Free at Last

Pire and Zo were staring at the man with the glowing red eyes. Zo whistled as the wood chips started to come together.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” he said. Pire’s mouth started to reform, allowing him to laugh out loud. Spike stretched his neck from side to side. Miya cocked her head to the side.

“Papa?” she asked. The cowboy patted her on the head.

“Stay back, darling,” he whispered. The little girl lowered her head. She clung tightly to his leg again and closed her eyes. Spike turned back to the two devils.

“I don’t have time for this anymore,” he said. “I have to find my daughter and get her family home.”

“Aw, what are you going to do?” Pire asked. The cowboy smirked in response. He formed his finger into a gun.

“Bang!”

Zo was about to laugh when he froze. His muscular metal body started to crack and explode. Tiny metal shards went flying everywhere. Spike didn’t flinch when one cut him on the cheek. The hot blood running down the skin meant nothing to him. Pire hopped back with his lower jaw dropped.

“Hey… Wait…” the fire demon said. Spike turned his finger to him.

“Bang!”

Pire smirked as he only had one last thing to say. “We will be back for you.” His body exploded into ice crystals. The air around father and daughter returned to normal. Spike lowered his arm to his side. Not a time to celebrate. He looked down at Miya.

“You ready to go?” he asked. Miya didn’t lift her head as she nodded. Spike patted her on the head.

“Hang on tight,” he whispered. She nodded again. Father and daughter vanished into thin air.

------------

Sakura looked like she was about to collapse. Her vision became blurry. Despite this, a voice filled her right ear.

Hm?

Sweetheart, it’s me.

Sakura lifted her head. Papa?

Yes.

Her body was lifted off of the ground. Nuri and Oak looked up. Smoke came out of the pore of the fire demon’s body as it started to collapse in on itself.

“What is she doing?” he asked. The tenshi-chi lifted her head. Her eyes were empty as they started to glow. His words floated through her ear.

Let me be the one in control.

But…

Don’t you trust me?

Yes…

Do you want to get back to your family?

Yes! She felt a strong pair of hands embrace her from behind. The pounding of his heart was enough to set her at ease. She closed her eyes in her mind. Sakura knew what had to come next.

Then do this with me. They did all of this to draw me out. It’s time to end this. Let me take over.

Yes, papa. Sakura’s arm lifted up like she was on strings. The brothers prepared for one more attack. Sakura’s lips curved into an icy smirk.

“This has gone on long enough,” he said through her voice. “Shall we end this already, boys?” She started chanting under her breath.

“Couldn’t agree more,” Nuri said before his jaw fell off. Oak looked around in the arm.

“Okay, Yami!” he shouted. “Feel free to come in and finish this!” Silence. Nuri looked behind him.

“What are you waiting for?!” Oak shouted. “Get out here now!” Yami only said one answer that changed everything.

“No.”

“What?! What the hell do you mean?!” Oak shouted. Their new opponent laughed through Sakura.

“You should keep your focus on me,” he said. Sakura drew back her arm. He said one more thing before they delivered the final blow together. That message was meant more for the boss than for them.

Boom!

They didn’t just kill the remaining brothers, but the whole maze was destroyed. The walls, floor, and endless ceiling formed cracks and shattered everywhere. Sakura slowly collapsed in the empty space. The last thing she could remember was hearing his voice one last time.

I will take care of everything from here. Live on without me.

And then he was gone. It was over.