Lightstringers

Chapter Twenty-Five: Time to End This War

The king and I fought for a long time. I was wounded and so was he. We kept fighting and fighting none of us giving up until one of us is dead. Wall to wall, his feet were a blur as he sidestepped, his hands were a blur as he worked his blades to deflect any and every attack. He struck in front of me so I stepped back. Balancing my weight on my left foot, then threw my axe at his temple. He whaled. Turning ninety degrees to the side, he brought his right forearm up to counter the blow, holding his sword with his left rather than his right, and jabbed it to my right. I screamed and looked down at my wound. The king laughed so I inserted my axe into his jaw. He coughed out blood. I brought the axe to his neck then smiled, "Adios my friend!" Then sliced through his head clean. The king's head rolled on the ground. I bent down and held his head. It was as if I was holding smoke if that's possible. I held it up high then said, "Your king is dead! Retreat now! They won't have mercy if you don't!" The Shadows looked at their king's head then looked at each other.

They then started to take steps back then they broke into running. The lightstringers shouted and started celebrating while I just smiled at them. I saw Brian running to me and saying something I couldn't quite hear. I found the world spinning and going around in slow motion then I was met by the ground. "Alice!" shouted Brian as he sat next to me. "Hey! Hey! Come on! Try to heal yourself? Here! Linda is here with me. She can heal you!" Linda appeared in front of us then looked at me. She looked back at Brian then shook her head. "Linda! Do something!" he pleaded as Linda cried silently. "Brian? Brian? Look at me? This is my destiny. I was destined to die," I smiled as I ceased his cheek. Now the lightstringers started to form around me. Jade gasped as soon as she saw me then crumbled down next to Brian. "No! You are not!" he shouted. I coughed up blood then chuckled, "Yes! Yes I am! The yolimer's queen told me so. It's my destiny. To die to save my loved ones, to save the world."

"No! You won't die! I won't let you die!" he sobbed. "I'm sorry, I should've told you but I couldn't. I was afraid that you might blame yourself for what was to happen. I'm glad that I kissed you when I did," I joked. "About time!" said Jade as she half-smiled. "Yeah-. Sorry for keeping you waiting," I chuckled. "You're about to die and you're joking?" laughed Brian through his tears. "What do you want me to do? Cry? Already did that a lot." "I'm going to miss you," he smiled through his tears. "I'll miss you too. In fact, I'll miss you all," I smiled. I coughed some more blood then that was it. "Brian? I-," I said as I started to suffocate. "You what? Alice? Please don't do this to me!" "I-," I suffocated. "You?" he pleaded. I soothing sound calling out my name and I followed it. As I started to ascend to the calling, I looked down and saw Brian silently screaming and some lightstringers praying.

I continued following the voice and I found myself in a blemishing white space. "Where am I?" I asked as I looked around but everything was white. "Alice! My dear," said the sound behind me. I turned around and saw my parents. "Mum? Dad?" I asked as I looked at them. "Yes my dear," smiled mum. "Are you- are you real?" I asked as I took a step back. "Stop! You'll fall into the pit!" she warned. I turned around and saw I was on the edge of that place under it was an endless dark pit. "I-. Where am I?" I asked as I looked at them. "You're safe," smiled dad. "Yes, I know that. Where is that?" "Somewhere," assured mum. They tried to take a step forward but I shouted, "Stay where you are! Don't move! You're not real! This is not real!" Dad chuckled then said, "We are real dear." "No! I saw your dead body! I saw it! I saw yours too! You're fake! Both of you! Are you Shadows?! I swear I'll kill you if you are!" I shouted as I tried to weave the daggers. "Why- why isn't it working?!" I asked as I tried again.

"It won't work dear. Your purpose is done. No more lightstringing," assured dad. "What- are you saying," I choked up. "Welcome to the Light realm dear," smiled mum. "If I'm in the Light realm where's grandpa?!" "He's still alive? Lights don't come to the Light realm unless they're dead," said mum. "Scratch grandpa! Where's the queen?!" "She's with the gists," said dad. "Gists?" "They're a creature. They have an elongated head, two sunken sandy brown eyes, rabbit ears, no visible nose, and an indented jaw. They have a thin neck, its shoulders are spike-tipped, and two long, powerful arms. The Gist's arms are covered in fine fur, while the rest of its body is covered in patchy fur. The fur's colour is mottled brown," said mum. "What's their purpose?" "To punish the wrongdoers," he answered. I sunk to my knees, "Am I really dead?" "Well? I wouldn't call it dead," smiled a boy as he came behind mum and dad. Standing 4'2 tall, this dark skinned man.

He had a narrow face, a turned-up nose, full lips, and his marron eyes were large. He had a large burn mark on his right cheek. His blonde hair was very short, thick and was buzz cut. He had narrow shoulders, short arms, a thin torso with no muscle tone, a non-existent waist, and long legs. He wore sensible clothes that were white and modest. "Alexander?" I asked. "Nice to meet you Alice!" he smiled. "What- how? Why are you here?" I asked. "I was a pulight? Did you forget?" "No I didn't but? I-." "Don't worry. I'll answer all of questions. Just get away from the pit!" he warned. "What's so wrong about this pit that you don't want me near?!" "Nothing is wrong with the pit. Just get away from it!" "No!" "Fine! Stay where you are," he sighed. "How did you- die?" I asked. "I was burned by the king. You can see my face," he said as he pointed to mark. "I'm sorry." "It's okay. Thank the light he's dead now." "Yeah...," I sighed. I looked down the pit and heard Brian's voice calling out for me.

"Let's go dear!" said mum as shestarted to walk away. I looked at the pit then back at my family. "What aboutBrian?" I asked. "Your soulmate? What about him?" sighed dad. "He's callingme?" "So? Let's just go Alice!" said Alex. "Wait! The Lights shall then fallto the one that claims the hall! You- I. Mum? Dad? Alex? I'm sorry," I saidas I took a step back. "I'm sorry. He's my family now," I whispered. I fellinto the pit and started to descend quickly. I started to suffocate from thelack of air and started to find something to grab onto but I couldn't find any.I kept on descending until I fell onto something soft. I was scared to open myeyes but I had to. Reluctantly, I opened them and I found myself back in theroom where it all started. "Is this a dream?" I asked as looked around. I found the button on thenightstand, so I pressed it like I did the first time. Brian came rushing in,"Is she hyperv-. Alice?! You're- you're," he choked. "Alive? Awake? Well?" Ijoked. "I missed you!" he said as he hugged me. "I missed you too!" I smiled."What happened?" I asked. "The pixies' king and the yolimers' queen saw what potentialyou had so they asked the gists to bring you back!" he chimed. "So I'm alive?"I asked. "Pretty much!" he laughed. "Where are the rest?" "They're down. Infact? Let's go meet them!" "Let's go!" I smiled.