The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 90: Aurora Borealis

It’s cold.

Snow falls down into the tundra as President Loki’s wings slowly allow him and his allies to drift along the current. President Loki could still feel the voice of his dear friend inside his head.

“Why couldn’t you protect me?” Chloe asked him.

President Loki tried his best to shake the thoughts from his head. But no matter how hard he tried, she would always come back to haunt him. And frankly, President Loki didn’t know why he couldn’t protect her. In that small window of chaos, when the man with the emotionless eyes jumped at Loki, something ignited within him. A moment of… despise. And loath. For all other students present on the island. And the more he dwelled on his emotions, the more his blood began to boil, and the more his eyes began to tear up.

“I hate all of you,” Loki whispered. His eyes glanced down at Brad and Sophie. They were sleeping, somehow, in this cold environment. Loki shut his eyes and clutched onto them tighter.

“Chloe and Mr. Ma were the only ones who ever cared,” Loki said, his breath shaky, “And now they’re gone.”

As President Loki flew into the night, he felt something amiss. President Loki glanced back and noticed frostbite collecting on his metal wings. President Loki murmured to himself in annoyance and dived down to the ground.

President Loki landed on the snow softly, dropping Brad and Sophie to the ground like grocery bags. As Brad’s head hit the ground he let out a groan. Sophie looked up, dazed and groggy.

There was nothing but eternal forest surrounding them. Large pine trees coated the ground, covered in snow. They had also landed right on the edge of a cliff. Looking ahead of it gave the sights of icebergs and the cold sea.

“Uhh, why aren’t we back at camp yet?” Brad asked, looking around, dumbfounded.

“Because my wings don’t work when it’s too cold, apparently,” President Loki replied, “Since the tundra is infested with all sorts of creatures, I don’t feel like traveling back by foot. We’ll wait it out until the morning, and for now, we’ll set up camp.”

“Fair enough,” Sophie grumbled, still shaking the sleepiness off.

The three got to work constructing a rudimentary campfire. As they lit the fire and sat around, trying to stay warm from the cold, Sophie pulled out some slabs of meat and stuck a stick through it, holding it above the fire. She turned her head to the other two.

“Want some?” she asked. Brad nodded with hungry eyes, so once the meat finished cooking, Sophie tossed him a slab of meat. Brad began to hungrily devour it. Sophie turned to Loki next, but Loki shook his head.

“Don’t need to eat,” Loki recalled, “Remember the artifact?”

“Right, right,” Sophie murmured.

It was silent for a moment. Just the soft sound of snow falling down upon them. The fire crackled softly, its flames slowly fizzling out from the hailing snow. The forest was eerily quiet at the time, there seemed to be no other creatures present except for them.

“I didn’t want her to go either,” Sophie suddenly blurted. Loki stared into her eyes deeply. Sophie’s lip was quivering, and her eyes were tearing up.

“I just d-don’t want to show it.”

Loki’s hand balled into a fist, and poison claws grew out of his knuckles. They were sharp and coated with a green mucus.

“Don’t worry, Sophie. I promise that all of them will die.”

Just then, a roar burst from the treelines. Everyone immediately got up from the ground and prepared their weapons. President Loki pointed his claws at the beast that lumbered through.

The dinosaur was ginormous. It seemed to be just as large as a Rex, albeit, skinnier. It had white feathers that coursed down its body and its tail, and snow coated its entire structure. It had a slender jaw, but it still had razor sharp teeth. Its arms were long and slender, unlike the Rex. It curled its arms and stared at the survivors, until it opened its mouth and let out a fierce roar.

“GROARHHHH!”

Its roar seemed so strong that the survivors could feel its hot breath standing just a few dozen meters away from it. Before they could react, three Carnotaurus with glowing orange eyes burst from the treeline and charged at President Loki, Sophie, and Brad, seemingly avoiding the big beast. President Loki’s eyes narrowed at the dinosaur as it stood triumphant.

“I remember Mr. Ma had defeated a pack of Carnotaurus with orange eyes,” President Loki recalled in his memory, “This must be the reason why they grouped together.”

One of the Carnotaurus immediately rushed at President Loki. President Loki swiped his fist at the Carnotaurus, and his claws cut through the dinosaur’s throat, causing blood to spew out onto the snow and onto President Loki’s chitin armor. Another Carnotaurus tried to bite down onto Sophie, but Sophie quickly dived out of the way and clapped her hands together. Two spirit wolves appeared in the night and began to bite and scratch at the Carnotaurus. The third Carnotaurus charged at Brad with its horns, and Brad quickly waved his hand, causing the black voids to blind its eyes. Brad weaved out of the way of its charge, and the Carnotaurus ran off the cliff, falling to its demise.

The big dinosaur that led the attack suddenly began to back off. It opened its mouth to roar once more, but President Loki had other plans for it.

“I’ll be taming you,” President Loki said. He pointed his fist at the beast’s mouth, and shot his claws out at it.

~

Many, many hours had passed since the battle on Carnivore Island. Following the destruction of all life because of the fight, it had left dozens of corpses all across the island for the Argentavis to feed.

Regardless, Bob’s group had a new goal in mind. Find the group responsible for killing Andres…

And kill them.

They had traveled in the direction of where the president flew, and had now arrived at a tundra. Snow hailed down on them like never before, and the cold was bitter and sharp. Aurora hugged her body for warmth, shivering in the dark forest.

“Damn… why did they have to flee here?” Aurora asked, rubbing her arms slowly. Samuel put his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t sure how to feel anymore. And he wasn’t sure if he could forgive himself.

“Andres’ death is my fault,” Samuel thought, his head staring at the snow gloomily, “It’s all my fault. Maybe if I had just waited for what that woman had to say I wouldn’t have to have-”

GROARHHHH!

Neddy and Ruby immediately perked up, looking around silently, weapons drawn and their backs to each other. Alan’s teeth began to chatter and he hid behind Bob.

“What- What WAS THAT?!”

Bob’s eyes widened, as if the roar felt familiar to him.

“Yutyrannus,” Bob realized, “They have a fear roar which can scare off any creature smaller than it and a courage roar which makes whatever it desires stronger and faster. Not only that, they can summon wild Carnotaurus to aid them.”

“WHAT?!” Alan screamed.

“Shut up dude, it’s gonna eat you first if you stay that loud,” Tiffany muttered under her breath. Alan looked at Tiffany with a frown.

“S-sorry…”

Nova’s implant glowed.

“Can it scare off a Tyrannosaurus?” Nova asked Bob. Bob shook his head.

“It can’t, but I wouldn’t suggest turning into one. The Yutyrannus may be weaker, but it’s much faster and nimble than a Tyrannosaurus is. Not to mention its Carnotaurus pack… You’re better off as a human.”

Nova cursed to herself.

“Oh well,” she said. She turned to Samuel, who seemed to be spacing out, “Hey you lazy dork, wake up! A big dinosaur’s about to eat us!”

Samuel blinked his eyes, and nodded, taking out his spear.

“I’m sorry Nova.”

The crackening of footsteps began to get louder, and soon a giant Yutyrannus burst out of the treeline. What seemed especially odd was that there was someone riding it.

“President Loki,” Samuel snarled, looking up at the beast. President Loki looked down at the group coldly, and pulled at the feathers of the Yutyrannus. The Yutyrannus let out a roar, and Carnotaurus with glowing orange eyes burst from the treeline.

Tiffany clenched her fists, and her implant glowed. Her heart instantly began to beat faster and harder, and her arms transformed into giant bone-like blades. She swiped her hands forward, cutting all of the Carnotaurus down.

“Not so fast-” Tiffany was cut off as metal wings unfolded from President Loki’s back, and he dived downward and slammed his cheek so hard into Tiffany she fainted right there on the spot.

Tiffany was launched backward and went tumbling in the snow. President Loki quickly dashed forward, equipping a small hunting knife and swiping at Tiffany’s throat.

BOOF!

Bob quickly ran to his side and pushed him out of the way, making him fall into the snow. Aurora made her move and threw her spear directly onto his head, but President Loki was quick to counter with a dodge to the side. President Loki snapped his fingers, and the Yutyrannus charged at them.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Neddy screamed the obvious. Neddy and Ruby dashed out of the way, and Ruby instantly raised her crossbow and began to shoot at it. The arrows seemed to do little damage to such a hunkering beast though. It swiped its tail, knocking Ruby into a tree and Neddy quickly followed. The Yutyrannus turned around, licking its lips and staring at Bob. Bob stood his ground, glaring right back at it.

CHOMP!

The Yutyrannus let out a roar of pain and began to flail its leg. Everyone gasped in shock to see Alan had bit down on its leg, and was holding on for dear life. Nova quickly used her enlightenment ability on Ruby, and Ruby pointed her crossbow at the Yutyrannus’ eye.

PEW!

The arrow hit home, and blood spurted out of its eye socket as it flailed about and let out another fierce roar. It tumbled around and got closer and closer to the cliff’s edge. Alan quickly let go of its leg and dived to the side, and the Yutyrannus fell down.

KABOOM!

The fall led to tremors shaking across the ground. President Loki and Bob, who were in a wrestling match, were quickly shaken away. President Loki got back onto his feet and flipped his knife out, and as Bob rushed forward he quickly swiped it at his face. The knife cut right through his face, and Bob cried out in pain as blood seeped down from his cheek. President Loki quickly rushed at Bob to slice his throat, but he was knocked out of the way by Nova.

“Not so fast bubby,” Nova glared.

Samuel quickly looked around. Where were his allies?

“Something’s off. I can feel it,” Samuel thought.

Nova swung a fist at President Loki, and he quickly weaved out of the way, swiping his knife at Nova’s side. Nova’s graduation robe quickly blocked the attack, the fabric too thick to cut through. Nova prepared and lifted her leg, twirling around and swinging her leg at President Loki’s face.

President Loki tanked the hit, stumbling to the side briefly. Almost immediately, Aurora, Neddy, Ruby, and Samuel rushed in to deliver the final blow. Bob and Alan, finally recovered, rushed in for an attack as well.

Loki seemed to be smiling though, as if this is what he had planned. Almost immediately, he snapped his fingers.

“NOW!”

Three spirit wolves manifested right next to Loki, and they lunged at a respective person each.

“Ah, they’re hiding away,” Samuel realized.

One got into a brawl with Bob, another with Nova, and the final one with Ruby, leaving Neddy, Aurora, Samuel, and Alan left to fight Loki. Alan, his hulking height far surpassing everyone else, reached his fist back to attack Loki, but as he did, the black voids swirled in his eyes, blinding him. As he swung his fist blindly, Loki lazily stepped out of the way, and Alan accidentally hit Neddy square in the face.

“YOUCH!” Neddy cried out, holding his nose tightly. Alan gasped.

“OMG I’m so sorry dude bro I’m so sorry-”

President Loki rolled his eyes and slammed his fist into Alan’s chest. Alan let out a groan as he was launched away. His head slammed into a tree and he passed out. Neddy began to walk away from the fight, his head throbbing and his movements dizzy.

Now it was just Aurora and Samuel left in the game to fight President Loki. President Loki glared at the two of them. Samuel and Aurora stared at each other.

“Truce?” Samuel said. Aurora looked at him in irritation.

“Fine.”

The two looked away and back at Loki. Loki dropped his knife to the ground. The only one with a weapon was Samuel. Samuel took his spear and let out a battle cry, rushing forward and swiping at Loki. Loki batted the spear away with the palm of his hand. Samuel’s arm flew away, and Aurora took the opportunity to retrieve her spear off the ground to attack Loki.

“You’re all so pathetic,” Loki sneered, staring specifically at Samuel, “I’ll make this painful for you, especially.”

Loki’s green eyes sparkled as he felt the air whistle behind him. Aurora jabbed her spear at the back of his head, but he merely dodged the attack. He snatched the end of the spear with his hand and snapped it over his shoulder. He took the spear tip and tossed it to the side.

The fight between the three had gotten closer and closer to the cliff’s edge, and Samuel noticed.

“If I push him off the cliff’s edge, we’ll get the advantage,” Samuel thought. He quickly whipped his head around. The others seemed to be holding off the spirit wolves easily, some had even been poofed. But it was clear their energy was running low. Samuel turned back around. Loki had turned his body so that both Samuel and Aurora were facing his side, and he cautiously looked back and forth between the two fighters. Aurora was closest to the cliff’s edge. With no weapon, she clenched her fists and got into a fighting position.

Samuel was the first to attack.

He let out a scream of rage, letting all of his bottled up emotions tucked away in his soul unleash forward in a frenzy of stabs and swings. Loki quietly stepped out of the way of each and every one of his attacks, staring deep into his eyes with a hint of contempt.

“YOU’LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE!” Samuel screamed, spittle flying everywhere. As Loki backed up, Samuel got closer to him, “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU-”

As Samuel grabbed onto his spear tight and jabbed the spear forward. Loki silently moved out of the way, revealing he was mere inches away from Aurora. Samuel’s eyes widened. It was too late. Unable to pull his arm back in time, and adrenaline coursing through his body, his arm slammed the spear full force into Aurora’s stomach.

The sharp spear cut right through her abdomen, causing Aurora’s lungs to exert a gasp of pain and shock. Aurora began to cough as blood seeped from the wound. Her eyes began to waver, and her lip quivered, now soaked in blood. The golden heart locket wrapped around her neck snapped, falling into the snow with a soft thud.

President Loki watched the two with a glare, seemingly waiting for Aurora to drop dead. He stepped back, watching the scene unfold with his emerald eyes. Aurora stumbled backward, slowly grabbing onto the spear and pulling it out.

SHLINK!

Aurora held the bloody spear in her hands, dropping it into the snow. The night sky above was sparkling with the stars, and the moon stared down at them, its size prominent as always. An aurora seemed to be hanging in the air now, its teal blue gradient washing over the skies like paint on a canvas. They could hear the howl of real wolves in the distance.

Aurora let out a chuckle as she stumbled backwards and off the cliff.

“NO!” Samuel let out a blood curdling scream and dived forward, quickly snatching Aurora’s wrist. Aurora hung limply in Samuel’s grip. She chuckled some more, looking down at her wound weakly.

“Guess the dream came true huh?” Aurora laughed, her eyes filled with tears. The blue obelisk close by glowed brighter, the presence of so many artifacts seemed to have strengthened its influence.

“What are you talking about? Come on Aurora, you need to get up,” Samuel pleaded with her. He gripped her wrist tighter. Aurora looked up at his eyes. He was… crying? Aurora smiled at the sight.

“You’re not as bad as I thought,” Aurora admitted, “At least you admit your wrongs, unlike Borealis. At least you can change, and at least you care. Somewhat.”

Aurora’s grip slowly loosened.

“I don’t know who hurt you but… I hope you can heal. And not end up like me.”

Aurora closed her eyes, seemingly accepting her fate.

“I’m not afraid to die anymore,” Aurora finally whispered, “Thanks for everything, Samuel. Thank you for freeing me from his grasp.”

Aurora let go of Samuel.

Splat.

Samuel’s hands began to tremble. He looked behind him, and all of his allies were looking at him with horrified expressions. Ruby was crying. And President Loki was gone. All that remained of Aurora was her broken, golden heart locket.

Aurora was dead.

~

Loki sighed, sitting on a spirit wolf and riding away with Brad and Sophie by his sides, riding their respective wolves. Sophie had a few deep cuts on her arm. She looked at Loki with worry, who seemed lost in thought.

“You… okay? Did you get them?”

“One of them,” Loki immediately replied, “The valedictorian.”

Sophie’s eyes widened.

“Aurora?!”

Loki nodded solemnly.

“Yeah. Her.”

The last remnant of Mr. Ma’s legacy was gone. Now only he remained. Loki wasn’t too sure how he felt. Mr. Ma was close to Aurora as well, especially after her lover’s death. Out of everyone in that group, Loki wished that he could have kept Aurora alive. For Mr. Ma.

“It’s okay Loki,” Mr. Ma’s voice whispered in his mind, “You’re the only one I care about. Keep doing what you need to do… I will always support you no matter what.”

“That’s right,” Chloe’s voice suddenly interjected, “It’s kill or be killed… Don’t be merciful ever.”

Loki closed his eyes. Instead of rejecting the voices, he embraced them.

“Right. They deserve this.”