MICAH

Twelve

The air was rich with left over wrath. It seeped out from the earth into my lungs. Each step I took sent rage scouring through my body. The song of death laced the night and I was pretty confident she was singing specifically about me.

The gate wasn't too far away, I probably wasn't more than a few hours behind Lazarus and Raven. I began to run the rest of the way eager to meet my oblivion.

I slowed down to a trot once I neared the entrance to the gate. The city itself was blocked off by a solid rock. The tip of the rock was well out of eye view and there was nothing but a smooth surface so you couldn't grip onto anything. I've tried so many times to climb the stupid rock and there isn't any actual technique I found to help me even reach a few feet off the ground.

The gate is made from diamonds, it's long slender bars are prickly to the touch. There is only one guard, a tall slender woman also made of diamonds. Her crystal skin glimmers with each move she makes. Her eyes are all white and her long light blue hair swaying with the slight wind the Royals allow out of the city.

I stood tall with no plan in mind and begin to walk towards her. Even though her behavior does not change I know she sees me. She continued to walk back and forth gracefully in front of the gate.

As I approached her I reached out my hand. The next thing I knew my back was against the solid rock foundation and my feet were dangling in the air. Her hand was tightly wrapped around my face making it impossible to scream out in shock. I looked down at her and her eyes shimmered back scales revealing fully black eyes. She smiled as her thin tongue danced out of her mouth like a reptilian.

"Rebel for dinner? How sweet." She slithered.

I tried grunting out a response but nothing came out. My hands were paralyzed by my sides and my feet stopped kicking out. I felt a fiery warmth flood through me as her poison raced to my heart to stop it from beating. My eye lids drooped as my vision began to blur.

"Let him go!" The voice echoed into the nothingness. I felt the hand release me and I fell on the ground with a thump.

My head felt too heavy to lift and I let it drop to one side. My eyes saw the veins in my arms pumping vigorously black venom. Spit began to form at the corners of my mouth, foaming. I tried to cough but it didn't work, I couldn't move. All I could do was watch my black veins pulsing at high speed.

"Reverse it now!" The voice shouted.

The tech placed her hand on my face. The tips of her fingers stretched to cover my forehead while the bottom of her palm stayed flat on my chin. A soft beam blinded my sight completely and a high pitch squeal rang in my ears. My body felt so cold suddenly and I shivered in reflex. Almost instantaneously the feeling in my limbs came back to me. I was able to wiggle my fingers and bend my knees. I rolled onto my hands and knees trying to stand up slowly. I looked like a brand new baby giraffe and I fell a couple times.

"Easy there chief, it takes a second." The voice coaxed.

I felt a warm hand on my back helping me stand. I faced my savior staring at a boy, no more than 17 years old. He was tall and darkly tanned. His hair was long and shaggy white blonde. It was raggedy and in his face so he kept having to move it to the side so he could see. He looked so familiar though.

"Hi! I'm Murphy!" He beamed sticking his hand out for me to shake.

I reached out to meet his firm grasp, "Murphy?" I looked at him puzzled, "I knew someone named Murphy once." I said thinking of the nine year old Micah killed.

"My mother." He nodded.

"No, she died when she was nine." I shook my head.

Murphy smiled even brighter, "I know! You bring her back! She told me all about you!"

"I'm sorry what?" I looked hard at him. We were still shaking hands and I let go dropping my hand to my side.

"Uh, sorry I know I'm not suppose to tell you all of this. Don't tell my mom please!" He begged, "It's just, I really wanted to meet you!"

"What?" I asked again.

"Okay so time travel is still... Frowned upon... But my mother she talks about you all the time, like all the time! And so, anyways, I thought to myself, 'Hey! You know what would be super cool? Meeting the guy who brought my mom back from the dead!' So... I.... Stole a time machine?" His shoulders were up to his ears as he shrugged looking at me sheepishly.

"You stole a what?" I asked.

"I'm going to give it back!" He lifted his arms in the air like he was surrendering, "I just wanted to say hi! That's all! Just say a quick hi, you're my hero, possibly hang out with you for a bit." He smiled leaning back on his heels and rocking back and forth like a child.

"Murphy's alive?" I was still in shock, "Murphy Lapidus?"

"Well now she's Murphy Evila, but..." He trailed off, "Anywho! So! This is when you get the lamb right? Awesome! Can I come with you?"

I shook my head violently holding its side tenderly, "No." I pushed passed Murphy Jr. towards the gate.

"Wait, what?" Murphy spun around and jogged next to me, "But I saved your hiney back there! You'd be dead if it wasn't for me!" He protested.

"No." I answered putting my hands on my hips looking at the gate entrance. I just needed to figure out how to open it now.

"But!"

"I said no!" I turned and looked at him. He flinched away from me and then looked at me hurt and angry. My face softened, "Did your mom tell you what happened? Did she tell you how she died?"

"Yeah, government tech named Micah."

I nodded, "Did she tell you the entire story?"

"Micah killed her. What's more to tell?" Murphy looked at me confused and naive.

"Look kid," I put my hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him, "I got your mom killed. It was my fault. I have a tendency of getting everyone around me killed. I'm sorry, I'm too dangerous and I just don't care. I've got bigger things to worry about that doesn't include you."

Murphy pushed my hand off of him, "You're a liar! And a coward!" He huffed air in expanding his chest. He walked in front of me pushing his palm on the third bar of the gate and then gripping the sixth bar tightly for a few seconds. He hit the second bar and then ran his finger down the fifth. The gate opened. He turned around and stormed off screaming over his shoulder, "By the way! That chick ends up killing you!"

Author's note:
Hey guys! How are we liking the story?? I'm so grateful for you guys reading it and making it this far!! Thanks so much for the love and support! Please comment and vote!