The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 34

34

“There. Nobody is going to come through that door.” Sim patted the steel door and wiped his hands on his robes. “All locked in.”

For the first time since we entered underground, I relaxed a little. “Good.”

We walked back to the main area which held a set of discoloured green couches and some wonky tables. But right now, that was just the best sight ever.

Flavia, Astrid, and Ryoko were all seated.

“And?” Sim asked, falling down in one of the single seats.

“Okay, so there seem to be four parts to the bunker. This main room, two sleeping cabins, and a storage compartment.,” Flavia said. “We also found water.”

She threw a bottle my way, but my arms were too sluggish to catch it.

“So, are we safe?”

Sim nodded. “For now.”

The couch groaned as I bend down to find my bottle. My fingers swiped over the grates, searching for the plastic.

Where was it?

If I didn’t desperately craved a drink, I wouldn’t have bothered. I pushed myself up and crouched down, only to be met with a set of silver eyes. His scaled arm shot out from under the couch and grabbed me by the neck.

And then everything happened in flashes of slow motion. One moment, it was all fine. The next, couches and tables were thrown back. Sim’s scythe swung past me, my reflection flickering in the metal. Blood splattered on my face, but I couldn’t tell whether it was mine or someone else’s.

Someone screamed.

Oh, that was me.

The curved blade past me again, raining silver down on me. That was Ryuga’s. He was so focused on me, he wasn’t protecting himself against the assault of the other students.

But now that there was a scythe sticking through his arm, his priorities changed.

He dropped me to the floor and stomped towards Sim. He was no longer wearing a shirt and his entire chest was rippled with silver scales.

He breathed dark smoke that curled around him as whiskers and wings. He stretched out his arm at Sim. “Do not get in my way, boy.”

“Try me.” The Reaper twirled his scythe, seemingly confident. But his shaking legs and arms told a different story.

With his full force, the Moon Dragon barreled into him. Silver on steel, dark against white. The two collided in a glowing ball of smoke and light, blood splattering against the walls of the bunker. Silver from Ryuga, green from Sim.

Before any of us could interfere, the two clashed again in their final stand. The scythe sung and burrowed deep into the scales.

Ryuga howled in pain as he crashed into the steel grates, his scales without shimmer. His light was no more.

Sim panted, his breath ragged. His arm was torn open and bleeding, but he didn’t seem to care. He held up his thumbs and managed a crooked smile.

Dumfounded, I stared at the Reaper. He was hurting because of me. He didn’t even know me, but he was willing to put his life on the line.

Why? What kind of person did that?

“Job, done.” Sim held up two thumbs, looking rather pleased with himself. And for good reason.

With his scythe dragging over the floor, he walked back to the where the others were standing.

“Watch out!” Astrid’s warning came too late.

Ryuga rose in a last attempt, his claws flickering in the light and aimed at Sim’s throat, but the Reaper wasn’t fast enough.

Panic and despair whirled through me and faster than lightning, I unleashed the full force of the West wind.

My gust collided with Flavia’s and the blast threw the Dragon against the steel door with such force, the entire bunker trembled. Lights flashed out and the ground shook. The deafening sound of stone and rocks thundered through the bunker and forced us all to our knees. The rockfall spewed dust and debris, obstructing my view.

Panic took me in its cruel grip and I cowered under the destructive force.

When the dust settled, everything was different.

“Shit.” Astrid waved some of the smoke away. “What the f**k?”

I crawled up from behind the couch, my shirt torn to shreds. “Is everyone okay?”

“I’m alright.” Flavia raised a hand from behind a small table.

Sim shoved a metal beam away and limped out. “I’ve been better.”

That was three out of four. Where was Ryoko? Was she alright? She had to be alright. She just had to. Where was she?

A soft cough sounded from behind me and my heart skipped a beat. I raced towards the heap of rubble and dug through it.

“Ryoko!”

She pushed herself up, a little dazed. “I’m okay.”

“We’re all okay.” Sim kicked some debris away and sighed. “My scythe, however, is not.”

“Nor is he.”

There was a massive pile of rocks, ground, and metal shards piled on top of Ryuga. With his scales gone, he was just a thin man that didn’t look like he could do much damage.

We all knew otherwise.

Ryuga’s eyes flickered silver as he struggled to raise his hand. “The Midnight Raven will get you. It’s— It’s not over.”

But it was.

I diverted my eyes from the fallen Dragon and to the pile of rubble that engulfed him. The entire ceiling had collapsed and blocked the only entry and exit in the bunker. Massive chunks of stone and rock, thick metal beams and rods, and more earth than I’d seen in a while.

I stared at the four people behind me, reading the same panic in their eyes as I felt inside of me. We were trapped and there was no way out.

To be continued…

Find out how Ylva and her friends make it out and how the Afterlife story unfolds. You can get it here: https://books2read.com/valkryie103

Valkyrie 103

The Afterlife Academy #3

Arizona Tape