Everything Will Change in an Instant(pt. 1)

I was shaken from my sleep as the sun rose. My blurry vision slowly cleared, and I saw Vivian's frightened face coming into view.

“Viv… what’s going on?”

“Wake up, Miss Velda!”

“I’m… I’m awake.”

I put a hand to my forehead as I sat up. I started to hear a cacophony of noise coming from past the bushes. Before I could get my bearings, Vivian stood up and began pulling my arm.

“Up, Miss, get up! Everyone is leaving, it is not safe here anymore!”

I jumped to my feet as a loud horn went off. I recognized its sound from the day I met Eris. I turned to Vivian and grabbed her shoulders.

“Vivian, where is everyone? Are they safe?”

“Ah, yes— they are safe, for now. I do not wish to curse our fates, but I believe we have no time to depart.”

The girl’s large eyes wavered as she looked away from me. I turned to face the tunnel, and I could hear loud noises coming from within.

“What do you mean, ‘no time’? How close is the army?”

“It is not just an army this time. They will be here any moment. I’m sorry, Miss Velda, but we can no longer run.”

No. No, no, no, how did this happen? There was no way they could find us!

Eris’s last words echoed through my mind.

‘There is nowhere you can go that I cannot follow!’

I let go of Vivian and ran toward the tunnel. Before I could enter, an arrow pierced the foundation beside me. I looked at Vivian from the corner of my eye. She stood just behind the bushes, her eyes wide with fear.

I shook my head slightly to signal for her to stay away. She hid in the bush, and I slowly turned around to face my attackers.

Seven people stood a distance away. I spotted two archers, two spearmen, two swordsmen, and a hooded figure as they approached. The hooded figure stepped forward, and a familiar grating voice called out.

“You there, little lady. Be a dear and call out your comrades for us, will you?”

I bit the inside of my cheek and clenched my fists.

Okay. I don’t see the knight, but after last time, I’m not sure that means he isn’t here. Maybe I can get close to Eris and try to inhabit her body. If not, I can at least take over her soldiers.

I stepped forward and readied myself to run when a group of figures ran past me from behind.

The group of ten or so people stopped just in front of me, wearing little to no armor and wielding well-kept weapons. Finley walked past me, glancing at me as she passed.

“Stay back, Ghostie. We don’t know what she’s capable of. If the Knight shows up, you’ll need them separated, right? Wait for the right moment.”

Finley spoke quietly as she passed by me and through her small army to face Eris. Eris lowered her hood, her eyes still covered by an ornate mask.

Idiots. They should’ve just escaped while they had the chance. I know exactly what Eris is capable of— taking every life here without a second thought.

I moved forward before being pulled back. I looked behind me to see Matthias, his stern gaze fixed ahead.

“They’ve trained night and day for this. It’s like Finley said, we can no longer run away.”

I turned to look back at Finley, who held her sword tightly in her hand. Each of the rebels beside her carried the same determined expression.

“No hesitation. We charge headfirst into battle, in hopes of a brighter future.”

No. This battle isn’t fair; it won’t end the way you hope. Even if you strike her down now, she’ll just take another body.

I realized at that moment my greatest mistake. I pushed Matthias and charged forward, hoping to reach Finley before Eris could strike. I focused on myself, trying any which way to exit my body by force.

Dammit, why didn’t I try harder? I can’t wait for the knight to show up, I need to stop this before—

I crashed into Finley and fell back. She turned her head to look down at me.

“Excuse me, Miss Rebel Leader? You might want to send that weakling away, before I decide not to spare her.”

Finley stretched out her hand, and I used it to pull myself up. I pushed past her and glared at Eris.

“I’m not weak, ‘Eris.’ I’m capable of much more than you think.”

Eris tilted her head and smiled. She clasped her hands together with exaggeration.

“Oh, it’s you, scorned sister. I told you I’d find you, didn’t I? I’m surprised you stayed with these traitors… I really thought you would spare them my wrath.”

“What does she mean, Ghostie?”

I turned to look back at Finley’s frightened expression. I hesitated too long, and Eris laughed.

“You mean she didn’t tell you? Priceless. ‘Ghostie’ here is like a little homing beacon, I can see where she is whenever I want.”

I whipped around to face Eris, who smirked down at me.

“No, she never said that. There was no way I would’ve known!”

“Oh, did you think my threats were baseless? You should really try to take me more seriously. I’ll say it again: there is nowhere you can go that I cannot follow.”

I gritted my teeth as I glared at Eris. She signaled to the soldiers beside her, and they walked toward us.

“Round them up. If they resist, kill them. I have a feeling that without them, the rest of the rebellion will crumble.”

I turned to Finley, who stared at me with a horrified expression. I raised my hands and stepped toward her, but she responded by backing away.

“Finley, please—“

“No… no. I can’t trust you right now… I’m not sure I ever did.”

She raised her sword and shouted. The rebels behind her began fighting their attempted captors.

“Finley, wait!”

The woman glared down at me and held her sword out threateningly.

“If you kill her, she’ll just become like me. I have to do this.”

Finley’s eyes widened as I reached for her sword.

Goodbye again, physical form. I was really looking forward to having my own body for a while.

I pushed myself forward, but the cold blade retreated from my hands. I felt the burning sensation of pain in my palms and fingers as I reopened my eyes. Finley held the sword at her side, watching me warily.

“What are you doing? Why are you stopping me? This is the only way!”

“No! Why can’t you believe in me? Why do you have to act like I’m the weak link?”

“Finley! This isn’t about you. Why do you have to be so… argh!”

I reached for her sword again, and she kicked my side. I fell over, and she hopped over me. I turned over to watch her run at a swordsman who stood between us and Eris. I pushed myself up and looked back at the carnage behind me.

A sword from a rebel swung into the side of a soldier. A spear from a soldier pierced the heart of a rebel. I spotted a sword on the ground beside a soldier’s corpse and ran for it. I lifted the sword from the ground and threw a ball of light at the center of the battle.

I closed my eyes as the ball of light exploded and blinded everyone around me. I shot a blast of fire at a distant soldier and swung the sword at a nearby soldier’s legs. As she collapsed, I turned back to the scuffle between Finley and the swordsman.

Finley succeeded in striking down the swordsman, but I could see a large rip on her shoulder. I ran toward her as she charged at Eris. Eris lifted her hand, and I threw my sword with all my might.

The sword flew past Finley, who froze when it spun past her head. Eris stepped to the side as it passed her, the blade barely slicing her cheek.

I used Finley’s hesitation to snatch the knife from her thigh. I ran toward Eris, knife ready to strike.

Now!

I turned the knife to my neck, ready to catch Eris off guard. She lifted a hand to her face, removing the mask from it slowly. Dark green-blue eyes squinted at me, and a familiar nose scrunched up as she smiled widely. I staggered to a halt as a searing pain exploded in my head.

That face. I remember…

“Look familiar?”

“That body… is mine?”