Rika of the Dawn ⚠ short hiatus ⚠

Crimson Fire Pt. 3

I give you my most sincere and 100000000000000000 apologies for this soooooooooooo lately delayed chapter. PLEASE FORGIVE THIS AUTHOR!! It's not as long as the others, but I hope this satisfies you!!! *wails in patheticness* forgive meeeeeeeeeee

word count: 1254

Hak was weakened by that arrow. I knew it. His movements were lagging. Like a drunkard, he slurred. 

And then Yona. She came out of her hiding place. What in the world was she thinking?! I couldn't climb the ledge to protect her from Tae-Jun, who she is facing at this second.

"Watch out, Rika!" 

I snap back to my sticky situation and nearly dodge the swing of a shiny blade.

"That's it! Corner them!" A soldier yelled.

"Stay back!" I shout, well knowing they wouldn't just stop and back away. 

And they didn't. They kept piling at us like nats on food.

My distraction had led to the soldiers slashing Hak diagonally across the chest. Blood spilled before me. A few single droplets splashing the side of my face just before Hak...fell off the cliff.

"HAK!!" I scream my vocals to their fullest. Adrenaline carries me into a dived lunge. My heart had beat so fast, I thought it'd beat right out of my chest. I slid rather roughly to the edge, my arm outstretched and fingers clasping around Hak's forearm.

His spear plunged into the ravine, disappearing into the great variety of the trees.

"Ha---aahhh!" My hair is yanked so hard, black dots form within my vision. Reflex tears brimming at my eyes from the sudden grab. My scalp screams in acute pain.

"I told you, Princess, " A sword is pressed to my neck. Its metal is cool and menacing as it threatens to end my life if I make any wrong move. "You should've stayed down if you knew what was good for you." 

It was the soldier from earlier! I grunt as he yanks me backward, roughly dragging me back by my hair. I try to break free, but I couldn't reach the hand that gripped the ends of my locks so barbarically. I knew I should have had cut it when I had the chance!

"Yes! That's it! Bring me Princess Rika and kill the Thunder Beast!" Tae-Jun beams from the ledge he was on. "Fall Thunder Beast!"

"Hak! Hak no!!" I yell, watching as the soldiers glide toward my fallen comrade.

"Stay still for me, will you Princess? I don't want to cut that pretty little neck of yours so soon", The soldier forced me to my feet, somehow managing to keep the sword at my neck and restrain in his hold.

"Go to hell, traitor!" I spat, wincing as the blade pierced my flesh ever so slightly.

It was a horrible thing. As they scatter their clutter, one soldier, in particular, raised his sword above Hak, positioning his sword. I couldn't see the expression he held, but I know he was feeling great pleasure in his actions.

"It's my greatest honor...I'm going to kill the Thunder Beast of Kouka Kingdom!" 

"Get away from him!" I know yelling won't help a bit and that no matter what I say or try to do, the soldiers won't leave us alone.

I let it out. I cry out for someone, anyone, to help us.

"Get away from them!"

Yona...? What. . .what happened to her hair? It was sloppily cut and uneven. I doubt she cared as she attempts to save my life and Hak's.

Out of nowhere, Yona appeared with this dangerous predator-like glare as she sneered and clumsily held a soldier's sword. Lumbering as she swings the soldiers' sword at the enemy, Yona managed to fend them off, but only because they didn't want to get hit.

"I said get away!" Yona swung at my captor fiercely, stumbling in charge.

The soldier was fortunate enough to be smart and dodge the swing, letting my hair go in the process. My scalp aches in relief. My hands fly to my cranium as I scramble to my feet. My fingers briefly rub my crown tenderly

"Yona, watch out--" I gasp out in horror seeing another soldier sneak behind Yona, sword raised high and ready to strike my sister dead. "NO!" I lunged at the man as he thrust the blade down at Yona. Without much hesitation, I instinctively grab the flying blade, grunting out as it slices my hand open.

"No!" Tae-Jun yelled from his perch on the higher cliff. "Don't hurt the princesses!" 

He was too late to command such orders. I wince under the faltering blade, which slides from my palms. What was this? Ripples of cold and terror sheer through my body. The soldier felt it too and he blenches of color. 

I didn't care what caught him off guard, or how it did, but I am grateful it did.

Taking of his sudden distraction, I shove him with all my might. He tumbles backward, tripping and falling on a small rock. How graceful. The clatter of a sword drew my attention.

"Hak!" Yona yelled out, strained.

"Yona!" I nearly give myself whiplash spinning around.

My twin was trying to pull the very injured Hak back over the ledge. I race over to help her. Trembling hands clasped Hak's forearm. Skimming over his dangling form, I knew he had lost so much blood. His strength was wavering with each passing second.

"I'm here to help you now!" Yona struggles with his almost dead weight.

"Le-let me help!" I say shakily, folding myself and gripping a part of Hak's arm Yona hadn't held onto.

My palm stung horribly and my mind suddenly fluttered of seeing those far down treetops. Would anyone survive from a fall this high? My blood runs cold by the thought of us not being able to pull Hak up and our grips failing his life. 

A flash of Hak falling to his death horrified me to the core.

"You...stupid...idiots!" Hak yells from his dangling demise. "I'm too heavy for you! Get away as far as you can and hide!"

"No!" I frantically shake my head, my eyes burning with tears. "Never!"

Through my watery eyes, Hak is staring up at Yona and I with wide eyes, quite shocked we refused to listen to him, even now.

"Hak..." Yona began before shouting tearfully, "If you die, I won't forgive you!"

Hak's surprised, yet pained expression becomes wet with ours furiously leaking eyes. 

I tighten my fingers around Hak's forearm, feeling him slip ever so slightly. My heart pounding with anxiety, I try to heave him up once more. No, no! Please no!

"What are you doing?!" Tae-Jun's voice shouts out.

He sounded as if he were a lot closer than before. He must've slid down from his perch on higher grounds. I could hear the rocks crumple down as he slid.

Enough of him, Rika! I scold myself, returning all of my focus to helping my friend

But then...

"Pull the princesses away from Hak!!"

I gasp, all my focus crying and becoming attentive to the filing soldiers gaining on us. No! Stay away! I wanted to scream at them.

"Rika!" Yona shrieked.

One second, I was staring at the soldiers, and then the next second, my body free falls and descends from the sky. Stomach jumping into my throat, I let out a long terrified wail. Flailing my legs, I couldn't detect the arm that protectively slithered around me, pulling me close to other bodies.

My world went dark as plunged toward the earth.