I searched for Alina in the crowd. She was pushing a couple of women toward the second exit. She managed to open the door, and a wave of people followed her directions.
I made my way to her.
“Go to the basement!” I cupped her face.
“I want to stay with you,” she protested.
“I can’t fight if you’re here. Please, do this for me.” I looked into her large chestnut-colored eyes, trying to memorize every speck of copper, every feature of her beautiful face.
This is not the end. I will be back, no matter the cost. Right then and there, I swore to myself that I will keep her safe and fight for her till my last breath.
I pushed Alina toward the exit and a deep, dark, ominous feeling flowed in my veins. She turned at the threshold, looking at me, her eyes filled with the words never spoken, feelings never expressed. There were so many words we have not said to each other and I regretted every second I wasted without telling her how I felt. I still stood glued to my spot, as the crowd carried her away.
The sudden screams in the room made me shake off mystupor. I searched for Frid and Victor, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“We need every capable male...” Hanoch shouted as I moved past him, toward the armory on the second floor.
The knives I had on me would not be useful against the crawler dragon. To be honest, I was not sure if those things could even be killed.
In the armory I saw Frid, Sol and Victor surrounded by a group of men. We all grabbed as many weapons as we could.
“How many, do you think?” Victor asked, stepping beside me.
“I saw at least two,” I secured a blade to my waist.
“It’s all your fault! We never had any crawlers before you showed up,” Denis hissed.
Slowly, I lifted my head feeling the wild burst of rage I could finally submit to.
“This is not the time or place for that!” Hanoch shoved him away before I could give a proper response.
“We need to survey the area and see what’s happening in the city. We need to know how many of them are there,” I shouted to everyone to hear.
“And who do you suggest is going to go out there?” Denis asked.
“I will.”
“Alright. Alright. That sounds like a good plan,” Hanoch said, and the men around him showed signs of agreement.
I already forgot that Hanoch was only nominally a leader.His job was to raise important questions for the clan warriors to vote on. That was so unnecessary in a situation like this one when decisions had to be made fast.
“I’m going with you.” Frid stepped closer.
Frid’s light flowy dress and loose braids looked strangely mismatched with the bold determination in her eyes. The eyes of a warrior.
“Me too.” Victor stood beside her.
“And me,” Sol added.
I looked at all my friends with a new feeling I could not even begin to understand. We have gone through hell together, but this could be the last time all of us stood opposite each other. All this time, I have done everything to keep us alive, what I had never realized is that they did the same for me.
I nodded, looking at each one of them, and a cool determination settled deep in my soul.
“Let’s go!”
We walked out of the armory, while Hanoch shouted commands to the others.
“Stupid dress!” Frid hissed when her sword tangled in her skirt. She suddenly stopped. “I need a flying suit! Go without me, I’ll catch up.”
