Hell from above

Clouds and high winds broke off Kel and Apollo’s essence; flying after whatever caused the world to panic. “So how was the date with Blake, before everything went sideways?” asked Kel.

“A cat pissed on my shoe,” said Apollo.

“Listen, are you sure this person really killed your brother?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you one hundred percent convinced this person took his life?”

“I’m ninety-nine percent sure the bastard killed my brother.”

“What about that one percent?”

Apollo sighed. “If I’m wrong, I’ll make sure it’s the truth.”

“So what exactly is that?”

“Let's just call it a test of faith, however I’ll be the faith. It’s on my command.”

CHERRY VOL.1

Glass ripped from the window, as blood shot out after. Half a house was blown to pieces, essence swarmed over burnt wood. "Sola, honey, please run away... flee from here..." Her bloody burned hand rubbed Sola's face. She fled out of the house, through the backyard shooting inside of the forest. An explosion erupted behind, blood and debris attacked the sky. Sola didn't look back. She jetted off using her stars, boosting off her palms.

I can’t believe they’re here. Mom, Dad please be safe. Sola rocketed off a cliff, shooting through the clouds, however, a laser followed behind her, barely missing. Someone shot from the cliff. Sola deflected some lasers with her stars, but one managed to graze her.

She returned a star falling from the sky, shooting through the shooter's chest, falling off the cliff. I gotta make it to Mom and Dad, dammit. She swims along with the cloudy skies.

Sola’s dream keep her still under the tree, as Pai watched her from afar. out the house window. Patterns of shadow cover her. “She's amazing, isn’t she,” admired Taro.

Pai blushed. “Yeah, you’re right.” I never laid on a girl’s thighs before, holy shit! His nose bleeds.

“Why is your nose bleeding?”

“No reason.”

Royal gold essence lifted under Sola, shifting her star barrier above the forest. The cooling night breeze blows sweat off her forehead. Under the sapphire ship, Mr. Z fused wires together. "Come on, baby, I know you can still race above the sky." Twinkling golden stars surround the land.

“Listen, I know it’s been a pretty long trip, but I gotta tell you one more thing,” said Mr.Z. The microwave finishes popping half burnt butter popcorn. “Shit, what else is there,” cried Pai.

“Shut up, Pai. Go ahead, dad, what is it?

“I never wanted you both to be part of the same war, which I fought. This is why I trained you for this moment. I understand if you both neglected me.” The microwave beeps throughout the house.

“I wanted you boys to have a normal life. We wanted our boys to grow up and not worry about anything, however if we let that happen we'll be setting up your deaths. I don’t wanna see any of my boys dying before me.”

“Why would I neglect my folks who only wanted to protect their kids, and see them grow? It’s not your fault everything is in chaos,” replied Taro,

“Yeah, Dad, don’t get us wrong it was some hell of training, but even as a kid I knew it was necessary. You did nothing wrong at all,” asserted Pai, opening the popcorn bag.

“Your mother would be as proud of you both as I am right now. Get some sleep, guys. Tomorrow's gonna be a brawl,” claimed the young sought. Taro noticed Pai’s hand shaking as he left the room. “You good, Pai?” The front door cracked. “Pai, where are you going?”

He teleported above, summoning his feather-style sword. I'm ending this all tomorrow. Pai's sinister smile warmed the summer night. Little armor formed on his neck. Faint essence breezed by his brother’s face. Pai, when did you become this strong? Don't think you're leaving me behind.

Taro turned inside the screen door. “Let’s go, dummy, come get some sleep.” Pai teleported behind Taro, wrapping his arm around him. “Who are you calling a dummy idiot?”

They both laugh, going inside. Sola stars cover every square inch of the farm with her star barrier. Come on, Sola, you gotta make this barrier strong enough to protect everyone.

Vast distance away the chilly night air frosts the aircraft looking for Bombast. “So, Blake, how did your date go,” asked Vanula.

Blake blushes. “Don’t worry about it, bro!”

“Come on, I just want my sister to find love.”

“Alright! It was fine, before that wave of essence hit. It was soaring everywhere. Next thing I know Apollo disappeared.” Disappeared, that asshole. I’ll end him, leaving my baby sister alone.

One uneasy man crashed in. “Sir, we’re picking up readings on whatever is coming towards C-Three. By the speed of sound, it’ll arrive at six a.m.”

“It’s necessary to contain Bombast as fast as possible, Vanula.”

“Trust me, I know and don’t worry we're gonna have more help. They’ve been really active lately.”

“Who’s they,” replied Blake.

“Your little group of friends. Your date should be on his way now. Rest up little sister, get some sleep while you can.” Leaving him alone, Vanula kicks his feet up on the desk, pulling out a handheld game device. “Now I can finally relax. I'm back, honey,” says Vanula, as his nose bleeds.

Pai’s brown boots crushed the wet grass under him, as red essence flowed down a white T-shirt and jeans with an armored vest . Taro rocks a dark blue jumpsuit with a black armor vest over it, the body armor vest rubs Taro’s chest. Ghost trigger glows upon Taro’s beige skin.

Mr. Z sits on the rocky chair, loading rockets into the suitcase with the same armor in a classic gray button-up in black pants. Sola cleared every star into the barrier finishing the process. Her barrier floats above waiting for Bombast. Rust falls off the screen door. In a red t-shirt tucked inside black shorts, Sola grabs her body armor vest.

“Two people are coming in fast; one’s our little Robinhood. Pai, try not to cause a scene; we got bigger problems falling above our heads,” ordered the star princess.

“Yeah, but who's the other one coming? There’s something about them.” Three shining sapphire lights flash above. Arrows clash into the surface sending dust everywhere. Brown clouds uncover Kel and Apollo.

“Guys, what the hell are you doing here?” Kel gasped.

“Kel? We can say the same thing.” Pai retorted.

“Kel, you know these people?” Apollo turned to her.

“These people are her family,” stated Taro.

“Yeah, we’ve been close since we were kids.”

“Him also?” Apollo points to Pai.

“Yes, him also, Apollo,” Kel confessed.

Apollo sighed. “The only reason I came here was to kill you. I thought of killing you in hundreds of ways. Let me ask you this, do you believe in faith?”

“Faith, I couldn’t care about that. I decided to walk my own path,” said Pai.

“Alright, then let me stab your heart, and see if you think the same way after.”

“You think I’ll let you do that to my brother?”

“Brother?” Apollo tied his frost snow dreads.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, we have bigger problems coming soon,” warned Sola.

“I don’t care! He’s the only one I want, but I need to be sure. If what I’ve been chasing for so long is right in front of me, I don’t care if death is on my shoulder. I come prepared to lay my life on the line!”

“I can’t let you do that, Apollo. He’s a precious person to me,” Kel whispered.

“Alright, I guess it's up to me now…I'm in.”

“After coming this far, we can't end like this! What about your promise from yesterday?”

"I've known Kel most of my life. I know she doesn't surround herself with scumbags. This guy is just tryna help himself and somebody he really cares for." Apollo bit his hand. Blood climbed down his palm creating the sapphire dart.

“You sure about this, son?" asked Mr. Z.

“Yeah, I am, Dad.”

“Okay, I’m trusting your choice.”

This has to be the guy, but why is he following along with me? It must be a trap. Why is everyone else just standing still? Will they try to ambush me together? Kel, are you working with them? Why am I the only one standing alone? Am I following the right path, brother?" Those thoughts were rushing through Apollo's mind as he observed what was unfolding.

“Whatever trouble happened to you, I’m sorry; however, I wanna protect the people around me. What’s coming is bigger than both of us. I think you know that too,” implied Pai.

"I'll decide what's bigger than me!" Firing the arrow on his palm, a sharp wind burst from behind. The arrow flew aiming for Pai's heart. Apollo, you'll never be alone. Especially if you have people who love you and make memories with you. We must protect those people at all costs.

“Brother?”

The arrow pierced through Pai’s skin and muscle, but before the arrow could puncture his heart, it disappeared to essence along with the wound. “What did you just do,” asked Pai.

“With my essence, I can take away any damage inflicted on someone caused by me, or triple it.”

“No, why did you stop?”

“Don’t get me wrong, you have the most disgusting essence here. I’ll never admire you or it.”

”Whatever you say.”

“And I won’t kill an innocent kid, I’m not that evil,” smirked Apollo.

“Kid?,” mumbled Apollo.

Kel hugged Apollo. “What was that for?”

“Just for faith,” smiled Kel.

Pai coughed. "Why don't you introduce this kid to us properly?"

"Who are you calling a kid, you little shit? I'm seventeen," protested Apollo.

"You heard me, bastard. I'm only one year younger. Kid, kid, kid!" Pai and Apollo butted heads, and Kel's winds twirled them upside down.

“I was already scared of you, now you got essence,” sighed Pai.

“Alright, alright I’m sorry, Kel, I won’t cause any problems,” replied Apollo.

Sola wrapped up Kel. “Nice to see you again, KeI. I needed another girl around.”

“You poor thing. Trust me, I understand.” The girls laughed.“Why don’t I rip his head off, My King,” asked Danika.

Apollo stood before Danika. “So it really wasn’t you?”

“What makes you say that,” asked the sought boy.

“Well, I have never seen this pretty spirit before. It's not the one that killed my older brother, this spirit’s essence is different than before,” answered Apollo.

“My eyes are only for the king, but thanks anyway,” replied Sola.

“Your brother was killed,” said Pai, looking back at his own brother.

“Hate to break the get-together, but we still have this thing coming for us,” Sola said.

“No, it’s already here,” murmured Danika.