My Lost Soul

Chapter 19 - Heroic Flames

"Shit..." The woman bit her nails while pacing around the top floor of the garage until one of them chipped off,"Shit! I can't do this!" She weeped.

She leaned onto a rusty car and cried," Jani! Save me, Jani! I feel it! That boy's animosity!" She put her hands in prayer.

In that moment, she felt a rough hand caress her hair, she exclaimed in relief," Thank you, Jani! My life is indebted to you!" She fell to her knees and bowed, "He's done for!"

———

"What do you mean, General? Nothing's changed in the past 20 minutes..." Iseri complained.

"Just trust me!" Machida yelled. "Sorry. I just have a bad feeling about this."

"Uh, alright. I'll just- I'll just watch." Iseri gulped.

"Something's coming towards Omega. Watch the floor above and below him, if it makes it to the same floor I'll let you know where it is."

———

Omega's eyes opened and he found himself where he was before. He looked up to confirm that there was no hole in the ceiling. He looked down at his hands and felt his knuckles. His lips curled into a confident grin. Prideful of his accomplishments, he turned to walk towards the next floor when he felt something. Something strange that he couldn't define. How far or how close, he didn't know. He felt time slow down, each step he took was longer than the last. But, he wouldn't be slowed down. Determined to finally catch the woman, he took strong strides, but his mind was becoming harder to focus. It was being invaded by thoughts of worry and uncertainty. He could feel his mind dragging his body backwards to go home. Or was it his mind?

———

"He's on the move, General!" Iseri spoke into the headset.

"I know that. It's coming closer."

———

Omega continued up the floors until the uneasiness became so distracting, he forgot what he was doing. Paused in his tracks, he looked around and focused his ears. A low whistle pierced the quiet wind. The tune stopped Omega in his tracks. Silver wind eerily whispered past his ears," |€#<£]#]|<*• "

The incomprehensible sound passed through him, Omega felt it scuff against his very soul. His breathing suddenly got heavy, and his neck turned stiff. Feeling each bone and muscle tense up, he turned his neck to look behind him. What he saw was two hands, covered with gloves—detached—but still looming above the ground along an ominous, torn cloak. The cloak grew a knob at its head, stretching to fit the size of a human's. "Ap*>,|e, y£=¥ att~k_ y", it spouted noises out of its still-stretching head, spit-like liquid spat out of a mouth in its head.

Omega felt his skin wrinkle at the sight of this being, and felt all of his muscles tighten as he stepped back.

———

"Iseri!" Machida yelled through the microphone. "Yes—yes sir!", Iseri grabbed a cold bullet and loaded her sniper swiftly,"Where?!"

"Behind the pillar the Omega is facing, shoot there and at the head!"

Sweat rolled down her forehead as she focused—and with a steady finger— pulled the trigger. The echo of the gunshot was so familiar to her, she didn't bat an eyelid. The bullet flew straight to the pillar, and just before it landed, it suddenly changed direction. Zigzagging, piercing through the cold air, it picked up speed as it locked onto the mysterious being's head. It's hands shook, and as soon as it reached forward to Omega, the bullet connected. The body flew through the air and splattered head-first on the other side of the wall. It's glowing mass dripped down from the small crater in the wall. Omega's breath still heavy, he thought, Am I... am I still dreaming? What was that? His face contorted in confusion.

"I got 'em." Iseri sighed, her finger still pushing the trigger. There was silence on Machida's side. Iseri grunted and loaded another bullet.

The loud crash of the being dissipated, replaced by the dripping of the silver mass. The plopping "liquid" suddenly rose, and swiftly. The mass began to reform itself. It mumbled under its breath as it recovered from the fatal bullet. Caressing it's spherical head, it felt to confirm it's body was in place. It turned to the wall it crashed into, and saw the bullet that pierced its head stuck in the wall. The being's silver gloves picked it out and inspected it. "&<ul]|et," It's language became more decipherable. It pointed with its other hand at Omega," Y\u ]~...", it began to float toward Omega,"...>^€ dįË."

Machida yelled again," Get ready for another shot!" Iseri steadied her aim," Yessir."

Omega's mind felt blurred, not even capable of getting himself away from this...thing. The being's finger gravitated to Omega's nose as he leaned back as to not be touched by it.

"Now! It's hand!" Machida commanded again. Iseri hummed to herself as she readied her shot, and then pulled the trigger again. The bullet cut through the now hot, steaming wind, but was now aimed at Omega. Omega's eyes darted back and forth until he saw a sparkle in the sky," Wha-" His clothes blew in the gale, and he almost felt himself knocked off of his feet. As the bullet reached Omega's head, it changed direction to rip the being's hand.

"Ugh!" Iseri grabbed another bullet and pulled a knife out of her pocket. She began to carve something on the bullet,"Run...away!" She gritted her teeth and loaded the bullet, immediately pressing the trigger. The bullet went straight this time, blowing right past Omega's hair. When it hit the wall, Omega looked back and saw the carved bullet. "Run...?" His eyes opened wide and he gritted his teeth," I'm an idiot!" He pulled his legs off the ground and began to run away. "Ñ• u *€ dįË!" The silver mass quickly recovered from the bullet and held his hand out to Omega. Omega's feet began to drag until he tripped down onto the hard floor. He twisted his head back to see the cloaked thing coming towards him.

"It's pointless, General! The bullets don't work!" Iseri yelled. Machida grunted as he bit his lip," Just keep trying!"

There was a pause.

"Iseri?!"

"Volare!" A familiar voice cried from somewhere. The rest went by like a blur in Omega's eyes. A dancing black-ish flame rose up from the window and flew at the being. It swiftly turned around just to be consumed by the flames. Omega stared in awe as the fire danced around it. He was broken out of the trance by something grabbing his shirt and pulling him up. Before he could even process what was happening, he was looking at the exterior of the parking garage,"Huh?" down and saw the streets. "Huh?!" He plummeted down a 90-foot drop. "Focus! Focus! Fly!" Omega closed his eyes and gave it his all to start floating, but he just couldn't. Opening his eyes, he saw the debris of the concrete. Gagging, he tried to vomit, but he had nothing to throw up.

"Shit..." The person holding him up by his stomach flipped him vertically and set him down. "My bad, Omega."

Omega turned his head," Huh?! Enjō?!"

"Man..." Enjō looked disappointed for a moment,"...What the hell man?!" Enjō's face twisted in pain as he grabbed him by the shoulders," How could you just... leave us behind so you could die?!"

Omega looked up at Enjō in distraught. Enjō stared back. He lightly pushed Omega's shoulders and rubbed his own face. Omega's head drooped as he calmed down," I...apologize."

Enjō's head snapped back to Omega," Oh—oh, I'm sorry. I didn't...mean it like that. It's not your fault," Enjō shook his head," Anyway, what the hell were you doing here? And what was that thi-". He  looked up,"My fire's gone." He winced when a pebble landed on his forehead, "Debris?" Only a couple seconds passed until Enjō's sneakers squeaked on the sidewalk as he dashed at Omega.

"Get down!"