Page 48 of The Stars

Without waiting for a reply, he launched forward, his fist aimed towards her side. Amy dodged it, barely, her eyes widening as she realized just how fast he’d moved. But instead of backing down, she took to the air in a graceful leap that carried her several feet above him.

“I can fly, remember?” she called down, hovering just out of his reach.

Dante looked up at her, his mind racing. How was he supposed to fight someone who could fly? But then, an idea formed. He crouched low, his muscles coiling like springs, and with one powerful leap, he shot into the air after her.

Amy’s eyes widened in surprise as he reached her level, their eyes meeting for a split second before she shot higher, laughing. “Didn’t think you could jump that high!”

Dante landed back on the ground, rolling his shoulders. “Neither did I. You wanna come down here and fight, or are we calling it?”

Amy floated back down, her bare feet touching the ground once more. “Alright, alright. No more tricks.”

They faced each other again, both of them breathing heavily, but neither willing to stop. Dante could feel the heat between them, not just from the fight, but from something deeper. They were discovering more about each other with every move, every hit, every block.

“You’ve got more in you,” Amy said, stepping closer, her eyes locked on his. “I can feel it.”

“So do you,” Dante replied, his voice low. “We’re not even close to done, are we?”

Amy shook her head, a determined smile on her lips. “Not even close.”

They stood there for a moment, both of them buzzing with the energy that pulsed between them. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they charged at each other again, their bodies colliding with a force that reverberated through the arena. Birds scattered from their hiding spots as a wave of power pulsed each time they connected.

For hours, they fought like that, pushing each other to the brink of their newfound powers. Dante discovered that not only could he withstand Amy’s blows, but he could also deflect them with an almost impenetrable force field. His skin seemed to harden with the glow, making him nearly invincible. Amy, on the other hand, could anticipate his every move, dodging and weaving around him like a dancer, her feet never touching the ground for long.

As the sun began to set, they finally stopped, both of them panting and grinning like idiots.

“I think we might be ready,” Amy said between breaths, her hands resting on her knees as she looked up at him.

Dante nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Yeah. I think we are.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the enormity of what they’d just discovered settling in. Whatever was coming, they were ready to face it—together.

“Come on,” Dante said, reaching out his hand. “Let’s go back before it gets dark.”

Amy took his hand, squeezing it tight. “Lead the way, glowing boy.”

They walked out of the arena, side by side. They were more than just human now. They were something stronger, something bigger.

As they made their way through town, they both sensed something was off.

“Where is everyone?” Amy asked him, looking around.

Then they heard the shouts and followed the screams to the water’s edge.

“What has happened?” Amy asked a woman.

“The gods, they are angry with us.” She motioned to the water.

In the distance was a wave the size of a mountain.

Dante’s first thought was that it was a tsunami.

“Wait.” Amy grabbed his hand. “Look. The water. It’s not moving.”

He shielded his eyes and sure enough, the wave hovered almost a mile off the shore.

“Should I go see what’s happening?”

“Only if you can take me with you,” he countered.