The trio emerged at the docking station. Melody ran toward Faye, grabbing her tight.
"Sean… we have to go back for him. Something happened. He was attacked; we have to go back." Melody was screaming at the top of her lungs. She grabbed Percy's jacket crying as her tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Slow down," Faye said, "what happened?"
"Sean was just sitting there about to jump in with us, and I saw an arrow pierce his arm, and it went through the metal it was like a light. By the time the words hit my lips, we were up here."
Percy looked over at Melody, his eyes wide open. "We need to get back to him," he said. He broke into a sprint and ran out of the docking station toward the main arena with Faye and Melody close behind.
"Can you get us back to where we came from?" Percy said. "Please, we believe one of our friend is being attacked by we don't know by what, but he didn't make it with us into the funnel back up here."
"Hold on," the woman said, looking into a screen in front of her. "It will be okay. I see where you're at, all right, okay, I can't send you back there, but I can send you twelve miles away. There seems to be another Dreamweaver there in the area. You will arrive in dock 5."
"Close enough, let's go." Percy turned around with the two ladies in tow. They ran into the dock, ready for departure. Please don't let us be too late.
Sean turned and looked around, and he saw a woman standing there, but he didn't see where the arrow came from. The woman was slightly bent over and pale. She had a long blade in her right arm. The sword was dripping with blood. She stood there hunched over, looked at him with a slight grin on her face like she was ready to lunge.
Sean's eyes bounced frantically, trying to see where the arrow came from. It was brown in color, but it was shrouded with blood. He pulled it out, looking at the ground where the woman was standing. I have two options. I think I can run and maybe get gunned by one, or I can fight. It looks like she's about to run. I don't know how long it's gonna take for everybody else to get back. I don't have a weapon, and I can use my fists. Sean stood there, his legs trembling slightly. His skin had goosebumps as his hair stood up all the way around his body.
He turned around and ran as fast as he could. He leaped off the bridge's apex. Underneath his feet, the steel beams became a blur. He heard the sound of arrows hitting right behind his feet. I can do this. Sean continued running till he reached the end of the bridge and went into the forest line. He crouched behind a tree, taking a deep breath and placing his palm on his chest.
Sean leaned on a tree, trying to catch his breath. He stood there looking around at the moonlight, his companion. He glanced up and around to check if another arrow was heading his way. He examined his arm. It was splattered with scarlet blood. I guess mana looks like the blood, he thought, or maybe it's a sort of combination. He tried to make himself laugh, but the wound hurt him more than he could comprehend. It felt like it pierced his very soul, like a spirit was screaming in agony.
"That wasn't very nice," a voice said, and he felt the trees splinter behind him.
Sean spun around to see a blade go through the tree and almost miss his skull by an inch. The trees smashed in front of him as he dodged. The lady stooped down, her blade at his chest, laughing hysterically.
Sean reacted quickly, parrying the sword and striking her in the face with his palm. He swung his hand back and landed a second blow to her chin.
"Not bad," the female said, stuttering ever so slightly. "Are you the one who messed up my territory? The demon I sent was slain. The boy, I felt the liberation of the stronghold. How come you're in my environment?" the lady shrieked. She raised her head for a brief period. Her eyes were almost white, with a little black pupil in the center.
"What is your name?" Sean replied as he stood there staring at her attempting to maintain his balance despite his shaky knees.
"I…" the woman said, cackling slightly. "I don't have a name, or do I? It doesn't matter; you can call me Sypher," she said. Her tongue protruded from her mouth, swinging aimlessly.
Sean stood there staring at the woman. Sypher! What in the world have I gotten myself into? Sean shook his head. I didn't get myself into anything. They attacked me. I can't think straight. Sean began to turn around when he felt another arrow strike his shoulder. Damn it, that hurt! Sean resumed his sprint through the woods. He weaved in and out of the tree line, gripping his right shoulder and pulling the arrow out as quickly as he could.
I'm going to die here. His legs felt like they were about to give way. In high school or community college, he was never a runner. He ran the farthest from a blonde girl he kissed in high school after getting the name wrong of the girl who actually liked him.
They're playing with me. They have the ability to murder me at any moment. Or maybe I'm just speedier in this spiritual body. Sean continued sprinting till he reached the end of the tree line and could see a river below him.
He peered out to see the river and more trees on the opposite side. The river was roughly a 10-foot drop in front of him. He wasn't sure his legs could handle the fall, but he knew he had no choice but to leap or get impaled by the nasty woman's sword. Sypher or crazy lady, it didn't matter since Sean didn't want to die.