The Sovereign

Shattered

All I caught of her was a bleeding hand being ripped from the windowsill. The rest of her was out in the cold. I launched myself out the window, ignoring shards of glass impaling my hand. I was getting Jade back.

"Jade, scream if you can hear me!!"

I wasn't sure if it was because of my call, or the pain she was likely in, but she wailed a blood-curdling scream.

I followed the sound over towards a forest. I ran through thick leafless autumn brush. "JADE! Where are you?!"

Another heart-wrenching scream. I adjusted my course and sped up. I reached a clearing.

I nearly stepped over her. She was still wailing like a baby who had seen the Devil.

She was scratched, scarred, beaten, and ripped open everywhere. Her face was coated in blood.

She was also missing her left leg.

Tears streamed down her face, picking up blood and appearing red.

She coughed blood and whispered to me.

"Behind you."

I wheeled around, to see two menacing yellow eyes staring back at me. It was the largest Radio animal I'd ever seen. It was a bear.

I swerved to the side and grabbed a thick branch that had fallen off of a large oak tree. I swung at the savage beast, back and forth, rarely colliding with its skull.

I drew it towards me and stepped backwards, until I'd gotten close enough to the truck stop that I could outrun it to the inside. I turned and ran.

It pounded its front paws down and began running on all fours. It was fast, but I closed the doors just before it hit them, smashing straight through and spraying glass everywhere. I covered my face, causing more glass to bury itself in my arm.

I ran to my staff, picked it up with my good hand, turned it on, and took a ready stance. The beast came around the corner and snarled. It was bloodied and battered.

I cursed as it charged. I plunged the electorspear into its skull. It stopped and fell over instantly.

I didn't have time to catch my breath. I ran to the back room, grabbed bandages and gauze, and sprinted as fast as possible to the spot where Jade lay, dying slowly.

I wouldn't let her die. She saved my life, and I needed to return the favor.

I skidded to a stop on my knees--painful, yes, but a bigger problem was at hand. I gently wrapped the location of her ripped-off leg wth gauze, and bandaged all her wounds. She screamed the whole time. I was crying nearly as much as she was.

I pressed my forehead to hers, and whispered to her. "You aren't going to die. Not today. Not ever."

I closed my eyes and pressed my lips against hers.