Just Like Magic

Chapter 21 Get Him Out

Randalyn's POV

My arms are moving non stop as I switch back and forth between them to keep vigorously shaving the vines down. I'm just trying my best to cut them all apart, but there are so many and not enough time for this... So much so that I feel my confidence leaving my mind, but I'm doing everything I can to not give up. I'm trying to be positive, but it's hard when everything around you is so stressful that you're watching over your shoulder for any threats, just hoping to not get ambushed.

How I do things as best as I can, is honestly by distraction. I need something to take my mind away from the stresses around me so I can just concentrate on the task at hand. But since I have nothing to distract me, I'm constantly looking over my shoulder, trying with every bit of me to not crumble under the pressure.

I feel myself getting frustrated knowing I'm on a time restraint and not getting as much done as I was hoping. I feel his hand gripping the side of my pants to get my attention with his arms still restrained. "Please Randy... please.. just leave me.. I don't want you to get caught up in this.. you can see what they have done to me." he begs as I send him a small glare saying, "Well.. You could be fine, but you didn't give me up." I state as if this reaction to the beatings and threats should be obvious.

"Of course I didn't, I wouldn't ever. You mean more to me than that... don't you know that by now?" he asks as I shyly look over at him while I continue to cut away one vine after the other. "I have never had someone risk their life for me, let alone not even consider throwing me under the bus for their own lives... So no... But come on Cass, how was I supposed to think that, when I thought you had used me then left me, since when I woke up, you weren't there. No explanation or anything.. Just left alone with my running thoughts... That weren't too positive to say the least." He looks shocked as he thinks about that.

I can feel his gaze boring into the side of my head as I just continue to just concentrate on the vines, cutting one after the other, before he softly says. "What made you change your mind? I was hoping you would get away without me there." He explains as I huff out, still sawing away, letting the hurt feelings of this morning consume me, making the cutting through this wine easier than the rest.

"I was hurt.. I thought last night was a trick and it made me even sadder to think that maybe I had been used by the one person I was hoping wouldn't use me.. I was even planning on tasing you with my taser the next time I saw you.. But when I started leaving, because I was thinking you had already ditched me, I then saw your footprints and your wand... then the blood... and then I knew I had to search for you and now I'm here saving your ass.. I think that will make us even, especially after everything." I explain trying to be light about the end of that hard conversation, as if this is just something casual, even though we both know it's not.

He scoffs at that under his breath, making me smile as I glance over at him. "I saved you more times than that, but I do have to admit that this is a big one, so I'll give you that... But... for the record... If it means anything... I wouldn't trick you or use you... I was serious when I said that last night was amazing.. I just didn't want you to get hurt by these men, so I figured me leaving you there to lead them away, would be the only way to make them follow me to give you a chance to leave on your own.. I didn't consider that it would make you feel used... or tricked and I'm sorry for that.. I'm not the best in these kinds of situations and sometimes I just act before thinking.. But I knew we couldn't take all of these men on our own, so I had to do something before they found you." He admits this as I nod, understanding why, but I still don't completely agree.

"I meant it when I said it was the best day I had ever had.. and I didn't want to lose it or you... so when I found out you were in trouble, I couldn't leave you.. You mean more to me than that... haven't you figured that out already?" I state using his own words against himself as he scoffs at that.

I smile in victory while I keep sawing over and over, feeling my arm getting tired, there's a burning in my muscles, but I won't let that stop me until I get through all the vines. I quickly get through the vine, so onto the next before I hear. "What are you doing?" I jump, hearing an enemy come back. "Randy... run.. go.. leave me." Cassius tries to convince me in my ear again. But just like before, I state under my breath to him, "I won't leave you."

I think about what I do have to protect myself and I do have the bear mace in my pocket and the taser in my hand, since the knife is in my other hand... but with the taser and knife, I know that I do have to be able to get close to use them properly, but I don't want to do that because that could trap me.. I'm scared so badly that I'm frozen stiff staring at the vines.

"Turn around." He demands of me as I slowly turn to face him. I look him over, seeing a man with his wand out and pointing directly at me. "Drop what you have in your hands," he instructs, as I hold my hands up, dropping the knife on the ground first, as he takes a step closer. He waves his wand, getting the knife into his hand in an instant. I keep holding my taser, as he steps closer and says. "Drop whatever that pink thing is." I act confused, playing the innocent card. If there is anything I'm good at, it's playing dumb and innocent to save myself from being hurt. So time to lay it down to not just save my ass but Cassius' as well. My big doe eyes widen as I look even more scared, playing the innocent victim.

"Why would I need to drop it... its just a taser." I innocently say as if it was a question, dangling it between my fingers to show it to him. Playing as if it isn't a weapon and that he should know what it is. The confused look on his face shows that he obviously doesn't know what this is. He stares at it for a minute, until he steps closer to grab it out of my hand... Taking advantage of this perfect opportunity, I let him get closer, and that is when I quickly shove it into his chest and ignite the electricity as he convulses and falls to the ground. But when he hits the ground he is moaning and trying to crawl away. I kneel down and push the taser into his back, but only for a moment to knock him out, since it didn't do it the first time.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?!" the next man comes back as I slowly stand to face him and say. "he collapsed.. I think there is something wrong with him." I try to play innocent again but it didn't work this time around. "No, you did something to him, right? You're the monster muggle we have been searching for.. you killed them right?" He asks pointing down at the men, as I shake my head. "I have never killed anyone in my entire life." I say as he stepped closer, but not close enough for me to use the taser, so I quickly reach back and grab my bear mace out of my back pocket and then spray into his eyes. He screams out in pain and tries to come for me as he rubs his eyes trying to get it out.

I try to step back but he quickly swipes the bear mace out of my hand as he reaches out and grabs my throat in the perfect spot to be able to cut off the air instantly with his hand. It seemed so perfect, it was as if it had been there a million times before. He quickly pulls me to him as he throws my taser to the ground before making sure to hold me off the ground. My feet dangle as I try to kick, but he in return just squeezes my neck so tight that I can feel all the air being held back as I try to suck in a breath, hoping for anything to help me.

But the dizziness is hitting me very hard... so nothing seems to work as I feel my body getting weaker by the second. My body is starting to panic, not knowing what to do, even though I have been in this position before. It always seems to feel like the first time when you're getting strangled, no matter how many times it has happened before.. The no air in your system is a petrifying feeling and the scariest part is that it worries me because it might be last breath. I can hear Cassius yelling in the background but I cannot make out what he is saying because my heart is beating in my ears. The pounding gets louder the longer I go without air, feeling the pressure not only in my chest but in my head.

I feel weak as if this is it, until something inside of me says no. This isn't it because I finally have something to live for. Everything I could ever want in my life is at the tip of my fingers, its time to take it into my own hand. I use the last bit of my energy to scratch at his arm as I kick then scream out, not just because of the pain but also for the motivation to live. Then without hesitation, a wave flows through every inch of me, I think causing him to let me go as he yells and flies away from me through the trees, with his arms and legs flailing, looking as if he was pushed by the hulk.

I fall to the ground as I hold my throat, while gasping for air to fill my lungs.. I sit there for a second then looking up at Cassius who looks shocked. "What did you do to him, to shoot him off of me like that." I ask him as he shakes his head at me. "I didn't do anything... That was you." he says as he continues to stare at me but I shake my head not believing him while feeling confused. How would that be me? That doesn't make any sense... I reach for my taser and the bear mace as I slowly stand trying to steady myself to make sure I'm ready in defense, just waiting for him to come back to fight, but he never does, suprisingly enough.

I quickly squatted down, and searched the man that has my knife. Grabbing it quickly before turning around, using the knife to frantically shave down these vines, because it's still only a matter of time before the rest of the men come back. But surprisingly enough for me, he still somehow tries to convince me to leave. "Randy baby please.. you need to go.. these men are not just here to get you and then turn you in... You were lucky with these guys, but they want to hurt you worse than that." He warns as I look over at him, as I saw the blade tear through one vine and onto the next. "I won't leave you Cass.. Be mad at me all you want, but you have risked your life for me, and I was determined to do the same for you, if you ever needed it... because that is what you do when you care for someone." I say as he stares at me shaking his head.

"I don't want you to get hurt," he says as I scoff. "You're the one tied up and beat to a pulp and you're worried about me?" I ask him playfully as his worry grows. "These are not good men, Randy.. please.. If they find you, then they will hurt you in so many ways, that's why I wanted to come with you.. well, I would have prefered to come here by myself instead of you." He told me as I glance over at him before shyly inquiring, "Is that the only reason why?" he grins over at me saying. "Well it's the easiest reason to admit out loud.. but if were being honest, I just want to be with you.. for as long as you will allow me... that why." I smirk as I bite my bottom lip thinking about that. "Please Randy.. I would be on my knees begging you to leave if I could.. Just go where I know you will be ok. " he pushes this sentiment, making me feel bad, like maybe I should go, but I don't have that many vines left.. I can do this.

"There is no guarantee, I would be ok.. If history has shown us anything, it's that I'm going to almost die out there and you need to be there to save me.. So it's time to get you out, so WE can do this... besides I was planning on sacrificing my independence for you and your sister anyway, so might as well do this now.. What's the difference from now and then?" I ask as he scoffs at that. "Seriously?" he asks as I shrug before cutting through another.

I keep cutting the vines, only seeing a couple left as I hear. "Well, I was hoping you would show up." I turn around to face this man but instantly getting hit in the face, sending myself to the ground. But the hard part is that I dropped my weapons in this process. I look back seeing the main man from before, but luckily it's just him. He slowly walks over to me holding his wand out at me as he laughs and puts the wand away as if I'm just a game and nothing to worry about. I turn as I quickly crawl across the dirt to try to get to my weapons I have thrown.

He kicks me in the stomach over and over again, laughing at my expense as I roll and groan out. Quickly grabbing my side to try to aid it with the comfort and protection of my arms, but spoiler, it didn't work. I kick at him, getting his leg as he groans out grabbing for it. but this just makes him mad because he doesn't stop. He just keeps coming at me. So I keep kicking, going back and forth between legs, until he quickly grabs my leg and throws me onto my stomach. I try to get up as I'm lifted into the air. I reach out, trying to grab anything to hold onto but nothing works as I quickly fly up into the air. With a flick of the wrist, he throws me into a tree. My back pops all the way up the spine, making my back ache as if it's broken from feeling as if I was just wrapped around the tree. I fall to the ground with nothing to brace my fall as I feel like I'm dying from the pain of having my air taken straight from my lungs. I think this is getting the wind knocked out of you.

"Randy!" Cassius gets worried and defensive over me as he struggles in the vines. "Oh, I'm sorry I thought she was trying to get up... I just wanted to help." He sarcastically spats while still smiling at Cassius and I. The groans and gasps for air that emerge from my lips send a pain through my body making me never want to make a sound or move again.. but we know that is not an option. I try to pull myself up to my elbows to keep crawling away as he kicks me in the shoulder, sending me onto my back. He sits down on top of me as I swipe and hit his hands away.

He quickly grabs my hands and pushes them to the ground. But I won't let this happen to me again. I kick plenty of times until I am able to connect with his groin as he groans out. "You B*tch." He lets go of one of my hands just to slap me across the face, but this gives me my hand back and with the pressure of his weight on me I can feel something pushing into my waist.. it must be my second knife. I quickly reach into my pocket and grab the knife I had originally forgotten about. Pulling it out as I try to stab him, but he caught my hand in the air. "Thought you could surprise me? I know how tricky you muggles are." He says turning the knife to face me as I struggle to push it away from my face.

I squeak out using all my energy to push it back as he just smiles, leaning over me more and using his weight to help hold me down while pushing the knife closer. The reflecting unused blade just inches closer to my face as I feel the tears coming down, not wanting it to end like this, I just wanted to help Cassius.

I keep pushing but I can feel my arms weakening as the knife is just centimeters away now. I can see the smile growing on his malicious face as he pushes further into me, until a vine wraps around his neck. I can see Cassius behind him holding the vine tight to pull him off of me as I scoot out from under this man.

They struggle with one another as the man elbows Cassius in the stomach sending him to the ground. But that doesn't stop his attack. Cassius quickly punches his stomach as the man brings out his wand again, but this causes Cassius to wrestle his wrist trying to get the wand from him.

I had completely forgotten about his wand I had in my bag... I feel so stupid not grabbing that in the first place. This whole situation probably could've been taken care of easily.. I won't let myself forget this. I quickly pull my backpack off and reach into it to grab his wand out of the bag. "Cass.. here." I say as I toss him his wand. He let go of the man's wrist to grab his own wand that was flipping in the air. He points it directly at this man as he backs up to me. They point their wands at one another as the other man slowly stands up.

Cassius reaches down and helps me up as I stand behind him, making sure to be snug to his back. The men stare each other down as Cassius starts to back us away.

"You're going to regret this man.. you can't help her out of this.. we won't stop coming for her.. she is a muggle and muggles can't stay here, you know this.. if you kill me then they will make sure to come after you or your family and kill you all for her.. think of the riprocussions." the man tries to convince him but he shakes his head. "I won't regret it." He shoots a light from his wand as the man blocks it with his clear sheild as he shoots one at us. I yelp and hide, but Cassius blocks us with his clear shield as well, only showing the blasts of light onto the outside of us.

They keep going until Cassius hit him once, twice, then three times in a row, but the man can't keep up the blocking with his hits as he throws one more hit, catching him off guard as he bursts into dust before he can even say anything else. "Hold onto me." he says as I nod and latch on as we appartate out of that area and onto the next.