Disclaimer: I am a fangirl. END OF STORY. Not Pittacus. Nopenopenope

Chapter. 12

I felt my soul/spirit get sucked back into my body.

See you soon, Adam. One whispered to me as we exchanged places in the spirit world and living world. See you soon.

The next thing I felt was a slight tap on my shoulder.

Malcom.

"I knew you were right to trust, Adam," he told me. "I knew."

On my face, I smiled, but inside, I thought, "Did you really need that much proof? Is gaining one's trust really that hard?"

Dad was leaning on my shoulder, mumbling about something inaudible.

"What do you want to say, Dad?" I asked softly. "You can tell me, I'm Ella."

"E-ella," he stuttered as he tried to get back on his feet. Everyone stared at him as he bent down with much effort to cup my face in his hands. I wanted to pull away, but decided not to. "Ella," he breathed again. "You've grown so m-much. I've missed y-you."

A tear rolled down his blood-streaked face, washing away a clear path through the grime and blood and dust. The skin washed with tears was yellowish, as if Dad was sick.

Then, as if being to read my mind, he whispered into my war breathlessly. "Ella… I am very sick. Also poisoned. And beaten to near death. I am sorry Ella. Before…. Before I die, Ella—"

"No!" My eyes filled up with tears. "I can't lose you… D-dad. I've just met you! How could you go?"

He smiled at me, exhausted. "You are strong, my dear Ella. R-remember that… that… The key to defeating the Mogs is… it's sac—"

His eyes rolled to the back of his head. An arrow was shot through his skull, it came through at the other end. Blood dripped out from the corner of his mouth, washing clear a path of red.

I felt his pulse. None. A scream rose up my throat and got struck there.

"That was the price," A cold voice boomed from the corridors—all the corridors, at the same time. "Rexella, dear, everything has a price. Your dad paid it, but for what? For nothing," The voice grew colder each second, as it grew nearer. "Raylen's life was paid for a fool's quest! Why would you be so naïve Rexella? Join us. We will win."

The speaker came into view. Thousands and thousands of Mogs, blocking the corridors, fully armed.

My friends were staring around, confused and scared. They couldn't hear Setrakus, I realized. Only I could.

"Setrakus!" I screamed. "Come and fight us like a man! Don't go hiding behind your soldiers!"

"That I shall." Setrakus stepped into the light. I stared at his pale white skull and horrifying black tattoo.

I couldn't take it anymore.

First Mom, then Crayton, now Dad. IT wouldn't be soon until it was my friends' turn.

Red tinted my sight. I saw blood, spilled blood/ash of the Mogs. Wrongly spilt blood of my family.

I screamed as everything glowed red and swirled around me like I was a planet with debris orbiting around me. With another guttural scream the debris flew out, towards the Mogs and Setrakus and everyone. I couldn't control it.

Red was the last thing I saw until I felt an arrow dig into my arm.