chapter 21- break bone with bone

Thomas swung his sword, no different than an axe or baseball bat, with great might within he cut at the ribs, expecting to slice it in half. Armor seemed to be molding his body from toe to head. Yet his blade didn't go any further.

"Fuck!"

Thomas raised his hands to block the attack and scratches, yet a whole group of those white fiends kept pushing him and hurting him. His armor, which seemed to be made of the toughest, hardest mineral in the world, began to break. If a man is already broken from the inside, how weak can the outside be? Do his abilities represent his thoughts, his emotions, and his feelings? If so, then this is already a losing battle, rage and anger cannot win a battle, Thomas let go of his hilt ready to swing.

The crawler counterattacked, and with a mighty force, its claws collided with Thomas' helm, which shattered. He was thrown to the dirt, his face half ripped off. What seemed like the strongest and toughest within the group was now on the floor, no different than a corpse.

"Quick, get Maxwell inside! Khaza, I need your help. These idiots are dying one by one, but I'm not watching my own cousin die."

"I ain't going out there; you go," Khaza retorted.

Maddie wasn't taking his shit, so she leaped over the window, going to fetch Max, who was limping, he was injured.

"You serious shit," Khaza also joined reluctantly.

"Max, you're fine. We'll get you inside, don't worry. Khaza, you get max inside now. I'll see what I can do with that crazy bitch and those two dumbasses," Maddie approached the kneeling silhouette of myself. Instead of picking me up over her shoulder, she slapped me across the face.

"Out of all things to do, you put our team, our party, in danger. Not by mistake, but by your own actions. You're either going to help me fetch Thomas or James, or I leave you out here where you belong. I've had enough of your shit. Acting like you're different, yet you're just a crazy bitch. But at the end of the day, if we need to go back home, we need everybody alive to finish the game. Your choice."

Maddie didn't know what she was talking about, what I had gone through. Nobody does. Yet I needed to fix my mistake, to face the consequences! I was filled with guilt. Right now, I had no time to feel guilty or blame myself. I only had time to correct my mistake, to help James, even if he was dead. He shouldn't be food for those things.

"I-I—"

"You what? Don't hesitate. Speak like you mean it. We don't have time."

I finally pulled my head up, locking eyes with Maddie. My lips were no longer quivering, no longer letting my emotions cloud my vision. Whatever happened to me before, or that void-like atmosphere I had, will no longer affect me. I won't allow it.

"I grab James while you distracted the creatures. My strength is high enough to carry two adult males, so these guys will be in my care. "I said.

"Alright." She nodded.

Both of us sprinted, splitting up mid-length towards the creature. Maddie let out a voice that vibrated in the air, visible as the leaves blew in the air from the same vibration. It wasn't a brute force ability, but it caught the creature's attention. I blended my back to a tree, waiting for the right moment.

"She's fast, right? She can escape, right?."

Stop it, Ellie. Don't doubt now, don't second guess, follow the plan. Your plan, you idiot.

My feet were light as a feather. I didn't approach Thomas; I hid behind the trees. As I got closer and closer to James, I made sure I wasn't spotted. The reason I didn't get Thomas was because it was too noticeable if I got him and then James. The direction towards the tavern was situated closer to Thomas, so it was a perfect escape route. The plan was to grab James turn around then grab Thomas.