Sweat

"Aubrie! Udo is on his way so-"

The woman from the desk stared at the room in shock. "She took that strange woman alone!? What the hell is wrong with you, Aubrie!?" The woman stormed out the room and stood behind the desk. "Let me check the cameras."

The woman played back the footage and was frozen with fear. "Oh-oh my god! Don't tell me that…oh no!"

*******

Jerome and Crystal kept eye contact.

Suddenly, Jerome flashed his aura, quickly allowing it to surround his body. Crystal did the same.

Jerome's purple aura flashed the night sky and Crystal's blue, yet shiny aura that made the ground look just like the ocean.

"Shall we begin?" Jerome yelled across the field.

From what Aubrie's told me…she doesn't remember anything, but she's down to have a fight. Is this woman a warrior?, Jerome thought to himself.

Crystal smiled and started running at Jerome on all fours. She looked like a cat sprinting towards her prey.

Why is she running like that?, Jerome thought to himself.

Jerome put the sword to his side and ran directly towards Crystal. In that moment Crystal had disappeared from view. "Where did you-", Jerome stopped and was surprised to hear Crystal's laugh coming from behind him.

She covered more then 500 yards less than one second! She disappeared before I could even react! Jerome thought.

Suddenly, a giant cut formed across Jerome's left cheek of the face. "Not bad" Jerome laughed.

Crystal turned around and slowly crawled towards Jerome. "Reaper Slash!"

Crystal was shocked to see aura from the sword being pushed out and forming into a traveling slash. She jumped and dodged the attack. But Jerome had already jumped in the air, kicking Crystal back to the ground.

Jerome realized his leg had been crushed. "She managed to crush my leg? Not bad" Jerome scuffed.

"Reaper's magical touch: heal of the wounded"

Jerome's leg completely healed along with his face. "That's enough of the warm up…don't you think?" Jerome asked.

Crystal stared at Jerome with shock. He's holding back? Interesting. I guess I'll let loose a little, she thought.

Jerome clapped his hands together and closed his eyes. "Focus. Get the info you need"

Jerome launched towards Crystal. Crystal leaned to the right and dodged. She turned around and stopped Jerome's blade with her hand.

Her hand is tough! It feels like I'm trying to cut through a iron wall!, Jerome thought.

Jerome let go of his sword and kicked Crystal back. Crystal stared at the sword for a minute. "You put that energy into this weapon? What an interesting way to fight" Crystal complimented.

"I can't play around with her. I'll need to get serious!" Jerome whispered.

Crystal tossed the sword to Jerome and sat on the ground. Jerome caught it and looked at Crystal with confusion.

"What are you doing?" Jerome asked.

"I'd like to ask you a question. But…being that you have yet to reach your full potential with that power…why fight me? You already know you can't defeat me" Crystal said.

Jerome stood in place and started laughing. He put his sword away. "I'm not even taking you seriously…yet. In a fight…it's not about winning or losing unless your life is on the line." Jerome pointed out.

"Is that so? I do have one faint memory…I lost a fight…and it cost me everything" Crystal whispered.

"We all have a bad past. It's surprising that you remember your own. And it's also surprising…that no one on this island has ever seen you…yet…you can't be from the humans. You have aura."

"I'm sorry. I really don't remember-"

I'm the blink of an eye, Jerome was standing behind Crystal.

"You may be able to kill me with those claws you keep trying to hide! You may think your slick, but I know things like you…watch yourself, Crystal. Whatever your trying to hide…no, if you try to hurt my family, I'll kill you" Jerome threatened.

Jerome put away his sword and walked towards Aubrie. Before Jerome could completely leave Crystal. She began to whisper. "I was born…well…before I was born I already knew my mother's life. But I had already lost the battle" Crystal whispered.

"What?" Jerome asked.

Crystal stood silently and revealed her animal like claws to Jerome and Aubrie. Suddenly an arrow shot from forest at the speed of light. Crystal caught the arrow before it could impale her in the eye. She caught it but was still being dragged by the force until she finally stopped.

"I knew it. There really is more of them!" She laughed.

"Man…that was supposed to hit her. It's kinda insane she caught that!" Xavier laughed as Jade and Colt followed behind.

"So…this is who you two kids found in the water?" Jade asked.

"Yep" Colt asked.

Animal claws? Almost like a damn cat, sharp teeth, and excellent hearing. What the hell are you, Crystal?, Jerome thought to himself.

"What's your name?" Jade asked.

"Crystal…just Crystal"

Crystal couldn't help but feel joy. As strong people surrounded her. Is this…what happiness feels like!?

*****

Udo opened the doors to the dark tower. The bottom floor was dark, usually where the lady behind the desk stood. "All you had to do was turn off the lights" Udo said as he shook his head.

Udo walked towards the desk and started switching on the lights. He moved his foot and stepped on something.

"The hell?" Udo looked down and noticed a blood all over the floor and a hand sticking out from underneath the desk. "Sharon!" Udo yelled as he pulled her from underneath the desk.

"Sharon, who did this to you!? What the hell happened!?" Udo asked desperately.

"They're…coming"

Sharon tried her best to speak but couldn't spit it out. She died in Udo's arms.