From the Ashes

Chapter 23

Clashing swords. Echoed screams. Distant rolling thunder like the laughter of giants. As I come to the surface from the ocean of sleep, the sounds I thought were part of distant dreams do not cease, but grow louder. I pull myself out of the darkness with a forceful jerk and sit up.

I crawl over to Kavi. "Kavi. Kavi, you have to wake up."

She opens her eyes with a jolt. "What's wrong?"

"We have to get out before the other teams get here," I whisper.

"What are you talking about?" She asks.

"Wake the rest of the team." I dump the ashes from our dead fire into the water around our little island and run back into the cave to see everyone awake.

I'm about to speak, but Dragon interrupts me. "No need to explain. Let's just get out of here."

We run to the west, away from the battle.

"Do you think we can outrun them?" I ask.

"We'll outrun them all right," Dragon replies. "They're too busy fighting each other."

As I run, water splashes up my legs and soaks me. I keep my eyes on the ground to prevent myself from tripping over a tree root. A sound makes me look up, yet even before my eyes process the image before me, I know. My blood hardens to ice, and my heart screams for me to turn back and run.

"So we meet again," Azad says darkly. His eyes are only on me, staring deep into my soul.

My heart stops dead at the sound of his voice.

His lips break into a grin, yet his eyes only glare. "Surprised?"

"Why are you here, Azad?" Dragon snarls, retrieving his scimitar.

I'm too afraid to move. Seven others stand around Azad.

"The IA thought I was worthy of a second try. They reassigned me as team leader for this team," Azad says. "And I will have revenge."

"Let it go, Azad," Dragon shouts. "It's pointless! Don't you see that?"

Azad clenches his fist, crushing the air in front of him as if pretending it were Dragon's skull. "Of course you say that! You think you've won! I'm about to prove you wrong!"

"I can't let you do that."

Azad smirks. "You'll die trying."

Dragon charges at Azad in a focused fury.

Breaking out of my shock, I activate my scimitar. A girl pulls out her sword. Her hair is redder than blood. She's the girl I saw yesterday morning. Mariia.

She makes a forceful move to impale me, but I spin to the right and avoid her blow.

"You think I'd be that easy?" I jeer.

She scowls. "You don't put up much of a fight."

I swing at her throat. She ducks, but my blade catches her forehead. Mariia growls with rage and wipes the blood from her eyes.

I glance at Dragon, hoping he doesn't need backup.

A sudden pain shoots down my leg. Mariia's sword slashes furiously at me. The tip of her blade is tinged with my blood. A slow stream trickles from a gash on my hip.

With renewed strength, I lunge forward and high kick her chin. She hits the ground and doesn't move.

Marco, the other boy I saw yesterday, slashes Xana across the face. She backs away and brings her hand to her cheek. He punches her to the ground, knocking her out. He grabs her arm.