"Chronos: 3&4" by Gracia ´Gengar´ Soria

Chronos: 3. The Ritual

The council was back. And the disturbance was growing stronger and stronger. It was like the sword of Damocles, hanging over their heads. But at least now they knew who was the enemy. It was Caroline.

- She’s just a little child… - Kharma was always worried about that. She was very unpleased with the turn things had taken.

- She’s cause of the disturbance, and as far as I can feel, she knows that, and enjoys it. Little demon… if I could feel the disturbance inside me, I would kill myself at once. – Hi-tech was cold as usual. He cared more about his gadgets and stuff than about people. Only the sincere love he had for Santos and the girls could make him change his point of view: humans (and mages) are really stupid compared to something so simple like a microwave oven.

- Who cares about that damn kid? We should care about Rainyday, don’t you see? She’s there, trapped with that traitor and that evil creature! She’s the one we should care about! – Bluebell cried everyday since the moment she arrived to the city. She loved Rainyday with all of her heart for the few months she had it. Maiden was her sister, but now she was only “the traitor”… but Rainyday… was her life.

- People, we have no time for this. Yes, Caroline is cause of the disturbance… it’s not her fault, after all. It was in her blood. I’m sure Markus had the disturbance in his blood as well, that’s why he was so chaotic… he was insane. He gave his daughter the possibility to destroy the world the way he gave her his blue eyes. And simply, Caroline liked the possibility; that’s all. But that started generations ago, and right now, we have merely a couple of hours to be ready for the ritual, remember? We will not have a big bunch of chances to do it. -

Santos found about the ritual while he was traveling across the globe, after killing Markus. It was the only way to stop the disturbance once it had begun.

- What will happen, man? I can feel it, it’s very bad, but… what is it? -

- It can be anything, Hi-tech. From a sudden collapse of every single living being, to an explosion capable to crush our world, to a simple ravaging idea stucked in the minds of all humans, the destruction of a continent… you give the shape. It has happened once before our time, and it was not as strong as this one can be. Books recorded it like the Great Flood.

- O…kay… - And Hi-tech went back to work in silence.

- Will the ritual work, Santos? – Bluebell raised her head, tears still shining in her scratched face.

- I hope so, Blue, I really hope so. But hey, rejoice, we have three chances – His laugh was dried and senseless. Kharma took a deep breath to avoid throwing something at him.

- Three chances… like in a fairy tale. Three chances and then we’re dead… -

- It’s not my idea and you know that, Kharma. The universe allows you to fail a specific spell only three times in your life; if you fail all three chances, you pay for it. You know it better than anyone here. -

Santos sour voice and sudden change of tone sent shivers down Bluebell’s spine. When Markus went into the home of the council, Kharma tried to stop him thrice. With the same spell. Kharma’s completely burned and almost useless hands were the proof that not even mages can play with the universe.

- Santos… let’s not fight… I’m scared enough… let’s just go on with Chronos -

Bluebell was quite aware that using the ritual’s true name was going to be enough to cool down the mood. It was. Chronos… was a powerful name; the name of the father of all creation according to old myths. It was the only thing able to stop the disturbance. But that was a misunderstanding. Chronos would not stop the disturbance; it would prevent it from starting.

Chronos: 4.Caroline

It would prevent it from starting… that was the hope they all had. But it was not an easy task. Chronos would not simply stop the disturbance... it would take the whole council back in time, to the moment when the disturbance started... and it was up to them to make the movement to prevent it. It was easy, short and simple: they had to kill Caroline. But they had to choose a perfect moment, other way, the disturbance would be too advanced and as such, unstoppable. And they had only three chances...

But the ritual was ready, finally. They've chosen the moment: four minutes before they all felt the first scream of the disturbance. Kharma tried to persuade them to go much further, to the very moment when Caroline was born...

- Please, can't we simply make her a miscarriage or something? It's not fair to make a little child suffer! -

But Santos knew the ritual better than anyone. - No, Kharma, we can't. The further we go, the bigger are the chances of failure. Think of it like watching her life with a lens you're moving apart every second... it's been three days since we first sensed the disturbance and the lens is already one kilometer away. If we try to go years, even weeks back, we'll lose the track. We'll end up somewhere in time, or quite probably we will not even move from here. No; I know you feel like it's not fair because she's a child, but better leave that vision behind. She's the disturbance, and we must stop it. That's all. -

The ritual was ready. And so the council.

- This is not going to be spectacular, guys, but for sure it will be painful. Be ready, and if you can't handle it... just go back. You know how to abort the mission if needed. The rest of us will go on. And don't be afraid; if nobody else can do it, I'll go on alone and all you'll have to do is guide me on my way back. -

- Santos, shut your big mouth. We're a team, we're the council. We'll do it, right Bluebell? Hi-tech? -

Two heads nodding and the soft touch of Bluebell's hand in Santos' were enough to make that point clear.

And the ritual began.

It was like a wind, blowing softly first, harder every second... Hi-tech opened his eyes and saw the world blurring all around him, like watching everything covered in a harsh rain. It was confusing... and painful. A little sting on their chest became oppression, a perpetual hit, like a heart attack, magnified by magic. Bluebell tried to scream but her voice collapsed in her throat. Kharma fell on her knees. Santos breathing was almost out of control. Only Hi-tech was standing there, proud as usual, too proud to make visible that he was almost crying out of pain.

Suddenly, the world became clear once again, and the pain stopped. They were standing in a garden, in the outskirts of the city. It was a sunny day, and everything would've looked normal if it wasn't for the fact that every human being around them was lying on the floor, unconscious.

- She's already gathering all the energy around her! We're almost late! -

A scream was clearly audible on the backyard, so they ran there as fast as they could. It was Maiden, screaming like a madwoman, lying on her knees in front of a little playhouse. A brilliant light was shining from the inside.

- My baby!! No!! -

- Take the girl outta there, now! - yelled Santos.

Bluebell and Kharma grabbed Maiden to prevent her from avoid the killing. Hi-tech crawled to the inside of the tiny playhouse and saw two girls lying on the floor, surrounded by light. Which one was Rainyday? But he was aware that Rainyday had been a dark haired baby, like her father, and one of the girls was blond and white skinned... like Markus. So, he took the blond girl out of the playhouse; the light stopped while he was throwing the little girl to the floor.

- Kill her, Santos! -

- NO!! Caroline!! She's my daughter, please!! Santos, stop!!! -

Santos ran to the girl, put his hand on her little chest... and with an electric bolt, he stopped her heart from beating, crushed and completely burned.

- CAROLINE!! -

The world around the council revolved and the pain came back to their bodies.

Kharma woke up in the floor of the old house. Santos was looking at her with a concerned look.

- We failed, Kharma. The disturbance is still on. We arrived there too late. -