by Lola StVil
“You can’t just walk away from this. You helped before, why can’t you do it now?” Aaden asks.
“I made a mistake. I felt things. Stupid things. Human things. I won’t do it again,” she says.
“We just need you to make a mixture with Key, that’s all. We let you stay with us; it’s the least you could do,” I remind her.
“I CAN’T FLY! DO YOU GET THAT, LITTLE GIRL?” She shouts as she jumps off her Port and marches over to me.
“We’re sorry about what Malakaro did to you,” Aaden says.
“That’s all you have to offer me? Sorry? Good bye, Silver,” she says, shaking her head as she gets back on her Port.
“What do you want, Diana? Just tell me what you want and whatever it is, I will give it to you,” Aaden says, looking into her eyes.
She doesn’t get on the Port and disappear. Instead she smiles slowly, walks up to Aaden and whispers something in his ear. He pulls back and looks into her eyes.
“You’re serious?” he asks.
“Very,” she replies.
What the hell does she want?
“You said tell you what I want; that is what I want,” she says.
“Diana, you can’t just…it’s crazy and you know it,” Aaden says, beside himself.
“You now have fifty-eight minutes to save you father and the human; what’s it going to be?” the demon says.
“This is not the way to go about it, Diana, you know I’m right,” Aaden insists.
“Fifty-six minutes,” she replies.
Aaden looks over at me with a profound sadness that I can’t really understand. He shoves his hands in his pockets and reluctantly nods to Ruin.
“It’s a contract, so nodding your head won’t do,” she says.
She takes out a small clear vial of liquid. It leaps into the air and forms a glittery black butterfly that flaps over to Aaden. The butterfly is called a Null. That’s how we make deals in our world now. No paper contracts. When the being that created the Null is ready to get whatever he or she was promised, they send the Null to collect.
If the Null does not get what it came for, it dies. To kill a Null means to break a contract. That has severe consequences. Angels have lost their powers, wings, and once in a while, their lives. So making a deal in our world is actually a life and death issue.
Aaden whispers to the Null and says, “We have a deal.” It flies back to Ruin, then changes to its liquid form and goes inside the vial. Ruin places the vial in her pocket.
“So, how can I help?” she asks.
The team and I exchange uneasy glances. It feels wrong to work with Ruin. And I’m certain whatever deal she made with Aaden is a bad one. Knowing her, I’m sure she asked for one more night with him or that he give in to his demon side. Sigh. I don’t have time to worry about the deal they made. And yet that’s exactly what I find myself doing.
*****
Key is right; the mixture takes only a few minutes to put together. When it’s done, Ruin and Key scatter the mixture where the portal once stood. Waiting to see if the portal can be reopened is torture; with every second that passes, our worst fears get one step closer to being realized. Then just when Aaden and I both are about to lose it, a thin line of bluish plasma starts to form in the air. It soon grows into a portal nearly as big as the one the four elements created.
“It should take you where the human is. And just beyond that is the forest,” Ruin says.
“We will need to get Randy out,” I tell the team.
“He can have my Port. I feel so good, it’s like I can fly, even without wings,” she says brightly as she looks over at Aaden. I ignore her smugness and head straight into the portal. The rest of the team follows.
Being inside the portal is like walking into a thick fog. We can’t see in front of us or behind us. All we can make out is the dense air that surrounds us. Suddenly the fog passes as quickly as it came. We then find ourselves on the edge of a forest. A few yards away from us is the body of a human boy.
“Randy!” I rush over to him; the team is not far behind.
He’s covered in bloody gashes. His lips have been split open, and he has a bruise over his left eye. But considering where we are, he’s pretty lucky to be alive. We help him get up.
“Pry, I did it. I went in there. I mean, I went in for a few seconds. There was this animal with like three heads and it chased me. I fell, but I did it. I actually went inside the Forest of Remains,” he says proudly.
I bite my lower lip and tell myself to remain calm. I order East to help Randy on to the Port a few yards away, so he can get back to New York.
“Back? Did you hear what I said, Pry? I did it! I went inside the forest. That means I’m useful to you now; I can help save Rage,” Randy replies.
“East, get him on the Port, now,” I repeat.
“Wait! I’m not going back home. I’m going to help you on this mission. I just proved myself,” Randy says.
“You know what you proved by jumping into the portal? You proved that you’re reckless, immature, and you don’t give a damn about anyone else but yourself,” I snap.
“What? I was trying to help you,” Randy says, sounding wounded.
“PUTTING YOUR LIFE IN DANGER IS NOT HELPING ME!” I blare.
I didn’t realize just how angry I was at Randy until I heard myself shout at him. He looks at me; he’s confused and hurt.
“I was just trying to do what’s right,” he says.
“Bullshit, Randy! You did this because you’re dying to be some kind of hero. Well, here is your first lesson about being a hero: heroes don’t put people in danger, they help get them out of it,” I inform him.
“That’s what I was doing,” Randy replies.
“No, you weren’t. You took away the only chance we had to save Uncle Rage, all so you could get some kind of glory. If Key hadn’t figured out a way to get here, we would have lost both you and him,” I bark.
“Pry, all I wanted to do was help. Why are you acting this way?”
“Seriously? You don’t get why I’m acting like this? Well, let me explain it to you slowly,” I snap.
“Pry—” Aaden says, taking my arm. I pull away from him.
“No, I want Randy to understand exactly what’s happening,” I reply venomously.
“I’m sorry I charged ahead, but I did it, Pry. My actions were brave. Why can’t you see that?”
“You actions were stupid. Thoughtless. Arrogant. And dangerous,” I accuse.
“I messed up in the cave and you risked your life for me. I wanted to repay that,” he says desperately.
“Next time buy me flowers.”
“C’mon, Pry, don’t be like that. I want to help.”
“No, you want to wear a cape and leap tall buildings in a single bound, but you can’t because this is not a movie and you are no hero. Do you get that? You are a kid. You’re a human who breaks easily and gets killed quickly. So please get on the Port and let me do my damn job.”
“No! Screw this. You are not going to tell me what to do. I’m not a member of your team. I have it in me to be a hero. I have it in me to be…special. I thought you saw that. But you don’t; you are just like the others. You don’t think I’m worth anything,” he rages.
“Damn it, Randy, I don’t have time for this!” I yell.
“I have done nothing but try to help and now you’re standing here dismissing me?” Randy replies.
“The only thing you have done is put yourself in danger, and you don’t care that members of my team have to risk their lives to save you.”
“I went into that cave and nearly died to help the team,” he swears.
“Did you really, Randy, or did you go so that everyone could see how big and bad you are?”
“I went into the cave to help and you know what? Just because I don’t have powers doesn’t mean that you can disregard me,” he declares.
“This has nothing to do with power and you know it! You put your life on the line to fulfill some
asinine fantasy about being a hero,” I reply.
“Wow, Pry, you really don’t get me, do you?” he accuses.
“No, I get you just fine. You wanna save the damn day so bad, go to a custom shop, get a cape, and find a kitten to help down off a tree. Or maybe invest in an online role playing game. I don’t know what you need to do to get past this hero bullshit, but it needs to happen, now. Because if you ever pull that hero crap with me or my team again you will be very sorry.”
“You are not my leader. I don’t have to do what you say.”
“Randall, do not test me,” I warn between clenched teeth.
“Maybe it’s you who shouldn’t test me,” he counters.
“Get on the Port and get your ass back to school,” I demand.
“So what, because I’m ‘just’ a human, I have to do what you say? Screw that. I’m staying right here,” he says, filled with anger.
“Get. On. Now,” I order coldly as I send the Port spinning towards him.
“No. You can’t tell me what to—”
He never even saw the punch coming. By the time it registers to Randy that he’s about to get knocked out by my fist, it’s too late. He falls to the ground; he’s out cold.
“East, put him on the Port. He’ll wake up in the lab just in time for third period,” I order.
East carries Randy’s body onto the Port. It quickly disappears. The team looks over at me, shocked by my actions.
“How much time do we have?” I ask Key.
“Twenty minutes.”
“Good. Let’s go get the First Akon,” I reply.
“We need a plan,” Bex says.
“We have a plan; kill everything.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: GIVE IT WHAT IT WANTS
I had heard about the Forest of Remains most of my life. I was told it was dark, creepy, and dripping with danger. I was told that stepping into the forest could send a bone-chilling wave down my body and make me want to run screaming. They lied. The fact is, the Forest of Remains is nothing like they said; it’s far worse.
The first thing I notice about the forest is the stench: a mix of decay, death, and doom. The trees reach out to us with their decrepit, boney “fingers,” as if they will come alive and snatch us up at any moment.
Above us is a murky sky that’s been drained of all light and color. The clouds hover above like massive waves about to crash down and swallow us whole. An icy breeze whips through the dense trees as a flock of black birds with beady red eyes takes flight.
Small creatures the size of rats, whose existence we were unaware of until now, slither and scurry by us. Some of them have multiple heads while some have multiple tails. A few feet ahead of us, one rodent-like creature gnaws on the head of its latest kill.
On the ground beneath us are fragments of bones from angels and humans. They litter the forest floor like some sort of macabre confetti. Every creepy sound and chilly gust of wind seems to carry with it a message from the forest: You will die here.
“Did you hear that howling? Where’s it coming from?” I ask.
“Most likely the same place they are keeping Rage: the center of the forest. It’s the Byelle’s breeding ground,” Bex says.
“I have a mixture I’ve been working on. It can’t stop the Byelle, but it can slow them down,” Key says as she takes a vial from her pocket.
“How does it work?” I ask, careful to keep an eye on the creatures around us.
“You pour it on the ground and it coats the air with a substance that reduces the speed of anything without a soul; the Byelle will be affected. Should I use it now?” Key asks.
“No, not yet. We need to get near my dad before we release it,” Aaden says.
“He’s right. Don’t release the mixture, but keep it close,” I tell her.
********
As we make our way towards the center of the forest, the howling sounds grow. There are creatures crawling on tree branches, peeking out at us. It’s as if they are waiting for whatever will kill us to do its job so they can feed off the leftovers. “I think I see the holder! My dad’s still inside; hurry!” Aaden says as he runs past us at top speed towards the center of the forest.
“Aaden, wait!” I shout, but it’s too late, he’s off and running.
The path to get to the holder is all clear--that’s a big red flag. The forest does not want us here. Everything inside it is designed to take our lives, so it should not be this easy to navigate to the middle of the forest.
If Aaden was thinking more clearly he would have known that too, but right now his thoughts are all on one thing—saving his father. I share my thoughts with the team as Aaden races ahead and weaves through the trees. They agree, and carefully we plot out where we should and should not step.
“Aaden, slow down. Key has to inspect the trees and plants to make sure they are safe to be near,” Swoop says.
Key is the best angel to have during this trip because she studied forests and their various powers. Some of the plants and trees here are harmless, and some are downright evil. Among the most harmful are the Seeking Greens. They are plants and trees that will cut you open in search of whatever emotion they feed on.
“Aaden, seriously, slow down!” I shout at him.
The words didn’t even leave my mouth completely when a vine springs to life, wraps itself around Aaden’s foot, and yanks him back to the base of the tree. We rush to his aid and Key reminds us that trying to pull Aaden away will only cause him to die faster.
Within seconds the vines have entangled themselves around Aaden’s arms, wings, and neck. Bex goes to throw a Powerball at it, and Key stops him. She tells us it will only make the tree’s hold on Aaden even stronger. Aaden struggles and tries to free himself, but each time he moves, it causes the number of vines around him to grow.
“What the hell do we do?” I ask.
“Aaden, you have to be still. No matter how much you want to move,” Key orders.
She then addresses the team so that Aaden can’t hear.
“Guys, depending on what kind of Seeking Green this is, Aaden could be in real trouble.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, already hating the answer.
“Different Seeking Greens feed on different things. There are some Seeking Green trees that feed on fear, some feed on regret or grief.”
“How will we know what this tree is feeding off of?” East asks.
“Look for the vine with a pattern. I’ll be able to tell you what the trees wants based on that, hurry!” Key says.
All of us frantically explore the tree without touching it. The vines are so mixed up and tangled it’s hard to make out anything for sure.
“Guys, hurry, it’s about to go for Aaden’s chest. It will cut right through it and then…” Key doesn’t want to finish her sentence, she doesn’t have to.
“I hope this thing doesn’t feed on secrets. If it does, Aaden’s a goner,” Swoop says.
Key looks over and nods in agreement.
“Just keep looking for a pattern,” I snap.
I’m pissed because I know that the twins are right. If the Seeking tree is looking to feed off secrets, it will have more than enough with Aaden; it will never let him go.
“I found it!” Bex says.
We run to him and look at a grouping of vines in the middle of the tree. There is a small, weak looking vine with pale white specks in clusters of three. We describe the vine to Key, and she looks back at us with alarm.
“Key, what is it? What does the tree want?” East asks.
“It wants to know the last shameful thing Aaden did,” Key replies.
“Aaden, tell the tree what you did and it will let you go,” I shout.
Aaden struggles even harder, and the tree holds on tighter to him. I knew this would not be easy. Aaden is closed about any and everything, even when his life depends on it.
“C’mon man, say something!” Bex yells.
Aaden refuses to give in to the tree and instead tries to pry
his wings loose. He struggles so hard part of his flesh from his wings start to tear.
“Damn it, Aaden, say something, that’s an order!” I scream.
He shouts, groans, and curses at the vines that hold him captive. But he doesn’t confess at all. The tree now sends vines across his chest. They start to rip into his flesh and aim for his soul. In a few moments Aaden will die.
“If you don’t say something we will never get to your father in time!” I warn him.
