Bitesize 5.7

Bitesize 5.7

Ed struggled at his bonds but the ropes held tight. He was helpless to do anything but watch as the destructive scene continued to play out in front of him. Max was still reeling from Crowley's eldritch blast while the mirror bulged and spewed out its silver droplets. Crowley still clutched at his throat. The old mage looked pale and weakened and his hand and cloak were dark and shiny with blood. Ed thought he saw fear in the old man's eyes but if he did, it was soon replaced by realisation and determination. In desperation Crowley leapt into the air. Not jumped, but literally leapt. Seemingly defying the laws of physics Crowley flew at speed toward the mirror and plunged into its liquid surface, disappearing into the lake of silver. The surface bulged once more, like a mirrored bubble and then exploded. Shards of glass flew outwards, some missing Ed by inches and a vast gaping portal remained within the mirror's frame. The portal spun and collapsed in on itself becoming a swirling, sucking vortex. Ed felt it pull at him but only gently. Its effect however was far more pronounced on Max and Leclair. Leclair was seemingly immobilised, rooted to the spot but he looked strange. Ed realised that the onigawa must be being sucked from him. it was the only thing that could explain what he was seeing as one smaller form, smoky and insubtsantial was tugged from his body. Max too was suffering the same fate. Although in wolf form, a definite humanoid shape was unmerging with him, being pulled toward the vortex. The ghostly humanoid shapes screamed and struggled, trying to fight the invisible force pulling them ever further into their eternal prison but the struggle was futile and soon they passed the frame and were gone. As they disappeared from view the mirror's frame broke apart, falling to the ground in chunks. The candles all went out and with Crowley gone and the vortex vanished the chamber was plunged into darkness. The trembling of the mountain subsided and Ed lay in the darkness. He couldn't see and the only sounds he heard were of Katia still struggling against her ropes. Ed was scared once again. Grace was unconscious and Max was not. He had no way of knowing whether Max was conscious inside his wolf body. If not, they were now at the mercy of the animal. Ed tugged at his bonds again, frantically trying to tug a hand free. Somewhere in the darkness he could hear the wolf's heavy breathing and the clack clack of its claws on the stone floor. It was approaching him. He braced himself and then felt its foot kick him roughly, rolling him over to face the other way. Claws raked his back, though only lightly and he felt the ropes binding his wrists fall away. The ropes around his legs followed suit. Freed, Ed quickly rolled to one side, scrabbling on the floor with his hands, trying to find the led torch he'd dropped as Crowley had him bound. His fingers scraped the earth, finding bits of rope and small rocks and then, the cold touch of something metal. It was his keychain and the torch attached. He brought it up in front of him and pressed the button. A beam of light lit up his immediate surroundings. There in front of him was the wolf, its slavering jaws and wild eyes watching him. He aimed the beam down slightly. Its chest was unscathed.
"Grace?" Ed whispered. He didn't know why he whispered but the wolf showed some recognition. It didn't attack and Ed could only assume. He flashed the beam about and found Katia. The wolf slashed its arm towards her and severed the ropes on her wrists as Ed tugged at the ones on her legs. Soon she too was freed. Ed flashed the torch around again. He found Fredericq's body and soon, that of Max. He was human again, his chest still badly scorched and bleeding slightly. He was unconscious and Ed shook him and slapped his face. Max came round groggily and Ed went looking with the torch again. Some distance away was Leclair. The big man too was unconscious and Ed repeated the shaking and slapping until he awoke. Leclair seemed confused, his eyes darting around.
"What's going on?"
"I'll explain later." said Ed, "Can you stand?"
Leclair struggled to his feet.
"Everyone ok to walk?" Ed asked. Max and Katia both responded with a yes.
"Ok, let's get the hell out of here."
Ed led the way with the torch and the others followed behind him. He followed the trail they'd left on their way in, back toward the surface. All the way he couldn't help but wonder what fate had befallen Crowley. Was he now trapped in the mirrors with the rest of the onigawa? Would he be able to make his way out again? Or with the mirror destroyed were they now safe? There were many questions and for now Ed was just glad they'd made it out alive. Their plan had worked eventually and Max had come up trumps.
A short time later they emerged into the twilight as night began to fall over Mount Hakodate. Grace shifted back into her human form and Ed took the time to look over his party. He and Katia were fine. Grace had a black eye but was otherwise fine. Leclair too seemed ok. Max was the worst injured of the lot but even his wound was mostly superficial. The bleeding on his chest had slowed though the burns were causing him pain.
"Is he gone?" Max asked.
Ed nodded.
"For now at least. You did well Max."
"At least I managed to redeem myself for my past mistakes." he smiled.
"And Crowley?" asked Grace.
"He fled." said Ed, "Into the mirror. He must be trapped there now with the rest of them."
"That thing that was in me." said Leclair, "It's gone... I've spent decades trapped inside my own body while that thing ran wild..."
"And Raddick?" asked Katia. "I didn't see him near the end."
"Raddick!" said Ed, "Shit, I didn't see him either. I forgot all about him. You think he's still in there?"
"He isn't." said Grace, "He was definitely gone when I came to and freed you two."
"But he doesn't have an onigawa anymore... how could he escape?" said Ed.
"Maybe he went into the mirror as well." suggested Katia.
Ed pondered this.
"I don't think so. I could see the mirror the whole time."
"Maybe he fled the mountain before his onigawa was pulled out." said Grace.
"Maybe." said Ed. "Somehow, I get the feeling we haven't seen the last of Raddick."