The City of Darkness

XVIII: Standoff!/Recovery!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a blend of the original Chapter XVIII and XIX, put into one chapter for the sake of the chapter's depth. This is why this chapter has two names. Back to the story..

"COWARD!!!" Leah shouted. Who was going to die first; Sky, Shard, or Alice II? Pierce stood there in rage, until a plan formed in her head. Just enough time, and she could rescue them.

"Well," said Grafl. "I guess you'll let Alice II go now?"

"Y'know.." Leah said. "For an alternate Shard, he's pretty smart."

"Yeah. Not like our Shard. He's not as intelligent as Grafl." Sky said.

"I'M STANDING RIGHT HERE!" Shard said. Sky, Leah, and Alice II laughed.

"Quiet, you embarrassment." Grafl said as he hit Shard with the point of his gun. "Ugh, I should kill you now, but I won't, because of Alice II. It became a tense standoff, until the sands around Grafl began to sink. It was Pierce!

"Come on!" Pierce shouted. Sky ran away from Grafl, who was sinking in the quicksand. She looked back.

"Shard! Come on!" She said. Shard finally got his leg out of the sand, and Grafl was pissed.

"If I die....I'M TAKING MYSELF WITH ME!!!!" Grafl grabbed Shard's leg and shot him. Point blank. Shard fell backward and on his back in the sand.

"S-SHARD!!!!!!!" Sky screamed. She ran over to him. Pierce and Leah followed. At this point, Leah couldn't care less about Alice II, because her brother just got shot in the head. Sky held onto Shard and realized something.

He was still breathing.

Meanwhile, Alice II finally got out the rubble and ran over to Grafl. "Hang on!" She said. "I'll pull you out!" Another shot went off, this one pointed at her. "What the hell? Grafl?! What was that for?"

"W-Worthless...." Grafl said. "Just....worthless. You let them win and take you captive at one point. You're not strong enough to be with us. Scarlet will be disappointed. Bye, Alice II." Grafl gathered all his strength and shot out the quicksand, and into the minimal remains of the portal.

Once he went through, the portal was fully destroyed. "Wait! Grafl, get back here! NOO!! GRAFL...YOU FUCK! YOU JERK! NOOOOOO!!!!" Alice II broke into tears and punched the sand. "You...will....pay....for this.." Alice II's vision turned dark. She started to pass out. "Pay...."

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"Uuhh..."Alice II moaned and woke up in a room. She looked out the window from her bed to see the beach that she fought on a few days ago. She had a medicine taste in her mouth and bandages on one of her arms and her cheek.

The door opened, and Sky came in with Shard. Shard had the most bandages, and had to use crutches. The two of them sat in the chairs next to the bed. "Shard.." Sky said. "...wanted to make sure you were okay. We wanted to leave you there, but he insisted. He saw good in you, even if the rest of us didn't. Alice II looked at Shard, who was already asleep."

"Asleep already?" Alice II giggled.

"You get used to it." The girls smiled.

"Thank you..after all I did. I didn't think that you would do this. I am truly grateful." She was telling the truth, and Sky knew. She knew that maybe, the good in her finally came out.

"That said.." She continued as she summoned her scythe. Sky clenched her fists. If she thinks about getting to Shard.... "I need your help." Alice II looked at her scythe. "Grafl..must pay." Sky unclenched her fists. She wasn't being evil, she just wanted revenge. After all, she' just a little girl.

"I'll see what everyone else wants to do." Sky said.

"Thank you....and thank you, brother." Alice II kissed his cheek, and Sky thought that things might get a bit more peaceful around here. Sky went into the room Leah and Pieece were in and explained the situation.

"She was just a mislead girl, is all." Sky said.

"Sounds like fun. I'm game." Leah sat on her bed and looked at her laptop for anything on Ather. She received the least amount of wounds.

"Please, Pierce?"

"Fffffine." Pierce said. "If you trust her..."

"So the five of us! Awesome! Lets leave in a month, so we can heal, recover, and prepare for this long journey!"

And with that, the first battle of many concludes, as a new chapter begins in our heroes' cause to save the world.

Next time: An all new problem!!