The Slaughter Of The Cohort (3/4)

it's better to have some action in the story, instead of it being romance packed, just bear with these chapters

Effie wasted no time.

With a beastly growl of determination, she shot forward, boots digging into the snow as she closed the distance between them.

Her arm shot up, launching a snowball straight at Sunny's mask.

He tilted his head ever so slightly, the snowball whizzing past him by mere inches.

Effie didn't hesitate, already throwing another, then another, then another. The ground was ripped from its snow, showing the surface beneath it.

But it didn't matter.

When she's frustrated, she's reckless.

Effie attempted to plant a snowball on his mask once again, only to be parried as Sunny pushed her arm out the way.

Effie let out a frustrated huff and glared at him. "Why the hell can't I hit you?!"

Sunny's only response was the slight tilt of his head, as if amused by the question. The urge to laugh bubbled within him, but he surpassed it.

Effie's frustration finally boiled over. "You're like a damn cockroach!"

She barely finished the sentence before surging forward again, this time putting all her strength into a direct assault.

If throwing snowballs wasn't going to work, she was going to force an opening.

(not even a snowball fight anymore)

"Cassie!"

The sharp call rang through the cold air, and Cassie reacted immediately.

She didn't hesitate, letting her ability rip.

The reason why as she didn't use it, was due to her limited reserves of essence. An ability that granted its host foresight would most likely have its drawbacks, so Cassie held back and waited for her reserves to slowly replenish.

Effie charged again, relentless, her form a blur as she went in for another attack.

He blindly dodged her assault, his gaze directed at something else. As if piecing everything together in his head, and discovering the answer he was yearning, he moved.

Not toward Effie.

No, to the passenger on the back, who was controlling this fight with strings.

Cassie's breath hitched as she saw it happen a second before it did.

A snowball.

Launched directly at her face.

She moved to dodge, already shifting before it could hit her, but the moment she did, realization struck like a dagger to the gut.

He had planned this.

Effie's charge. The call for help. The attack aimed at her.

It had all been a setup.

It was simple really, he knew his friends like the back of his hand. He did admit that Cassie would be a slight problem, but abusing Effie's anger and causing her to rely on Cassie was also apart of his plan after all.

She barely had time to react before she heard the impact, a dull thud as Sunny's final snowball struck Effie square in the stomach, knocking her off balance.

"Agh!" Effie stumbled, caught completely off guard.

She tried to recover, but it was too late. By the time she steadied herself, Sunny stood over her.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Effie exhaled heavily and let her arms drop to her sides. "Oh, come on."

Sunny finally spoke, his voice dry. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings."

Effie groaned, rubbing her face before pointing an accusing finger at him. "You tricked me."

He shrugged. "You fell for it."

She opened her mouth, then closed it, scowling. "…I hate you."

Sunny didn't respond.

Because he wasn't looking at her anymore.

His attention had already shifted.

Straight to Cassie.

****

Sunny shifted his stance, rolling his shoulders as he studied Cassie.

Unlike Effie, she wasn't a brawler, and she wasn't the type to charge in recklessly.. and make stupid decisions.

No, Cassie was the more intelligent type. She was more calculating, more planning that similarly resided Sunny in a way.

Because when you could glimpse into the future, why wouldn't you?

That was what made her so dangerous.

He flexed his fingers, then flicked his wrist, sending a snowball flying straight at her.

(there's some technique where you can throw really far and hard with just a flick of the wrist, kinda thought of this when writing)

Cassie didn't move right away, but she didn't need to.

Just as the projectile approached, she shifted her weight slightly to the side, letting it pass harmlessly by.

Sunny didn't stop. Another snowball, faster this time. Cassie stepped back, evading all of his attacks. She knew exactly where each shot was going to land before he even threw them.

Annoying. But that's exactly what I wanted.

His onyx eyes flickered with something sharp, something amused.

Fine. If you want to keep using that broken ability, then I'll have to just drain you of your essence.

He launched another snowball, this time adjusting mid-throw, forcing her to move in a specific direction.

She dodged, easily of course, but her own arm came up at the same time, sending a snowball back at him.

Sunny leaned to the side, letting it sail past.

Another throw. Another dodge. The pattern continued, both of them moving, shifting, never quite landing a hit.

But then. Sunny saw it.

The way her stance wavered for just a second. The way her dodge wasn't quite as clean as before. The slight drip coming from her forehead to her features.

This only meant one thing.

She was running out of essence.

A slow smirk curled on his lips.

That's my cue.

Without missing a beat, he bent down, scooping up a fresh snowball in his left hand.

Then, he moved.

One moment, he was standing a fair distance away. The next he was gone.

Cassie barely had time to register it before he reappeared, hurtling toward her at an immense speed. He had used the force of his legs to propel himself forward and Shadow Stepped at the same time, maintaining the same terrifying momentum.

She tried to move, screamed at her body to react to this, but she couldn't.

She couldn't see ahead anymore, she had pushed her ability too far, and now her reserves were empty.

And Sunny had noticed.

He reappeared at her side, barely a breath away, and leaned in slightly, voice low and teasing.

"You ran out of essence, didn't you?"

Cassie barely had time to inhale before she felt the cold smack of snow against her face.

Sunny had taken the snowball in his left hand and slammed it directly into her, the impact knocking her slightly off balance.

She stumbled, let out a sharp breath…then, after a pause, laughed softly.

"I hate you," she muttered, wiping snow from her face.

He tilted his head, considering her for a moment, then straightened, dusting his hands off nonchalantly.

"One more to go."

And with that, he turned, setting his sights on his final target.