Wingless [Complete]

Chapter 30: Scales Tipped

I had drawn myself together and managed to get everyone else to calm down before it went really downhill. I can still see in their eyes how they want someone or something to nag on, and even Isabella wasn't speaking to her brother. Still, Corrin wasn't the one to take this all out on, and if the one who got hit told the rest to settle down, then they listened.

However, despite Corrin's remorse and my assurances, Lina still sat in front of me and Lucas had drawn me to sit against his chest. Ryan also looked ready to jump up at any minute as he guarded Alicia, and by extension, Kaylie. I must also admit that I, myself, was tracking Corrin's movements carefully for any sudden movements. The ache in my chest wouldn't let me forget and move on.

The fire and the wind weaving through the statues behind us seemed definingly loud with the absence of chatter mixed with tension and adrenaline. We were all on edge, and reasonably so. I personally would've taken a chance with that castle, but since it was an unknown entity and the vines out here were a known one, I saw reason and agreed with everyone. Doubt any of the others were getting much sleep.

I glance over at Isabella for a second. Would she still need sleep? Could we set her as lookout while the others slept if she didn't? I don't know where to put her. Where to catigorize her. Either way, was it not only fair since she suggested that we stay out? I shake myself mentally. She had only been saying what everyone else was thinking, myself included.

The wind howls louder. Even it sounds lonely here in this lifeless wasteland. I shiver involentarily, and Lucas tightens his grip around me, pulling me closer. I wasn't cold but the comfort of having him look out for me was . . . well I wasn't going to turn it away. I settle into him and close my eyes, trying to rest. Trying to quiet my mind and trying to get some sleep.

With the way my mind was whirring it didn't seem like a plausible option any time soon. Still, I tried. There was no harm in trying, now, was there?

Where Kaylie has tripped and fallen lay a statue on the ground. Just like all the other, it had a solid grey colour and full of elaborate detail. What was not the norm was we had recognized it. It wasn't another nameless statue to us. Oh no, it was someone we didn't want to see. Someone who stood, albeit immaterial, right by our sides.

Isabella.

She lay on the ground. Arms and legs flung out and twisted into grotesque positions. If she wasn't made of stone, one would've thought she was either asleep or perhaps dead. Eyes closed and face relaxed, she was the most peaceful statue I had seen, if not for the obvious scrapes and cuts all over her body. Fatal ones too.

Looking down apon this familiar statue, was only one natural conclusion. "Dead." Corin had whispered, voice hoarse. "You're dead, aren't you?"

It was almost instant, the change in everyone. There was no time to grieve with revelation. Seeing Isabella as a statue meant that these statues around us were once living people. Living people who were obviously running in fear of something.

"They're running away from the castle." Isabella pointed out. "So why are we heading towards it? We need to get away."

Ryan looked at the sky. "And if we want to set up camp before sunset, we need to get away fast."

Sure enough, the sun had begun to set by the time Kaylie had tripped. So everyone gathered a last little bit of strength and gotten right to the edge as fast we we could. Still inside the fog and far away enough from the edge of it too, but far, far away from the castle.

Now we sat here, surrounded by statues and everyone using the last remnants of their magic to protect us. Kaylie and Alicia working together to secure the ground. I felt nauseous with the effort to keep up the dome, and it was much lower, smaller, and closer that ever before. Sheer will and determination was all that kept it alive.