Tyler
Would you like to know how I didn't expect to be spending the minutes before the biggest battle of my life?
Up a tree, trying to avoid getting leaves in my mouth as I stared out at the empty field of grass that lay between the forest and the place where the simple field grew into a mountain.
This was the plan. I was going to hide in the tree until I watched my dad head straight for the belly of the beast. Then, before the actual battle began, I'd jump for it, sprinting across the field and getting into the base before anyone could stop me.
Okay, so, admittedly, it wasn't the most genius plan, but it wasn't like Shane and I were geniuses. And there was no way we'd let Cameron know. Cameron's great and all, but I seriously doubt he would've let me do something like this when my dad had clearly stated I wasn't supposed to.
I had to, though. I knew Skylar was in there. I just had to get to her, and find some way to get him to let her go. Maybe getting that necklace away from her would do it? Possibly?
Again, I wasn't a genius.
"Hey, Tyler!" I heard a whisper to my right, and turned to see Shane in the branches next to me. I nearly fell out of the tree.
"Notch, dude, how'd you do that without making any noise?"
"You kidding?" Shane asked, raising a eyebrow. "I made a ton of noise. I'm not exactly the stealthy one, here. You alright?"
"...yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." I said, shaking my head slightly to try and get myself to focus. "Totally fine. Just kinda' lost in my own thoughts, I guess."
"Fair enough." Shane said, glancing out at the field ahead of us. "Figured it'd be easier to check up on you before your dad goes than after. I gotta' go in a few seconds though, or the others'll get worried."
"And by the others, you mean Cameron." I said, glancing over at him.
There's no denying that his face turns a slight shade of pink.
"What?"
"Nevermind." I said. "I've just kind of noticed that he always seems to be right next to you lately."
"Yeah, because we're friends." Shane said, and he rubbed the back of his neck, still clearly nervous. He cleared his throat. "So, you're sure your dad didn't see you leave?"
There's also no denying that was an attempt to change the subject, but I went with it anyway. Not like it was any of my business.
"Positive." I reply. "As far as I know, he thinks I'm back at the campsite while everyone else runs off to war."
"I can't believe he didn't ask anyone to watch you." Shane said.
"Hey, makes it easier for me, right?" I shrugged. "Besides. This is a war where we're outnumbered. We need everyone we can get. The second those Shadows pop up, everyone's gonna' have to be ready. And he threatened me with death-by-no-t.v.-for-the-rest-of-my-life if I went. He's normally pretty dependable on keeping those kinds of promises."
"And you sure you're willing to risk that?" Shane asked. "I can help you sneak out of here if you want to change your mind. I mean, before, when we thought it was just the fight, that's different. You're talking about-"
"Sneaking right into the belly of the beast. I know." I said. "But my dad's going straight into a demon trap all by himself. I don't really feel like losing my dad just because he wanted to play the hero."
Shane smiled at me.
"Fight with glory, dude. Shove a sword through Darklox's ugly face when you get him out of Skylar for me."
"Will do." I said, and he lightly punched my shoulder before he started climbing back down the tree.
"I'm fine, Cam, I promise. Just wanted to get a look out ahead."
I roll my eyes. Knew it.
I switched my attention to scanning the crowd below the trees for Dad. There was a girl with frizzy red hair leaning against a tree, casually tossing a throwing knife in the air and catching it on the way back down. There was another girl sitting on the ground next to her, who must have some sort of theme going on, because pretty much everything she was wearing was either black or electric blue. Even her hair. Wow. A pair of what looked like katanas were lying on the ground next to her. Another girl was further away from those two, with a bright streak of purple sticking out amongst the rest of her brown hair, and she looked like she was practicing, zipping around the place with a knife in hand - there.
"You ready?" I heard Quinn's father's voice from where I was. He was standing in front of my dad, and the rest of his friends were with him, too.
"Yeah." My dad nodded, a determined look on his face. "Tell everyone to retreat back further into the woods. Not too much. Just enough so that if the Shadows appear when I cross, this whole things won't be ruined."
I backed up a little further into the tree. Concealed by the leaves, I should be fine, but I hadn't even thought about what would happen if Shadows would show up whenever someone passed.
"Got it." Shane's dad gave him a thumbs up, and all of dad's friends left, except for Ty, who stayed by dad's side.
I watched as they started to get the crowds to fall back, although not everyone was paying attention. A group of girls, one with dark red hair that was the longest I'd ever seen and a bandage over one eye, another with a green creeper hoodie and a wand in her hand, and the last with silver and black hair and a belt of potions around her waist had to be told at least twice to get a move on before they actually heard.
"I already know what you're going to ask, Ty."
I turned my attention back to Dad and Ty as I heard Dad's voice.
"I know you do."
They seemed tenser than they usually were. My dad sighed.
"We've been over this, man. I can't guarantee her safety."
"Don't you think I know that?" Ty asked. "I know, Sky. I know you 'can't guarantee her safety'. All I'm asking is that you try."
"I might not have the chance to-"
"What if it was your daughter, huh?" Ty asked. "You'd try then!"
"Yeah, well, it's not my daughter." Dad snapped. "It's yours, and I've already told you I'll try, but if I can't save her, then I can't save her. That's just the facts, and...look, Ty, I'm sorry."
He said it as if she were already dead.
There was a long pause before Ty spoke again, and he sounded as if he was on the verge of breaking down.
"That's my baby girl in there, Sky. I just...bring her back safe for me. Please."
With those words, Ty left to go join the others, who had pretty much disappeared into the safety of the woods, and the crowd had gone silent.
My dad took a few seconds before he took a deep breath. He started walking out across the field, and I held my breath as he did. Every step sent a slight wave of fear through me, afraid that something was going to happen, that dad would take one wrong step and everything would go wrong.
It didn't take long before he took a step, and two Shadows appeared out of nothingness. He jumped, backing up slightly.
"Finally. About time the main event got here." The first Shadow said.
"You're lucky. The boss was starting to get bored with that girl of yours. If you'd waited another hour, she'd probably be dead." The other spoke up.
"I don't think I came here to be spoken to by two Shadows." My dad spoke, and he sounded confident. Of course, it was getting easier to face Shadows every day. "I came here to speak with Darklox. There's a deal to be made."
The Shadows looked at each other, then back to my father.
"Yes. That. And you have what he wants from you, do you?" The first sneered.
"In exchange for the freedom of the girl. Yes." Dad said, and I bit my lip, knowing full well he didn't have it, because I did. I could feel the amulet resting underneath my hoodie.
"Wow, so formal-" The first Shadow started to gloat, but was silenced by a glare from the second.
"If he has the amulet, the boss will be pleased." He said, turning back to my father. "Alright then, Sky. You may enter, but I can't promise you'll be allowed to exit. Or able to, for that matter."
"So I've heard." My father said.
A door suddenly started to open in the side of the mountain, and my father ignored the Shadows, starting to walk towards it. I couldn't see where the door led, but as Dad stepped inside, another two Shadows appeared right behind him, blocking the escape.
This was my chance. If they closed that door again, I'd never get in there in time.
I dropped down from the tree, breaking into an immediate sprint towards the door. This would be easy. I would run straight past the Shadows. I was fast enough for them. I could do this. I could -
One of the Shadows reached out, quick as lightning, grabbing my shoulder. I screamed out, feeling a burning pain sink into where its hand was.
"What do we have here?" The Shadow asked.
I could hear my father's voice yelling, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. I looked up, my teeth gritted, to see him trying to get past the Shadows, but they immediately reached out to grab him.
I'd never realized how similar our screams sounded.
"Oh, that's it..." The Shadow said. "You're his boy."
He let go of me, and I dropped to the ground, instinctively covering my shoulder. I could practically hear my skin sizzling from the burn.
I could hear someone else yelling my name, but it sounded faint. The others. They would be here too late.
The first Shadow looked up.
"We've got company."
"Is that so? Hm...what do you think?" The second Shadow asked the first. "Do you think the boss would like a double act while we deal with the other guests? Father and son?"
I swore I could see the silhouette of a grin come over the first Shadow's face.
"Definitely."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tyler why on earth did you think that would work
Your Characters! (in order of appearance)
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top