Star Crossed In Time

"Not everyone is a backstabber..." I say leaning back against the warm stone wall. I see him purse his lips as he says "We need to keep moving. She'll catch up to us if we stay here for too long." I quickly get up and start walking. 

I choose the path to the right and ask "How did she look like someone I used to know?" Hundun follows me closely as he says "Part of their powers. We aren't sure if they can read our minds or if we're just hearing and seeing something from our minds."

I grumble and keep walking but when I hear footsteps, I come to a stop. I grit my teeth and listen. 'Not again... please not again...' nothing... I reach out and grab Hundun's hand again as I whisper "If I see something again, I'm not even gonna stop. We'll run, got it?" 

Hundun nods his head with a grave look as we keep walking but I come to a complete stop when I hear Bai Lei call out to me. "Nova? Why are you down here, little star? Are you okay? Have you been hurt?" He rushes over to me and I stumble back with fear and hope.

Hundun quickly whispers "It's not real" But when Bai Lei's warm hands cup the sides of my face, looking me over with love and worry, I feel myself faltering. "Why aren't you speaking? Are you hurt? Why are you two tied together?" 

Had he found me? I step forward and say "We... we're trying to stay together. How are you here?" Hundun puts his hand on my lower back and tightens it on my dress as Bai Lei says "I felt you so I came. Where is this?" 

I sigh in relief and hug him. He quickly returns the hug as I say "I don't know, I really don't. Hundun and his brother need me to get something but they won't tell me." He leans back and softly pushes my hair back as he turns to glare at Hundun saying "What could she possibly help you with? You are more than capable of doing this yourself! Why involve Nova?" 

"Weren't you supposed to protect her and bring her back safely? What the hell is going on Demon?" Hundun's hand on my dress continues to tighten as he grits his teeth saying "Nova... I need you to think about this carefully... Remember what I told you before coming down here." 

I frown and look back to Bai Lei before looking back to him and saying "You said they're all female... Bai Lei is clearly male." Hundun clenches his jaw as he says "Fine, he can follow us." I feel Bai Lei's grip on me tighten and when I look over, I see his red glowing eyes as he says "No, we're going to leave. You can look for whatever you want." 

Hundun's hand tighten again as he says "Nova's been poisoned... she will die if she doesn't complete this." Bai Lei grits his teeth in anger and reaches for Hundun. I quickly step between them and say "Okay, okay. Let's just find it, whatever 'it' is and quickly leave."

Bai Lei glares at Hundun before grabbing my hand and saying "Fine, let's go. Where are you going?" Hundun stays right behind me as Bai Lei leads the way with my hand in his. "I'm trying to find water," I say as we continue down the dark tunnel.

Bai Lei silently leads the way and after taking several different turns, I can finally hear water. I pull on Bai Lei's hand and say "I need to take a break, I'm exhausted." Bai Lei quickly comes to a stop and reaches out to touch my forehead asking "Are you feeling okay? Is it the poison?"  

I give him a warm smile and shake my head as I pull his hand down. Hundun refuses to release my dress so we all awkwardly sit together in the dark tunnel. I play with the several rocks on the ground as I say "Now that we're here... what am I looking for?" 

Hundun remains quiet for several seconds before saying "I'll tell you when we get there." I nod my head and say "Alright" I start to dust my hands off as I ask Bai Lei "Will you help me up?" Bai Lei silently nods his head and gets up before reaching down to me. 

I grab his hand and let him pull me up as I stand up as quickly as possible, plunging a long, sharp rock into his throat. He quickly releases my hand and reaches up to his throat with a look of shock and confusion. 

Hundun quickly pulls me back against his ċhėst as I watch Bai Lei struggle in horror. Dark blood seeps out of his neck before it starts coming out of his mouth. My eyes begin to blur with tears as I pray. Pray that this isn't really him... that I'm not wrong.

He looks at me, straight in the eyes as he struggles to breathe. I swallow my sob and hold my breath. Tears run down my face as he suddenly reaches out to me. He tries to say something but nothing but gargling noises come out as he falls to his knees before me.

I cry out and force myself to stay still. Hundun wraps his arms around me and continues to back up as he keeps repeating "It's not him, I promise you, it's not him." Bai Lei turns to us and continues to reach out to us before falling forward. 

Hundun turns and starts walking away as he says " The others will feel it's death and come. I'm sorry, I really am. If I could use my powers down here, I would have killed it for you." He drags me down the tunnel and away from... Bai Lei... No, away from the thing that looks like him.

I finally find my footing and start walking beside Hundun. I wipe my tears and quickly pick up the pace. It was so close... so close to the real thing but I know in my heart it wasn't. He said he 'felt' me... but I know from what Mogui said earlier... that would be impossible. 

And then when he led us to the water... he knew exactly where to go. When he hugged me... he didn't hold me right or rub my back the way he always did. No, that wasn't him but killing it didn't make it any less traumatizing.

"Hundun... the water... how did we hear the water when nothing is moving?" I ask coming to a slow stop. Hundun comes to a stop beside me and says "No one knows but only females are able to hear it... whatever 'it' is." 

I quickly turn to look at him as I say "You didn't hear it? You didn't hear any water noises?" Hundun shakes his head no and says "That's another reason why I knew that wasn't Bai Lei. We need to hurry. This next part is going to be dangerous so listen closely."  

I sigh and say "Everything has been dangerous but I'm listening." Hundun nods and says "We need to go in but you have to make sure not to drink any of the water. Not a single drop, okay?" I look to the dark, still water and quietly say "Got it..."

When Hundun goes to step forward, I quickly put my arm out and ask "Aren't you going to tell me why we're going into the water?" Hundun gives me a strained smile as he says "What we're looking for... what we've come for, is at the bottom of this."

I look back to the water then back to him as I say "What? What is it?" Hundun grits his teeth and says "I can't say... but you'll know once you see it. Don't touch anything else but it..." I give him a look of disbelief, even though he can't see it, and wave my arms around saying "Are you kidding me!? That's the sketchiest shit I've ever heard!! How the hell will I know what to grab and what not to grab!? Could you be any vaguer!?"   

He gives me a strained smile and says "Let's just get this over with... Even I have my limit for creepy things. Oh, and one last thing. Don't disturb the long pieces of seaweed at the bottom." My face crumbles even further as I ask "Why... why Hundun?"

Hundun just shakes his head and says "I think it's best if you don't know."