Spirit

Don't want to hurt the princess

         

"Search for the Elemental, quickly," Kim commanded. He pressed his body weight against me, pinning me to the wall. "I've got her."

    Johnson nodded and began to scavenge around the creaky house. Doors banged open and floorboards screamed in protest. Kim pushed me into corner and wrapped his fingers tightly around my throat. My nails desperately clawed at his arm but he remained unaffected. Johnson went on for a few minutes and then he rushed back to us.

    "He's not here. Where are you hiding him?" Johnson yelled at me.

    "Where am I hiding whom?" I asked, confused.

    "The Elemental, where is he? We know you're helping him."

    "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, terror emanating from my voice. Kim hand tightened on my windpipe, making it uncomfortable to breathe. Once again, I tried to pry his hand away but to no avail.

    Johnson grabbed my chin and yanked my head to look at him.

    "Where the hell is he?" he seethed.

    I remained silent, focusing on the air in my lungs and not the questions in front of me.

    "Where is the Elemental?" Kim screamed. His hand tightened to the point where I could no longer breathe. "Start talking or I will leave a trail of blood starting with you."

    "Screw you," I wheezed. Kim released some of his hold on my neck allowing me to take shallow breathes.

    Then I felt something slam into my left cheek. It stung ferociously. I rotated my jaw and heard it crack. God that hurt.

    Johnson returned his fist to his side with a glare. He brought his face inches from mine and said with disgust, "Fuck you, too, bitch."

    "You're better off asking a flagpole for answers because I'm sure it knows more than I do about Elementals."

    "You sarcastic piece of sh-"

    Johnson was suddenly ripped away and slammed against the wall on the opposite side of the room. Kim released his hold on my throat altogether and turned to focus on the new threat.

    Quickly, I sprang onto his back and wrapped my arm around his throat to form a choke hold. He grabbed hold of my arm and easily flipped me over his shoulder onto the wooden floors. Air rushed out of my lungs on the impact. My head throbbed, my senses staggered. My shoulder, which took the impact, ignited in pain. I rolled on to stomach and pushed myself on to my knees careful not to use my left arm.

    Johnson was pressed against the white wall, his hair blowing backwards as though he was in the middle of a storm. He looked like he was in pain, so much pain. It was as though he wanted to scream but couldn't. After an eternity his eyes rolled into the back of his skull. Upon the whites of his eyes being visible the winds stopped and he slid down the faded wall paper.

    Suddenly two figures burst through the doorway and chaos barreled through the room. One person carried fire in his hands, the other circulated by large stones. The flames illuminated the first persons face, one I had previously seen. His cautious expression morphed into one of fear.

    "Behind you," he shouted.

    An arm was once again wrapped around my throat, constricting my breathing. From the wretched stench, I knew it was Kim. His exhausted his breath onto the side of my face, a devilish grin across his face.

    "Not so fast, Alexander," he chuckled. "Don't want to hurt the princess."

    The flames extinguished in a clenched fist. The only source of the light in the room now was the moon.

    "Let her go," he said.

    "'Let her go?' 'Let her go?' Alexander, if anyone has trouble letting go it's you. Anyone could feel that delicious animosity you wear. You'll never be like your father dilly-dallying around for this girl. Chris, how do you know you can even trust her? She shows up just in time to save Alexander? That seems a little fishy to me."

    "He's right, Alex, let's go," Chris mumbled. He had short, dark hair and light eyes. His skin color pale and contrasting against his dark clothing.

    "Not until we help her."

    "She could be a demon for all we know."

    "She's not."   

    "She could b-"

    "She's not," Alexander yelled. "Don't you believe me?"

    Chris stood quietly.

    "He doesn't, Alexander. I can feel it. You can too," Kim spoke up. His scowl had turned into a grin. He perked up at the brewing conflict, drinking it in like a dying man in a desert. "Some friend he is."

    Christopher muttered, "Let's just go, Alex."

    "Doesn't he anger you, Alexander?"

    Alexander's hands and forearms ignited, fueled by the betrayal. He turned his body toward his friend, his stance hostile. Christopher's eyes widened at Alexander's sudden behavior.

    "Alex, listen to me-"

    Alexander swung his arm and flames shot out directly towards Christopher. Christopher swiftly held his hands up and the fire disappeared. Alexander thrust his hands outward and Christopher shot across the room and crashed into the wall behind him. Picture frames swung wildly, some falling down.

    "Alex-" Christopher cried. He choked on his words. No, he was simply choking. He gagged, struggling for breath. I looked towards Alexander. His arm was raised, his fist clenched. Christopher grabbed desperately at his own neck as if he could somehow release the hold on him. Alexander raised his other hand to commit another offense.

    "No, no, stop this," I whimpered. I could feel him smiling so I muttered to Kim, "You're a monster."

    "Honey, that's the whole idea."

    Alexander closed his hands and then wildly swung his fists in rapid repetition. He looked insane punching the air so viciously. However, the rocks Christopher had brought were now colliding against his chest, his shoulders, and abdomen. I could hear his grunts, his scrunched nose visible in the moonlight.

    "Stop," I whispered. I stared at Alexander and commanded, "Alexander, stop this!"

    His body suddenly halted. He dropped his hand and Christopher slumped to the ground with a coughing fit.

    "Alexander, Christopher is only worried about your safety. He means no harm to you. You nearly died tonight, he's only being protective of his best friend. He's not your enemy. Kim-"

    Kim tightened his arm around my throat, apparently not amused by my negotiations. He held on tighter than ever before, like a snake choking its prey. My body could only gasp- or attempt to gasp for the precious air the room had to offer. My eyes darted around the room searching for some sort of help.

    Alexanders back was facing me, his shoulders hunched over, breathing heavily. He turned towards me and threw a punch at the air in front of him. A second later a large stone came flying in my direction and collided into Kim's face. The force knocked the both of us backwards. I fell onto the hardwood floors, my breath escaping me yet again tonight. Kim's arm was slackened around my neck so I rolled away from him, careful not to put much pressure on my shoulder.

    Kim's nose was now bleeding profusely. He lay unconscious, yet I rose to my feet with caution. My body ached and burned, not used to physical pain. It felt weak, exhausted. I felt weak to be so affected by my abrasions. I collected myself and staggered towards Alexander.

    "I deserve answers," I stated.

    Alexander simply nodded.

~

A/N: I'm very sorry for the long ass wait. It was cause by both a writers block and a busy schedule. Developments may continue at a slow rate, I'm not sure.