They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

Before I got to him Seven appeared to his side and slap him in the cheek. The loud pang made Magnus unbalance on his feet. 

"Oww, what's that for?" He's rubbing his cheek. It's bright red. Seven is glowering him. Eyes as dangerous like we're back in that room earlier, smashing goblin's head. 

"Five" she said. 

"Yes?" 

"Carry him." 

That's not a request. It's an order. I've learn beforehand that girls are dangerous. Seven? She's the gangleader. She can be meek and badass as hell if she wants too.

I didn't hesitate. I haul Magnus in my back. His strong arms wrap around my neck.

"You don't need to do this." Magnus tried to convince me. "Just leave me. Take Sam and Seven away from here."

"You know I can't do that. I betrayed your trust once back in Opra. I won't do that again. Besides, Seven is super scary right now. I think she'll skin me alive if I disobey." I shiver.

"That's her front."

The burly leaf tattoed guys watch us as Seven lead the way. Sam is falling behind me. All of them grinning with teeth seeping out of their unnatural thin skin. We started to jog the road, crossing the lane and taking the steep slope to get back to the forest.

"Lance what do you think happened to Alpha Beast?"

I try not to think about it. I try not to open this topic to Seven or Magnus. At all.

"Do you believe he betrayed us?"

"I know what it feels like to be betrayed. My Dad, his friend (who's your father by the way), the pretty girl I like, all of them betrayed me. What hits the most is Dad. I was with him all my life only to realize he's not who I think he is." I slid my eyes to Seven. Who's busy hopping from side to side.

I realize she can navigate trees just fine. Sam stayed really close to me. By close I mean he's holding Magnus's shirt and tried his best to see against the dark.

The sky is clear. Full moon is out with his sparkling little dot servants, parading the night sky with playful white lights.

The forest is illuminated in places where trees aren't that thick. Unluckily, the spots where moonlight can't penetrate through is where the cannon holes scattered in deceptive places.

Magnus said he had some kind of night vision. Letting him tear through the blackest cloak of darkness. I trusted his instinct. So far, he led us to narrow places where we can find the tiniest road to hop into.

"So you're saying..."

"He betrayed her all right. It was evident when he's getting close to us, especially to Seven. It was hard to accept actually. I trusted him too. But then, I trusted my Dad my whole life. I also trusted his friend. When they told me they'd train me to make me better, they forgot to mention it includes regenerating and experimentals of getting murdered everyday."

"Yeah, that's true." He murmured.

"Thats the point. People around us. People we let involve into our situation will eventually betray us. Whether they're forced or hid the intention from the start.... We just need to accept it. And somehow fight through the situation so we'll live in the world tomorrow."

A series of canons blast through the night. Cutting the trees from its sleep, waking the insects and animals sleeping peacefully in their hives. I can see fireworks like lights dancing in the nearby sky. And we know its them.

Their sick game has started. And we somehow needs to get out of here before they blast the canons right into our faces.

Seven take a few steps back and pulled out Magnus's crosswords.

"You go first." She told us. "I'll stay right behind your back in case they got here and tried to impale one of us with their cannons. Two, lead the way"

Under the moonlight, Sam's face lit with fear. "But I - I can't see in the night. How am I gonna l - lead?"

Magnus shifted slightly in my back. "Trust me. I'll tell you where to go. Just listen closely to me okay?"

Sam nod his head vigorously. "You don't need to be scared. Don't focus on anything except my voice, got it? We can get through this. We'll survive." Magnus assured him.

Sam still looks deadly pale but he takes a deep breath. His shaggy head is bumping in odd places. His clothes are ragged pile of mess. But otherwise he's unhurt. Few cuts here and there but he's fine.

I can tell he's strong enough to lead us.

My eyes slid at my back. The main problem here is Seven. Two swords against a series of fire blast... I don't think she can handle it by herself.

I want to help her. I think I'm capable enough to play baseball with these buffy idiots. But Magnus is strap in my back. Maybe if I jump higher or swing recklessly I'll drop him. And they'll zero us all.

I can't have that.

"Seven?"

"Look ahead Five." She told me off.

"Take care will you? I'll make sure to carry Magnus to the end of this thick pocket of trees." I fall back on my steps and held her knuckles gripping Magnus's sword. I gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't die on me. No one will die tonight. We'll get out of here alive." I said. Looking straight into her eyes. Her lips curve slightly. And that probably means I somehow alleviate her nervousness or anxiety for our survival.

My heart is ramming against my chest. I can feel the slight strain on my knees. It seems Magnus has gain weight. Or was it just me feeling a bit tired.

At the corner of my eye something flash. A red line that zip past the darkness. Seven caught sight of it too. She leap back and put a one meter distance from me - from us.

"Go. I'll be right behind you." She whispered in my head. I gathered the courage to turn my back on her. I kick my other leg to move. She's not sacrificing herself.

She's fighting. Like she always does. Seven with her branches is cool and superb to watch. But the Seven that fights head on, smash goblins head, tear black foxes wings, leaping through walls and dead air like she grew pair of wings herself... was so amazing it left me speechless. No matter how strong I've become, I am a beginner against her.

She might be stronger than Magnus too.

I sprint after Sam. Whose too busy getting nervous all by himself he doesn't realize he already went ahead. Too much ahead.

"Sam!" He stops. His shoulders rising and falling against his tall frame. His eyes are bulging and he's getting frantic darting his eyes from left to right.

"Where should we go Magnus?" I gave my right shoulder a gentle rise. Magnus's eyes are tightly shut. He's not getting any lighter. And my bones aren't getting any stronger.

Each time I push my foot forward I can feel a dull ache freezing my knee joint in a millisecond.

"Magnus?" I called again. He didn't answer. Maybe he was so tired. Maybe he blacks out from the intense pain. Maybe he's trying to get some rest after enduring the disgusting worms eating his flesh.

I turn my attention to Sam.

"Sam, Magnus is knocked out. We can help each other see the forest. Stick close to me." I told him.

Turns out he's not listening. He's muttering under his breath.

'Wrong direction.'

'We can't go there.'

'We can't cut through here.'

'They are grouped together in that area.'

'Bad bad bad. Too many holes. Seven will fall in their trap.'

He said 'they'... Does that mean he can see our enemies? I whip around. Trying to tear the veil of night.

I got nothing. Even Seven's figure is a bit blur to me. She's hopping towards our direction. And I can tell someone is right on her heel.

Sam tug at my jacket and lead me to the darkest side of the forest. I don't know this spot. Cause I'm sure we didn't cross this ground earlier.

The trees are thicker here. Branches and twigs and vines scattered all around us. Dangling the tree trunks.

"Sam what are we -"

"Just trust me okay? I'll get us out alive." He reassured me.

It might be strange but I believe him. For a few seconds now, the path we tread aren't decorated with holes. The mud maybe thicker and slicker but its safe.

I remember what Seven said earlier. About our blessings without limits, we can do almost anything if it's part of our attributes. Sam's attributes as number Two is Space.

And space... Is everywhere.

This might be a wild guess but I think he's using a bit of his blessing in leading us out of darkness. By stretching his senses to feel in the dank atmosphere. That way he can feel which exact location are our enemies... Which leads us out, which path had no holes...

I couldn't stifle the grin spreading across my face. You rock Sam!