Log in

Chapter 43

Day 13: Eastbell,Icewynne,Notsuoh lounge and bar,Kitchen, Before Hours,Dark Hour

They say thirteen is an unlucky number. No one knows quite why exactly, though there are many theories; there were thirteen people present at the Last Supper. It's said that Judas Iscariot — the one who betrayed Jesus — was the thirteenth man to take his place at the table. Traditionally, there were thirteen steps leading up the gallows. There's also a legend that a hangman's noose traditionally contained thirteen turns. If thirteen was such an unlucky number, it would explain why Nova's heart was pounding, as well as the shivers trailing down her spine.

She was carefully draped over Shadow's back as he stooped down to the ground in a low army crawl.

"You okay" He muttered

"Yeah," Nova managed to croak out the words amidst the thick cloud of smoke that coated the building. "Where are w-" she paused interrupted by a fit of coughing, she felt as if she were going to spit out one of her lungs. "We uhm cough cough hack! Where are we going?"

Shadow paused, "I'm taking you outside...then I gotta go take care of some business."

Business...Nova knew exactly what he was talking about, "business" meant Sage and "taking care", meant he was going to try and kill him.

"Aren't you being a little irrational?" Nova urged.

No response.

"I mean, what is this, like, the third time you and Sage tried to duke it out? You lost the first two times and now you're trying to...to you know... I mean what if you die? Then what? You know what happens to you here-"

"Happens to you in the real world, I know."

They had made it to the front door by now. Shadow offloaded Nova and reached up to open the door. She gave him the best stern look she could manage through squinted burning eyes.

"I'm not going" She dared.

"Don't be an idiot." Shadow countered

"You're the one who's being an idiot! You! Are going! To die!" Nova's teeth ground against each other, her fist clenched as she shot a sharp glare towards him. "What would your mother do if she found that out, huh?!"

For the first time all night, Shadow's eyes softened. He no longer resembled a hardened bloodthirsty monster but instead, the Shadow Nova knew all too well, well... perhaps as much as thirteen days would allow.

"I come with you, and we handle this together, deal?" Nova held out her hand, her LED suit illuminated in the flames.

"Deal."