Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Two snowmobiles weaved their way between trees into the thickening timberline farther down the mountain. Misty parked her snowmobile under a ramshackle lean-to. The structure was thrown together at the last minute when the cabin was built under a year ago. It was meant to be a temporary solution until a permanent garage could be added. Alas, it was one of many outstanding projects in Misty’s world. Hanna pulled up into the little space still left under the lean-to. She turned the engine off and stood up, ever holding the mirror with the utmost care. Misty thought it odd that Hanna ditched the parka so easily. Not because she had any attachment to it, the coat was a gift after all, but because of how cold it was. Even in all seven of her layers, the bitter chill was a constant reminder of their situation. She found the cold impossible to ignore. “Aren’t you freezing?” Misty asked. 

Hanna shook her head. “The cold doesn’t bother me. I don’t know about Lui though…” She twisted the mirror around and held it out at arm’s length. “All good?” 

“I'm… ok…” Lui answered. “I… guess… as… long… as… I don't… crack…”

Hanna turned the glass around again before making a face. She watched Misty help DJ off the snowmobile. “We probably should have brought EDJ,” Hanna said, glancing back up the mountain with a frown. “I don’t like leaving him unsupervised.”

“He’s still unconscious and frozen. He’ll be fine where he’s at,” DJ reassured. His head seemed to have cleared, but the temperature was still negatively impacting his mobility. He leaned against the vehicle while Misty unlocked the cabin door. 

“Come on in!” Misty welcomed pleasantly.

Hanna went inside first to set the mirror down somewhere safe. The warmth of the interior hit her face like heat from a sauna. Surprising, though not entirely unwelcome. The inside of the cabin was nicely furnished with large-cushioned chairs, wooden tables, and cozy lights. There was a pristineness to it she was not expecting. While the cabin was fully furnished, it had very little in the way of decorations. The walls were bare and the countertops were clear, save any functional appliances. There was a bookshelf, but the reading selection was slim. The cabin even smelled new, as though it were a place for people to stay, but not to linger. Hanna did not notice or dwell on any of these facts. She set the mirror on the first chair she saw before going back outside to help DJ. Misty held the door open as they shuffled inside. Hanna plopped DJ into the next closest unoccupied armchair, the lancer sinking completely into the oversized cushions. 

“Make yourselves at home,” Misty said as she went to a pile of wood near the empty hearth. She started throwing logs into the fireplace and looked around kindling. “Sorry it’s so cold. The thermostat can only do so much up here, but I’ll get a fire going for ya. Hanna, while I put these in the fireplace can you get the matches out of the drawer right there?” Misty pointed to the end table closest to DJ. She stood up and went into the bedroom to grab another parka and scrap paper. When she returned, Hanna was standing in the same spot as before, face downcast and her arms folded. 

“...never mind. I’ll tell you later,” Hanna whispered, glancing from DJ to Misty with suspicion.  

“Did you find the matches?” Misty asked, walking up to her while crumpling paper into a ball.

Hanna did not respond, but DJ pulled open the drawer and fished out a small box. “I got them,” he answered, lightly tossing the box to Misty.

Misty snatched the box out of the air and set to work getting the fire lit. “Thank you,” she said pleasantly, but gave Hanna a weird look. I know it’s going to take some time for them to fully trust me, but this is annoying. It’s my job to help these people and Hanna isn’t making it any easier. I have no idea how this is going to work out, but I’ll find a way. I shouldn’t worry about it. She’ll get used to me eventually. Once the fire was going, Misty turned back to the group and pulled on her extra parka. “There’s a camp not far from here,” she was saying as she zipped up the coat. “I’m going out to get medical help and food supplies. I won’t be gone long. Please stay here until I get back, okay?” Misty waited until both DJ and Hanna acknowledged her instructions with nods before leaving, closing the door behind her. 

Hanna listened to the snowmobile start up and drive away before speaking. “She's gone again… Maybe we can finally talk in peace, eh?” She sat on a sofa opposite of the chairs Lui and DJ were in. 

“Heh, it would appear that way,” DJ answered, voice tired. 

Hanna watched the mirror. Lui’s form was more visible in the cabin now. Instead of his head and shoulders taking up most of the frame, now he appeared further away. He looked like he was sitting in a corner of the background, leaning against a wall. His hands and arms were tucked behind his back, looking strangely uncomfortable. In spite of this, he was asleep. The reflection of fire in the hearth flickered across the glass. Hanna looked away, turning back to DJ. “How do you feel now?” she asked softly, not wanting to wake Lui. 

“Okay, I guess,” DJ answered, head tilted back and eyes closed. “Aside from a massive headache, I’m feeling better.” Now that the numbing cold was starting to subside, pain radiated from his side and his whole body ached. The warmth of the cabin and the comfort of the armchair dispelled any motivation to move. Rest was what he needed most. Food too, eventually. But for now, rest and sleep. 

“I… I wanted to apologize,” Hanna started. “For what happened.” DJ slowly lifted his head and looked at her with a raised brow. “I got you into this,” she said with remorse in her voice and expression. 

“You are completely forgiven. Don’t worry about what’s already happened.” He leaned his head back again. “We have enough to think about right now.” 

“I know, but I keep thinking about it,” she continued. “I… I gave up hope. I doubted you. I doubted Lui. And I doubted myself. I doubted that evil could ever be defeated.”

DJ lifted his head again. Hanna was staring at the floor, hands wringing in her lap. No sleep. With a heavy breath and some effort, DJ pulled himself forward and sat up. “Well, sometimes I think that way too,” he said, gravity in his words. “But I have to remember what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We’re doing it the right way.” She looked up at him with confusion. Maybe the cold is still playing with my mind. “Does that make any sense?” he asked. 

Hanna shook her head. “You don’t get it. Lui warned me about going to face EDJ alone. You both did. And I ignored you. I left you behind. And then when you both showed up at the castle… I yelled. I told you to leave.” She resumed staring at the floor. “EDJ won. He pulled out the side of me I never wanted anyone else to see. And now the whole world’s seen it.” 

“You don’t know that,” DJ offered, but Hanna cut him off. 

“Lui asked me not to go and I went anyway. Now look at him…” Her voice held anger. Hanna looked up at DJ. “I got you into this mess. I need to know what to do to make it up to you.”

It was DJ’s turn to be confused as his brows drew together. “It’s already been taken care of,” he answered plainly.

“What do you mean ‘it’s taken care of?” Hanna asked. Now they were going in circles. 

DJ exhaled. “You don’t need to do anything to re-earn our friendship… I guess that’s what I meant,” he answered, partially still wondering if his words were making sense and when the headache would go away. The headache being the physical pain in his head, not Hanna. “Look,” he started, trying to salvage the conversation. “While it was brave, going to face EO alone was a mistake. Giving in to your evil side was… a small lapse in judgment.” He lightly shrugged. “Everyone makes mistakes, Hanna. I’ve made mistakes too. We can’t erase the past, but we can move forward from it.”

“We’re still friends?” she pressed, as though she didn’t believe him. “After all that’s happened?” 

“Of course,” he reassured with a smile. “I’m not going to just throw away a friendship so valuable after one mistake.” 

Hanna frowned. “Why not? How could friendship with me be of any value? All I do is almost get you killed…”

DJ’s patience persisted. “You’re completely leaving out all the times you saved our lives. You coming to our rescue at the North Pole, getting us to Svalbard, even at the castle. You took the actions you did to protect us. When the castle blew up, you could have left us to die, but you didn’t. You stayed.”

“Of course I stayed,” she responded, sounding insulted. “I couldn’t let you die.” 

“That’s my point,” DJ continued. “Not to mention all the good times we enjoyed before this conversing about anything and everything. And all the time you spend with Lui. The way you care for him, even now in his condition…” He gestured to the mirror. Hanna looked away, cheeks flush. “We’re still friends,” DJ finished. 

Hanna stayed quiet for a moment. “Thank you,” she said softly. “It makes me very happy to call you both my friends.” She smiled. With a nod, DJ sank back into the chair and closed his eyes again. Hanna watched the mirror. Lui was still asleep. She had a funny feeling he would have repeated everything his Original said, in his own way, if he could. Still friends. Hanna curled up on the sofa, head against the armrest. The only sound in the cabin now was the crackling and popping of the fire. Still friends. I can take all the silence in the world as long as I know we're still friends.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Hanna stared at the sky, waiting for the nausea and headache to pass. White flecks drifted through the air around her, landing in her dark hair. Smoke from the destroyed castle still rose into the sky. A structure that large would be smoldering for weeks long after the fires were dead, but the sun was visible again as it sank into the horizon. Now its brilliance was blinding. Hanna numbly blinked at it anyway. She raised a hand to block the sunshine, not noticing that the borrowed parka slid out of place. Only then did she realize her fingers were trembling. Hanna watched her hand involuntarily shake as though it were a foreign object. That doesn’t seem like a good thing. When was the last time I could feel the cold? She let her arm drop back into the snow and squinted at the sun again. Is light supposed to hurt?

The sound of an engine approaching indicated Misty found what she set out to look for. “Hey.” Misty's boots crunched in the snow as she came up to Hanna. She glanced from Hanna to the sky and back, but whatever face she was making was hidden behind her snow gear. “Why are you- never mind. Here.” Misty offered her hand. “How do you feel? Can you stand?” 

Hanna rolled to her side and sat up without Misty's help. “I'm better,” she answered. “I just needed to lie down for a second. I'm okay now.” She offered the coat back to its owner.

“Keep it.” Misty jerked a thumb behind her. “I found two snowmobiles. I'll go grab the second one and we can work on getting your friends out of here. Don’t push yourself.” She turned and left again. 

Hanna watched Misty leave and stared blankly at the coat still in her hand. She warily stood up and went to check on the others. She went to EDJ first. He was still frozen and on his side. I bet he’d make a decent sled. She had half a mind to push the giant ice cube and see how far he slid down the mountain. With a good deal of effort, Hanna pulled the frozen statue into a more upright position. She didn’t see any weak points in the prison, but also didn’t trust him not to break out at any moment. At least the natural cold is keeping him from melting. She glanced at the sun again. Still… I can't let him get away… never.  With the minimal energy she had left, Hanna froze another layer of ice over EDJ. 

Misty was pulling up with the second snowmobile when Hanna finished. She pulled her goggles up again. “Err… Why are you covering that one with more ice?” she asked. 

“The one in ice is none of your concern,” Hanna answered coldly, moving toward DJ. The lancer was still unconscious, much to her disappointment.

Misty frowned behind her scarf. “...Ok. Whatever.” She shook her head, as though she couldn’t actually drop the subject. “But we really shouldn’t leave him frozen. He might die, if he’s not dead already.” 

That’ll be the day. Hanna snorted as she tied the parka around DJ. That will have to do for now. “He’s not dead and he won’t die. Leave it at that.” Her tone shifted. “Don't worry, if this goes smoothly, you won't become involved any more than you already are.”

Misty raised a brow. I highly doubt that.

Hanna turned to the acquaintance. “Do you think you can take my friend on your snowmobile? I’ll take the mirror on the second one. I can’t risk anything happening to…” she glanced at the mirror, faltering. “...to him.” The surface of the mirror was veiled in white. Whether it was ash or snow, Hanna couldn’t tell. She moved to the object and brushed off the glass. The outdoor lighting made it difficult to see much more than Lui’s face and even then it wasn’t clear. 

“Oh yeah, I can deal with that, no problem,” Misty answered lightly. “Don’t worry, I drive these things all the time. But we should move quickly.” 

Hanna nodded, turning back to Misty. “I will be watching you at all times. This doesn’t mean I trust you.” 

“I don’t blame you,” Misty answered in understanding, pulling down her scarf to speak clearer. “It would be difficult for someone to trust their friend’s lives with a complete stranger.”

Hanna thought about the situation for a moment. “Does anyone else stay at your cabin?” she asked.

“No one, just me,” Misty replied. “And don't worry. It's got electricity and running water and such.”

Hanna nodded. “Good. I need someplace to keep them safe… preferably without anyone else around.” It wasn’t so much that she was trying to hide as it was the fact that she didn’t want to deal with any more people. Especially when she didn’t know who was in league with whom. She was taking a risk trusting Misty at all, even though the stranger displayed nothing but kindness to her and her friends. “I still don’t understand why you’re so willing to help me,” Hanna muttered. 

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Misty said with a smile. “It’s what I’d do for any of my friends.”

“Friend?” Hanna’s head snapped up in surprise and confusion. She herself had been the least friendly person throughout the entire exchange. And what could she say about her actions toward the people closest to her? Half the time, she felt like she needed a neon sign above her head warning others: not friendly. Maybe then they would leave her alone, even though being alone was the one thing she feared above all else. Friend. Hanna pursed her lips and looked away in humiliation. In a low voice, she said, “I would highly recommend not becoming my friend.” It would only cause you unnecessary sorrow.

Before Misty had a chance to answer, the unconscious man moved. “Ack!” She jumped back, not expecting the body to move at all, but quickly regained her composure. 

DJ woke up, lifting his head slowly. “Wh-what happened?” 

“DJ!” Hanna rushed to his side. “You had me worried! Are you alright?” 

“Yes, I seem to be fine…” he answered slowly, still getting his bearings. 

Hope it’s not the same way Hanna uses the word ‘fine’, Misty thought.

Hanna helped DJ stand, though he needed support. “This is Misty. She’s agreed to help us,” she said while gesturing to the stranger. Misty waved at him pleasantly. Hanna lowered her voice. “She says we can use her cabin to warm up. It’s too cold for you and Lui here. I don’t know if we can trust her, but… I don’t know what else to do.” 

“I had the strangest dream…” DJ said absently. “A far-off memory… I thought I saw…” He did not finish his train of thought, but vacantly stared ahead. 

Hanna frowned. “DJ? Did you hear anything I just said?” 

“Huh?” DJ might have been able to come up with a more coherent response had he been fully aware of what was going on. At the moment, he was still fighting brain fog and gravity. “How long was I out?”

“I have no idea. A couple hours maybe?” Hanna answered. It had been roughly forty minutes. She was not known for having a firm internal grasp on the passage of time.

DJ straightened, seemingly able to stand now without assistance. “How’s EO? And Lui?” he asked.

Hanna stepped back and toward the mirror, pausing long enough to point to the ice block. “I just covered EDJ in a few more layers of ice. And Lui… he's…” She let out a heavy breath and shook her head. “Nothing's changed.”

She sounds pretty worried about him. At least I have names to go with the faces now, Misty thought, taking in the information without interrupting. She noticed DJ staring directly at her, green eyes focused. 

He tilted his head quizzically. “Straw?”

Misty blinked at him. “Why would I need a straw? I don’t have a drink.” 

“Well, that’s maddeningly unhelpful,” DJ mumbled, gaze drifting away as he lost awareness of his surroundings again.

Whoa, he’s really out of it. Misty turned to Hanna, who was watching DJ with an obviously heightened level of concern. 

“DJ?” Hanna started carefully. “Snap out of it. What are you thinking?” 

DJ frowned. “I'm not sure what I'm thinking… my mind isn't working too well right now for some reason… cheeseburgers…”

“Are you sure you're all right?” Hanna pressed. 

“Positive!” he answered enthusiastically. DJ took one step forward and fell face first into the snow. 

Misty winced. Oh boy. 

“We have to get you off this mountain right now.” Hanna went to her fallen friend, throwing one of his arms over her shoulder and lifting. “Help me carry him.” 

Misty complied, rushing over the help on the other side. “Oof! How much of this dead weight is his armor?!” she complained, struggling a bit. 

“Rude,” DJ weakly cut in. 

“My bad.” Misty rolled her eyes. “I didn’t realize you were still conscious.” Hanna refrained from commenting, wearing a grim smile. They successfully got DJ to the closest snowmobile before Hanna went back for the mirror. 

“Lui?” Hanna knelt in front of the mirror and gently brushed the surface off again. The wind was stronger and they were quickly losing the light. His image appeared clearer now. “Can you tell if DJ’s alright?” Hanna asked softly. “I don’t know if you caught any of the conversation with Misty. I’m still not sure if she can be trusted. I don’t know… I just don’t know… What do you think?” 

Misty walked up behind Hanna and peered over her shoulder at the mirror. A blonde person looked back at her, head tilted in an uncannily similar manner as DJ had done moments ago. Misty waved at the man in the mirror. 

When Lui spoke, his words came through muffled, weak, and broken. “DJ… ok… maybe… Misty… good… fix…?” 

“Well at least someone believes me,” Misty said with a small laugh. She narrowed her eyes in thought. How did he get stuck in a mirror? How is that even possible? This is more critical than I thought. “Can you walk around in there?” she asked, trying to understand his situation better. 

The figure in the mirror blinked and twisted around in confusion. His mouth opened and he spoke, but the only word Hanna and Misty both caught was “...no…” 

Hanna frowned. Why is it so hard to hear him? The breakdown in communication was making things difficult. How will we ever be able to get him out if we can’t even hear him? 

“...Hanna?” 

Lui’s faint voice pulled Hanna out of her head. “Huh?” she looked up. “Yes, Lui… What is it?”

“We… get… off… mountain…?” he asked. 

She gasped and jumped to her feet. “Right! Sorry!” It was as though she only now remembered they were all still on the side of Mount Everest next to the ruins of a burning castle as the sun set and weather grew worse. Hanna turned to her new friend. “Misty, can you direct us to your cabin?”

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Six

Sarah walked down a busy hallway. She crossed a skybridge, making her way to a second building and down some steps. She stopped at a door and let herself in. The apartment was empty, save the large falcon sitting perched in an enclosure in the corner of the room. 

“Hey, Talon,” Sarah said as she moved to a desk serving as a workstation and logged into the computer. The bird trilled at her. One of the bedroom doors opened and a woman with long brown hair and puffy blue eyes stiffly walked out. Sarah glanced at her watch before turning to her roommate. “What happened to you? You’re normally up by now.” 

“Eve went missing.” Misty yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I was out searching all night.” She went to the enclosure and let Talon out. “Hup.” The creature hopped onto her arm.

“Ohhhh,” Sarah replied. “Oh, that’s not good.” 

“Tell me about it,” Misty answered as she brushed the falcon’s feathers. She turned back to Sarah with surprise, as though only now remembering she wasn’t supposed to be here. “What are you doing here?” Misty asked. “I thought you were on an undercover mission or something.” 

“I was,” Sarah confirmed. “Someone else crashed it.” She turned back to the computer to pull up the recording of the events on Everest, inviting Misty over to see it. “It got ugly quick.” 

Misty stepped closer to watch. “What in the world,” she said in disbelief. “Who? What?”

Sarah shrugged as she answered, “I have no idea. Maybe the Hero’s Guild? They have a habit of butting in. Either way, it wasn’t one of ours.” 

Misty continued watching the footage. “Have you reported this yet?”

“Of course,” Sarah replied. “That was my first stop. This is my second. The boss wants you on immediate clean up.” 

“This is crazy,” Misty muttered to herself. “I’ve seen Evil Others, but never as bad as this. This is… That’s…” Misty shook her head. “That’s like… Eve bad. This is serious.” 

“There’s a reason he was on undercover surveillance,” Sarah said, also shaking her head. “He’s one of the worst.” The footage ended abruptly in static. “The castle exploded and the survivors are trapped on Everest,” Sarah continued. “The boss is expecting an international response over this. We need to get there first.” 

Misty let out a breath and looked at Talon with a frown. “I just got back,” she said hesitantly. “If I don’t find Eve, something terrible might happen.”

Sarah swiveled in her seat. “Something terrible has already happened because of someone else’s Evil Other. Are you going to let yours stop you from helping them?” 

Misty rolled her eyes. “Of course not. I’ll go. Let me get ready first.” She placed Talon back into the enclosure. “Sorry, boy. Everest doesn’t suit you. I’ll be right back.”

*************************

- Destroyed castle; Mount Everest; Earth; May 12th, 2009-

Heart still racing and head pounding, Hanna stared down the intruder, grip on her sword taut. The stranger lifted her snow goggles and pulled down her scarf to reveal the face of a young woman with blue eyes. “I’m Misty.” She took a step forward in the powdered snow. “And you are?” 

Hanna stepped forward as well, placing herself between her friends and the stranger, blade still raised. “One defending those she loves,” she answered. In a louder voice, she called out, “What do you want?”

“I came to see if you’re okay,” Misty answered, taking another cautious step forward. “Are you?” 

Hanna’s nose flared and she gripped the sword in front of her with both hands. “We’re just fine!” she called out in anger. “As long as you don’t try anything.” Misty took another small step forward. Hanna reacted by taking an even more aggressive stance. 

Misty paused and raised both her arms. “I’m here to help you,” she insisted. “Look, I’m not armed. You can search me if you want.” She stretched out her arms and turned in a circle, though it was hard to tell if she was concealing anything under all the winter gear. “Can you put the weapon down? I only want to help.” 

Hanna’s breathing would not slow and the pain in her head did not go away.“Who do you work for?!” she bitterly demanded. 

Misty paused for a few long seconds. She was taken aback by the question, but did her best not to show it. “I don’t work for anyone,” she carefully answered. “I come up to climb this mountain every once in a while. Kinda a personal goal of mine to reach the peak, you know? I haven’t made it to the top yet, but I still try. I get a little farther every time.” Hanna lowered her sword a little. Misty continued speaking and resumed cautiously stepping closer. “I saw the smoke, so I came running as fast as I could. When I saw you, I thought I’d stop and see if you needed anything. There was an avalanche a little bit ago too. It barely missed my cabin. They can be pretty dangerous. Super easy to get pulled in. Extremely difficult to get out. I wanted to see if anyone needed my help.” By the time Misty was finished speaking, Hanna had fully lowered the weapon, but still held her suspicious glare. Misty was close enough now to see the figures in the snow behind the woman in black. Blue hair, she thought as she studied the unconscious one. Not my first choice, but hey, more power to ya I guess. “Your friend doesn’t look so good,” she commented, pointing at DJ. “We should probably get him to a doctor.”

Hanna’s breathing was still erratic. If her hands were not currently clamped around the sword’s grip, they would have been shaking. Her stomach lurched, but Hanna stood firm as she glared at Misty. Stay awake. “Like I said, we’re just fine,” she managed to get out, tone anything but friendly. Perhaps it is a random encounter, but it’s too much of a coincidence. She might be working for EDJ. She might be here to finish me off. I can’t let anything happen to Lui and DJ. I can’t take that chance! How am I supposed to believe that she showed up here with impeccable timing and not be up to something?! The image of Misty standing in front of her doubled for a second. Hanna blinked and shook her head. Stay awake! 

“You don’t look so great either,” Misty said, watching Hanna with caution. 

“I’m okay,” Hanna answered, relaxing enough to step back. She finally sheathed her sword. A wave of nausea forced her to sit down in the snow. 

“I’m not sure what your standard for ‘okay’ is,” Misty started dubiously, “but you’re clearly not doing well. Are you injured?” She knelt in front of the momentarily deranged cryomancer to better assess what help she could offer. 

‘Yes’ would have been an acceptable answer. Between the multiple battles, death traps, castle explosion, and elemental energy overexertion, it was a miracle Hanna was still standing. Or sitting, as the case now was. Nothing was broken, that she was aware of, but she had a poor habit of choosing to ignore pain. Even a genetically enhanced superhero's body has its limits and Hanna surpassed hers. She grimaced, trying to keep the little contents of her stomach from ending up in the snow. “Why?” she weakly asked, allowing Misty to assist, but still suspicious of an ulterior motive. “Why are you so willing to help me?” 

Misty paused and gave Hanna a weird look. “Because I want to,” she answered simply. “Because I know what it’s like to need help. I don’t know what you’ve been through, but by the looks of things, it’s been a rough day. You’re in bad shape.” Misty reached a hand out only for Hanna to recoil. “Please let me help you. You have to trust me.” 

Hanna shook her head. “I can’t give my trust away when my friends' lives are on the line. I will not have anyone else hurt them or me.”

Misty frowned, starting to get tired of the nonsense. “Every second we waste debating is another second you’re all out here in the elements.” She gestured to Hanna then to both DJ and EDJ. “You’re freezing, that one’s passed out, and the other one is in a block of ice.” She glanced at the mirror and did a double take when she realized there was a face staring back at her. “Is… is there a person stuck in there?” 

Hanna nodded. Misty stood and went to check on each of the incapacitated individuals, acknowledging Hanna’s watchful stare as she did so. Watching the woman continue to treat her and her friends with care in spite of the hostile reception, regret crept up in Hanna. She let out a long breath, already feeling the need to apologize. “The truth is,” she started.” I wouldn’t be able to fight you right now, even if you had weapons.” Misty turned to her curiously. “I wouldn’t normally have told you that,” Hanna continued. “But I need to get my friends out of here. It’s too cold for them. I have to get them out of here…” 

“Yeah, I noticed,” Misty said with a smile. “But I stink at fighting so I prolly would have lost anyway.”

Hanna swallowed her pride as she addressed Misty. “I’m sorry. Will… um… Will you… can you help me?” 

Misty grinned. “Of course, I’ll help you!” Not like that’s what I’ve been trying to do this entire time. 

“Thank you,” Hanna exhaled in relief. “I’m Hanna, by the way.” She gestured to two of the three behind her in turn. “The one in the mirror is Lui and that’s DJ.” She completely ignored EDJ. 

Misty nodded. “Pleasure. Like I was saying earlier, I have a cabin not far from here. It’s too far to drag them though and it would take multiple trips…” She closed an eye in thought. Without warning, Hanna collapsed into the snow. Misty jumped up and rushed over. “Whoa! Hold on, don’t you go passing out too!” 

So tired. “I’m fine,” Hanna insisted, still conscious though now lying in the snow and showing no signs of getting up. 

Misty checked Hanna’s pulse. “Yeesh, you’re cold. And your heart rate is through the roof.” 

“I might have... taken a shot of adrenaline before you got here,” Hanna confessed with hesitancy. 

Misty blinked at her. “What, like… literally?” Hanna nodded. “Was it for an allergic reaction or something?” 

“No,” Hanna admitted. “I needed the boost to stop the avala-”

“Are you insane?!” Misty interrupted, completely flabbergasted. “That kills people! You could have had a stroke! Or a heart attack! You might be having one now!”

Hanna winced, not anticipating a lecture in the middle of an already awkward situation. “I said I’m fine,” she repeated. 

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first ten thousand times,” Misty answered, shaking her head. “That was an incredibly irresponsible decision.” 

“But the ava-”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Misty said as patiently as possible. “No matter the excuse, you shouldn’t have put your life at risk like that.” Hanna gawked at her, failing to comprehend why this complete stranger was acting like she cared so much. “Right now,” Misty continued, “We need to get you and your friends out of the cold and somewhere safe and warm. Do you have any method of transportation at all?” 

It took a moment for Hanna to answer, still dumbfounded by the turn of events. “There might be some snowmobiles.” She pointed off beyond the boulder. “By the castle.” 

Misty stood up, brushing off her ski pants. She unzipped her green parka, removing the layer and draping it over Hanna. She pulled up and cinched the hood of her secondary blue coat before adjusting her goggles and scarf  to cover her face again. “I’ll go find them. Stay here,” she instructed. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” With that Misty, crunched off into the distance. 

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Five

It was a few seconds before Hanna could hear the wind howling again through the ringing in her ears. Hanna lifted her head from the snow to gaze upon the decimated structure in front of her. Rubble, ash, and debris rained from above. The sky was filled with smoke as what remained of the castle was in flames. The once magnificent castle was in complete ruin. The blast had thrown her back a ways and she could no longer see DJ or whatever it was he was carrying. Hanna blinked, trying to focus. The explosion was done, but the ground did not stop rumbling beneath her. She attempted to stand only to collapse back into the snow. Hanna had no strength left. Why is the ground sliding? Where is DJ? Where is Lui? Get up! Hanna attempted to lift herself again. She looked up toward the peak of the mountain. That was when she saw it, the avalanche heading straight for her. She watched the snow tumbling, like clouds gathering force as it slid down the mountain. Her heart sank. She could not move. She could not breathe. All she could do was watch. That’s it... It’s over… I can’t stop it... We’re all… 

GET UP! A voice in the back of her head screamed. 

I can’t…

YOU WILL! 

Without thinking, Hanna grabbed the autoinjector from her satchel. She popped open the tube, removed the safety, and jammed it into her own leg. Hanna’s eyes turned red and she took one large gasp of air. Three. Two. One. Heart racing, she shot into the air as if launched from a cannon. Throwing out both arms, she created walls of ice in steps, trying to stop or slow the massive amount of snow coming toward her. Neither worked. I can’t stop it. Hanna drew her sword. Landing between the wreckage of the castle and the doom barreling toward it, she plunged the blade into the ground, blue gemstone in the hilt brightly glowing. Hanna put up one more thick wall of ice, using the sword as an anchor. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she focused on crafting the shield as tall and wide as she could possibly make it. The avalanche crashed into the barrier. Hanna held on to the sword with all her strength, kneeling as she held the shield in place. “NO!” she screamed. The avalanche of snow poured around the barrier while she held on, the roar of destruction drowning every sound. After what seemed like an eternity of holding the snow back, the avalanche slowed and finally stopped. Head pounding and chest heaving, Hanna stood and yanked the sword out of the ground. The wall of ice stayed in place, holding back a sea of snow. She turned around with a slight wobble. The charred ruins of the castle sat untouched behind her, ice and snow fanning out around it. She diverted the deadly force away from her friends, but who knew the damage done further down the mountainside. With shaky breaths and eyes back to blue, Hanna glanced down at her sword hand, fingers fused to the grip in ice. The gemstone was no longer glowing, now dull and dark. With gritted teeth and some effort, she pried her fingers free of the grip and sheathed the blade. 

Hanna flew back around to the castle’s front entrance. Back to where the large boulder sat. Luckily, she spotted a figure clad in blue armor lying in the snow not far from the boulder. “DJ!” She flew to the body and turned him over. “DJ? Can you hear me? Are you okay?!” 

DJ’s eyes slowly opened, but he looked dazed and his voice was faint. “Mel…?” 

“You’re alive! Hang on!” Hanna grabbed DJ’s arms and pulled. 

DJ coughed violently as he came to. “Hanna…? Lui?” 

“I got you,” Hanna said, still dragging, but not making as much progress as she wanted. Just a little farther. She pulled again, stumbling along. “I’m not leaving you here to freeze to death. I’m getting you off this cursed mountain even if I have to drag you the whole way!” Strength already gone again, it took everything in her to drag her friend toward the back of the boulder. With a bit of perseverance, she reached a spot behind the boulder next to the mirror. Hanna leaned DJ against the rock and made sure he wouldn’t fall over before checking on Lui. The mirror was face down in the snow. Please don’t be broken. Hanna lifted the mirror and set it upright against the rock again. Thankfully, the fragile object was not damaged. “Lui?” she asked, brushing away the snow from the surface. She could barely see him, but he was still there. 

“Is Lui ok?” DJ asked. 

“He's out of the castle, but not out of the mirror.” Hanna turned her attention back to DJ. “Are you alright?”

“Think so,” DJ muttered before coughing again. “EO…”

Hanna paused. EDJ. “Is that what you were doing? Did you go back for him?” DJ slowly nodded, eyes closed. “I’ll find him.” Hanna got up and flew back around the boulder. She found the frozen figure half buried in the snow headfirst. She dug the frozen Evil Other out and proceeded to pull him behind the boulder as well. She had just as much trouble dragging EDJ over. When everyone was safely in the same location, Hanna checked on DJ again. “Hey, are you still with me?” Blood was caked on the side of his armor and he had several other burns and cuts over the less protected areas. She dug into the medical supplies on her belt. “You shouldn’t have gone back for him,” she said quietly. 

“I couldn't just let part of me die,” DJ answered weakly, eyes still closed. “I had to rescue him…”

I meant that I should have gone back instead of you, Hanna thought. 

“How’s Lui?” DJ asked. 

Hanna frowned. He already asked that. “Nothing’s changed. I think you hit your head on something,” she muttered, unwrapping some gauze and alcohol swabs. DJ’s head and body suddenly drooped forward. “HEY!” She caught him and sat him up again. “No, no, no, no. Don’t pass out on me. I need you to stay awake. Talk to me. What year is it?” 

“...2002,” DJ answered. He opened his eyes, but blankly stared ahead. “Up… is… down...” 

Hanna’s concern grew. That’s not even close. She waved a hand in front of his face, but he was not particularly responsive. “Who’s the president?”

“...Aragorn,” DJ responded. “No, that was… Washington…” Something was definitely wrong. His head dropped again. 

“DJ? DJ, snap out of it!” Hanna lightly shook him by the shoulders, but DJ could not be revived from his unconscious state. While she could not tell how cold DJ was, she could tell there was very little warmth left in him. “No, please wake up! Please!” She attempted to wake him again, but there was no response. 

Hanna sat back in the snow. She looked at EDJ, still stuck in a block of ice, lying on his side in the snow. She looked at the mirror. The reflection of sunlight and snow blocking Lui’s image made it appear cold and empty. She looked at DJ, unconscious, freezing, and in need of medical attention above that which she was capable of. I don’t have the energy to make a shelter. The castle is still in flames, but I don’t have the strength to drag them back to keep them warm. What am I supposed to do? I can’t do anything… She looked around behind her. Even if she called out for help, who was around to hear her? She had no clue where the closest form of civilization was, assuming it hadn’t been taken out by the avalanche. Hanna looked up at the sky. Soft beams of sunlight broke through the dark smoke and filtered down on the sparkling snow below. I can’t do this by myself... Please… Please help me. There was no answer. No sound, save the howling of the wind. She sniffled, tears returning. Are You listening? Can You even hear me? No answer came from the sky. No answer came from the wind. No answer could be found anywhere. Nothing. Hanna’s shoulders sank. …Are You even there? 

Foolish girl. Haven't you had enough of fairytales? No one is listening. No one is going to save us. Giving up, Hanna wiped her face and attempted to wake DJ again. “DJ?” 

“Seems to me your friend is passed out,” a new voice behind her said. Hanna jumped to her feet and spun around, drawing her sword. The stranger was bundled head to toe in winter weather gear, green jacket standing out against the snowy mountain. How did she miss this stranger sneaking up on her? Between the fluffy hat, snow goggles, and striped scarf, Hanna couldn’t make out who this new person was at all. “Prolly will be for a while,” the stranger continued. “I’m Misty.”