Kacie
The words hold power and a definity that could only mean one thing. Looking at Nyx, tears run angrily down her cheeks as she locks Jade in her sights. The golem is now half a man, if you could call it that. Unseeing eyes stare out at me from it’s belly and I feel like I’m going to be sick. Clara sobs by my side and without looking at her I reach out and grab her hand. She doesn’t look away from Jade and I can’t tear my gaze from Jade’s creature. Hands and legs form the it’s body. Some stick out at odd angles and hang down from it’s chest.
Someone runs up to the left of Jade twenty feet away. She doesn’t notice him. I glance to the left and am relieved when I find Jake. He stares back at me and relief flashes across his features as he finds me alive and unharmed. His eyes move from me to Jade and as horror fills his eyes, I know what he’s looking at. He’s spotted the creature by her side. As his eyes take in the gruesome beast, I follow his gaze. The golem creature is fully assembled now. If we’re going to stop Jade, we need to do it now.
Jake’s closer now, his sights are set on the golem made from bodies and blood. To my horror he doesn’t slow down. For a moment, I get a look into his mind, and as much as I wish it weren’t true, I know it to be. I know what he’s going to do. It’s the worst possible idea because he hasn’t gone up against the golem. He doesn’t know what I know and he propels himself forward I’m frozen where I stand.
I watch what happens next in slow motion. Jake charges the beast and he’s only a few feet away now. As if it were a train rushing forward as full speed, I can’t look away. The mud monster swings into action at the same time that Jade sees him. Her eyes widen as it faces him, he’s going fast, too fast and it’s too late for him to even try and slow down. Getting out of the way is not an option. The creature doesn’t have to charge at him or run to him, it just reaches out for him and it’s like this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. Jake runs right into it’s hand. He can’t get away as the large meaty hand wraps around his body. Jake’s arms are trapped and his head peeks out from it’s enclosed hand.
“NO!” We say in unison.
Clara and I don’t bother looking at each other. We don’t care, we just have one goal, one person in mind. I’ve taken off toward the creature and so has Clara. The two of us worried for him, the two of us propelled forward, fueled by fear and the need to save him. Her darkness shows itself and lurches forward in front of us. Jake thrashes as he tries to free himself from the mud monster’s grip. It doesn’t work, nothing works and my heart cries out for him. Jade isn’t looking at us, she’s looking at Jake. The creature’s fist tightens around Jake and he cries out as it squeezes him tight, too tight.
Please.
Please, please.
Please, please, please.
Please Moon Goddess.
Please let me get to him in time.
Please don’t let anything happen to him.
Please let me free him.
Please let him be okay.
Please, please, please.
Please, please.
Please.
We’re only ten feet away now. My heart lurches with hope and a strangled cry escapes my lips. The need to touch him, hold him, safe him courses through my veins. The hand around Jake’s body tightens and blood seeps from his mouth. Despair. Absolute despair claws at my chest, my soul, my mind as I try to get to him. He looks at me and I cry. He coughs and blood oozes down his neck to his chest.
No.
No, no, please.
No, Goddess, no.
Not him. Anyone but him.
He mouths silent words as I draw nearer. Jade’s shrill laugh echoes around us. It fills my ears and shakes my fragile heart to the core. He tries to speak again, but nothing comes out. I reach for him and he grunts. I rush past Clara. I’m almost there. I’m so close I can taste victory. So fucking close.
I chose you. There was never a possibility that it wouldn’t be you and Vik. I love you.
Jake, I love you.
I can’t get there fast enough. I can’t reach him soon enough. I forget to breathe and my lungs cry out. I’m four feet away as the golem closes it’s fist. Jake’s head falls limp as blood explodes from the mud monster’s fist. I scream as I fall to my feet in front of it. Blood rains down on me and I bathed in Jake’s blood.
I love you.
I love you. I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I’m screaming it as Clara’s darkness slams into the golem, but it’s too late. It’s too fucking late. I watch as the golem disappears and falls apart. The mud, blood, and limbs used to create this golem comes apart like sand. Jake’s head peeks out from the carnage and I crawl over on all fours. As gently as possible, my shaking fingers touch his hair, his face, his head. I lift him and Clara sobs by my side as I cradle Jake’s head in my lap.