Convergence

Chapter Twelve: Reconciliation

"Here, come on. We have to get out of here."

So she pulled them up, and as Nick stood up, balancing themselves on the cracked ground, they pointed forward in the rubble. "The fuck is that?"

The fog cleared, and it became more visible.

A shadowy figure, black with no features—except for purple, glowing eyes and a mouth, the same color that twisted up into a smile. Every step it took, the ground cracked from beneath it, and it radiated darkness.

"Nick Althorne." Its haunting voice echoed down to them both. "And Ella Oakley-Cross."

"My question still stands." Nick repeated. "What the fuck is that?"

It smiled wider, twitching with each word. "I'm the devil you were never raised to believe in."

Nick tilted their head, putting a hand on their hip. "Wow, that was dramatic."

Its smile disappeared, its voice going flat and less lilting. "Look who's fucking talking!"

"Oh, less dramatic. Cool."

"Shut the fuck up!" The warlock cleared its throat. "Anyway. I am your worst nightmare—"

"Not even close!" Ella cupped her hand to her mouth, the other one holding Nick's arm. "You're, like, maybe half that!"

"Dude!" The warlock flapped its hands up. "I am getting real fucking sick of you!"

With its hands, a rock lifted up and tossed its way over to Nick and Ella. Swiftly, Nick grabbed Ella and huddled themselves over her, when the rock blew into pieces and scattered everywhere.

Nick and Ella looked up, back to a figure that was running towards them.

"Jackie?!" Nick exclaimed. "What the hell was that?"

"A plasma gun, you like it?" They twirled the weapon in their hand. "A little something I—"

More rocks crashed around the three, and Nick let go of Ella. "Run that way!" They pointed to behind a building. Dashing through the gravel and rubble, they ran behind destroyed buildings, shielding themselves from death by boulder with every foundation they indirectly demolished.

Nick and Jackie were on either side of Ella, making sure she was strictly protected from any damage. Nick caught the most of it, being hit by stray debris that made bloody splotches and bruises all over their body.

"Nick, look out!" Ella cried, trying to make herself heard over the crashing and banging.

A small stream of blood dripped from their nose to their chin. "Doing my best here, kid!"

-

Morgan and Riley jumped out of the portal, and Morgan immediately fell to the ground in splintery pain. "Oh, my fucking God, what the shit is that?!"

"You broke your legs, remember?" Zoey came in after them both. "Now that you have a physical form again, you get all your injuries back."

Morgan bit back sobs, lifting themselves up with their magic, legs dangling in the air. "Dear God. Riley, you okay?"

Riley lifted their hand, the melty goop covering half of it again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't miss this at all."

"I've never felt so alive!" Matilda twirled, her gown ruffling up with her. She had some sustained injuries, and her face was covered in bruises again, but she was fine for the most part. "Alistair, Wylie, it's alright! Come down!"