[ForgottenCode]

Charles watched in mute horror knowing there was nothing he could do. He was good with sword and flail, but the battle had exhausted him – and even then, had he been fully rested and somehow fast enough to attack before the axe cleaved Lauren in two; he didn’t think he’d be able to attack his best friend.

Then, however, something changed. His eyes widened in surprise as somethings extended past his head and directly into the path of the axe. A leaf smacked him in the back of the head as it passed and he realized what they were – two tree trunks. But where had they come from? Nothing grew in the spirit world.

He would worry about where they came from later. If they were a danger he was sure someone would have shouted warning behind him. Besides, just as he knew he couldn’t stop Andrew, he also knew he couldn’t stop these mysterious trees sprouting in the one place where plants didn’t exist. He was simply too tired and bleeding from multiple cuts to be able to do more than simply watch.

Lauren had fallen to her knees and she was looking up at Andrew, trying to lock his rage filled eyes with hers. The axe continued to descent and the tree trunks continued to stretch closer and closer to a collision.

Lauren reached forward and rested he hands on Andrew’s massive legs and looked up at him pleadingly. Nothing changed though in his eyes, the rage was still in control.

At five feet over her head, the trees finally reached the required length. The one on Charles’ right extended to meet the axe’s handle, and the other to meet the steel tip which stood out over the edges of both axe blades.

They collided with the crash that shook the world around him and Charles had to stumble to stay on his feet. He heard a grunt of pain behind him. The two mysterious tree trunks were holding Andrew’s axe in place.

The giant that had been his best friend’s eyes flared with red light as he tried to push past this new obstacle and his enormous muscles strained with effort. The tree trunks began to waver as the pain filled moans continued behind him. Without thinking, Charles sidestepped to the right most tree trunk and pushed up on it with all his strength and weight.

Through his peripheral vision he saw Marcos do the same with the other leafy limb. He heard more of the group likewise split themselves, each lending his or her respective strength to the battle.

Steph’s voice rang out once more. “Andrew! You’re stronger than this! You have to retake control!” Tears welled in her eyes. “We need you Andrew. I need you. The threat is over. Please come back!”

Charles grunted with effort but added his own voice to it all. “I’ve known you for a long time Andrew, and you’re not a killer. You’re the kindest person I’ve ever known. I know you’re in there. You have to break free. It’s Lauren down there. I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at her lately. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. You can’t do this Andrew. You need to find some more inner strength and break out of the rage. You have to. Please.”

Lauren whispered from her place at Andrew’s feet. Charles had to strain to hear her. “This thing that now controls you might be strong on the outside, but your inner strength is greater than anyone I’ve ever met or even read about. Reach deep and find that strength. Please… I love you.”

Her last words were said in such a quiet voice that Charles wasn’t sure he’d heard them right. But he figured he must have because finally her words were enough to cause an effect.

The blinding redness in Andrew’s eyes flickered and immediately he stopped pushing down on the tree trunks. He stumbled backwards and threw his axe to the side.

It twirled through the air, once, twice, no a full five times before embedding itself within one of the neighbouring spirit structures with a thunk, and knocked the eight foot high chunk of wall to the ground, shaking the earth once more.

The giant of a man clenched his gigantic hands into fists and growled, not at any one of them but seemingly at himself. The light in his eyes continued to flicker from pure red to the regular colour of Andrew’s eyes.

While all of this was happening, the tree trunks retreated, pulling themselves back, until Charles could see them no more. He continued to ignore them for the moment. Instead he once more tried to engage in a telepathic connection with his best friend.

Once again he saw the red light everywhere, but now it was flickering just like it was on the outside. He delved deeper and saw that of the six original bands holding Andrew in place, only three remained.

Charles poured all his remaining mental strength through the connection to try to help his best friend. He was already exhausted, but while he couldn’t have physically stopped the axe from killing Lauren, this was something he could do to help, and he wasn’t about to leave his best friend hanging.

He vaguely heard Andrew continue to growl and himself and felt the earth shake as the giant stomped around, but as he concentrated and pushed more of his energy through the bond, even that ceased.

A fourth band cracked and broke. Only two remained, and now with each flicker, Andrew’s eyes shined brown more than red. Charles poured more of himself through, knowing he didn’t have much more to give, and not caring one bit.

A fifth band shattered. Charles felt himself weakening. Darkness was encroaching on his telepathic sight. The red light died in Andrew’s mind as the sixth and final band was obliterated.

Charles though, saw nothing more as everything went black and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

[Waycos]

Yaah!!

[nicofiend]

Yaah!!

Are you cheering for the new chapter, or because Prod blacked out?

And yay for new chapter. I just re-read book 3 last night.

[Alchymist]

I APPROVE!!!

[linpixie]

WHEEEE!

[Solar]

awesome socks!

[Waycos]

Are you cheering for the new chapter, or because Prod blacked out?

Yes?

Plus I'm shallow enough to be entertained by being mentioned.

[nicofiend]

Are you cheering for the new chapter, or because Prod blacked out?

Yes?

Plus I'm shallow enough to be entertained by being mentioned.

Oh, like I'm not?

[ForgottenCode]

We will be seeing what's been happening with you and your group soon Nico. And glad you like it guys. I'm waiting for an answer from Prod about something and then I'll have the next one out.

[Pie]

Perhaps you should...PROD..him into responding sooner *chortles*

[Prodigal7512]

Perhaps you should...PROD..him into responding sooner *chortles*

That wasn't a very tasty joke Pie, and I already responded so

[Pie]

Perhaps you should...PROD..him into responding sooner *chortles*

That wasn't a very tasty joke Pie, and I already responded so

lol touché