EXISTENCE

CHAPTER 24: Burning Blood

Adam let the tears fall as he clutched his dead friend tightly, thinking about all the memories the three boys had shared throughout their lives. Slowly and reluctantly, he laid down Gabriel's body and watched as the body began to solidify and harden.

Eve stood behind him, a dangerous look in her eye. "So it seems like what's left of his energy has swallowed him up, has it? Good...nothing and no one can interfere with me now."

Adam slowly stood up, his back against the witch. "Gabriel... Juan... I promise... I'll do my best not to get too wild..."

Eve cracked a small grin. "Oh? Not even the deaths of your friends could push you over the edg-" she quickly went silent. Lodged within her arm was a large blade, quickly and seriously wounding it. She looked back up at the boy, whose hand was raised, as though he had just thrown something. Adam turned to face her, his eyes as sharp and focused as they had ever been, giving off a faint, red glow.

"...But just this once, you guys won't mind if I go absolutely crazy, will you?"

Eve stepped back. "Wh...what's with you?!"

Adam quickly grabbed and retracted his sword from the woman's arm, eliciting a sharp scream from the woman, and quickly made a 360-degree motion, kicking the woman square in the face, sending her flying off to one side. He dashed after her, tossing his sword aside and bringing his fists together, cloaking them within a circle of flames. He swiftly brought the hammer down on the struggling Eve, burying her into the courtyard grounds. He brandished his sword again, and with both hands, raised it over his head, ready to impale the evil woman that cowered before him. He plunged the sword down.

Adam! Help me!

The boy stopped his blade just short of Eve's chest. He was confused; a voice had just called out in his head. He looked around to make sure there was no one else in the courtyard, save for a hiding Jasmine. He looked down and thought for a minute. The voice he heard was familiar - he'd recognize that voice anywhere.

...Hawa?

He looked down to Eve. "You! What did... what did you do to Hawa?!"

The woman raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Are you still pining for a girl you've known for barely a year now? You should focus on your dead friends-"

The boy inched his blade closer to the woman's face. "I'm pretty sure I just asked you a question."

The woman gave a sadistic grin. "Did you now? Well it might please you to know that the girl is gone, just like your pitiful friends." She cocked her head back. "You're all alone, little boy." She reached out to stab the boy, who reacted quick enough to avoid too much damage but putting up his arm in a guard stance, feeling the pain as the sword ran through his arm. He didn't wince, but watched as the blood burst from his arm. 

He smiled. "Now, now, is that the best you can do? I'd like it more if you were actually ready for me instead of playing stupid tricks. This is what you get."

His blood spilled on the witch's sword arm, and slowly, Adam began hearing a sizzling sound. He grinned. I thought so.

Eve let out a scream as she clutched her arm. "You little brat! I'll kill you!" She started to stand up before Adam ran through her shoulder with his sword, pinning her completely back down to the ground and eliciting another scream. With an expressionless face, the Algerian lifted his blade once more, directly over the woman's heart, and thrust.

But stopped at the last second. 

Laying there before him, bloody and injured, was Hawa, giving him a gentle smile.