Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The group returned to Alex’s room and stood in the same positions the night before. Alex popped on the bed as she stared at the statue, her eyes widened until it hurt. Jerry nodded to everyone “Let’s hold hands.”
Kevin sat by the couch and watched. After minutes of silence, there was no movement or wind like the first time. Alex grew impatient as she sat upright “It’s not working!”
“What are we doing different?” Tammy asked.
“Did you say the right spell?” Kevin asked Jerry, who in turn nodded.
“Wait, the last time Kevin was standing at the foot of the bed.” Mila observed.
Alex nodded “She’s right.”
“But he’s not a chosen one. What would his presence do for us?” Kyle asked.
Another sharp sound broke into the room when they realized the creatures were being born “We don’t have time for that.” Jerry said solemnly “Kevin, stand exactly where you were last night. Come on.” He raised his entwined hand with Ann’s “Concentrate.”
Alex rested her head as she continued to stare at the beast. Within seconds, she was in a trance, unable to move or hear anything. The wind began to hollow throughout the stone room as curtains began to billow and objects whirled in circles. It was much more intense than the first time. The book again fell from the statue and stopped as Alex awoke from the trance. She was nearly out of breath “Alex!” Kevin rushed to her side “Are you okay?”
She nodded while taking the book into her hand “It looks different.” She observed.
“How different?” Jerry asked.
Alex touched the circle, it had tiny markings of bumps. Seven to be exact “Hey, isn’t that the shape we just formed?” Mila pointed only to be shocked, she yanked her hand back with a laugh “That felt cool!”
Ann nodded as she gestured ‘She’s right. With Kevin at the foot of the bed, that’s the line that connects Alex to him. He may not be a chosen one, but he has an importance for being here.’
“Wow, that was the longest she ever said.” Alex sighed, “Too bad I can’t understand. I’m too tired to be nosy.” She waved her hand tiredly.
Christian leaned in from her other side “Open the book and see if there is a way to kill them without another being born.”
“That’s right.” She nodded while opening the book and held it up for Kevin to go over.
“Next page.” He said as she flipped page by page while he skimmed through it. After what seemed like hours, he finally smiled “I think I found it!”
“What?” Alex asked eagerly.
Kevin turned to them “There’s actually more than one way. Christian already found one, kill it through it’s heart.” He pointed to the center of his eyes “The second one is a little more difficult, you have to be within a feet from them. A spear through it’s belly.”
“Ew.” Alex groaned.
“Ladies and Gentlemen.” The messenger appeared at the door causing the group to gasp in shock “Dinner is served.”
“He’s like a ghost!” Tammy clutched her heart.
Mila quickly followed him out the door “Last one down is a rotten egg!!”
“How could she eat at time like this?” Kyle asked.
“I’m starving.” Alex grabbed the book and rushed towards the door while the rest eventually followed. When she reached the table, Mila was already stuffing her face “Hungry?” she asked sarcastically.
She nodded “If we’re going to fight evil, we need to have strength.”
“It’s crazy, but I agree with Mila.” Jerry nodded with a smile.
“So what’s the plan of attack? I suppose we are not going to sleep.” Christian was concerned with keeping them alive.
“Why not?” Alex asked before taking a bite of the chicken leg. She turned to Tammy who gave her a strange look “Want a bite?” she pointed the drumstick at her.
Tammy moved her chair back causing her to almost topple over if not for Jerry’s quick hands “That’s not funny, Alex.” She covered her mouth and turned away looking sick. Ann shook her head as she leaned over and dropped some mash potatoes in Tammy’s dish “Thanks Ann.”
“We need to keep this place lit.” Kevin agreed “There are only candles in this place and I don’t think it’s good enough. Those creatures can see darkness like we can see in the daylight.”
“After dinner, I’ll go out and get some wood from that forest down the block.” Christian offered.
“Isn’t that dangerous? Those things could be roaming out there.” Tammy was concerned.
“Danger is his middle name.” Alex chimed in. Christian smiled as he continued eating his chicken and vegetables.
“I think we should stand guard all night to make sure they don’t have a chance to attack. I’ll take the graveyard shift.” Mila volunteered easily.
“What is with you and attack?” Kevin smiled admirably.
She smiled through greasy lips “It’s my motto for living. If I die fighting, I will have died happily.”
***********
After dinner, Christian carried two extra guns with him and in his hand was one candle on a dish that Alex had made for him. He turned to look at the castle while the doors closed shut. He said a silent prayer and stayed on his top guard for the creatures. He could hear them being born from the waves crashing but he couldn’t turn back afraid they would see him. He came upon the forest and with each step, he realized the stank of dead meat filled his nostrils. Squirrels, raccoons and smaller animals were mutilated.
Trying to ignore the stench, he moved on to gather the wood. He had no idea he was walking further into the forest until he turned back and realized the road was no longer visible. After his arm could carry no more, he decided to turn back. Halfway there, he heard crunching sounds coming from behind him. He moved faster and it seemed whatever it was, it knew he was there. He began running and the sound grew louder. Christian knew he needed to face it to stay alive as he dropped the wood and pulled out his gun as he turned and pointed.
“AHH--” Alex covered her mouth when she realized she was screaming “It’s me.” She whispered.
Christian let out a sigh “Alex. Don’t do that! If I would have fired, you would have died.”
“But you didn’t.” she pointed out as she bent over and helped him with the wood.
“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside the castle?” he asked.
She shook her head “I was bored in there and I figured you probably need help carrying the wood. Mila and Kevin are up standing guard, everyone else went to sleep.”
“Come on, we should get back before you boyfriend starts to panic.” He said it almost sarcastically.
“Who? Kevin?” Alex laughed, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
Christian smiled under the moonlight “That’s good.”
“It is?” she questioned, “Hmm…did you know I have not dated in years? I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Trust me, it is.” His eyes smiled at her as she turned away with her own smile.
***********
Mila marched along the second floor hallway while Kevin sat at the top of the stairs, a gun in hand “Hey!” she called from the hall “You have to keep moving or you’ll fall asleep.”
He smiled with his head barely turned to catch a glimpse of her marching like a soldier “I’ll get more tired if I do what you’re doing.”
She laughed “True, normal people can’t stand regular activity. But I love the smell of sweat, especially my own. It makes me feel alive.”
Kevin spun his legs around to look at her “You’re not crazy are you?”
“That’s what you want to think. Just because I’m not tamed like the rest of the society or because I act and say different things, everyone wants to label me as ‘crazy’. But when you defy yourself of being who you want to be not who you have to be, I find that to be crazy.”
He laughed with a shaking head “I can’t believe I agree with you.”
She was growing short of breath due to walking and talking at the same time “Just as long as you don’t fall in love with me, it’s okay if you agree with me.”
“What happens to guys that fall in love with you?” Kevin was curious.
Mila stopped as she turned to him with a solemn expression “Nothing good.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to scare me.” Kevin tilted his head playfully “I don’t fear easy.”
“How about your little girlfriend?” Mila walked over to join him on the steps “She’s like a chicken without a head sometimes.”
He laughed, “Alex is not my girlfriend. Does everyone think that?” Mila nodded vigorously “No, she’s my best friend. Kinda like a sister, I watch out for her. I guess it could be easily misinterpreted by others.”
“How about Ann?” she was more observant than she appeared to be.
Kevin narrowed his eyes suspiciously “Do you spend your time analyzing people?”
“Is it wrong to notice things?” Mila shrugged carelessly “But you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“She’s different and mysterious and so kind at heart. It’s a shame she can’t speak.” He sighed “I want to say so much yet I feel like I don’t know how to express them.” Leaning his head back, he let out a sigh “I never dated before in my life and the first girl I fall for can’t even reject me.”
“How do you know she would reject you?” Mila questioned, “You didn’t even tell her.”
“I don’t think she’s interested.” Kevin guessed.
Mila laughed, “I had no idea guys could act like girls. Look, when we destroy evil and return to our home country, I’ll tell her for you.”
“You know sign language?” he sounded shocked.
“Yes. But it’s our little secret.” She warned “If anyone else knows, consider yourself extinct.”
Kevin raised his brows “Oh my gosh! I think I just got a goosebump.”
“You did? Let me see!” Mila asked excitedly but when he started laughing she knew he was being sarcastic “Hey—”
“SHH!” he covered her lips “I hear something.” The scratching sound came closer until the dark hallway lit up with a pair of red eyes. Kevin’s eyes popped open as he slowly let go of her lips “Mila…We have to run…”
She looked at him strangely and a sudden smile crossed her face “Is it behind me?”
He reached for her hand as he pulled her while screaming “Yes!!”
The creature flew down and beat them to the foot of the stairs as Mila crashed into his back when Kevin halted “Holy shit! Look at the wings on that son of a bitch!” she cried excitedly.
“Shoot it.” Kevin muttered as he stepped back up the stairs, pulling her with him.
“Awww…do I have to?” Mila broke away from his grasp and stepped closer to have a better look “It’s kinda ugly if you look closely.”
The creature opened its mouth and showed her it’s green tongue as he charged towards her with a snapping beak. It’s hideous sound seemed to crush their eardrums “Mila!!” Kevin cried but the girl calmly raised her gun and shot the beast in the head.
“Ooh, this is a good gun. I wonder where he got it from?” she said to herself while observing the weapon in hand.
Kevin’s head spun towards the door when he heard banging “Open!! Kevin!!! Open the door!!!” it was Alex’s voice.
“Duck!” Christian warned when the creature swooped downwards trying to catch them with it’s claws, he raised the gun and shot it in the wing causing it to drop to the ground a few feet away from them.
Alex turned to look at the animal “Is it dead?”
“Not yet.” Christian walked closer.
“Wait! Let me do it!” she begged. He nodded and handed her the gun. She stepped closer with a shaky hand pointing to the dying beast.
“Hurry!” he rushed.
She turned with an exasperated look “Hold your horses.”
His eyes widened in fear when the animal got up and opened it’s mouth wide as it was ready to devour her “Alex, get down! Get down now!” he pulled a gun from his back pocket and shot at the waking beast. It was quick enough to cut its beak into her the back of her hair.
Alex touched the back of her hair “It chopped off my hair!” she pulled up the uneven strands “Look!” she pointed angrily.
“Better your hair than your head!” Christian looked upwards to the sky “They’re getting closer, we have to get inside.”
Suddenly the door opened “Alex!” Kevin waved “Come on.” The two gladly obliged.