//------------------------------// // Chapter 89 - Evacuate // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// A soldier was running towards the tent that they've called their command center. “Sir—!” he shouted as soon as he got inside, his panic and need for breath put aside for only a moment to deliver a troublesome information, “the mists are heading straight towards this town!” Everyone inside the tent gasped, and as they did so, the sounds of bullets and rain from outside were now mixed with cries of panic and sounds of panic footsteps. “Estimated time of arrival!” the high-ranking officer shouted to the soldier while the others were barely containing their panic. “L-l-less than f-five minutes, sir!” the soldier replied. The chief of security quickly grabbed his daughter's arm. “Raziel—!” “Everyone to the choppers! Now!” the high-ranking officer shouted as he spun to a soldier in the computers. “The bridge!?” “A-already being lifted, sir!” the soldier replied hastily as Jay dashed outside the tent. Darn it! Jay thought as he got outside, almost bumping into a retreating soldier. In the middle of the playground, he saw Xelene was already flapping her wings in panic. “Xelene!” he shouted as he ran towards her, but his voice died in the air full of other noises. Pilots on each chopper were already firing up the engine, on the ready for lift-off, while soldiers were already getting inside. Xelene roared as her feet finally were off the ground, and her wings flapping strong and hard. She was already high up in the air when Jay reached the spot where she was standing merely moments ago. “Tsk,” Jay spun, scanning the area. His gaze fell on the chief of security and his daughter, who were already inside a helicopter. He wanted to run towards them but he was too far away, and their chopper was already starting to take off. Okay, this is not good! He scanned his surroundings again, seeing that every chopper in the area were already in the air, leaving unfortunate soldiers and civilians on the ground. A group of people cried in fear, and Jay turned to where the cries were coming from, and there, beyond the sea of houses, wrecked or intact, was a threateningly large wave of dark mists, swallowing everything in its path quicker than Jay had expected. The group of people then yelped in surprise and fear as timberwolves ran pass them. Jay noticed their scared expressions as they quickly ran pass him as well. He then heard a dragon's faint roar from behind him, but his panic only allowed him to stare at the wave of dark mists that has already reached the edge of the playground. As quick as the mists reached the edge of the playground, it quickly moved forward, swallowing the panicking people who were trying to run away from it. Jay flinched, hearing their cries of hopelessness, and took a step back, lifting both his hands to cover his head from the fast-approaching sea of darkness. He heard a mighty flap from behind him, and he yelped in surprise after a powerful grip surrounded his chest and lower body, rainwater was almost hurting him, and the air was running past him, and his feet already left the ground. A scaly claw grabbed him just before the sea of darkness could swallow him, and his gaze of shock were staring down on the ground. What was once a town full of green grasses and brown houses were now but a sea of rippling darkness. He looked up as soon as his captor was turning away from the towering spikes far ahead. Jay saw Xelene for a brief moment before he moved his gaze on the towering spikes in Selaro. Just before Xelene has completely turned her back from the said town, Jay saw a glimpse of Sombra, jumping off from the tallest spike and being enveloped by dark flames, looking like a black fireball heading straight down to the black misty earth. Jay then stared ahead where Xelene was heading, and he sighed, calming himself. He did not know what would have happened to him if the dark mist would get to him, and he won't be planning on trying it any time soon. He looked down, and noticed a huge bulge of darkness on the ground directly below them, and seemingly following them. What is more, it was growing taller, as if a balloon getting bigger, and about to explode. Explode... Jay thought, and gasped after realizing what would probably happen. He sharply turned his head up. “Xelene! Below us!” Jay shouted with all his might. Xelene turned her head down to try and look at him, slowing her pace a bit. But the instant she did, the huge bulge of darkness below them exploded quietly, sending thick strings of darkness towards them. Xelene yelped in pain after two of those strings passed through her left wing, making her cringe from the incredible pain, although she was not physically hurt. Her good eye slightly glowed green, but clenched it shut and gritted her teeth as a few more thick strings struck her all around. She lost her flight and was now heading straight down towards the ground. “No! No!” Jay shouted, punching and pounding his arms on the claws that were still holding him. “Xelene! Focus! Focus!” The strings faded in the air as the ground became dangerously close, and Jay shielded himself with both hands as he braced himself for impact, but he suddenly found out that he was standing on something. Blinking, he noticed that he was on the ground, and saw his shadow on it. Slowly, he dropped his hands to his side, as he blinked, staring at his own shadow. He took a breath, and sighed. Wh-what just happened? he thought as he moved his gaze ahead of him, and gasped as he saw the gate of his home. He faintly heard the chirping of the birds somewhere. He blinked, and looked up at the sky. What greeted him was the morning sky, barely any clouds rolling above.