Raging Storm {book 2 in SOSfanfic series} [ON HOLD]

Red Dawn

Veer had hardly hit the sand when Reyna lunged on top of him; teeth, claws and daggers bared like a tigress. The cries of the small army as it charged to the camp rang loud and clear through the air. She had seconds, mere seconds before her window closed.

Swiping the dagger, she crouched and jumped, running away, too much in a hurry to notice where the dagger went.

She scrambled on top of the dune, slipping several times. Finally she made it to the top to see the army descent on the camp. The horsemen swiped their spears, tearing the tents off the ground. One shot flaming arrows to the pile of clothes littered here and there.

Reyna slid down on her stomach. She fumbled to find the jute cloth under which the rifle was camouflaged.

The cries lessened as the men realized no one was there. They looked around in confusion. Reyna's fingers slid across something hoarse in the sand.

The foot soldiers came pouring in from the brim, effectively adding to the chaos and the number of people, making all escaping horsemen reach the centre again.

Reyna rushed to adjust the rifle and take aim.

"It's a trap! Run!" The leader cried out loud.

The men scrambled to climb to the top, pushing each other down, cascading sand onto the horsemen, making it impossible for them to move.

Musa looked around the chaotic mess and saw a glinting piece of silver on the crest of one dune.

He narrowed his eyes. He saw it shift. Musa's eyes widened as he realized what it was. At that second, it fired. Musa closed his eyes waiting for the bullet to embed itself in his forhead, but the pain never came.

The bullet had whizzed past him.

Musa opened his mouth in a smile and thanks to God before he felt something burst with a loud bang and he was consumed by fire.

Boom

Reyna ducked behind her arm as the shockwave of the blast hit her. It shifted her away from her rifle. A mushroom cloud of fire and smoke billowed from the crater of sand. Then came the sound wave.

Reyna pressed her ears shut with all her might and screamed as the loud sound of the blast seemed to go on and on, unravelling her mind. When it finally ended, Reyna noticed that there were tear streaks on her cheeks.

She shifted forward to look at the sight in the target. Smoke was wafting from the still burning bits and pieces left inside the ring. Sand, which had been thrown up many feet in air, was raining down upon the mess. There was one man, alive, losing blood and skin to fire. She quickly put him out of his misery before he could suffer further.

As she collected her breath and stared at the aftermath, she felt that cold hollowness. And emptiness inside her. She remembered that she had grown so accustomed to this feeling that she used to live with it every second of every day. That is what made her best at who she was.

But as she felt it now, she realized that it had been a long time since she had felt this. She just hadn't noticed that she was slowly and gradually living a fuller and happier life. Well, as much as she could given the circumstance.
And now, as she glimpsed into the past, did she realize that she truly had changed.

Then maybe there was hope for her to have a life yet? A normal life.

Reyna stilled and blinked, not focusing at anything. Could she really do it? Have a happy, normal, boring life? A life without killing?

Suddenly the air felt cold to her. She was alone. She could never do it alone. Her skin prickled but she was too deep in thought.

She felt a pang of fear. She could never have what she wanted as long as she was alone. But neither did she know how to.... not be alone. She didn't know how to do that. Would she forever remain like this? Trapped between two worlds?

  
   
The Sun rose in front of her, majestic and just, washing the grey sands to gold. Reyna smiled softly. She would take this as a sign if faith, and of hope.

"Aack!" Someone cried out behind her. Reyna whipped her head around to see that man she had kicked holding aloft his dagger standing almost on top of her. He had a long deep cut across his jaw where she had cut him.

He was about to stab down when the Sun blinded him. Without thinking or feeling, she snapped into action. She kicked his legs and rolled out of the way as he fell face down onto the sand where she had been. She swung herself and sat atop him and he tried to turn, furiously  wrestling for the dagger.

As she tried to pry his fingers open from his iron grasp, she did not notice him sit up until she was straddling him and tilt them both back.

By the time she felt it, it was too late.
They both tumbled down the slope, a mess of limbs, muscle and punches.

They hit the bottom. The man sprawled on his back with the dagger clutched in his outstretched hand. Reyna came to stop on her stomach after rolling a little while away due to her lithe form.

For one moment they both tried to get their bearing. Reyna lifted her head and shoulders to see the man do so as well.

Reyna scrambled and lunged, a wildcat using her weight and claws, holding nothing back. The man tried to fold his leg under him so that he could come up kneeling and have an advantage.

Reyna went for his arm, which he quickly brought close to his body. Before she could turn and scratch him he caught ahold of her throat and pressed himself against her back, trapping her. His other hand placed the dagger at her neck.