Soul on Fire

Chapter 8: Monster People

Jane stuck a well-burnt hand out. Tears started as she only got a small spark before dropping in her dismay. She had overloaded the capacity of Jane's most dominate way of attack.

A sinking feeling dropped into her mouth as the man charged up some electricity."Get in or I'll make you wish you had died here."

It was instinctual for her eyes to glow an eerie blue after the threat. The black-horned Jane ran anywhere away from the road. Her eyes were glowing fiercely while holding her arms tight to her chest. She could feel the electrical charge finally being fired. Jane hit a rock and rolled down an embankment. Hitting dried shrubs and jagged edges all while unable to do much about it.

Skidding on her side, all she could think about was the pain in her hands. Never had she traveled for that long nor distance at once. It had felt so peaceful jumping from one portal to the next, now she couldn't even summon enough courage to create one.

Her eyes snapped open and a quick breath was taken in. She got up with blood running down multiple parts of her body, clothes torn, and covered in 'NBC dust. Jane focused on the output being her feet rather than just strengthening them.

Many rock-based used their heels as their control points, hands were for the finer things. Even they used their fingers, no matter what ability you have, limbs are the main controllers. For the force, well, that would be in the mind, for precision it's the body that dose the work. She had seen what happened with people who kept pushing far beyond their limits, their own power would destroy their innards.

Jane focused on the memories as she stood up of many experimental agents, like herself, who one day would collapse as blood pooled out of everywhere. Often you could see the physical toll but even to an extent it was the only way to increase your ability. These thoughts made her legs feel like lead and stick to the ground. Through the scrapes and dirt there was a pulsing current running to her heels. She had to focus on how others felt wile doing the same technique. She held in a breath and drew out a leg quickly towards the electric bolt.

A pulse came, disrupting its path, making it crash to a side before hitting her. Jane was shaking from the loss of energy even her horns became brittle as she built up something similar one more. She couldn't summon any feelings to use, her mind went blank with doubt. As the second attack struck her stomach it knocked her back down to the dust.

Couching and gasping, Jane clawed at the loose ground. Her eyes were still lively and trying to heal her wounds. She could feel the warm liquid pouring from her mouth and other parts of her body while sticking to the dirt. The man stumbled down the embankment sluggishly. It was as though he waited for her to get back up. There wasn't anything left in her to fight with except for the unstable thing, even that needed energy that Jane didn't have.

"Should've gotten in like I said, but I wonder if you can sing." His voice got darker while closing in.

Her skin pricked with each heavy step he took. Jane's eyes glowed more profoundly than before. A growl grew from her chest to the dry air. She managed to sit up and scuffle in the dirt as he kept coming closer.

"Why don't we be good and go to town, or do I have to bind you?" He nabbed her hands and squeezed the blistering parts. "Talk, girl." The man jerked her for a response.

She spat in his face. "Dishonorable scum like you should rot." Jane glared knives at the stranger.

The man brought one hand to wipe off the clear liquid from his face. His grip tightened before jolts of electricity were strung through her. Not even a squeak was her out as it continued to circulate through. Jane's breath was labored as she struggled to stand now. There wasn't any fear locked in her face. Only anger poured from her bright cyan glow.