It's a Long Way Down

Chapter Fifty-One: War

Ember looked back as she saw the hallway she had just run through crumble. Her eyes widened as she yelled, "Sodo!"

Aeris said, "Ember, you told me not to look back, you can't either. If it's not safe for me, it's not safe for you."

Ember felt conflicted. She had told Aeris that his mate was safe, but now she was feeling like her own wasn't. Swiss and Aether soon came around the corner, making Aeris separate from Ember, wrapping his arms around Aether. Swiss looked at Ember solemnly, making her ask, "Where's Sodo?"

"Ember, you need to understand-" Swiss tried, just for the fore ghoulette to cut him off, "No, where is he?"

"He told us to keep going," Swiss told her. She shook her head, tears filling her eyes, "What happened?"

"An angel separated us," Aether told her, "Pinned him. He told us to go. Swiss tried to stay back, but Sodo insisted he would be fine."

"You left him alone?" Ember whispered as a tear fell down her cheek. Swiss said, "Hey, hey, hey, if he was dead, you wouldn't be here anymore, Ember."

"What if being killed by a holy being is different? What if that's the one thing that can cut the bond?" Ember thought out loud, holding back a sob. Swiss pulled her into a hug saying, "He's fine, Em. He can handle himself."

"I can't feel the pull anymore, Swiss," She told him, "I can't feel it, what if he's gone?"

"He isn't. He's stronger than that," Swiss said. Another explosion sounded outside, making Aether say, "We should keep moving."

"What about Sodo?" Ember whimpered. Aether just told her, "He told us to keep going. He'll catch up later."

"What if he needs our help?" Ember asked. Aether groaned and said, "I am in no condition to help anyone right now Ember. Aeris is terrified. Swiss doesn't even know where Mountain is! You going in unprepared won't help anyone. It's better if we keep going. He will catch up."

Ember let out a sob, her hand covering her mouth as she worried about her mate. Swiss told her, "Let's find the others, regroup. We can make a plan and find him together."

She hesitantly nodded, looking at the crumbled hall behind him before he put his hand on her back, turning her around as he said, "Let's go."

They all started rushing through the halls, Ember looking over her shoulder every now and then. It wasn't long until they were in the ghoul common room, Cumulus and Cirrus in each other's arms, Ifrit standing in the corner nervously, Rain sitting on the couch with Sunshine, holding her protectively, and Copia pacing the floors. Swiss asked, "Has anyone seen Mountain?"

Ifrit shook his head, "He took off looking for you when the first blast hit."

"Has anyone seen Lilith?" Copia asked, worried about their new leader. Ifrit could feel his heart drop knowing his mate was in danger and he couldn't help her. Swiss felt the same way, dropping to his knees with his eyes wide. Ember wrapped her arms around herself as she said, "Sodo disappeared too. He was attacked directly. The hall collapsed where he was. I don't know if he's alive."

"I mean, you are," Rain said, "If you two are soulmates, if he dies you die, right?"

"He was attacked by an angel. We don't know anything about what would happen if a holy weapon killed a soulmate," Aether said, sitting on a chair, pulling Aeris into his lap as he wrapped his arms around him protectively, "For all we know, the holy weapons are strong enough to sever the bond. She said she couldn't feel the pull anymore."

"So just three of us are missing right now?" Cirrus asked. Sunshine asked her, "Three?"

"Lilith, Mountain, and Sodo," Cireus said. Sunshine responded, "But Lilith isn't a ghoul."