Tales of Aridia

The Bitter End

I slowly pulled the handle down and pushed the door open, stepping out onto gravel. I walked to the end of the car and opened another door. Holding my hand out to Elliana she reluctantly let me carry her from the vehicle. Max stepped out too, hanging his head shamefully. A few shards of glass stuck to Elliana's clothes which he picked off carefully. "We need a plan," He said. I nodded in agreement using the time we had to take a swig of water and let myself rest. I listened to the school bell and watched people file into their lessons, longing for one of those girls to be me. From the other end of the parking lot a boy jumped out of a car and wandered over to us. His posture was odd and he walked robotically, like someone was pulling his strings. "Do you need help?" Max asked, stepping in front of Elliana. The boy did not pay attention, but tilted his face towards me. "Lucy is waiting for you," He said, each word in the same tone. Max and I looked at each other, backing away cautiously. "We'll be there," I said hoping that he would leave.

And he did, I watched as the boy walked down the path and towards the cantine. "Maybe we should follow him?" Max asked. I smiled nervously, "Yeah maybe we should." Our footsteps dragged along the ground, as deep down we knew there was a fight ahead.  We approached the science classes, ducking our heads below the blue tinted windows and scurrying past the tall white doors. The boy disappeared around a corner, panicked we hurried along our path to find him.  I stopped suddenly, feeling a churn in my stomach. "You okay?" Max asked. I smiled weakly, "Jayden should be here," I said. He smiled back, "I'm sure he is." 

I looked back at Elliana, she had turned ghostly white and her hands started to shake. "Take this, only for emergencies," I said, planting a small dagger in the palm of her hand, the one which Lucy had given to me. Elliana perked up, suddenly feeling like she was "Apart of the gang." I stroked the back of her head and pulled her hair behind her ears. "We'll be fine," I said, as we turned to meet the boy. I recognized him, like I had seen him in one of my classes before. He must have been no older than I was yet his face was drawn out like that of a much older man.  

We stood there in silence for a few moments and then a pair of heavy footsteps stomped from behind. Another boy came out behind us, wearing the same blank expression. And again to our left, came a pair of stomping footsteps. More arrived till we were surrounded in a circle, which was daunting to say the least. "Who are you?" I said, toneless and full of adrenaline. "We are the twelve," They replied. Max stepped forward aggressively, "The twelve?" He repeated. "Lucy has changed us - made us better." The grumbled deeply, taking another small step ahead, tightening the circle.  "She has saved us from humanity. We are strong, powerful." They exclaimed reveling in the captive audience which they had. 

Their skin glowed with a tint of green, radiating from the veins which coursed through their veins. I frowned and Max noticed my confusion, "They're corrupted," He said. My eyes widened and I carefully followed the greenish lines with my eyes. "Something the matter?" One said from behind, making me jump. I shook my head, "N-no," I mumbled frightfully. Without thought Max grabbed my hand and we were teleported away. Soon his hand snapped away from mine and he pushed me and Elliana against a wall. 

Max pressed his finger to his lips, "Shh," He whispered. I held Elliana close as we crouched behind a door, feeling her beating heart against my chest. Although Max was trying to be the heroic one, that was my job and I had grown tired of just sitting on the sidelines. As the doors swung open and one of the twelve pounded through I released my grasp on Elliana and used my powers to buckle his knees and force his head towards the ground. Max looked up at me shocked, "What?" I asked, smiling. Max smiled back, deciding that maybe it was his turn to protect Elliana.

From the other side of the corridor the boy whom we had first met sped near to the stairs which lead to the door. Taking him by the throat I punched him in the ribs before crushing his skull into the stairs and watching him tumble back down. Max covered Elliana's eyes, although a tiny eye could still be seen peering through with curiosity. I turned to Max, "There is a spell that me and Hope did, to turn one of our eyes into anothers vision," I said. Max understood what I was leading onto and got up immediately to perform the spell. My vision became blurred and then I could see many faces of frightened girls and boys. "Are you seeing this?" Max asked, seemingly bewildered. I nodded, showing no time for conversation.