Chapter
Forty-Seven: Racing Against Death:
Tick tock. Tick
tock. Time was burning away. Haruka slowly made her way down the stairs. She
felt calm. No more voices in her head. He hadn’t said anything else. Fine by
her. She’d show him. The old lady would not lose. She placed her hand on the
wall. This would be her last attempt. Got to make this last. The old lady smiled
to herself. No final words for this body.
Only her final
spell.
Her words came
without a sound. As she spoke, her words and body became lighter. Her vision
started to blur. Her lips curved into a cold little smile. Haruka closed her
eyes for the last time.
And then she was
gone.
----------
Anna stepped on
the grounds. Her eyes shifted left and right.
“There is no one
here,” she said. Chills ran up her arms. Airi looked around.
“Be on your
guard,” she said. “She’s gotten desperate.”
“Yeah,” Anna
said. She started to walk forward.
“I can smell
it,” the woman said.
“Smell it?” Airi
asked.
“Yeah,” the
tsukai said. “Can you smell it?” The Mother took a smell for herself.
“Oh…” she said.
“What is it?”
Anna asked.
“This isn’t
good,” Airi said. “She’s gone to that measure.”
“What measure?”
the tsukai asked. Airi froze.
“Anna, look
out!” she yelled.
“What?” the
woman asked, turning her head. Anna jumped out of the way in time. A wave of
pressured air shot past her heel, grazing it.
“Ow,” she
whispered.
“You okay?” Airi
asked.
“Yes,” Anna
said. The kitsune looked at her left heel. A small cluster of red bumps formed
on the skin.
“Does it hurt?”
Airi asked. “Be honest.” Anna shook her head.
“I’m fine,” she
said.
“Can you stand
up?” Airi asked. Anna nodded. She slowly rose to her feet. But then she wobbled
over.
“Anna?” the
kitsune asked. The tsukai shook her head as she rubbed her forehead.
“I’m fine,” she
said. “Let’s just go.” Anna started walking towards the tower. She looked drunk
as she moved. Airi didn’t look so convinced. But she didn’t have time to think
about it. The kitsune followed behind.
-----------
Tsuzuki looked
for the tower from the sky. He couldn’t feel anything nearby. He clutched the
weapon by his side. How much time was left? He didn’t have time to think.
Hold on, Usagi-chan!
I’m just about there. We’re going to end this.
Suddenly,
Tsuzuki heard a loud wailing noise. He paused and looked around.
“What the hell?”
he asked. The sound seemed to surround him. Where was it coming from?
Tsuzuki shook
his head.
“Don’t get
distracted,” he told himself. “This has to end.” The shinigami picked up the
pace. Before he knew it, there was the tower.
“There!” Tsuzuki
shouted. He started flying downwards. The howling grew louder. The shinigami
clinched his teeth.
No! You will not
get me! I do not have time to do this! My wife and I need to get home! We have a
baby at home! This has got to stop!
Tsuzuki looked down. The color drained from his face. Anna lay out cold in the middle of the darkness.