The Last Hope

14~Aria

        I watched as her small form swiftly slips through the hole and place the shelf back, feeling the ripple of magic concealing her, and I can't sense any of them anymore. I closed my eyes as I remembered the warmth of her lips, but the heat on my skin reminded me I had to move. I shoved all the chemicals back under the sink and stood. As I walked out of the kitchen, I heard Kota's voice shout, and I knew he was yelling at Echo. My cheeks flushed as anger built inside of me; how dare he yell at her. I shove that down, hopping they know to get him to shut up, settling on the thought of them hitting him over the head to knock him out. I closed the front door and jogged to the truck, opening the door and climbing in. The interior was messy with wrappers of different fast food joints and snacks. I twisted the key, bringing the truck to life, shifting it in gear quickly, sharply turning the truck to drive down the hill. Not even half way to the main road at the base of the mountain, something large and heavy landed on the truck. My heart skipped as I swallowed my breath in a sharp gasp. I felt as the box of the truck buckled under its weight. A woosh sound shifted the now stopped truck. I looked up and saw three holes in the middle of the roof before my door swung open and the FireWalker's male form wrenched me from my seat. I landed on my stomach on the gravel, looking up the road from where I came from as a female form dashed away, parallel to the deep clawed gouges that was used to pull me to a halt. I looked up to see a familiar face; the devil contorted to look like a middle aged man. My heart dropped as I met his eyes; the eyes of the creature that I saw before it murdered my parents. Pain and anger rippled through me.
    "Where are the other abominations?" It speaks. I lifted to my knees, watching his eyes through every smooth muscle movement before I sharply spat on his leg. He didn't flinch, but laughed before bringing his knee to my jaw before my mind even became close to comprehending his facial expression hardening. I flew back, rolling a few times before stopping on my stomach once more, pain swelling in my jaw.
    "Stupid child. If you want a chance to continue your pathetic life for the last few years you have left, you'll answer my questions." He snapped, above me again.
    "They left a while ago on a hunting trip. I drew the short straw and got to stay behind and keep watch on the house." I half lied.
    "And where are you keeping her?" He asked, a deceivingly gentle voice that made my skin crawl.
    "The girls went too." I said smoothly.
    "You know what I mean; the ultimate one." He stated
    "Wha- Echo? My Echo?! You lost her!? You stole her from her family and now she is gone? You incompetent-" He cut me off with a fist to the stomach just as I stood again, with a kick on my shoulder launching me further down the hill.
    "I know you took her, Rabbit!" He shouted as he caught up with me, bringing his foot to my back, sending me another several feet. I coughed, tasting blood, so I spat it to the ground below me.
    "Trust me; I've tried. The thing is that I was never able to find where you had taken her. I spent a decade of my life searching high and low; everywhere! It drove me crazy! Finally, my brothers forced me to stop because I was becoming close to death." I looked him hard in the eyes, rolling onto my back and lifting myself to my elbows. He looked at me for a long moment; I felt tears well up in my eyes as I remember the years spent yearning for her and looking for her. He nodded to himself before dropping down to where I was, punching me hard in the cheek. I hit the ground as a black haze narrowed my vision as I heard yelling from the house; the female yelling out to Rae. The male's face was to mine suddenly as I tried my hardest to focus on his face and hold up my head as he lifted me by my shirts collar.
    "If I find out you're lying to me; I will kill your entire family in front of you, then torture you for years until the transition is nearly ready, and I'll make you watch your precious Echo murdered. And after; I won't even kill you." He snarled before dropping me to the ground, but I couldn't even feel my impact. Everything becomes painfully difficult, but I can't pass out- I need to get them out of the house. I try to lift myself off the ground, but my limbs won't lift me. The darkness around my vision is growing...
    I see him turn and walk up the hill towards the truck.
    Blackness.
    He is almost at the cabin's entrance.
    Blackness.
    There is a giant dragon perched on the hill in front of me, letting out an angered roar as its tattered wings send a blast of air in every direction, launching it's old, boney body from the mountain side as it vanishes between the storm clouds above. I must get to Echo. I repeated through my mind. Just stand up, you idiot. My vision blurred more, I can't hold my thoughts...