Chapter VII

   You're probably wondering what the bit with the boy was. Take it out of your little heads (or big). That wouldn't be figured out 'til... I guess near the very end. I'm such a teaser, aren't I? Well, as author I prefer such mysteries! (Sorry if it's predictable). ~Kallik (The teaser)

    Ally

   Will frowned. "If you insist..."

   "Ally, did you have another vision lately?" Keesa asked me.

   "N-no." I said, mumbling the words. "Of course not!"

   We stopped at the foot of a steep hill, but not steep enough to be a mountain. I pulled myself onto it. "C'mon! The clock's ticking!"

   Will followed, then Keesa. She took out a crossbow, and fired it quickly at a blurry shadow. "The Unborne is following. Hurry!"

   I saw a thick mass of violet and black blurs, filling the entire wasteland like water. I whimpered and climbed up fast, scraping my hands and knees. I dangled on a rock, and Will shoved me up. Keesa rapidly fired arrows every now and then. I shivered, and ran to the top of the hill, drawing my sword. Will took out his gun.

   I swung my sword, and close by were bullets. I guess I was getting better. I jabbed and swung, gradually increasing speed. I could only make out that the Unborne were demons. They were either violet or black, with large bat wings and a collection of skins as their clothing. They had beady red eyes, and bore various daggers. I aimed for their wings first, then did the final blow.

   My ears ached hearing the angry yells of the Unborne, and the sounds of Will's gun firing. Keesa was silent, but killed the demons in one shot. The mob grew less and less.

   We all lay on our backs, catching our breath. I closed my eyes, feeling drowsy.

   I opened my eyes, seeing a wooden roof. Smells of soup filled my nose. I rubbed my eyes, and looked out a window. I saw a flat plain with a far mountain wall. Green grass rippled in the wind, and wildflowers swayed.

   Demica Valley.

   I turned to my sides, seeing Keesa and Will fast asleep. How long was I sleeping for?

   A young lady walked into the room, with a tray of soup. "Thank goodness you're awake! Found you and your friends sleeping on the Tall Hill while picking some daisies!"

   "You have a house in the middle of a..."

   "No, no!" The lady said quickly, stroking her dirty blonde hair. "You're in the one and only town of this valley; Demica's Village!"

   Another great person used as a name.

   "Have some soup," The lady said. "You look thin and weary, yet powerful."

   Then, a thought struck me: did she know I was human?

   I took a sip. "What's your name?" 

   "I'm Sicapa!" The lady said. "Excuse me for not mentioning it before. I'm the finest chef in town! And I know you're human."

   "You do?" I spit out my soup.

   "Yes," Sicapa answered. "I'm a mind reader. I know what you're thinking of, when I listen closely and focus on you."

   "Nice." Talk about privacy.

   "Anyway," Sicapa said. "You and your friends were bleeding. So while I bandaged you up I saw..." She took my palm. "A curse. Where do you intend to go to?"

   "A volcano. If I don't reach there in 7 days, I'll be a monster." I said. "A race against time."

   "How many days have you traveled?" Sicapa asked.

   "2 days." I said.

   "Must be 3 now," I tensed as Sicapa sighed. "Found y'all yesterday."

   "Oh~!" I whined. 4 more days until doomsday. My marking now looked like this: (✑◊❂) overlapping. I squeezed my hand. "I can't believe it."

   "It's alright!" Sicapa said. "In case you need one, a traveling prophet I am!"
   "Really?" I asked, genuinely amazed.
   Sicapa nodded, then laughed. "Everyone here in Demica Valley is a prophet!"
   I found my mouth ajar, and closed it. "Can you give me a prophecy, please?"
   Sicapa ran over to another room, and returned with an orb in her hands. It was cracked, and I could almost see white mist emerging out of it. "The brutes here. Kage always break into our house. I'm afraid I can't...."
   Suddenly, the orb shined bright, blinding me. I shut my eyes, and heard a crack! When it felt like it darkened, Sicapa was gone, and the orb was now just shards... that seemed like it was possessed.
   Will turned in his bed, then jerked awake. "Ally! Did you hear that?"
   I shook my head. "No,"
   Keesa opened her eyes calmly. "I am fine." She said in a flat voice. Her usually upbeat depth to her skin had turned dull and a shade of gray.
   "Keesa?" I asked.
   "I am fine." Keesa repeated. "Just need to rest."
   Will scratched his arm, and I felt itching, too. "Those shards are going wacko." Will told me, and he was right. The shards rose up into the air and circled around Keesa. Strange letters were like a force field around her.
   "Go!"
   Will pushed me out of the way, just as an intense lightning bolt was shot. "No!" I screamed as Will got hit, becoming limp as a rag doll. I quickly ran around the house. I smelt burning gas, making me cough.
   I darted right out of a window, and tumbled down a hill. I threw myself one way as I dodged a lightning bolt, and continued to run across the village of Demica.
   "Help!" I screamed.
   Confused townsfolk looked out. Then they all ducked as they saw the possessed Keesa.
   "Help the girl, help the girl!" Everyone called out. Then some people gave out laughs and teases. "She is from here, isn't she? Where are her powers?"
   That's right. Powers.
   I skidded to a halt, and felt my mark burning. I turned around and blasted the puppet Keesa with lava. "Whoa," I breathed, and repeated it.
   Then, I got out these fire bombs and threw it at her, causing destruction in the village. I waved my hand as if I knew what to do, and took out a flaming shield, then drew my sword.
   I ducked, and sliced the puppet. Keesa was thrown backwards, and a shadowy essence appeared, stepping out of Keesa's body. It turned into a strange boy.
   "You are strange," The boy said, sneering at me. "But you cannot defeat me, the great and powerful Demon Lord."
   That was so boastful! Perfect for a demon. I yelled and charged at him, but got thrown backwards by an invisible force.
   "How foolish of you. You don't even know how to fight. We shall meet at the volcano." The Demon Lord said simply, and vanished into thin air.
    "ERRGH!" I screamed. A blast of heat erupted from me. "Who does he think he is?"
   A bunch of villagers surrounded me, some shaking with fear.
   "She is cursed!" A villager screamed. "The cursed never survive! Let us end her life while she still lives!"
   "Wait!" I said, holding up my hands. "I'm a savior! I'll help you! I'm human!"
   "Human?" Another villager sneered. "Bah! Humans aren't cursed!"
   "But I am!" I protested. "What about Rina?"
   "Rina? She's nothing but a lie! We all believe Demica was our savior!" Several people yelled angrily.
   "Please!" I begged. "Please! I'm pretty sure that Will is dead and that Keesa could have a possibility of death and..."
   Ooh! I could trick people by throwing a tantrum!
   "MY PARENTS ARE MISSING!" I cried, trying to get out my fake tears. "They're lost in my world!" I put my hand over my forehead. "And I have to live a teased life!"
   The villagers didn't seem like they were buying it. Time to kick it up a notch.
   "Oh!" I wailed, forcing out tears. "You are teasing me too!" I grabbed someone's leg and held it. "Oh! The pain! You have no feelings for a poor, innocent, 12 year old human! What happened to your worship of Demica? Was she human too?"
   "Elf," Someone coughed in the crowd.
   "Almost same thing!" I wailed. Then I threw out my greatest tantrum, tossing tears and whacking myself with my carelessly thrown arms. "Have mercy on me!"
   "Fine," Someone said, the voice ringing in my head. "I'll give you until you kill the Demon Lord."
   I suddenly stopped, and felt as if time froze. Killing that boastful boy. Simple enough.
   "Deal," I said, staring into the ground.
   Turning around, I picked up Keesa and dragged her into the wrecked house.