Chapter 44

Forty-Four

Alastair and I continued to run, the Wendigo encroaching the distance between us. The demon quickly gained on us, touching our shadows, its hot breath shooting from the nostrils of its skull. The Wendigo tilted its head, swinging its antlers, the dull tips knocking my body into a nearby tree. The cracking sound of my bone filled my ears, my right arm screaming in pain as I fell to the ground in agony. My left hand trembled, reaching for my broken limb, blood smearing my skin as I tried to stand with a tormented cry.

The ancient Wendigo chittered, sniffing the air as its tongue slithered from its mouth. Its breathing became rapid, the monster now crawling towards me on all fours. I tucked my broken arm close, scuttling back along the muddy ground. My good hand touched a large stone, gripping it as I swung, the rock whacking into the skull of the Wendigo. It growled, angered by my action, widening its boney, blood-stained jaw and releasing a blood curdling roar.

Alastair howled, directing the creature's attention away from me, its head swinging to the side. He barked, snapping at the beast, taunting it. Alastair, no. The Wendigo chittered, turning to face Alastair, enticed by its prey. The wolf slowly backed away, drawing the animal further from me before prancing into a sprint. The Wendigo growled, quickly chasing after Alastair, slithering into the woods as the two melted into the darkness.

Exhaling, I dropped my knees, leaning my head back, allowing the cool mist to soak my face, my hot breath fogging in the night. I closed my eyes, overwhelmed and depleted, ready for it to end. My arm throbbed, the pain and discomfort excruciatingly unbearable. My entire body ached, the nerves beneath my skin tingling and aching with torture. I wasn't sure how much longer I would be able to survive out in these woods, in this godforsaken town.

"Poor Bambi, all alone and injured in the woods." Cain stepped from behind a tree, bloodied and riddled with bullet holes. He looked tired, worn, his body sagging with fatigue. Ahote was right, Cain's body was failing him, his life slowly draining away by John's magic.

"Fuck you," I breathed.

He stopped, taken back by my temper. "What's wrong, hexer? Have you finally given up your will to live?" John was now speaking to me. "Pity; I quite looked forward to breaking your spirit as I drained your life."

My arm stung, aching as I leaned forward, teetering on my feet. "You know, I don't even care if I live past tonight." He furrowed his brows, confused by my words. "Just as long as I don't have to listen to John's irritating, fancy words, or see your fucking face anymore." Cain blinked, unsure of how to respond to my bitter statement. "You want to kill me?" I spat, my left hand surging with anger, frustration, and sadness. "Shut up and do it already."

Cain's mouth curled as he tossed his knife aside, flexing his fingers as his hands ignited in absinthe fire. He cracked his neck and rotated his bloodied shoulders. "Alright then, Bambi, let's do this."

Cain and I began to move, stepping carefully, waiting for the other to strike first. My heart raced, beating against my chest as my magic bubbled beneath my flesh, itching to be released, emotions raging inside. Cain tilted his head, looking straight into my eyes as they glowed brighter.

"Ah, you have broken the barrier of your chaos, allowing it to reign freely. Not many of our kind can tap into their true selves. Their chaos slowly consumes them, devouring their souls as they drown in the madness of it. I must say, little hexer, it is delightful to stand opposite someone who has learned such a skill."

"And yet you call me weak." Cain laughed alongside John, halting in his steps. I paused, uneasy with the sudden change in behavior.

"Your magic may be strong, but you, Alaska, are weak." We stood, staring at one another, listening to the sounds of the nightlife singing within the forest. Sweat rolled down my face, magic boiling in my hand, begging to be unleashed. "Tell me," he tilted his head, "is your dear Lazarus still alive? Or do we need to kill him too?"

Something inside me broke, setting my magic and emotions aflame as I screamed, a wave of my power soaring through the air as my blue fire burned through the trees and foliage around me. The fiery wave of magic slammed into Cain. He raised his hands, blocking his face while John's power fought back, planting his feet deep into the earth. He groaned, pushing against my constant magic, cerulean fire pulsating from my body, my scream burning my throat as I remained steady. The wind soared, circling us as I pushed harder, stronger against him, my scream morphing into a shallow, hearty growl. Cain wrestled against my wrath, his body weakening the more John's magic flowed through his veins.

"Enough of this!" he yelled, biting out his words as his skin slowly began to peel, burned from my immense power. "Alaska! Stop!" Seeing Cain struggle, slowly fading away, dying before me fed a sick hunger deep inside my being, a hunger I had suppressed all these years while enduring his abuse. It tasted his pain, his anguish, and desperately wanted more.

My right hand began to burn as I groaned, forcing my broken arm to extend, my two arms now parallel. My magic grew, brightening as I unleashed my inner demon, allowing it to feed upon Cain's misery. His body buckled beneath the enhanced impact, falling to his knees, John's magic sputtering beneath my vibrant blue flames.

"Fools!" John screamed. "Once Cain dies, I will be free to roam the earth, searching for my next vessel!"

My hands lifted, swinging as my fire spiraled into the air above Cain. He glanced up, trembling as it gathered above him preparing to smother out his life. "Not if I have anything to do with it!" I yelled, throwing my hands down as my power erupted, colliding into Cain. The shockwave knocked me to the ground, the woods falling into silence.

My head pulsed as I opened my eyes, smoke and ash falling all around like black snow. I scanned the horizon, spotting Cain's partially charred body. He was face down, sprawled along the ground. Relief started to settle over me. It's over. It's finally over. I closed my eyes, resting my head against the burnt grass, when he coughed. Instant dread filled my veins, my head reluctant to raise.

Cain coughed hysterically, groaning as he wobbled, to stand. His dual-colored eyes shot to me, burning into my soul. "Y-you thought," he gagged, coughing on his burned esophagus, "that I would be s-so easily def-feated?" He grabbed the knife, his body weak and lanky as he stumbled towards me. "Ignorant little hexer." Alastair barked, catching both our attention. He sprinted past Cain, rushing to my side with a snarl. "Wait—"

The ancient Wendigo suddenly appeared, shrieking as its enormous jaws clamped around Cain's torso, snatching his body from the ground. It shook its mouth, stained yellow teeth snapping his bones as he swung the knife, helplessly slamming it into the deer skull. Blood poured from Cain's mouth as he yelled, John's voice echoing Cain's as the two struggled with the demon. Cain's hands glowed, using John's magic to burn the animal. It released a high-pitched cry, dropping Cain as it rose, screaming in pain.

Alastair and I watched as Cain crawled a few feet away. "John!" he shouted. "John, save me!" The Wendigo shook the remnants of his magic from its fur, breathing heavily. Cain flipped onto his back, raising his hands as it lunged. "John!" Green fire shot from his dirty, bloody palms into the mouth of the beast, burning it from the inside out as it clamped its mouth around his torso, cleaving his body in half. I turned away, sickened by the sight of Cain's lower half slumping over.

Alastair growled, remaining firm in his stance as the beast chittered, injured by John's magic. I glanced back, watching as it wobbled, stepping towards us. The Wendigo opened its burned, bloody mouth, pieces of Cain's flesh stuck between its teeth. I closed my eyes, ready to die.

Something heavy galloped nearby, the sound of squishing flesh followed by a loud thud, shaking the ground. Alastair's growls disappeared, replaced with immensely heavy breathing. I hesitated, slowly opening my eyes. Standing before us was another Wendigo. It wasn't any of the ones Ahote mentioned dwelling in these woods, with dark brown fur and almost the same size as the Ancient One now dead on the ground. This Wendigo had killed it and now stood, watching us. I remained frozen, unsure of what to do, staring into its red eyes.

Alastair yipped, running to the beast. "Alastair, no!" He jumped, wagging his tail at the creature. What the hell? The Wendigo rose, standing on its hind legs, revealing a scar along its chest. It slowly walked closer before it stopped, reaching its claw-like hand out to me, the skin and fur there burned. I gasped, recognizing it. My eyes shot to the deer skull, my voice trembling as I spoke. "Lazarus?"