"Sir he is still unconscious." A tall and slender lady in a short white gown informed a man smartly dressed in black suit.
"How is his condition?"
"He is still weak but should recover soon." Ritta replied, struggling not to succumb to the the forceful aura radiating from the man.
"Good, good, you may take your leave." He waved his left hand dismissing her. "Call in the head healer." He added tapping his fingers gently on the exquisite and beautifully patterned table that stood proudly in the epicenter of the brightly lit room.
Cyrus frowned deep in thoughts. As the head of the coverlover royal grounds, he had to come in person to compensate the families who lost their children and those whose children were still alive but badly injured during the incident that occurred as the examination proceeded. Evidently it was due to the system being hacked by an insider, but who it was no one knew....yet.
However one thing they discovered from the ongoing investigation was that the one responsible was hired to target someone amongst the contestants. That person was quite special, and was the main reason Cyrus had come personally to compensate each students.
The door creaked open and a short, curvy middle-aged woman walked in. Cyrus cold eyes became unusually calm as he studied Vera closely.
"Hey old friend, it's been a while." Vera smiled awkwardly as she watched Cyrus scan her body carefully.
Two years ago! That was the last time they had seen, so they felt awkward and needed a little time to adjust to the sudden reunion.
"Ah yes...I see your doing well Vera." Cyrus casually pointed to a chair adjacent to his.
Vera understood his gesture and quickly sat down, returning her gaze to him.
"So why did you send for me?"
Cyrus sighed "Concerning the special patient that was brought in with the other candidates."
"Yeah? What about him?"
"Well he was the main target of the whole event." Cyrus said "His the son of Clovis Sloan."
Vera's eyes nearly popped out as she stared at him in shock.
"Sloan? I thought he was annihilated together with his family? How could his son be alive?"
Cyrus chuckled "That's what we wanted everyone to think. After the explosion we had found the boy and his little sister half dead in a secret compartment under a pile of rocks. Sloan and his wife had hidden them before the blast." He paused, then continued. "But that's not the the issue now. I just sent for you to inform you that no one should know about that boys presence. I had my men erase fragments of the memories of all the staffs that knew about his existence in this hospital. Vera I made a promise to Sloan before he died to protect his children. I can't just let that boy walk out of here knowing fully well his life would be in danger. As for his sister, she lives with me as she is still quite a bit young. All I need you to do is ensure that boy is nott harmed, your the only person I trust. Can you do that for me? Or at least for our best friend Sloan?"
Vera stared at him for a while fighting the tears back in. Sloan the reason why they had parted ways. When he died her whole world crumbled. Sloan was the bridge in their friendship, the one who had always been there for them so when he died...their friendship died with him."
Now she could finally repay his good deeds by protecting the life of his son. Why would she refuse such an opportunity she had waited for her whole life.
Vera nodded in agreement
"Sure I'll protect him."
Cyrus optioned to pay her which slightly aggravated her, but of course she didn't flare up instead she respectfully turned down the offer.
Clink!
Vera poured herself some water in a glass cup as she listened to the door quickly closing behind her.
'Temporary face altering huh? No wonder he came to me in person.' She giggled
....In room 1011.....
"Damn it! My head aches." Carla winced in pain struggling to get up.
"Stay still, you still haven't fully healed " Someone said leaning over, gently pushing back strands of hair covering Carla's eyes.
At first the face was blurry as her eye lids were a bit heavy each time she blinked trying to keep them open.
"Atlas?" she called out in merely a whisper
"I'm sorry dear my name isn't Atlas, it's Lilith and I'm your nurse." Lilith calmly placed a tray on the bedside drawer.
Carla turned her head looking upwards at the white ceiling thoughtfully.
'Was I hallucinating? Or was it just a dream?'
"Arghh" she groaned as the ache once again surged through her head.
Lilith quickly administered more healing potions which seemed to calm carla down. She picked up the tray and was about to leave when Carla weakly grasped her right hand.
Lilith slowly turned around
"Yes? Can I help with any other thing?" Carla let go of her hand, and gently turned leaning up on her left arm.
"Can I see him?"
"See who?"
"Can I see Atlas? He was with me when I passed out."
Lilith stared at the girl's expectant eyes, slightly smiling.
"I'm sorry your not allowed to see anyone right now, and neither is Atlas if he is in this hospital."
Seeing the disappointment on Carla's face, she added.."Though by tomorrow when you and the other candidates are being taken to the academy you could check to see if you can find him."
The light in Carla's eyes returned "Why didn't I think of that. Thanks Lilith."
"Welcome" Lilith grinned, exiting the room.
Carla lay flat on the bed returning her gaze to the ceiling. Shortly though the potion took effect, causing her to feel drowsy as she slowly fell asleep.
The next day, just like the nurse, Lilith said all the students were discharged.
Carla's POV
As we walked to the bus I carefully studied everyone's face searching for Atlas, yet there was still no sign of him.
I sat down at the back, beside a window, gently fiddling with the tip of my shirt.
*Did he die after our meeting with solitude? Or is just.....before my next thought popped in, I heard an almost deafening sound -
Boom!
The whole bus reverberated with screams as a large boulder engulfed with flames hit the side, sending it down the sky at a remarkable speed.
The teachers aboard glanced at each other and although they tried to look calm, worry was clearly written in their eyes.
'Anguis pet' one of them said trembling. Whatever had thrown that boulder was really strong. It had managed to bend the bus in a v-shaped form.
The bus was getting closer to the ground, and if something wasn't done, it would get crushed alongside everyone and everything in it.
At the last minute tho, one of the teachers jumped out through the window. He had run away to save his life...selfish bastard!
Just as the bus was about to hit the ground, it stopped midair. Everyone went silent, staying Still until a voice from under the bus screamed desperately "Get out now! I can't hold it for long."
Just like that the others and I regained our senses rushing out of the bus.
I heaved a sigh of relief....everyone was alright. We had survived the fall. I felt guilty when I saw that the one who had saved us was the teacher I had initially cursed.
'Is everyone all right?' I heard someone ask with concern, but my mind didn't pay attention to that rather it focused on a presence in the sky. It's eyes were frightening, shimmering with a bright blue flame. It gazed at us like a predator would stare at its prey. Why wouldn't it, after all in comparison its size was as big as a pick-up truck while we were as tiny goats.
'What is that? What in the world is that thing??' One of the students muttered dropping to his knees. The aura from the beast seemed to be taking a toil on everyone including me.
'Someone answer us what the fuck is that thing?' Another student, a bit bolder than the other asked.
The teachers ignored them focusing on the monstrosity in the sky. Then it dawned on me, Anguis pet! I recalled the words of one of the teachers. The legendary mid-class punisher of the Anguis Family, Agnar. I just couldn't comprehend why it was flying around....alone and unchained, such was forbidden by the higher authorities due to its capability of compelling intense cataclysm.
Agnar charged forward, and the male instructor from earlier drew out his sword taking a fighting stance. As the duo clashed, his sword struck the beasts claw sending out a streak of light. When the light died down, golden blood could be seen dripping from a silver rapier. The instructor had managed to bruise the beast on its left wing by striking it with a hidden dagger rather than the sword he had pulled out earlier.
We all cheered encouraging him further, after all he had control of the situation which was a good thing.
I noticed Agnar crouching amidst our short jubilation, it's fangs becoming longer and Visible. Its body was now covered with a bright red flame. From the look of things the beast was about to pounce on him, which meant he would die for sure. Seeing the beast's transformation the teacher advanced forward striking its leg.... Trust me that was a very very big blunder.
Agnar shrieked once again and I could have sworn its power spewed more fiercely. Its eyes which were initially blue now burned a bright orange colour, and with every breath it took, smoke poured out heavily. Pure sign of anger.
At this point I knew we were fucked, and without thinking twice I took to my heels running .
Call me whatever you want....a coward? Well fuck yeah! I'm not gonna die attempting to protect everyone.
I raced towards a grotto nearby not turning back even once.
What ensues if the teachers can't eliminate the beast?
I didn't even want to speculate the outcome.
By the time I got to the grotto, other students who had ran after me also arrived panting hard. One of them, sat beside me sweating profusely.
'Smart move.' He said
I glanced at him for a while.
'Thanks!'
I eventually said though I didn't really feel so good about being the first one to run away. If we should possibly outlive this, I worry I may be incapable of facing them boldly because that one action may have tainted my little pride for life.
I returned my concentration to the conflict outside the grotto. The teachers were now charging at the beast simultaneously, yet it was only bruised and didn't sustain any fatal injuries.
Agnar seemed a bit too weak especially since he held the title of a legendary punisher of a well renowned family. It looked somehow off as though some force was restricting it from fulling utilizing its power. Still it managed to deal fatal blows on its prey, which I presume are my teachers.
We watched in horror as Agnar snapped off one of the male teachers hands munching it without resentment. The teacher shrieked in agony as blood splurged out painting the other teachers and the beast crimson. Using its claws the beast slashed the teacher's stomach open, drawing out his intestine. Some students began throwing up in the cave, and even I withheld the urge to join them. Two more teachers dropped dead, both murdered painfully.
End of Carla's POV.
As the battle continued, the beast showed more and more strength taking its enemies head on without pity. Agnar inflicted pain on them with every strike.
By this time all the students including Carla were sure there was no hope of survival. They all trembled imagining how the beast would take their lives one by one.
Just then something caught Carla's eyes.
"Shit!!" Carla cursed. The other students followed her gaze and as well froze in shock. Not too far from the battle scene lay a baby wrapped in a white shawl. The youngling was placed on a picnic mat beside a brown basket with food. One would guess the child's parents may have fled on seeing Agnar. The problem now was getting the baby without the beast noticing since even the teachers were yet to notice the child's presence.
Carla tried to divert her attention from the baby, but her conscience kept screaming at her and finally she succumbed closing her eyes.
The next moment she was seen racing towards the baby. Another student following her from behind just in case she needed help with the child.
Carla picked the baby up and was about to return back to the cave with the other student when two heads rolled to her feet. One without eyeballs the other with half of its skin peeled off.
"Arghhhhh!!!!" Both students screamed. Just then a huge black shadow with large wings engulfed them from behind. They both glared at each other shaking with fear. Slowly Carla turned backwards meeting the red bloodthirsty eyes of Agnar. Once again her survival instincts kicked in.
"Runnnnnnn!" She screamed taking off.
While they dashed away from Agnar, it occurred to Carla that if they should return back to the cave, the beast would uncover their hiding spot and slay them as well as the others.
"Hey!" She yelled to the boy running beside her.
"What?"
"You should take the baby and run to safety while I distract the beast."
She said hurriedly.
The boy looked at her like as though he's was going to object but instead took the baby cradling her close.
Carla turned left racing away from the cave yet the beast kept chasing after the boy and the baby.
'Damn it!' Carla halted. 'I need to gain its attention.' she thought.
"Heyy pussyy! Over here come and get me you motherfucking bitch!" She screamed.
Agnar paused and turned towards the source of the voice.
'Oh crap! I think I might have over done it.' Carla thought once again for the hundredth time running for her life.
If Agnar was angry before, currently it was incensed. The surroundings darkened, lightning striking towards her path.
Boom!!
It struck sending mighty shock waves that sent Carla flying into a huge rock, hard!
"Aahack"
She coughed out blood wincing in pain. Two rib bones were broken, and her left leg was twisted inward.
In short, Carla leaned on the rock unable to move.
She could see the beast drawing near and near until it was face to face with her.
She grinned shutting her eyes. "At least I got the baby to safety."
She muttered.
Agnar boomed opening it's mouth as flames of fire shot out towards Carla.
"Aaahhh!"
Carla screamed waking up with a start. It was just a nightmare.