Chapter 4: Stop the Rain

Chapter 4: Stop The Rain

Janine's POV

The sound of us running the narrow way to the park is battling against my heartbeat, together with the heavy rain and extreme disturbance, Edward's grip is still tight. We turned left and I felt his speed increasing, unminding me that I can't keep up with him. I can't stop feeling uncomfortable because of his movements.

"Edward?" I decided to speak but then he just kept on running.

"There is no time for me to explain everything, we need to hurry," I'm just looking at his back, he didn't even bother to look at me, he was just running. We turned right, passed down the alley of food stalls. For every turn we made, I kept on seeing the same thing, there were no people around.

"Stop!" He turned around and was catching his breath. I'm doing the same thing but a lot of things in my mind are really not helping.

"I told you I don't have the time to explain everything," I looked up to him, his height is much taller than me, a six footer but that is not a hindrance for me to look at him in his dark ores.

"But what is that everything? Are you expecting me to stay in silence? Yes I talk less than other people but this?" I pointed at the gun he gave me. "Do you really think I'll stay quiet? Why do you have things like this? What is happening? I am not so sure about you now, are you hiding something from me?" I asked those questions without giving any period to it. A lightning flashed in the dark sky as the rain still fell. That is when I saw his frustrated yet handsome face.

"Are you hiding something? Do I need to be afraid of you? Answer me," my voice cracked. Right now, all I think is that I have doubts about him. I'm so nervous.

"Just follow me please," he's about to take my hand, but I forcibly took it against his and I gave him a look.

"Just one answer, all I need is a single answer from you," he turned away acting so frustrated, holding his nose bridge up to his forehead.

"Janine!" His voice was loud and his brows furrowed and the raging sound of thunder made me shut up. I was surprised because of his actions. He let out a deep sigh, I just looked away and became even more frustrated.

He tried to calm down. "I'm sorry. Can you please? Just trust me this time! I really need you to trust me!" He pleaded. I can see how serious he is in his grey ores.

"But why should it be at this point? Using this gun?!" I am really not fond of shouting but the situation right now, it's making me do it so. And I really don't want to argue with him but in this case, simple answers and words cannot fix this.

"Wait! Edward!" Again, he held my hand without my permission.

"I don't have much time to argue with you, our friends are in danger and I need to be there, there is no use if I will tell you the reason, you will not believe me after all. It is much better if you will see it with your own two eyes." Our friends?

He is still pulling me, forcing me to run with him. I didn't stop from protesting but it was futile so I just let him. At the end, I gave up and I am following his lead.

"I don't really know what you're up to, but I'm trusting you this time," I said in a low tone voice. The moment earlier I saw his frustrated face when I felt so scared. I do not know but I can see the fear in his eyes. He is good at hiding his emotion but what happened earlier made me see a different side of him. That was the first time I saw him in that mask. A mask where only the saddest and afraid people wear. I wanna ask for more about everything he's muttering cause I'm worried sick but for now I'll push aside this thought and trust him.

We continued to run, this time the route we're heading is familiar, we passed the small boutique where we used to spend our free time after school, we're near.

"After this," I looked at his back. His grip is getting tighter and I can feel it shaking . "After everything, will you promise me that you will never leave me?" I was caught off guard. I suddenly felt a heavy feeling in my chest.

"Why are you saying this? Why are you acting so weird?" I waited for a few moments before he answered...

"Just wait and you will see... Everything," he muttered those words with his saddened eyes. I am so unsure of what is happening, but just like what I've said earlier I will trust him on this.

I will trust him.

We made our final turn and the park welcomed us along with the thick fog, as the rain continued. I'm trying to do the impossible by observing everything around me but the fog hides all of the things that can be seen. I noticed Edward's movement became quiet. We stopped walking until we reached shelter near the playground area. He held me on my shoulders and gave me a stern look.

"Stay here. Don't follow me and hold onto this," he pulled out the gun from my coat's pocket. I was hesitant to hold it. It's cold and dangerous.

"If you're in danger, don't think twice and use it immediately," I nodded at him. He rushed in some direction, I was just following his sight until it disappeared in the fog. I want to follow him but the words he just said earlier.

Jade's POV

The heavy feeling I've been carrying is never fading. I'm still scared of this Daniel guy, but what bothers me also is the confession they said.

Even though the fog was so thick I noticed that Yujin disappeared. I felt something odd, he's safe right? I just have to believe in that. I looked at Pearl and started to think. I know she's scared, and I am too but I need to find him. I just can't lay down here and do nothing! But Pearl, I know she'll be worrying sick.

In these trying times, the thought of Yujin disappearing forever scares me.

I don't have the time to waste! I stood up, making me realize the mud on my knees. 'I'm sorry Pearl but I need to do this.' I'll go back to you after I find Yujin. I made my move slowly and quietly so that she wouldn't notice and when I had enough distance I tried to run. Even with this fog, at least I know this place, he couldn't be far away, I just know it, I just know it!

The heavy rain made the soil soft and it made me stumble and lose my balance, tasting the mud, but that wouldn't make me waver, not this time! I stood up and tried to run again, this time I'm calling his name.

"Yujin! Yujin!" Even my voice broke and how loud I was doing it, there's still no answer. I tried to move into places until I lost my sense of direction, the fog was too thick and I became helpless. Still, no one answered me except the thunder.

'Where are you? Please answer me.' I stopped when I noticed a shadow near me, that must be him! Even though I'm scared and not so sure, I tried to reach the figure.

"Yujin!" He turned to me and was really surprised.

"Jade, what are you doing here?!" His reaction can't be painted. To finally be able to be with him, I never felt this relief in like forever.

"I thought you disappeared, I just came to look for you, are you okay?" I never thought what I would feel if he was in danger.

"Jade..." he whispered with his soft voice, then he felt something and looked in a direction, averted to the figure near us. 'Who is that?' I looked at him and the immense cautiousness in his amber-red eyes is bothering me. I never see him like this, he's always loud and impatient, but now he's so different.

We're still staring at it, it's walking towards us. A man appeared, I was expecting Daniel but this is a different person, with his moss-green hair and white skin, his body that is a little bit smaller, and the same armor we saw earlier. He’d be really attractive if it wasn’t for those lilac eyes of his which seemed filled with hatred.

"You know that my answer is no," Yujin said out of nowhere, he was just staring at the guy in front of us, sensing that this is one of those guys who would like to take Yujin back. The guy doesn't have an answer and no expression as well. He raised his hand and was still looking at us, he's planning to do something!

He stood there and without a blink of an eye, he was able to punch Yujin on his face. My heart beat fast as I saw him, his speed is something that a human eye cannot see. He punched Yujin again in his face twice and then on his ribs hard, making him hit the muddy ground gasping.

"Yujin!" I screamed in horror. He was about to stand up but even before he could do it, the man slugged him hard on the jaw, making him roll around the mud again. He spit out some blood but again before he could even react, the man randomly struck him everywhere, his legs, his chest, arms, stomach. He even kicked him with a final blow.

"Please! Stop it!" The tears from my eyes are coming out. I can't bear to see him like this, him being bruised and battered all over.

The man stopped from attacking and looked at how pitiful Yujin was, who could barely stand. "Daniel is right, you've become weaker." The man said, my knees are shaking and I just can't move!

"Are you really willing to sacrifice your life? Come with us and no one will be hurt."

Even with all the damage he received, Yujin managed to smirk. Why? How can you still do this? You don't need to risk your life for me.

"F-for what?" He's breathing heavily. "I'm sorry Jinyoung but I'll choose to stay here and protect her even if my life is on the line!" I just can't say anything. What is he talking about? Why are these words coming out from his mouth?

What I didn't know was that my tears were already dripping.

"Yujin," I whispered.

The man kneeled in front of him. "There are things that we couldn't reach as much as we want to, and that includes you! We cannot disobey the rules of our own and because of that you will be punished!" The anger and the hatred can be felt in his deep voice. Yujin is struggling to stand up but with all the fatal blows he received, he just couldn't.

"But not now," he warned. Suddenly the fog thickened until I could see nothing. "We will see each other again," was the only word I heard from the man. I just ignored it and immediately looked for Yujin.

"Yujin?! Yujin?! Where are you?!" I shouted and continued to search, as if I had stumbled on something while walking and I immediately looked at what it was. I was shocked when I noticed that it was him.

"Yujin!" I shouted, he was now lying on the grass and struggling with the pain, he was now holding his cheek and I saw that it was bruised, my tears were dripping as he adjusted from his lying position, I supported his head.

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, with his apologetic eyes. "I'm weak."

I shook my head. "You don't have to be sorry, okay? Everything is alright," I wiped off the tears on my face and smiled at him. "You are not weak, you have only been true to your feelings and you have faced your fears strongly," there I noticed that the rain gradually subsided until the thick mist had become thin. He had no answer and that's when I decided to help him get up, we needed to get to Pearl. It became difficult for me to support him because he was too heavy for me.

Pearl's POV

The heavy rain continued, my whole body was trembling not because of the cold, but because of fear. Fear that it is getting worse because of what is happening, the fog is getting thinner, it is better, the clearer it will be for my eyes to see what is happening.

"We need to help them-" I stopped speaking when I turned to where I believed Jade was. She is no longer here, where is she?

"Jade?!" I shouted her name but no one answered. I confessed both my hands and secretly wished that all that was happening to us today is not true, the attempt to kill Noctis by the blonde haired man Daniel who's claiming that they're from another world, Yujin and Jade disappearing. I hope this is just a nightmare, I hope I wake up from this scary event.

I asked for those things as the fog kept getting thinner, I was surprised by what I saw. The man holding the sword is now approaching Noctis, Noctis is sitting on the grass while his hand is on his right arm bearing the wound.

"D-Daniel stop, you are not like this," he seems to be having a hard time with his situation. I no longer knew what to do, my whole body was shaking, to see the person I loved in danger was more than I could ever imagine.

Daniel was approaching him. I have to be brave, I have to defend him! Fear envelops my body, making me immobilized. I begged myself, I needed to be more courageous to protect him. I will do everything to save him, I will do everything!

I resisted the nervousness and fear that had previously ruled over me, I slowly forced my nervous body to move. The man is approaching Noctis and I know by the time he gets closer, his sword will end the life of the person I love. Tears were dripping down my face, I was running to where they were but I was still so far away from him!

"Noctis!" I shouted while running, I ran faster, even though I was soaking wet in the rain it seemed like I just ignored all that because I just focused my full attention on the man I love. The tip of the sword was about to strike him but before he could approach a man supported it. There I stopped running and was stunned by what I saw.

Edward, he took Daniel's attack. I could hardly believe it. What is he doing here?! Wait, he defended the sword?! His face showed severe pain from being stabbed in his arm, I saw that blood came out, Daniel was surprised, he slightly moved backwards and they measured their gaze. I took that opportunity to run towards Noctis. The nervousness I had been feeling before intensified when I saw that he was unconscious.

"Noctis! Noctis! Wake up!” The tone of my voice was loud because of the fear I was feeling. I repeatedly called his name but he did not answer. Tears flowed even more on my face at the same time as blood came out from his arm, regardless of the rain, I held his hand. The pain and sadness I feel is pouring out, it is not possible! He cannot be dead!

I was at the peak of despair and was still holding his cold hand when it suddenly moved. I immediately looked at his face and I saw he was slightly awake.

"You're alive!" I was very happy because he didn't give up.

"Pearl..." His voice cracked and I just held him tight.

"Don't worry, he would not be easily killed by that kind of wound," Edward suddenly said. I immediately looked at him. I looked at Daniel who was in front of us, still no emotion on his face.

That's when our current situation came to my mind. Noctis and Edward were injured and Daniel, I know we are still in a dangerous situation because of his presence. It is not all over yet.

I looked at Noctis and he just stared intently at the man in front of us. I heard footsteps and there I turned, Janine! Edward was surprised when he saw Janine running towards us.

"Why are you here?! Didn't I tell you to just hide?" he growled. I was surprised by what he did, I have never seen him angry and screaming.

"Did you just think I'll just hide after seeing all of this?" Janine answered.

Daniel laughs mockingly. "This is getting interesting another Fallen appeared, Edward you look well, Hasn't been years?" Then I looked at Janine then to me leaving goosebumps on my skin. "Isn't it fun today? You finally showed up too, you felt that I wasn't the only one who came here? Right?"

"Where is Yujin?" Edward asked.

"Instead of thinking of someone, why not try to think for your own self? Look at you, wounded and surrounded by useless Earthlings who couldn't even do a thing."

It hurts to accept what he said but he is right, Janine and I can do nothing, we will only be a burden in case something bad happens to the four of us. I can feel the intense tension from the two men in front of us, it looks like Noctis wants to act but he has no strength left.

"Don't force yourself," I whispered. "I can't bear to see you like this anymore!"

"T-This is not about you, I-I need to do s-something," his words pierced through me, it felt very painful. It was a hammer that shattered my heart of glass. I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip. I tried to persuade him again.

"Still, the wounds you sustained were severe," I restrained him trying to get up as he failed. He is too weak. I looked at Janine, her face was full of confusion and nervousness. The two men made no movement, as if they were measuring the strength in their gaze until the man grinned.

"You're lucky, It looks like we are being called, the next time we meet, you can expect something even worse," he said threateningly. He suddenly turned around and seemed to be leaving. He was slowly moving away from us when Noctis suddenly shouted.

"DANIEL!!!"

That scream, it's full of emotions, pain, hatred, and longing. Time seemed to slow down when Daniel turned to us, I saw the pain in Noctis' eye when he just looked at him coldly by the man he called.

The fog thickened again until we could no longer see him. "D-Daniel..." Was the last thing Noctis said and he completely lost his consciousness.

Edward fell down and Janine managed to catch him, they were in so much pain, I saw Jade and Yujin approaching us with bruises on their faces. Gradually the rain stopped and the fog almost disappeared.

"Yujin! Jade!" I called them. Glad they were safe!

"Pearl, J-Janine? What happened to you?! "Jade was worried, I noticed Yujin's bruise on his face and some wounds on his body.

"Jade..." I spoke without having an idea how to explain everything.

Then the light from the sun hit my eyes, making me notice that everything went back to normal, the land is dry as if the rain never happened.

'We're back?' I asked myself, looking around.

"D-Do you need help?" A random woman came to us with horror in her eyes along all of the confused and worried stares of the people around us.

"P-Please call an ambulance!" I cried. I didn't know what was going on, everything was so chaotic and so many questions are now circulating in my mind. Fear and apprehension surround us.

I have to call Glory. She needs to know all this.