The Emissary of the Flame

The Eight Chapter: The Creature Called Unknown.

Her eyes were locked on the youngman in front of her. She did not know how she would get away. This man was silent but his presence was screaming, sinister.

"Julia, do you want to run?" She could feel how chills had overcome her system when she heard his voice. "I am going to give you a chance to escape. Well, if you can still move."

The moment Julia felt Bradley's grip loosen up, her feet immediately moved away from the person in front of her. She did want to leave the people inside the place but she had to escape him. Even if he was not saying anything, she knew death would occur if she stayed in that place.

It was hard for her to run away after she had witnessed all of the causes of death of the people inside Mr. Thompson's funeral, but how about her own life? One would think she was greedy or she was selfish for leaving those people behind, but how could she help them if she did not have the slightest idea of what was happening around them? She could feel her breath was leaving her the more she was trying to speed up.

What is happening?! Please, someone out there, please make me understand what is going on right now!

When she reached the hallway she wished there would be someone outside who would help her, but the moment she took a step out of the said residence, confusion abruptly hindered her mind from thinking.

The busy streets were in a trance right now. It was the same situation inside the residence. Both non-living and living things were not moving. The whole place was covered by this eerie darkness and silence.

Julia looked at the watch on her wrist. Fear had risen inside her when she realized that the time on her wristwatch was also not moving. She then concluded that space and time right now were not flowing in this place.

What is going on? Were all these things even possible? Wasn't she just dreaming?

It would not be the best time to think of her situation because she had to run away from Bradley.

She was struggling but she lifted her knees and started running. She had memorized all the allies in this area but right now, she could not think properly where she would go.

Should I turn left? Right? Ugh, I could not find my own way.

Her feet could not determine her direction anymore. As if she still cares if she was running north or south, all she must do right now is to find a safe place. Well, if there is still a place here, she could call it safe.

The lady ran across the streets and entered an alley. She was not sure where she was, but she still turned left when she had reached a dead end. Her breath was almost leaving her but she decided to run faster than she could ever run.

"Oh, Julia, where are you, my dear Ms. Ainsworth?" Her eyes widened when she heard that eerie voice.

Realization hit her. Bradley is near her.

Her mind wanted to go blank, but she could not care whether she was distant from the man, but she should escape this death trap. The young Ainsworth continued to run, until she had reached another part of the street. She saw other people who were also stuck in a trance. No one was moving, except her.

Really? How am I going to escape this place? There is no ending in this space!

She was about to move a step but she did not see the carriage that had blocked her way. Accidentally, she tripled. That caused her to stumble on the ground on the familiar street. The stinging sensation immediately awakened her thoughts, and seconds later, she saw her right leg trapped within the wheels of the carriage.

"Ah! Ugh!" She tried to remove her leg but to no avail, the more she pulled her leg, the more it caused her to feel hurt.

She wanted to surrender but her eyes triggered a memory. Wait, had she seen this area before? She badly wanted to escape and leave, but she could not. She could not move her legs, and most of all the place was reminding her of a memory she could not properly remember.

It was not the first time she had visited this area of her city, but her mind was telling her that she had been there.

"Well, you might have forgotten this area lately, but if you have seen the flame and codes inside Bradley's chest, then this area should be very familiar to you." Her heart beat snapped when she realized that the voice was nearly walking towards her direction. "I can't understand what you are trying to say." Julia tried her best to move but she could not.

The young man had already reached her position and she noticed how he was also observing the said place. "This is the place where I died."

"Wha--What?"

"this is the place where Bradley died." She saw a smirk from his lips that swiftly sent shivers to her spine. "As you can see, no one is moving except you and I. This is a space I created using my ability as an Unknown. Time is not applicable in this area. No one is allowed to move, unless I permit it so."

"Unknown? What...are you even saying?"

"Well, this is the place Bradley signed a contract with Hollow."

"A Hollow?" She could see her heart was becoming heavier.

What is he even saying? Ability? He can stop time? But Bradley is a normal human. He is not a wizard! Ugh what is going on?!

"Yes, and this is where I receive another lengthy of life to be alive. Not only life, but also a power no human can ever have! And so you know, this is the place you will also meet your death!"

The man speeded-up towards her and the next thing she knew Bradley was in front of her. "If you were wise enough to have known your ability, then you could have stopped this nightmare from happening, but you are too naive to not realize your power even if you had already witnessed a death before all these things could have taken place/"

Why was it my fault when I cannot understand anything that is happening around me right now?!

"Goodbye, Emissary of the Flame." His whole arm transformed into a sword-like formation, and at any angle she could see that the blade was pointed at her. "Farewell, my lady."

Is this really my farewell?

The time stopped for her. She was not able to move and it was like her whole world was going to crash.

She did not know if this was her end, but all she could do was to close her eyes and wait for death to accompany her.

But, seconds passed by and there was no sword struck at her. What happened? Is she still alive? Or is she dead already not to feel pain anymore?

"Who--are...you?" That was Bradley's voice. Wait, was he agonizing?

Her eyes spat open and saw what had taken place; Bradley, was struck by a sword on his stomach by another sword held by the kitchen servant or her Aunt Clara's temporary coachman. It was the very man who brought her to Mr.. Thompson's funeral.

"Loryzen Bradford?"