Tale of Chaos 2: This War of Ours

Chapter 26: Overdrive

Riverflow's POV

My heart went into overdrive as I watched the door I had been beating on, which was stained with blood from my hopeless attempts at escaping, slide upward.

I almost laughed.

Am I free?

Slowly, I walked out the door and looked to the sides. I was in a hallway.

"GAH!"

Pain darted through me, searing all around my body and going down to the bone. Tears fell from my eyes as I dropped to my knees. It was as though something were being pulled away from me, from deep inside. The pain worsened, as that thing seemed to run away from me. Escaping.

Everything stopped as the pain reached its climax. Agitatedly screaming, I collapsed onto my side. Sweat cascaded from my pores. I felt as though I were walking in fog for a few seconds...

With weak eyes, I looked up at the door, unable to move. I thought I could see... three girls.

Their voices seemed distant, as if I was underwater.

"Riverflow... get out of the way!"

Wait, why did I---

They were closer to me now. Suddenly, they almost completely filled my vision.

I felt them slam into me and roll over me, carrying me along with them. We crashed into the ground a few paces away.

And then a giant ball of flame exploded through the door, as though an atomic bomb just exploded, complete with a mushroom cloud.

We backed away from the explosion. I could feel the heat of the flames licking my face, even though I was literally many meters away. I shielded my face with my sleeved arms.

"Riverflow!" they squealed.

Wait...

"Pyroclast, Rocksworth, Eon!" I replied with glee.

At least some others were alive.

We almost embraced.

"The explosion's cleared," Pyroclast announced.

"We have to get out, but I wonder how Cyclone's feeling..." Rocksworth giggled.

"What's so funny? We could plunge to our death soon," I watched Rocksworth, who was still giggling.

"Seriously, what's so funny?" I almost demanded.

She tried to hold it in.

"Sorry, it's just... Cyclone. Like you, he doesn't really have... a shirt. He was laying on his back out there while Chaot and some creatures were battling. I wanted to help him, but he started sparking. I felt like something bad would happen, so I came to help you."

"So you like him shirtles---"

She swatted me at the stomach, which stung more because I was sans shirt.

"Shut up," she demanded, albeit mirthfully.

I stood up, the girls coming along with me.

"Once we get out of here, the boys and I will get some shirts on."

Eon and Pyroclast cut in, "Definitely. Let's--"

She gasped.

"Why?" I was alarmed.

"Y-your back..."

"I promise you, it's nothing. Chaot whipped me a while ago and I'm doing a bit better now. So, let's go, alright?"