Anomalies

Chapter 6: Escape

Chapter 6: Escape

Artur watched the sisters run further into the darkness of the sewers as he faced the now completely blazing entrance of the refuge. As he took a step forward, feeling the hot, polluted wind approach him, cold sweat flowing from his face. Each step was more determined than the last one, the closer he got to the refuge, to the flammes, the less he cared about his safety, he refused to abandon Stell, he refused to leave without even trying. The steps fastened, turning into a jog, the air was getting thicker, he closed his mouth and nose with his arm, pushing forward. The run turned into a sprint, his breathing was quickly intensifying, as he reached the blazing entrance, he leaped forward, his emotions culminating in this single moment. He went through the flammes, feeling the intensifying warmth through his old coat, he carefully opened his eyes, looking around him. He quickly saw the hunter, holding Stell who was on the brink to lose all strength, her skin a mix of pale and blue color. The armored soldier was still at his task, ignoring the progressing blaze around him. Artur quickly felt rage rise within him, when he first saw the hunter, he was powerless, unable to take a single step forward, feeling the menacing aura of the metal beast. But He couldn't let fear take over him this time, he promised to Sunny and Luna that they will be reunited with their sister and live a free life. He had to save Stell no matter the danger, he owed it to her, without Stell, he would have died the first moments he left that ruined laboratory. 

Ignoring the flammes, Artur reached for one of the broken parts of the door, long enough to form a bat like weapon. Artur pushed through the burning pain he felt in his hands and lifted the long wooden plank as high as he could, before striking with full force the head of the hunter, hoping to daze him enough for him to release his metal claws of Stell. The strike makes a loud cracking noise as the plank breaks into pieces around the helmet of the hunter. As Artur connected the hit, the head of the armored hunter nudged slightly. Seeing that his attack at full strength had almost no effect, his heart stopped, his fear coming back to him, like a sudden slap to his face. The hunter tilted his head slowly in Artur's direction, making an annoyed grunt, with a swing of his free hand, Artur felt a powerful shock on his chest, making him crash on the other side of the room. Dazed, he tried to get up by pushing himself from the ground, but the sudden feeling of burn made Artur scream. 

Artur looked at his arm and shoulder as the fire covering it progressed through his coat, panickly, he tapped rappidly to stop the flammes. As he tried to regain balance quickly, Artur took another step forward to approach the hunter, as he looked at Stell, she was already completely pale, on the verge of losing her last breath. Artur began to sprint in her direction, but as he got closer, the hunter lifted his large knife, making each sharp branch have a bright glow from the fire. In less than a second, Artur understood what was about to happen and screamed at the full strength of his lungs, reaching out to Stell. The hunter, unfazed lunged his sharp weapon into Stell's stomach, completing his job. Stell let out a silent grunt with her last breath as her eyes closed slowly, fighting back to not lose consciousness. Quickly pulling the knife out of Stell's abdomen, both now leaking with ruby red blood, he then dropped Stell on the ground, releasing her from his metal claws. She stumbled agaisnt the wall before falling into a sitting position, coughing a few large spills of red blood.

As Stell was feeling her mind fading, she thought about her father one last time, his deep laugh, his funny beard and how he always tried the best for her, even if the world seemed to be agaisnt them. She thought about Nebulia, the mother she always dreamed of, her flowing red hair, her soothing voice and her emerald gaze, always showing an unending kindess to her. At last, she thought about Sunny and Luna, the sisters that she loved more than anyone and wished for the best in this world, she felt some sadness, knowing that she won't be able to see them, bring the freedom they deserved but she had some hope, reminded of a new person she met not so long ago. Stell's eyes closed slowly as she felt the warmth of the fire next to her, reminded of the firecamp she would make to keep the sisters from the cold. As she collapsed on the wall, she let out her final breath before fading into a cold slumber.