ELEMENT

Chapter Nineteen: Tomorrow We Strike

From this chapter on, spirit dialogue will be in italics. Memories/visions will be in bold italics.

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Robin didn't want to step back into these halls, but they didn't have a choice. "Okay. This way."

Sage and Ethan's footsteps clinked on the floor, while Robin's were more quiet and delicate. And, this time, there was really no one in the palace halls. Though it was day outside, no sunlight poured in through the windows. And our heroes were running out of time.

"Woah." Ethan stepped back, feeling disgusted. "What is that?" He pointed to a large black smear on the ground. "I almost stepped in it."

"Ugh. Don't touch it." Robin pulled him away, getting heavy déjà vu. "Who knows what pesticides are in this castle?"

"It's blood!" Ethan exclaimed. "That's still sort of red, I can see it!"

"But blood isn't black," Sage whispered to him. Though she was freaked out as well.

"Not unless you're cursed." Robin sighed. "That's where I saw them dead."

"God, I'm so worried about them." Sage grabbed onto Ethan's jacket sleeve. "It must be horrible, living the way they do."

Ethan tensed. "I'm about to throw up in your hair."

"Oh." She let go, stepping away from him.

Robin motioned their direction. "Come on, no time to waste."

As they went further down the hall, the lights were dimming, becoming slowly darker as they walked. Ethan shivered, pulling his purple jacket over his arms, but something felt like it belonged to someone else. "Is anyone else cold?"

"It's Meadow." Robin's coat was heavy and fluffed. They had no problem with the weather, but Sage and Ethan might. "She's around here somewhere."

"That's worrying." Sage huffed. "Has it come across to you guys yet that we could have to fight her?"

"It's only to help her." Ethan distracted himself from the cold by playing with his hair.

"Ethan." Sage turned to him. "...Can I have your dagger?"

"Huh?"

"I don't trust my magic. At all." She fidgeted with her hands, wishing she'd brought gloves.

Ethan nodded, reaching in his own bag and taking out a matching blue dagger to the one he already had. "I have extra."

"Oh. Thank you." Sage took it, the metal crisp and cool on her already shivering fingers. She felt more comfortable with a weapon than with unpredictable magic they'd just learned.

Curtains on a window slammed shut. Ethan gasped, while the rest slammed shut from right to left. It was nearly fully dark, except for one window at the end of the hall. Where one person stood.

"Isn't that a little much?" Robin called. No answer. They hushed their voice. "Okay, guys, let's prepare. Stay on guard for anything."

And they walked forward, Sage at the very front. As they came closer, the identity of the strange person was revealed.

Peter Keynote turned from the window to look at the children. "Welcome back. And Robin Turret, I believe you know me."

"Only by reputation." Regardless of any fear they had inside, Robin kept their guard.

"You're carrying the team, I see."

"I beg to differ." They hissed.

"Can we stop with the chitchat?" Sage pointed the dagger up to Peter's throat. "Where's Meadow?"

"Ah, eager to start! Last time we fought, you didn't have much to offer, princess."

"You'd be surprised. And you didn't have much to offer either."

"You're right. I didn't." His crazed smile grew wider.

Ethan put his hand over Sage's shoulder, putting her back. "Stop the games."

"There's no game, you three. But even if there was, I'd still be winning." Peter turned, walking behind them. "Are you three familiar with the term 'experiments'? I've been dabbling in them myself. And recently, I completed my greatest ones. Took 10,000 years, can you believe it?"

Robin clenched their fists as they tensed, steadying their breathing.

"Since you're so eager to learn my secrets, I'd like you to meet my finished symphony."

Peter raised both his hands, waving them forwards. The two pairs of footsteps echoed through the halls again, as two figures stood at either side of Peter.

Normally, he'd be at Meadow's side, holding her hand. But he was needed here.

And normally, she'd be at Cole's side, holding his. But she was needed here.

Their expressions were empty. As were their eyes, which were a full deep black.

"Meadow. Cole." Sage was breathless, looking at the people they'd become. The monsters he'd made them.

A crazed laugh erupted from Peter as he stepped back. "Isn't it amazing?! I did it! I cracked the code!"

From behind, Ethan tapped Sage's arm as she passed something to him in secret.

"And they won't listen to you! They only listen to me." Peter flailed his arms, seeming indignantly angry. "See, I lied a little bit ago. My 'finished' symphony isn't even half finished. I am done here when you are dead, and we win!" It was almost a scream.

"You just fucking try it, wrinkly bastard!" A strong wind flew from under Robin, their hair blowing up with it. A poof of feathers erupted behind them, and they sprouted tall, beautiful blue wings.

The Light Emblem swung around Ethan's neck, as yellow daggers dashed their way towards Peter.

But he didn't flinch. Instead, he simply raised his arm.

A black tinted shield disintegrated the daggers on impact. Meadow, or what was left of her, was standing in front of her father, and as the dark smoke cleared, she turned the shield into blades of her own.

Peter counted on both his children to count on each other. Seeing Experiment 193 at the frontlines, Experiment 2 would have the urge to help her, but most of all, to protect her at any and all costs.

And he smiled madly, giving the order.

"Strike."

To Be Continued in Chapter Twenty