"How do you know Princess Annabella of the Spirit Kingdom?" He spoke with a husky voice that made me tremble, but I stopped when I realized what he asked.
"Wh-What…?" I asked, unsure that I heard him right. //Princess Annabella? The Spirit Kingdom? What is this lunatic talking about?!//
"Answer me, Human." He demanded. "How do you know the princess? Are you of any value to her? Answer these questions!"
I just glared at him, anger taking over my fear. "How about you give me some time to take in these questions. I don't know what you are talking about. Who's th-?!" I couldn't finish my question due to the man answering it.
"You refer to her as Anna, correct?"
My eyes went wide. //He wants Anna?! Why? Anna is Princess Annabella? They have the same name, but still, what is he talking about?!// I looked at my reflection in his sunglasses and saw my terror was coming back.
I took a deep breath and stared at my new expression in the sunglasses. "I'm sorry, but I refuse to answer any of your questions about Anna until you tell me who you are."
"So you do know her." I couldn't see it, but I heard a smile crawling onto his face.
I looked at my feet, cursing to myself. //Stupid! I just had to mess that up! Now what? He knows that I know Anna!//
"Come, Human." He grabbed my hand with his glove-covered hand and started to pull me outside.
"No! Let me go!" I shook my hand free and quickly shut the door, locking it behind me. Feeling a little safe, I grabbed my cell and dialed Anna's number as I walked into the hallway that connected the front door to the living room, kitchen, and stairs. "If he's after Anna, then she shouldn't come! Come on! Answer!"
The banging was at the door. "Human! Come out here immediately!" He yelled as the banging continued.
"Um…. No thank you!" I yelled back as I waited for my friend to answer her phone.
After a few rings, she finally answered. "This is Anna. What's up?" She answered, sounding like her cheerful self.
"Anna!" I gasped for air, realizing that I was holding my breath. "Where are you?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes. I'm at the intersection, so chill, Miss Impatient." I could almost hear her eyes roll.
"No! Don't!" I yelled as the banging got louder. "Don't come here!"
"Christa? What's going on? What's that banging noise?" She asked, sounding a bit nervous.
"Don't come over! There's someone here who's out to get you!" I yelled at the phone. "You have to go home and call the police! I don't think I can!" Fear crawled all over me again when the banging stopped.
"What are you talking about?! I can't leave you!" She yelled in protest. I could hear her panting breath signaling that she was running and I had a feeling that she wasn't heading towards her own home.
"I'm fine! I can take care of myself, so don't come!" I yelled at the phone as I heard a wood crack. I looked from the door frame to see the front door was knocked over to the floor with the same guy standing over it.
"I told you to open the door, Human." He growled at me as he walked inside my house.
"Christa! Who is that?! Chr-!" I hung up on my friend and faced the man.
He lunged at me, but I dodged and ran into the kitchen with him following close behind. The man followed me around the table and I pulled a chair behind me to trip him. Running out the kitchen, I heard a loud thud sound echoing in my ears.
"He's really smart." I couldn't help but smile as I pictured the man falling over a chair.
Ignoring that silly thought, I headed up the stairs. "There's a gun in Mom and Dad's room. If I can just get my hands on it, I might actually be able to save myself. But if I threaten him with it, will it work?" I whispered to myself.
I felt a hand grab my right ankle and I fell on the stairs, two steps away from the second floor. I looked back to see the man lying on the stairs as well, behind me, and he was holding onto my ankle. With my free foot, I kicked his face which cause his hat, sunglasses, and cloth to fall off. I screamed at his true form.
His skin was as white as snow, his eyes were crystal, black color with a nasty mustard yellow surrounding it, and his teeth were sharp and yellow. His hair was jet black, short, and spiked up. His gloves actually burned off to reveal his white-skinned, boney hands with long, black fingernails. Two lumps appeared on his back, ripping through his coat to reveal his white skin with his ribs showing and black demon-like wings.
"What… are you…?" I asked in fear. My voice was nothing more of a whisper, but he heard me clearly by responding.
"Your worst nightmare." I finally saw his wicked smile that screamed insanity. "Now come, Human." His long fingernails pierced through my skin and drew blood.
I screamed as I kicked his face again until he let go. Once he did, I ran upstairs and entered my parents' room, ignoring my wound. I ran over to my father's dresser, opened it, and pulled out the shotgun. I checked it and made sure it had bullets, which it didn't, so I looked in the dresser again for the hidden bullets.
Once I found them I started to load the gun, mentally thanking my father for insisting to train me on any type of gun. He wanted to make sure I could defend me since I'm usually home alone, so he taught me how to shoot a bullet with all the guns he had, which were in the shed outside. He kept the handgun in the house for my safety and he personally told me. Since I can't have it on me, I could have it near me.
"Human!" I turned at the voice to see the monster at the doorway. "Come before I wish to kill you."
Still trembling, I pointed the gun at the creature. I started to feel powerful as I aimed at his hideous face. "I will shoot."
He laughed and for the first time, it didn't sound human. "That won't kill me, Human."
"Let's see." I aimed again at his forehead. "Don't hold back for a monster that's after your best friend." I pulled the trigger and the momentum from the gun that took me by surprise sent me backward.
I heard a nasty yell and looked up to only hear the yell turn into that nasty laughter of his. I think I liked his cry of pain instead of his laugh. I looked at his forehead to notice that the bullet was flattened against his skin. "The bullet couldn't break through?" I whispered.
"I told you, Human." He smiled again, showing me his yellow-cream-colored fangs. "That won't work."
"I'm going to die! No! I can't! Think, Christa! Calm down and think!" Taking a deep breath, I looked around and saw that the bedroom window that leads to the first-floor roof was halfway opened. "If I get outside and into the shed, the tranquilizer gun might be my way out."
After I made up the plan in my head, I aimed the gun back at the monster's head as he laughed again. "That won't kill me, Human. No matter what you do, I will continue to live. The reason why is because I'm immortal! So surrender yourself to me and let us end the Princess of the Spirit's life!"
"How about no?" I said as I took another deep breath and shot. Except for this time, I didn't fall backward and the bullet, with more force, hit the monster, knocking him off his feet.
That was my chance. I ran towards the window and opened it all the way before climbing out of it. I steadied myself on the tiles and leaned on the wall, making sure I didn't fall off as I walked. I looked for the shed and saw its brown roof next to the building.
"If I can get the tranquilizer, then I might be able to get out of here," I told myself and smiled. "I can totally do this."
My eyes widened as I heard glass chattering behind me. I turned to see the monster flying out of the window, which was now a big rectangular hole. "He can fly and I'm stupid." I mentally hit myself as I hurried to my destination.
He flew around the house until he finally spotted me. I readied my gun and aimed at him.
"Alright, Human." He growled. "I'm going to make a deal with you. Come with me now and I won't kill you, but I may hurt you and make you lose a lot of blood. Or I can take that thing away from you and take you away to the Shadow Kingdom, by force."
I thought about it. "Either way means that I get kidnapped and hurt. What now?" I looked at the beast and shook my head, aiming the gun at him again. "Neither!" I yelled as I shot the bullet, but he dodged it with ease.
His laugh crawled up my spine. "Not this time." He chuckled.
I shot endlessly and each shot was easily dodged. Fear increased as each shot was pointless and I got terrified when I ran out of bullets. "This guy, or this thing, is going to kidnap me and take me to who knows where!"
"Anna," tears stung my eyes as I remember the conversation I had with my best friend, "I'm sorry, but I think this is the end for me. I'm sorry I lied to you. I can't take care of myself after all." I let the gun fall to the ground as I closed my eyes, not wanting to accept this new future.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
My eyes snapped open when I heard the familiar voice. The scene I saw was a grown wolf attacking the monster. His jaw was tight on the man's arm. His coat was silver and white that shined with the setting sun's light as the wind made his fur rippling with more brilliance.
"Christa!" I turned my head to see Anna on the roof as well, running towards me.
"A-Anna?" My knees gave out and I fell, but Anna caught me right on time. "Wh-What are you doing here?" I looked at her closely, making sure every detail she had was proof that she was real and not my imagination.
Anna had on a white with a black t-shirt with a gray shirt with black tights under. A lilac pullover kimono covered her whole outfit and brought color to her look. She still had her black converse on her feet with a black bow holding her hair in a ponytail. This was real.
"I'm so sorry about this, Christa. I'll explain later, but first," She looked at the fight and I followed her gaze to see the wolf in front of us, growling at the monster hovering above. "I need to deal with him."
I looked at Anna and saw a small purple four-pointed star behind her ear. I stared at it for a while, but I heard a loud roar that called my attention to the fight again. Anna started to stand up, but I grabbed her arm, making her look at my face.
I gasped at Anna. Her eyes were a beautiful crystal purple color. They looked as if they could show me Anna's mind and soul, everything she knew or thought about could possibly be read from those eyes.
Shaking myself from her trance, I started to beg. "Don't! You can't go and fight him! He's too strong! Don't go! Please, Anna! You can't protect me from him!"
Anna smiled at me and got down to my eye level. "You need to stay here and trust me. I'll protect you, Christa. I'm going to save the people I love. No matter what you do, you can't stop me. I swear on my pride, my life, I will protect you."
I felt defeated by Anna's calm yet stern voice as it was actually calming me down. My grip on her arm weakened and Anna walked into battle. Tears fell from my eyes as I saw her stand next to the wolf.
"Alright, let's end this. Calibur!" Anna made the command and the wolf howled as he began to glow. A purple smoke-like substance engulfed the glowing wolf and covered Anna's hand and cleared to reveal a sword. The sword, however, didn't have a silver-colored blade like normal swords. Its blade was a lavender purple and the handle was a beautiful white color with an amazing design.
"Princess Annabella," the monster sounded calm but I could hear a bit of fear in his voice.
"You tried to kill my friend. You will pay." Anna said, sounding very frightening and more as a stranger than my own friend.
"You cannot hurt me, Princess Annabella. For you see, I am now immortal!" The monster laughed, making my skin shiver.
"Oh really now?" Anna pointed the beautiful sword at the monster and the same purple smoke covered the tip of the blade. "Burn!" The smoke shot out the tip and landed on the hideous beast who screamed in pain.
His scream was worse than his laugh. He started to scream and yell, his skin started to burn and become crisp. It brought more fear to me when I realized that the one causing his pain was my best friend.
"It looks like you can still feel pain." My friend's words made my eyes widen. "Pathetic that you can't even fend for yourself."
"I-I was only following orders! Pl-Please! Have mercy!" He begged as the smoke continued to crawl up his body. His skin began to turn black, signaling that he was actually suffering.
Anna looked back at me, looking very fearful, but I wasn't scared of her. She was my friend who I almost risked my life for. She noticed my stare and smiled warmly at me before her expression turned cold, but that expression appeared when her gaze traveled down to my legs.
"It looks like you weren't merciful with her." She said with her cold voice. It sent chills down my spine.
Then it hit me. I looked down to see blood pouring out from five deep, long scratches that the monster gave me. The pain didn't come to my realization until I saw the wound and the pain made my tears fall faster. I've been ignoring the wound so long that it got worse.
"Th-That's becau-AH!"
I looked forward, witnessing Anna stabbing the monster in the stomach in mid-air. The purple smoke was no longer there, but that didn't mean his pain was over. Anna pulled out the sword and a nasty, black slime was covering the beautiful, lavender-colored blade. The monster coughed up some more of that slime and fell back onto the neighbor's roof.
"Remember this!" Anna's voice boomed. "If the Shadow Kingdom wishes to start a war, then war has started." She flicked her sword to a side and the black slime slid off the blade, revealing its beautiful metal.
"As you wish…. Your Highness…" He responded in a low voice, so low I barely caught his words. In a cloud of black smoke, the monster disappeared.
I watched as Anna stayed alert until she finally relaxed. She turned around and raced towards me. "Christa! Are you okay?" She asked with worry, as her eyes returned to their chocolate brown color.
I looked to see the sword became that same wolf as Anna looked at my wound. Its eyes were also the same color as Anna's purple ones, except they had wisdom in them. I stared at those eyes as Anna spoke.
"It's bad. There's poison. Hold on, Christa. Let me wrap it up." Anna said as she took off the pullover and ripped it into straps, getting my attention. With those straps, she started to wrap my wound.
I closed my eyes as my head began to feel light-headed. I reopened them to see that my eyesight was failing me. Then I got sleepy, really sleepy.
"Christa?" I heard Anna's voice echo with worry, calling me. "Oh shoot! Christa! Don't fall asleep on me! Christa!"
That's when I blacked out.