They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

My heart pounding. I'm sure he blow my head off with his cannon. My ears is bleeding. Ringing, I can't hear anything. Just a spinning world and a high pitch blasting sound.

I felt his hold on my throat loosen. I cough. My voice broke into a desperate wheeze. When my eyes finally stabilize its vision, I saw it. The gangleader, his face mortified.

Between the two of us, I believe it's most likely me wearing that expression. I'm the good guy he's the bad guy trying to kill me. So if anyone is scared in this situation, it should be me.

But I don't know why he's trembling slightly. I keep a fair distance between us. My shoes crunching against the mushy ground. I look at his bulging arms. Saw the cannon rip off his right arm from his shoulder.

That explosion blast.... I cupped my face and cheeks. My head is still with me. Still intact. No trace of blood or explosive residue.

What's going on?

Beside me, Jesper materialize. "Thank me." He said.

"For what?" He glance at me sideways.

"I stop him from killing you when I'm actually meters away. Cool isn't it? Now thank me."

"Uhh, yeah. Thanks." His lips curve a smile.

"I'm sure you - and the others right here are like me. Have super powers. Super awesome gift. Mine is cool you know? I can't exactly explain but it's cool."

He folded his arms and nod to himself. I took the chance, while he's occupied and too busy praising himself to ditch. The trees, some part of it has holes, some have lost its upper trunk, but most are on fire.

I feel sorry for the forest. I feel sorry for the trees. They are all innocent. Caught up in our ridiculous wild hunt. Now half of their population lost their lives.

I got separated with Magnus. I can't tell where he is. The darkness in the forest is gone. Fire is everywhere. Sounds of cannons blowing up startled the animals sleeping under the soil and roots. The ground is harder to navigate. The holes is there, plus the trunks caught on fire, now its twice difficult to mind my own step.

A few meters away from me, is Sam. I breathe in relief. He wasn't alone. Someone is with him. Standing a step forward, fist clench, chin held high, I recognize the cropped hair. It's Seven.

I grin. So he went straight to Seven after losing me? Not a bad move Sam.

I open my mouth to call out to them. I couldn't. A hand came into my mouth and pull me aside. Hiding under the shrubs and thick vines of trees.

I struggle. I lift my elbow to hit my captor in his rib when I saw his face. It's Magnus.

"What are you doing?" I hiss.

"Shhh." He point towards Sam and Seven and lower his finger. Directing my eyes to look at the ground.

I gasp.

Trap. It's a trap. I see a pit surrounding them. Black, deep, hollow, I sense malice - whatever is under those pits is getting impatient. It wants to eat them now.

And the craziest thing is... The pit's shape is moving. Sometimes it shrink it's size while circling around. Sometimes it grows in large sizes.

"Are those really pits? It's the first time I see something that moves." I whispered.

Magnus slowly shake his head.

"Those are not pits. It's a demon pet. "

"A de - de - demon? What? Huh? They're real?!"

Magnus expression startled me more than this demon talk. There's something about the way his face beading in cold sweat and slight tremble in his fingers. He's on edge.

"Who called a demon here?" He hiss. "Impossible."

"What do you mean?"

We watch in gripping anticipation as the black pit or figure circled closer and closer to Seven's feet. She didn't flinch. Magnus's crosswords in her hands. She pointed at the figure. Taking a careful step backward. Sam is trembling. It was obvious even from here. He's one foot taller than Seven but he has his arms wrap around her waist.

He's trying not to fall. He doesn't want to bring her down. He doesn't want to be in the way. But he has to stay close. He has to hold on. Or he'll fall.

My heart is pumping loudly at my chest. My spine is crawling cold sensation to my limbs. A black shadow, like a hand, shoot up and wrap its slimy irregular form on Sam's ankles.

I couldn't stifle the sharp intake of breath that escapes in my mouth. The sound of my voice wheezing air must have been heard, even from there. Our enemies will know we're here.

Or not.

Sam, maybe because he's too nervous, fetch the other sword on Seven's hand and cut the slimy black form. Another one shoot out and pierced Seven on the rib.

She drew her head back. A scream escape from her mouth. So soft, so low, and immediately cut short. I grit my teeth.

Now I know why Sam is wrapping his arms on Seven's waist. He's trying to support her up. He's trying to keep the organs on Seven's stomach in place. She's been pierced, stabbed, and slice in her stomach she's having a hard time to breath.

She's barely holding on. The demon pit is having fun watching her suffer. Watching her struggle. I squirm under Magnus's hold.

But he firm his grip on me.

"What's wrong with you? Let me go!"

"No."

"I need to help them! Seven is dying."

"She won't die." His words sound so unsure. He's doing a stuck up job if he's trying to convince me.

"You said it's a demon they're facing. Can't you see its bidding its time to torture Seven? If Sam wasn't there do you think she'll survive?"

Magnus's face darken.

"I can see. But what do you think we can do against that thing? Do you have any idea how weak we are compared to that?"