City of Fire

Chapter Thirty-One

"Tidus"

He didn't catch her...

He didn't catch her...

The thought played over and over inside his head, causing his gut to twist and his heart to shrivel. She'd trusted him to protect her, but he'd failed. His lip curled into a snarl and he yanked his arm from Erin's healing hands.

"Enough!" He shouted. The air was still choked with smoke, creating a black fog but he could still see the young Dweller's flashing green eyes.

"Be quiet, Tidus!" Adrian hissed as he knelt down beside them. He was covered in sweat, his face smeared with ash and his eyes held a hard glint. Tidus glowered at him, anger engulfing him.

"We're just sitting here! She's out there with him!" He stood and looked around. The flames had long ago scorched the trees, leaving them blackened husks. They'd managed to flee up the path, but were now making their way back down where Ilona and Zane had fallen.

"He'll take care of her," Adrian quipped, his voice like a whip as he yanked him down, "he's proven himself multiple times. Our main priority is losing the corrupted Fire Dwellers and we can't do that with you bleeding and going on a tirade. Now shut up and let Erin take care of your arm so we can get moving." His words were firm, leaving no room for argument and Tidus knew he was right, but hated it all the same.

He let Erin tend to his arm, noting how impatient his fingers were. Adrian shifted, his eyes darting back and forth and Tidus clamped his jaw. They were all anxious, but something deeper gnawed at them.

"They said they weren't supposed to be here yet," Tidus growled and Adrian snapped his eyes over to him.

"Don't you think I know that?" He heaved out a pent up sigh and stood, crossing his arms. Tidus had never seen him so uneasy but his anger still clouded his mind.

"We shouldn't have stopped, you should have—"

"I should have?" Adrian all but spit the words at him. "She risked her life to save yours and you couldn't even grab her hand?" Adrian's eyes lit with fire as the wind picked up, "It was Zane, a monster, who saved her." Adrian whirled, his blonde hair streaked with dirt and ash. "And he's probably keeping her alive right at this moment," but as the words left his mouth an eerie laugh echoed off of the dead trees.

They froze...

It sounded like a child's...

Sweet and innocent, but in the sweet tones held something else, something darker and surprisingly menacing.

"We have to move," Tidus was on his feet and the other two Dwellers nodded. Together they turned and started picking their way down the volcano, careful to guard their steps. His arm hurt, but he pushed on, knowing that the others hurt as well.

As they descended the steep crevice his heart beat faster and faster. Worry clung at his heart, squeezing it until he couldn't breathe. What if Erin had only killed them by trying to soften their landing with his earth skill? What if corrupted Fire Dwellers were there, waiting for them? Or what if they'd already found them? Zane was still healing from his wounds and would have probably taken most of the impact, causing him further injury. He wouldn't be able to hold them off, even if he would have changed but that wouldn't be until another month.

The others seemed to know this as well and picked up the pace. It was hard to breathe and they held rags over their faces, but they could barely see. The climb down became dangerous, but they managed to reach the bottom. The once thick forest was now silent and they scanned the area.