The Angel's Guardian

Escape

Wren held up his blade, pointing it toward the nearest black figure. Firelight was reflected in the blade as the fire enclosed all around them. Smoke rose, making it even harder for Wren to catch his breath. Wren dashed forward, turning the blade of his sword and slashed upwards through the Dark one and he saw the eyes dim in the Dark one’s head.

“You’re next” Wren roared in fury, running toward the one that had thrown him before. The fire now blazed close enough to make Wren feel like his skin was being burned. Sweat dripped down Wren’s forehead and into his eyes. The salt stung his eyes and made his vision blur. He tried to wipe away the sweat with his forearm, but the Dark one lunged forward, slashing at Wren with its long, large claws. The Dark one delivered three deep gashes to Wren’s shoulder and blood poured down his arm. Wren let out a loud roar and swung his sword in retaliation at the Dark one.

Wren managed to deflect some of the Dark One's attacks using his sword and then lopped off its head in one quick motion. He threw the body over the flames that had now almost completely enveloped him. He used it to jump out and through the flames. Fire singed his arms and legs when he ran through it. Maybe he could make it to the docks to see if Lissa had managed to escape.

Down at The Docks

Shayla scanned the area just before the docks looking for her sister Lissa. She had to make it. Shayla had not followed the escape plan. She was supposed to take the baby, but she ran to the docks without her. She was feeling guilty, so she tried to talk the boatman into staying longer.

“We need to go, Shayla,” The man in the boat behind her said.

“NO! She will make it, I know she will. Just give her a bit more time. Please!” Shayla begged the man in charge of the boat.

“It’s probably too late for her already, we need to go” The man tried to persuade Shayla.

“NO! I’m not leaving her. She will be here.” Shayla looked back at the shore and searched again, hoping to see any sign of her sister.

Lissa and Wren were different than most of the other wolves. Shayla didn't know what it was, but there was something strange about the two. They were stronger than many of the other wolves. If anyone was going to survive the Dark One's it was Lissa and Wren.

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Lissa turned down one of the alleyways only to be met with a wall of fire and sparks flying above her. A large wooden beam crashed down in front of her. She jumped back, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the burning beam. Lissa turned back the way she had come and ran down the street a bit further trying to find another way to the docks. Her lungs were struggling to get enough air and she coughed because of the smoke all around her.

Lissa poked her head around the corner of the building she was standing next to. She looked down the street towards the center of town where the dark ones were attacking. She heard screams echoing through the night. One of the screams were cut short and Lissa watched as half a body was thrown down the street and she could see the blood running down through the bricks in the road. She shuddered and closed her eyes, briefly praying for the lives that were lost tonight. The dark ones would absorb the essence of all the ones they had killed.

“Oh Wren, please make it back to us.” She said into the still night air. It was a hope that he could survive. Lissa knew she was being optimistic because even the strongest she knew had succumbed to the dark ones. She had to believe Wren was stronger though.

Lissa felt a few drops of water hit the top of her head and realized it was about to start raining. She had to hurry if she wanted to get to the boats before she got drenched. Or worse, be killed and have her essence devoured by the dark ones.

“I’ll find a way, Lumina, I promise.” Lissa said to her little daughter, wrapped tightly in a blanket, cuddled close in her arms.

Lissa hurried down another alley hoping there wouldn’t be any barricades this time. She was fortunate to find a pathway through. Lissa emerged from the end of the alley and could see she wasn’t far from the docks. She only had to get past a few more houses and make her way down to the boats.

Lissa turned the corner and could see that a few boats had already left the docks. She noticed that one boat was still close to the shore. It was her sister, already there waiting for her. Lissa smiled in relief; her sister hadn’t left yet. Suddenly Lissa heard a deep growl close behind her. She turned to see a black shadow with massive claws protruding from each of the dark fingers of the figure. Red eyes burned in the shadow of the dark one’s skull and she felt herself losing hope. Lissa knew it was the dark one causing her to feel that way. It was a story that had been told throughout her village since the time the dark ones first appeared. She felt her body shiver in fear as the dark one approached.

‘Focus’, Lissa told herself before turning back to her sister and running as fast as she could away from the dark one. A roar erupted from the creature behind her and Lissa could feel it close on her heels. If only she could make it to the boats, she would be safe. Her muscles burned in her legs as she ran and she held tightly to her small daughter.

“Shayla” Lissa yelled out to her sister.

“Hurry Lissa, Run!” Shayla screamed with urgency.

Shayla looked on in horror as the dark one chased her sister. Getting closer with every second. The dark one was bigger and faster than Lissa and Shayla could only watch from the boat. Shayla gasped when the dark one's claws just barely missed Lissa’s hair. She was so close now that Shayla could feel the effects of the dark one’s soul-crushing power. Suddenly, Lissa stumbled and fell and she lost her grip on her daughter. Lumina rolled a few times before coming to a stop just short of the shore where Shayla was waiting in the boat.

“No!” Shayla screamed.

Lissa could feel a sharp pain in her shoulder shortly after she fell. Lumina’s frightened cries carried harshly through the darkness all around them. Lissa looked down to see a claw protruding through her shoulder.

“Shayla, take Lumina!” Shayla heard her sister Lissa call out to her.

“It’s too late, we are leaving,” The man in charge of the boat said and pushed off from the shore. Shayla was frozen in fear for a moment.

"Shayla! Take Lumina please." Lissa yelled at Shayla again.

Lissa watched as Shayla didn't move.

"I need you to take her, Shayla. I can still fight this Dark One, but I need you to take her." Lissa hoped her words would break through Shayla's fear. The influence of the Dark One was strong.

“Okay! I can do this. Wait for us!” Shayla yelled to the boatman and jumped out of the boat, racing to her niece who was lying on the ground.

The man continued to push away from the shore waving his hand at Shayla like she was already lost. He wasn’t going to sacrifice himself for anyone. He had to get the few other passengers on the boat to safety.

“I’m not waiting, you’re on your own.” He yelled at Shayla from the boat now drifting further out into the lake.