Shell

Chapter 17: Goodbyes

-Artemis-

I was submerged and floating aimlessly in the dark waters of who knows where. I wasn't drowning but I felt no need to breathe either, the water didn't sting my eyes when they were open but I had no reason to keep them open either. I felt there was a lot of things I could be doing but I had no reason to do them, I was oddly relaxed about my situation. I began to close my eyes again when I felt something brush past my left leg, I immediately leaned my head up and began to scan for what was in the water with me. The water was very clear but it was as if darkness surrounded the faint light that was around me. After a few seconds of hopeless searching I relaxed and let my head fall back so I was parallel with the surface again when not a few seconds I felt something grab my left ankle and begin to drag me hastily through the water I tried to look at what was pulling me but as soon I looked I found myself at a beach. I felt the cool nightly breeze against my skin and the sand sink between my toes, I began to look around to find anything at all that would explain what was going on. Seeing nothing but the rolling waves and a crescent moon I sat down trying to contemplate what just happened, coming up with a blank I grabbed the sides of my head and ruffled my hair growling in annoyance.

"Thank you..." I heard a small voice come from behind me.

I turned my head to face a girl who strikingly resembled me except she didn't have cat ears and there were scars along her face.

"For what?" I asked.

"Y-you don't remember? You gave me food and a warm cloak last time we met." She looked really sad.

"Umm, I'm really sorry but I think you have the wrong person..." I replied carefully.

"You're not Kyle?"

That name caused a shock to my head.

"Yea-. Wait no, I was I think but I'm different now. I can't remember a lot of things. But my name is Artemis, whats yours?"

"I don't have one... Caren told me I was someone called Jack the Ripper, though I don't really know how I got that name."

Something told me that name had a dark history to it.

"Anyways I thought I'd tell you thank you before I gave your body back to you, it was nice being alive again but its not fair to you."

"You... Used my body?" I asked a little shaky.

"Yep! But don't worry I took really good care of it, promise!" She beamed.

Jack started to glow and went a little translucent before her image started to flake away like snow in the wind.

"Oh, it looks like  have to go now. Thanks again Ky-, eh Artemis. You can keep my knives when you wake up, they can cut through just about anything." She said with a smile before completely fading away.

I sat there confused as hell with only the waves and the moon for company before it all blurred out view as I finally opened my eyes.

-Ray-

I woke up with probably the biggest pain on the side of my head I've ever felt. I looked around and saw where my head had clipped a marble pillar taking a chunk off with it.

"Well shit..." I mumbled.

"Damn I thought we lost you haha!" I heard a familiar loud voice laugh.

I looked down and saw Marcus with a big grin on his face, Kyle was sat on the floor looking beat up but still happy at the moment. I looked at his bloody left arm and wondered what had happened. I sat up and began to head over to them when two other people entered the room, well one entered while the other was still asleep and being carried.