Harbingers

It was the end of times.

Buildings were toppled over, and each other, while the streets were crowded of corpses. The skies burnt crimson as ashes rain down like snow. Three cloaked ladies loom over the despair from the rubbles, one cover her mouth from the ashes, as the two look away seemingly immune from the polluted air. They all turn to look at the distance- they see their target. From miles away, a gargantuan female figure tower everything. She was fixed in place, her hands crossed together and her eyes solemnly closed as if sleeping. Locks of hair crawl along and around her body to shield her, some struck to the ground and overreaching the heavens, sapping nutrients and life from the ground and the skies, sustaining the monster.

"The Beast" they mouthed, their enemy.

The trio looked at each other and gave a determined nod. They held each others' hands, a mix of blue, purple, and red aura cover them. They feel filled and reinforced. With a new found strength within them, they dashed straight to the looming creature, like a star heading for impact. Their presence piqued the interest of the "Beast", slightly opening her eyes, she let out an empty guffaw that echoed in the empty world. The monster's glare commanded thick strands of hair to launch towards the trio. They masterfully and gracefully dodged each assailants no matter how fast they come or how slim the spaces in between were. They held each others' hands tighter and tighter, they cannot bear to let go or else their spell will come undone.

They were so close towards their enemy, all they had to do was push through. The Beast finally recognizes them as worthy adversaries that she looked directly at them. A red huge beam head straight towards them. They turn to avoid only for it to follow them, locked and loaded- ready to bring them down. They shifted and turned only for the beam to continue to hit them.

"When did that bitch learn to do that?" the girl on the left exclaimed in frustration.

"I... I don't know!" the girl on the middle stammered, "this haven't happened before!"

The girl on the right felt their panic and frustrations, but she cannot let them fall apart. They are this world's last hope. She gripped their hands tighter and took charge, with every swerve and twirl, she maneuvered them away from the beam. She noticed that their enemy cannot see while doing this. A weak spot. They continued dodging and moving away from the beam but close enough to The Beast. When she thought she found an opening, locks of thin hair speared towards them. There's no chance they can dodge all those in time. The beam crept close to them. Is this the end? The girl on the right, ignorant of what may happen, she soldiered through. Maybe she can muster a shield spell? Or a teleportation spell on a last minute? Maybe she can- She feels the girl on the middle loosening her grip. Her eyes widened

"What are you doing?" the girl on the right shouted angrily, "You can't let go!"

The girl simply smiled and let go, her blue aura transferred to the remaining two, while pushing them away from the collision. They watch her get impaled by the locks then obliterated by the beam. Even in death, she smiled. The remaining two crashed to a nearby rooftop, away from the view of their target.

"We were so close!" the girl, formerly on the left side, cried, "How are we going to fight now?"

She repeatedly punched the cemented surface and cried louder, her hand bled more and more in each impact. The remaining girl turned her to the back and grabbed her by the collar.

"Pull yourself together!" the girl from the right side shouted, "We can still fight!"

"Fight that?" she replied, "Are you crazy?"

"We can't stop now! We are so close!"

"The spell needs three people! How are we going to do that with just us two?"

She made a good point. They can't do the annihilation spell with just two people. As far as she remembers, they are the only survivors of this planet. The chances of looking for another one- a mage, even, was very slim. The land suddenly grumbled. Their eyes grew wide in horror- The Beast is walking towards them. Dumbfounded, they slowly back away until it build to a run. They jump from building to building just to escape. The two hold hands and jumped to the streets, they use a little magic to slow their fall. With no breaks, they continue to run for their lives. From the distance, still following them, The Beast let out a laughter, and strands of her launched again. Like spears thrown by warriors, each strand rained down, barely missing the two by the skin. Making things difficult, sharp strands emerge from the ground. They were not meant to escape alive. They coated themselves with red, blue, and purple aura, acting as a shield.

The sharp ends only bounced off at first, but each hit creates a crack to their shield, weakening their defenses and draining their strength. They both panted and wheezed, feeling weak and fragile. Her companion even more. She's always been a sickly girl.

This can't be the end, the girl thought, Not this way!

She felt a kick of adrenaline push her. She didn't feel her legs, she was just running. She gripped her companion's hand tighter, she was determined to escape together. She easily dodged the projectiles. The more she whooshed away, the more she moves away from The Beast's base. Just a few inches more and they are out their enemy's grasp. Slowly! One more step further! And she crossed it! The strands came to halt. No more sharp edges. Their safe! They escaped! That means there's still hope! They can just rest up and fight back soon! They- The girl turned. She was all alone. She looked around but there was no one else there. But... she was holding... The hand she was gripping all along... was just what was left of her friend. It was her companion's arm to be exact. Cleanly sliced from the shoulder, the other end was dripping and soaking in blood. She froze. She was distraught. But they escaped! They got away? How- How did this happen? She was processing what happened. All she can muster was scream in horror. What she might've felt back there was another transfer of power... she gave up.

"No!" she cried in disbelief, "I got it right! I found the spell! We were on track!"

She gritted her teeth in frustration.

"How long should I keep doing this?" she screamed to the skies, "How much more times should I see them die?!"

She bawled and wailed in her despair. She feel to her knees. She clasped the arm to her chest and wept.

"I am sorry!" She cried, her grip to the limb tightened and tightened, mourning for the lost of her friend "I am so sorry"

It's like she is just leading her friends and companions to death each time. The same smile from her friend. It's no use. She keeps coming back to the point where The Beast emerges, only to end up with the same outcome. She stopped crying. Her face fell blank. But this time she's even more powerful. She has powers more than ever. She laid the arm down on the concrete pavement. Her hands pooled of blue, red, and purple aura, slowly bleeding into each other to a lilac hue. She waved her glowing hand and a gush of wind blasted.

I am stronger, she confirmed.

The winds twisted and twirled slowly tearing reality to a wormhole. The girl walked in. She entered a realm full of endless events that occurred prior to her opening this door. She saw various scenarios of her friends' death. As she walks, she saw how her friend was decapitated. She saw her another friend be impaled and blasted. There was even a time the two were drained of life. An instance wherein one was crushed. One where she was torn to shreds. The girl winced at every alternate timelines she has formed, but this ends now. Unlike before, there is an endless corridor awaiting her. She'll just go to the beginning, before that bitch Beast can even stand a chance. She smirked, until built to a laugh, maniacally and maniacally the more she goes deeper. More previous events appeared before her. She just needs to choose the right one.

"How much more will you be doing this?" a voice asked, echoing through the infinite corridors.

"As much as I have to..." the girl replied, and empty voice.

"You know it's pointless, you'll never change the future."

"Bite me"

There. She found the perfect time. She placed her hand on the warped surface and pushed with all her strength. She glowed blue, then red, then purple, then lilac, slowly tearing the fabric of time and space. She was swallowed in by the portal bringing her to an earlier time. The realm then closed in, vanishing from existence.

"Because there is no future" the voice muttered, as they dissipate along with their realm.

Then everything went black.