Eternal Winter

Halting Impression: Part V

(Warning: Depictions of violence and death)

A throaty chuckle morphed into a growl, "It'll take more than two of you. We've been in this business for months, now."

I bared my teeth. "You just hadn't met us," I hissed.

The tip of the sword lowered even further, pressing into the folds of my cloak just above my heart. "You or not, each one before fell to their own faults."

The narrowed and dark eyes were focused in on me, alone. They did not see the two boots that swung for them until they were too close. His head could not pull away fast enough, and it snapped to the side abruptly. The bandit staggered back, away from me, with one hand held up to his face.

Julian landed in the vacated spot, and said, "Then, it is good we are not two," just as the faint rolling of a carriage door sounded. I glanced back the way we had come—Sammy was hurrying down tight walkway with Michaela just behind.

My eyes back up front, the bandit's hand had pulled away from his face—now, red and grimy. Julian's posture was stiff as he drew his dagger from his waist. His attention flicked down to the sword still brandished in the bandit's wavering hand. I felt Sammy's warmth hit me just as the bandit lifted the tip of the sword, ready to parry against Julian—who had stepped forward, meeting the sword in a wide arc.

Thus ended the standoff, and the engine room was filled with sporadic clangs as sword and dagger danced.

"Where do you need us?" Michaela asked breathily, reaching one hand down to me.

I grasped hold and stood, looking beyond the duel to the rest of the engine. Only one other person was there—one other body—slumped in a seat to the side, with tacky blood covering the uniform coat front. A dull blade had fallen to the floor beside their limp hand. On the opposite side sputtered a furnace, or what looked to be, as fire embers crackled hot within. They were growing weaker with each passing minute, though. Set into the furnace was a grated door, loosely shut, where the fuel chute ended just before.

"We need to keep the engine from stopping," I declared. A took a step back as the blades swung too close, nearly catching me. "How can we?" I hurriedly asked.

"This is more a Divider's field of knowledge," Michaela exclaimed, taking me by the shoulders and pulling me even farther back. "I don't—I'm not sure what to do."

"Is there anything we can try?" I stressed, feeling the tunneled air brush against my cheeks as I moved onto the walkway. "I saw the furnace burning, will fire help?"

"No!" Sammy cried, latching onto my wrist before I could take a step. "No, no, don't do that. It's not straight fire, it's combustion of fuel—only Dividers can release the energy safely. If you use fire, it will explode."

I felt my mouth round off into an oh, but nothing came from me. Michaela's voice cut through, "What—?! No, STOP!"

I whirled around, catching the back of her as she lunged for the carriage—the carriage where a hooded bandit leaned heavily against the open door. A shadowed grimace broke on their face as they brandished a staff in one chaffed and bleeding hand. The staff whipped across the space between the carriages before Michaela was even in arms reach.

For a moment, a heavy stillness pressed in, trapped by the rush of the brightening tunnel around us. And then, a high squeal broke as the carriage began to drift away. The gap widening too quickly. Without a second thought, I slipped passed the stunned Michaela and launched myself forward.