The Fall of the Society

Chapter 73: Resolve

     The pressure being applied to her surroundings caused the orb to groan ominously. She had to think fast, she still did not want to fight back because that would mean she was accepting that Tripp was lost, but if she remained where she was, she would likely fall to the monster she had helped to create. Focusing inward her golden glow increased. Her power began forcing the barrier outward, which disappeared when it was large enough for her to stand up. She had not been expecting this to happen and the lightning hands slammed shut around her. Immense pain shot through her body as the electricity coursed violently inside of her.  The pain was so great that she could not form a single thought outside of it. Her body was rigid, and she wanted to scream, but she was unable to make any movements, or even open her eyes. She feared that if the torrent of electricity did not stop it would drive her insane as her mind attempted to be released from the pain.

     After what felt like an eternity, the power receded, and she fell gasping to the floor. Her vision was blurry, and her body felt numb after the intensity of the pain. She struggled back to her feet as the room spun around her. Unable to make out the figure of Tripp clearly, she stumbled forward, and a faint golden glow appeared around her.

     "You will fail! You have failed," the deep raspy voice echoed overhead. The large and powerful electric arm like protrusions that he was producing wrapped behind him and he lowered himself down to stand face to face with Rose. Grasping her by the chin, he forced her to look into his dark and empty eyes. There could be no denying that she could not see any of the man she loved in the eyes, but she refused to give up that he had gone completely. "I can see the sadness in your eyes," the eerie voice rang out gleefully. "Give up, there is nothing left to gain."

      Finally able to focus her eyes once more, she gazed more clearly upon the form in front of her. His body had previously been obscured from view by the power he was radiating. He was more muscular than she remembered Tripp being, but the features and lines of his face were exactly the same, other than the hollow, lifeless and black eyes.

     "He will come back to me," she said softly. "I just have to figure out how to reach him."

     A maniacal smile crossed Tripp's handsome features, causing him to look truly horrifying. "Your time has run out!" he snapped excitedly, and he wrapped his powerful hands around her neck, lifting her off the ground. "With the knowledge that has been given to me, as well as this power, I shall rule this world, or it will burn at my feet!" His grip tightened and she could feel her airflow and blood flow being cut off as he lifted her higher into the air. She attempted not to struggle but found herself unable to do so. Reaching up she latched her hands onto his forearms. Pushing power into her hands she attempted to burn his skin, but it had been futile as nothing happened to him. Her head was swimming once more as she could feel herself about to pass out.

     Suddenly, a rush of power surged through her, invigorating every inch of her body. Her golden glow shined brightly as her eyes flashed into focus and burned with power. Tripp released her, his hands searing in pain as her skin reached untold temperatures. Her hair floated into the air as her power rose higher. The necklace around her neck floated up in front of her eyes and she wrapped her hands around it and held it close to her chest. A burst of golden flames blasted outward, forcing Tripp backward across the room. He had crossed his arms in front of him and managed to deflect most of the fire with an invisible shield. For the first time since he had entered the chamber, concern crossed the finely chiseled features of his face. Rose floated feet off the ground as the air around her pulsed with power, dust and other debris left the ground and began rotating slowly around her. Her hands clasped tight around her locket, her eyes met with Tripp's and even more power surged into the room. A pair of bright gold wings unfolded behind her. They were magnificent and beautiful, made completely of golden flames. She flexed the wings as even more molten golden power encased her form, creating immaculate golden armor, fitting her figure perfectly, moving as if she was wearing nothing at all. Unlike previous auras, this one did not remain liquid in appearance, did not continue to shift and change. The armor was gorgeous and glowed brightly.

     Tripp shielded his eyes with his hand as more and more power washed over him. He roared and flung his other arm in front of him as a massive wall of ice split the room in two. Rose did not react defensively. She simply held her hand in front of her and the ice wall exploded away from her. Tripp was slammed against the wall violently as debris fell upon him, large chunks of ice and water rained down upon him as well. Trepidation was evident in his glare as he unburied himself from the debris. He was unharmed, but angry. A swirling aura of power encased him as well, churning opposite of the power radiating from Rose. Where the two powers collided, lightning erupted outward, as well as chunks of ice and burst of fire. The friction between the two grew in power as they continued to press into each other. Anger and fear continued to spread across Tripp's face, but Rose looked nonchalant about the situation as she continued to clasp her hands tightly around her locket.

     She closed her eyes and her power skyrocketed, pushing the swirling power outward, completely smashing its way through the aura Tripp was producing. He placed his arms in front of his body and an invisible shield shimmered as its strength was tested and nearly bested. He shuddered under her power but managed to hold it off and regain a foothold. Pushing back, he forced his hands out in front of him and large, razor sharp, shimmery ice projectiles shot across the room. They did not even make it halfway across the chamber before turning to water, then into mist, before disappearing completely.

     "I shall not fail!" the deep raspy voice shouted from within Tripp. His eyes had become unfocused, losing their hollow look and there was a shadow of grey behind them. He attempted to shoot more icy projectiles, but they turned to mist the second they left his hands. "This is not possible!" he shrieked.

     "I keep hearing that statement, but it continues to be untrue," Rose said. She was surprised at how her voice sounded. It was eerily calm and reflective. Her voice was also distorted, and it echoed unnaturally. "I will not stop until I force the real you back to the surface, my love will be returned to me."

     Tripp glared at her, before quickly glancing upward at the open night sky. In a single swift movement, he attempted to shoot upward, thinking he would have more success in an area that was not quite so confined. If this thought was true, he would not find out. Bright golden tendrils of flame shot from Rose and wrapped tightly around him as he made it ten feet into the air. Slowly pulling him toward her, she discharged a portion of her aura into the surrounding earth, which trembled violently as the immense force moved through. Struggling with all his might, electric bolts shot from his hands and into the fissured floor, debris flying into the air. He attempted to freeze the air around him, but as the crystals formed, another tendril of golden flames flew through the air, dispatching them as quickly as they appeared. Rose's tendrils squeezed more tightly, forcing the air from his chest, his face turning a deep, dark red.

      Rose pulled herself face to face with Tripp and stared into his eyes, her golden glow reflecting in their inky blackness. She reached up and caressed his face caringly, the color slowly returning as she released her hold on him cautiously. His dark eyes bored into her, but he did not move, as if paralyzed. Her tendrils had completely vanished, and he hung in the air before her. She slowly wrapped her arms around him before placing her head on his shoulder. The golden wings that were at her back enveloped their bodies, causing Rose's golden aura to shimmer onto Tripp. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

     "I love you," she whispered. Pulling back, she gazed into his eyes, a slight hint of grey was deep within the dark pools. An eerie smile crossed his face, and he began to laugh.