The sudden shift in the air, a red haired woman who looked up at her ceiling seemingly in a daze. She cupped her head with her delicate but rough hands, she sweated, something wasn’t right she knew that, but she couldn’t do anything or wouldn’t do anything.

  “Damnit”

  She yelled, then removing her hands, her dark blue eyes shown like an upset ocean.she stood up from a chair that was falling to pieces but it was still hanging on.

  She walked to her closet stepping over, dirty clothing and cups that were splattered around the floor. She took a look at herself, disappointed.

  She traced her hand up her blue jacket and unzipped it to reveal a black crop top. Her eyes locked onto a hideous thing that she didn’t want to see but had to. Her scar, she covered it with her other hand. Hiding it away from her sight.

  She blinked and she was back where she was, hiding behind a building wall. Then she blinked again and she was back in her dorm looking at her reflection.

  “Why didn’t I help?”

  She asked herself. Speaking softly, trying to understand her own actions, why did she hide? She groaned, annoyed with herself. She raised her dominant hand and put it into a fist cocked it back then threw it against the mirror.

  It made the mirror jiggle but not even a crack was caused. Her eyes changed into something dangerous, a deep purple hue.

  A shadow, a single shadow nearby, it started to shake. And it changed shape into a spike. The spike darted towards the mirror like lightning but stopped inches away. It returned back to once it came while she blinked.

  Her eyes blue once more, she shagged her shoulders and went towards her bed. Tired from the night. She closed her eyes, her mind was sent back.

  ***

  A few hours earlier she was standing in her kitchen with an older gentleman with brown hair. She shook her head, while she looked at his grey beard. She saw his lips part and was ready to hear what he was going to say.

  “Skyler you need to get some food”

  A gruff sounding voice was coming to her left, she shook her head. And showed her watch screen to the man. She saw his face turn to a displeasing look, she groaned and grabbed her blue jacket that was on the chair.

  “I know Mr Richardson.”

  She slipped the jacket on, zipped it up before walking up to the door. She looked at the clock and it was late. She turned around and leaned against the door, crossing her arms. She saw Mr Richardson touching his watch that was on his wrist.

  “The stores might be shut its past 7”

  She said, before she saw him gesture for her to hush. She pouted but let him do his thing, she also was intrigued, hiding her expression from him badly. She saw the screen beamed to life, before emitting a map on a counter. It displayed the city that they lived in.

  The map zoomed in to the block that she resides at. A red marker appeared on it and it showed a store that was still open nearby. She lowered her head, disappointed that she had to leave her dorm and walk in the cold.

  “Great.” She grumbled, and turned back around and opened the door before closing it. When she was outside of her dorm she saw him walk away as well.

  “Are you going to mark assignments now?”

  “Yes”

  “Well don’t, overdo it.”

  She yelled at him, before losing sight of him. In the crowd of 20 to 25 year olds. She was in a campus that she has been in for two years. She passed them and got to the outdoor entrance. She whipped out her badge with a harsh beep, and the door opened.

  The sky was cloudy. No stars in the sky, no moon as well. She walked through the courtyard of the campus, looking at the cathedral. Its stained glass was mesmerizing, the different shades of colours on the different glass windows.

  “Still beautiful”

  She murmured going towards the exit of the campus.

  Meanwhile in a crowded pub there was, a couple sitting in the back of it.

  “Order up!” the bartender called, as he slid two mugs filled to the brim with yellow liquid and a neck of foam.

  The taste of beer was bitter but pleasant at the same time, and the couple were downing the beer like water. Both lovebirds were people watching and criticizing anyone who dared enter the pub.

  The woman, who had just finished her fifth pint, looked up at the clock and cursed. She belched loudly in a very unladylike manner and nudged her partner with her elbow.

  “Bob,” she uttered. “Hey, Bob!”

  She belched loudly while she leaned backwards on the sofa; that was where she sat.

  “Bob.”

  She turned to face the black, scruffy-haired man whose eyes were obscured by his giant afro.

  “Bob!” she repeated, slightly annoyed. Her demeanor quickly changed to a more pissed off stance.

  “What?” he replied, uninterested. He burped loudly himself and snickered at the sound of his own nasty habit.

  “Look at the time!” she said with increasing urgency. “It’s ten o’clock already. We need to get going.”

  Fiona shook her head. She reached for his hair and brushed it back to where she could see his silver eyes shine into hers with love.

  “Why? It’s not like we got a lecture to attend.”

  His speech was slurry and annoyed at her insistence. She was used to his questioning, but this was important to her. He looked at her purple eyes and saw that she was serious.

  “Get up,” she demanded, after realizing that he wouldn’t move. She then started to poke him relentlessly.

  “Stop it, alright, I get it.”

  He slurred, and he felt her hand withdraw from his forehead. Which disappointed him.

  “I know, but I need to finish an assignment for Mr Richardson."

  She sighed, and looked at the door at the entrance of the pub, then back at him struggling to get up.

  “Here”

  She put out her hand and helped him up. She looked at him and started to pull him gently but he resisted

  “Is it really that important? That you need to do it now.”

  He asked her, his speech still slurred and a bit jumbled. To her but she knew what he said.

  “Yes it is. Since it's part of the end.”

  Fiona pushed the heavy doors open all the while stringing Bob along outside. The dark night sky was full of stars, providing light to the busy streets and rude bikers.

  “Too bright,” she said, moving her head away from the red hue of the traffic lights. She gripped tighter on Bob’s arm and dragged him towards a sketchy-looking alley. The wretched smell of rotten vegetables and other produce invaded their senses.

  They looked at the street once more before delving deeper into the alley. She kept pulling on Bob’s arm to increase his pacing. While stumbling through the alley, she noticed many lights hanging off the walls.

  Which made them look back, at the entrance, Fiona gripped her head with her free hand before turning away from the street again. She made Bob go down it with her. While stumbling through it, she noticed lights hanging off both walls.

  Also, steam from the vents created a haze that made the surroundings more unclear to her. She gulped and regretted her choice and continued onward down it. She sighed and looked up at Bob who was smiling and was almost smug. Which kinda pissed her off.

  “Why aren’t you afraid?”

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  She asked, dumfounded by his confidence, about walking down this path.

  “Because, there's no quicker way. Right?"

  He said, and she reluctantly nodded; annoyed that he said it was true. She continued to walk in silence until Splashes of dirty water hit her clothing, and shoes. She shivered from the coolness of the water.

  “Bollocks.”

  She moaned, whilst her clothing got stuck to her and she gripped her dress and squeezed it to get out some of the water. looked at Bob again squeezing his bicep trying to get his attention again.

  Bob saw how Fiona was shivering next to him. He wrapped his arm around her, pressing his skinny body closer to her. But still he hesitated to put his hand on her hip. He leaned closer to her ear, his alcoholic breath warmed up her ear.

  “May I?”

  he asked gently, She nodded, Bob smiled and gently plopped his hand on her hip. Then dug into it; moving it around in circles. While noticing that something was coming up. Instantly He turned his head away and belched loudly.

  “Nice but gross Bob,”

  Fiona chuckled into his ear. Her breath was revolting from the many beers she had, but she knew that Bob didn’t care since he was in the same state of mind that she was. She saw him roll his silver eyes at her, which she also found disheartening that Bob didn’t laugh with her.

  Bob noticed her disappointed gaze and slowly stroked her hip in response like he was telling her sorry without communicating it . She twirled her silky but curly purple hair.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing”

  Fiona responded, trying to dismiss Bob’s question and his gaze upon her. She knew that Bob knew that she was upset, she wondered how far he was going to take it to get her to talk.

  “Let me ask again, what's wrong?”

  Bob repeated, his rough lips bit into her ear and she winced quietly trying not to show any response toward Bob’s action. She enjoyed that she was getting attention, but she wanted more.

  “Nothing”

  Fiona wined, repeating the same words and then she felt Bob’s lips. They worked their way slowly down her neck; kissing softly.

  “You’re the death of me”

  Bob whispered, seductively into her neck. She felt the vibrations which was a pleasant experience for her but also it was breaking her. Her mind was slowly being torn down and she almost said what was wrong.

  “Bad boy”

  She whispered, while sighing softly. Fiona grasped onto Bob's head and pulled it to hers and planted her soft lips behind his ear.

  “You will get nothing later, but if you behave you might receive something.”

  She whispered again, but this time directly into his ear. And she looked into his silver eyes once more and smiled gently.

  “We still need to get back to Francis University.”

  Bob exhaled and grumbled. He stared at the dull sky as it gushed a crisp, blistering shower onto them.

  “Yeah, you might be right…”

  They came to a split of it. To their right the path was fully illuminated by the lamps. But to their left the path was engulfed in darkness, also the ghostly whines of generators.

  Fiona shivered by that sight and clenched his shirt while muttering something unintelligible under her breath. Which made Bob curious of what she was saying but he knew that they needed to decide on what path to take.

  He let go of Fiona, and walked to the split and turned around to face her. He put his arms towards the different routes. He saw an opportunity to make himself look cool in front of her. He decided to point to the routes like a direction post. He grinned mischievously at her.

  “Fiona, push one of my arms down with that Aqua elemental magic.”

  She looked at him confused, and crossed her arms as well. Not knowing his plan that includes her magic.

  “Why?”

  “It will help us choose what path we should go down.”

  “Eh”

  Fiona said, rubbing her head in confusion on how her magic was going to help choosing the way to go, but she realised that Bob wasn’t done with his explanation.

  “Choose carefully, because if your magic can’t push down the chosen arm that you chose down. Then we go the other direction.”

  Fiona chuckled at the stupidity of the challenge. She bent down near a puddle that was near her. And touched it, the water felt icky and slimy to her.

  “Are you sure?

  Fiona asked while her eyes started to flicker a navy blue hue and the water started to bubble underneath her hand. Showing an unnatural response to her touch. She was worried about Bob’s weird shinagings. Sometimes it was harmless but this was a bit much for her.

  She heard Bob’s laughter and she just sighed in contempt and wondered in her mind why he was like this. A goofball and a reckless person who doesn’t care about his own safety for the thrill of feeling adrenaline in his system. She didn’t know why she fell in love with him but she did and she didn’t care. She chuckled at his expression

  “bring it!”

  Bob shouted, and Fiona slowly rose from the ground while a pillar of water rose up underneath her fingers. She stood up and gestured downwards as the water spread around them in a circular way. Then it glowed dark blue like the deepest parts of the ocean.

  “Tsunami!”

  she shouted loudly, determined to get her way for the path that was well lit. Since she really didn't want to go down the dark path. But she also knew that the dark path would be faster for them in the long run.

  “Come on, please!”

  She said and pleaded for the water to force Bob’s right arm down. Which was pointing to the well-lit path. She saw Bob’s strained expression, she knew that his arm would buckle any moment now.

  So she kept the water pounding on his arm. She saw it was shaking but still not falling. Then she heard Bob count down from 10. She felt dread in her heart since it meant that they were going down that path.

  “Great…”

  She sighed, as the water stopped flowing and the blue circle disappeared. She looked down in disbelief and clenched her fists in anger that she couldn’t make Bob’s arm fall.

  “Dammit”

  She grumbled, and then looked up to see his eyes of

  Bob put his hands on his waist, looked at the murky path and grinned mischievously at Fiona

  “look’s like you failed babe”

  He laughed and whipped his wet hand on his shirt; which made a wet patch. Fiona frowned at his smugness then looked at his shirt.

  “Let’s go then Bob”

  She said while she went closer to Bob and pinched him. He was confused about why she pinched him so he pushed her a tiny bit. She stumbled backwards and hit the wall behind her.

  “Hey! What was that for?

  “Because you pinched me.”

  “Dumbass it was a clue for you to go first”

  “That wasn’t the deal Fiona, you lost and you have to go first”

  “

  Bob shoved her gently towards the darkness of the path. She slipped on the puddle that was frozen from the cold temperature of the night. And she hit the wall and turned her head towards Bob.

  “Hey, what was that for?”

  She hissed at him as she staggered away from the wall, staring daggers at him. Also she pointed at him like an angry mum which made his grin wider which made her more annoyed

  “Your right to touch me is revoked. If you want to touch me again, you have to go first!”

  Fiona demanded furiously and firmly at Bob, which made him groan and reluctantly walked in front of her.

  “I just gently shoved you, it wasn't my intention for you to slip on a frozen puddle.”

  “But it happened Bob”

  Fiona responded sassily, which made Bob more disappointed in her but didn’t show it to her to keep her from blowing up in his face.

  “One thing it was raining two days ago, and it’s winter! So you would expect that some puddles will be frozen”

  Fiona said and crossed her eyes, she felt that she was being reasonable with her points. She felt a bit more comfortable, and more relaxed in herself.

  “Fine…sorry”

  Bob reluctantly replied, and Fiona gently nodded. He saw that which made him feel relieved; that he didn’t need anything more to warrant her wrath.

  Bob’s eyes changed from silver to gold and lights from the walls went to his hands: Like moths to a flame.

  “Luminous”

  He whispered, as the energy that was swirling, around his hand. It vanished then a bright ball of golden light appeared. He lifted from his hand and hovered above them.

  Fiona sighed softly and nuzzled him as he slipped but saved himself. The ball faded but regained its light.

  “Fiona! I need to concentrate to keep this light. Do you want to be left in the dark?”

  He shouted since Fiona knew that his magic is difficult to control. Because he has to control the energy of the sources to create light. But he saw Fiona frown and shook her head. And she went behind him and gripped his shirt gently.

  “No…”

  she spoke softly with dread in her voice. Bob chuckled as they continued to walk through.

  The cold rain made their clothes stick to their bodies like glue. Fiona shivered and sneezed.

  “Bob, how far till we get to the exit? I’m fucking freezing and soaking wet.”

  “Baby, it’s not that cold.”

  Bob shrugged and whispered, which made her growl at him and then she overtook him, picking up her pace. Her footsteps echoed as she stepped on shards of beer bottles that were smashed on the ground.

  “Gross”

  Fiona groaned, she went behind Bob once again. While he snickered, since he thought it was funny to him.

  “That’s what you get for going ahead.”

  “bitch!”

  Fiona grumbled and slapped his back, they were so engaged in their conversation and bickering. They were shocked when they heard laughter echoing through the alley. They were so stunned that both Bob and Fiona shivered and stopped moving.

  “What was that?!”

  “It’s probably the wind.”

  Bob said while she gulped and clung to Bob’s back, digging her nails into him. Which made him grunt gently. He pointed to the sky, to reinforce his point to her. Which made her nod and she relaxed her grip on his back.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  Then they heard footsteps that got louder which made that someone or something was coming closer and closer. Fiona and Bob froze in fear, their bodies shivering upon hearing a voice.

  “Well, well, well.”

  A man’s voice echoed,his voice had a dangerous sound to it. They could feel the anger from it but they could distinguish that it was damaged.

  “We have good ingredients for my master”

  he chuckled as he got into view.

  His cloak dragged across the floor and the hood hid his face from their sight.

  “Who are you?”

  Bob shouted nervously as he pushed Fiona behind him.

  “That’s cute, hiding your lady,”

  the cloaked figure said sarcastically. The gloves that he wore burnt off as his hands burst into flame.

  “But I need both of your imaginary cores.”

  He waved his hand up and a pillar of flame rose behind Bob and Fiona. Their eyes widened with fright, and their bodies couldn’t move an inch. They looked on as the cloaked figure slowly walked closer to them.

  The air became more and more difficult to breathe.

  “Now, who’s going to be first?”

  he whispered, then winked at them.

  Bob conjured another sphere of light, by drawing the light off the ball he made previously. Then he started to squish it like a stress ball in his palm. It extended across his whole hand.

  He looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

  “I’ll be right back”

  He said before running towards the cloaked figure and shouted at them

  “I’m going to make you regret this choice”

  The cloaked figure smirked and then gestured to Bob to punch him,

  “come here, little piggy”

  The cloaked figure said. Something broke inside of Bob. He screamed and threw a punch towards the cloaked figure, as it connected the cloaked figure grinned underneath his hood.

  "That was weak. Do better.”

  The cloaked figure smiled. His stare was like a black abyss. Bob gulped and stepped backwards while keeping his eyes on the masked figure.

  “W-who are you?”

  He said shakily, scared of the person, but he knew that if he didn’t do anything he wouldn’t be able to look at Fiona. Which made him stand his ground more.

  The cloaked person shrugged his shoulders.

  “No one to you.”

  He said nonchalantly like he didn’t care that he was doing this heinous crime towards Bob and Fiona. He was only fixated on their cores.

  Bob gritted his teeth, absolutely annoyed by the person’s demeanor. He decided to use his magic. While he did Bob’s eyes glowed more bright yellow. Then he put his hands together, then pulled them apart to reveal a massive ball of light.

  “Woah there, you’re using a lot of magic! It’s better to reverse it.”

  The cloaked figure chuckled and clapped his hands as sparks flew.

  “Fuck you”

  Bob retorted and then put his hands behind the ball. The ball reverberated increasingly until it was so unstable it made burn marks on the walls

  “radiant beam!”

  Bob shouted as the ball became a bright yellow light that went towards the cloaked figure. Fiona covered her eyes from the brightness. The only thing she could see was Bob’s shadow. Smoke encapsulated the alley as the beam dispersed.

  As the smoke cleared, Bob’s eyes widened. The cloaked figure wasn’t there anymore. Bob breathed a sigh of relief. He turned around to face Fiona and pressed his palm onto the sphere, shattering it like glass.

  Fiona smiled and placed her palm on his cheek. The softness of her skin gave him shivers and he smiled gently.

  “Thank goodness you're safe”

  he said, then kissed the back of her hand. Like she was some sort of princess. That made her feel safe again.

  “You dumb ass, but at the same time, thank you.”

  Bob blushed and nodded.

  A burst of sickening laughter echoed, and the cloaked figure was standing on the fire escape staring at them.

  “Really… did you not look at your surroundings?”

  The cloaked figure jumped down, with a menacing smile. He walked slowly towards Bob. Clearly showing his dominance towards Bob.

  “I’ll bet you’re out of Ether aren’t you.”

  His hand burst into flames. And gripped a bar near him showing the heat melting the metal into a liquid form.

  “You see, the Lux element is different from the Inferno element?”

  “This heat is more intense than your lux magic. You can only melt things, when you put the light through something like a shard of glass or something like that right.”

  He said while he walked from side to side on the path. His grin was the only thing illuminated by the cooling metal. Which made Bob have a cold sweat like he saw a ghost.

  “But my magic burns everything it touches. Isn't that neat, don’t you agree so; since you’re going to experience it first hand.”

  He said while he stopped and the wind blew into Bob’s face making him squint. He only saw the cloaked figure then he blinked, the whistle of wind was the only thing he heard before.

  He felt unbearable pain, he looked down and saw the cloaked figure piercing his chest, with their hand lighting up with fire. His blood streamed down their cloak.

  Fiona screamed loudly as she saw Bob’s body slowly burn into a hunk of meat and his soulless eyes.

  She saw the cloaked figure retract His hand from Bob’s chest which made his inner intestines fall out on the ground around the soulless corpse of her lover.

  The heat emitted was still visible from the flesh since steam rose from it. Then its smell was immediately pungent. Can you imagine when you cook meat yeah that's what Fiona can smell. Meat like lamb or beef.

  Which made her want to vomit out the contents of her stomach onto the ground. But she held it in not due to choice. But due to the dire situation that she was in. The murderer of her lover was in front of her and she wanted to avenge him.

  But she knew by looking at the fight between Bob and him, she wouldn’t last a second. She loomed over Bob’s corpse, her eyes locked on his soulless eyes. Which made her tear up then she stared up at the figure.

  “Flash ignite,”

  The cloaked figure boasted when he stood next to the corpse holding a sphere that radiated sparks of light like fireflies.

  “Y-you monster! Why did you kill him?”

  “Darling, I told you before; I need this from you as well.”

  He said, smugly while pointing to the sphere with a chilling smile.

  “The imaginary core but why?

  “Nothing, for you to worry about soon.”

  “W-what?”

  “You’re going to die. like your boyfriend.”

  He said, stepping closer to her. She looked quickly around her while she walked backwards.

  “Tsk,tsk,tsk…you shouldn’t have retreated like that.”

  He put down the sphere next to a pipe and his eyes glowed like hell itself.

  “I was going to give you a merciful farewell. You wouldn’t have felt a thing. But now…”

  His hand was still lit, and he kept walking until Fiona was close to the pillar of fire that blocked the way out.

  “I would like to give you a moment to look at how close you are to the uni that you go to.”

  He quickly grabbed her by the neck and turned her to face the fire pillar as she screamed in agony. The fire covered her mouth, smothering her screams.

  “Sorry, I can't have that”

  he chuckled as he made the pillar of fire disappear. The university, which was a cathedral, and its coloured glass shone brightly. As well as the connecting towers.

  “See how pretty it is, memorize it because it’s the literal last thing you will see.”

  He said and turned her to face him as he let go and she fell on her knees, his hand glowed then burst into flame once more.

  “Before I plunge my hand through your chest, your body will burn like sausages on a barbecue. Or roast chicken. Mind you, I love roast chicken!”

  He knelt and smiled as he pulled her towards him, then plunged his fiery fist into her chest; Her eyes also turned dull and empty. Then he pulled the sphere out of her, like he did with Bob. before placing it next to the other and whispered.

  “Perfect. Pleasure, doing business with you students.”

  He picked up both of the spheres and walked away, leaving the dead bodies to rot.

  While that was happening, there was a woman hiding against a wall. Her blue eyes were frozen on the charred bodies.

  She covered her mouth, trying not to make a sound to attract attention from him. Her red hair was drenched from the rain. She started to hyperventilate knowing how close she is to a killer.

  Her grip tightened on a bag, her knuckles whitened. Her back pressed up the wall and her heartbeat fastened, as she heard his footsteps getting louder and louder before he passed her.

  She wanted to let out a breath of relief. But counted in her head. Then it was quiet, no footsteps, just a rotten smell of burnt pork.

  She finally puked onto the floor and clenched her shirt harshly. Her eyes widened and sweated

  “What?”

  She said looking at the crime scene, she didn’t move, just stared frozen stiff.