Darkness Falls Chapter 32
By Gemini83
Cid ran through the forest as fast as his tired lungs would take him.
Damn it, he thought to himself, Im too old for this.
Maybe if I get through this, Ill quit smoking...nah...
Besides, Cid liked to blow the smoke in peoples faces, sometimes, if
they really annoyed him. Well, if Shera asked nicely...
There wasnt anything he wouldnt do for her. If those bastards
hurt her...
And then he came upon the fleeing Drahk, and Cid had to stop himself from
pouncing on them right on the spot. The leader had Shera by the throat. Cid
had no doubt the wraith would kill her at the first sign of trouble. Cid
mulled it over a little longer, then chose his course of action. He hoped
it would work.
Without warning, a blast of Ultima surrounded the outsides out the group,
vaporizing the dark figures on the fringes of the group. The others were
blinded momentarily. That moment was all Cid needed to rush into the lead
Drahk, knocking the wraith down. He scooped up Shera in his arms, and made
a run for it. The Drahk were still too disoriente to follow just yet.
Wow, heaved Shera, I was...wondering when...youd
get around to me...
Cid laughed, I save her from perilous danger and she jokes about
it.
Well, smiled Shera, if anything, you do have a sense for
the dramatic.
Cid frowned as her heard sounds of pursuit behind him.
Shera, run into the clearing. Find cover with the others, Ill
be right behind you, urged the Captain.
Shera had no chance to argue, for she was pushed forward. Cid disappeared
behind her, into the depths of the forest.
The Captain turned to the rushing enemies, who crashed to a halt before
him.
All right you freaks, taunted Cid, come and get
me.
He drew out his spear, the blade gleaming in the moonlight. The wraiths stood
back for a moment, then closed in...
Shera ran on despite her worries, trusting that Cid knew what he was doing.
A pair of eyes, hidden in the shadows watched her progress...
Elena and Reeve had been separated from Barret. Now the trio were fighting
against their own pockets of enemies.
The Shinra President and the Turk fought back to back, taking their toll
of blood from each wraith that dared to come close. They had been backed
against a cliffs edge, and would not retreat any further. Elena had
drawn out two wicked looking knifes for close in fighting, while Reeve continued
to bash away at the enemy with his armored fists. Their enemies fell in droves,
moths burned from the fires of the suns which blazed before them.
How many more of these weirdoes do we have to kill before they get
the picture? demanded Elena.
Thats the problem, said Reeve, bashing away another Drahk,
I dont think they care.
Elena grimly cut and hacked at her enemies with brutal efficiency, striking
with killing blows each time, let them come, I feel powerful enough
to take on an army.
Reeve remained silent, guarding her back, hoping she was right...for it was
an army they were fighting.
And the two might have won the battle, if a ball of light hadnt suddenly
fallen at the ground beneath them.
Elena barely had time to register what was happening before Reeve pushed
her out of the way. The explosion covered human and Drahk alike in a torrent
of fire.
Barret was mowing through his enemies, daring them to take him down. He fired
round after round into the wraiths, not allowing himself to give in to the
tired ache he felt in his bones. That was when he saw an explosion in the
corner of his eye. He turned to see the blasts, and cried out in dismay as
he saw Elena and Reeve disappear in a flash of light.
But Barret had his own problems, for a blast shot through his leg. Barret
barked out in pain, and collapsed to the ground, cradling his damaged leg.
Barret forced his eyes to stay open despite the pain. But he could already
see it was over. The wraiths were closing in...
Cid doggedly cut through his enemies, slashing in wide arcs with his spear,
taking out as many of the beasts as he could with the minimum amount of movement.
He breathed harshly as he cut the dark shapes in half, leaving them to bleed
and be trampled to death by the moving battle. In the back of his mind, however,
Cid knew that it was only a matter of time before they got him. They were
many, while he was one. Whats more, they didnt care how many
died as long as they got the job done. Typical bad guys...they were complete
bloody psychopaths.
Cid played his trump card, summoning forth a flare. So close to them, however,
Cid couldnt help but be jarred by the force of the attack. He flew
through the air, landing with a rough thud. He quickly rolled to his feet,
ready for action.
He was pleased with the results. A good many of the suckers had fallen for
it. But the attack had taken a bit out of him, Cid was tired.
A wraith rushed up to the Pilot, raking him across the thigh with its sharp
claws. Cid slashed downward with his spear, decapitating the Drahk, but the
damage was done. Cid was limping. He grimaced...if that attack had gone any
higher, hed be singing soprano by now.
More dark figures came after him, and Cid struggled to keep up with their
attacks. He swept his blade in a wide circle, clipping several Drahk along
the arc of the attack. But another wraith came up from behind. Cid barely
had time to turn before the wraith grabbed his arm and bent it back. The
Captain cried out in pain as the bone snapped. He kicked the Drahk away,
and backed off. Cid breathed harshly, letting his broken arm hang limp. He
wielded the spear with his other good arm.
The Drahk came after him, sensing his weakness. Cid simply changed his fighting
style. If there was anything hed learned over the course of the last
few months, it was versatility. Cid speared the first attacker through the
chest, felling it easily. Using his momentum, he let go of the spear, pole
vaulting into his next assailant feet first. Cid landed and turned, bringing
up his foot, to catch yet another Drahk with a spinning roundhouse. Bringing
his good hand to grab the wraith, he ground his knee into the beasts
head with a sickening crunch. The Drahk doubled over in pain, and Cid rolled
over its back to kick yet another wraith away.
Cid laughed grimly as he drew his spear from the dead Drahk. Kaede wasnt
the only one with moves.
There were two left...
The first one rushed, and Cid swept his spear to the side, slitting what
he assumed to be its throat. The wraith sputtered, coughed, and fell. Cid,
extended his leg again to catch the other one with another roundhouse. But
it ducked under the leg and punched him square in the chest. The world went
black as Cid landed hard on the ground, but his fighters instincts
kicked in, turning the fall into a roll.
He finished the roll and brought his spear up...just in time to impale the
wraith as it ran up to follow up its attack. Cid breathed heavily as he lifted
the impaled Drahk with his good arm, and forced his broken arm to brace the
spear, holding it upwards at an angle. The wraith flailed about on the blade,
trying to fight its own demise. Cid used his last remaining energy to fling
the wraith against a nearby tree. It slammed against the trunk with enough
force to break every bone in its body, then fell to the ground silently,
never to rise again.
Cid was breathing in heaves now, thatll...teach you...to sell
me short. I win, you bastards...
He collapsed to his knees, completely drained of energy, oh man, Im
wasted.
Cid fell to his side, and the last thing he said before the world turned
dark was Sheras name...
Elena was holding on to the edge of the cliff with one hand. This normally
wouldnt have been a problem. However, she was holding Reeves
hand in her other, the only thing between him and certain death on the breaks
below. The additional weight of his armor wasnt exactly
helping.
She gritted her teeth as she struggled to hold on to both, her arms feeling
as if they were about to fall off. Reeve wasnt moving.
Reeve? pleaded Elena, Reeve, wake up. Reeve...ANSWER
ME!!!
Ugh, he replied groggily, Im still
here...
He had a moment to realize their predicament, then let out a curse.
I couldnt agree more, answered Elena, but right now
we have to get out of this.
Help lift me up, asked Reeve gently.
You dont ask for much, do you? replied Elena, okay,
hold on.
Reeve didnt have much choice. He watched helplessly as Elenas
face furrowed in pain. Her arm muscles bulged from the strain of bearing
so much weight.
Elena gritted her teeth even harder, forcing her aching muscles to pull up
Reeve through sheer willpower. Her arm was on fire. However, she succeeded,
and Reeve was now beside her, holding onto the cliffs edge as she leaned
back against his arm.
Elena breathed heavily, her arm feeling limp from the strain, lets
not do that again.
Reeve held onto her waist, supporting her, thanks for the save Elena.
Relax Ive got you now.
Elena looked down at his arms and smiled wryly, dont get any
ideas pal.
Reeve sniffed, but smiled back, dont worry, well have plenty
of time for this later. Right now, Ive got a plan.
Several of the Drahk skirted closer to the edge of the cliff. Looking down
into the chasm below, one wraith was met by a pair of feet. They wrapped
around its neck and pulled, sending the demon screaming to its death on the
rocks below.
Elena flew from the cliffs edge, jumping into the rest of the shades,
sending them reeling back.
Reeve jumped to the surface a moment later.
Elena looked back and raised an eyebrow, nice throw.
Reeve flexed his armored muscles, this suit has its
uses.
Yeah, answered Elena, and its heavy as all get
out.
Barret screams caught their attention. Elena quickly threw a grenade in the
direction of the yelling, clearing the Drahk away from Barret. The tall man
forced himself to his feet and limped to Reeve and Elena, who rushed to meet
him as well. Barret collapsed in the ground, and Elena and Reeve, brought
out their guns, training their weapons on the Drahk as Barret edged
closer.
Thought you guys were goners, said Barret through gritted
teeth.
Almost, replied Elena.
Reeve looked at Barrets leg and winced, does that feel as bad
as it looks?
Worse, answered Barret, but he forced himself to his feet, resting
most of his weight on his one good leg.
The three stood back to back, aiming their weapons at the Drahk wraiths that
were slowly surrounding them.
Damn, cursed Barret, there are too many of
them.
Elena sighed, well guys its been nice knowing you.
Authors Note: Chalk down the fifth chapter in thirty two hours!!! Even
with the skeleton work done, Im smokin!!! However, it is getting rather
late and Ill hate myself in the morning when I have to get up at six.
Dont ask. Anyway, complete surprise next chapter, or at least I hope
it is. However, if some of you readers out there (namely Arachnia) know me
too well, you may have anticipated whats going to happen next. Anyway,
thanks for reading, feel free to drop a line.
P.S.: Howd you like the tough-as-nails Elena Im trying to portray?
I like her, especially in the scene where she lifts up Reeve with one arm,
now that takes muscle! No, shes not biped up on steroids, all my characters
look normal! Well, except for the reptiles or the S&M freaks with face
paint. But the good guys definitely look normal...except Red, hes an
alien wolf/lion...never mind...
.