When Death Comes to Visit |ONC 2021

Giorgio - Oblivion

We ran through the dark and barren land, bypassing the no man's land between fields. By Isabella's account, we were halfway to the fields of punishment when a fury caught wind of us. Her angry screech echoing in the already scary place sent my arms pumping faster than they ever had, the backpack behind me thumped on my back rhythmically; a reminder of who sent me here in the first place.

My worst fear was coming to light as I frantically scanned ahead for anywhere to hide, to my utter dismay there was none. Instinct had me ducking low just as the fury's wings brushed past, her claws extended. She'd missed me by a hair's breadth. I stopped at the sight before me as the fury swooped in an arch as she turned around to face us. Gone was the old lady with a whip now replaced by a woman with bat-like leathery wings, wrinkled skin and clawed feet. Her soulless black eyes bore into mine as she let out a loud screech, baring her pointy teeth at me.

The fury dove for me, slicing through the air between us like butter, she was almost upon me when a sword whizzed past me and wedged itself right in the middle of her chest. The fury went down, careening towards the ground and landing with a big thud. Isabella brushed past me, running to the injured fury, another long sword held in her hand. Too stunned to ask questions, I watched as she nudged the fury with her foot, it did not move.

Satisfied it wasn't about to spring up and claw its way through us Isabella dropped the sword she was holding and pulled on the hilt of the one embedded into the fury. Her muscles strained and bulged as she tugged but the sword wasn't about to give up its new spot easily.

"A little help would be nice," she hissed through gritted teeth.

I sprang into action, my hands wrapping around the hilt below hers and my feet firmly planted to the ground as I braced myself.

"Ready?"

She only nodded in response.

I tensed pulling on the cold hilt of the sword at the same time she did and the sword slid free from the fury. We both stumbled back a step from the momentum of our strength but remained upright. The sword length was covered in black sticky goo, the blood of a fury, Isabella tugged on it slightly and I relinquished my hold.

From that small purse of hers, she pulled out a black T-shirt and wiped away the black goo. Seeing that purse both answered my question about where she got the sword but also raised many more. Exactly how many deadly items did she have in there?

When the sword was wiped clean she handed it to me, hilt first.

"I think you're going to need this from now on."

I tentatively took it from her grasp, "I don't know how to use this,"

She smirked at me, "It's easy, just swing it in the direction of our enemies."

I baulked at the thought of coming into contact with another fury but kept that to myself. Isabella was turning out to be more of a warrior than I could've ever dreamt of being. I was glad to have her by my side, watching my back. I'd be dead ten times over by now if she hadn't been here with me.

"Come on busboy," she muttered, "We've got a portal to open." 

She'd kindly forgotten to mention that the other furies might be headed our way, probably because of the expression on my face the whole time I stared down at the dead fury. 

As we closed in on the field of punishment I couldn't help but stare at the girl in front of me. Just exactly who was she? She reminded me a bit like Wonder Woman, the one from the comic books that is. I had the whole collection, I always admired extraordinary women. I think that was a thing I got from my mother. She was incredible, always there to care for me when I needed it and even when I didn't.  Not that Isabella reminded me of my mum, she was just strong in every way that counted.