(35) Tugging

The emptiness swirled around me in a fog. What could I do? What could I say? What was going to happen?
My thoughts drifted along as gently as the balloon. I was too crushed to be passionate. Too beaten down to feel. Too introspective to notice the tugging on my heart and on the net of the balloon. I must be snagged on a tree, some part of my brain registered this information. I tucked it away in the corner of my mind that meant nothing. Nothing meant anything anymore. Not then, not ever.

I stared off at the three stars and felt a ringing in my ears. A panic attack was surging, I let it roll over me like the waves of the ocean. I couldn't even hear the wind over the ringing in my ears, but I didn't care.

I have no idea how long this went on, but I retreated into my mind. I imagined John was with me, alive. He was holding me close and stroking my hair while silent tears trickled down my cheeks. I clung to the vision that felt so real. So real I thought I would burst with longing. I wound my hands in his hair and pressed my face against his. This loss, this darkness, this delusion, I had to move on. But I felt dead inside. I pulled away. I shifted my weight back. I touched his cheek and whispered, "Goodbye...John."

A puzzled look crossed his face. He cocked his head to the side and said, "What are you talking about Elaine? We are safe..."

I stared at him...could he be real? Could he be alive? Confusion and ecstasy washed through me, I threw my arms around him and held him close! He was alive!! He had somehow survived!! The hole in my heart filled to the bursting point again and I drew back to stare into his lovely face.

"I love you, you big stupid head." I declared, choking back sobs.

He laughed as a tear trialed down his face, and replied, "And I love you, my darling princess."

(34) All Alone

As the missile exploded behind us, I clung to John with all my might. He straightened up and firmly steered the balloon away from the path of the rocket in case any more were waiting to strike. He was so brave and strong. I believed with all my heart that he could get us both out of this mess alive. The capital loomed close at hand and several Beasts leapt from the hole in the roof onto the dome itself. The vast majority of the army was entering the building. I prayed that John's device would work. As he steered us past the dome a Beast shot off a blaster gun and it grazed John's side. The detonator fell out of his pocket and through the net. With a hard glance at me John kissed me on the cheek and sprung from the balloon after it. I watched in horror as my hero gave up his life to save us all. The balloon sped away on a gust of wind and I heard the sound of an explosion going off underground.

He had done it. The blast erupted from the building and the force of it threw my balloon toward the western edge of the city. The capital fell into the ground and the entire army along with it. We had won, but I felt nothing. John had fallen, but I could not believe it. I couldn't even watch as he fell. My mind had gone blank. I was devastated and pissed off all at the same time. Shock waves lapped over me as I tried to conceive of a future without John. He had slipped away so quickly. Nothing but a kiss, I touched my cheek and felt tears there...I hadn't even realized I was crying. The balloon cleared the edge of the city limits, but I didn't want to bother with steering it. I just stared, unseeing, at the horizon, as dawn broke across the sky and the three morning stars shed their light on Terrafima.

I had nothing. I was empty. I had nothing. What was left for me to live for?
No father. No mother. No John.
I was all alone.

(33) Balloon Ride

My eyes locked on the body of my darling Elaine flying through the air. She must have put all she had into that single leap. Her hoovering ability carried her close to me, but it did not look like she was going to make it! My heart plummeted faster than she would if her reach was not far enough. I surged forward, upsetting the delicate balance of the balloon, and I reached my hand out. Elaine's fingers brushed mine....and she continued to fall!! I had failed. She was going to die. Suddenly, there was a sharp jerk on the bottom of the net I was in, she had latched on to the netting for dear life. I puller her up by her arm and cradled her shaking frame against my chest. My heart was pounding like I had run a freaking marathon!

"You are so stupid Elaine, so stupid", I panted as held her tighter. I never wanted to put her in danger, that was why I had sent her on that other balloon. I was doing something risky and stupid as heck, and now her fate rested with mine. For a moment, that didn't matter, as I squeezed her with all my might and buried my face in her hair.

She clung tighter to me as well and breathed,"We are doing this together, we are in all of this together, and we will see it through...together."

My breathing slowed and a fire lit within me. Something about Elaine inspired me, she was so....what's the word...fantastic. That one doesn't really begin to cover it, but it's a start. She gave me the courage I needed to be stupidly reckless, and yet, also gave me a reason to stay safe. She gave me conflicting emotions. I gave her one final squeeze then pulled back. She smiled at me with those big eyes surrounded by her mass of hair and I have never wanted to kiss a woman more in my life!!! But.....no. I restrained myself. Even with my emotions running wild, I loved her enough to wait.

We settled into the balloon and I pulled a device out of my pocket. Elaine cocked her head inquisitively and opened her mouth, but my crooked smile stopped her. She grinned expectantly at me.
"This is my Device of Destiny, patent pending." I stated.

She actually laughed and said, "Well, what does it do? Oh wise and sexy hero?" A wink left her gorgeous eye and I melted on the spot, play it cool John, play it cool.....

"Since you asked, it sends a signal to the massive network of explosives I created using guns that I took apart in the basement of the capital building."

"So the plan is...?" Elaine asked, looking down on the capital building a few hundred feet beneath us.

"To tempt the Beast army as close as possible before setting the explosion off...which is why I wanted you on the other balloon, you know, the one floating to safety. I am here to hug this building and tease them closer."

"But that plan might not have worked," Elaine quipped, "you are known for reckless and stupid things, if the Beasts see me, they might not see through your plan to the trap that it is."

Curses, she was right! What would I do without her...? Not much...ha.

As I steered the balloon back around to loop past the capital again I heard sounds coming out of Elaine's mouth that I had never expected to hear...

"HEY JOHN, WE ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!! WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN BY THE BEASTS IF WE GO NEAR THE CAPITAL AGAIN!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!"

My eyes were as wide as saucers...as I looked at Elaine, she gave me a sheepish smile and pointed. The entire Beast army was staring up at us, and running straight for the capital building!!

As the balloon came near the dome the first set of Beasts hit the building. We watched as the rest of the army pushed toward our location and Elaine and I grinned at each other.

Out of nowhere a missile sailed past my head and burst into flames right behind us!!
They had pulled out a freakin' bazooka!!! 

(32) The Noble Thing To Do

I rose to my feet and laid Elaine gently on the ground. Now was the time. All these people were counting on me. I couldn't let them down. "Bring me the balloons." I ordered, and after some minor fumbling, I had them in my hands. A long piece of string that stretched almost a mile was also placed in my possession. We were set.

The tabs on the balloons were pulled and they instantly inflated to their massive size. The balloons were identical, outfitted with nets beneath them to support the refugees weight. This was the tricky part of my plan, if this didn't work, then I had condemned everyone to dea... no, I couldn't think like that. I was the hero. It was my job, my duty to save them. They could not die, especially not my parents. I would not allow it.

I felt as though my plan, working like clockwork, was happening in slow motion. After ordering the citizens to file into one balloon, I laid my beloved in there too, giving my parents strict instructions to keep her safe. A copper curl danced across her face in the cool breeze. I leaned over, kissed her forehead, and whispered in her ear,

"I love you Elaine, and I will until I breathe my last breath."

I pulled back and, to the shock of the refugees, I flashed them a crooked grin, trying to hide my fear, as I shoved their balloon off, away from the main group of Beasts far below. Then, turning, I lept, coat flying behind me, onto the other balloon and floated toward the main group of Beasts prepared to do the noble thing.

I was resolved to not look back, but a familiar cry reached my ears and my head turned of its own accord...

(31) More Elevators and Epic Fighting

The charge and blast of my 4000xp blaster gun seemed loud enough to wake the dead, but my little cupcake snored lightly and rolled off my knee. The Beast stood there for a moment with a gaping hole in its filthy chest before falling backwards into the puddle of its own bloody guts.

Quick as a flash Elaine was on my shoulder and my blaster was charging again as I jumped over the corpse. We were one floor beneath the dome, taking off down the hallway, we reached the elevator shaft in time for me to blast the door open with a short burst to the controls. The group of people huddled in the net cheered softly for me as they began to make their way out. I directed them down the hallways to the elevator and soon all of us were crammed inside the service elevator. We couldn't risk it not making another trip so we were shoulder to shoulder. It would have been awkward if I was easily embarrassed, which I'm not. Ha! I just tried my best to keep Elaine comfortable on my shoulder and not knock her pretty head into the wall too many times....

The cheery *ding* of the elevator told us we had reached the top floor. This was the moment of truth. As the metal doors opened, I gave my reflection a dashing smile before aiming my blaster at the fast-widening space ahead. One glance told me this was going to be one heck of a fight.

My gun went off before the doors had finished opening. Then I sprinted past the body of the decapitated Beast before it had even hit the ground. "FIGHT!" I yelled over my shoulder, "FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVES; FIGHT FOR THOSE YOU'VE LOST! FIGHT FOR THOSE YOU HOLD DEAR!" I heard blasters going off all around me as the swarm of Beasts began to drop like over-grown flies. But they were still coming, one got a good swipe at my arm. Gosh dangit! My poor coat sleeve was in tatters...and I was bleeding, but that was no matter. I hiked Elaine up a little as I sprinted for the door, which opened and more Beasts began racing in. Crap!

We were surrounded, there was only one way out, "GET ON THE ROOF!" I shouted at the mass of people fighting their way through the Beasts. Suction guns went off all around me as people began to rise. I kept fighting, giving them their best chance at reaching the top. Once they were all above the Beast's reach I shot mine up and leapt into the air.

People shuddered and some sobbed as they made their way past the corpses suspended from the ceiling. I made it to the top and blasted through the roof with my gun. Soon, we were all on top, gulping the cool night air. The sky was lightening, dawn was near. I could see the Beasts from the camp swarming into the city and preparing a full-scale attack that would finish us off.

As I reached for the bar of chocolate I kept in my pouch for emergencies and tore off a chunk, I realized that this was it, the deciding point. By daybreak, there would be one victor, and the victor always gets the girl.

(30) Elevator Ride

After picking up the soft body of my beloved, I sprinted across the hallway to the net suspended under the elevator...now four floors above me. 

Well crap. 

 I didn't want the elevator to come down... that would mean it was plummeting to the passengers' deaths--not the most preferable outcome. I had to think. My ticket up was beyond the reach of any suction-gun I had and it was getting farther...Elaine has such fine legs...er farther away. We had to get back...or we could stay down here and get cozy...um. Crap. 

Why did she have to be so dang beautiful!? How's  a guy supposed to think clearly with a stunned and stunning woman in his arms? Suddenly, a sound from the other room. Well double crap! The Beasts were waking up! Gosh dang it all! 

My foggy brain cleared of the desires for that which only a woman can satisfy and snapped into protection mode. One thought dictated all others: I must save Elaine, no matter the cost. 

I noticed that the hallway past the room with the quasi-conscious Beasts was littered with the shredded remains of the barricade doors. They must not have come from this elevator, that meant there was another way out! I flipped Elaine onto my shoulder, grabbed my 4000xp blaster gun and hurtled down the hallway, dodging puddles of blood and shards of metal as I went, blue coat flying, looking like a freakin' hero. 

Once I reached the end of the hallway I saw that there was another elevator, a service one, just waiting for me. Leaping inside I punched the button for the top floor and holstered my blaster gun. Carefully pulling Elaine off my back, I knelt down with her and laid her on the floor, her head on my knee to keep it off the filthy metal bottom of the elevator. I tried to wake her. I tried everything, shaking her, pinching her, throwing her at the wall of the elevator....okay, maybe not that...but short of kissing Sleeping Beauty, I could not get her to wake up. For the first time since she fell into that pool, I was scared. I tried to remember emergency medical procedure, but it was all a mix of numbers, pulses, and bandages covered in cute bunny rabbits. Was she breathing? I couldn't tell! Placing my hand in front of her mouth didn't help. So, I did something I'm not too proud of, I stared at her, very fine, chest. After a moment, I saw that it was indeed moving...but after another moment, I realized the elevator wasn't. 

I reached for my 4000xp blaster gun and whipped around just as the doors opened. 

(29) My Body Gave Up

I steadied myself as I aimed my ray gun at the creature staring at me through the door. Its eyes were black as night, with only a thin ring of red around the outer edge in a perfect circle that grew wider as it registered my weapon. The long face with the terrifying mouth which cut its way back to the bat-like ears barred all hundred of its razor sharp teeth. The thin slits that served as nostrils flared and a guttural growl escaped its hairy throat. It was nearly bent double to fit through the doorway it had cut, its body was a good twelve feet tall, the wiry build and lean muscle mass made it only more terrifying . There was no doubt in my mind that it could and would tear my body apart in a matter of seconds, were it not still concerned about my weapon. The charge that my gun had built was enough to blast the Beast’s head off, but it would not do much damage to the next one came through the doorway, and that one would kill me for sure. 

The standoff lasted long enough for me to register out of the corner of my eye that the elevator had reached my floor. I looked at the console long enough to place my finger on the hold button, when I looked back I saw that there were two Beasts in the room. 

They were lightening-fast, but the elevator was there. I only had to give John as much time as I could hold out for. Then he could get away, he could live along with everyone else. I was prepared to die for the greater good, and the one I loved about all else. One of the Beasts moved toward me and soon was within one of its long arm’s lengths. Foul breath escaped its lips and surrounded me with the smell of rotting flesh. I was sure now that I would be eaten as soon as the life escaped my body, if not a little before. I was not needed for information any more. It was not like before. Now they knew where John was and all they had to do was smoke the lowest level and his fate would be decided. I was going to give the survivors their best chance. I took careful aim and let my gun go off. 

The nearest Beasts’ head blew into a million shreds of skin, blood, and brains. 

The wall behind it was splattered with the gore and, as my gun began to charge, the decapitated body fell to the ground at my feet. A shot to the head with a short burst knocked the second Beast down but it was not strong enough to penetrate the thick skull. It swiped at my feet and knocked me to the ground. I lay there, helpless, with the wind knocked out of my body as my gun tried to gain enough power to save me. More Beasts scrambled into the room. The one that knocked me down was on top of me now, raising its arm poised, to claw my stomach to shreds. 

Suddenly! A loud explosion knocked all the Beasts in the room to the ground violently. One of them fell on top of me and its weight nearly crushed me. The heat from the explosion washed over me. The Beast’s body was shoved roughly off me and a familiar face swam in my blurred vision.

 John! I was saved. He lifted me into his strong arms and carried my body over those of the Beasts that littered the floor. I relaxed against his comforting chest, my hand winding in the black hair at the back of his neck. My body, under all the pressure of the last few days, especially the last several hours, quit on me and I lost consciousness.