Hetalian Protectors

Life's Uses

My heart was constricting by the second, but one sentence made my blood turn to ice, the nonchalant words filling the otherwise silent room, "It's a good thing that they got the countries out of that house though. We still have our bargaining chip. They won't fight us."

My mind was racing. What were they talking about? I don't understand. I tried to tear my eyes away to look at France or America, but I couldn't look away. "Kyoko, what's-"

"Shit, I can't.... hold it... " Kyoko's voice was fading, and my head jerked down, eyes widening as I spotted her ashen face.

Then the world went dark and we arrived back in the kitchen, Kyoko unconscious, and a secret revealed.

One large enough to make me want to rip out my own heart.

*****

Magic blasted from my fingertips, creating a gust of wind so large it catapulted all the nations struggling across the court yard past the gate. It also slammed the doors shut, which automatically locked and prevented us from reopening them. I guess it also didn't help that Feli was the last one to have the key. We were stuck in this god forsaken place. With a very angry Oni.

I heard metal clash against skin, the sound of blood being spilled loud in the confined space. I flipped around, putting the entrance behind me. Opening the palm of my hand, I unleashed a massive blast of fire, aimed right at the Oni's head. The creature roared, it's grey head burning into a light black. It reared back, moving its foot to kick at Shranda, who was slashing at it from below.

She tried to jump away, but her injury from early had gotten worse, slowing her down. The Oni's foot caught her on her waist, the sound of bones crunching and flesh tearing making my stomach lurch. I heard myself screaming as she flew across the room, her body crashing into the wall and falling limp to the floor. She didn't get back up.

Rushing across the hall, I fell to my knees beside her, rolling her over to look her over. What I saw made me gag. A large gash had been opened along her side, starting from her navel and going all the way around her side. She was nearly cut in half, the only thing saving her the fact that she managed to dodge most of the attack.

Another yelp made me whip my head around, my eyes instantly spotting Maddox and Anwar who were caught in the Oni's claws. It talons were digging into them, red spots appearing on the stomachs, arms, and shoulders. Jumping to my feet, I aimed an ice attack this time, picturing the veins and muscles in the Oni's hand freezing over. Immediately the monster's hand shattered into pieces, Maddox and Anwar falling to the floor where they frantically crawled away.  

Ashen was on the stairs, both of her guns in her hands. She fired off round after round, gunshots ringing in the air. The Oni, with its hand missing, turned to her, probably planning to chuck her across the room as well, but instead it took a face full of bullets. Its body tipped over, the creature falling to the floor where it laid still. A eerie calm covered the room.

Looking over at Ashen, we nodded at each other, both of us heading towards the Oni's motionless body. A black liquid was spreading across the floor under it. I tried not to step in any as I got closer to it. Who knows what the blood of this thing was capable of? It wasn't until we were right over it that I noticed its moving eyes. Terror rushed through my veins. I turned to shout at Ashen when the monster's arm came up and knocked us both backwards. I felt something in my chest give way, a sharp pain passing through my body.

I hit the ground hard, my body rolling until it hit the wall. Gasping for air, I tried to raise my head. All the air in my lungs was gone and something didn't feel right. My side was covered in a flaming pain, my midsection slowly going numb. Closing my eyes, I focused on my friends' energy's, even though they were quite weak. Whispering, I spoke the words of transport, a green glowing coming off my bruised body. A green circle appeared beneath me.