Trail

Kefi undid the wall and we stood there, head down. Waiting.

"She has to attack first."

"That's really dangerous. She could kill you by mistake, you know that right?"

"I know. But this is the only chance we'll get. Trust me here, Kefi."

"Fine. Remember, no matter what happens, it's neither mine nor her fault."

"Of course."

"Are you giving up now?" Aurora called out, still not dropping her guard.

"I need you to provoke her. And when she is attacking us at full force-"

Come on, Kefi.

"Giving up? Giving up? Ha! Who do you think I am?! I always win. No matter who I am up against. You are nothing compared to me. Now, why don't you show me how strong you actually are? After all, you haven't even touched me. Are you taking this seriously or not?"

Thank goodness she has a fragile ego.

Two minutes left.

"I am taking this seriously."

"Really? I can't see anything that proves that you are." Kefi did a spin, showing no injuries.

Kefi put an illusion to make it appear like I was unharmed. This will work only if she didn't see me get cut that time.

"Take me seriously!" Kefi shouted.

"I am!" Aurora summoned much more weapons and sent them in our direction. No pauses, no waiting this time. It's a direct attack.

"There's no way you are surviving this, Meraki! Let me take control!"

"No! I will handle this." I stood my ground, watching the weapons make their way to me. Watching and waiting.

"Do something else, you idiot!"

"Wait!" I dodged, barely escaping some of them. She still isn't giving her all.

Aurora is an easy person to read and Kefi did a good job provoking her. Any accusation that sounds like she is looking down on me will send her on a rampage. She's such a simple woman.

Also, my words earlier are still weighing heavily on her mind. She is feeling conflicted.

Sorry, Aurora. This may be cheating but I will do whatever I need to in order to remember and get my revenge. I and Kefi have been starving too long for blood.

"Is that all you've got?" I called out, taunting her. "I hardly felt a thing. Are you looking down on me, Aurora? On top of lying to me?"

Honestly, the wounds all over my body hurt so bad I am surprised that I am still able to stand up. Not only that, but the symbols Kefi carved are also still healing up so even my back and shoulders hurt.

"I am not. I would never look down on you, Miss. I would never lie or betray you either. I promise." She shouted, her voice breaking.

Good, get agitated.

"Then, come on!" It's so difficult to dodge and shout at the same time.

Ack!

A spear impaled itself into my leg as the weapons stopped, mid-air.

I looked up to see Aurora mumbling, with a crazed look in her eyes.

All her weapons went back to her, even the one in my leg and melded into one huge spear.

"What exactly are you planning, Meraki? Do you actually wish to die or something?! She isn't in her right mind anymore. I doubt she even knows what she is doing now." Kefi asked, panic in her voice as we looked at the ginormous spear floating above us. Every inch of it is sharp, not just the tip.

"Go big or go home right?" I said, making my stance firmer.

"You're an idiot aren't you?" Kefi laughed, "Fine. Anyway, I promised to see this to the end."

The spear came charging at us. It was so fast I almost couldn't doge it, not to mention that it can bend as well.

Every time I tried to get closer to Aurora, the weapon will bend and charge at me like it has a will of its own.

"Damn it." I tried to grab onto a ledge on the wall but the strength in my fingers disappeared and I fell down, just the weapon charged at me from below.

"Meraki!"

"Shut up!"

I looked at Aurora and focused on the wall behind her, summoning everything I had to appear there.

Come on. Come on.

My hand grazed the tip of the spear. It felt like I just ran my hand through thousands of glass pieces. The tip poked at my side.

Come on!

A gush of wind came and I saw a wall in front of me. Without wasting a second, I forced my body to turn and focused on Aurora's stand.

This time it is easier to teleport but I couldn't concentrate on the place properly because the weapon was in my line of sight instantly.

I disappeared again just as it crashed into the wall behind me and landed just below her legs, barely holding onto her makeshift plateau when something grabbed my feet.

I struggled to hold onto the platform as my body continued to slide down. Whatever it is that's pulling me down, knows the conditions of the deal and is trying to prevent me from winning. Everything around her is protecting her.

One more time. Come on.

"Aurora!" I shouted, bringing her out of her trance.

"Huh? Miss?" Her surprise at seeing me there was enough time for me to push myself up and reach out for her.

Everything charged at us, rushing to protect her from me. Her control on her surrounding is nothing to sneeze at.

My bloodied fingers slightly brushed her hand, making a trail where I touched.

"I win."

Then the sound rang.

Time's up.

I collapsed onto the ground, exhaustion overtaking me. My breath is ragged and heavy. I can now feel the pain from the wounds and they came to me with a vengeance.