha, think... thought Natasha. "What do plants and gasoline have in common?"
I take out my lighter and point it at the stem, burning it to the ground. I free myself precisely, just in time to save Lilian. I get close to the door that was open, as soon as I arrive to enter, it slams shut, an electromagnetic field completely dominates the wooden door.
"Nothing will stop me from saving my sister.