Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 133 | A Dance Of Death

Eko's fingers clawed at the grass, the damp earth slipping under her nails as she fought to draw in a breath. Each gasp felt like fire in her lungs, every heartbeat a painful drum in her chest. A high-pitched ringing filled her ears, blotting out all other sounds, turning the world into a whirl of white noise and flashing lights. Strong arms suddenly yanked her up, dragging her forward. Her feet stumbled to keep up, her vision swimming in and out of focus. She heard the distant echo of screams, the roar of flames, the crash of structures collapsing all around her.

"Everyone, MOVE!" Toni's voice tore through the chaos, raw and urgent. Eko felt the rough scrape of soot and debris against her skin, her face stinging where blood trickled down from a cut on her forehead. She glanced up, spotting Toni's wild eyes as he scanned their surroundings, his face streaked with grime and desperation.

Figures darted past them, silhouettes of people running, shadows against the backdrop of fire. Panic spread like a contagion. The sky was dark, smoke swirling thick and black, choking the air. The ferris wheel was an inferno, flames climbing its metal frame, casting flickering shadows over the carnage below. Ash fell like snow, coating everything in a fine, gray dust. The once-bright carnival now looked like the mouth of hell itself.

"M-Maddy?" Eko's voice cracked, barely a whisper in the midst of the chaos. Toni's grip tightened on her wrist, nearly dragging her along as he pushed through the fleeing crowd.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S DONE, BUT XERO IS HERE!" Toni shouted, his voice edged with terror. His head whipped from side to side, eyes wide as he searched for a way out, his breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps. His words slammed into Eko like a blow, her mind struggling to comprehend. Xero—Madison—everything was spiraling out of control.

Another explosion rocked the ground beneath them, the shockwave sending people sprawling. Eko stumbled, but Toni's grip kept her upright. Flames licked at the stalls around them, the heat so intense it felt like it was peeling the skin from her bones. Smoke stung her eyes, each breath a struggle against the choking, acrid air. She coughed violently, the taste of ash bitter on her tongue.

Her senses began to sharpen, adrenaline cutting through the fog of pain and confusion. They pushed forward, weaving through the chaos, dodging falling debris and bodies. Every step was a battle against the tide of panicked civilians, against the terror clawing at Eko's insides. The world was unraveling around them, but she forced herself to keep moving, to press on.

They passed scenes of horror—desperate battles between soldiers and the marauding monsters that had emerged from the chaos. Youmas towered over the defenders, their grotesque forms wreathed in firelight, claws slashing and fangs gleaming. Screams filled the air, human and inhuman, blending into a symphony of terror and pain.

Eko gasped for breath, a sharp pain in her chest suggesting a possible broken rib or worse. She forced herself to focus, her vision clearing just enough to find Toni's eyes. He raised his hand, summoning a surge of energy that blasted the monsters advancing on them. The creatures screeched in agony, their bodies convulsing as the energy seared through them, sending them collapsing to the ground.

"Wh-where's Maddy?" Eko's voice came out strained and weak, barely audible over the din of battle. Her gaze darted across the chaos, searching for any sign of her cousin amid the devastation.

"Matthew went after her," Toni snapped, his eyes darting around for more threats. "He told me to get to you." He shoved Eko into a small clearing, the smoke and haze thickening, swallowing the sounds of battle.

Catching her breath, Eko stepped away from Toni, tears blurring her vision as she took in the devastation Madison had caused. She ran her hands through her hair, feeling the weight of the chaos and the screams that filled the air. Smoke choked the atmosphere, making it hard to breathe, and the acrid stench of burning wood and flesh clawed at her throat, turning her stomach.