14: Mid-Air

When you know you are in danger but still know you can stop it, but you have a feeling you might fail, you feel weary and defeated.

Nick felt that but knew there is no turning back.

As he came out of the portal with his mom and sister, he found those panthers surrounding him again, but this time, they were about fifty of them.

"Run!" He shouted to his mother and sister, "Run! I will protect you!"

"Bye, Nick! Stay strong!" His mother said, ushering Chloe through a crooked passageway.

"Bye, Nick!" Chloe whispered admist sobs.

"Don't worry, sis, I shall fight for my family. No wastage of time, run!" Nick said, stirring his gaze back to the panthers.

They growled, gnashing their teeth, as they closed in on Nick.

Nick heard the soft scampering of his sister's and mother's feet and felt adrenaline surge through his body.

"Come down, idiot, and face us!" Mario shouted from below.

"Nick!"

Nick heard someone call and he looked around to see an almost rotten body, waving from afar.

"It's Edrek! You can change the pearl to any weapon!" Edrek shouted.

"Ok! Please, I need the army of our ancestors for help!" Nick shouted back, still moving backwards as the panthers got closer.

"I can't help you with that, Nick... Without the pearl..." Edrek paused to think for a while, "But... I'm certain you can figure that out yourself—"

"You!" Mario roared, point in at Edrek, "you caused this whole mayhem! Your spirit is counterfeited. Come work for me... Come..." Mario said, his eyes turning a bright yellow.

Edrek was hypnotised. His spirit dwelt in a demon's flesh which made him unclean.

"Ok... Master," Edrek said, his eyes darkening and hollowing.

Edrek spread his demon wings, and flew over to Nick, kicking him and sending Nick into a big backflip off the boulder, down to the ground.

Nick screamed as he was slowly reaching the end of his life.

Nick felt a sudden jerk as he stopped mid-air.

He felt blind as a very bright light burst out of a majestic figure, with long wavy blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and bright, light skin.

"I know you... Great Grandma... Mrs. Ruby Matthias?" Nick said as he squinted his eyes as he recognized the figure.

"Yes... That's me, but, I have no time. It's no time for you to die... I have given you your own set of wings, for the time being. Use it wisely... " She said, disappearing, leaving Nick floating in the air with a set of angelic wings.

Nick smiled as he swooped down onto Mario's army.