Kasper and Mango sat unmoving and unrelenting as the day grew darker with their mood. Two hours to go until the Fireworks Kasper could practically cut the tension with a knife. Mango to his credit was doing his best to remain calm but it was obvious he was failing utterly. Finally unable to hold back anymore Mango slammed his fist into the table cleaving in two with such little effort even Kasper was taken for surprise. No words could show the fear he felt as he thought his second and last family member was going to be snatched away as if fate had grown greedy. He reached for his war hammer under his desk without hesitation ready to battle fate to the death as he was determined to track Eva down. To his surprise a gentle but firm hand stopped him seemingly effortless, it was Kasper. Ice blue eyes that would quench flames from their chill, Mango had never seen this look on Kasper and he even felt as if the frost from his glare etched itself into his very being. Kasper, equally as unrelenting managed through thin lips, " I'll take care of it, I'll bring her home Mango. She's your daughter but she very mell might be my everything." Without waiting for a response Kasper went to the training yard and swept up two short swords forgoing a cloak or other supplies he left the weeping man in the living room as he went off into the shadows. Albeit worried Kasper couldn't help but find warmth from them, as if they were hurrying him along his path, succumbing to his will and aiding his efforts. Without so much as a goodbye Kasper sprinted west towards the return route Eva would've taken, first heading to the nearest village to see if she had stopped there, as well as to gather more information. With all his gall Kasper couldn't stop the fear that vanquished his confidence, routing it with no intent to hold back. His thoughts scampered back to the night he flew like the kites he dreamt of and suddenly he couldn't stop his knees from shaking, maybe he really was a coward. Short of breath succumbing to the devastation he couldn't stop trembling thinking of what would he would do if something had indeed happened to Eva and he was too late. Seconds away from collapsing suddenly his cheek grew warm, as if urging him to remember the pleasant sensation it felt as Eva tickled it with her elegance. Suddenly the shadows were seamlessly absorbed into Kasper as his boots became covered in them he suddenly felt power like he'd never felt before except...right before he passed out fighting Leo in the arena. Looking up into the night he realized it had been a little over an hour but thats when he saw it, the smoke. Too much to have been from a bonfire this smoke cloud dwarfed the night as if establishing a dominance that would reign forevermore. As he realized it was in the direction he was heading he couldn't stop the tear that snaked its way down his cheek drowning the warmth from the ghost of Eva's kiss as if reiterating it truly was a ghost. Succumbing to the pure emotional rage he felt he went on auto pilot as the shadows embracing his legs propelled him forward at such speed he was unsure if someone saw they'd be able to confidently say he was human.
Within a span of mere seconds he covered the last mile, unable to contain the power anymore the shadows evaporated as did my strength. Finding it hard to stand I was struggling to go on and that's when I saw it, a true depiction of Hell. Balls of flame leapt from building to building as if gleefully swallowing the villagers inside as sacrifices. This type of scene couldn't be compared to any game or movie I had seen back home, this was the truest definition of a massacre. The small tranquil village had erupted into one of pure chaos as men with weapons out in the distance chased those unlucky enough to not be gifted with speed. I was so shaken from the view and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shield myself from the pure terror that flooded my whole body rooting me to the spot as my knees harshly met the dirt. Immobilized for what seemed like hours until I heard a meek voice calling out, only then did I see a figure crawl out of the depths of Hell, dress torn and hand out-stretched, it was Eva.
Instantly as if a switch was flipped the terror subsided and fear replaced with only thoughts of getting to her as quickly as possible. Dashing over to her unable to suppress the tears welling in my already drowning eyes all I knew was I had to save her. Heaving and coughing from seeing her in such a state, there was blood everywhere, more than I knew a human possessed within themselves, but still I rushed to her side. Hands shaking I didn't even know where to start and that's when my heart broke into a thousand pieces as she lay a blood soaked hand onto my cheek and uttered the phrase that'll haunt my dreams until I dream no more. " Kas...just hold me."
Pure emotion was spilling out and I couldn't even feebly attempt to ebb the flow. The engulfing embrace of death reached her just as I did and when I finally had a slight taste of what it felt like to have her in my arms, that sweet premonition was ruthlessly evaporated.
Cruel fate seemed to push me towards a path of loneliness no matter how much I tried to veer off. Clearing the only one I truly cared for off the chess board as if she was nothing but a pawn standing in the way of the game of life. Any notion of suppressing the rage was abandoned as I could feel the cold tickling touch of apathy forever cement itself in my heart. Unable to contain a shudder from the frosty sensation I could only hold her and look into the stars as if demanding they change as I cursed the heavens. Giving me power partnered with a lonely existence filled with pain while failing to disguise it as kindness. For once in my life I had felt pure joy in another's company, I had the blessing to love Eva and actually believe she loved me too. My thoughts fled back upon the scene of the crossed swords as they uttered "You loss will come soon enough." An ocean of tears forming beneath me as the shadows cloaked from behind as if hoping to share the pain I felt with their embrace, but I was too far gone to notice.
Just hold me she had told me, and I wouldn't ever dream of letting go.