To Lie is to Betray - July 3, 2010

    My footsteps echoed against the slick train station floor. My breathing beat an uneven desperate rhythm as I frantically sprinted across the abandoned place. Ten paces behind me, I could hear other footsteps gaining and slowly advancing on me. I was scared out of my wits and I couldn't think but one thought: run. My eyes darted around the place, yearning for an exit, yet there was none. I tried to go faster but instead I ended up slowing since my current pace wasn't one I was used to and I was getting tired. With dread I listened to the footsteps getting closer and closer.
    If only Sky was here. The thought caught me by surprise and I almost tripped over my shoes. If Sky was here, I wouldn't be in this mess, my thoughts continued, and he would have protected me. I shook my head and willed the tears to not come. But Sky isn't here, I reasoned, and he never will be because he hates me now. Suddenly, from an exit I hadn't known was there in front of me, more of them came running towards me. I skidded to a stop and instinctively started backing away. The only problem was that the other men that had initially started chasing me were gaining on me from that side too. The only way out was to go to the other side of the tracks. I started racing towards that other side and bounded unto the platform in the middle.
        Just as I landed on the second tracks I had to pass, the tracks started rattling and I stood there petrified as I watched a train moving at impossible speed racing towards me with its menacing light illuminating my petrified body. I wanted to move, but fear made me freeze. So this is the end, I thought. Sky, I'm so sorry...Just then, something hit me and pushed me and it on the other platform in the station. I remembered how to move then and stood to face the one who had saved me. My breath caught as I recognized who it was and I ran to hug him. "Sky! I'm so happy you're here!" I buried my face in his chest and looked up at him. He wouldn't meet my gaze and I knew that he was still mad at me. I detached myself from him and turned away. Shouts erupting from the other side of the tracks echoed with the ones exiting the train that had just stopped not far from where I had stood. Soon, all the uniformed goons surrounded us. "Well, if it isn't Sky, the Wind Master." My head jerked to the direction of the voice and I bared my teeth at the leader of the goons, Ulysses Darkbreath. His gaze fell on me now. "And of course the lovely Ela Wood who was supposed to be working for me." Out of the corner of my eye I saw the slightest flicker of Sky tensing at this and became filled with regret, and anger.
    "I don't work for you anymore, Darkbreath! I'm sick of it and what you hope to accomplish just isn't right!" He ignored me and kept talking to Sky. "Yet, even though she betrayed you by working as my spy, you still come for her in her time of need, even if she is a treacherous wench, to the both of us now." I couldn't help but look at Sky and see him gazing at the ground while clenching and unclenching his fists. "Well, I guess I'll just have to get rid of the both of you, since you interfered and I have unfinished business with dear Ela." Darkbreath backed away into the crowd of lackeys. "Demon Sprites, attack!" The sea of uniformed men turned into shapeless black humanoids advancing on us with all kinds of weapons. I took out three inscribed slips of paper and threw it at them while reciting the spell for the slips. "hikari no yakusoku" I murmured as I threw each of the many slips of parchment and as each made a demon sprite explode. A huge wave of wind nearly knocked me over as Sky took out ten at a time. But we were outnumbered. I heard Sky yell, "Ela! Take cover!" Then, I knew he had taken out his famous wind sword, a hilt at first glance that had an invisible sword made purely of wind. A wave of something violent sharp passed over me and I knew that all the goons had fallen as I stood back up. I looked around but Ulysses was nowhere to be seen. I turned to stare at Sky. "You...saved me." All he did was turn his back to me and he wouldn't say a word. I walked over to him and reached for his shoulder. "Sky, I, I'm so sorry for what I did to you. I know I was-" It was then that he brushed my hand away and started striding away from me. I hurried after him. "Wait! Sky!" He stopped abruptly and I ran into him, falling backwards into the floor. He looked back at me and said the very words that I knew he would use if he wanted to rip my heart out. "I thought you said you would never be like your dad, Ela. I guess lying and double-crossing runs in the family. I can't believe I ever trusted a lowly backstabbing girl like you." His eyes held no compassion or forgiveness as I stared into them with my horrified look. As he walked away from me, I murmured under my breath, "No. I'm not like him, Sky. At least I'm nice. I changed sides. I'm not like him. I'm not like him." I sobbed quietly, unable to believe my own lie.   
 

-Lady Stormparade