Instant Freeze

Carchemish in the Courthouse

Returning to the Courthouse, Henry walked arm in arm with Katharine, listening to Marion and Miao discuss music while Zac watched Marion talk with a smile and Ku took a moment to stop and look through a store's window. Eventually, Miao turned to Katharine and exclaimed: "Katharine, you should have sung with us!"

"Oh, I don't know about that." Replied Katharine, an uncertain look upon her face. "The only songs I am good at singing are 'I Won't Dance', 'No Strings', 'Let's Face the Music and Dance' and 'They Can't Take That Away from Me', and 'No Strings' is the only one I wouldn't need a singing partner with."

Listening to this, Henry thought about how similar Katharine's case was to his own in regards to singing. Excluding "No Strings", Henry could indeed sing the songs that Katharine had mentioned, though he would need a partner, with additional songs he could sing including "I'd Rather Charleston", which would require a partner, and "Cheek to Cheek", the only song that he could sing that did not require a singing partner.

"I wouldn't mind singing with you, Katharine." Henry commented with a smile.

Katharine merely returned Henry's smile and for a moment the two ceased walking. They merely stood there, smiling at one another and staring into each other's eyes. For a moment Miao watched with a smile before turning away and continued walking with Marion and Zac, while Ku continued to look at the products behind the glass.

Alas, the sound of the flapping of wings soon filled the air. All six of the teens soon looked up and there, flying through the sky, thirty-five feet above them, was Carchemish, a wyvern with skin as black as night, glowing white eyes with no visible pupil or iris and a pair of horns pointing back on the head. Ten feet in height and at least fifteen feet in length, Carchemish was built like a bird and given some geese Henry had encountered, he'd say that Carchemish had an even worse temperament from what little times he had encountered the Resurrected Wyvern.

Terrified, Miao clasped her hands together and uttered: "Oh, Jesus Christ, hear my prayer. Please don't let Carchemish—"

Alas, whatever prayer Miao might have been making was all for naught. Carchemish immediately flew through the Courthouse's window and the sounds of screaming could be heard from within. Immediately, the six teens all ran towards the building and went straight in. They had to find their families! They had to know they were alright!

The sight that greeted them besides the fleeing people making their way from the Courthouse, was one they never would have imagined. There were three men armed with tommy guns and wearing blue sweaters, toques, jeans and black winter boots... Sweaters, toques and winter boots during the hottest summer on record? That was nothing short of odd.

Then the teens noticed the weapon that Ward was holding. Rather than a tommy gun, he was holding some sort of ray gun that was connected to what looked like an oxygen tank on the back of Ward's suit.

The moment Ward's henchmen opened fire on Carchemish, who was perched upon the balcony, the teens resumed searching for their families, pushing through the crowds, yet even then, Henry paused a moment to look at Carchemish, roaring more in annoyance than anger or pain and what Henry saw caused his eyes to widen. The bullets bounced off of Carchemish, causing sparks from the contact. That was impossible. Carchemish was a wyvern, which was a dragon, which was a reptile. Reptiles were not bullet proof, it wasn't like they had skin that was...

Metal... Carchemish's skin was metal... That was impossible, yet so was Carchemish. Skeletons did not regrow flesh and organs after sixty-eight years and yet Carchemish had, possibly resurrected by vengeful victims of the Sack of the Chateau de Leon and the equally vengeful raiders who lost their lives during the Battle of Actaea. There was nothing natural about Carchemish, so why should Henry have been surprised by if Carchemish's skin was not organic matter?