"Hottie! Move that booty," Malachi called out teasingly.
I rolled my eyes and readied to sprint when all of a sudden I felt dizzy. Huh? I came to a stop, waiting for the spinning sensation to pass. I normally only experienced random dizziness at home when I painted too long or was dealing with my anxiety which sometimes led to hyperventilating.
I closed my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. What is going on with me la—
I couldn't finish the thought as something crashed into me hard, knocking me to the ground.
You’ve got to be kidding me right now! I snapped my eyes open to see a masked man on top of me with his hands around my neck. I gasped for air and began trying to kick him off of me.
The familiar sensation from the night at the shrine returned and I let it take full control. Instead of just attacking aimlessly, I suddenly knew exactly where to kick for the masked man to let out a grunt. His hold on my neck loosened and I allowed my anger to morph into fire.
The man screamed as his hair caught on fire; he let go of my neck and attempted to put out the flames. I pulled my legs up and kicked him with both legs; the force threw him out of the alley and onto the street where another man appeared. I noticed as Malachi fell to the ground fighting a larger man, but didn’t see Haru anywhere.
I hurried to my feet and ran in the opposite direction. I had to fight the onset of dizziness that took this opportunity to rear its nasty head when I was being chased down by whoever these masked men were.
I reach the end of the alley and was ready to turn left when I saw a second masked man running toward me. UGH!
I darted right, sprinting as fast as I could. I heard the men chasing after me and my senses told me they were catching up fast. I turned the corner and down a quiet street. The block was made up of businesses and with it being Sunday, I knew no one would be here to help. I clenched my jaw and let the power inside dictate my next move. I turned right down another alleyway and cursed when I saw a dead end.
I looked back and saw the two men come to a stop and meet my gaze. I didn't need to see their lips to see the satisfied twinkle in their red eyes. I glanced back at the wall and charged, picking up speed before I pushed off the surface.
The moment my feet touched the wall, I pushed off it to the left wall before pushing off that one with even more power and landing on the right wall. I kept going and going, feeling a little boost of wind magic at the bottom of my feet that helped me cross the wide distance between walls. I reached the top of the ten-story building on my left and began running across the roof.
"CRIM!"
I could hear Malachi’s voice, but I kept running, unsure whether he was down below or chasing me with the other two men. I jumped from rooftop to rooftop, using the wind to help me levitate to the higher buildings.
I looked over my shoulder, realizing I wasn't being chased anymore. I came to a stop, but didn't let my guard down. I scanned all around looking for the culprits when I heard a loud agonizing scream and a crack.
I knew it couldn’t have been Malachi or Haru so it must have belonged to one of people chasing me.
"I need to calm down. Calm down," I whispered to myself.
Hakua always said the best way to fight was to remain calm and vigilant, always on the lookout of your surroundings.
I closed my eyes in an attempt to tune into my surroundings, but I instead saw an image of a set of swords. They looked to be in a case and had some type of inscription on the blades. They weren't long like a samurai sword, but weren't short like a dagger. They were in the middle and reminded me of the swords we practiced with during sword dance training.
My heart pulsed irregularly and I felt a pain in my chest. I opened my eyes, just in time to see the second attacker from earlier lunge at me. I ducked as he flew over me and I sprinted the other way till I reached the edge, coming to a stop. The jump between buildings was too far for me to make.
I turned back and saw the man crawl to his feet before turning to stare at me. He pulled his mask down and took a deep breath. I could feel the magic from here and the hairs on my arms stood up in shock and utter fear.
Jump!
I didn't have time to turn around. I stepped back onto the edge and let my body fall backwards as the man let out a shrill cry that sent a wave of fire toward me in a cyclone.
I screamed as I let my hands move outward and let my fear give me enough of a boost to call on the wind. It would slow my fall, but it wouldn't completely prevent the harsh impact of falling fifteen stories.
I closed my eyes and braced myself; everything shifted in slow motion as images and thoughts poured into my mind.
I opened my eyes to see the black sky as I fought to breathe. Death was imminent and even with all my power, I wouldn't be able to heal my heart, which had just been stabbed multiple times.
I was dying and taking my final breaths.
They lied.
My men wouldn't die from the threat they made.
It was all a setup and I'd fallen for it.
My men...my guards...who were my everything would lose me in the name of peace.
Why? Why was I too foolish to see the lies and deceptions? Now I would die.
I didn't deserve to die. They were weak and used such a dirty tactic to fool me. I should have listened to my instincts. I should have taken the blades. I should have told Crimson...warned her.
It's up to the Sealed One now.
Two men came into my line of vision. One with pure white eyes and the other had a pair of all-too familiar ones. I knew them, yet I couldn't say for certain because his face was different and he had a weird tattoo on his face. But those eyes.
The same eyes I'd once loved.
James…?
My eyes glazed over and I blacked out.
The snow continued to beat on me as I glanced down to the depths below.
I gulped, looking back through the blizzard for the enemy. I couldn't die here. I wouldn't die here.
I had too much at stake. I wouldn't lose my men again. I'd never fail them again.
I saw the dark shadow approach me, ready to force me off the cliff. I wouldn't let him kill me. Because I was stronger.
I braced myself for the impact as the frigid cold sunk into my bones. I would make it. I had to. For my men.
For my lovers, I would prevail.
"Crim! Wake up, Crimson!"
The sound of Malachi's frantic voice woke me up from whatever dream I was having. I opened my eyes slowly to see four pairs of eyes looking down on me.
Green, sky blue, sapphire with gold, and a mismatch pair of gold and orange. Huh?
I tried to sit up, but Aki pressed on my shoulders to stop me.
"Stay still, Crim. Haru's not done healing you," Aki urged.
I gave him a confused look, unsure what he was talking about. What happened? Why were Aki and Yoshi here? Why is Haru healing me? Did I trip or something?
I tried to remember what had happened, but I was coming up with a complete blank. Why can't I remember? I went for a run with Malachi and Haru. Then I felt dizzy...and then nothing. Ugh, did I pass out or something?
"Has her nose stopped bleeding?" I heard Haru ask, sounding exhausted and out of breath.
Nosebleed?
"Yes," Yoshi said with a stern voice. He looked pissed off which was unusual for him.
I glanced left and right while keeping my head still, realizing I was laying on some type of carpet and looked to be in an office of some sort.
"What's going on?" I croaked. It hurt to talk and I had to suppress the desperate urge to cough.
"Don't speak, Crim. We'll explain in a little bit. Just relax for now and stay calm," Malachi reassured me.
Why do I have to stay calm?
I tried my best to look at him, but he was positioned close to my left leg and Haru was on my right side, making it hard to see without moving my head. I noticed a few cuts and bruises on Malachi's face and it didn't look like he got them from tripping.