Bordering the hub of a thriving society towers an elaborate mechanism, designed to protect its people from the dangers out of range. One day, the Wall is breached, allowing the opposing forces to enter the town, only to leave it in ruins. But for ev...
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The sight of Felix's blood-stained coverage was enough to make Alvira hurl herself off the edge of the very same cliff. But she resisted with an intense amount of pressure, the murderous rage in his eyes reviving itself fresh in her mind, distracting her from the true complication. She didn't know what to do. Everything up until this point felt so natural, so easy. But now, things felt forced, almost anticipated, as if she was the victim in an endless game of mafia.
How could she live without her best friend; who, for the first time, created memories of elation that she could enjoy? Why was she so unfortunate to experience a third death? How could she be so nonchalant about such things? These questions bounced in her consciousness, riveting back and forth between strings of reality and dreams. Somewhere deep within, she took notice of a small spark that ignited inside her. She watched as it gradually grew bigger and bigger, leaving behind nothing but a trail of non-existent thoughts that belonged only to the heavens. She kept her focus on the flames, absorbing the abundance of heat, generating in the background. Alvira reached out and the second her intellect made contact, a tidal wave washed over her in the form of mental strength. With a vigorous push in the identical flow, she projected the energy outwards, towards her soul and her heart.
Suddenly, she felt good. More than good actually; she felt light. Her eyes opened to the unbelievable perception.
She was hovering nearly six feet above the surface, hands inclined south, Letha and her father's expressions too large for their faces. Alvira couldn't understand either; what was that mysterious fire in her head, and was it the reason why she was currently playing superhero?
"Alvira! What-...how are you..." Letha interrupted her theories, astonishment written in every word.
"I...don't know," she breathed. She set her gaze back to her notions, envisioning herself distinguishing the flames bits at a time, until she was back on the ground. How convenient. She could fly down there and see if Felix had a chance or if the virus had really consumed him. If things took a turn for the worst, she would set it aside and not attempt anymore.
She would have to surrender him in the most desperate way possible. And there was no time to waste.
"Letha, I have to go,"
"What?? Where? And are you not going to tell me what just happened?"
"I don't have time," Alvira urged. "I have to free Felix,"
"B-but he's...-"
"No, you saw what I can do. I have one last hope, and if that fails, I'll let him go." She paused for Letha's reaction, but nothing came.
"Right now, the only thing that matters is me getting down there to help him."
"Interesting," Letha's father remarked, scrutinizing Alvira like she was suddenly the most fascinating specimen on Earth.
"It seems your connection with that boy has earned you a new ability,"
"What? What does Felix have to do with anything?" Letha argued.
"Though, levitation is one completely arbitrary. I see no relevance to this scenario." he continued, scratching his chin.
"Says who?" his daughter barked. "We don't need your approval," He sighed.
"Please, you think that's what I'm here for? My extensive knowledge is vital in this situation." The silence that followed was crickets as the two teens swallowed the snarky comments forming on their tongue.
"And I agree with Alvina's decision. We may find out more about the boy and his condition,"
"Alvira," she corrected. Letha sighed, placing both hands on her friend's shoulders.
"Don't be gone too long; I know how hard this is for you,"
"You know, this might take me a while," Alvira struggled to get the words out. The roles reversed as they clasped hands.
"But that shouldn't stop you from saving those who are innocent." she said, trying to smile.
"Gather everyone beyond the walls and get them to safety in the Glade. Whatever happens with Felix is my problem, not theirs." Letha's nod showed forlorn at this request. With a quick hug, the girl and her father distanced themselves from her, holding their breaths. Alvira faced the ridge, the edges screaming for her name as it ran along deeper. But she broke away by bringing herself back to her mind. She searched each and every crevice for the same string of heat and found it tangled within her thoughts. Slowly unraveling it, she reached and tugged until the airy feeling reappeared.
Her feet were lifted off the ground. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets from all the strain. But she was able to do it. She trapped all her core energy and unleashed it through the tips of her fingers, propelling her off the overhang.
Taking care not to avert her focus, she managed to steer towards the ruined bodice. Alvira wanted to shut her eyes, but that would throw off her sense of direction, so instead she held in the urge to barf all over Felix's remains. She set herself down, far away enough so the stench didn't kill her right then and there. An inch at a time, she scooted closer, plugging her nose, forcing herself to peel back her eyelids.
How would she be able to heal Felix like this? She could barely stand there for five seconds without choking from the smell.
Throwing back her doubt, she squared herself. She had to do this.
At least for Felix.
Alvira was about to lean in and examine him when something scarlet ghosted through his shadow. Curious, she bent over and felt the tough, ancient material. When she flipped it over, she definitely wasn't expecting a demon face, complete with horns and fangs, to be carved on the juxtaposed side. She leaped back in flummox, tossing the wooden item in the process.
Her hand trembling, she pounced back and picked up the mask.
Maneuvered intricately, she immediately recognized it as an Oni Mask. Worn at festivals in Japan, Alvira wondered what it was doing here. She turned it over, expecting a flimsy string to be secured around the head, only to find a smudgy note scrawled hastily on the edges instead. It was faint, but she could make out the words.
A sharp gasp turned her situation into revelation as she dropped the mask and levitated once more. As she hurried away, the Oni Mask stayed unresponsive where Alvira left it, three words the cause of her sudden rush.
