The monster seemed to also have something up its sleeves. Its back arched as we could hear her bones cracking and her body started to fall off like jelly. I thought she was going to bring out more of herself like she did the first time but she didn't. Instead, her back tore open and something sprung out. I'd seen different monsters in different styles but it definitely hits differently when I see some animals I know remodeled. An ostrich perked out.
Scratch that.
Standing in the form of a bird, it had ostrich legs with an eagle's head seating on a robust creepy sort of picture. She let out a loud hawk as her full body stood out. She had gotten ten times bigger than she was before. Her shadow completely covered up Alex.
"This doesn't look good Tyson. Can you help out?" I whispered to him as I didn't take my eyes off the monster.
"It's okay. I've got thi..."
I looked back to see why he had stopped talking and I saw a look of dismay on his face as he stared eye wide at his legs.
"What's wrong?"
I saw him swallow anxiously as he finally let out. "I can't feel my legs"
It took me a while to process.
"What?"
"I mean it's like I can't..." He looked at me and the next one minute went in a flash for me. "TYLER WATCH OUT!"
A huge gush of wind blew behind me and I thought it had sent me flying but when I opened my eyes, I was off the ground. Something hard was tightly wrapped around my waist as I got pulled up into the sky. I still couldn't make sense of what was going on when the shaking made my eyes go dizzy. "Is it 'cause I used up too much blood?" I couldn't move any part of my body. I felt nauseous and the colour in my eyes slowly drained off. My eyes closed shut.
"Ty-son..." My voice trailed off and everything went black.
My consciousness flew back in as I heard a loud bang. With my eyes still shut, I could feel the wind slightly hit my face. I wasn't being rocked anymore but I could feel someone holding me. My eyes slowly opened up and I thought I had seen wrong the first time 'cause my sight was still blurry. I blinked again and my vision cleared up.
"...Alex?"
The huge pure black wings flapping behind her made a really loud whoosh song. Holding power in every flap. That didn't bother me at the moment as my eyes was more fixed on her face. Black liquid flowed out of her eyes and I could see some smeared at the corner of her lips.
"Hey Alex. What's happening to you?" I asked as my eyes wouldn't stop scanning her face, but she didn't hear me. She looked far gone and really pissed off. She flew down and gently let me down on the ground. She turned to leave and I grabbed by the wrist as I couldn't get over the cold feeling that welled up in me as I saw her face.
"Alex. What's happening to you? Are you okay?"
Her eyes that had gone pitch black looked at me but somehow I felt like she couldn't see me. She held my hand and pulled it off gently.
"Don't worry. You're okay now. I'll end this in a minute" She said calmly like she wasn't aware of what was happening to her and with that she walked off.
"Wait Alex...that's not the point now. Alex!" I called after her but she walked away in the direction of the monster sprawled out on the ground a distance away. It had shrunk back to it's normal size. It wasn't dead 'cause I could hear it let out a low shriek.
"How long was I out? What exactly happened? Why are her eyes like that? Something's wrong". My mind raced off and I heard Tyson grunt behind me.
"Tyson, what happened?"
He laid face down on the ground as he looked up at me. "I can't move. Tyler, we need to stop Alex. Now." He was now breathing out as he looked over at Alex "Something's wrong. Her power is strong, but it's eating her up. You need to get her to calm down."
"What?" I muttered softly and I looked back at Alex. I watched her wings fold up and disappear into her back. Alex stood over the monster.
"I don't know what the hell you are but I'll do you a favour and let you know. You don't handle an athlete's body in such a manner. This was a fight between us both but you had to involve him and his brother in this. You monsters have always been like this. I've been trying to ignore you all this while- but I've run out of patience"
I listened carefully as Alex sounded and looked really angry. She wore a scowl as she stretch out her hand to her side like she wanted to grab something. I could see a dark aura forming around her hand. Something was appearing.
"How'd it feel drilling a hole through my friend? Did it look good? Was it fun? It wasn't for me. I hate it. It looks gross and it's hurtful to see. It's the same as last time."
I couldn't understand what she was getting at. She looked like she was in pain. The swirling around her hand finally stopped and a long spear appeared in her grip. I noticed the color of the flowers on her face thickened and I didn't like the sign of that. I tried to get up but my legs felt too wobbly. I couldn't gather the strength. I tried again but paused when I heard Alex next words.
"I thought something about you looked familiar. You were there that night weren't you?"
I looked up as my curiosity got the best of me. What was she talking about?
"So you do remember me" the monster spoke and cackled out loud. "Gina would be delighted to see you again.
I wasn't following the conversation at all. What night were they talking about. Who's Gina? Why was Alex having a flowing conversation with a monster?!
" So her name is Gina?" Alex said "where is she?"
"Good luck finding her. Who knew we would meet again like this. We told her to finish you off but she didn't liste..."
"...You're right." Alex cut her off as her voice lowered and I could barely have heard if i didn't strain my ears. Her voice sounded calm but they were trembling "Why didn't she take me with them? She killed my mom. Killed my dad also. So why didn't she take me? Why did she let me live and not kill me too? That wasn't enough so you had to take my friend too. You all don't play fair... If you won't take me with them...Give them back.
Give them back to me!"
I couldn't believe my ears as I knelt frozen on the ground. I didn't want to believe what I'd just heard, but it'd all been laid down for me. My heart sunk as Alex screamed out in pain.
"Give them back to me!!!" She angrily raised the staff and brought it down on the monster. The monster shrieked and I watched it disappear into thin air. Alex stood staring at the ground.
'Alex parents are dead? Since when? I didn't know anything about this. Is Tyson aware?' My mind wandered off and I flinched at the sound of Alex's staff hitting the ground. She fell to the ground and threw up. I wouldn't have been concerned if it was normal, but it was black liquid. I rushed over to her, ignoring my legs now.
"Alex." I held her as she clenched her stomach. She retched as I patted her back. I was anxious, but it's all I could do at the moment "It's okay. It's okay. Breath"
She gasped for air and her body wouldn't stop shivering. I didn't know what to do.
"...ry" she muttered something but I couldn't hear her. I leaned closer and finally heard her. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. I'm really sorry"
Her words took me by surprise. She's apologizing? I moved to her front and gently raised her face. Her eyes were still black.
"Why are you apologizing Alex? You didn't do anything wrong," I said and it dawned on me that she might not be aware Tyson is okay "It's okay. We're all okay. Tyson is fine. I healed him up okay?"
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so useless. I'm freaking useless, I couldn't do a thing. I'm really sorry"
I watched her break down as my eyes felt heavy. She looked suffocated. I wanted to tell her she was amazing and that we wouldn't be alive at the moment if it wasn't for her and that she was far from useless, but I didn't think my words were of any use. She was right in front of me but she felt so far away. she wouldn't stop muttering apologies. I opened my mouth to speak and she looked me in the eyes.
Her lips quivering with no hint of hesitation. She said to me.
"I want to die"
...
I felt my heart beat drop.
"I don't deserve to live. I...I'm useless."
I couldn't process anything in my head anymore as my body moved on its own. I pulled her in for a hug as I wondered how I'd never noticed how small and weak she was. My eyes danced around as her words wouldn't leave my head. My grip on her tightened as tears poured down my face. I gasped as I knew I had to help her relax but I couldn't do it.
"Please don't say that Alex. You can't say that...please!" My voice broke down as the situation cleared up in my head. I heard her choke up and I pulled away to look at her. She clutched her chest and gasped. I had to get myself together. "W-what's wrong?"
"It...it hurts. Ah!" She screamed in pain and crouched over.
"Tyson. Tyson something's wrong with Alex. Tyson!" I called again and looked back when I didn't get a reply. "Tyson?!"
He didn't move an inch. He was unconscious. My hands went cold immediately. "Didn't my blood fail to work" my mind wandered off as I looked back at Alex and ran my fingers through my hair frustratedly. The dire situation made reality dawn on me. I couldn't do anything.
Alex's bleeding heading made me think I could use my blood. If it gets into her system it could heal where she's hurting. I cut myself up again but the wound closed back up immediately.
"What?" I was confused. I put a cut again but the same thing happened. I didn't know what was going on. Normally, I could heal when I wanted to but now it's healing itself, and immediately.
"Ugh!" My blood, my fire, none could help Alex at the moment. Aren't I the useless one here? My voice shivered as all I could do was pray, and hope. Someone, anything, anyone, please help Alex... please!.
A bell jingled behind me and I looked back to see a White cat. It's purple cat eyes stared back at me and I just couldn't help but think it was a rare color for a cat's eyes. I thought it was another monster again so I stepped in front of Alex and stretched my hand out to it. I didn't care anymore. I would use my fire if it tried anything.
Suddenly, it spoke.
"Relax. I can help her."
A matured feminine voice came out of the cat. It felt like a voice from the mind 'cause the mouth wasn't moving, but I still wasn't buying it. I was too scared.
"It this goes on any longer she will die." She said and my eyes widened. I felt Alex body slump down as I moved just in time to catch her. Her breathing was feint and she felt cold to the touch. I bit my lips as I only had one option.
I looked at the cat
"Please help her."
As if waiting for my decision, it swirled its tail and walked forward. I watched it place it's paw on Alex, it didn't take a minute. The flowers on her face disappeared. I saw the cut on her head heal up as colour flowed back to her face. Her warmth was back and I could feel her breathing stabilize. She was okay.
I felt my head drop as a shaky sigh escaped my lips. I hadn't realized how anxious I was. My head flew back to Tyson and almost like the cat could hear my thoughts, it said.
"It's okay. He's just asleep. You may not know this but your blood's healing is really efficient. It healed him up to the last scratch. You really did a good job hanging on... All of you"
I didn't know the true identity of the cat but her words made tears roll down my eyes. I never want us to be in such a situation ever again. This is the closest we'd ever been to death, and it's scary.
I wiped my tears as the question finally found its way to my lips.
"What are you? And why are you here?"
"Me?" She paused like she was thinking about something, then she replied.
"I'm Kathryn...,"
I paused at her words and she looked at Alex before adding.
"...and she brought me here."