THE SEVEN

pt.7

The scene was calm as the sounds of nature peacefully echoed throughout the scenery. The waters surface near the waterfall was still, with just the small ripples coming out from where the water from above poured into the lake. The surrounding area was a beautiful field. Full of various plants and a number of animals just living their lives as wild life does. It was quite the scene. As if it was taken right out of a painting or a fairy tale. The stillness of the area was broken as something suddenly emerged from under the water with a loud splash. It was Gabrielle. She gasped for air as she got her barrings, coughing up a bit of water.

GABRIELLE
(Gasping) That was a rough landing. Good thing this water isn't shallow Xena.

Gabrielle didn't hear Xena respond as she caught her breath.

GABRIELLE
Xena?

Gabrielle looked around her but didn't see Xena. Then she realized that Xena must've still been under water with Sloth. The urgency of the situation quickly hit her. Gabrielle took a deep breath as she dove under to find Xena. She looked around until she found her. There at the bottom of the lake still tangled together in the rope was Xena and the Sloth demon. Gabrielle noticed that other than the slight floating due to the water, neither of them were moving.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Xena!

Gabrielle quickly swam down to her. She began trying to pull Xena free, but couldn't. She then pulled at the rope, trying to get Xena loose. But the rope was so tightly wrapped around them she couldn't get it to budge at all. And she couldn't pull both Xena and Sloth up. Gabrielle had to get Xena untangled from the rope that bound her to the demon. And she needed to do it soon. But she was running out of air, so Gabrielle was forced to resurface to catch her breath.

GABRIELLE
Hold on Xena.

Gabrielle took another deep inhale and dove back down to Xena. She grabbed hold of the rope trying to find a way to free Xena. Then she saw Xena's chakrum that was hooked on her waist. Gabrielle grabbed it and began using it to cut away at the rope. Within moments the rope gave and Xena was untethered from from the Sloth demon. Who along with Xena hadn't shown any signs of life the whole time that Gabrielle was working on freeing Xena. Gabrielle wasted no time as she swam with Xena back to the waters surface.

GABRIELLE
Xena?

Xena didn't respond. Gabrielle held on to her as she swam the both of them to shore. She pulled the seemingly lifeless Xena onto dry land. She could see that Xena wasn't breathing.

GABRIELLE
No,

Gabrielle quickly prepared to start cpr, when Xena suddenly coughed up water and took a deep inhale. Gabrielle gave a sigh of relief.

GABRIELLE
Xena.

Xena rolled over as she spit up the rest of the water and caught her breath. Then she sat there and looked at Gabrielle who kneeling beside her.

GABRIELLE
You okay?

XENA
Think so. Thanks.

Gabrielle smiled. Then Xena realized that she didn't see Sloth around.

XENA
Where's the demon?

Gabrielle looked at the water.

GABRIELLE
I don't think we're gonna have to worry about him anymore.

Xena got what she meant. The demon Sloth was dead. He had drowned under the water.

GABRIELLE
Well that's one demon down.

XENA
And six to go.

Xena and Gabrielle sat there for a bit as they tried to rest and recover a little from what just happened. But that plan was short lived when they heard screaming off in the distance.

GABRIELLE
What was that?

XENA
Trouble.

Though hurting, Xena stood up and looked in the direction that the screams were coming from. Gabrielle got up too.

GABRIELLE
I really hope that's not another sin demon already.

XENA
(Sarcasm) Knowing our luck it'll be two.

GABRIELLE
I really hope that was a joke.

Xena and Gabrielle ran off towards the sounds of people in danger. Unsure of what they would find next. They made it to the town that the screams were coming from. As they entered Xena and Gabrielle saw a horrible scene. There was no doubt that this was caused by one of the Sin Demons.

GABRIELLE
This is horrible. Look at what they're doing to these people.

Xena and Gabrielle looked out at the town in total chaos. The residents of the town had turned on each other. There was arguing. Fights all over. People running through the streets carrying whatever they could. Even the children there seemed to be under the effects of the demons influence. Xena and Gabrielle knew that they needed to find this demon soon and break it's control over the people living there. Before the whole town destroyed itself.

TO BE CONTINUED...