Phantom Thunder

Chatper 33

The word was passed around, but everyone understood without much explanation. I tried not to think of who was going to get left behind. No one was designated to stay, it would be decided by how the break turned out. Those who were in better position to stay and keep fighting would do so, and those who could make it through would continue on. Maybe it was safer to stay. They'd have better odds of surviving.

Somehow, back at the academy, I'd become leader of the expedition, so of course everyone looked to me to call it. My choice would decide who would make it passed, and who would stay behind, locked in conflict.

"Ghost!" Spark yelled. "The longer you stall the more time we loose! Just called it."

He was right. A perfect opening wasn't going to present itself and there was no point waiting. I paused for two heartbeats, then called the charge.

We surged forwards, hacking and dodging in an attempt to get to the other side. Those that made it through didn't dare to look back. I had a chance, a path through the chaos this I could slice my way through.

Then I heard a scream. One of pain, that'd escaped against will. I spun and saw Fishie stumbling backwards with a wicked slice ripped down her thigh. Blood was spilling out, and already the fabric was stained red.

She stumbled, barely able to stay on her feet. She tried to defend herself against the phantom, but dodging the strikes was all that she could do, and there was fighting all around her. I launched myself at the phantom and drove my sword down between its shoulder blades. I kicked out its knees, then lugged the body to the side.

"Go go go!" I yelled at Fishie.

She gritted her teeth and sprinted from the chaos. Even once she was free from the fighting she continued to hobble along after the rest of the group. Getting far enough away was all that mattered.

I tried to follow her but found my way blocked by a phantom. "Shit!" I swore as its blade came crashing down on me. I was barely able to deflect the strike, and when I looked back up the group of silverbloods that had escaped were gone, and we were left with an impossible battle.

"Ghost!"

Suddenly Dragon was at my shoulder. I could barely respond and focus on staying alive at the same time. I managed a grunt while keeping my eyes fixed on the things that were about to kill me.

"What are you still doing here?!"

"What kind of question is that?!"

"You were meant to go!"

"I know!" I yelled in exasperation. "But if you haven't noticed things aren't really going as planned!"

"And if you don't get to the Thunder, things will go even worse. A lot worse!" His next words were yelled to anyone who was listening. "So we're going to get Ghost passed this stinking hell battle!"

"So I can fight another hell battle?" I smirked.

I heard him laugh in response.

The battle was shifting. I could sense it changing. The silverbloods had heard Dragon's call and where changing the fight to give me the best chance of getting through.

Then I saw it. There was a path of phantom that'd turned their backs, each kept occupied by a silverblood soldier.

Dragon had seen it too, and immediately he positioned himself to deal with the phantom right in front of me, allowing me to slip passed. "Go!" He shouted at me.

I ducked passed, sword at the ready. I blocked a few desperate strikes and deflected a stray blade. Then, seconds away from freedom my path was blocked by a phantom, and the few meters of path was closed.