Trying to wiggle her way out of the strong grasp was no use. Scarlet pulled and pushed, wanting to aggravate whoever had a hold of her but nothing happened. Along with the heavy footsteps, all she could hear were Silver's grunts. The dirt on the walls fell faster, each spec making her wonder just where her life would be if she was normal. For just a moment, she imagined her life without powers. Without losing her parents. Without being in danger. In this dream she was happy, free, and nowhere near having to rescue anyone. Being seventeen became a breeze, where all she did was hang around Silver, their relationship growing stronger by the day. She wanted that life. If she could return every bit of fire in her body right at this moment, she would, just to learn what normal really was.
That dream shattered in a quick second when she opened her eyes, realizing she was falling slowly. Whatever had a hold on her was letting her go, but before she got a chance to squirm free, it held on tight to her once again. So caught up in wanting to remove her powers, Scarlet didn't realize they might actually be useful. Though she was held tight in between this arm, up against their waist, her hands were loose enough for anything to be possible. With her palm facing down toward the shoe of her captor, a shot of fire burst out of her hand and straight into the foot. By the sound of the deep scream, she knew this was a man, but had no time to think of anything else as her back slammed against the ground of the cave.
Barely able to take a breath from the impact, she stayed on the ground for a few moments. So much pain flew through every part of her body, but Silver crossed her mind. Blinking, she opened her eyes, trying her best to sit up. Fire from the stick was gone, leaving Scarlet unsure if Silver was still captured, yet she managed to see her own captor's eyes as bright as the sun coming closer to her. He was limping, but still inching toward her quicker than she could crawl away.
"How dare you attack me?" his voice echoed through the cave.
Scarlet didn't respond. Instead, another bolt of fire ran from her hand, shooting Silver's captor in the arm, resulting in Silver falling in the same way. He groaned, but she could only hope he was okay. Maybe now, they could get away. Still sitting on the ground, Scarlet held both arms out, face up, and built the fire up. It flowed through her body, the amount of power making her smile. In times like these, she did enjoy it, but she was missing one thing.
The sunglasses her mother gave her.
She just had them on, so she knew they were close. The colors flowing from their captor's bodies were so bright she could barely see. But then she realized that these shades were the same as their eyes. Did they have some unknown power? She had only ever heard of fire and ice. Could they even beat these people?
Deciding to remove those thoughts out of her head, she glanced at Silver, watching as he threw blocks of ice toward the two of them. At the same time, Scarlet took her fire and tossed it their way, letting both the fire and ice attack them together.
"Stop!" Both of them screamed as they fell to the ground. "We know who you are."
This made Scarlet stop. Was there a chance they knew her parents? Slowly, she got up, stretching her back out as the pain shot through. "How do you know us? I've never seen you."
Instead of responding, a bolt of lightning flew toward her, Scarlet jumping out of the way before getting electrocuted. Fire at the ready, she walked closer to them, stretching the fire so close to the captor's body, making sure they were aware she could fight.
Silver came from the other direction, surrounding them in ice. "Why did you attack?"
"We know...we know you're trying to stop Ash. We can't let that happen."
Hardly able to see their faces from the bright light coming from them she said, "Ash? We don't even know an Ash."
"Sure, you do. He took your parents and wants you. And don't worry, he's going to get you." The man on the left stood up, electrocuting the ice with his hand. He picked Scarlet up forcefully, walking toward the entrance of the cave before shards of ice came down on him.
She fell again, but braced for the impact this time and bounced back, shooting fire left and right between the two so they couldn't move. Meanwhile, Silver was conjuring more ice, each piece flying as he made sure not to miss. They were a duo and always have been; she loved every moment of it. They may be in danger, but she had him by her side. As he always said, he would never leave.
Lightning shot toward them once again, resulting in a scream from Scarlet as it buzzed past her arm, so close she could almost feel it. Running toward where she was first dropped, she found the sunglasses and placed them over her eyes, making it easier for her not to miss her target. Her next thought wasn't something she ever planned on doing, but she knew if it didn't happen, they would never escape. Though there was one thing she wanted an answer to before it happened. "Your powers are different from what I've seen. Does Ash want you too? Is that why you're down here in this cave alone?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Those are my reasons only and for you to find out. Now, tell us." The fire and ice pushed toward both their captors as Scarlet gave a glance to Silver, knowing that he was thinking the same thing she was.
"We will never betray Ash. He will provide everything we don't have here."
"Then you leave us no choice," Silver answered, shards threatening to fall from the top of the cave.
As quick as a heart beat, the fire and ice shot toward them, knocking each one unconscious with burn marks. She wanted Ash to know that they were winning at his little game and she would do everything in her power to save her parents. But she gasped shortly after their eyelids closed. Never truly hurting someone before, part of her mind filled with guilt. She could only hope they were doing the right thing.
"Look!" A piece of paper fell from the man on the left. "This must've been hiding in his pocket!" Slowly, Silver pulled the paper out, unfolding it. "It's a clue!"
"What does it say?" Scarlet responded, intrigued.
"What once was known as quiet
May now be starting a riot
In the place where you would hang
Could be going out with a bang."
"'In a place where you would hang' do you think that means the Wandering Woods?" Tapping a finger against her chin, Scarlet walked closer to Silver. "We've always hung out there."
"That'd be my guess," Silver answered. "Maybe we should head there next."
Scarlet nodded, turning to look at the two people they knocked unconscious. They were still unmoving, leaving her to wonder how long it would be before they'd wake up. Would they tell Ash once he noticed what happened?
Loud footsteps pounded against the ground, startling Scarlet, hoping their captors wouldn't wake. Before she got a chance to turn around, another voice ran through the cave. But this time she thought she knew who it was.
"You're coming with me," the voice said. "I see what you've done with my people."
Whipping around, Scarlet saw him. Without even asking, she knew this man was Ash. The one who stole her parents. With his grey hair moving all over his face and the evil smile playing on his lips, she wanted to yell but no words escaped.
Until Silver was lifted off the ground.
Her scream was louder than her own voice could ever be as she ran toward him. Silver was trying his best to fight Ash off, but she knew it was no good. Though she was low on energy, she did all she could to throw fire at Ash, yet all it did was give little jolts on his back. It was too late.
The one who was always by her side was leaving and there was nothing she could do about it.
"I'm sorry," Silver screamed. "I don't know what to do!"
With the evil grin staying on Ash's face and the snap of his fingers, those were the last words she heard from her best friend as he vanished, leaving her alone and wondering what was going to happen to him now.