Sky Forever

Chapter 25: How to Kill an Immortal Man

The gash in his neck had gone completely, as if it had never been cut open. The Immortal Guard grinned menacingly at us. He held his bloodstained sword in his right hand.

 "Never thought I'd see you again." He growled, "Alive, anyway."

"Well today, we're going to see you dead!" Amber replied.

"I wouldn't count on it!" He said.

He brought his sword up and swung it at Amber. She swiftly dodged it and went to stab her dagger into him. But he was prepared and jumped out of the way. I took a few steps back, loaded an arrow into my bow and aimed it at him. He swung his sword at Amber again and I released the arrow. It ploughed straight into his Adam's apple. He was knocked back onto the floor by the impact.

"Nice shot!" Amber said.

However, as we watched, he took hold of the arrow, ripped it out of his throat, and cast it aside. He rubbed his neck as blood poured out the wound, but he didn't look to be in any pain.

"Don't tell me he's actually immortal?!" Amber said.

"That's what he said the first time, remember?" I replied.

"I didn't think he meant it!" She cried.

"What? You thought he just got up from a slit throat like it was a scratch?"

She didn't have time to reply because the Guard was back on his feet. The wound where I'd shot him stopped bleeding and started healing up. He coughed a little.

"Where were we?" He asked, sarcastically.

The fight continued.

As The Immortal Guard and Amber clashed sword and dagger, I tried to figure out if there was a way to bypass his immortality. Maybe chopping off his head would work? But, another might grow in its place. Or two even!

I aimed another arrow, this time at his chest. Maybe his heart was the key. I fired. Once again, he didn't see it coming and he fell back. Although, even quicker than last time, he ripped the arrow out and got up.

"Looks like I'll have to deal with you first!" He snarled, advancing on me.

Then Amber jumped from behind and ran her dagger through the back of his head. He halted for a moment, but then reached back, took hold of the handle and wrenched the weapon out of his skull. He then threw the diamond dagger over the house we were next to and into the battle beyond.

"How the hell do we kill you?!" Amber cried.

"That's the problem, isn't it?" He said, "How to kill an immortal man!"

"Guys, I found you!" Came a voice.

We all looked to see Ryder running up to us.

"And who are you?" The Immortal Guard asked.

 "Their friend." Ryder said, "Who are you?"

"The question you're looking for is 'What are you?'" Said Amber.

"Rich talk for a defenceless girl who just lost her only weapon." The Immortal Guard replied, turning to look at her.

"Well, I haven't lost mine." I said, raising my bow to the back of his head and firing.

The arrow collided with the back of his skull. Brains and blood spurted out and the arrow went straight through. He collapsed onto the floor, his head in pieces.

"Woah!" Ryder yelled, "I think I'm going to vomit!"

I felt like vomiting too, but I figured it would be best not to.

However, something horrific started happening. All the parts of his head started crawling back towards his body, like tiny, disgusting creatures.

"What the hell is going on?" Ryder whimpered.

"He's immortal..." I said.

"Even after his head explodes apparently..." Amber added.

Eventually, all the parts reached the body and slowly started moulding together.

"We need to figure out a way to kill him, before he's back!" Amber said.

"I think I have an idea." I said, "But, it requires burning down a house."

"It'll be worth it." Amber said, "A lot of them have already burnt down anyway!"

Suddenly, The Immortal Guard was back, coughing and spluttering.

"What's the plan, Jared?!" Ryder asked.

"Amber, we need something to start a fire." I said, "We'll get him in one of the houses and burn it down with him in. That'll at least have him gone for a while."

"Okay!" Amber said.

She went to run off, but suddenly, the Guard was back on his feet.

"Not so fast!" He said, grabbing her arm.

"Get off me!" She shouted.

Ryder raised his sword and came running towards the Guard. The Guard let go of Amber and brought his foot up to collide with Ryder's gut. Ryder was kicked back onto the ground.

The Guard leaned down, took hold of Ryder, and his sword, and dragged him to his feet.

"It's futile, boy." The Guard growled. He spat in Ryder's face. Ryder spat back.

The Guard brought the sword up so the point was on Ryder's chest. I reached back for an arrow but I found I had none left.

"All out of ammo?" He mocked.

"Let him go." I said, trying to sound threatening.

The Guard just chuckled, "Or what? You'll kill me? You've already tried that several times!"

He turned back to Ryder, "I think it would be best if we took you out of the equation. It would weaken these two and I could finally kill them both."

Amber jumped towards him but he batted her away with a punch. She coiled back.

"If either of you move, this sword goes through his chest." The Guard threatened.

Ryder struggled, but the Guard's grip was too tight. Amber and I both stood there, speechless.

"Anything to say?" The Guard taunted, staring in Ryder's face.

"Don't kill him!" Amber screamed.

"Kill me!" I yelled.

"Oh, don't worry," The Guard, "I'm definitly going to kill you. But, I'm going to kill this one first."

I could see the fear in Ryder's eyes. Not the same fear that I saw when we found Lonely Soul, not the same fear I saw when we woke up in Janey's cave. This was real, raw fear. There was something about the Guard that brought out pure terror in Ryder. And in all of us.

I looked across at Amber and I could see tears forming in her eyes. This was the first time I'd seen her geniunly afraid.

The Guard chuckled.

I looked back at him and watched as he ran the sword straight through Ryder's torso.