(Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:16AM)

(Luke) Almost there! I could see the water pump controls at the very end of the hallway!

Pointing his finger, Luke got the attention of both Hope and Fred as they saw a metal panel that had valves and controls latched on it.

Many blue pipes led to both the top of the water pump tower as well as toward the bottom, which led to the underground water unit that pumps the water throughout the city. As for the controls, the space that the many buttons and valves had was ginormous, with even geniuses like Luke and Fred gawking their mouths wide open.

Fred then let out a sly smile as he scratched the back of his head.

(Fred) So … how exactly are we going to kill the monster with water?

(Luke) You’re going to create a water bomb, a bomb that has enough explosion to flood several city blocks.

(Fred) Is that safe?

(Luke) Well, it’s the quickest way we could do it. If only we had a person that specializes in water…

(Fred) Yeah … like a water user…

Tilting his head downward, Luke pushed his feet forward as he noticed a familiar presence that caused the back of his hair to stand up. Caressing the grip of his right Uzi with his fingers, Luke looked around his surroundings as beads of sweat rolled down from both his temples.

Hope put her right hand onto his shoulder, her touch relieving the stress that soon dispersed out of him like a deflated balloon.

(Hope) It’s ok, we could handle ourselves on our own.

(Luke) I know, but sometimes I feel as if someone is watching me…

(???) Because you are being watched~

Hearing a voice from the back of them, all three of them turned their heads toward the other side of the building.

A tall woman with pitch-black hair and pale skin had her head tilted to the right as she lit up a small smirk. Followed by her all-black eyes taking in the presence of not just Luke, but Fred as well, she moistened her lips with her tongue caressing every corner and skin of it.

(Fred) Gemma…

Fred’s breathing started to fasten more as he took in the sight in front of him, his whole body trembling under the presence of the woman in front of her. Curling up his fingers into his palms, the nails of his dug deep into his pale skin.

Hope gripped her combat pistol while Luke pulled out both of his uzis on both sides of his hips.

(Luke’s thoughts) What should I do? I know Benn and Hope couldn’t reason with her, but could Fred?

Looking at Fred, his hands couldn’t even draw out his weapon, his face starting to turn pale as his feet were glued to the floor.

Fred’s shoulder was then gripped by a smooth and delicate hand from behind. With his breath caught inside of his throat, he slowly turned his head at the blonde-haired girl with sparkly eyes.

(Hope) It’s ok, We could figure this out.

(Fred) I … ah …

(Hope) We could get through this, I know it. If you don’t want to fight, I understand, but…

Hope then placed her left hand on Fred’s arm, rubbing it back and forth as she stared up into Fred’s watered eyes. As the corners of her lips pushed upward onto her cheekbones, she slanted her eyes, making a face that released the air that was stuck in Fred’s mouth.

(Hope) Whatever you do, don’t lose sight of yourself.

(Fred) … I know.

Fred looked away as he avoided eye contact with the blonde-haired girl next to him.

His face continuing to darken, Luke and Hope both continue to glare at the lich woman that was in front of them, their backs being faced by the panel in the back of them. Glancing at the controls, Luke moistened his lips as he then motioned his throat and vocals toward a silver-haired young man from behind.

(Luke) Fred, reach the control panel. Try to boot up the water systems in the building.

(Fred) But—

(Luke) Don’t worry, everything will be alright. I promise that we won’t try to kill her. We’ll capture her at the very least.

(Fred) Just please promise me that …

The tall lich woman then spread both of her hands out wide, eyeing both Luke and Hope who stood in the way in front of her. Looking at the silver-haired man walking toward the control panel at the far end of the hallway, Gemma lit up a mischievous smile across her lips, the crevices of her mouth reaching up toward her ears.

Her smile was in full display, both Luke and Hope felt as if their backs were being plunged by an icicle.

(Gemma) I have no beef with Luke, but you…

Her eyes focused on Hope. Mist started to sprout out from the ends of her palms, the deadly water particles that she contained within herself soon circling all over her body like a blanket.

Her cold body was pricked by the ice-cold mist that shielded her, she pointed her right hand toward Hope, her fingernail broken and dented beyond repair.

(Gemma) You touched Fred, and you know how angry that gets me. So I guess you’re going after Fred because you couldn’t win over Luke with Luna?

(Hope) What are you even saying!?

(Gemma) I know what I’m saying!

Gemma then spread apart both of her feet, her heels digging into the metallic flooring beneath her. Enclosing both of her fists, her fingers curdle up as she then pushes against the metallic flooring with both of her heels.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Which caused the air to be rippled by the thrust of her moving body.

Pulling back her right hand, she glared straight toward the young woman with blue eyes, her right fist tightening as she managed to reach in front of the girl in front. Thrusting her right fist, she trajected the punch toward the right side of Hope’s face.

As for Hope, the only thing she could do was widen her eyes, her feet remaining frozen solid combined with her hands being motionless to gravity.

(Gemma’s thoughts) Too easy. I’ll just finish her off and-

Hope threw a dry substance toward the lunging Gemma.

Gemma shrieked as the substance managed to get inside her eyes. Raising both of her sickly hands over her eyeballs, she began to claw on them with her knife like nails, leaving bits of tar to seethe out.

As she instantly began to regenerate the scratches as she continued to claw.

(Gemma) You cheater! That’s a dirty trick!

Sand dripped from Hope’s fingertips, her nails being overridden with the dry substance that pricked her skin. Hope then pointed her right hand toward Gemma, her fingers containing a metal combat pistol that was already locked and loaded.

While on her left hand, some of the sand managed to get inside of her sleeve, causing her to tremble uncomfortably.

With Gemma’s eyes still closed, Luke took this opportunity to sprint towards her.

Pushing against the metallic floor, his heels stomped and trembled the very building that he was on, the sounds making it louder and louder as he reached toward Gemma. Both of his weapons locked and loaded, he wielded neither of them as he put them into his holsters, his hands wielding nothing but a piece of a metal and flexible rope.

(Luke) Let me get her down!

Reaching in front of the tall lich woman, Luke then wrapped the metallic rope around her waist, her eyes still burning from the sand that pierced her eyes. Finishing up his tie, he looked around the room to notice that Fred was working on the controls, his eyes preoccupied with the many valves and controls.

(Luke’s thoughts) It’s good that he’s still working on that.

Turning his attention back toward the tied-up Gemma, Luke then stood right next to Hope as both of them pointed their guns toward her.

Hope had her finger already on the trigger, while Luke had his on the side of the gun.

Taking a step forward, her eyes began to contain a tsunami worth of tears, her eyes reddening from her hands that shook the gun.

(Hope) I know your feelings, but … we-we could find something … anything to—

(Gemma) You’re going to shoot me? Me? You want me out of the picture so you can have another option!

(Hope) You almost killed Benn … I’m-I’m trying to … help … h-help you—

(Gemma) Boohoo~ What are you going to do, cry?

Luke then placed his left hand onto the end of the barrel of her pistol, startling Hope as she turned to look at his face. Her finger letting go of the trigger, her throat quivered as she tilted her head downward.

Hope continued to point her gun at the lich woman, her finger now on the side of the gun as the barrel still was in the way of Luke’s hand. Swaying her head a couple of times, Hope bit down on the innards of her right cheek, with blood soon starting to circulate in her mouth.

Tasting the iron and nutrients in her blood because of the result of eating a healthy diet, Hope slowly pulled out her gun that was in front of Luke’s hand. Having it to her side, Hope still held onto it from the grip, not letting go as her palms started to stain the black metal of the gun.

(Hope) Luke … What should I do…?

(Luke) It’s ok Hope … let’s just take her back to the—

Gemma’s body soon started to turn into a cloud and clunk of mist, all the way from her head to the bottom of her toes, breaking down all the cells that made her a lich.

______________________________________________________________________________

Feeling the lightness of the rope, Luke slowly looked toward where Gemma was supposed to be held, her entire body vanishing out of thin air.

Fortunately for them, they noticed a trail of mist that led toward the other room.

(Luke’s thoughts) Are you kidding me?!

Upon seeing the humid mist leaving the room, Luke and Hope sprinted their way toward the other room that Gemma left. Both of their boots clanked the metal beneath them.

(Luke’s thoughts) Well, I should’ve known she could turn into mist, but really?!

Taking out both of his weapons from his sides, he then held onto both grips of his guns, his fingers on the side of the gun as he ran. Along with Hope, she soon took out her combat pistol, holding it tightly with both of her hands while placing her finger on the trigger.

Entering inside the other room that was beyond their pay grade, both noticed the room’s density of mist, their sight completely failing them.

Hope soon started to scrunch her nose. The smell was horrid and putrid as if a rotten glass of milk had been under the sun for weeks.

(Hope) Be careful Luke … she could attack anywhere.

(Luke) Don’t worry, I heard about you and Benn’s fight with her.

Luke looked around the mist and fog that made his visibility unrealistic as he couldn’t even see what was right in front of him. Feeling the presence of Hope near his right shoulder, even looking at Hope’s direction wouldn’t be enough to see her in full person.

Yet despite this observation, Luke looked around the mist-filled room, his eyes trying to squint through the very mist that caught even Benn off guard.

(Luke’s thoughts) From what I can remember, Benn used a mosquito to find Gemma’s hot breath with infrared vision.

Closing his eyes, Luke centered his body as he placed both feet a couple of inches from one another, his chest and stomach perfectly aligned.

Pulling out both of his uzis, he steadied his breathing. Allowing his ears to block the deafening silence of the mist, the only thing that he could hear was the beating of his own weak yet strong heart.

And at long last, he heard the ringing of a reverb service bell.

(Luke’s thoughts) She’s about to head … wait …

Upon sensing Gemma’s presence, she was coming after them, that observation was proven to be a guaranteed fact.

The strands of his hair being pointed upward straight, his entire back let out a long and wailing shiver throughout his upper and lower.

It could only mean one thing.

(Luke) Hope! Watch out!

Pushing his feet off the floor, he sensed the incoming threat becoming closer and closer toward Hope, who still looked around the room aimlessly.

(Gemma) You're a dead bitch! You’re not going to be named Hope Fenix for shit!

Not even able to see what lay beyond or in front of her, or to the other sides in general, Hope widened her eyes as she looked over in Luke’s direction.

Not knowing the incoming fist that was about to come, Hope reached out her hand toward the direction of where Luke’s voice was, her fingertips being molested by the putrid mist.

Fortunately for her, Luke managed to reach out toward her hand in the mist, snapping his muscles out of place as he tore through a couple of hamstrings to feel her hand. Both of them holding onto each other’s hand…

Was abruptly changed as Luke noticed her body sway to the right, a sudden gust of wind slamming his face.

(Luke) Hope!

Pulling her hand toward his body, he hoped to see the same blonde hair and blue eyes that he saw from her, his lips puckered up inside of his mouth.

Despite not even being able to see in zero visibility mist.

Feeling her body close, he couldn’t tell if she was conscious or unconscious, as her chest rested against his upper stomach, and her head resting—

…

(Luke) H-Hope…?

No response.

(Luke) H-Hey? Hope? … Hope? …

No response again.

Tightening the hold on her body, his arms placed themselves across her lower back, trying to lean his face closer to hers. Despite the zero visibility that clogged his entire vision, he couldn’t see what lay in front of him.

Digging his fingernails onto her back, Luke looked all over the mist-filled area, his eyes on the verge of blackening as he still held onto the unresponsive Hope. Gritting his teeth together, his eyes were twitching endlessly as his feet started to go numb.

Placing his left hand onto where her head was—

(Gemma) You’re distracted.

A reverb service bell rang across the innards of his soul.

Sweat started to drench all across his body.

From head to toe; his feet loosened, his hands tightened, his stomach convulsed, and his chest fastened.

Everything inside of his own body went into a state of pure fear and shock, his face turning paler than any other lich he had fought so far.

And as the reverb service bell heightened its unholy ring, it only caused Luke to stare into the abyss of what was about to come. Upon feeling a lethal danger dashing toward him, the only thing that he could was…

Brace for it.

(Luke’s thoughts) No … w-what is this …

(Gemma’s thoughts) My will … finally be—

His nose started to crunch up, the sounds of cracking and jointing twisting and turning upon his face. As if the object or body part was starting to stab right through his very head, the only thing that he could see was…

Darkness.

Then came nothing.