Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Eighteen

Seeing as I'm actually writing again (and I've written four new chapters including this one... weirrd...) I though I should publish another chapter nice and early :) Hope you enjoy! I'll publish the next chapter next week (if I forget please remind me, I have it sitting there waiting so...)

Archer took lead, then Ash, then me, and lastly Mekhi. I don't know how exactly Archer was following the path, because I couldn't see anything different from where we were walking to anything else. It was all mud, grass and reeds to me.

Archer occasionally crouched down to study the path more carefully, and then he would suddenly move forward a few more paces. Sometimes he would take a sharp turn, and even though the area was pretty clear, other than some large clumps of reeds, he was hard to follow. It was his cape. It was still strung around his shoulders and flowed down his back. The way it seemed to flow and move like it had a life on its own... it camouflaged him into the grey and green background like a mirror. It didn't make me feel sick anymore, only a bit lost.

Mekhi's tread was loud in my ears, the repetitive squelch and mush of mud underneath his heavy boots. He was still mad, and he's been quiet for a while now. We were almost there, only about fifty metres to go. Mekhi was probably mulling over his actions. I briefly wondered how he knew about the path... Archer hadn't seemed very happy about it. What did it mean?

"Archer!!"

The unrecognisable cry brought a chill to my very bones. Archer and Ash spun around in front of me, blue eyes wide and shocked. Archer drew his bow, placing an arrow in place with lightening speed. I turned back, only to face open air.

"Mekhi?" I murmured, confused.

"Archer- it's- help!" The terrified shout came from behind a clump of reeds as large as a car, half a block away. Mekhi's voice.

I started forward, but a strong hand clamped on my shoulder and pulled me back. Archer stepped in front of me. "Ash and Isaak stay here. If I tell you to run, run."

"But-" Started Ash. There was a sudden thud and grunt from behind the reeds, making Ash's eyes widen and he gasped.

Archer spun around and glared at Ash with an unrecognisable fury. "No buts. Do as I say." His voice held so much power and authority I felt like I should bow to him or something. Ash shut up.

Archer quickly darted around to the side where Mekhi was. For a brief second, there was a confused silence. Ash and I held our breaths, bodies poised for action.

"Mekhi! What are you-" There was a heavy thud and grunt. The sound of a sword being drawn.

There was an inhuman cry, one that sounded as if it were a strangled, wounded animal. Ash trembled by my side, took an uncertain step back.

"Archer, no!"

"Ash! Run! Don't-" Archer's scream was violently cut short.

Ash grabbed my arm. I faced him, and saw his horrified face, tears trickling down his cheeks from his blue, blue eyes.

"We need to go!"

He pulled me with a strength I didn't realise he had and suddenly we were running across the bog, ignoring the path we were meant to follow. We made it barely ten metres before our feet were sinking deep into the wet mud, up to mid calf. Our pace slowed to a stop, the mud was practically glue, holding us in place.

"Holy fuck, please no!" Yelped Ash, pulling hard on his leg with his own arms. I didn't move in fear of making my situation worse. Or maybe it was the adrenalin freezing me up.

I looked behind us, where the reeds still blocked our view of the two men who were meant to be bodyguards, locked in battle with god knows what and probably about to die. I looked back at Ash. Wasn't he meant to be so powerful? Like, super powerful?

"Ash!" I practically screamed. My voice broke. He froze and looked at me, his eyes bluer than ever. Fear made them brighter. "Use you chorren!"

He stayed frozen solid for the slowest second I ever did experience. Then he looked back at his leg, which he was still holding tight. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He muttered something under his breath – I could barely make out his words. It was: "Fuck me."

I would've laughed if it wasn't for the aura of death hovering above us. Archer and Mekhi were still shouting, but I couldn't understand their words now. I heard the harsh clash of swords. Hang on...

Suddenly I felt myself rising above the mud.

"Holy shhhhhiii..."

Ash's eyes were scrunched closed in thought, his hands facing the ground. A weird blue light, winding around like ribbons, surrounded him, wrapping around his arms and hands and running down into the ground. I don't know what he was doing, but it sure was working.

As soon as our feet broke the surface of the mud, we were running again, this time it was as if we were running on the blue light ribbons – Ash's chorren. It was holding us above the imprisoning mud.

"We... we made it!" Ash sounded both relieved and even more afraid as we hit dry, hard ground. He looked back into the bog. His eyes widened. I spun around too. And there was Mekhi, covered in grey and red. He seemed afraid, and was trying to make it across safely but didn't seem to know how. In his right hand was a sword. It was covered in red. That's when I realised the red colour on him was blood.

The blue light appeared again, reaching out to where Mekhi was, giving him a path, which he gladly took. Ash's left arm was outstretched, his hand facing palm forward. His eyes were closed, and he almost looked peaceful.

Suddenly Mekhi made it across to us too. His eyes were wide, his hands shaking with what I assumed was fear, adrenaline or both. His skin was barely visible underneath the grey mud and blood.

"We need to go." He stated, grabbing Ash's arm and dragging him into the forest.

Ash hit Mekhi's arm violently, digging his heels into the ground and shouting out a dry scream. Mekhi halted and looked at Ash as if he were crazy.

"Archer!?" Ash puffed, breathing heavily. He threw his head back to look behind me in the direction of the reeds.

"I couldn't... I'm sorry. I couldn't save him." Mekhi looked tired. Very tired. "We've got to keep going. He would want you to be safe."

Ash hesitated, still looking back to where Archer must still be. Slowly, he faced back and let Mekhi guide him forward. I reluctantly followed them.

My whole body ached with a seriously bad feeling. 

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