Air Kingdom

Chapter 16-The Man

"SERENA, ELLIA, SEIRO, EMILY, GET UP.!" I cried, hoping they would hear my hysterical words over the airplane's whirring engine. I snuck a peek behind me, praying they were still alive. After an agonizing second, they came out, with all their supplies and weapons. Relieved, I started flying over to them but paused when they started screaming words I couldn't hear. They frantically pointed behind me and I finally had the common sense to turn around just as the front of the airplane slammed into my body.

The wind got knocked out of me as I flew back from the death-defying impact. Something cracked as I began to fall towards Earth.

I couldn't move. My body was frozen as gusts of wind whooshed around me, trying to resist my weight. As my mind wandered off to strange possibilities, the pain nearly vanished when my mind embraced the thought of dying.

Pathetic. Someone in my mind said. Is this how you're dying? By your body shattering into pieces when you hit the ground? No. You have to get up. This isn't what Emma Fairthorn was destined for.

That voice was right. I'm not giving up. I will live.

With great strength, I rotated my body so it would be easier to shoot back into the sky. Every little movement caused a searing pain in my arm and hips, but getting hurt was a better option than death.

I focused, breathing in and out to get rid of the fear taking over me. Nothing happened at first, but my descent to Earth soon slowly stopped until I reached to a complete halt. My arms and ribs were shouting at me to fall and die to escape the agony spreading across me, but my mind had different ideas. I wasn't giving up this easily. It would take an army of 1000 Krey to stop Emma Fairthorn.

I prevented from looking down, knowing that if I did, it would break the little concentration I had at the moment.

When my heart decided not to burst out of my chest, I willed my body to fly back up to my friends. I staggered at first, using all my willpower not to fall. Steadily, I flew up, the cloud above me getting bigger and bigger by the second.

I relaxed, and I unconsciously flew without realizing it. At one point, I saw a dark figure, flying towards me in the sky. I flinched at the intruder and panicked. I increased my speed, trying to escape the possibly evil clutches of the mysterious person. It wasn't a good choice. My body cracked under the pressure of the sudden demand for speed.

I froze mid-air, and I couldn't control myself anymore. My arms and legs starting flailing around, hoping that it will help me regain balance. Instead, it made the pain worse and I fell even faster than before. The sky was starting to flicker as my eyelids grew heavier and heavier every meter I fell.

Before the darkness swallowed me, a pair of warm, strong arms cradled my fragile body.

Flowers were surrounding me in this enchanted meadow. It was impossible to fully see the whole meadow. It seemed to carry on as far as the eye could see. During the day, all the lovely plants shimmered and bloomed in the sunlight. I personally preferred the night. Under the moonlight, the flowers would glow in neon colors. Right now, sunshine covered me as I skipped around, searching for a patch of roses. I soon came upon one and I bent down to pick up the first rose I saw. It was beautiful and had no signs of decay. The petal was fuzzy and soft, just like a baby's blanket. It was emitting a strong floral scent.

As I plucked the rose off the ground, a man appeared. He had short brown hair, just like the sweetest chocolate in Air. His eyes were dark brown, almost black, but not quite there. He was probably the most handsome man I've ever seen.

The rose fell from my hand, making no sound as it hit the soil. I couldn't move. The beauty of this man struck me like Hudson's paralyzing arrow, only I had a better view in front of me. He came over, revealing his 6'2 height. He placed a hand on my check. I didn't resist him. The warmth radiating from his hand was gentle and sweet. That single touch completed me. His hand felt like no harm can ever come from it.