The Doomsday Book

Chapter 13

"What did you plan to do with your life? Before all this mess?" I asked.

"I mean, Hawaii's on the list. El Salvador is a good place to revisit; I have family over there. Human ones." Her eyes suddenly watered. "My little bro..."

I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Hey! Are you two ignoring me?" Present demanded with a scowl.

Delta turned her head to her, but I jerked her away, telling her not to look at the Fate.

"You hungry? I can go for some cookies right about now," I said.

"You glutton," she mumbled jokingly.

Present drew a golden arc with her pen and an arrow through it in the air, pulling the arrow back and sending it at us. It landed into the ground beside my ankle, cracking the concrete while spilling golden ink. I avoided touching it, not risking the same reaction I got from Past.

"Do you think I'm not formidable?!" the Fate of the Present snarled, drawing three arrows at once. "You think I'm weak?! Incapable?"

"IED, much?" I said.

The Shadow Knight quirked an eyebrow. "What?"

"IED. Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Basically, anger issues."

She unleashed the three arrows at us. I dodged one, only to have it turn around and impale my shoulder. I hissed in both anger and pain as the arrow melted back into ink, stinging my wound and mixing with my blood.

"Stupid Fates!" Delta cursed, slicing the arrows with her saber.

"Aerial Boost!" I shouted, crossing my blades.

"Why?" Delta asked, cutting into her second arrow.

"Trust me. I'll throw you at the perfect angle."

"You're not the best at aiming," she said doubtfully.

My face fell into an unamused expression. "You should've thought of that before you became friends with me. Now, come on! Aerial Boost!"

Delta sighed before rushing at me, saber brandished. She leapt directly onto the cross of my scythes, and I slung her upward, propelling her in an arc to the Fate of the Present. The Fate was shocked at our sudden act. This allowed Delta enough time to grab the Book from her hand. Angered, the Fate slashed at the Shadow with her pen. Delta had just enough time and momentum to flip over the Fate, dodging the blow.

"Monkey in the middle!" Delta cried as she threw the Book over the Fate's head.

I stumbled forward and barely caught it. A relieved sigh left my lips. "Warn me next time."

"Technically, I did."

"Not soon enough to prepare me!"

The Fate of the Present screeched in fury, drawing what looked to be fifteen arrows at once in a horizontal position.

"Oh gods, Artemis help!" Delta squeaked.

"If this doesn't kill me, I swear to Hades, someone better get me a damn milkshake!" I said, trying to cover my panic with exasperation.

The Fate's grey eyes glowed in what could only be described as majestic ethereality and hellfire. Her arrows' tips caught fire in what I knew was definitely from Hell. They were even more terrifying after knowing they didn't stay in one straight direction. Well, straighter than me, but that's besides the point.

"Kiara, hold on!"

Present released the missile-like arrows. I was about to jump and twist into a defensive stance when a dark something enveloped me like a shield. I thought I closed my eyes for a second, but wherever I looked, there was only darkness. It was only when the dark drew apart did I realize that Delta manipulated a film of shadow to shield me.

My eyes took a moment to adjust to the sudden change in lighting. The shadow had covered me from being impaled, arrows sticking out from it in all directions. I turned to Delta, eyes widening in horror when I saw her.