Betrayal Is My End

Chapter 7

Julia

Bodies were strewn everywhere, my hands were slick with blood, and my breathing came heavily. My back was arched as I tried to scrunch into myself to stop the awful pain. My head pounded, and felt like it would blow at any second. I whimpered softly trying to stop the overwhelming sensation, my eyes ached from the stress, and I felt sick. I could feel the spirits of the dead as they were around me. Their pain and worry added with their loss and confusion, and even their anger was all being thrown at me from all angles.
It was too much. I felt sick to my stomach, but forced myself to stay upright. I can't fail them, my mouth was dry as a bone and my eyes felt as though I was moving in slow motion. Everything was severely debilitating. Suddenly, the door burst open and Ash comes flying through. He's bloodstained just like we are only he has more dirt and rust mixed in on his body. He flew through on momentum alone and just as he hit the ground I could hear the grunt of pain leave his mouth.
His breath came out ragged and when his eyes opened, I saw they were dilated. The pupil was swallowing the color and his skin was ghostly pale. Oh god, no! I felt panic creeping up inside my body. My brain tried to process it but I couldn't, I felt sluggish and I couldn't move.
I felt fear rise up in me as I realized what was happening, he was dying. I took a deep breath trying to find the strength to center myself. I heard a chuckle and looked up to see that The Butcher was back. He leaned against the railing in front of him, his hands over the side dangling, and a smile plastered on his lips.
"Now, now, there's a lot of commotion happening down there, give up yet?" He asked in a mocking tone, his eyes radiated malice and hatred as he looked down at us, especially Kai.
When Kai didn't answer, I saw the younger boy shake his head, "well- remember I did give you the option to end this now." With that, he quickly flicked his wrist and smirked before turning on his heal. I frowned in confusion, not quite understanding what had happened.
That's when I heard it, the sudden thud of a blade hitting deep into something. After that, time moved even more slowly than it had been, if that was even possible. My heart raced, and everyone around me seemed to fly with great speed but- it was as if I was slow.
My body refused to react to what my eyes were seeing because the pain was so great, my brain couldn't process. I turned to look at Ash, who'd been coughing and trying to catch his breath from his descent through the building. It was clear there had been many more obstacles than we'd foreseen, not to mention the countless barrage of The Butcher's men. It was then I saw it. The hilt of a dagger in his chest. I sucked in my breath as I felt the dead consume me, my body felt as though it'd been hit with ice water. My blood froze in my veins, I could hear it beating in my ears.
I watched with wide, fearful eyes as Ash's eyes were wide, his face was even paler than it had been, and he clawed at his chest in shock. Faintly, I heard a scream tear through the room, it took me a moment to realize it was coming from me.
My feet were moving faster than I'd moved in the last five minutes, and suddenly I was beside him, holding his head in my lap. His eyes were wide and his breath was coming in shallow pants as his hands moved erratically at his sides, not sure what to do. "Hey, hey, it's ok. Shh I'm gonna fix this," I whispered to him, "Julia!" I heard my name ripped from Kai's lips and knew what he wanted.
I was already going to, though. Shut up and let me focus! I closed my eyes and focused on the spirit in front of me. It was a beautiful aquamarine color now, but it was battered up much like Davi's had been that day I did the demonstration.
My eyes were closed as I focused on Ash, I had to get him back. I held his spirit in my mind and felt as he came to me willingly, it was then I heard my name again. Only this time, it was filled with fear. I opened my eyes and as I focused I sucked in my breath, "no," I whispered.
The bodies around me were rising up now, their spirits being returned. I turned to Kai and saw something that looked like fear in his eyes, he blinked and in an instant it was gone. I breathed out slowly, effectively dropping the spirits and heard Ash grunt in pain.
"Shit, sorry! I'm gonna fix this," I looked around fearfully for someone's help but all I got was a man lunging at me to attack me. I growled and didn't even hesitate, I lashed out with my power effectively destroying his spirit. My breath came heavily as well now, after overexerting myself.
I turned back to Ash and focused on him again, I was not going to give up. The sounds of fighting resumed around the room- around us- and I knew the others had given me a protective ring. I forced myself to be calm, "ok, it's ok, we can do this." I said panic lacing my voice, it was becoming harder and harder to stay calm. A ghost of a smile trailed on his lips and in his eyes I saw an unfocused energy that made me nervous. Once again, I reached for my power, I felt it swirl up and around me, coating me, and I focused on Ash.
His spirit was even more battered now and it was clear if I don't get him now I'd lose him. I heard someone laughing, I turned slowly and saw The Butcher was back on the stairs, his eyes were gleaming at us now as the room swelled around us. Very faintly, I heard him say "an eye for an eye. My debt to you is paid, I look forward to seeing you later."
I couldn't focus on him though, I had to focus on Ash. I forced through the barrier that was there and saw his eyes flutter open, his breathing was labored now. I held his spirit in my mind and slowly, I moved it towards him, encasing it in a safe embrace. I felt someone tugging at me but ignored it, I had to get Ash. That was the whole point of me being here, to save them- if I couldn't do this I was useless. "Julia!" I heard my name called but, again, I ignored it.
Why can't they leave me alone? I'm doing the job they hired me to, let me do this Kai! I heard grunting and felt as though something was pushing back against me. It was strange, I'd never felt a spirit like this, damn it Ash, I said gritting my teeth, let me help you!
I rushed forward then and that's when I felt it, like a cord that had been wound too tightly and finally just let go. The repercussions were instant, I felt my mind shattering and the spirit I'd been holding slip through my fingers, "no!" I screamed and it came out as an animalistic snarl.
My mind flipped and I heard a ringing in my ears before I was enveloped in darkness. It was consuming and I felt sick. My body ached and my mind raced, there was almost like a scratching in my brain now and it was insistent.
I raised my hands to ward off the scratching to find I couldn't, I whimpered lowly and that's when I felt hands on me. The searing pain they brought was overwhelming and I knew I'd lost. I'd failed my comrades, my friends, this was my punishment. I did the only thing I knew I could, I screamed.