The End

Chapter 4 Kyros

  The scent of flesh burning filled my lungs as the crowd surged around me with cheers. Like waves in an ocean during a storm, bodies crashed into each other, pushing and shoving their way along. Cries pierced the air from within the swarming mob. Even though I had to fight my way through the crowd to get to her, I wasn't able to resist the pull I had when I heard sobbing. The sound was out of place among the cheers of the crowd. The curiosity overwhelmed me. It was almost a need to find out who was crying.

The sobs didn't come out all at once. No. Every now and again I could hear them escape the lips of the person. I was almost positive I had found the source when the crowd surged again, throwing me into someone. A girl who was about a head shorter than I was stumbled slightly while sniffling. She spun around to face me, saving herself from being crashed into. Before I could process what was happening, my arms shot out, wrapping around the girl's waist. She collapsed into my arms, burying her head into my chest as if it was instinct.

"It's okay." I whispered. My hand ran hesitantly down her head, not sure if I was soothing her, "It will be just fine."

She didn't speak what so ever. As the tears trailed down her face, I could feel the fight physically draining out of her, bringing her body closer to mine. I tried my hardest to slowly navigate to the outskirts of the crowd, that way less could see her tears.

"Madam." I shook her arm slightly, trying to get her attention. "Excuse me ma'am, but I would like to inquire your name." I spoke quietly, much more polite than I would usually use.

"Who uses the word 'inquire'?" The muffled sound came from the thin fabric of my tunic. Even muffled, I could hear the pain in her words. She lifted her head just slightly, putting space between us, and loosened her grip on the bottom of my tunic, which I hadn't noticed she was clutching.

I hesitantly smiled despite the current events. She just went from sobbing to busting your balls. Just from her one statement I could tell all of her fight hadn't fizzled out.

"I guess I do now. I still don't know your name though." Once she spoke, the atmosphere between the two of us had begun to lighten. Sadness hung around her, holding onto her tightly, yet she was still able to call my bluff.

"Uh," the hesitation in her voice was evident, "you can call me Vixen."

"Well Vixen, are you okay now."

There was a pregnant pause. Then she finally whispered almost inaudibly into my chest. "I'll never be okay again."

I didn't know how to respond. At first I wasn't even sure I heard her correctly. Once I was for sure on what she had said, I made sure to carefully pick my words.

"Well that can't be." I took a step back so she could clearly see my face. "Never implies forever, and that is a really long time. The way you were able to immediately jump on how I asked your name showed you have quite a flame." I paused for a moment and smiled. "I'm almost positive that flame will burn out the bad things over time."

She paused, almost as if she hadn't expected that many words from me. She opened her mouth for a moment before shutting it once more.

"I be-" she hadn't even gotten a full thought out before she was cut off by a small patter of footsteps.

"Kyros!" Skye called out to me. "Kyros, Kai needs to talk with you." She grabbed onto my sleeve totally ignoring Vixen.

"Gods." I dropped my arms from around Vixen's waist so I could grab Skye's arms. "Skye I told you to stay where you were for a reason. Hurry back and remember what I told you. I'll be there in a moment."