Beyond the Rift ✔ (Completed)

Chapter 33: Fire on fire

Blood surges my ears. I pull my body back, as Ethan's blazing silver blade swings through the air. It sways like a master-chef slicing a fruit in mid-air. Breathless, I dodge his brutal attack. I would almost be cut in half if I hadn't reel myself in.

My blood boils like lava, air in my lungs thins. I groan, as my headache commences. Remember the feeling, when a piece of chalk scraps the surface of the black board? Just this time, it is the inside of my skull that is being scraped.

My head feels like it's being barbequed. I grit my teeth in distress. But, the pain doesn't intensify until I spot Ethan's dagger slicing through the empty air. It looms rapidly. Flaming hot.

My heart leaps in my chest. I was about to freeze in spot, regardless, a strange intuition overcomes me. This is going to happen someday in the near future, when a blade or a bullet would just pass through my heart; piercing my chest and gushing the blood as well as the life out of me. My life is destined to end brutally; maybe today's the day, or not!. Future may or may not be in my hands, regardless, I'm the only one who influences my present. And, I won't be weak ever again!

It doesn't matter if I am fighting Ethan; I had to prove my strength. I dunk down and avoid the sharp blade from cutting me in half. My flames augment and I send a fire ball in the dagger's path. The hot-auburn ball flicks the silver twelve-inch blades out of sight and into a dense bush. The fire dies down and so does Ethan's confidence.

The expressions on his face change at the realization that he has been disarmed and is practically at half power. Those daggers are a part of him, I have rarely seen him without them. His eyes sparkle with resentment, his nostrils flare. I can imagine his ego crumbling at my charged-up sight.

With hazels consumed in flames and fists radiating heat, he steams in my direction. The flames at his palm morphs into a large blazing sword of smoldering fire. I realize his motive and stay rigid in my spot.

Just when he is in proximity, I draw out my fire shield and place it before me. The sword clashes the shield with a bang. Sparks fly in all directions. A beam of light as bright as the sun generates at the point of contact.

My brown hair tousles in the wind, almost giving me a wild look, like the fierce energy coursing in my veins.

The red flames around my wrist kindles. Ethan's face is too close to mine. The only thing between us is the fire shield. Although, I can taste the spleen anger welling up in his chest; the fury stirring in him. His jaw locks tightly as he tries to wrestle his sword at me. Moreover, my fire shield doesn't waver. It stays firm against the blade, sturdy and secured.

I feel his acceleration coercing; eyes ablaze like a feral forest fire; devouring every life in its path.

"Ethan! Guys! Stop it!" Marty's words fall on deaf ears. None of us flinch. Our heads high and hearts racing. Blood aggressively pulsating in our veins. I glimpse a single red drop drip from Ethan's left nostril. Is he bleeding? What is happening to him? His eyes are turning red as the fire, his jaw clenching forcefully.

I start to break sweat as my command over the essence begins to turn wobbly. My defensive arm strains, a few cracks form at the point of contact on the shield.

A pang of fear hits me, if the shield destabilizes, we might both get blown away by the intensity. One of us has to break-off the link. Knowing Ethan like I do, he will go on until we both are dead.

Balling my fist, I swirl in spot.

Instantly, Ethan's force diverts and he stumbles ahead, falling onto the grass. In a blink of an eye, I disintegrate my shield and produce the fire sword.