The Time Hopper

Rescue

The doors to the mansion were blown clean off in a flurry of purple magic, flying back and crashing into the guards on patrol. Those outside had already been dealt with, opening a path for us to strike straight into the massive building. As the dust and smoke cleared, I surged forward with the others, coming to a pause once I was inside. I was in charge of finding Sadie, as were Omega and his daughter, while the others needed to find her book so we could leave. Only problem was that I had no idea where to look. 

And then her scream echoed through the halls, and my heart seized in my chest. 

I had heard her scream before. It didn't take a lot to make her scream, be it with excitement or fear or just to annoy me, but I'd never heard this tone before. It was pained and terrified. 

I didn't hesitate, I just turned towards the noise and began to sprint. 

"Riley, wait for us!" Omega commanded, but I didn't listen. The scream, long and drawn out, came from behind a set of ornate, dark wood double doors. I tried to open them but they didn't budge, even as I roared and threw myself against them. 

"Sadie!" I bellowed, bashing at the door and rattling the handles. To my surprise, they were opened, Felix standing there with confusion on his face, clearly ready to fight us intruders. But Sadie had suddenly stopped screaming, and I didn't even want to think about why. Before the giant of a man could even register my presence, let alone stop me, I ducked past him and into the great hall. There was a long table with Obsivian sat at the end and Sadie sat immediately at his right. She was limp in her chair, and he had her chin in his hand, speaking urgently to her as though the sound of his home being attacked meant nothing to him. 

"Leave her alone!" I yelled, pulling the gun out of my belt and levelling it at him. I was barely even thinking when I pulled the trigger. Obviously it wasn't enough to kill him, but the bullet in his chest did make him jerk back and let go of my friend. 

I tried to run forward to her, but Felix was there, knocking the gun from my hand and grappling me to the ground. He was much bigger than me, and freakishly strong besides. I knew I couldn't break away, but that didn't stop me from writhing and yelling like a person possessed. He raised his fist, either to knock me out or decapitate me, he was capable of both, but the blow never landed. 

Clari stood a few feet away, palms outstretched with tendrils of dark magic curling about her fingers like silk thread. Felix, seeing that the mage was the more obvious threat, left me for Obsivian to deal with after he recovered. 

I didn't care what went on between Felix and Clari, I was too busy resuming my charge towards Sadie. Obsivian hadn't recovered yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I needed to get her out of here, now, before it was too late. 

I raced to her side. Her head had lolled forward after I shot the dark mage, and she hadn't even moved to right herself. I knelt by her, reaching out and cupping her face, turning her to me. 

Her eyes were open, but it was clear that she wasn't seeing anything, the spark of mischief and joy extinguished. If it weren't for the soft flutter of breath passing over my fingers, I would have thought that she was dead. Blood was trickling steadily from her nose and ears, some of it already dried onto her skin or soaked into the lace of the dress that I knew she must hate wearing. 

"Sadie? Sadie, its me, it's Riley, I'm here. You're safe now. Are you alright?" I asked her, but she didn't respond. I noticed that the wrist furthest from me was tied to the chair and gently released her head, leaning across to pick at the knot in the rope. I kept one eye on the dark mage, who was slumped back in his seat, blood bubbling out from between pale lips, but his eyes were still bright and fixed on me. As I managed to get her wrist loose, he managed to rasp out a few words.