Our Hidden World

Chapter 57

Josie's P.O.V.:

Fire and water lash out in front of me as the earth shakes and the winds whips the hunters and witches around. Their weapons deflect as they try to get to Charlotte and I but I know I won't be able to fight all of them; eventually someone is going to get through.

I flung my arms out to throw some of the enemies ahead of me to the side and hopefully put them out of commission for a little while.

It was during this time, when I was distracted, that someone slipped behind me. I saw the flash of the sword just in time to duck and avoid it but my attacker came right back, their weapon slashing through the air again as I stand up.

Now it became a decision between keeping the barrier of sorts around Charlotte and I or focusing everything on the person in front of me. The choice was simple and I grabbed at the knife strapped onto my leg.

I lunged at the hunter, trying to keep a separation between my actions and my magic. One slip and the barrier would drop; Charlotte and I would be doomed. It certainly didn't boost my confidence knowing that I was pretty terrible at close combat.

Charlotte glanced at me, worried, but she was too far away to help me and the hunter and I went at each other. I saw my magic wavering as I slashed my knife at the hunter's throat. He ducked easily, spinning out of my reach before launching his left fist at me at the same time that he sliced his sword through the air. I didn't jump back in time.

The realization that he had hit his mark slammed into me 1.5 seconds before the pain did. My eyes widened but I refused to look down, convinced that every ounce of focus I had would disappear, then it would be just my magic that failed but my body as well.

Suddenly keeping the barrier up wasn't a problem and everything came into sharp focus. I felt a smirk twist on my lips before I lunged once again. I felt everything and nothing at the same time. The hunter stumbled backwards as I attack him with fury that I didn't know I possessed. I would not be taken down but a stupid hunter. If I fell now he might hurt someone else and Charlotte would be overtaken by the hunters and witches around us. No. We would both walk out of this fight and celebrate our victory with everyone else. I refuse to believe anything else.

It was in this moment that the hunter's own eyes widened. My dagger slipped passed his defenses and pierced his lower torso. As he hit the ground, coughing up blood, I lifted my foot and clipped his temple. He wouldn't be causing anymore trouble during this battle.

I didn't think about how I may have just killed this man, I couldn't.

A hand landed on my shoulder. I threw my arm back instinctively and was granted a grunt, then a voice spoke to me.

"Josie, stop, I'm trying to help you." I turned around. Eli stood behind me, blood running down his face but there was relief in his eyes. "I thought they had gotten to you."

I couldn't reply to him as I surveyed the area. My eyes narrowed at the hunters closing in on the barrier once again before I dropped it and sent a blast of energy out. Everyone within 20 feet of me fell on the ground save for Eli who took the opportunity to throw spells at the enemy while the air was clear. He muttered under his breath, concentrating, and hunters were suddenly frozen on the ground.

Passed the reach of my blast though I saw people working their way towards the forest, closer to town.

"Violet, I need you to move to back to where Brooke and her team is. I want you to try and create some sort of barrier between the edge of the forest and house, so if someone get's past them there's that," I spoke through my earpiece.

"People are getting into the forest?" she asked.

"Not yet, Brooke's team have taken them down but it's just another precaution," I replied. You could never be too safe.

My thoughts were broken off when Eli grabbed me again. I looked up and noticed that the hunters were all on the ground but our allies were mostly unharmed. I gave them a small sad smile. They already looked beaten and we weren't finished yet.

"It's done," Violet's voice sounds in my ear. "You do know that everyone is stuck on the side that their on now right?"

"Yes but it's better than nothing." I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath then hissed. I had forgotten about my injury. Blood was dripping down my stomach, staining my shirt and pants and making both stick to me. The gash was deep and went from the bottom of my left rib cage to the top of my right hip. It was a miracle that I hadn't passed out from blood loss, but I was probably running on adrenaline anyway.

I covered my torso with my arms as the pain hit me again, trying to find a way to alleviate it. Eli noticed something was wrong at these actions and gasped when he finally saw the blood. His hands moved frantically, fluttering around my torso, unsure of what to do. If one of the healers was accessible he probably would have thrown me over his shoulder and taken off towards them but it was too late now.

"Josie! You should have told me! What are we going to do? We need to stop the bleeding!" It wasn't the time, there was still fighting going on.

I pushed past him, running over to a fighter who looked like they needed some help. Not that I got very far. Eli's arms shot out and he caught me in them. I struggled against him but let him wrap my stomach in a shirt that one of the other sups handed him.

When he was done I set off in the direction that Brooke was in. Something was going to happen there, I could feel it. This time Eli didn't stop me and instead followed me into the the forest. Between the trees I could see my sister standing on the ground - where she was not supposed to be - talking to someone whose back was to me.

"Where's the rest of your pathetic group of losers?" I overhear. Regina. Brooke doesn't answer but looks at me instead then her gaze shifts to the side. Luna, Greyson, and Landon have also arrived. We all glare at Regina.

"Aahh that's more like it." A silver flash catches my eye as it heads towards Brooke but I'm too busy focusing on Regina to figure out what it is. This is the woman who started this but I was sure that we would be the ones to end it.