The Sacrifice: Forgotten | Loki | Book 1

Chapter 16: Verdict

(Loki's/Tom's P.O.V.)

I fought in vain, fought to remove the hammer from my chest, but it was too heavy. I could not breathe. The oxygen deficit made my vision blur. I began to see dark sparkles, and yet, I was only focusing on Caroline, who would be battered to death any second.

This blasted hammer would not move, no matter how much I tried. Suddenly, there were flashes everywhere, the grey walls were replaced by a spangled sky. The ground was not a mere street anymore, it was slippery and brilliant, with thousands of colorful lines running through it. And Caroline was not leaning against an exterior wall of a house anymore, behind her was a huge golden dome spinning at the speed of light and in the danger of exploding any moment.

I felt heavier than usual. Blood had gathered in my mouth. "If you destroy the bridge, you'll never see her again!"

Then, the vision faded and I was back, witnessing the death of my soulmate. He was approaching her menacingly and raised his hand.

"No! What are you doing!" I screamed and used all of my supernatural strength to move, but even I could not lift the hammer. He could not have her, she belonged to me! I yelled as loud as I could, probably tearing my own drum head apart.

"Please, don't! She is mine, you can't take her away!" I cried, maybe sobbing my soul out. I tried to take a last look at her, let my eyes caress her a last time before she died. She looked at me as well, with her eyes full of fear, sadness and regret. Certainly, she was having the same thoughts as me.

"I'm so sorry." Was she blaming herself for being murdered? It infuriated me even more. I raised my eyes to the night sky and begged voicelessly to who ever might be there watching our tragedy.

Please, if there is anybody out there in the endless universe, please help us. Help her.

The film of tears above my eyes amalgamated with the sinister sky above.

Suddenly, there was an incredibly loud noise. Something crashed down to the street, between Caroline and the giant monster. Whatever it was, it came out of a bright tornado. It seemed to be no more than light shooting down from the sky. As fast as it came, it vanished and left a bright, graceful silhouette standing there, facing him. The silhouette was assuming shape, and soon, it looked almost like a human.

The gleam completely died down, I could recognize the human. It was a woman, maybe around forty years old, but she looked so beautiful with her golden glowing skin and her royal gown. My heart skipped a beat in shock by how familiar she looked.

A strange feeling overcame my body, as if I wanted to stand up and embrace her and be comforted by her. That is why my rage increased when I noticed the monster approaching her, too. Oh, no, he would not kill two helpless, innocent women. Who was able to commit such an inhuman, cruel crime?

Alas, the foreign woman did not need any help. Effortlessly, she approached him and slapped his face - twice! - and grasped his ear. It looked like a mother scolding her son. She pulled him down to her eye level.

"Woman, I will - !

"No, you will not." She decided determinedly. She was whispering, seemingly casting a spell. The one who was supposed to help the innocents, the hero from my shirt, screamed, and fell lifelessly to the ground.

"Sweet dreams, my son." She said and turned to me. I could not believe my eyes. That woman had just defeated a giant I was unable to rout, and as if that were not enough, she did another thing.

Approaching me, she lifted the hammer effortlessly from my chest and tossed it away, where it landed next to its owner. I kept lying there, motionless and shocked, waiting for what she was going to do next. She put her hands on my cheek, stroking it like a feather. Her other hand was on my hair, likewise stroking it back. Her eyes were the softest blue I had ever seen, so innocent and harmless. The love she was exuding was different from the love I felt with Caroline, it was another way of love.