Part 3:
She held the apple out to me.
I bit my lip.
“Go ahead, dear. Try it.”
Our eyes met.
“Maybe I'll … save it for later?”
I bit my lip.
“Go ahead, dear. Try it.”
Our eyes met.
“Maybe I'll … save it for later?”
She scowled so hard her whole face darkened.
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I said quickly.
“Rude little beast."
“I'm sorry."
She dropped the apple. Weird words again came from her mouth, words now spat in fury.
Strange energy crackled in her hands.
I stood frozen while a ball of electricity took shape.
She cocked an arm and hurled hissing danger my way.
Dale leapt forward, the blue blaze reflected in his eyes.
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I said quickly.
“Rude little beast."
“I'm sorry."
She dropped the apple. Weird words again came from her mouth, words now spat in fury.
Strange energy crackled in her hands.
I stood frozen while a ball of electricity took shape.
She cocked an arm and hurled hissing danger my way.
Dale leapt forward, the blue blaze reflected in his eyes.
Without flinching, he shielded me from harm.
Absorbing the blast with his body.
Exploding in a burst of flame!
I tried catching him but he bounced off me, crashing down in the gumdrops beyond.
Crumpled and broken, smoke smoldered from his chest.
Our attacker’s face curled to an ugly smile.
She began chanting another incantation.
Raw power sizzled in her fingers.
A glint of sunlight reflected off the candy apple.
I picked it up and fired it fast, like a round, magnificent dart.
Right in the center of her hands.
Bullseye.
A magical explosion erupted!
Absorbing the blast with his body.
Exploding in a burst of flame!
I tried catching him but he bounced off me, crashing down in the gumdrops beyond.
Crumpled and broken, smoke smoldered from his chest.
Our attacker’s face curled to an ugly smile.
She began chanting another incantation.
Raw power sizzled in her fingers.
A glint of sunlight reflected off the candy apple.
I picked it up and fired it fast, like a round, magnificent dart.
Right in the center of her hands.
Bullseye.
A magical explosion erupted!
The blast completely consumed her.
Flames and curses and hollering filled the air.
And then ... quiet.
Regardless of the outcome, no aid was rendered.
I turned to check on someone much more important.
“Dale? Can you hear me? Come on, wake up.”
I didn't see any blood, although it was hard to tell with all the dripping syrup.
The heat of the blast had made everything once again gooey.
“Wake up, Dale. Please. Can you hear me? Wake up."
“Yuhhh … you got her?”
I sighed a symphony of relief.
“She’s out cold. How about you? Does it hurt?”
“This stupid syrup might’ve saved me," he said, lifting his head. “I got fried pretty good, but I think I’m OK.”
“You see? It was smart we didn’t clean up. I bet you’re glad now.”
“You’re hitting me with ‘I told you so?’ Last time I save you.”
“My bad. Sorry. But you will never, ever, save me again?”
“Well ... maybe a few more times.”
“My hero. Worthy of a statue.”
“Statue? Yeah, I like that. And carve in some quote from me. You know, post-hoomussly?”
“Posthumously?”
“Exactly. Only do it after I've died.”
“You got it."
“Yuhhh … you got her?”
I sighed a symphony of relief.
“She’s out cold. How about you? Does it hurt?”
“This stupid syrup might’ve saved me," he said, lifting his head. “I got fried pretty good, but I think I’m OK.”
“You see? It was smart we didn’t clean up. I bet you’re glad now.”
“You’re hitting me with ‘I told you so?’ Last time I save you.”
“My bad. Sorry. But you will never, ever, save me again?”
“Well ... maybe a few more times.”
“My hero. Worthy of a statue.”
“Statue? Yeah, I like that. And carve in some quote from me. You know, post-hoomussly?”
“Posthumously?”
“Exactly. Only do it after I've died.”
“You got it."
