"What?" I couldn't believe the question that he was asking me. Although I answered the question that way, I didn't mean to come off as ignorant. "Uhh..." "I mean, I don't know, although most people laugh at a question like that, I would just say I don't know, I haven't really studied Ethereal Biology all that much, and I would hate to say that they're all monster,s I mean, after all, there's gotta be at least one that doesn't attack humans on sight you know?" He lets out an uncanny laugh, surprising and frightening me a little.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I didn't expect that kind of answer from you." "Now that I think about it, you really are just like him." Like who?
"Who are you talking abo-." I feel a deep fear implanted inside my bones as I hesitate turning around, only to see it.Somethingis standing there with an incomprehensibly scary aura. Whatever this thing is, not only does it feel scary, but it also feels... superior, like I'm not worthy of even gracing its presence. Yohan might be experiencing the same thing. Is he ok?
I turn and look at him, and he just stands there with a stone-faced expression. Well, that's a raider for ya. I look again at the Ethereal and try to take in itsfigure, long white hair, with a demonic mask covering itsface. Ithas a sleek figure that looks more humanoid than any example of Ethereal that I've and itsmost striking feature, the wings. Signs of freedom from the restrictions of walking that we humans have.
"Jake, I want you to get out of here. Now."
"Say no more!" I say rushing out of the area, but as I am about to step out, 2 wind darts come flying out of the cave. One grazes my ear. I back off quickly, trying to analyze the surrounding area. I duck behind a wall as I hear another round of shots whiz through the air. How the hell are these guys so good at finding us? Panic runs through my body, and my heart rate increases. I can hear my heart beating so fast it almost feels like it's gonna burst out of my body. What do I do? What the hell do I do? As I rack my brain trying to come up with a plan, I feel a prick in my hand. The adrenaline rushing in my body helps neutralize the pain as I lower my gaze and see... my hand with a dart going straight through it. I want to scream so BAD! But for some reason, I know that if I do... I'll die. My instincts kick in again, and I look to see a winged monkey or whatever kind of primate it seems to be. All this time being chased around, and I'm about to die by a random monkey!? I lock in and put pressure on my hand while quickly dashing towards the nearest building for cover. I forget that they have wings for a reason, as they hover above, raining down a barrage of missile-like darts. Thankfully, I cling to my life as I grab onto the hinge of a ruined door with strange graffiti.
"Shit." I look down at my pierced leg as it becomes apparent that I didn't make it out unscathed. I know I may have grossly underestimated Ethereals, but come on, man flying monkeys!? I rip off a piece of my clothing. wrapping it around the injury. Should keep me from bleeding out to death. Thank god for Rico's stupid first aid lessons. I get up, fastening my resolve to not die. As I peer out of the broken window, I see the 2 monkeys patrolling the outside, not willing to make a move so long as I don't first. Do they think they can bait me? Little do they know I'm a master baiter. I grab a piece of rock, throwing it outside to test their reactions, and they don't even move in the slightest, almost as if not even registering the rock as part of their world. They probably only sense me cuz humans have a distinct elemental signature from objects. And if that's the case, I'm not making out of here without doing some stupid shit. I sigh, knowing that my brother and uncle would have most definitely told me not to risk my life like this. But I'm tired of living the boring life of safety! I rush out of the building with utmost speed, the wind trailing across my face as I pick up the pace, as the monkeys, as if on cue, place their attention directly on me again, and robotically throw their darts towards me again. Do these guys have the same attack pattern or something? It feels like they should be able to do more than just throw wind darts. I weave through the ruins as they beat down my backside with more and more darts. Even knowing my life is on the line, I can't help but smile in this situation. This is so much more fun than just sitting down playing video games and doing nothing! Just as I think I'm on the top of the world, reality comes crashing down as I hit a dead end. Im cooked. I turn around in a last-ditch effort to put up a fight as I reassure myself that I will not go down without a fight. But as they stare emptily into the depths of my soul, my will weakens, and I back against the wall unknowingly.
"Well, this is it." "I finally get what was coming to me for not listening to him." "If I ever make it in the next life, I just hope I can payback Rico." As I utter my last words, the monkeys don't hesitate and raise their arms and fire what would be their last. Or the last I'll see of it as it pierces my body all over, not even sparing the more delicate parts. Excruciating pain resurges throughout, as I scream to no avail. Bleeding out, my life flashes before my eyes, all the joys I had during my childhood, the regretful 4 years I spent as a shut-in, and most of all, not telling that dork I loved him in that goodbye note. My body goes cold as I shut my eyelids and accept my fate. Damn.
But as soon as it goes cold, it quickly returns to a warm temperature, then a scalding hot blaze, and I quickly jump to my feet out of sheer pain. "AH!" That hurt a lot! Wait... It hurt? It takes me a second to scan the area around me, taking it all in: the sinister smell of charcoal skin, the blazing hot feeling of the flames, the sound of the crackling fire, the taste of ash in my mouth, and... the sight of watching it all burn. Without the need for an explanation, I can already tell where I am. The fire.