Discord Isles: Black Ice Island

Ch 21. A River, Two Ghosts, And Abuse

      "I see Scarlet!" Breeze exclaimed, whizzing through the air towards the river. "Sh-she has Oliver."

"Oh my God she's gonna drown him..." Wilson whispered, bringing his hands up to his mouth.

The two ghosts were making their way towards the river in the darkness. The sun had begun to set and the clouds had cleared, leaving dim rays of light casting dark shadows across the island. On the rocky shore, Scarlet was leaning an unconscious Oliver up against a rock gently.

Then she flicked her finger and cold water splashed on his face, jerking him awake.

"Wha-?! Huh?! What?" The Bug Elemental sputtered, wiping his face. He blinked as he looked down at his free hands, wrists red from the binds, then his eyes went up to Scarlet and he stumbled back a bit, clutching onto the rock.

"Wilson we have to do something!" Breeze exclaimed, desperately trying to start a fire but to no avail.

"We can't do anything...I cant watch this." The ghost psychic spun around and stared at the sunset, his back to Oliver and Scarlet.

"Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you. You need to find somewhere safe to hide nearby while I find a way to get the others out.."

The ice elemental was speaking lowly to Oliver, and there was a look of guilt in her eyes.

"Wait- S-Scarlet why-why are you helping us?"

The ice elemental sighed, gazing off in the direction of the sunset. Breeze stared back at her, wide-eyed, as if really locking eyes with her friend and killer.

"Breeze was right. I used my abilities for so long it took a toll on my mental health. I thought it was all fun and games. I'd take over the islands and be seen as powerful but I didn't mean to- I never actually wanted to kill her. It was an accident."

The ghost Psychic glanced at Breeze, whose eyes were watering as she stared at Scarlet.

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for hurting all of you. I'm gonna fix this, but I need to get your friends out of there or I might accidentally hurt them. They're already frail enough."

"Wait- L-let me help you-!"

"Absolutely not." Scarlet snapped. "You can help me by finding someplace safe to hide...ok?"

Oliver looked down then back up and nodded, before slowly backing away and scrambling to a group of trees beside the mountain.

"We need to go tell Max." Wilson said, a small smile forming on his face, "Scarlet's gonna save them! We need to tell her so she knows!"

Breeze was wiping the tears from her transparent eyes as she nodded, then followed Wilson into the Ascil Towers.

Maya had taken a beating from Valencia, and at this point was wheezing out for her to stop all while Max had screamed and protested.

The girl had attempted to create strong gusts of wind to block Valencia's attacks but in her already weakened state, she'd received strong blows to the head and abdomen. So now, the two lay together weakly panting while Taube struggled in his binds and Lily continued to curse at their captors for taking her brother.

Indigo and Valencia eventually left the room, however, leaving the frail group to catch their breaths.

No sooner had they left than Wilson and Breeze floated through the wall, eyes widening as they examined the crude scene before them.

Breeze and Wilson immediately stumbled to Max, who was quietly urging Maya to stay strong.

"Max!"

The voice made the girl jump and scramble back to the wall, flinching and turning her head away.

"It's ok, it's just us-" Wilson said.

"Wilson?" Max echoed, opening her eyes slowly as she blinked at the two ghostly figures before her.

"B-Breeze, oh my g-"

"Are you ok?" Breeze asked. Max nodded hesitantly.

"B-but Maya and Lily- they're hurt. We don't know what to do, we don't know how we're gonna get out of here. I don't know how to help them- I can't, I tried using my powers but-"

"It's ok. It's ok, you're gonna get out of here." Breeze said,

"Scarlet's gonna get you guys out! She helped Oliver!" Wilson exclaimed.

Taube was watching Max communicate with the two invisible entities, eyes looking hopeless and lost. Maya's ears were ringing she could barely hear Max's quiet whisper and Lily was too busy catching her breath to notice.

"G-Guys can you check on Olli, please?" Taube stuttered to the empty space in front of Max.

"He's ok!" Max said, a smile forming on her face. "Guys! Breeze and Wilson day that Scarlet's helping us escape! She let Oliver go and she's coming back for us!"

The ghost halfbreed kept her excited voice to a whisper, but it was just loud enough for Maya and Lily to hear, and they both seemed to regain their senses.

"My brother's ok?" Lily whispered quietly.

"Yes! He's free!"

"Whose free?" Valencia asked.

The group remained very still and silent, staring as the Psychic waltzed into the room, as if examining her prey.

"Huh? What'd you say, ghost girl?" She narrowed her eyes as Max struggled to find her voice, heart pounding in her ears as Valencia approached her, red magic dancing across her arm.

"I-I thought I got free!" Taube sputtered suddenly, causing the Psychic's gaze to shoot towards him. "I thought my hand slipped out of the chains but I was wrong, my hand is just numb..."

Valencia grinned slowly, then chuckled as she shook her head. "Fucking weirdo. Anywho- I guess we'll give you two a break so you don't die on us." The Psychic explained to Lily and Maya, then turned to Max and Taube.

"Guess you two aren't lucky after all, huh?"