r. d. rider

chapter 6

When I woke up, there were several people around me, Titania and natsuru included. All of them were dressed in rags and had either grey hair like natsuru, or red hair like Titania. I tried to sit up, but Titania pushed me down.

"You need to rest, robin. I might have a way... to save you, but you'll hate me for it."

"No, I won't Titania. But... does that mean, if you don't... I'm going to die?"

"... yes..." I could tell that Titania and natsuru were close to tears.

"Then do it. But... tell me what you're going to do first..."

"Greeds soul is still inside me. I could give it to you, but... you'll still be able to hear his voice. It's just like two souls sharing one body. You will still have the most control, but he could urge you to do something. It will give you the power boost that you need to survive until we get to bubblegum and sashimi outside with the med supplies."

"How did you know about the supplies? Oh, wait. It was natsuru wasn't it... anyhow, give me his soul. I can live with another voice in my head." I smiled gently at natsuru and Titania, who both smiled back, before preparing to transfer greeds soul. It didn't require magic to do a soul transfer, so we should still be able to do it. Titania lies down next to me and the other people around her drew a circle and two squares. That should do it. I closed my eyes and me and Titania joined hands. She transferred greeds soul to my body through the circle and suddenly, I could hear his voice.

Why am I in your body now? I like the other girls much better.

What?

Yeah, you heard me. I'm in your body now. I'm just as thrilled as you are, but if you want to get along, then, you have to eat one taco every day. Follow that and I'll keep quiet.

Okay?

Cool. So you need to eat one tonight.

Cool. Now you need to be quiet.

Yep.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and jumped as several people started talking to me. They were all from the group from before.

"You're robin, right?"

"You destroyed greed, right?"

"Are we finally free?"

"What?" i knew and perfectly understood what they were saying but... were they the ones that greed enslaved?

"Guys, guys, calm down." suddenly, titania was in front of me. She had apparently already recovered from the soul transfer. "Yes, this is robin, the one that i told you about, but she is injured. We thank you for helping to draw the circle and to wake her up, but you can't all talk to her at once."

"Titania... it's fine... i'm fine. Just tired is all."

"R-robin? Is th-that you?" i recognized that voice. Was he...? Was that...?

"Austin...?" was he really here? James's brother?

"AUSTIN!" i leapt forward and wrapped austin into a tackle hug.

"R-robin! where is james?"

"We... had to split up so that she could find an exit. She should be waiting outside and we'll see her then."

"oh. thank you, robin."

Titania and natsuru helped me get up and i told everyone, "guys! Be quiet! We need to get out! Titania remembers a way out, and we'll go through that! From now until we reach the exit, we follow her!" there were a few nods and some shouts and cheers, but most of the people just stood there and followed, and even though they were free, they all seemed sad. I suppose that they should be, though. Most of them probably had friends and/or familly who would have died here. They can't just forget that. Austin still talked with a stutter, which i don't mind, because i missed him. We had been great friends and him and james had considered me like their sister. I missed those days where we could just relax.

"So, austin, how did you get captured and brought here? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"oh, um... 4 years ago, when this 'magic' thing started, people at school started to get scared of me because none of them had magic yet and i did. Me and james ran away and met you. You helped us escape from the police. You already knew that, but it's part of the rest of my story. We lived with you in your shack and, when the bog took over that area, i was out gathering things in the nearby woods. you two were at the shack and probably fled when it was crushed. I tripped and called out to you, but you didn't hear. my foot was trapped and then a man who i presumed worked for greed pulled me out and took me back to the tower. I met nats and nia and they taught me sign language and they were nice to me. After that, i just tried to stay a-alive."

"Austin... i assume that nats and nia are natsuru and titania?" he nodded and i hugged him. I missed him so much and i can only imagine how hard it must have been for james.

We had been walking for easily 25 minutes and i was starting to feel the effects of having so many injuries. I had to rely on austin for some support in the last few minutes. I'm glad that he let me do that. It was another few more minutes before i had to ask a few people to carry me. They laid me down on a cloth and each person grabbed one corner. They were the strongest people there so that they wouldn't drop me and risk injuring me more. We walked on for another half hour until titania called out, "10 more minutes everybody! We're doing great!" austin came up to me to check on my injuries and slowly, his face changed to an expression of shock and sadness when he saw how much i was hurt and bleeding.

"Y-you did a-all of this f-for me?" it appeared that natsuru had told him everything.

"You're my best friend. I would do anything... to free you from captivity... after all, you would do the same thing..." by his face, i could tell that he didn't want me to do this for him, but he would have done it for me. Suddenly, i could hear cheering and cries of joy from the front. It appeared that we had reached the exit.

"Is that... th-the... sun?"

-/:/-:;(&&)(:)$&)(::;)$

hello! tanq for reading and the next chapter will be out soon!