THE SEVEN

pt.23

Gabrielle opened her eyes. She layed there for a moment as her still hazy mind tried to figure out what happened. She slowly sat up.

GABRIELLE
Aa my head.

She held her hand on her aching head as she looked around at her surroundings. Everything was dark. She looked up, seeing the full moon hanging in the sky.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Night time? How long was I out? What on earth happened? And where's.... Xena!

Suddenly everything came back to her. Gabrielle stood up as quickly as she could. Though she was a little off balance still from the blow to the head she suffered at the hands of the Wrath controlled Xena that had rendered her unconscious.

GABRIELLE
She really got me good. I need to find her before she hurts anymore people or worse.

Gabrielle walked out of the alley. When she did she saw that the city had been all but destroyed.

GABRIELLE
No, Xena....

Gabrielle hoped that her suspicions were wrong. That Xena wasn't the cause of this destruction.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking  to  herself) No this could've been done by anyone. Even if she is being controlled Xena wouldn't do this.

As much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, deep down Gabrielle knew that Xena was capable of doing that. After all she was fully aware of Xena's dark and bloody past. This demon had reawakened that part of her that had been long dead. Though even then Xena had goals and lines that she wouldn't cross. But now all she would want was to act on the wrath and rage that she was feeling. No one would be safe until either the demon or Xena herself was stopped. Gabrielle noticed that the people she saw still around appeared to be acting normal. After making sure, she concluded that the demon must've moved on from the city too. But why? The city was practically in ruins, so maybe it achieved what it wanted. Or perhaps it's goal was to take control over enough people and once it did the demon left with them. Either way neither Wrath or Xena were there anymore.  So Gabrielle set out to find them. Certain that if she found one, the other most likely wouldn't be far. She just hoped that she found them soon. Before more people were hurt or killed. Gabrielle traveled for days, searching for Xena and the demon Wrath. She very quickly was able to find a trail of destruction to left behind by Xena. Gabrielle didn't really want to call it luck. But it did give her something that could help her track them down. So she continued on. One night Gabrielle stood on a cliff that overlooked a large valley. She looked up at the night sky.

GABRIELLE
Wherever you are Xena, I'll find you. I'll free you from that monsters hold. I promise.

As Gabrielle looked out at the landscape before her, she noticed a light go up in the distance. She focused her gaze, trying to see what it was. After a bit she noticed that the light seemed to be getting bigger. Then she realized that it was a fire. She knew it was too big for it to be a campfire. Sensing that there was trouble, Gabrielle raced towards the distant flames. As she got closer she could hear people's screams and cries for help. She changed in towards the chaos. Finally she made it to the burning village. She began helping the villagers escape. Gabrielle lead a number of them to safety. As she was helping more people get away, she heard a loud screeching like roar. She turned around to see a large shadowy figure in front of the flames in the distance. She couldn't make out exactly what it was at first. Due to it moving. But once it stood still for a moment Gabrielle could tell from the shape that it wasn't human. And then she knew that she had finally found what she was looking for.

GABRIELLE
Wrath.

It hadn't noticed her. Gabrielle ran right for the demon. Before Gabrielle could get to it, Wrath looked off at something in distance and took off running. Gabrielle stopped as she wondered why the demon ran. Had it seen her? Did it know it had been spotted and took off.  Then Gabrielle heard another noise. But this time she knew exactly what it was. She turned around and there in the midst of a fight she saw her.

GABRIELLE
Xena...

Gabrielle ran over to Xena. Who was still under Wrath's control. She was going after the villagers and seemingly enjoying it. Xena had one of them cornered and was poised to go in for the kill. As she brought down her sword Gabrielle managed to get between them and block the hit.

XENA
What are you doing here?!

Gabrielle pushed her back.

GABRIELLE
Saving you.

The Wrath controlled Xena sneered at her.

XENA
Look around you Gabrielle. Does it look like I need saving?

GABRIELLE
Everything around here only proves that you do. This isn't you Xena. You're being manipulated by that demon. You have to fight it.

XENA
Well did you ever stop to think that maybe I like being this way?

GABRIELLE
I know for a fact that's not true. All the time I've known you, you've been doing everything you can to make up for doing things like this.  You're not this person Xena.

XENA
You keep saying that and yet here we are.

Xena pointed her sword at Gabrielle.

XENA
Now drop it and walk away before you really make me mad.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) It's no use. Until Wrath is gone, Xena's gonna be stuck like this.

Reluctantly Gabrielle turned and walked away. Unfortunately there wasn't much she could do about Xena at the moment. While fighting Xena might temporarily stop her, it wouldn't solve the actual problem. Gabrielle needed to find the demon. Once it was defeated that would free Xena. Luckily she knew that it couldn't be far.
Gabrielle looked for Wrath in the burning village. As she searched Gabrielle heard what sounded like someone yelling. It sounded like they were begging someone for mercy. Gabrielle ran towards the voice. She turned a corner and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw it. The terrifying looking creature towering over a horrified villager. Gabrielle had at long last found Wrath. It was about to grab the villager, when Gabrielle yelled out to get the demons attention.

GABRIELLE
Hey why don't you pick on someone who can fight back.

Wrath snarled as it turned towards Gabrielle.

WRATH
You. You're the other human whose been getting in our way. Good I can take care of the both of you now.

GABRIELLE
You monster. I'll make sure you pay for what you've done to all the people you've made suffer.

WRATH
It's gonna be hard to do that when you're dead.

Gabrielle drew her sais.

GABRIELLE
Not if I kill you first.

WRATH
You talk big for someone that's outnumbered.

GABRIELLE
What?

Then Gabrielle saw Xena walk out from behind the demon. Still under it's spell. Wrath and Xena stood before Gabrielle.

WRATH
This time we finish the job. You understand me?

XENA
Yes. This time I'll kill her.

TO BE CONTINUED...