Madeline

Madeline: Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Time moved slowly for Madeline. As her hands searched for Jack's hands, she fell harshly towards the ground. The winds were blowing Madeline's hair. The pressure of the air made Madeline felt a little dizzy. All she could see is Jack and Daniel, which were shouting things and looking at her direction. All Madeline could do was give a little smile back at them and pray for a miracle to happen.

In just a split second, Madeline's fragile body hit the ground hard. The force created by the gravity and the thing that pulled her out of the bird was enough to crack one of Madeline's bones. As she landed on the dirt, a tremendous pain started to rush through her body. The pain was unbearable, as Madeline screamed in pain.

Madeline felt as if she was about to go unconscious. Her head was spinning wildly, and everything that she saw were coloured black. Panic started to fill Madeline's brain. Her heart was thumping wildly. Blacking out now wasn't the best option, as the enemy might attack Madeline once she had lost her consciousness.

Madeline took a deep breath. She relaxed her muscles, as she tried to recollect herself. Madeline closed her eyes and took a continuous deep breath. Her heartbeat slowed down. Panic started to fade from her brain. She tried to smile, as smiling relaxes the body and creates natural pain killers-as studies have shown.

After a quick twenty second, Madeline felt her body was tranquilized enough. The feeling of fainting has gone. Madeline slowly rose to her feet, even though she was still shaking. She looked up at the sky and she saw Jack and Daniel, ordering the bird to land. The bird did as instructed.

Swiftly, yet gracefully, the raven spreads its wings and made a sharp turn to the right. Once it was ready to land, it ducked down, making Jack and Daniel a bit startled. As they're approaching the ground, the raven started to slow down, and began to change into its landing position. It smoothly landed without any turbulence and bumps.

Jack was the first one to jump out of the bird. "Maddie!" he ran as fast as he could as he saw Madeline, who was standing straight, still shaking but standing. Jack couldn't see her face. All he could see was Madeline's back. "Madeline, are you okay?"

For quite a long time, Madeline just stood there, silently. As if she has been transformed into a statue. Jack was now only a meter away from Madeline. He could see her soft hair as it glistened. "Madeline, why are-"

Jack stopped in the middle of his sentence. The sight in front of him was enough to shut his mouth. All he could do was glare, and took the knife his father gave to him out of his pocket. He pointed the sword menacingly, "What do you want?"

Both Madeline and Jack were left looking at the silhouette beneath the trees in front of them. The silhouette began to split into two, and then three, and then four. Daniel who was left behind, caught up with them, only to find himself confused. "What's going on?"

Jack whispered, "Draw your swords. Now." Daniel quickly did what he told, although still confused by what danger lies ahead of them. "Just keep quiet. When we attack, you also attack. Just be on guard. Anything could turn from bad to worse." Daniel just nodded.

One of the silhouette cackled maliciously. As the four of them stepped forward, Madeline was still left statue-like. She didn't move a single inch, and she didn't speak a single word. Jack and Daniel were battle-ready. As one of the silhouette moved forward, Madeline whispered something. Her voice was obscured by the loud winds blowing through.

Suddenly, Madeline altered her stance. She rests all her weight on one leg, and she pointed her index finger into the ground in front of them-which separated the silhouettes and them. She chanted something. Jack and Daniel looked at Madeline, speechless and confused.