Robert and Rozelle were deep in conversation when the commotion outside caught their attention.
Both of them ran out.
Rozelle looked at her brother walking in with one hand around the shoulder of a Chemorian lad , instead of arresting them.
" George! What are you doing? " Rozelle yelled.
" What do you think? He is injured... knocked out... I am trying to help him. " George was too innocent to be Rozelle's brother from the same mother.
" You should have helped yourself instead and arrested him while he was out. He is an alien, George. Gunshots will not kill him. " She walked up to him, probably to take the custody of Xen, herself.
But something terrible happened in the next few moments.
Both Rozelle and George suddenly froze in their tracks.
Their eyes started turning black as their hair started to turn all white.
" What's happening... "
" What's going on? "
Whispers and astonishment started filling the air.
Mira was only half way down the ladder and she watched them, while dangling midair.
Robert had the weirdest feeling. He felt hopeless and lost. He could sense life getting sucked out from around the air and being replaced with nothing but despair.
Dark smokes started coming out of Rozelle and George's ears. Their nails and skin began to darken as well.
Suddenly, just like the Gala who had abandoned her human hosts, Robert saw two Dark Mages emerge from the smoke that was emitted from the siblings' bodies.
The smoke immediately solidified and they took on their physical form.
They wasted no time in turning towards the chopper and going straight after Mira, who hurried her way up inside the chopper in fear.
" Turn it around... turn it around... "
Braze yelled at the pilot as Kian helped Mira get back in.
But the Dark Mages leaped at the chopper and dragged it back on the ground.
Suddenly Robert's visions were back.
He saw glimpses of an altar... some hooded figures... and never ending darkness.
It was only there for the split of a second but it was enough to make him feel like he would know no joy ever again for the rest of his life.
It didn't take him long to identify the enemy in front of him.
As they pulled the chopper down and it dragged for several miles before crashing, the Dark Mages advanced towards Mira, who was both scared and injured.
They were only inches away from her and Braze and Kian were still trying to get out of the burning aircraft.
" Hands off her, you harbingers or darkness... get off this planet if you want to survive. "
Robert came between Mira and her potential abductors.
The Dark Mages stopped. Robert thought his words had some effect. But they began to laugh after exchanging sky glances.
" A halfling I see. " One said.
" I didn't know the Watchers on this planet were breeding halflings for their protection... Predictable. Human beings are such a weak race. " The other remarked as both of them burst out laughing.
They resumed their advances, so Robert had no other option but to exert force.
," I said, back off! " He yelled and it created a forcefield.
Mira looked surprised.
" Not bad, " One Dark Mage smirked.
" But we don't have time to play around, " The other barked as he pulled the air inside his palm, darkened it , before shooting Robert with that air ball.
It threw Robert several feet off the ground but he landed perfectly on his feet.
One Dark Mage went for Mira in that space of time but Mira leaped away, trying to conjure her fire.
" Oh no princess. Your father equipped us well to deal with this. Your powers are useless against us. We are literally sacrificing our lives for this. Quit giving us more trouble and come along with us, peacefully. "
He declared.
Mira wasn't going to fall for their tricks. She sent one blast after another. But strangely enough her powers actually were ineffective against them.
Mira panicked even more.
Robert was back by this time and they collectively tried to blast the Dark Mages off.
Strangely enough, Robert's blows did have some effect on them but Mira's didn't at all, even though her power was much superior to that of Robert's.
It deterred them a little but the day couldn't be saved.
" Quit playing I said! "
One Dark Mage blew Robert away as the other grabbed Mira by her crown and dragged her along before shooting. past all the audience towards space.
Kian and. Braze barely got out as they saw the Dark Mages vanish with Mira.
" Nooooo! " Braze ran after them. but in vain, even though he was severely burnt.
Kian looked on with dismay, collapsing on the ground and hitting his fist on the ground with dejection and regret.
Robert came running back but he too was left with nothing but an empty hand.
They kept staring up till there was nothing left to stare at.
Xen opened his eyes and tears of regret fell from them.
" Damn it! ....Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! "
The boys turned their attention towards Robert.
It was odd watching him punch the air and tearing his hair off in dismay.
They failed to understand the source of his frustration.
" Should have saved the girl...Should have... Should have. " He kept on muttering.
" Darkness... it will usher in nothing but darkness... chaos will reign everywhere.... nothing but darkness across the universe. "
He kept mumbling as he grabbed a piece of stone and drew on the soil.
The boys dragged themselves towards him to see what he was doing, though with much difficulty.
He had drawn the altar. And the hooded figures were there.
And then there was a stick figure on the altar and he stabbed it again and again and yelled,
" They are going to sacrifice her.... sacrifice that girl... no way.... her life is precious. "
It took the boys a few couple of minutes to understand that Robert was referring to Mira.