{ Edited - 24th Sep, 2021 }
{ Edited - 9th May 2024 }
After catching Bekhir's gaze, I motioned for him to stay silent. However, my attention was quickly diverted by a buzzing bee near my ear. To my surprise, more bees joined in, forming an exclamation mark.
Confused, I glanced back at Hugh, who remained well concealed beneath the grass. I couldn't help but wonder why the bees chose an exclamation mark instead of a question mark. I shifted my gaze between Bekhir and the spot where Hugh was hiding. As the bees flew away, I returned my focus to observing through the barred window.
As the soldier's hands wrapped around Olive's waist, the cold touch of another person's rifle pressed against her forehead. It was as if she was defying the weapon, challenging it to shoot. But then, something extraordinary happened. I caught a glimpse of her hands behind her back, and to my astonishment, I witnessed white-hot flames dancing along each of her fingers.
Here we go—Then CRACK!—I heard a loud and sudden gunshot nearby. Instinctively, I crouched down and swiftly turned around. Peeking around the corner, I saw Bryce holding a gun in each hand, already pointing at the wight. It was Bryce who had fired the shot.
"What was that?" said Mr White and everything had fallen silent.
Bryce swiftly crouched and made his way towards my hiding spot. I could hear footsteps approaching the window, not the one I was concealed under, but the one beside the door. The soldier Bryce had taken down was now standing amidst the wildflowers, his back facing us as he aimed his rifle at the field. Suddenly, a window flung open.
"What the hell are you shooting at?" Mr White shouted. "Why are you still here? Go check on Tim and Philip already!"
Did you shoot him?? I mouthed to Bryce.
Bryce gave a nod before turning his gaze back to the wight, feeling a sense of bewilderment. However, he remained prepared with his gun, ready to defend himself if the wight made any sudden moves. The soldier stood still, not uttering a word. The field buzzed with the sound of insects, momentarily engulfing us in their symphony.
"Corporal Brown!" bellowed Mr White.
The man gradually turned around, struggling to maintain his balance. His grip on the rifle loosened, causing it to slip from his hands and disappear into the dense grass. With unsteady steps, he stumbled towards me and Bryce, weakly pointing in our direction.
I witnessed hands extending out of the window, holding a gun pointed at the soldier. "Say something, damn you!"
The wight attempted to speak, but instead of his voice, a strange droning noise emerged from his stomach, resembling the buzzing of bees in the surrounding fields. Gradually, bees started to emerge from his mouth, followed by a mysterious force that seemed to control his movements.
It was a sight to behold when I spotted Hugh, perfectly concealed in his hiding spot, completely focused on the wight. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Suddenly, the wight's mouth opened wide, and an overwhelming swarm of bees emerged, forming a solid mass. It was like a never-ending hose of buzzing insects pouring out from its throat. In the distance, the wight being succumbed to the onslaught of stinging insects, collapsing into a cloud of buzzing chaos. As he fell, another figure was unveiled behind him.
It was Hugh. Standing proud and tall. "You brave soul," I muttered and smiled to myself.
Hugh stood there, unwavering, his gaze fixed on the window. A swirling mass of insects encircled him, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The fields were teeming with honeybees, hornets, wasps, and other unidentified stinging creatures, all seemingly under his control.
Mr White aimed his gun and unleashed a barrage of bullets, emptying his entire clip. Hugh collapsed, vanishing amidst the tall grass. I couldn't discern whether he had fallen or deliberately taken cover.
"Please, don't kill him!" said Bronwyn. The field echoed with the sound of countless bullets, assaulting my ears with the relentless roar of gunfire. Angry bees buzzed around, darting through the open window and launching themselves at the soldiers within.
"Shut the window!" Mr White screamed.
I was startled by the loud noise of the window slamming shut, prompting me to quickly get up and take a peek inside via window. To my surprise, the wights were busy swatting away the bees that had managed to enter.
As I observed, more and more bees gathered outside, forming a massive, buzzing swarm against the glass. The situation became so intense that by the time Mr White and his team had successfully eliminated the bees inside the room, the ones outside had almost completely blocked out the sunlight.
The soldiers huddled together in the centre of the room, backs against each other, rifles pointing out like porcupine quills. The darkness enveloped them as the eerie sound of buzzing bees filled the air, creating a chilling atmosphere.
"Make them leave us alone!" Mr White shouted, his voice cracking, desperate.
I noticed that Bekhir appeared at the window I was peering into. He gestured towards the bees and then towards that particular window. I gave a nod in response.
"Hugh! Come here!" I whispered loud enough for Hugh to hear.
Hugh hopped his way over to where Bryce and I were standing and joined us at the window. Bekhir pointed at the bees buzzing around us and then at the window, signalling for the three of us to crouch down as he planned to break it open.
Hugh, Bryce, and I quickly understood his intentions and nodded in agreement. In fact, I dashed towards the door, realizing that this would be an opportunity to eliminate the wights and allow the rest of us to continue our journey without any hindrance.
"I'll make you another offer," Bekhir said. "Put down your guns or I open this window."
"Even a Gypsy wouldn't be stupid enough to do that." Mr White snarled.
"You think too highly of us," Bekhir said. I heard the sound of guns clicking from inside.
"Go ahead," said Bekhir. "Shoot."
"Don't, you'll break the glass!" Mr White shouted. "Grab him!"
As the sound of breaking glass echoed, it was finally time to execute our plan. Hugh swiftly entered through the window with his army, while Bryce and I patiently waited for the door to burst open.
In preparation, I summoned my own energy and readied the bolts to be unleashed. Amidst the chaos that ensued—screams, gunfire, and pushing—I struggled to hear anything beyond the deafening buzz of insects that seemed to occupy only my ears. The room filled with the heavy thuds of people seeking refuge on the floor.
I heard Emma shout, "Get down!"
As the door swung open forcefully, a bunch of people stormed out of the room, peculiars mixed with wights, their boots, shoes and feet echoing loudly on the floor. At that moment, Bryce began firing his weapon carefully while I swiftly hurled bolts at the wights, causing them to instantly collapse lifelessly. Some lay motionless on the ground, emitting smoke, while others bled out, already lifeless.
After everything had concluded, the swarm of bees started to disperse and scatter. The lifeless bodies of the wights were gathered together in the short grass, either dead or close to it. Following their deaths, a peculiar and peaceful atmosphere settled in, as if it were an ordinary summer day with nothing extraordinary occurring.
As I plopped down on the ground, I leaned back and felt the shed's support against my back and head. Closing my eyes, I relished the soothing warmth of the sun on my skin. It was such a pleasant moment, peacefully dozing off in the sun while the group chatted softly and the gentle hum of insects filled the background.
Those last moments had been crazy—numerous bees swarmed into a shed where hostages were held, gunshots rang out both inside and outside, flashes of light illuminated the scene, and there was no way to avoid it.
"Kira? You okay there?" said Bryce.
As I woke up, I found Bryce standing right in front of me, casting a shadow over me and blocking the sun. Seeing him there, I couldn't help but smile. "You're blocking the sun, you big cow," I told him. He laughed softly as he moved aside, allowing the sunlight to filter in, and I once more revelled in its comforting warmth. Bryce took a seat beside me. "Yeah, I'm okay, just exhausted," I told him.
"Yeah, don't sleep now, you still need to get out of here, it's not safe," said Bryce. "Where are you kids even trying to get to?"
"Apparently to another Ymbryne, I guess?"
"Almost all the Ymbrynes have been taken, all side from Miss Wren, Miss Finch and-"
"Oh my God!" Someone gasped. "Hugh! You're okay!"
"Hugh!" I saw Bronwyn rushing to him. "You're alive!"
"Yeah, he's been waiting for all of you guys outside," I informed everyone as I finally decided to stand up with the help and support of my brother.
"Kira!" Bronwyn let out a little squeal as she hurriedly made her way towards me for a warm embrace. However, the force of her tight hug proved to be overwhelming for my body. I let out a groan and nearly stumbled onto Bronwyn, but Bryce swiftly caught me and held me steady by my hips.
"Yeah, maybe let's not hug her," said Bryce as Bronwyn detached herself from me.
"What's wrong?" Emma stepped forward. "What happened?"
"Well . . . Let's just say the wights weren't exactly 'nice' to her," said Bryce.
"Who are you?" said Olive.
"Guys, this is Callum Murphy. We grew up with each other in the same loop with Miss Raven and Miss Crow," I said, jumping in immediately.
"Why is he wearing the military uniform like those other wights were wearing?" Jake asked.
"I was captured by the wights not long ago in the military camp," said Bryce. "They tricked me into leaving the grounds because my so-called 'boss' wanted me to do a job for him," said Bryce.
"That explains why the wights are dressed in the attire," said Emma.
"Are you bleeding?" said Jake, eyeing my arm. As I glanced at my bandaged arm, I noticed tiny droplets of blood beginning to seep through.
"Oh, would you look at that, I suppose I am," I smiled. "Anyway, I think Hugh is far deadlier in a field of wildflowers than anywhere else, I think you should all say your thanks and show your appreciation towards him, he controlled the insects that saved everyone in the end," I said, directing my full attention on Hugh and immediately switching the subject.