Wings of Fire; The Assassin

Chapter 20

Bubble left the room with Boris and they split up to go throughout the school. Bubble was walking down one of the halls slowly, as he began to feel dread seep into him.

What am I doing? This is crazy! Trying to FIND a KILLER! I'm so stupid! Watch as I get myself killed. Or my FRIENDS KILLED! EVERYONE KILLED! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!

Bubble was starting to have a panic attack, as he started to hyperventilate, shake uncontrollably, and tears started to well up in his eyes as he imagined his parents looking out into the horizon, thinking about their son, and wondered if he would ever be able to see them again. He imagined his friends' limp, blood-splattered bodies lying in front of him.

Bubble just sat down where he was and cried. He felt more alone than ever and wished he could hide in the deepest underwater trench, slowly disappearing from existence and all the worries he had, or stay there until the world ended. While he was in the depths of his despair, he failed to hear another dragon coming down the corridor.

"Bubble!" The dragon yelped with worry in their voice.

Bubble looked up and saw a sapphire blue figure running toward him, and he immediately knew it was Spray. He has learned to be able to quickly point out his friend in a crowd, so it was even easier to know it was her when she is the only one there.

He just looked back at the floor and closed his eyes, letting the tears roll down his cheek. Spray rushed to his side and brushed wings with him. She sat there next to him as he let out his tears, and waited for when he was ready.

"H-H-Hi Spr-Spray," Bubble said between hiccups and silent sobs. He tried to gather himself together, as his panic started to die down and he attempted to get up on his feet, but failed and landed back on the cold stone floor.

"What's wrong?" Spray asked as she helped Bubble up. He sat back down on the ground, not having enough strength to stand up.

"I feel like my friends are in grave danger, and I can't do anything to help them. I'm scared that I'm going to lose everything," Bubble said quietly.

"What do you mean? Bubble... how is everyone in danger?" Spray asked cautiously.

Bubble looked up at Spray's face in despair, knowing that if he told her, she would try to get involved, which would put her in danger.

He knew very well that Spray is not the kind to stay out of something. She has gotten in trouble with teachers back at home for not knowing when to stop doing something or sticking her "little SeaWing snout" into other dragons' business. He did not want to pull her into this absolute, one hundred percent deadly investigation. He didn't exactly want to bring his clawmates into this either, but he could not solve this without them.

"I'm not allowed to say," Bubble whispered softly, trying to entirely avoid the question. Spray looked slightly hurt by him not trusting her with the information. She will understand one day. Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.

Bubble looked away from her, not wanting to see her hurt face. He instead looked at the stone floor, looking intently at each individual crack and crevice. Each little stone and pebble.

Bubble never felt like stone. Diamondback may have. Maybe Boris, but Bubble... no. He was not strong and unmoving. He was weak, timid, and always tried to hide in the background. It worked for him. He always got the attention he needed from his parents and had a low-stress life that allowed him to be able to be himself without being judged.

He was more like a piece of dead coral. Just sitting there, holding on by the tips of his claws in order not to drift away, snap, or fall over. He was at the mercy of his environment, and it did not have any on him.

He took a quick second to contain himself, trying to anchor his emotions so they didn't drift everywhere like driftwood floating alone in the middle of a vast ocean. He took deep breaths, in and out. In and out. He focused on his breath, and imagined a calm beach, with the lapping waves, and the small critters scurrying all over the sand. With each wave, he felt a little bit calmer. After a few seconds, he was calm enough to start doing something. He opened his eyes, took one deep breath, and stood back up on his own four talons. Spray looked at him, still with a glimmer in her eye coming from the tears that were still in her eyes.

He took a small step toward her, and she flinched backward slightly. Bubble felt his fragile, tender heart split. He did this. He is the one who hurt his friend.

He walked up to her a little faster so she didn't have a chance to escape from him. He quickly wrapped his wings around her, so they were in their own little space, away from the world. He could see the terror in her eyes, and tears running down her cheeks. He placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

"I thought you needed this," Bubble whispered to her. He dried off her cheeks with his talons. He didn't want his friend hurt, especially if it was his fault.

Spray nodded softly, "I did, Bubble. I did."

Bubble released Spray, who was now calm. He could tell she was still hurt, but he knew that she was strong and brave.

They started to walk down the hall in awkward silence, and Bubble collected himself more and started to speak with more clearness. They passed by the library which gave Bubble an idea on how to get more information on Alpine, but first, he needed to keep Spray safe.

Bubble started to lead them closer and closer to the Great Hall, where they could fly out of the mountain.

When they finally arrived at the main entrance, they stopped and Bubble turned to look Spray in the eyes.

"Spray," Bubble said feeling tense, "I... I need you to go home."

Silence.

The look of despair and disbelief on Spray's face was too much for him to handle so he looked away, trying not to break down crying again.

"Bubble! B-B-But WHY?" Spray cried. Her eyes started to water and got all foggy, but Bubble continued.

"It is not safe here, and I don't want my best friend getting hurt. If you died..." Bubble let out a cry of despair, just thinking about it, "If you died, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I need you to leave so you don't get hurt. Please do it. As your best friend, I am begging."

"I'm starting to wonder if I really am your best friend."

The pain of hearing that hurt more than any stab wound or missing limb would ever hurt him.

Spray ran out of the school crying and started to fly away, toward the rainforest and the small SeaWing village that was set up below it. Bubble knew that Spray would be safe now, but he couldn't help feeling like he did the wrong thing.