After awhile, they stopped. When Rei caught up, Glenn and Dryden were talking.
"Let’s just stay here tonight," Dryden was saying. "I’m in no big hurry to get into the city!"
"Sure, I guess so," Glenn replied. "Rei whatcha think?"
"Don’t care," replied Rei, unenthusiastically.
"What’s with her?" whispered Glenn to Dryden.
They set up camp in that spot, it was another meadow, mostly of brown and yellow grass. A small forest was to the west side. Rei only spoke to the others when asked a question, and when she did it was short and without emotion.
Everyone kept his or her distance, even Problem. At one point, Alex and Problem brought her a flower, but she only replied, "That’s nice."
That night, everyone fell asleep soundly, except for Rei. She crept over to where Dryden was sleeping, and quietly pulled her dagger out from one of the folds in her large, faded red tunic, that went down to her knees. The red jewel on its handle flashed from the light of the campfire.
As she swung the dagger backward, a strong hand caught her wrist. From the black wrist cuff on its wrist, she could tell it was Alex. He turned her around, shook his head no, and marched her over to her own bed.
They sat there for awhile, watching each other from across the fire. For they always set their beds at compass directions, with the two girls on one side, two boys on the other.
After about ten minutes Rei laid her head down and was soon fast asleep. Alex sat watching her, long after. He looked up at the stars, looking for any constellation that might be the same from his home.
Morning came, and Alex was upset to find out he had fallen asleep. He jumped up and found both Rei and Dryden’s beds empty. A crunch came from the forest and he ran in that direction.
Glenn awoke half an hour later, and cursed when he noticed the whole camp was empty and the fire out. He used his advanced sight and smell to detect which way everyone had gone.
He scrambled through the forest to discover it had a doughnut shape. For in the middle was a small clearing which had the diameter of the length of two school buses. On the far side was Dryden, in her white knee length tunic that she had slept in, tied to a stake. A pile of sticks was under her feet.
Next, Glenn noticed Alex standing 1/2 of the
distance in the clearing. After that moment, Rei came into view.
She was singing a song, the two boys recognized.
Ballad of Hope
All through the galaxy,
A battle is heard
Between the evil
And true to the word
The leader of light,
Good from the start
She has the flame,
Inside of her heart
She’ll fight till
The bitter end
Only she has
The power to mend
The silent companion,
Who stands by her side,
Silent of thunder
That he shouldn’t hide
To back them up,
The user of ice…
"That’s…that’s!" Glenn stuttered. Both he and Alex recognized the song, but couldn’t place where they’d heard it. It was from far away, who had sang it, and where had escaped them.
"You have realized, I’m not the Rei you know," Rei, or at least she who looked liked Rei, gave a deadly smile at Dryden. "I won’t tell you why I’m here or who I work for, but I am the dark side of your friend Rei."
Glenn could see a hint of red in Rei’s eyes, which were normally the blue color of a flame.
"What do you want then?" Glenn questioned.
"I can’t tell you that either!" Again she gave the horrible smirk. "But your friend here, is about to be toast."
Not able to take it anymore, Glenn charged across the meadow. Blue sparks flew and all went black for a minute, for Glenn. He found himself on the ground, a little distance from the middle, Alex’s steady hand was in front of his face to help him up. Glenn waved it away, and stumbled to his feet.
"Like my barrier?" Rei smiled again.
"Why didn’t you warn me, Alex?" Glenn said sarcastically.
Problem appeared behind Rei. Knowing something was wrong, he charged at Rei, but she knew he was there. Just when he reached her, she blew him away with a tornado blast. Problem was tossed off into the trees.
During that time, Glenn had pulled out a dagger. The blade was made of silver, the handle of gold, and a jewel in the handle was green. The Holy Dagger normally used for killing zombies or evil clones.
Both boys had their heads lowered, their hands as in prayer, Glenn had the dagger between his hands. At the same moment, they moved their hands as if to push something away. The dagger soared through the air, glowing yellow.
It passed through the barrier, which shattered
like glass before disappearing, then it struck Rei.
Rei sank to her knees. From the dagger,
sparks like static electricity flashed around Rei.
As the boys ran to her, a dark shadow passed
overhead.
--- End of Part 10---