Chapter Three: Fate Opposed

Sheathing my blade, my whole outfit disappeared, returning to my old.

'Zen,' she took a breather.

Approaching Anne, I pulled her in, cradling her in my arms. 'It's all ok now,' I caressed her hair, smooth like ice.

'I hear voices in my head,' raising her eyes to look at mine, her pupils were empty.

'Anne are y-' she pushed me back before I could finish. 'Anne, I can help!'

She fell to her knees. 'I know you mean no harm,' her white dress changed to an outfit like mine but white and golden instead.

Seeing this, I realized the white light she became on the ship was like power given to me from that man.

With a staff appearing in her hand she seemed all to perfect. 'Anne, you still there?' I had little doubt she was. Unlike me, she isn't as mentally strong as I am.

'No,' looking up at me, I felt fear surge through my body, 'But your end is,' she charged at me.

Rolling, I didn't wish to harm her, no matter the reason. With that statement, all I could do was dodge her. Slower than I was in my transformation, the blows she landed left great destruction. One hit in my frail state would be my end.

'Just die you filthy demon!'

'So if my sword read "Demon Champion",' glancing at her staff, in english was written "Angel Champion", 'You're the other side of the coin,' talking while constantly moving made me feel out of breathe.

'Filth like you deserves to never learn dialect!'

Whoever possessed Anne, must be the warrior before her. If that is the case, the voices I heard from ealier, guiding me to learn my power, must also have hate.

'You're wrong,' a man's voice echoed through my head.

Looking at Anne, she didn't hear it.

'Am I?' I thought to myself.

'Indeed. I tried to bride Demons, Angels, and Humans alike to be cohabitent with one another.'

'Guessing it didn't work.'

Anne slammed her staff into the pillar, getting stuck.

With a chance to catch my breathe, I took it. Looking at this imposter, controlling Anne's words and movements, I knew what to do.

'No, it didn't work, so I came up with a new plan.'

'That being?'

'To choose someone who'd fight to protect others.'

The words from the voice in my head left a sense of importance in me.

Freeing her staff, Anne turned towards me. Her face filled with rage, a sight I thought I'd never see. Charging straight to me, I planted myself to the ground. Growing closer, she pulled her arm back.

'I won't hurt you Anne!'

Swinging, she missed me.

Without hesitation, without pause, without fear, without doubt, I moved. Running right into Anne, I hugged her tightly.

Hitting my back with her fist she scowled. 'Why you filthy demon; you insignificant, disgusting, repulsive, demon!'

I wanted to rid Anne of this foul mouthed being. 'Anne, this isn't like you at all!'

'This is me-'

'Shut up! Whoever you are, you aren't Anne!'

Hugging me back, it she begun to squeeze me tightly. Knowing it wasn't Anne, I could tell that they were trying to break my spine.

'The real Anne is a shy girl, who got over being an introvert just for me! She didn't abandon me, but she rathered saved me from insanity-'

She squeezed my torso even tighter.

'Anne gave me somewhere to feel safe-'

My breathe felt short.

'She gave me everything, after I lost it all-'

I felt her grip loosen.

Looking into her emerald green eyes, she was crying. Using my thumb, I tried my best to rid her off her tears, but I had felt something warm go down my cheek.

I was crying too.

'Zen.'

'Anne.'

We hugged eachother. Falling to our knees, we didn't exchange words, look at each other, we just held onto eachother. Both of us were in our ripped, bloody clothes.

After some time, a light beamed down on us.

Waving the cab driver off, Anne and I walked towards a mysterious building.

'Odd the coast gaurd took us to New York from off coast Florida,' Anne pushed her hair out her eyes.

'Well at least that nightmare is over.' Opening the double doors, it was a large empty room with a singular desk in the middle. Approaching it, the desk was empty, except for a bell.

Anne immediately rung it.

'Anne!'

She just shrugged, 'What, it's just a bell.'

looking at the bell, a noise came from below us. Without warning, the floor closed inward, making us fall down deep underground. Holding on to eachother, our hearts touched, beating fast.

Then we stopped.

Gliding down, it as if we were dropped pieces of paper.

Reaching my hand down, I felt a smooth surface. Loosing the lightweight feeling, we plopped onto the ground.

Lights came on, making the once dark empty void into a bright and beautiful utopia. Buildings towering high into the surface of the underground, a long river leading throughout the small area protruding from the roof of this place, with people walking around like everyday citizens, one wide building stood center. It looked like a school, but it was bigger than any school I've ever seen. Sneaking from behind, someone tapped Anne and I's shoulders.

We faced her.

'Names Miss Odin,' she held out her hand.

Anne took and shook it, 'Anne,' she pointed at me, 'And that grumpy poo is Zen.'

'I know who you two are, it what happened on that cruise,' she said coldly.

'Hey, don't bring tha-'

Miss Odin clasped her right palm on my face, squeezing my cheeks, 'The past can't be forgotten, and for some,' she looked at Anne, 'They need it,' she thoughtfully added.

Freeing me, I rubbed my face, 'Rude.'

'What do you want from us,' Anne walked forward.

'Glad you asked,' the woman placed back and fourth, 'I'm aware you two are the angel and demon champions,' she stopped, 'We were ordered, as superheros of society, to eliminate you two, but-'

'Kill us!? What did we do!'

She slapped my face, 'Don't interrupt!' She cleared her throat, 'But we saw you two had, altered the will of the pact, I don't know how, so I ask, will you become a hero,' she beamed us with her eyes, 'And hopefully you say yes.'

I thought about saying no but a thought had came across my mind. Without hesitation, I deflect her glare, 'I'll do it!'

Anne, suprised by my answer, she collected herself, 'Oh! Uh, where Zen goes,' she grabbed my arm, 'I go!'

The woman simply laughed. Drying her tears, she stepped aside, 'Then welcome to our superhuman world!'