Elevate

Onslaught

He unfurled his branches upwards and held a gape. He jerked the pen on his desk and started to tap it on. He’s waiting for Mariella to get things done. He wanted everything to be flourishing when they got there. They decided to undertake the attack later when the twilight will take over. It’s better to move in that time.

A snigger was now contorted on his lips when he remembered the kids. Zyrender wanted the boy’s memory to be blocked where he was seen by the child himself having a conversation with them back in the Highburn Laboratory where he was confined. He had seen the man making a deal with them. To stop him from getting caught now, he needed to eliminate Macky by using Penelope as a threat for him to do his will.

As far as the man wanted them dead, he and Penelope owed something to the boy. He became a test subject to them for a couple of months. By that, he clearly betrayed Zyrender for keeping them alive. He asked for help with the old man who made their tattoos for them and was responsible for putting blocking Loshiana's memory.

Who would have thought that the Everdeen who had helped Era had something so vile that he had restrained for quite some time that even his own daughter had no idea who really he is – an avaricious man with wits. He chuckled on that thing, now putting the pen behind his left ear.

He scrutinized over the picture frame of him and Azazel on the side of his desk. He slowly held it and polished his fingers on it. He wanted the adequate out of him, and he will do everything to cultivate his child. So, when the time will reach that they would clutch the result of such an action, he will be certain that Azazel can do it on his own, when they would not worry for him anymore and he could do anything he wants. But first, he needed to find Penelope and bring her back here.

He slowly prevailed from his chair and waddled to the antiquated wardrobe in the left nook. There was a padlock closing it. He stirred to the stilted board, where a flower vase filled with wilted tulips was standing still. Its water was dried up, which had caused such demise. He hauled one of those cartons and untied it. There were stitches and minor patches, corks, pencils and a wooden pipe being laid. He began taking them out, up until he had found the key to the wardrobe.

He hustled to it and immediately loosened the bolt. His eyes were beaming when he cognized those heavy furred coats and tightly dark trousers. Those rationally weighted boots were deposited still in the lowermost part, together with those disheveled rags. In the right angle was an inflexible basket filled with accessories and ornaments. But one thing that had snatched his vigilance was the coat made from wool. He snappily grappled it as well as a pair of shoes and slacks.

He made obvious that the door was locked and prospered in front of the triangular mirror. He looked himself at it and timely caressed his neck and his face. A horrid scar was patched near his right eye. To Jack, the old him had already died in that fire. He could never bring his old self anymore and somehow, everything had transformed him. The Jack Rush he knew before was distinct from the new version right now, as if he was resuscitated into a more hideous, repulsive person.

But then, he loved the current him. The scars reminded Jack of those people who have mistreated him badly and that to whom he’s going to pour his retaliation.

He deliberately removed his clothes, not minding the heat of the sun and the light conspicuous in his direction. He had seen himself naked in the reflector and the more he witnessed his features, the more bitterness had crippled to his soul. His body was full of burns and on his back was the largest one. He shoved himself and reached out his hand at the back of his. He tried to press the wound, but it’s still not fully healed and it has an itchy sensation. He chomped his lip enough to stop him from rasping it.

His limbs were severely in red bumps. It has been months since the last time it had happened, but his wounds seemed not to heal fast just like before. His regeneration had slackened and it’s giving him the bane. He put on his coat and his slacks. Then, he bent on his knees and put on his foundation, tugging those shoe laces. He stood uprightly and faced the glass once more. He took the comb which's made by bamboo and thoroughly brushed it on his hair as his eyes were like the scavenging wolf, yearning to have one to be its prey.

Leaving to the other way which's directing to the stairs, he clambered it up. He went to the rooftop and there he caught everything that is happening in the base. They were drilling and doing some combats with each other, taking the lead by Mariella. She was dead serious and somehow they were following her flinty orders. He crossed his arms as he enjoyed himself with the notion. The sky was slowly getting dimmed and he was expecting to rain this evening. It was great, he had thought for himself. Those heavy, tall redwood were covering the whole place. It was now slowly getting into a village form. He saw those small cottages and currently establishing houses from his people. It was so pleasant for him to watch that after all that had happened to them, they remained as tails to their agenda.

From the distance was a blurry scenery of the Embreal City. He levelled out his hand in its oversight as if he’s really clasping the whole place. It was his target to get it destroyed. Turning his back, he derided for the fact that Era’s agenda was their way to start their real plan. The group was their go and now that Era had succeeded in stopping the old system of Embreal, they are now starting in assembling their own city – Etherial.

It’s a place that was barred when a ruckus had happened during the time of the Three Founders. People didn’t want it to continue, since they knew that some of them would be subjects in order for its method to run. It was a life-based system that they needed to maintain. Etherial was supposed to be the city, but somehow Embreal was put to its place. Yet, when they will build it again, they will go into evaluation of the people – a true life and death situation. The ones who’ll pass will be able to live inside the new place and those who wouldn’t, will be automatically be eradicated. And to those who don’t have any strength will be having a chance to have one, well, the least that they’re planning to go to the next stage for the experimentation.

Penelope had been thinking of it lately and she got her standards now in testing the people. She will become the mother of all – to reign and control Etherial soon.

Jack decided to haul back into his office and departed out of it. Some were passing him and couldn’t keep their contact with his eyes. He was a threat to his own people, yet no one dared to beat him. Even so that he was put in such devastation, they have high respect for molding them for years.

He went left where the barricades were all in bricks and there were no flashes in the area. The ground was rough and it's a forbidden place that only the officials were allowed to enter the premises. He knocks in a pattern that only they have known. Slowly, a woman in her mid-thirties loosened it. She smiled at him and bowed herself.

“It’s nice to have you back, Sir.” She uttered.

“You’re still the same Mona. Where are the others? Why are you the only one here?” He asked.

“They’re with the warriors, training in the ground. Do you want me to call them back?”

He entered the space and looked around. The woman navigated behind him. “No. Can you go out for a while?”

“A-Ah yes, Sir.” She hurriedly left outside the facility and gave him space.

When he was alone for good, he inspected the niche and saw those containers filled with an unconscious person. There were five of them floating on the water with luminous blue chemicals. Their tanks were in the heavy stand as their axis were completely shut. They’re breathing through the oxygen hoses and their heartbeats were being monitored. But, one thing that is more menacing than what he’s beholding right now was the one that's present in the center. It was the heart of Etherial – the system. It was laggardly motioning and soon the new place would be standing firm in front of those people.

The subjects were draining their own bodies and they’re starting to fill the power for the system. He still couldn’t think of such reasons why the Founders have decided to build the operation as he touched one of those tanks and saw a woman in her mid-twenties floating in the water. Her face was now severely wrinkled and her skin was sagging. She had lost her weight, making him wonder how long it has been when they were getting themselves into here.

He’s craving for something big. A smirk came forth in his reflection. When everything is okay, a knock was heard from the door. He slowly scrambled to unlock it and there standing still Mariella. Her face was in deep somber. She bowed her head to him and said, “Good afternoon. Everything is ready now. Do you wish to launch the attack?” She glanced over the facility, hoping that there’s something he had done to the subjects to make the system work for faster.

Mariella knew that Etherial has a power stronger than the Embreal City. The man firmly strode in her advice and shut the way afterward. “Yes. Let’s get going.”

The two of them quit the main building and went outside to join the others. They were in lines, standing straight as they waited for his phrases. He continued to the center and handled them. Taking a towering breath, he eyed on his son who’s patiently biding for his words.

“It’s nice to recognize you in good form. We…all know what truly happened before and it took our refuge away from us. We were forced to flee the city. We were devastated as we moved behind the shades. But tonight…we’re going to make our names surge from ashes again. We’re going to shed blood for blood and we’re going to make this night repugnant under our presence. Rise and let’s take fold the darkness in us.”

Hails and praises echoed around, concealing the whole place. Their voices powered as their souls staged for retaliation as they stomped their feet to feel the heat.

IN THE FOREST

“Do you have any moment?” She implored as she skimmed behind the door.

Looking over her husband who’s presently on their bed, staring right at the kids. They were still in no condition to talk that much. It has been three hours since they left the Era and went back in the forest.

Miguel was able to test Macky’s memory but somehow there were no recent ones in his mind, including what happened when they’re captivated. It was like how Loshiana’s memories were erased back then by Penelope. Yet, they still don’t know why the boy was caught in such a mischief when he was just a victim of their wrong feats. She soughed as she cleared William gradually tapping the side of the bed. She wincedly rolled inside and went in his guidance, resting beside him. She felt peace.

“How are they?”

“Still the same. Do you think that Miguel can see everything in his memory?”

“Yes. He can see them as long as it was in his memory, but the moment that it would be erased, which is just so rare situation. I remembered there was one in our team before that had an encounter with a person who can erase the recollection.”

“What did he tell you after the test?”

“He said that Macky couldn’t remember anything as well as his sister. They don’t know who took them, but I do believe that Cody was telling the truth that the hunter was the one who seized them. But I don’t infer why he had to do it.”

“If he took our child and obliterated his reminiscence, then it’s clear that he doesn’t want anyone to see the boy’s memory.” William said and placed kisses on his children’s foreheads. “Let’s just hope that they will be fine after a few days.”

“How about let’s ask help with the healer?” She commented.

His face became stark when he heard the name. “No, we’re not going to ask for help with that woman. You should remember what happened to Matt when we asked for her aid. She made it worse.”

“But she’s the healer in this forest-”

“No buts, Liech. I decided not to have a connection with that woman anymore. If you don’t want to lose anyone of our children, then you should also do it too.” His words were full of demand.

He was about to say something when he heard Hannah moaned and slowly titled herself to the other side. He took a deep sigh and raised himself.

“Where are you going?” Liech solicited him.

“I’m going to talk to Ian about something. Do you want to join me?”

She shuddered her head and gripped the sheets. “No. I’ll just stay here with the kids.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a while. Take care of yourselves.”

William took his fur coat and went outside immediately to meet the man. He wanted to have a deal with Ian that he would be the one to search for the secret passage in return of making sure that his family will be safe under his hands. He has a feeling that the hunter would still be chasing the kids. The night had fallen in its place. He progressed to the narrow road as he watched those torches being lighted outside the neighborhood. Everyone was taking their fine dinner. He perked up the sky and remarked those dark grey, lifeless clouds forming to fall.

The wind was whacking hard. He tucked his coat tight and made his pace fast. But before he could catch the house of Ian, a startling sensation had enveloped him as a whirling dimension suddenly appeared from the distance in the left side of the forest, which is farther from the city itself. And, there he hooked a group of people armed. Their eyes were full of hazard and courage, glowing in different colors in the night. In a swift, he ascertained a clamorous thump then a fire broke in once again in the forest.

Bashful screams were heard from different areas. Their people drove, making their way to get their things and cease the fire. But then, the air was getting filled with scent of fresh blood as every s***h was made on their bodies. It was war. He felt his lips got parched as he endured upright. Reality slapped when someone had bumped on him, running away and going to Embreal City. The Forest was set on fire!

He proceeded to help and sprinted back to his house. As he was in the path, he saw how his comrades were stabbed to die by the enemy. They were fighting each other. The siren was now sounding like an eagle’s cry in the whole place and he knew that those inside the city were able to hear it too.

A flash of light struck in his orientation and there he was glued in his fault. Witnessing how the fire slowly consumed their house, he could attend the screams of his own family. He nipped his lip as he couldn’t feel his own feet from the tremor hes’s deeming this time. When he’s able to find the nerve to move again, he ran as much as he can.

William flung the door candidly wide and discovered Liech carrying all the kids with her. She was fretting tough as well as the children. Matt was in her arms as well as Hannah, while Macky was on her back. The fire was trotting fast around the shack, consuming everything that it could touch. His wife was screaming so badly as panic embraced her. She jogged with the kids to the exit.

“Liech!” He yelled her name and straightaway their sights met each other. William coursed right to save his family. But it is not that easy.

It will never be.