We ran.

We ran like we had no tomorrow.

We felt like we had no tomorrow.

My instincts took my mind reins, and all I could hear was my thumping heartbeat. We ran in a random direction, hoping it was the correct one. Sometimes, Kristen would lead. Sometimes, I would lead. Either way, we headed nowhere safe.

How unlucky this week had been for me: I lost a duel to Lambert, I made an enemy (Tracy), I almost died at the Mirror Palace, I revealed my secret to Marty (hopefully not Jaxton), and now... I was chased by wild forest beasts.

A growl thundered behind me and I didn't dare to turn my head.

"What are you guys doing there!" Kristen still had her phone in her hands, and I could hear Marty shouting. "You're out of the boundary!"

"HOW CAN YOU GET OUT OF THE BOUNDARIES SO EASILY?!" Kristen cried.

Kristen and I swung my body over a fallen trunk, our bodies parallel to the floor. A thunderous stomp threw us off balance and we took a rough landing.

I deeply regretted laughing at Kristen.

I shot up from the ground, eyes darting from side to side in search of our chasers.

"Where... where is it?" Kristen breathed.

"We're facing more than one," I exhaled quietly through my mouth.

Kristen understood what I meant. We both unsheathed our weapons at the same time. Reflecta gave a shimmer in the dim light, Kristen's whip emitted a green glow as it slithered.

"Kristen? Cassandra?" Marty's tiny voice could be heard from the distance. Kristen must've dropped her phone when she fell. We both didn't make a move to fetch it, our eyes locked on what was approaching us from the shadows.

"Kristen," I said quietly.

"I'm ready when you are."

I felt steadier. All I needed to hear were those words. My battle stance widened, I held my sword in front of me, the sharp edge reflecting the light.

One of the adventurous ones from the pack ventured out from the dark. They were Zenxs, black beasts that wandered the boundaries. They drooled in blood, their expressions were dull and impassive; it was merely a ruse to lull people into a sense of security, that these beasts weren't hungry for blood.

I inhaled a quick breath and charged into action. The Zenx widened its mouth but I went low, and glided my way into the air. I waved my sword, but Light Divergence doesn't work too well in the shadows.

The long arms of the beast swung my way. I adjusted my weight and landed on its thick fur. I took a good stab at it's arm.

Fuming, the Zenx used a bigger force to swing me away. I was thrown across the air, but I curled my body and flipped, landing on the floor firmly.

Kristen's whip snapped in the air, its sound echoing with strength. The green hue seemed to growl against the Zenxs. More Zenxs tumbled out from the shadows, Kristen arched her arm and SNAP! a Zenx collapsed moaning.

Kristen and I charged again. I zoomed and glided around their giant legs, leaping over their long arms as they attempting to trip me over. They were huge, to their advantage, but slow, to their disadvantage. I took my chances with my sneaky strikes here and there, but sometimes they would be quicker.

Distracted, two Zenxs paired up and threw me toward a tree. I floated like a snowflake and sped down along the trunk. I spun kicked off, twirling in the air before I pierced my blade under a Zenx's arm. The Zenx growled, stumbled to the side but recovered shortly.

"Reflecta, aid me!" I hissed.

Reflecta listened and I felt water particles shudder in excitement. My sword guided their direction, and their particles closed in, forming the shapes of icicles.

A Zenx threw up it's arms, it's sharp claws threatening to cut me in half, but the icicle pierced it's shoulder and a few took a good stab at the neck, but it didn't bring it down.

I didn't linger my gaze long. I threw myself to the ground when a sharp claw swept across my ponytail. My breath shook with fear because the moment I got up, I found three Zenxs surrounding me.

I moved on low grounds. The Zenxs turned their heads, attempting to track my movements, but I was agile.

"Reflecta, grow," I held my sword out as protection as Reflecta glowed in the colour of emerald. The vines snapped itself around a Zenx's outstretched arm, another attacked with a fierce aggressiveness, throwing a Zenx off-balance.

I hadn't seen Kristen in a while, and I could my worry increase. I took the chance to slip away from the surrounding Zenxs, my eyes dancing among the dark beasts. The Zenxs changed battle formations, they shifted their positions and moved like a pack on a hunt.

I spotted Kristen when she waved her green whip in the air. She trapped a Zenx by the neck and swung herself over to the back. As I was about to zoom over and aid her, a group of Zenxs spotted me and growled. They were communicating with each other.

I leaped, taking a good slice at one's leg. I ran for a truck, leapt off it. With a flip and a turn, I landed on a Zenx head. I dug my blade into the back of it's neck, pushing it down with force. The Zenx went limp and it tumbled to the ground like a brick.

The weak spot...

"Kristen! The back of it's neck!" I shouted. I boosted myself back onto the back of a Zenx. I raised my sword high.

"Reflecta, give me strength-"

A Zenx threw it's arm out, defending its own one. I landed roughly with the ground, an ache forcing me to gasp for breath. I could no longer see Kristen.

"They were separating us..." I muttered. They were smarter than I thought, but I wasn't going to let them win. I sheathed my sword and as one Zenx swung it's furry arms at me, I bent and leapt. I grabbed a handful of its fur as it swung me into the air in attempts to get rid of me.

It's fur swished back and forth, and my grip tightened every time the Zenx tried to throw me in another angle. At the corner of my eyes, I saw a flicker of green. I let go, letting gravity take over. But a Zenx caught me.

"No!"

I was thrown in the air, and the Zenx punched me in the centre. I unsheathed my sword just in time to minimise the pain, but it was enough to knock the breath out of me. Like pebble on water, I bounced on the floor and fell limp.

ENERGY 39%

"Cassie!" Kristen's voice. I tried to respond, but my words died in my throat.

I fluttered my eyes open, my fingers were limp and empty. My sword was gone.

Shoot! Cassie, get up!

I inhaled a quick breath and pushed, but my arms were jello. I saw Kristen running toward me. It was too risky, she was risking her life big time.

A Zenx threw down it's fist, but Kristen's whip stopped it inches away from my body. I supported myself against a tree and stood.

"Cassandra! Grab it!" Kristen's whip uncurled in my direction. I reached out, grabbed the tip of the ribbon and kicked myself off the trunk.

I soared through the air, a group of Zenxs turning their heads as I flew past them. They turned their bodies in union and marched toward us.

I threw up my arms and the water cracked and splintered as they hit their target. The Zenxs moaned and fell back.

"Let's make it out here!" Kristen pointed. A gap between the surrounding Zenxs.

"I have to find my sword," I said, "you go! Leave me behind!"

"Are you mad! Never!"

Suddenly, a tail swept beneath our feet and we were both thrown into the air. I sat up, but the furry tail came back. My eyes gave a quick sweep of my surroundings. I could feel Reflecta's desperation to return to my side.

I arched back, the tail knocked my upper head but I was able to recover with a step behind me.

"Reflecta, shine."

In the distance, I saw a white light. I ran for it, leaping with my arms outstretched. I felt the cold grip in my palms and sighed. "Kristen, let's-"

Kristen laid limp on the floor.

"Shoot! Please..." I was by Kristen's side in an instant and I shook her, but she swayed lifelessly. I didn't have time to linger, I grabbed Kristen by the waist and fled.

If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself.

I inclined my head, shifting my eight. Like a blizzard, two snowflakes went on their journey of escape.



***



Unlike the blowing wind, snowflakes do not get past objects. I wasn't checking behind me and had hit a tree really hard, so hard that I allowed an agonised cry to escape me. We tumbled down the tree, our body crashing through branches.

I reached out, my hands clutched onto a branch, a strained pain seared through my arm. My other hand held onto Kristen's wrist. We swayed slightly, and without looking, I knew the Zenxs had surrounded the tree we were in. I couldn't glide with Kristen's limp weight and to my deepest horror, I accepted the fact that we were stuck. If no one came to help us, then we were goners.

The Zenxs inclined their heads, receiving instructions from their leader. I wasn't able to locate their leader until I saw a Zenx prowling through the woods, crushing bushes under it's bare feet. It's spine was decorated in red markings. Small Zenxs followed it, shaking the earth. It chirpped and the Zenxs turned on their legs and began to shake the tree.

"Oh no," I muttered. The weight of gravity was becoming more obvious by the second, and my palms grew slippery at the wrong time.

A smaller Zenx dug their claws into the trunk and managed to climb. They just wouldn't give up, would they?

The young Zenx scurried upwards like a monkey, I released a gasp when the Zenx jumped and landed on the branch – our branch.

I bent and stretched my legs, doing my best to bounce the branch. Leaves fluttered down, the young Zenx whimpered. It was going to lose it's balance and fall. I heard the moans of the adult Zenx beneath us.

"Get. Down."

The youngster dug it's claws into the branch.

"No, no, no, no, no..." I rounded my eyes. I swung up my foot to kick it off, but the Zenx almost caught it with its sharp claw.

Okay, bad idea!

The Zenx leaned back, standing on its hindheels before it began to pounce downward. I felt the branch bend dangerously. The Zenx did it again.

As it was doing the pounce half way, a bullet zapped through the air, and it went as quickly as it came.

The young Zenx stopped moving. The body shifted, slanted and free-fell to the ground like a brick. I watched in stark shock, unable to comprehend what just happened.

The Zenxs beneath us crowded around the young one and they released a deep, sorrowful moan. The leader arched its back and grumbled, and soon, the other Zenx mimicked; their war horn. The smaller trees nearby us tumbled like dominos.

They were mad as hell.

I looked towards the second bullet that flit through the air.

James stepped away from the shadows, his gun aimed. His sapphire eyes gave a clever spark as I watched in complete awe.

James pulled out another gun, pulling triggers at the Zenxs that charged toward him. A blue light flashed across the forest, and it felt as though I was in a dream; everything seemed to be covered in blue glass. The Zenx that took the fatal shots shattered into glass, they radiated in a beautiful hue, almost like the northern lights.

Honestly, who was this guy?

He twirled his gun with skill as he aimed for another adult Zenx, they prowled the earth but stumbled the moment his bullet struck their skin and drew blood.

The rest of his troop emerged with speed, they leaped and jumped, taking Zenx down with deadly accuracy. James threw both of his guns up, they spun and combined together into a dark blue spear.

A young Zenx challenged him, but he kicked off a tree and took his spear for a blood spin. The young Zenx collapsed under his feet.

Note to self, do not mess with James.

James jogged to our tree. With a jump, he threw the spear into the trunk and took a leap. He stood on it like a walk in the park. He tested the strength and stability of the spear by bouncing up and down on it, it was only then, he spared me his glance.

"You okay?"

Our first impressions didn't go down too well, so I was genuinely surprised that he was concerned. "Take Kristen."

James didn't think twice before he took Kristen out of my hands and I let out a deep breath and grabbed onto the branch with my now free-hand.

Marty ran over to assist him, and James quickly handed Kristen over to Marty. When the urgent exchange was over, James turned his attention back to me. He did his 'bounce' again – he was being extra careful and that slightly changed my impression on of him.

"Okay, come on," he said.

I gritted my teeth and took a swing. A small sound escaped between his teeth when I landed in his arms. "Almost knocked me off balance."

"Uh, your welcome?"

He ignored me and kicked up his spear. He landed firm on the floor. The spear shifted into two guns and they attached themselves to his back like a magnet.

"Are you hurt?"

I softened my expression and shook my head, I could sense weariness flooding my body like a rising tide. James walked away from the danger zone, the commotion thrown behind us. I loosened my shoulders and shuddered.

"Are you cold?"

"No," I muttered, eyeing his hoodie with an envious glance. "There's a senior Zenx in there. They might want to be careful."

His steps slowed but only momentarily. He flicked a worried gaze over his shoulder.

"I can walk, you know?"

He paused completely, then placed me down gently.

He glanced at me and paused his gaze for a brief moment before he let me down. "Let's be quick, then."

"Are you going back there?"

"I might be," he slowed his jog, noticing that I was lagging behind. I sensed his urge to pick up his pace every few minutes but resisted with a clench of his jaw. "This forest is giving me creeps, why are you here with Kristen anyways?"

"Jasper ran off. We were looking for him."

James shook his head, "in here?"

I coughed, "yes."

We arrived with another group of people in a brighter part of the forest. Marty was on his horse, holding Kristen protectively. The moment he saw James, he waved us over.

I saw James' subtle change in expression, a flash of emotion that disappeared the moment he began talking, "there's a senior Zenx in there. We need retreat quickly."

Marty agreed with a nod. "I'll take Kristen to the medical station," Marty looked at me, "are you okay?"

I nodded, "I'm fine. Take Kristen, quick!"

Marty nodded and hollered. "Bring a horse over! Cassie, if you don't know where to go, ask James to bring you."

Marty nudged his horse with his heels and the horse took off with a steady canter. James stood there with an 'are-you-serious' look.

Not a horse. I eyed the horse warily and grabbed its reins. The horse snorted, the bridle jingled. I patted the horse on the neck, "good horse..."

I sensed James' amused look at the back of my head, but I knew he wasn't going to do anything. I sighed and tried again. I moved to the stirrup... slowly.

"What's taking so long?" he snapped. "Get on the horse and chase after Marty."

"What!" I exclaimed, but he was already walking away. "No! Wait!"

He turned with his hands in his pockets. "What?"

I sighed quietly. "I can't ride."

"You what?"

"I said... I can't ride."

He groaned, throwing up his arms. "Who doesn't ride here?"

"Me?" I stated flatly, giving him a look of despite. "Marty asked you – yes, you – to bring me back if I don't know the way!"

"Do you know the way?" He asked.

"No! If I knew, Kristen and I would've gotten out ourselves!"

He looked at me in a moment of disbelief before he relented, breathing a quiet, "fine."

He took the reins from my hands and offered me his palm.

"What are you doing?"

He glanced away, I could almost imagine his patience bar dropping to the red zone, "to help you get on the horse," he said slowly, treating me like a child learning the alphabet.

I gave him a sharp glare before I took his hand. Carefully, I place my foot into the stirrup and when I was about to throw my leg over the horse, my foot slipped into the stirrup and I fell... again.

The horse was startled, but it was better than Jasper.

He sighed deeply. It wasn't a sigh of annoyance anymore, it was a sigh of despair. "Can you be clumsier than this?"

I laughed awkwardly, "I don't know..."

He stifled a chuckle – an actual chuckle – and bent down to get my leg out.

"Thanks." I muttered, noticing his unsettled sapphire eyes glancing away to the deeper part of the woods. Remorse settled into my stomach. He didn't want to send me back because he wanted to stay and fight. His mates would be fighting in there, risking their lives. He wanted to be there for them, and when I told him about the senior Zenx, that only made him even more nervous.

All my thoughts were washed away when he jumped onto the horse and sat behind me.

"What are you doing?"

"Is that the only question you know how to ask?" He shook his head, his lips forming a smile. "You said you didn't know how to ride."

I didn't hide my sigh. The horse moved at James' signal and it broke off into a steady jog.

"What?" He grinned, "by the way, don't move your head too much, your hair's in the way."

I faced my head forward but I felt my hair slapped across his face, and the wind didn't help with the situation either.

I felt his weight shift on the saddle. Finally, he let out a frustrated groan.

"Girl's hair is a deadly weapon. It whacks your face, tickles your neck and I'm guessing, it can get into your mouth too."

I bug-eyed and quickly caught my flapping ponytail. I kept it down on my shoulder with one hand, "ewww..."

I heard his chuckle again. I guess we can count ourselves on friendly terms now.

"This might sound weird, but... does your eyes change colour? I don't remember you having blue eyes."

"Well, someone's paying attention."

"It's glaringly obvious, you know?" I slanted a cheeky grin. "You're a glass bender, that's pretty cool."

He hesitated, "I didn't realise you were so friendly."

I frowned, "If I recall correctly, I'm the friendly one. You're not."

"Yeah, yeah..." he laughed, though I sensed something off with it.

"Are you alright?" I felt him flinch. "Are you worried about Kristen?"

His reply was edged with a hint of defensiveness. "She's a member of the team, so yes, I'm worried," he softened and sighed, "what happened?"

I pressed my lips together before I spilled everything.

"The stirrup, again?" I felt him shake his head and I stifled a chuckle.

"Yeah, it's me." I exhaled, "why are we required to ride horses here?"

"The Academy grounds are not exactly easy to navigate. It's more flexible with horses to go through forests, hills, and rivers."

I replied with a simple 'oh' before I decided to hold my tongue. I think I understand what's going on between him and Kristen, but I wasn't going to pry further. The daylight was fading, and I was more content with getting into my bed than anything else.