The Magic Within ↠ Once Upon A Time

[Chapter 82] The Last Her Heart Beats

But I can't stand the thought of them taking the heart of the Truest Believer.

Henry is too good. I can never imagine him dying, not now, not ever. I especially can't imagine him being killed like the brother I've never met. I've never known how gruesome my other brother's death was. Then again, Mama and Papa never dared to repeat it. If it was that bad, it's something I can't stand to see happen to Henry.

I need to get to him. I need to save him.

But I know I can't do this alone. Sure, I have Tantor and Kan and Terk behind me—wherever they are. However, if I have any chance at withstanding whatever tricks Sabor and Clayton might have under their sleeves, I need more magic on my side. Better yet, I need more people who wield magic on my side.

I pray that they know what's going to happen, and I pray they're already on their way to protect Henry.

Then, for once, my prayers are answered. I thought that it was only an illusion, a facade of hope, like the anxiety was only faking things now—just like it fakes unlikely scenarios. I would've guessed it was an apple in a tree, but that means that it's a really big apple on a very short tree.

How else was that red sticking out of the forest/jungle like a sore thumb?

Despite my best efforts to focus, it takes a few seconds to let the picture get sharp enough for me to realize who it is. I nearly yelp like a hyena when I see Emma in her signature red leather jacket.

"Emma!" I shout, my throat constricting on itself that my voice cracks.

She jumps at my voice, probably thinking that I'd be the last person to call her. Nonetheless, when she finds me between the trees, she relaxes her shoulders.

Where we were, we were meters apart, far enough where our voices could barely be heard. Either way, we meet each other halfway. I grasp onto her as I was about to pass out again, and she holds me up with all her strength.

"Emma," I pant. "Emma..." I catch my breath in this moment of pause. "We need to..."

In all this time, she lets me take my time. In fact, she's still in disbelief that I'm with her.

"We need to," I cough, "find Henry!" I exclaim.

"I thought he was with you?" she replies.

I groan, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I'm too tired to explain the whole story. Besides, my head is too mashed that I won't be able to even if I try. "He was..." I breathe out. "But he went to look for my papa."

"Alone?!"

I push myself away from Emma soon after, thinking that I could hold myself up. I got a quick rush that everything started to get dark again for a moment. I was able to get myself together enough to scowl at Emma. "I don't have time to get in trouble now!" I heave in and out air. "Do you know where my Papa is?"

"Yes."

"Then, we can find Henry," I explain. "But we have to go now. Henry's in real danger!"

Right when those words leave my lips, a boom erupts in the forest/jungle. This sharp shoot lets out a loud explosion that Emma and I jump. Looking to the distance, we see birds flying up and out of trees. They all rumble with screeches. Their hollers sound like Death itself, like they're the carriers of souls and I'm their target.