I found myself squeezed inside my nearly empty locker, completely immersed in the epic and terrifying battle that raged just outside. Although my view was obstructed, I could vaguely make out the girl I had met only moments ago engaged in a fierce duel with a gigantic, axe-wielding werewolf. I blinked several times, hoping to dispel the illusion, but to no avail. The scene remained unchanged.
"How long do you intend to keep resisting, Seraphina? Your powers have diminished greatly," boomed the werewolf.
"I still have enough left to put a rabid dog like you down, Lykaôn!" the blonde beauty, Grace, shot back defiantly as she hefted her shining lance and raised her shield.
The two combatants clashed again, neither giving an inch. With a graceful leap off a nearby locker, Grace flipped mid-air and launched herself downward like a torpedo from the ceiling, her lance pointed straight ahead. But Lykaôn was no slouch; he swiftly turned his head, narrowly avoiding a lethal blow to his skull. Nonetheless, he suffered a deep cut across his cheek.
Grace's lance impaled the ground, leaving behind a massive gaping hole in the hallway floor just a few feet from my locker. "It appears your aim has suffered as well, foolish elf," mocked Lykaôn, whirling around and whipping his massive axe in a menacing arc.
Grace had little time to react. She raised her shield, but the force of Lykaôn's blade slamming into it sent her careening into the lockers beside mine. The impact was thunderous, blood spurting from her mouth. The collision shook me, causing me to bump my head against the back of my locker.
"Argh!" I grunted involuntarily, immediately covering my mouth, hoping no one heard. But luck was not on my side. Grace pulled herself out of the newly formed crater and slammed her giant shield down in front of my locker. She then twirled her lance so fast that it began to glow with a brilliant blue light.
"Τελευταία στάση Λανς!" Grace shouted, charging at Lykaôn.
"You fool, Seraphina! You could not possibly defeat me, the King of Wolves, with that puny amount of Μαγεία," taunted Lykaôn.
"WHO CARES? IT'S STILL GOING TO HURT LIKE HELL!" Grace retorted, her voice filled with determination. The blue aura around her body began to spiral, intensifying her power.
Suddenly, a gentle voice tickled the edges of my consciousness, interrupting the chaos. "Hey Swan, that's your name, right?"
"Huh? Who's there? Oh no… oh no, I'm going crazy. My fear mixed with the awesomeness that's going on outside has finally snapped my sanity!" I muttered in disbelief.
"Shut up and focus! It's me, Grace! Besides, a girl talking in your head has got to rank pretty low on the scales of 'awesomeness' compared to what's happening right now," Grace's voice responded.
"Wait, are you reading my mind?" I questioned, baffled by the bizarre turn of events.
"I'm in your mind, you idiot! Now shush and let me talk. I just saved your life, human, and the fate of your world depends on you getting Willow to safety. After this fight is over, take my shield, go to the West end of the school, outside the home economics room. That's where Willow was last," Grace instructed urgently.
"Alright, alright, I'll do it. But what about you?" I finished my question, my voice filled with concern.
"Don't worry about me. I've faced worse than this before. I'll hold off Lykaôn long enough for you to get Willow to safety. Just remember, my shield is your protection. It'll help you on your journey," Grace reassured me.
Before I could respond, Grace lunged back into battle, her lance shimmering with power. She engaged in a deadly dance with Lykaôn, their weapons clashing and sparks flying with each strike. The hallway echoed with the thunderous sound of their battle, as if the very walls trembled in fear.
What's wrong, Seraphina? You seem distracted, you should really pay attention in the heat of battle," Lykaôn said as he rammed the butt of his Ax into Grace's gut.
The light in her eyes began to flicker "Sorry, but you're just so boring I couldn't help but get sidetracked," she jeered.
"Enough of this!" Lykaôn howled and slammed his fist against the back of her head causing her skull to bounce off the floor. Like a flat basketball.
She was out cold, blood dripping from her forehead. Her lance disappeared in a flash of light and a bracelet took its place.
Lykaôn circled his prey checking his handy work for a few moments before throwing her over his shoulder like a rag doll
"Even in your wretched state you still managed to be a worthwhile challenge Seraphina," Lykaôn chortled, holding his gushing sides as he limped out of the building with her in tow.
As I watched, awe and fear swirling within me, I realized that I had to trust Grace's words. She believed in me, and I couldn't let her sacrifice be in vain. Determination surged through my veins as I carefully pushed open my locker door, making sure not to draw attention to myself. Once outside, I retrieved Grace's shield, feeling its weight in my hands. It was solid and reassuring, as if it held a piece of Grace's strength within it.
With the shield in one hand, I set off towards the West end of the school, following Grace's instructions. The hallways were horrifyingly silent, the bodies of students and teachers lie still in every direction, their forms contorted and maimed. I tried not to look down. I could hear the blood slosh as I walked through the crimson puddles. It was a true nightmare. The sounds of panicked screams echoed throughout the building, serving as a constant reminder of the tragedy. But in an odd way it brought me relief because the screams at least let me some had survived..
"Okay, well, that's not the weirdest thing to happen today but it's definitely in my top five but I've wasted enough time playing with Grace's toys. I need to go help her buddy, Willow,"
I was still new to the school so the layout of the place in its normal state confused me enough, let alone the post-apocalyptic decor version but my body was moving on auto-pilot like Grace had imprinted Willow's exact locations conveniently in my head but that was not all I could also feel Willow's thoughts like I was somehow melded with her subconscious. Her thoughts were sporadic and tinged with pain.
I could almost feel her wounds. She was fading fast so I had to move faster. I sprinted through the halls and vaulted over debris until I arrived at one of the school's exits. I glanced around and saw a bored up against the barbwire fence I walked closer to examine the plank of wood it was ragged and had bloody streaks on it I looked up at the top of the fence and saw a bit of torn material that looked like it was ripped from something Willow had been wearing so at least that meant I was on the right track. Which means she had to have worked her way over the fence and beyond the mouth of the forest.
Not the adventure I had planned but I trudged my way through the course foliage until my inner Willow detector signaled that I was getting close. I walked a few more steps until I could hear her agonized groans that emanated from her battered form on the ground
"Okay, Willow, it's me, Swan, from earlier. Remember me?"
"I've taken a few bonks on the head but not enough to knock you loose birdy," she said through gritted teeth the pain evident in her voice.
"Let me take a look at you. You're clearly worse for wear," I said as I kneeled beside her.
"Oh really? And here I thought I was runway ready," she coughed, her tone dripping in sarcasm.
"Haha… very funny now, seriously hold still. I've got a bit of experience with checking my teammate's twisted shins so how hard could this be right," I said nervously.
"Fine, do what you want, but I've got a bit more than a twisted shin doctor, Birdy,"
I examined her body. She had many cuts across her arms hardly covered by her tattered sleeves and her legs had deep cuts across the front of her thighs and she was clutching her ribs so I assumed they were either cracked or broken.
"Well, 'Doc, how long do I have to live?" she joked.
"I'll be honest with you Willow as you know you look like you got hit with a semi-truck covered razors,"
"Huh, well that's slightly better than I feel. You sure you looked hard enough," she laughed
"Well, I gotta figure out a way to move you. It's clear walking is not an option and I'm not sure I can carry you as you are without aggravating your injuries," I pointed out failing to hide the concern in my voice.
"Look I know I'm pretty wrecked but we've gotta get out of here. I'm pretty sure you saw the madness that happened at the school so I'd rather not be stuck in the middle of a wolf reserve bleeding while actual werewolves may be on the loose,"
"Fine, fine, let me think," I mulled over a few of my options as I looked around ' well I can't pick her up and carry her' I was just about to give until I saw a rope hanging out of Willow's torn backpack my mind began racing until in slammed the breaks on an ingenious idea.
"Okay, Willow, don't freak out it's gonna be okay," I assured her and put my left arm out, and began fidgeting with my watch. Willow was staring at me as if she was thinking "Is he running late for something?"
"HA!" I exclaimed in triumph I found the right button on the watch and pressed it with a little too much enthusiasm. And just as Willow began to question my sanity a dark shield sprung forth from the watch and adored my arm. "Man, I feel badass!" I thought.
Willow's eyes went wide "Huh—wha—how?" A million questions seemed to swirl in her head but after a brief pause she seemed to settle on one "Where is Grace?" She probed.
My heart immediately sank like a stone in the Nile. I pursed my lips in ponderance unsure of how to break the news to her.
"IS SHE DEAD OR NOT!" Willow Roared in annoyance causing her visible physical pain.
"NO, NO, NO! " I stammered " then I gave her the spark notes about the last fifteen or so minutes of my life heavily emphasizing the Grace being knocked out and totally not dead part.
"Fine," she said, visibly calming down. So what's your plan to get me outta here Einstein?
"I'm glad you asked," I said as I laid the shield down and walked over to her." now don't freak out I'm going to pick you up and place you on the shield" she looked at me puzzled but quickly resigned herself to her fate. I knelt down and slowly scooped her up like a fireman. "Wow, you're lighter than I expected."
"Blood loss and wolf dodging will do that to ya," she joked through gritted teeth.
"Let me know when you're going to sell your new weight loss program. I'm sure everyone will jump on it" I said as I gently placed her down on the shield.
"Look, Birdy, rule one of being in my entourage: Leave all cheesy jokes to me"