Battlefield

Preparations were complete. The windows had been boarded once Riley returned, the food had been cooked while the Skellies kept watch, and all that was left to do was wait. Kelly hasn't returned since she left five hours ago, and the sun had long since set.

"Do you think Kelly is ok?"

Out of worry, I voices my concern, but Riley quickly shot it down.

"Please, Kelly wouldn't be stopped by a few wannabe punks. I've seen the things she can do first hand. She taught me to fight, even though I might not look it. If anything, I'm worried for the Reapers if it's taking this long."

Riley clearly wasn't worried for Kelly. In fact, it seemed like he didn't even have the slightest bit of concern. He twirled his peach colored hair as we all waited patiently for anything to happen, and that's exactly when it did.

A fireball flew through the main entrance from a nearby alley, and it wasn't a weak one either. Just as it was about to collide with a wall, I kicked a table into the air to take the brunt of the damage. When the fireball collided, the table was instantly consumed with flames, burning as it fell back to the ground. Only when it crashed to the floor did everyone process exactly what had happened.

"They're here!"

As the words left my mouth, another fireball came shooting out of the alley. This time, Riley had shot out a waterfall, canceling the two out in midair. As they collided, ten men came running out from the alley. The three Skellies grabbed up their swords and prepared for battle. Riley had grabbed two daggers, one in each hand, and ran forth at incredible speed towards the men. It was only a moment, but as soon as he reached them, three fell to the ground. I saw as his blades swooshed through the air and slid through their throats, causing them to drop dead as blood squirted into the air.

As those three men hit the ground, more men rushed from the alley, attacking other buildings on our street. It was like watching a major battle in a war unfold. Before I knew it, owners of the other buildings were rushing out to defend their property, and now fighting had erupted onto the streets, covering them with blood. It seems the cafe wasn't the only place targeted by the Reapers. It looks like they plan to make this entire neighborhood submit to them, one way or another.

Fires were erupting everywhere, beginning to consume all of the nearby buildings while lighting up what could only be described as a battlefield. I expected there to be fighting, and I expected it to be pretty bad after what Kelly had told me, but this was beyond my imagination. Bodies were piling on the streets in mere seconds as people threw themselves at each other. It hasn't even been a minute since the Reapers started the fight, yet all of this has happened.

Before I knew it, I was outside, gazing at everything happening around me. Mother's were holding their children from second or third floor windows as fires trapped them inside. Swords were colliding with swords as blood continued to coat the streets. This scene, it's breaking my mind to see it happen right in front of me.

How could the city guards turn a blind eye to this!?

Okay, I'm angry now. I don't know why all of this is happening, but I do know that it is not for a good reason. If they want a fight, I'll give them a fight.

Moving at a speed just slow enough to be believable, I ran straight for the large group of Reapers and brought them down one by one. Only a single swing was all it took to bring them down, and after a few moments, they were down for the count. Riley looked at me with a look of pure shock, but I ignored it.

"Riley, we need to help everyone! See if you can't help put out some of the fires that are trapping people, quickly!"

"Yes, okay!"

At that, Riley was running down the street, shooting blasts of water at houses with victims trapped inside. Just as she had put one out though, a fireball had shot out from the same alley, lighting it back up. I guess I should take care of that. I ran straight for the alley, my fist ready for a punch. They didn't even have time to react before they were pummeled into the ground with a single hit.

Everything feels like it's happening so fast. Screams of fear and battle cries of courage were bellowing from all around me. Despite Riley's efforts, smoke was still covering the night sky, blocking the stars from our view. This is supposed to go on for a few days? Not only that, but this happens once every few years? How could that be okay? Why hasn't the government or something tried to fix this messed up situation? Who could willingly allow this?

Only five minutes passed. That was it. Five minutes, and the battle was over. While there were only thirty Reapers, the damage they had caused was immense. The streets was coated with thick blood from the bodies that littered it. The smell of burning flesh and shed blood filled the air. With my sensitive nose, it was almost enough to make me gag.

I turned around to take note of all the damage our cafe suffered. The outside walls were charred from where fire balls had collided, but thankfully they still stood because of Riley's efforts to put them out quickly. Two of the three boys sent to help protect the main entrance were dead, their blood soaking the street. I have no idea about the two watching the back. Inside, only the table I had used as as shield to protect the inner walls was destroyed, meaning that we did a relatively good job.

I quickly ran through the cafe, hoping to see that the two protecting the back entrance were okay. Thankfully, they were. They were shaking like hell from their fried nerves while listening to the battle just on the other side of the cafe, but otherwise, it seemed like everything was fine.

"Estelle!"

Riley called out to me from the main entrance. Once again, I ran through the cafe to meet him. A frantic look was on his face, which made him seem rather cute, not that it matters.

"Estelle! If this many guys came here, what do you think happened to Kelly?"

Kelly?