Chapter 13

Harley looked around, hoping to find something he could use to get the red slipper. But much to his disappointment, nothing is in the room. Only a few lit torches, a huge closed door, the countless eagles and him are there in the room.

"Okay, let's try this," he said to himself and stared at the nearest eagle flying constantly at a low height. He stood motionless and when the eagle is just a hand away from him, he immediately grabbed it on its neck. It shrieked like a damn girl, like Rhapdosis.

Harley got startled when the others suddenly changed their pace and direction. The eagle he's holding slowly crumbled into sand and only the fake red slipper is left. The eagles came booming at him but the one with the real pair of Rhapdosis' slipper is left undisturbed near the ceiling.

He crossed his arms around his head when the eagles came clawing at him like hungry vultures. With one hand, he shooed them away but they just flew upwards. Harley got the chance to aim at the eagle flying on the ceiling. He threw the fake red slipper but the eagles blocked it from hitting the one on top. They once again shrieked like a woman in pain as they swoop down and attack him once again.

But this time, instead of covering himself for protection, he squats a bit and got himself ready to catch some eagles and get slippers. The first line of eagles clawed at his arms, chest and neck which made him whimper in pain. Yet it didn't stop him from grasping two eagles on both hands before they went flying back up. The eagles he caught crumbled into sands just like the first one. Another chance has opened to aim at the eagle on top. Just like before, the other eagles blocked his aim.

This time, it is Harley's purpose that his aim would be blocked so the eagles would come right back at him. The more slippers he could collect, the more chances he could have to hit the right eagle.

He once again waited for the flock of eagles to come right at him. He prepared himself and he ain't just aiming two, he has to get as many slippers as possible to get back to Chang'e sooner.

As the eagles came attacking him, he got two, then had a roundhouse kick, and another high kick. He did this as fast as he could until he managed to gather more than ten slippers. The eagles decreased in number and this time, Harley's goal is to hit that right eagle. He threw one slipper, then two, then three but the flock of eagles kept on blocking it.

He was about to shoot another slipper but a white creature caught his attention. It is just across him and he observed it, trying to comprehend how it ended up there when the room is closed ever since he entered. It is glowing white and its red eyes gazed back at him as if it knew him very well.

Harley saw the seal marked on its forehead. The seal is glowing in reddish-orange color.

"That's the same as the mark on Chang'e's forearm," he mumbled to himself. The little bunny came hopping towards him and he knelt down to carry it on his hand. But the moment he touched it, a vision came rushing in his mind.

His eyes widened as he sees Rhapdosis sucking out the life of Chang'e. He could see the pain and hopelessness in the girl's eyes. Though he couldn't hear them, Harley saw Chang'e mouthed his name, calling for help.

The little glowing, white bunny suddenly glows too bright, blinding the eagles. They stopped flying here and there. This time, Harley got one slipper and hit the one carrying the real red slipper. It shrieked before it crumbled into sand and dropped the red slipper. Harley quickly caught it and felt the entire room shaking. The ceiling starts to crack so he immediately pushed the doors opened but it won't budge.

The ceiling starts to fall and if he fails to get away, he'd be stoned to death. The bunny hops here and there, trying to avoid the blocks. Harley gathered all his strength and pushed the doors open and fortunately, it's starting to open. He ran towards the bunny and grabbed its ears before successfully opening the doors. Right after he got out from the room, the house crumbled into rubbles.

"Time to save your master," he said as he ran as fast as he could to the place where he had left the two girls.

When he saw them, he halted and showed the red slipper to Rhapdosis.

"Let her go and I'll give this navk to you!" he claimed despite being out of breath.

Rhapdosis looked at him and a smile is formed on her lips as she sees her slipper.

"Finally," she said, very much delighted. She dropped Chang'e on the floor and slithered towards Harley.

She grabbed her slipper as Harley ran towards Chang'e. But before he could even touch her, Rhapdosis puffed behind her and lifted her limp body on midair, away from Harley's touch.

"Let her go before I ran out of patience," he threatened but only a mocking laugh echoed in that place that is coming from Rhapdosis.

"You found my slipper, yes, but I need her to be my sacrifice in order to open the portal where my beloved pharaoh is," Rhapdosis replied.

"Do something," Harley said as he looks at the little bunny but he was shocked to it starting to disappear.  He looked at Chang'e and her eyes are only half-opened, her breathing seemed faint.

He ran towards them and jumped onto a rock so he could shot himself up towards the sky but Rhapdosis swirled around which made him miss. She totally sucked out the life of Chang'e before dropping her like she's just some trash. Harley ran towards her and caught her lifeless body in his arms.

Rhapdosis regained her beauty and she rejoiced as a portal opens up and her pharaoh came to her with delight.

"After millions of years, I finally got to see you again," Rhapdosis said as she wraps her arms around her lover.

"Rhapdosis, I feel so much joy for we have finally reconciled," said the pharaoh. As if the two other teens do not exist, the lovers vanished in thin air.

Harley was frozen still, staring at Chang'e. Her eyes are closed as if she's just asleep. Her body is motionless.

"Hey," Harley mumbled, trying to convince himself that he did not just lose a comrade. "Chang'e."

He did not get any response from her. She remained motionless and breathless.

Harley's breathing starts to become ragged, but he forced himself to keep his cool and gain control over his emotion.

"Chang'e, wake up," he said as he shook her shoulder. "Wake up."

His tears slowly fill his eyes yet he does not want to accept it just yet.

"Chang'e, wake up," he repeated, "This ain't a joke. I ain't joking."

No response came from her. He clenched his fists, not wanting to shed tears but his eyes betrayed him.

One tear fell, then two, then continuously, his tears flowed.

He held her shoulders and shook her.

"Wake up," he sobbed. "Damn it, this isn't funny."

Harley saw the fire seal on Chang'e's forearm. It used to be reddish-orange in color but now, it has turned totally gray. It's lifeless.

"Chang'e," he called out once again as he wiped off his tears. He felt so useless. His intelligence, his magic and his talent did not help his comrade live. He used to be so boastful of his skills but now? All of his confidence went down the drain. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't bring back Chang'e to life. He could not turn back time.

His guilt came rushing at him and he felt like he's being devoured.

"No, you have to live," he sobbed. "You have to live, damn it!"

He slowly wraps his arms  around her unmoving body. He hugged her. He hugged her tight, wishing she'd come back, wishing so hard as his eyes continues to shed rivers of tears.

"Wake up, wake up," he mumbled repeatedly with gritted teeth, his grief starts to overpower him.

"Wake up, Chang'e, damn it!!" he yelled so loud. He sobbed at that place as he holds his comrade's body, he cried for who knows how long.