Winx Club: Dark Magic (Season 4)

XIV: The End of a Dream

How long have I been like this? 

Aiyana stood staring bewildered at her own sullen reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were tired and her face looked tight, and a dark gloom seemed to lay just beneath her skin, as though her soul were a million years old trapped in a body too young. Yet, it wasn't all that long ago that she had been wide-eyed and hopeful for the future before her. Maybe that Aiyana had been too naïve and inexperienced. That Aiyana still had a family, and dreams, and curiosity, and hadn't experienced half a dozen concussions over the past two years due to headshots. But this Aiyana -this older version, who'd been orphaned and abused- looked... sadder. Disillusioned. Weary. Weak. 

Where had it all gone so wrong? 

~<->~<->~<->~

She seemed abnormally despondent today, Gantlos thought to himself, as he watched the Fairy of the Eternal Dark from the rooftops while she travelled her regular route to the police precinct downtown on foot. She lacked the confidence that her stride alone usually conveyed, and her short, quick pace had turned slow and long. She did not approach the two-storied precinct with square shoulders and a sense of determination or optimism today. No, this morning, when she opened the doors to the precinct, she almost looked... defeated. 

Gantlos waited patiently atop the adjacent rooftop as Ogron had ordered, watching the front and side exits of the precinct for Aiyana, whenever she should leave. 

Minutes stretched into hours, but even throughout the lengthy stakeout, Gantlos could not help but appreciate the city's gloomy morning and afternoon skies that prevented him from sweating half to death in burning sunlight. He -along with the rest of the Wizards- loathed any sort of hot weather, and at any time they could, sought to do their work under cover of darkness. Sunlight was blinding to them, and even mild heat felt like burning acid on their skin, although they could endure it for a time. Still, enduring was hardly preferable, and so Gantlos appreciated the cloudy skies and chilled air of this city to make his task easier. 

Eventually, he caught Aiyana hurriedly exiting the side entrance just after two o'clock, her uniform on and accompanied by a male officer. They hastily entered a police vehicle and the sirens immediately flipped on, and they sped off down the road without a moment's hesitation. 

Gantlos leapt -and teleported where he could not jump- from rooftop to rooftop, chasing after them. The vehicle came to rest thirteen blocks away, in a rather decrepit neighborhood where even the faint light escaping from the dense clouds overhead did not seem to reach. A foul odor could be detected even from the rooftop, like the area below was rotting. 

Gantlos watched in stillness and silence at the event that took place on the street beneath him. He saw Aiyana and the other officer exit their vehicle and approach the two men -a tall, slim man, and another medium-height with large shoulders and a heavy build- clad in gray jackets, who had blended so well into the shadows that Gantlos had noticed them later than he'd like to admit. The two men were visibly on edge as soon as the two officers approached them, and began exchanging strange looks between one another. Gantlos couldn't quite make out the short communication that Aiyana and her partner initiated, but he was able to observe the outcome:

Both civilian men tried to make a run for it. The thin one made to sidestep the male cop, but found his arm caught by the officer as he did so, being yanked back before having his arm twisted behind his back, preventing him from escaping. The second, larger man shoved Aiyana hard and began sprinting away, paying no mind to his partner's capture. 

"I've got him!" Aiyana yelled back at her partner, having already started after the runner. 

She was still so fast that Gantlos found himself scrambling to get his footing in order to stay on top of the chase from the rooftops. Down two crumbling alleyways and now halfway across an empty street, Aiyana finally caught up to the man, tackling him from behind. She was too light, however, for her bodyweight alone to force the man to the ground, as he caught himself in a kneeling position. He threw an elbow backward, which connected with Aiyana's jaw. Despite the hit, she refused to let go, struggling to find a hold to control the man, but he was too large and strong for her to overpower. She was attempting to establish a headlock when the man thrust his skull back into Aiyana's face, and this time she was forced to let him go, fresh blood leaking from her nose and lip. 

Apparently uninterested in another close chase, the man decided to ensure Aiyana was unable to pursue him by taking advantage of her dazed state and landing a brutal punch to her temple. She buckled at the impact and lay on the asphalt, bleeding and half-conscious, while the man headed off until he disappeared from view.