New Champion

Reaper and Melix stop running as they can see the smoke rising in the air in the distance, the place she and Melix had once called home was nothing but ash now. Anger filled Reaper's emotions, the one person she would consider a father was now in the man who would soon be her Master's hands. As much as she hated calling the Game Master, Master. It is what the Champion is supposed to call the Game Master. The only reason she calls him Master is because she doubts she will be able to stay away from him for long.

"We have to go back!" Reaper shouts as she starts to run back towards the village, but Melix grabs her arm and holds her back.

"I'm sorry Reaper but we have to keep moving," He says sadly, Melix knows how much Athal means to her.

"No! We can't leave him!" Melix sighs as he forces her to look at him.

"Reaper! Look, I'm sorry. But Athal told us to run as far from here as possible, if we get caught. His actions would be in vain." Tears stream down Reapers cheeks as she cries, her shaky hands remove the mask from her face.

"I miss him already." She cries into Melix's chest as he hugs her.

"I know you do Reaper, but we have to keep moving." She nods her head as she takes one last look at the place she had once considered a home, then turns away from it to Melix.

"We won't fail you Athal," They then continue running through the woods away from the burning village. Guards behind them, but not noticing them just yet. If they had stayed a second longer, they most likely would have been caught.

Location: The Game Master's Palace

Athal tries to fight back as the guards drag him towards a room, he is just hopeful that Reaper and Melix got away. Once they get to the doors, they open. In front of him sits his former master.

"Ah, my once great Champion." He chuckles as Athal is brought over to him, he is then shoved to his knees. The Game Master walks over to him with a smirk on his face. "Now, tell me. Who is the young one?" Athal growls at him.

"Someone who will beat you, and your game." He spat, but that caused the Game Master to frown. Then sigh.

"Fine, take him to his cell. Once the girl is found, he is to be executed. Until then, he will be our Champion once more." Athal protests but he doesn't have a say in the matter, then he is dragged out of the room and thrown into a cell.

"You won't find her! You won't!" He shouts as he stands at the front of the bars.

Location: Village of Altha

Reaper sighs as she stays in the shadows, guards are everywhere. Melix had gone off to find somewhere to stay for the night, while looking around, she noticed a big screen appear in front of a post nearby. She furrows her brows as she thinks. Athal appears on the screen, which angers her.

"Players of the Game, I have something I wish to announce to all!" The Game Master appears next to him, Athal just stands there, not looking happy whatsoever. "We have a new Champion! Until the Reaper is found, my former Champion has come back to fight for us!" A low growl is heard by Melix from Reaper, Melix also appearing beside her. "Find my Champion! And you will be free!!" Everyone starts whispering to each other about what the Game Master said. They can be free, they won't have to fight anymore. It is what everyone has ever dreamed, to never have to fight in the games again. It's a dream come true! The screen closes and people fan out, they must be looking for Reaper. This isn't good.

"Reaper we have to go," This can't be happening, Athal can't fight as the Champion, he will be killed! Reaper thinks to herself.

"What if I turn myself in?" Melix shakes his head quickly, then pulls her further from the people.

"Are you crazy?!" Reaper sighs, then looks down.

"Athal might die because of me, if I turn myself in maybe they will let him go." Melix sighs as he looks a tiny bit down at Reaper.

"Reaper, I'm sorry but if they find you, they won't let him go. They will kill him either way." Tears start to stream down Reaper's face again, but this time she leaves her mask on. "Reaper, I'm so sorry. But there isn't anything we can do. Athal is the new Champion, and if they catch you, he will be killed." Melix hugs Reaper as she cries, her hood is still up so no one really notices her since she is in mostly all black.

After a few hours, Melix and Reaper begin to continue walking away from the village and further into the forest. She has stopped crying by now, her eyes however are still slightly red. They begin to leave towards the edge of the mountain cliff. Once they get there, Reaper looks over at Melix sadly. Down below them sits the village of Kaloa, flames burn at everything around them.

"Stay here," Reaper whispers, then jumps down the cliff, just as she had the day this all started. Carefully, she lands and stands up slowly. Melix stands up above her, worry plastered on his face. With a small smile, he calms his nerves a bit. Reaper walks quietly but quickly towards the burning village.

Screaming is heard from nearby the well of the village, silently Reaper leans over the wall that blocks her from being seen. A woman is screaming, her body being burned as flames burn at her skin. Reaper looks at her sadly, but turns her back and runs nearby where her tent used to be. A soft sigh of breath escapes her lips, seeing that the fire hasn't spread to it yet.

Reaper runs into the tent and quickly looks around, the fire growing closer to her with every second she is in the tent. She picks up a blanket off from the bed she once called her own, under it lays an object. Gently, she picks it up in her soft hands, a few small tears form in her eyes just as the fire reaches the tent.

The tent is immediately engulfed in flames, Reaper stands next to Melix as they watch from a distance as their home is burned to the ground. "Come on, it's not safe here." Melix whispers softly, barely setting his hand on her shoulder. She closes her fist around the object, when Melix turns and walks away she looks down at her hand.

Slowly she opens her fist, in the center of her palm rests a rose pendant with a scythe symbol embedded in between the metal pedals of the rose. A small bit of red blood resides against the silver colored metal. Tears finally fall from her eyes and stream down her cheeks.

-Memory-

Reaper sits on the edge of the cliff, her feet dangling below her. The village of Kaloa rests peacefully in the dark night. The entire village is lit up from the bright full moon that hangs above them. "You nervous for the game tonight?" Reaper doesn't have to look back to see who it is, they sit down next to her on the cliff. Letting their feet also hang down next to hers.

"Yeah," She whispers quietly, a puff of cold air blows from her lips resembling how cold it is outside. A soft sigh escapes her pink lips, her hand reaching up and removing her mask. A pair of bright mysterious blue eyes gaze into his chocolate brown ones. He puts his hand on her shoulder.

"We are a team after all, aren't we?" He says in a whisper, a soft smile forming on his lips. Compassion and happiness fill his eyes. A small smile makes its way to her face as well, the sparkle returning to her eyes. He grabs her hand without breaking eye contact, carefully he opens her hand and places something in it. "Reaper."

She looks down at her hand, inside sits a rose crescent with a scythe embedded in between the shiny metal of the rose.

"Yeah..we are Elex."