(Intermission) Destined Lovers or Enemies - Chapter 8: Fight-or-Flight Instincts

Chapter 8: Fight-or-Flight Instincts

Zeth and Sasha are running, heading for an area with more trees.

Sasha urgently asks, “Where are we going!?”

“Somewhere safe,” Zeth replies. “I can’t say where yet, just in case we are being spied on. Just follow me.”

***

In Heaven.

Harmona is watching over them, anger overtaking her face.

“You’re not getting away,” Harmona declares. “You will answer for your heresy.”

***

Zeth and Sasha continue running, heading toward a clearing between trees. Zeth soon sees a group of angels scouting around. He opens his eyes wide and grabs Sasha by the arm. They swiftly hide behind a large tree.

“Damn… I was hoping we would have more time before they started looking for us,” Zeth whispers with frustration.

“There they are!” shouts a voice from a different direction.

Zeth and Sasha open their eyes wide with worry and look to their right. There is another group of angels near them that they did not notice. Knowing they have been caught, they start running again, this time to their left.

Other angels in the area are alerted by the angel shouting.

“Incapacitate Zeth! Kill the demon girl!” shouts a male angel.

The angels release projectile magic attacks at Zeth and Sasha as they continue to run, dodging them in the process.

Sasha states with determination, “We should be defending ourselves! We should fight!”

“We’re still weakened from our fight yesterday, and fighting gives more time for stronger opponents to show up!”

Frustration spreads across Sasha’s face, but comes to acceptance quickly.

“…You’re right,” Sasha admits.

Soon, a Star Shine Blast flies straight toward them. They notice just in time to avoid it. It flies past them and explodes when it hits a tree. Zaydra comes running toward them, her eyes and brows narrow with anger.

“Zeth!!!” Zaydra yells with rage. “How could you!!?”

Zeth looks really concerned. “No…”

“You’re coming in for questioning!!” Zaydra yells.

Zaydra tries to grab Zeth. However, Zeth quickly reacts by throwing a Star Shine Blast down at the ground, forcing Zaydra to jump back as the blast goes off.

Zeth and Sasha continue running while they have the chance, however, it’s not long before Zaydra continues her chase.

“You think that I will let you escape!?” Zaydra yells from behind them.

Suddenly, Hamura appears from the side and punches Zaydra in the face, knocking her away.

“Out of the way. They’re mine,” Hamura states.

Sasha opens her eyes wide, knowing that Hamura is now on their trail. “No…”

A group of angels and Zenfaro show up to stop Hamura while Zeth and Sasha keep running, serving as a nice distraction.

It starts raining as Zeth and Sasha run. Up ahead, they encounter a group of demons, but punch their way through without much trouble. The demons they didn’t punch turn around and start releasing magic projectile attacks at them. Both Zeth and Sasha each get hit in the back by one of them, causing them to stumble and roll down a hill. They land in mud at the bottom, causing them to get wet and dirty in the process. After a moment, they begin standing up.

“Well, what do we have here? A couple of rats,” says a male voice from their side.

Zeth and Sasha look to their side and see Zepto, who smiles at them like they are just amusing toys.

“Not you!” Sasha shouts, annoyance building in her voice.

Zeth and Sasha start running again, desperate to get away from any pursuer.

“We’re almost to our destination,” Zeth says with urgency.

Zepto gives chase, still smiling with amusement.

Zepto chuckles. “Come on, stick around and play.”

After less than a minute of running, Zepto is about to catch them. However, some star-shaped blast attacks from the air hit Zepto, hitting close enough to Zeth and Sasha to launch them forward. The attacks were released from a group of winged angels flying above.

“Damn, we didn’t get a direct hit,” moans a male angel.

After being launched forward, Zeth and Sasha land face down on the ground. When they look forward, they see a cave entrance up ahead.

Zeth points forward. “That’s our destination.”

“A cave? What’s that going to do for us?” Sasha asks in reply for clarification.

“It leads to an underworld.” Zeth answers. “My mother’s ability to overlook the world does not work in underworlds.”

They both stand up and start running. However, from behind some trees, Pearl and Salina step out. They give each other a hateful look, but then they look at Zeth and Sasha, causing the two to stop running.

“Get out of our way!” Zeth shouts.

“How could you do this to us? To Heaven? To me? To your own mother and siblings?” Pearl asks with disappointment. “Siding with the dark.”

Salina adds her own input. “All of us in Hell put our complete trust in your abilities to tear our enemies apart. How could you betray us?”

Zeth and Sasha both give them a stern look.

“Because we found love in each other,” Zeth states with determination.

“And we don’t need your approval,” Sasha says defiantly.

Zeth and Sasha then speak in unison with full determination. “We are no longer on either side.”

Pearl and Salina simply stare at Zeth and Sasha, fully shocked by their words, as they begin rushing toward them. Pearl and Salina remain shocked and don’t do anything, allowing Zeth and Sasha to punch them. The punches knock Pearl and Salina on their backs, allowing Zeth and Sasha to continue running. They make it into the cave successfully.

***

In Heaven.

Harmona looks frustrated, one of her feet pushing harder into the floor than usual.

Harmona rants to herself. “Not on either side, they say!? What a load of shit! And most of our forces got caught in a battle against Hell’s forces. Obviously, Hell’s forces were just covering for their escape. We’re going to regroup and then go into that overworld and bring them to justice!”

Narrator: Zeth and Sasha successfully make it to the underworld. But Harmona refuses to just let them go.

Chapter 8 END

To be Continued in DLoE – Chapter 9: A New Life Plan