Metanoia Read Free Page B

quickly lifted Gina’s sweater
slightly to examine the damage. The spikes had obviously paid their
dues. Swiftly, he reached into his pocket and produced a dried,
shimmering leaf. He crushed it in his fist and opened his hand. His
skin glimmered from the extract of the leaf, seeming to glow as he
put his hand over her cuts. Instantly, the pain and blood were
gone; only bruises remained.
    “ How did you…wait, who are
you?” she began.
    “ You mean you don’t
remember…of course you don’t, I’m sorry. My name is Leyance,” he
explained. “That creature was an Übel, and he unfortunately isn’t
the only one out there. They all look the same, Übels do – simply
physical variations of pain and suffering. They are here for you,
I’m afraid. I can’t explain anything else right now. You must trust
me and do exactly what I say, no questions asked.” Gina nodded. She
had no other choice; nothing made sense to her now anyway. Leyance
glanced out the window, worried.
    “ Where are they?” he
whispered. Gina was about to ask who but remembered Leyance’s
warning and kept quiet. Suddenly an arrow crashed through the
window, sending shards of glass flying towards both of them.
Leyance dived to the ground just in time. Swiftly he set an arrow
and fired back through the window. A shriek proved his aim deadly.
Gina stared, not knowing what else to do. A chime suddenly sounded,
drowning out all of the shrieks and calamity happening
outside.
    “ Finally!” he exclaimed. He
pulled up Gina gently but strongly and hurried her out the door.
“Run in a straight line to the field, no swaying, and no dodging.
I’ll clear your path. Go!” Gina took off. She never thought; she
only ran. Her feet kept moving even though her mind seemed
completely disconnected. Her mind told her to dodge the thousands
of arrows zooming past her head at deadly speeds and dangerously
close ranges, but she didn’t. Many more people, dressed as her
rescuer was, now joined them as Leyance shot arrow after arrow
killing those Übels in front of Gina and those closing in behind
them. Every shot hit its target. A blond-haired, blue-eyed man now
turned to Leyance.
    “ Leyance, we don’t have
much time!” he said.
    “ Elenzel, how many?”
Leyance asked.
    “ Too many,” he replied.
“Get her out of here, and we’ll take care of it!” Gina continued
towards the field but all that waited for them was a simple haze
resting on the grass stretching about eight feet tall. Gina glanced
back. Hundreds of Übels had finally seen their mad dash through the
chaotic school and were now close on their trail. Leyance now put
away his bow and picked up Gina in one swoop. An Übel came in
closer and closer. A giant claw reached out for her, but with a
giant leap, Leyance entered the haze. The world spun around Gina
and the Übels disappeared – along with the rest of the
world.

Chapter 2
    “Nythagié”
    Gina woke up and looked around her. She lay
in an attractive four-poster wooden bed, complete with a
transparent canopy, in a shimmering room. She gazed around in awe
at this beautiful heaven she found herself in. The ceiling appeared
to be made of a single glass pane on which rose petals had settled
upon. These were from the many vines hugging the manor. Her room
had windows on two faces, meeting at a round balcony that revealed
acres of forest, complete with a river, against a cliff and
beautiful waterfalls. At a closer look, Gina would have been able
to see a pathway leading through the thick trees. But Gina’s room
distracted her. It seemed that every piece of the room shimmered
like glitter. Walnut furnishings rested in the room, some with live
vines of their own wrapping around them. Gina admired the room and
sunk into the comfortable bed. She glanced down and saw that she
wore beautiful golden silk pajamas.
    “ Good morning; I see you’re
awake. How are you feeling?” Gina leapt up to see Leyance, whom had
just entered the room noiselessly.
    “