Into The Unown

Aura

Ash had been walking in the cold for far too long to have any sensation left in his cheeks, and yet, some remained. Although he would realise it much later.

As he pushed past the mountains of snow which befell the country in only a matter of hours, he saw his breath becoming visible in the night air. The hotel they stayed at was situated on the top of a skiing mountain, as he wandered the empty streets, he found nothing for miles ahead. Occasionally he did see flickering city lights, providing the night sky with a touch of magic, but that was all.

Everything felt too empty and too wrong. He clutched his jacket tighter around him as he followed the faint footprints Serena had left behind.

When he'd left the room, he found Serena's shoes and woollens exactly where she'd left them. She had gone out barefoot, still dressed in her thin night suit, and on top of it, knocked Gary out. All for what? What was she thinking?

His mind was in chaos, but still he persisted, following the trail. Then... he saw her.

Serena stood at the edge of a cliff, her figure only illuminated by the moonlight. Her arms hung idly by her sides, and her hair kept blowing in the windy air. Even though he had worn layers of woollen, he still shivered. But Serena despite wearing a thin layer of clothing, seemed to be unbothered by the cold, almost detached from reality.

"Serena!" Ash called out as he approached her.

She didn't turn. She stood there, staring at the abyss below, her body was hauntingly still.

"Serena," he came closer, his voice filled with concern. "What are you doing out here?"

She didn't turn. "I don't know," she said, her voice dreamlike. "I woke up, and... I was here."

Ash frowned, stepping closer but keeping his movements calm. "You shouldn't be out here. It's freezing, and you're not dressed for this weather."

She let out a voice which almost sounded like a  laugh. "I don't feel anything... anymore," she said, her voice heavy with moisture.

"What do you mean?" He asked, letting out a laugh, "Of course you feel things."

She shook her head, "I... do you think... it's punishment?"

Ash's scrunched his eyebrows. "Punishment for what?"

"I must have done something wrong," she voice barely a whisper. "I didn't dream when we were in the castle of Van Black. I slept peacefully. What happened in the headquarters of the apocalypse... I don't remember that either. I think it was because Xenos was trying to protect me. But then... but then when I met you, they... they came back. I think Xenos... she's trying to punish me."

Ash gulped, "Serena, do you want me to leave? If these dreams are troubling you then I—"

"I came on this quest because of you," she said, "if you leave, I'll leave."

Ash quickly shut up, "I don't understand what you are getting at."

"The dreams—they won't stop, Ash. It's like... Xenos is punishing me."

Ash's heart sank. "What did you dream, Serena?"

She turned, her eyes shone with unshed tears. "You wouldn't understand," her voice cracking. "The things I endured... the things he made me endure... it'll all coming back to me. I... I—" that was when her legs gave up. Her knees buckled and she fell on the ground, almost toppling into to the cliff.

"Serena!" Ash ran, pulling her back before she could fall.

Serena's sobs echoed in the snow covered valley, her body trembling against the icy ground. Ash knelt beside her, his heart breaking at the sight of her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The shape of her body fit perfect into the crevices of his.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice breaking between sobs. "I can't go through it again. I can't let him... I can't..."

"You won't," Ash said, resting his chin on the her head. "Not while I'm here."

She clutched at his shirt, her fingers curling into fists. "I'd rather die," she choked out. "I'd rather jump off this cliff right now and end it before he can ever touch me again."

"No," he said, "Serena. You're stronger than this. You've—you've survived. Don't let him take this from you too."

"You don't understand," she whispered, her grip on his shirt tightening. "You don't know what he did to me, Ash. What he made me."

"I don't need to know. All I know is that you're here. You survived him."

"You can't protect me, Ash. You don't know what he's capable of."

"I don't care what he's capable of," Ash said, "I'll protect you. And if—if I can't..." He swallowed hard, remembering the showdown at Chewa island, "If it comes to that, I promise I'll... I'll kill you before he can take you."

The two remained together, huddled in the snow.  For just a moment, the cold seemed to vanish, at least when they were together. Nothing else mattered—only the present, only each other.

As they made their way back to the hotel, their footsteps disappearing softly in the snow. They had barely made it out of the cliff side when Serena froze. Her face, which had earlier softened with relief, now twisted in horror.

"I can smell him," her voice trembled.

"Who?"

"Karma," she said, her voice barely audible. "He's here."

Before they could make a run for it, Ash caught sight of them. The darkness of the night had cloaked the convexity of the jet. But now, as it came out of the shadows, a single figure descended from the jet dressed in all black with a concealed  face.

He carried no weapons.

"That's Karna.... Leave me and run," Serena grabbed Ash's arm. "You have no weapons, Ash. How are you going to fight him?"

His mind started racing. Karma didn't have weapons either, and that's what unsettled him the most.

"It's time to go, Serena," Karma said as he stepped forward. "You had your fun, but it's over now. You know the consequences if you resist. Don't make me remind you."

Serena stood sure footed on the ground, her body paralysed by fear. "Run, Serena! Please!"

But she didn't move. She couldn't.

What happened next answered Ash's curiosity as to why Karma didn't carry any weapons. The man in black lifted his arms slowly. In front of his fingers a dark, swirling aura began to gather.

Before Ash could react, he unleashed it. The aura directly aimed toward Ash and Serena like a marked target.

When the blast landed, Ash was thrown towards the cliff. The raven haired expected to be thrown into the abyss, but a tree broke his fall. He fell down, coughing from the blow.

"Serena!" He cried as he jolted towards her.

Where they had earlier stood, there was nothing but a big ball of haze. When it cleared, Serena was nowhere to be found. Ash's heart sank, thinking Karma had taken her, but then his eyes befell on someone else.

"Gary!" Ash exclaimed, relief and disbelief crashing over him.

Gary turned his head slightly, his body towering Serena's. "Sorry it took so long, I didn't expect to get donkey punched by my sister."

Ash smiled, "Thank-"

Before he could finish, another attack came—this time, aimed directly at Ash.

A loud crash echoed in the echoed, and along with it Ash's name, which Serena cried repeatedly, thinking the attack has taken him out.

But when the smoke cleared, Ash stood unharmed. The bracelet he'd worn had starting glowing with an eerie blue colour.

"You messed with the wrong person, Karma." Ash said as he raised his fists and a blue aura started to gather in front of his palms.

For the first time in a hundred years, a Raider had awakened their aura, and this time, it was Ash.