Unfold

Chapter 9: Prison Break(continuation)

All the ogres stood up immediately, flexing their muscles as glares fell on Arade. The ogre, in which Alicia had discovered a friend, placed a hand on her shoulder and said, ‘We will make way for you. And you shall then run.’

Alicia shoved its hand off and rose, ‘What are you saying? If I am gonna escape, all of you are coming along with me!’

‘Now’s not the time to be stubborn, girl! It’s either you run or NONE LIVES!’

She stood silently, dropping her head. Her long hair dropped over her face and casted a shadow over it. Slowly, she walked towards the bars.

‘HEY! N-no. DON’T GO!’

Arade sliced the bars into pieces that fell to the ground, their metallic sound echoing throughout the space. He looked down at her and reached out a hand to her. ‘C-Come.’

‘Is killing really that fun?’ Alicia mumbled as Arade looked on with confusion in his eyes. ‘Blood splattered everywhere. Blood staining your hands. Do those excite you?’

He asked, stammering, ‘W-what d-do you me-mean?’

Her fingers closed tightly into a fist, she threw it out into Arade’s face. He was knocked off his feet for a second before regaining his posture again. She raised her head. And there in her eyes, tears were welling up. ‘Those who kill people without reason, are my enemies.’

Arade was shocked at her words, and lifted his hand for his eyes to feast on. The metallic fingers changed shapes into that of a single blade. ‘I heard that you were strong which was why I came to enlist your aid but, looks like you were just like any other humans. Weak and fragile.’

‘The one who’s weak here… ‘ She said as a bright red glimmered in her eyes, and her arms flexed. ‘Is you.’ Her fingers hissed across the air, an inch before cutting Arade’s eyes. She followed through with a series of attacks, slashing and lunging. He dodged calmly, stepping backwards with every motion. It went unnoticed by Alicia, but the ogre behind her saw it. The eye lusting for blood to be spilled before it, deep within the darkness in the crack of his mask.

Quick and swift, his fist rocketed upwards with Alicia’s strikes raining on him. ‘Bingo,’ he muttered and his knuckles hit the targeted part… Only, not of who he wanted them to land on. The ogre stood, shaking all over in front of Alicia. Blood trickled down its mouth, and a hole tore open in its back. A solid fist on its chin and sharp fingers in its flesh. Arade withdrew his hand immediately.

Alicia’s eyes widened instantly, shifting from her fingers to the look on her friend’s face she stabbed. ‘Wh- why did you…’

‘Your line shall not be drawn here. ‘It paused and coughed blood out. ‘The dawn of this kingdom’s light… it’s possible after all.’ The rest of its kind looked at it in bewilderment. ‘I can see it in my eyes, the silhouette of a girl- a human girl leading a revolution, bringing down the corrupted minds and revives the hope of every clan. Peace. An era without war- ‘ Her fingers gradually slid off its wound as the huge creature fell to the ground, its eyes fixated on hers and a smile on its lips. ‘- is coming.’

‘RARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!’ The ogres roared in unison at the death of their comrade. She was to go shut its eyelids, when two ogres stepped in between them and pushed her to the back.

‘It is our brother’s wish for you to live. Let his death to not be in vain.’

And the other said, ‘Indeed. Now, go!’

Hesitantly, she turned around and set off, initially walking then slowly, the slow steps turned into that of a run. The remaining ogres stayed behind and faced the now dissatisfied Arade who stomped loudly with a foot. ‘Y-you shall l-leav-ve your l-lives be-hi-behind!’

Alicia kept running, trying not to look back to where she sprinted off from. Her long hair fluttered in the air and the fringes casting a shadow over her eyes. When suddenly, like the law of nature pulling everything to the Earth, her emotions dominated over her rational thoughts and she turned her head, looking over her shoulder.

‘Your death-‘ Arade appeared at her side as she turned to look behind. ‘is granted.’

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Where am I? My body; My limbs, I couldn’t move them. They feel so light. Oh!

Alicia’s eyelids swung open instantly. And, floating closely, above her in between her eyes, she could see a ribbon- like thing. She pushed herself up from the ground and scanned the strange place she was in. It was totally dark, lit somehow enough to see in it. Before her, above where her head rested seconds ago, the red thing remained tangling there with its end stretched upwards and lost in its zenith.

‘Is this a dream?’ she mumbled to herself.

‘I would rather say no.’ The words turned her head around and she laid her eyes on a familiar figure. Her mouth gaped open slightly and tears welled up in her eyes. ‘I didn’t think that we would meet here of all place, you know?’ There was a momentary pause before the voice continued. ‘I have never once thought of you dying… Alicia.’