Strange Magic

The East Circle

Jenna materialized on her feet this time beside Adrian a few distance away from the building. She felt proud. She scanned the building. Instead of spires, the building was spread out. It stretched for a good distance in its green and white splendor. It looked like some kind of enormous institution.

"Well I gotta say, it wasn't that hard!" Jenna exclaimed proudly.

"Don't speak so soon, smart mouth," Adrian teased, making his way toward the building. "You never know what could happen."

"Why do you fret so much Adrian?" Jenna said, skipping around. Her spirits were high. "We're just gonna go in, deliver this case and go back and earn some respect. What could possibly go wrong!? It's ju-

"Hold on," Adrian stopped suddenly and held up a hand.

"Wha-

"Something's wrong," Adrian said, his expression suddenly grim. He stood there motionless, his eyes darting everywhere.

"Adrian," Jenna mumbled, looking around. "You're freaking me out you know that? What's going o-

She stopped short when she noticed something. Her high spirit was immediately dampened by the sight before her eyes. Blood gushed to her temples, her heartbeat pounded so fast she felt she was about to get a heart attack.

Her eyes couldn't believe the sight of a dead bloody body hanging on the porch. It was terrifying but what was more terrifying were the piles of headless bodies stacked on top of each other on either side of the main entrance. At first she thought it was some kind of decoration but that was far from it. And then the stench followed. Jenna puked and choked while Adrian cursed. It was true she'd been in the face of death many times but she'd never seen a dead body before. She never thought she'd live to see this kind of massacre. Hearing it from someone and actually witnessing it is like worlds apart. She thought she would die seeing the gruesome sight, it wasn't like anything she'd seen before. Stuffs like that only happens in TV.

Before she could get over her shock and fear, a ball of fire fell from the sky, straight at her.

"Jenna watch out," Adrian shouted.

Jenna turned her head in time to see Adrian being blasted off several feet from her. Apparently he used a protection shield to try to save them from the fireball but the magic was too powerful.

"No!" Jenna screamed, scrambling to him. "Adrian!"

Adrian lay on the ground, some of his skin peeling off. He was trying to get up but he was struck really badly. Jenna didn't know what to do. She trembled like jelly beside him, too afraid to do or say anything.

"Jenna," he said feebly, trying to get something from his pocket. "You need to get out of here."

"Adrian," Jenna cried. "I'm not going anywhere without you."

"Take this," he said handing her a teleporter. "Get away as far from here as possible."

"No, Adrian, no," Jenna sobbed frantically. "I'm not leaving you. I'm gonna heal you. We'll both get out of here."

Jenna placed her hand upon Adrian who was lying on the ground.

"Jenna Jenna Jenna," Adrian chanted his chant and smiled weakly. "The last time I remember, you burnt my plant instead of healing it. I can do better without another heat stroke."

"Adrian I..." Jenna trailed off. She knew he was right. It was no time for experimenting.

"Just go, Jenna," he begged. "I'm already half dead. Don't let this go in vain."

Jenna wasn't willing to go but the sight of three flying sorcerers coming towards her made her think twice.

"Go!" Adrian yelled.

With one last glance at Adrian, Jenna jumped into the portal but not fast enough. One of the sorcerer who was faster than the other two caught up to her and grabbed her arm as the portal closed, distracting Jenna.

It was pouring where Jenna materialized. She had no time to scan her environment as she was thrown hard on the ground by the sorcerer. By now, Jenna was drunk in anger and grief over what had happened back in the East Circle that a wild side of her surfaced. She got up and growled as she dashed toward him in full fury. It caught him in surprise and sent him flying backwards. But he was up again in a trice. Both of them came running at each other, screaming with savagery. They were both knocked down to the wet ground. Jenna became numb to pain, her emotions overriding it. This time Jenna got up first. She stood there and panted like an animal.

Use the rain in your favour.

A voice spoke to Jenna. She turned around but saw no one. It took her a few moments to realize that the voice was coming from inside her head.

Air...

Jenna had no idea what to do but she decided to give it a shot anyway. Summoning her strength, she focused on the rain holding her arms out wide and then pushing it in front of her in one swift movement. She felt a strain. Like she was actually pushing something. And right before her eyes, the falling rain, water on the ground and the air and mists around headed straight and fast at the sorcerer like magic. He tried to block out the spell but it threw him back. Jenna heard a sickening crack as he landed head first on the concrete. She marched toward him, the fire in her heart still raging. She towered over her attacker who was groaning on the ground and looked at him with burning hatred.

Finish him.

Jenna stood undecided. She had never killed before. Just the thought that she was gonna kill someone bothered her, making her feel weak and relenting again.

No mercy. Kill him.

The voice in her head triggered another feeling. Suddenly the image of the fireball and Adrian rose before her eyes and she thought that the attacker doesn't deserve to live. Her eyes spotted an ancient dagger on the sorcerer's waist. She grabbed it and plunged it into his heart, screaming madly. The sorcerer gave a choke and died. Jenna pulled out the dagger and plunged it in his stomach again, thinking of how cruel the world has become. Pulled out, plunged in. She thought of Rose, how she lost her. Out, in. She thought of the mess she was in. She stabbed and stabbed the body, letting all her buried emotions out. She felt like a butcher, mercilessly slaughtering an animal but she didn't care. She was past caring. She heard footsteps behind her. She didn't care. She couldn't see through the tears and the rain and the blood. She felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She didn't turn around. She kept on stabbing the bloody body. She just wanted to die and let the nightmare end.

"Hunter, he's dead."