WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 6

As the Hummingbird swam itself into the belly of the beast, Ada shivered in anticipation. The Fold held so many memories, none of them good. She clasped Alina's hand tightly, this would be her toughest trial yet. 

"I hate this place," Mal shuddered.

"Ditto," shivered Ada. 

"Just a bit of pitch black and bloodthirsty monsters. What's not to love?" Sturmhond spoke sarcastically.

"Seems like a good day to kill some Volcra," Tamar grinned.

Today sighed in response. "I'd much rather a hot bath and a book of sonnets."

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Mal questioned.

"I feel stronger than ever. This is my chance to finally eradicate it. For good," Alina spoke determinately.

"Tear it down Lina," Ada whispered as she let go of her sister's hand and lined herself up with Tolya and Tamar. The latter handed her rifle but she shook her head and pulled Jesper's pistol from her side. Tamar lifted an eyebrow at its ornate frame.

"Fabrikator?" she asked.

"I know a guy," Ada grinned.

She focused her attention back on Alina who was casting two burts or light from each hand. The light ripped through the darkness, causing a marble effect as light and dark was evenly matched. Another movement from her hands sent a burst of electric light pulsating through the Fold. Ada gasped as she looked upwards to see the sky appearing. This area hadn't seen the sky in so long and now Alina had fed it. 

"Holy shit," she breathed in awe as she grinned, catching eyes with Sturmhond who also looked amazed. 

It was light, it was joy. Until it wasn't. 

Alina suddenly gasped in pain, the beams of light on her arms beginning to flicker and fade. She dropped backwards, unconscious. The darkness surrounded the Hummingbird once again, this time no light to save them. 

Mal ran to Alina, calling her name worriedly. The snarls of Velcro echoed in the once silent void, announcing that they'd joined the party. Ada gripped Jesper's pistol tightly, one eye on Alina who she knew was still breathing, and the other on the monster in the darkness above.

"Kovu, get us out!" Sturmhond yelled as his face of awe turned to one of fear. 

The Velcro dived and landed clumsily on the side of the boat. Someone fired a bullet, sending the creature careering upwards, then falling onto the boat through the tarp that kept them afloat. 

Tamar came at the creature's with her axes and Tolya did the same with his swords. Sturmhond and Ada focused on the creatures in the sky, firing bullet after bullet to warn that no more creatures should come down.

Tolya struck the creature in the neck with his sword but it became stuck. Sturmhond leaped to assistance, firing a bullet into the creature's head. Tolya grabbed another sword and struck it upwards, slicing the head of the volcra clean off. 

As another volcra moved to climb aboard the ship, Alina leapt upwards and send a palm of sunlight, obliterating the creature made of molten darkness. The boat flung itself out of the Fold, daylight visible once again. 

"Kovu prepare for descent. Brace yourselves for landing," Sturmhond yelled.

The crew ran to the sides of the boat, crouching low and grabbing on for dear life as the boat hit the ground with an almighty crash. Ada grabbed onto the rigging to stabilise herself and as the boat creaked to a halt, she attempted to catch her breath.