Cold Heart

Chapter 02

5000 BC
Mesopotamia

A blaring alarm woke me from my slumber, an icy breath of air puffing from my lips with a sigh as I sat up, swinging my legs around in front of me. My eyes went cold, mouth grumbling while my body carried me down the hallway.

"What's going on?" Druig wondered cluelessly, standing in the hallway on his way back to his room after getting his usual midnight snack.

"Deviants" I stated simply, clear annoyance in my tone. The alarm had only gone off in the fighters rooms, allowing the thinkers to rest their minds while we felt with the attack.

"Shouldn't you—" He gestured towards my pyjamas that rested comfortably against my body.

"Nope, this'll be quick" I kept marching forward, leaving the other fighters to catch up with me on the battlefield.

"Slow down, Isla!" Ikaris shouted after me as he entered the hallway, seeing me exit the Domo. Druig watched with a glare as Ikaris chased after me to give me some backup.

A blast of ice shot out of my hand as the Deviant roared out in pain at the unexpected attack. The Deviant turned towards me as I faced it down, Ikaris behind me voicing his concern for me to move out of the way. Another loud roar was heard from the Deviant, staring into me as I stood my ground. I shouted back at it, Ikaris jumping, startled by my sudden shout. The Deviant charged forwards and so did I. Sliding under it on a sheet of ice I formed an icicle, cutting through its underside before re-emerging on the other side, flipping back onto my feet, calmly.

"Damn" Kingo commented, impressed by my skills. The other fighters all stood together, watching me as I stood calmly, brushing myself off before another roar was heard in the distance.

"Here they come" Makkari signed in warning, all of us standing together and taking a stance. Three Deviants charged up over the hill towards us, each of us partnering off together to take them down. Kingo and Makkari fought side by side, Thena and Gilgamesh taking down the second Deviant as Ikaris and I faced off the third Deviant.

"Take it easy, Isla" Ikaris warned as he saw the cold stare I gave the Deviant. "You don't need to be reckless" he added but I had already ran in. With a sigh from Ikaris he flew up into the air, shooting lasers at the Deviant from above as I froze it in place.

Brushing myself off yet again I was the first one back inside once it was clear. I marched past Druig again, entering my room and slamming the door shut behind me with a loud thud.

"Someone needs her beauty rest" Kingo teased, walking up beside Druig who stared at my closed door for a moment longer than necessary.

"Leave her alone, she's probably tired of carrying your weight" Druig replied teasingly, always ready to defend me even if I was unaware.

Present day
South Dakota

"Ajak! I'm back!" I called out, pushing the front door open with my foot and calling out for her.

Glancing around I found that the house had been engulfed in darkness, prompting me to flick a light on before setting the paper bag of grocery's on the counter. Ajak had sent me out to get the groceries today, telling me that I had to get out again, see the world and understand the humans.

"Ajak!" I tried again before a loud thud came from behind me. Spinning around I quickly threw my hands up, prepared to freeze whatever was there, but I only came across the back door which had been swung open. Keeping my hands up and guard up I slowly creeped towards the door, no sign of Ajak in the house.

The light by the barn shone down on a limp body laying in the dirt. "Ajak?" I gasped out, recognizing the body that laid before me. "No" I quickly rushed to her side. I took her hand in one of mine, using my free hand to gently brush the hair from her face. A tear slipped from my eye, only one which I had quickly wiped away.