Noah was glaring at Ryan, and she was laughing maniacally.
"There's no time. You can't save all of them."
"Watch me try."
"All you know is where one person was hit! And even if I did know how or where the others were, I wouldn't tell you."
"I really, really hate you."
"Oh, I know." She twisted out of his grip and ran. "Don't worry! The feeling's mutual." She spun. "And you might want to look behind you."
Noah turned. He saw Cooper standing there, sword in hand.
Well, shit.
Noah looked around, noticing that, around the wall of fire closing the two of them in, people were watching them. Specifically, Koko, Sean, Jason, and Ky were keeping his friends from doing anything. So they had no choice but to watch.
Well, shit.
Noah glanced back to Cooper, the flames roaring around them. The sun had disappeared over the horizon, making the fire the only source of light. Time seemed to tick by slowly and all too quickly at the same time.
Neither of them moved.
He heard a voice call out. "Fight, Cooper. Don't just stand there."
Noah stood his ground as Cooper slowly walked towards him, flames reflecting and dancing off the blade. If he didn't say something, one of them - if not both - was going to get hurt.
"Hey. I know you can hear me in there somewhere." Noah tilted his head, studying the approaching boy. "So I'm just gonna say this right now: I'm a little mad at you." Nothing. "I mean, damn, Cooper, I know that we had to get Chrysie out of there, but you could have let me help you." Not a word. "But it's fine. I get why you did it. I would have done it, too." Silence. "Okay, I know they want us to fight to the death or something." He saw Cooper's slow, measured steps falter for just a second. "But I'm not doing that."
Cooper stopped six feet away, the tip of his sword just a foot from Noah's chest. He could see the fire reflecting in his maroon eyes.
"I-" He laughed, both scared and amazed and praying to every single god that this worked. "I can't fight you, Cooper." He saw Cooper's eyes widen just the slightest bit. "I just- I can't. I can't do it." He slowly raised his hands, surrendering. "I'm not going to fight you."
YOU ARE READING
Shadowstruck
FantasyA girl wakes up in a forest with her memory wiped. Now they have to figure out who's behind The Uprising and, more importantly, how to stop them. If they can stop them. They're losing time. And the gods aren't on their side.
