Catalyst(4)

“The girl. What else? Does it look like me or my partner enjoy running through some forest in the middle of nowhere?”

“What about money?” I asked, trying to buy some time and think of a way out of this.

“Negotiation? I do so love negotiations!” He clapped his hand against his thigh with glee.

The big one with the angry eyes never stopped staring at me and the girl. “We don't have time for this, Rowe.”

“Quiet, Bruno. There's always time for a little negotiation. As my father once taught me, 'Everything has its price.'”

I cleared my throat, trying to regain Rowe's attention. He must be the brains while Bruno was the hired muscle. I was going to have to outsmart him. “I could pay you. More than what you're getting now.”

Rowe's blue eyes scanned me. They went over my face, my hair, even my fingernails. His eyes didn't miss the mud on my clothes or the holes and tears in them.

“I wish I could believe you,” Rowe said and sighed. “It would be so much simpler. But judging from the way you look, I doubt you have enough money to buy me a good meal. And I don't eat as much as Bruno.”

The girl moved away from me and closer to Rowe. She shifted into a fighting stance. I didn't know how well she could fight, and her ankle was going to hinder her.

Rowe's face became serious, and his relaxed air vanished. “Not this again. Enough talking.” He sheathed his sword. “Bruno, watch the boy while I take care of her.”

Even with the bad ankle, the girl fought Rowe. Her attacks were quick and precise, and though she couldn’t get the upper hand, Rowe could only fight her to a standstill without hurting her. I was in awe, watching her. If her ankle wasn’t injured, she might have taken Rowe. Several times she almost had his sword out of the scabbard, but each time he kept it out of her grasp.

Rowe finally got hold of her, but she kept squirming like a fish out of water.

“Bruno!” Rowe said. “I need help here. Take care of the whelp and let’s go.”

Anger coursed through my body, replacing my fear. If the girl wasn’t going to give up, neither was I. I needed something to even the fight. There were no more hefty branches nearby, but there was a rock the size of a child's head about a step away. If I could just get to it.

I lunged for the rock, but Bruno was there just as I reached it. Despite his monstrous size, he was fast. Before I could grab the rock or put up my meager defenses, Bruno swung. His fist smashed my right cheek. I toppled, spun, and fell to my knees. My cheek throbbed as if it were on fire. Bruno hovered over me, smiling. I went for the rock again, but was met by Bruno's blade just inches from my face.

The cold steel was ready to open the gateway and send me into death's embrace.

“No!” The girl struggled against Rowe, trying to break his grasp. “Leave him alone! You’ve already got me.”

“Silly girl!” Rowe kicked her, and she fell to the ground. He stepped on her bad ankle and she screamed out loud. “I hate to damage the merchandise, but you leave me no choice.” He struck her. Blood trickled down the side of her mouth. “Finish the boy, Bruno, and let's be on our way. This is getting tiresome.”

My eyes met the girl's. I didn't see any fear, just concern for me. Deep in those shimmering wells, I found the strength I needed. My safety didn't matter. This was for her. It would always be like that.

I growled. “Leave! Her! Alone!”

Everything around me slowed down. Their laughter died; the girl’s face froze; a dandelion puff hovered in the air; a fly’s wings stopped; the wind ceased. My eyes bore into Bruno. My heart pumped and heaved my chest, trying to leap out. The pain in my cheek faded. My eyes were on fire.

I buried my face into my hands, trying to stop the pain.

“What in the Underworld?” Bruno’s eyes grew wide. He started to back away.

The pain left me in gouts of fire, spewing from my eyes to engulf Bruno. The flames crawled over his body, searing every inch of him. He screamed like a hawk, trying to put out the fire with his hands as he ran to the pond. He didn’t make it. His hair incinerated, and his skin peeled off. The charred corpse collapsed on the ground, steps away from the cool water. The fire died out.

I turned my gaze on Rowe. He stood for a moment, unsure of what to do. He stared from me to his former partner’s blackened body. Then he sprinted away as fast as his legs could carry him. He stumbled and tripped in his panic, but kept going, never looking back.

The girl rose and came over to me. “Thank you.”

“I’m…I’m…” I couldn't get the words out. My legs gave out, and I collapsed on the ground. Before I blacked out, I used the rest of my strength to smile at her.