Red Hawk

Chapter Nineteen: The Death of Red Hawk

Ezna returned to the guild hall, just in time to witness it erupt into a cloud of smoke and flame. Horror filled her eyes as she watched the debris scatter throughout the streets, people in a panik. Her eyes locked in the dancing flames where her home once stood.

"There were people in there!" she overheard people in the crowd. Hearing that, she ran towards the inferno. Hoping to see any signs of life. But people wouldn't let her get too close, grabbing hold of her flailing body.

"Let Go!" she demanded, "That's My Home!" Tears filled her eyes. A shadow appeared in the flames. Someone was walking out of the blaze. It was Hibiki. "Monster!" she spat at him, the crowd now backing away.

Hibiki wiped some dirt off his jacket, "Kai and Odin weren't here. A waste of my time." Ezna was ready to fight, but he just ignored her.

"Hibiki!" she knocked him to the ground with a single strike. "I'll kill you for this!" He just sat in the dirt, looking at her.

"Do I know you?" he coldly asked. Angered, Ezna summoned lightning to her hands, slamming a fist next to Hibiki's head. "You're an angry one," Hibiki kicked her off him. He turned to look at the burning guild, "Is that what angered you?"

"You bastard," she tried to attack him once more Each time being easily deflected. "What happened to you?! Why do you destroy everything we care about?!"

"I have no idea what you mean," Hibiki chopped her in her neck." Breathless, Ezna fell to the ground. Soon met by the pain of Hibiki's boot to her back. "But you tell Kai this, his time is coming. I'll find Ragnarok, and with his father's eye, I'll wipe out both this world and any possible future." He kicked her in the liver, "Farewell, survivor." In a flash of light, Hibiki was gone.

A wounded Ezna crawled through the dirt. Trying to get closer to the flames, hoping to find any bit of hope. Hot embers spit from the guild, landing upon her body and leaving scorch marks all over. As it was, there were no signs of life remaining at the guild. People from the city continued to gather around the flames, some using magic to try and put out the flames.

Charred remains now stood before them. The framework of the guild, as well as those who called it home, all burned to a crisp. By the time the flames had died down, Ezna had regained the ability to move. She stepped through the blackened wood, doing her best to ignore the scent of burnt flesh. It was unsafe to walk the ruins. One weak board would send her tumbling into the basement. But on the other hand, she wouldn't have minded going to the basement. Maybe the members ignored Odin's rule and went down there, to save themselves from the explosion and flames.

Just as she thought, a weak spot in the floor collapsed in under her. Thud. She landed atop the burnt wood below ground. Nothing. No one had come down here. Anyone and everyone in the guild had been killed. Something that would have to be told to Odin and Kai when they returned. It scared her to know she would have to tell them this.

If only I had gotten back sooner she blamed herself. She sat in the basement alone, dwelling in her own self pity over what happened. Knowing she was too weak to fight Hibiki, but hoping teaming up with others would allow her a chance.

Through her tears, Ezna heard a faint sound from above. It almost sounded like the soft footsteps of someone. She heard it again. But hey were too quick in repetition to be a single person. The walking stopped. She couldn't believe it. Ice began to cover the hole she fell through. Someone was freezing over the ruins.

Rushing up the stairs, she swung kicked down the door to see what was going on. There stood Loki, alongside Sabrina. Sabrina's face twisted with grief. She tried to run towards Ezna, but slipped on the ice. Falling face first and busting her nose.