Down End Road

Alexander Griffin

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I jolted awake. My tired arms engulfed in the hands of two tall Shifters. I didn't even notice them as I felt an unknown power swell inside me. Looking to the windows of the manor I saw a blue glow shine out from them.

Myra!

My brain demanded her presence. Urged me forward. My very soul craved the closeness of hers. The Shifters hands tightened around my biceps, sensing my shift in mood. It didn't matter. Nothing did in that moment, except Myra.

I struggled in their grasp, using my enhanced strength to flip the tall black figure over. The other one suddenly pulled me to its chest, my shoulder smushed into its torso. I wriggled and screamed and finally managed to get it off me, flinging its bony body off of mine.

I was gone before I could even think. Blur's of colours were the only thing I could see as I used my gift of speed to sprint to the manor.

I barged into the door, bright white light escaping through the cracks. "Myra!" I screamed. "Myra, open this door!" I commanded. "Myra, Myra are your alright!?" I yelled.

I could feel the roar that sounded behind the door. It was a bellowing gravelly sound that vibrated my bones and rattled my teeth. My body froze on the spot, before pounding footsteps made me sprint out of the way of the door. My body was flung to the ground as a lithe creature barrelled through the doors. Splinters of wood and metal showered down behind it.

Looking up I followed its movements as it flew into the air, wings extended and gliding through the sea of blue sky. More fantastic creatures followed after that first one. All in different shades, all different colours, all differentiating from the others.

I was so frozen in shock that I forgot about Myra. Panicked I jumped to my feet rushing to the door, before darting out the way. An army of shadowed Shifters marched out the door way, their cloaks of darkness receding as soon as they met daylight, revealing milk white scaly skin, bony bodies and unusually shaped heads.

I watched dumbstruck, as their procession continued. A hundred Shifters must have leaked out of the building two by two, before it finally came to the end.

They turned their black gazes to the door, their bodies anticipating something. I almost fainted with relief and shock, when I saw Myra ride out of the manor on top of a black dragon like creature. Her hair, once neatly tied back, now hung in clumps of knotted curls around her shoulders.

Blood was smeared over her face, clothes and most of her skin, along with green Shifter blood. Speckles and splotches of dirt and mud clung to her face. Small plump lips pursed into a thin line, she rode on the back of the beautiful creature with an air of dignity. Her shoulders pulled back, spine straight and chin up.

This was the Myra that had disappeared and then suddenly reemerged. This was the Myra I had fallen in- I couldn't form the words in my head but I would always know in my heart, in the very map of my soul, that I loved her.

I opened my mouth, lips parted to speak, but any and all sound died in my throat when she pinned her queenly gaze on me.

A wide smile filled with relief broke her stern looking features as she swung her left leg over the back of the beast. Her movement was so abrupt that the animal looked back to where Myra had been riding it, only to notice her missing and look toward me, finding Myra running towards me.

The dragon was scarily smart, with animal instincts and sharp claws and fangs. I didn't know whether to be awed or afraid of it. Maybe a bit of both.

My thoughts were interrupted as small arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground in a tight embrace. Startled I began to wiggle in Myra's grasp fearing she'd drop me, but she only held me tighter.

Her nose was buried in my t-shirt and her loose wild curls acted as a shield hiding her face from view. She finally let up, easing me back down to the ground, not once letting go.

I heard a slight sigh from her mouth and felt her lips move as she spoke into my chest, "we did it." She said, not entirely triumphant. "We actually did it." She repeated with a little more gusto.

I buried my nose in her hair. Taking in the scent of her. "Ehem, if your not too busy, I think a lot of people would like to speak with you." Maverick said, that easy smirk gracing us with its presence.

Myra playfully scowled at him, rolling her ocean blues at him. However, her lighthearted annoyance quickly switched to Joy when she saw Ally walk towards us.

I watched on as a silent observer as they embraced each other and laughed, secretly admiring the way Myra's pouty pink lips tilted up into a breathtaking, heart wrenching smile.

"So," Maverick said, less of a statement more of a question. "What happens now?" My mouth automatically opened to reply, but I quickly realised I didn't have a plan.

For the first time in a long while, I hadn't known what to do, and I was perfectly happy with that. Perfectly happy to just enjoy this moment and be spontaneous.

"Actually I-" I was cut off before I could omit my cluelessness of what to do next, when Ben crested over the stairs of the small hill.

His face was set in grim determination, a wall of steel betraying none of his own emotions. I could practically feel Myra's confusion radiate off of her in waves. "Myra Remington, by the order of The Society of the Civil, I order you to close the portal door and lock it immediately."

Her eyes narrowed and without a moment to waste, she pulled her sword from its sheath, the powerful blue glow swallowing her eyes whole. Ben's adams apple bobbed, the only trace of fear he showed. Teeth grinding I stepped toward Myra, taking a place beside her.

"Under what laws?" I questioned in a stern voice. Ben's face paled, his pupils dilating.

"You can read the accusations in court. Right now, I order you to shut the door, under the authority of the Society of the Civil." He demanded, a slight hitch in his voice revealing his fear. "Now!" he shouted.

Myra cocked her head to the side, studying him mutely. The air stirred behind us as the Shifters began to gather towards Ben. Myra looked to the creatures, now as pale as bleached bedsheets, with an arched brow. They collectively halted their movements, demonic black eyes still trained on Ben.

"You leave no choice." He reached inside his jacket pocket, hand clenched tight around something. Cool steel grey glinted in the suns light when he unveiled a gun.

Everything that happened next was a blur. In a flash of blonde hair and black suit, Maverick stood in front of Myra. The loud bang of the gunpowder hurt my ears, but the deafening cry and thump of Mavericks limp body is what made me froze, along with everyone else.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't think.

I could only watch in stunned horror, as bright red blood, trickled down his suit and chin. I didn't move, even when Ben aimed the gun again. My feet remained rooted to the spot as my breathing increased, chest heaving with each and every laboured panicky breath.

"Maverick." I muttered. The movement of my lips was what jolted me back to reality. "MAVERICK!" I screeched it at the top of my lungs, as I scrambled to move towards him.

Ally was crying by his side, holding his wrist, pressing on his neck, putting her hand under his nose and over his mouth. Desperately trying to find any signs of life.

Her dark brown hair flew everywhere as the wind picked up and stone grey clouds drifted into the sky accompanied by deep thunderous roars. "Maverick!" I yelled gripping his shoulders and shaking them. "Maverick. Wake up." I pleaded.

"Move Griffin." Someone ordered flinging me away from Maverick. My hands stung as they scraped against gravel, the only true sign that this was real and not a twisted figment of my imagination.

Miss Wilson sat stooped over Maverick's limp non-responsive body. Her black hair streaked with lines of silver made her look all the more a force of sage power, when lightning lit up the sky above her and illuminated her outline. Her leather jacket flapped in the forceful wind, when she opened her jacket and reached into the pocket.

Miss Wilson held the glowing green vial over Maverick's motionless chest. Oxygen left my lungs in a rush of air when Miss Wilson plunged the syringe into Mavericks injured pectoral.

Our bond was stronger than that of friends, he was like my brother. So when his eyes went wide and his body jolted upright, I could hardly contain the howl of joy and relief that wanted to tear itself from my lips.

I scrambled to Maverick, studying him in disbelief as Ally flung herself around him and sobbed into his good shoulder. His features went even whiter when his glazed eyes looked over my shoulder.

My smile instantly dropped when I heard the earsplitting bang.