Fifteen Journey - Chapter 26

She was surrounded by dark. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark heart. Her clothes escaped the rules, but that could not take the fear Rick felt for her. She headed straight to the stairs that headed to the stage without looking at the two occupants of the room.

Yes, that was the perfect way to describe Annya. Since the day Rick first saw her, Annya didn’t change a bit. She was staring caringless at him, he was another bug to crush… after all, this was a bug hunting.
The spider stricked for real. The other four youngters were too stunned to reactions. Rick had just time to receive the attack. He was dragged some metres away, hiting heavily a huge tree.
“What the…”
She quickly approached him. He only had time to unfold Thynia and use her to escape her attack. The two opponents measured strengh: on one side, Annya, who used mainly speed to escape Rick’s attacks, avoiding, somehow, to use her real powers, and, on the other hand, Rick, who tried to hit his nemesis with Thynia’s help, but without any success.
“No… no…”
Ashley was hopeless watching the scene from apart. None of the other ex-players could help Rick neither: the battle was so fast that Rick could be easily hit.
It was all part of a plan…
Rick was getting tired and hopeless; none of his attacks had been sucessful. Annya was always jumping and escaping the attacks he was striking. Unfortunately, it didn’t last forever. Without warning or seeing anything, Rick fell abruptly on the floor almost unconscious.
“No!!!”
Annya had finally used her powers. Her hand was now expiring some black powder, rests of magic.
‘Black magic… I’m doomed.’
It reminded everyone of the age before Horiond was created. A lot of magic (mainly black magic) was used to hurt Horiond’s ancestres. And now, it had reborned. Annya was a Horiond citizen, so, why was she using the magic of doom?
She didn’t give him more time: she wanted to finish this straigh away. Without realising, Rick was attacked multiple times in several parts of his body. He met pain once again, not allowing him to escape the powerful attacks. Annya was using her hand, glowing black light faster than before.
‘I can’t die like this…’
Hope was fanding since Thynia was dropped in the floor. Now, Rick could only receive the atacks. Was this the end?
His sight was cut by some strange powder. Cassey’s powder at last. Injured Rick felt warm hands bringing him to safety.
“Rick!” He slowly opened his eyes and met Cassey’s face.
“Why am I always saved by you?” he said smiling.
“No time to thank…” she replied.
Indeed, she was right. Ashley was using her art, a long woven band that kept Annya prisonner for some precious time. However, she quickly set herself free and projected Ashley out of the battle field. Fred and Mike avanced towards Annya. That should give Rick enough time…
What should he do? He was risking his friends life. No, it was no one’s business, it was his.
After bringing incounscious Ashley close to Rick, Cassey felt Rick hand grabbing hers.
“We’ll do this…”
The weks plans. The only option. But, what could they do? That was the best option.
“You must leave me here…” Ashley said breathing heavily.
“What? Do you know what you are saying Ashley?” Rick was pale.
“Annya knows where I’m going…”
“But…” Cassey objected.
“NO BUTS! Do you want to survive or not?”
Cassey was reluctant to accept her option but what choice did they have?
“Ok, girl, we’ll leave you here. But make sure we meet again, ok?” Rick caressed her head.
“Always.”
Their plan started. Cassey’s powder was once again used to block Annya’s sight while Fred and Mike were brought out of the battle field. The dusty air eventually disappeared, so did the four younsters.
Ashley was still lying against a huge tree.
“Escaping…”
Annya grinned. With her powers, she lifted Ashley and started her path till nowhere.

Next Chapter:
Annya seemed to be spreading discord everywhere she went. But Rick wanted to end that that night. – Rick’s decision

Author’s Note:
This chapter was done as fast as I could do, so it isn’t as good as the others. I’m also no good when it comes to describing action scenes, so I’ve been through another serious writer’s block. Someone heal me!!!
This is the first chapter where Annya speaks, don’t forget that. But Annya isn’t important till the beginning of Sixteen Journey so you can forget about this mysterious player. Have a nice holiday!!!