Soul Fire

Chapter 15 (1642)

France groaned, gulping in air desperately. Penny awake besides her, couching as she to drank in the wonderful gas gallon by gallon. Both girls exchanged a look, smiling slightly when they saw that the other was ok. Penny grumbled something, rubbing her temples.

"Alex?" She asked France, closing her eyes.

France sighed, not wanting to stand up. "Alex... Come on, kid."

No response. France opened one eye, frowning when she saw they were surrounded by darkness. She sat up, opening both eyes now.

"Kid?"

The word echoed in the expanse of nothingness. France nudged Penny, motioning for her to stand up.

"Hey Al?" Penny asked, looking around worriedly.

"Two Witch's labyrinths inside of one another?" France suggested looking around.

Penny shook her head, shrugging. "This is new..."

France hummed in agreement, "Maybe Alex got up before we did?"

Penny shrugged, summoning her guns. "Let's go then."

France nodded, turning to walk in any direction, walking in the directions she believed Alex would have. This continued for some time, the two wandered about straining to listen to any sounds the darkness made.

Finally, they heard something that both gave them hope, and stole it in the same breath.

"Alex!" Penny yelped, running towards the sounds of chains.

France sprinted over to her friend, terrified of what she may find.

As they drew closer, they could hear Alex yelps and pleads, her sobs sinking their hearts.

Stopping abruptly, the two gaped at what they saw.

Alex was held up by chains, her wrists and ankles bent at odd angles. Her face was red, her eyes swollen. Her clothes were ripped and she was slashed across the chest several times, in her back, her own daggers were buried.

"E-eva?" She asked, her voice meek and soft.

France swallowed hard, placing a hand over her mouth when she saw who had done this.

Standing in front of her work, the widest smile on her face, was none other than Eva, a scythe in her hands. Penny shivered, around Eva's head was a blind fold bearing a hand and an eye, both glittered gold.

Eva's laughter rang out as she ruthlessly hacked at Alex, her twin's cries falling on deaf ears. France's body shook with anger, but it was Penny who raised her gun.

With one shot, Eva's body went limp, draping itself over Alex's. Alex let out a scream, to terrified to think, too scared to listen.

"Alex!" France yelped, tripping as she ran over to the younger girl, shoving Eva off of her. "Alex! It's ok! It's all going to be ok!"

Alex shivered, opening her eyes. She was to pained to cry yet tears escaped her eyes.

"F-france." She whimpered, weakly reaching out, only to yelp as the chains roughly jerked her hand back.

France wrapped her arms around Alex's bruised body. Penny gently freed the girl's hand from their restraints, followed by her feet.

Alex crumpled on the ground, her body shaking violently. France leaned down with her, rubbing her back. Penny stood guard, afraid something may attack them.