Hallor Chronicles

CHAPTER XXIII. - CONFRONTING CONCEALED REALITIES

            It all flashed right in front of my eyes, literally. The lightning sliced the air and I can feel its' power charging through me. Before I realized what's going on, I see Corvina lying on the bottom half of the warped wall, screaming something I can't hear. My legs get weak, not able to hold me anymore and I drop on the platform. Eyes shifting from Corvina to the floor, I notice it is scorched, burning slightly despite the pouring rain. The wood is cracked and turned into a coal, reminding me of a ground under a volcano. Following the damage, I see a big circle of that burned flooring spanned through the whole platform, right to its' edge and only safe spot is the one I am sitting on. Realization hits me after I remember the same scorch mark was created when I released my lightning powers for the first time, but I am not allowed to assess the situation. Cracking noises alert me and I have to start moving fast when I notice the platform splitting, chunks of it falling into the water.

With no energy left in me, my knees slam against the flooring when I get up and try to run. Reilly slides down from the wall and runs my way, but as she gets to the edge, wood under her feet breaks and creates a rift. She manages to stop herself with a slide, preventing her to slip from obstacle. Corvina helps her to get up and they both yell at me to hurry. I want to yell at them that I can't, but my lungs are so weak there is no sound when I open my mouth and I choke on the air.

I know very well I have to get out of here or I am risking falling into the pit. Been through it twice already, I don't mind the dirty water, but with no energy left, I would just drown, this time for real. Punching my legs with weak hits, I scream at them in my head, telling them to work obey and work for a bit more.

It is hard, but I managed to stand up, sort of. I am more crouching than standing properly, but I will take it. Focusing on the finish line, I see Reilly extending her hand and yelling at me to run as much as I can and jump, that she will grab me. Corvina is standing slightly behind Reilly and seems to be channeling. The rain around them seems to listen to Corvina's command, it dances and whirls around her, then it flows my direction.

The rain water solidifies in the rift space between me and the girls, creating a see-through platform for me to use and get to the other side. Both of them yell at me to hurry up, joined by Nima and Aideen who are standing on top of the warped wall. They don't have to tell me twice, especially since the wood behind me is starting to chip of and fall all around me.

Stumbling with my steps, I somehow make myself walk towards the girls, but when my weight presses into the scorched wood, it breaks and the rift opens again. I am forced to back up and the only way I can get over is if I jump, fast. Sending a prayed to whatever god there is that can help me, I push through my limits and command my body to leap over the gap. I had my vision focused on what's under me and my eyes open in horrow when the rift widens, the wood breaking right where I am supposed to land. Before I could come to term with my fate, I got slammed against something soft mid air. It propels me forward and I land on a safe spot, sliding a bit on the wet floor.

My whole right side hurts like hell after the impact and it takes a moment to come around because I hit my head as well. Shaking off the dizziness, I scan the surroundings and all I see is a wet grey fur, until it moves out of my vision and I am met with Woreus' wolf-face. He leans down and I am completely covered just by his head. That's when I realize he is in the giant form. I panic because if people see him like that, they might start probing into him not being your casual dog familiar and then find out the truth.

Me: Why did you come back? You hate rain!

Woreus: It's alright.

Me: No! They will see you and imprison you or force you to be a lab rat. Go! Run!