Chapter 9

Helia felt as if he had only just closed his eyes when Tecna's handheld began to make an extremely loud blaring noise. The rest of the group had already woken up and Tecna was working on turning off the alarm. Once it was silenced everyone heard the screams and cringed. These screams were so much louder and much more anguished than before. These screams were clearly Musa's again and Helia was growing more agitated, he was just better at hiding it than Riven. Why wasn't Flora screaming? What had happened to his flower?

Setting off in the direction of the screams, they ran at full speed while, once again, Tecna yelled out directions. Winding and winding farther into the catacombs they ran for less than 20 minuets when the screaming stopped again and Riven hit his fist against the wall.

"Dammit! were so close!" he growled and began pacing.

"We are actually!" Tecna confirmed. "My handheld estimates that we are less then a mile away from the source of the sound, but in these catacombs my reading my be off, but just a little."

"Then maybe we can keep going anyways. If were close how much more lost can we get?" Helia asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"I'm not sure but do you want to risk accidentally getting further from them?" Layla said.

"And I think we already know how easy it is to get lost in these tunnels" Roy defended and Helia had to concede.

"I guess we have to play another waiting game" Sky sighed and wrapped his arm around Bloom's shoulder.

"I don't think so Sky. Tec look! Your handheld is picking up another signal!" Timmy exclaimed and plucked the device from her hands. "Its very faint but its definitely there!"

"I don't hear anything though, how do we know its Musa or Flora?" Brandon asked while he supported a weak Stella and the rest of the group was silent in agreement.

"Its the best chance we have right now. I say we go for it." Bloom argued and Riven agreed with her "Your right; we don't have much time and we have to follow whatever lead we have." So the group once again set off in search of the missing fairies. This time they walked, still unsure of what they were even following. It was a long and quiet walk but no one was really in the mood for talking; especially Stella. The lack of sun was taking its toll on her and it was hard for her to stay conscious. She was trying her hardest however because she knew that Musa and Flora needed their help and she was determined not to be the weakest link on this mission. Brandon was breathing hard and sweating with exertion, Supporting the sun fairy in her weakened state was taking its toll on the specialist as well and Stella whispered and apology.

"Don't worry about it Stell. Your my girl" Brandon replied and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Guys I think I can hear it now, does it... it sounds like someones crying." Layla called from her place near the front of the group.

"Yeah I hear it to!" Helia cheered. "Its Musa! Were almost there!" and then he ran off leaving everyone to follow after him.

The crying got louder and louder till they were only a few feet from the sound. "Go through the left door!" Tecna yelled and everyone obeyed and abruptly stopped running when they entered the clearing. Everyone's face wore mirrored expressions of horror and Stella threw up whatever she had left in her stomach. Brandon brushed her hair back from her face, trying hard not to look at the scene that surrounded him. For a while all they could do was stare at death and listen to the sound of its melody.

Pain in her right hand pulled her from her consciousness. Then the pain grew and grew till she was fully alert. It felt as if her hand was on fire and she screamed out. King Mikahl was holding her left hand against the wall and had the mallet poised to strike. When he brought the mallet down Musa screamed out again as her left hand was dipped in flames. Through each of her palms was two metal stakes that connected her to the wall; adding her to the collection.

Musa tried to struggle but King Mikahl was not letting her free. "Now, Now, my beautiful fairy, lets not be difficult here. I would hate for you to get hurt. Haha! How clever of me! But seriously, hold still, your making my life difficult." and with that he hammered another stake into her left shoulder. Musa screamed out in agony and continued to scream. The pain was like nothing she had ever felt, if she moved even an inch her chest exploded in a world of pain. Tears were rolling down her cheek now and King Mikahl had a fourth stake aimed at her right shoulder. "Please!" Musa cried "Please no more!" and she screamed again as he hammered in the fourth stake. "AHHH! STOP! PLEASE!" Screaming and screaming she tried to kick King Mikahl as he bent towards her feet but she was so weak, she might as well have thrown a feather at him. Once he had secured her feet with another stake he stepped back to survey his work and smiled.

"So lovely! You two make a great addition to my collection! I wish I could stand here and admire you all day but I have a kingdom to run! Ill be back my precious!" he stated and kissed her hard on the mouth. She tried to turn away but he held her face in place. "You are the gem of my collection" he whispered before disappearing through one of the three tunnels.

Musa screamed in pain and frustration but eventually could no longer find her voice. She rolled her head to the right and examined Flora who was pinned to the wall next to her. Flora's head was hanging down and it didn't look like she was breathing. Musa leaned her head back and cried even harder. She was full on sobbing now and could think of nothing else but pain and sadness. She just wanted the pain to end. Flora looked so peaceful and Musa wanted to feel that too. Musa continued to sob until she heard a familiar voice call her name. "Musa?" his voice was soft and unsure, but she knew who it was, she would know his voice anywhere. "Riven?" she whispered and opened her eyes.

What she saw warmed her heart. Running towards her was Riven and all her friends. They looked like they had been through hell and back but they were here, and they were the most beautiful things she had every seen. She screamed Riven's name and cried even harder.

Riven stopped in front of her and cradled her face in his hands. She was covered in so much blood, it was a miracle she was alive. He rubbed some tears from her check with his thumb and tried to calm her down. "Its gonna be okay Musa. Were here now. Were gonna get you out of here."

"But ... but Flora. is Flora..." Musa sobbed and looked at Riven, the question filling her eyes with more tears.

Looking at Flora who was now being pulled from the wall by Sky, Bloom, Layla, and a crying Helia; Riven said "Shh Musa don't think about that now. just focus on me okay. Were gonna get you out of here but its gonna hurt." Musa started to cry harder and shake her head and Riven felt his heart break a little. "I know Muse, I Know and I'm sorry but we have to get you off of this wall. I'm sorry." Riven sighed and leaned his forward against hers. "Be strong okay. I know you can do this."

"We have to hurry. we don't know how long we have till King Mikahl returns and none of us are in any condition to fight another battle." Brandon said as he came forward and pulled Musa's Hand off of the nail, causing her to moan in pain. Riven tried to sooth her as Brandon came around and pulled her other hand free. Once that was done there was only three more stakes, and after Timmy had pulled the stake from Musa's feet, the only ones left, were the ones in the crook of her shoulders.

While Riven tried to Reassure and comfort Musa, Helia and some of their friends pulled out the stakes that connected Flora to the wall. Even when they pulled the stakes from her shoulders Flora didn't make a sound or move an inch. It was a scene from every one of Helia's nightmares. Desperately He and Tecna began searching for signs of breathing, a pulse, anything to prove his flower was still alive; and after a few horrible minuets, Tecna exclaimed "There's a pulse! But its so weak, she needs to heal as soon as possible! Bloom can you do anything?"

"I can try!" Bloom said and ran towards Helia and Flora.

Flora had been pulled completely from the wall and was now cradled against Helia's chest, with Bloom trying some healing. Riven had to get Musa off the wall so she could start healing but she looked so small and beaten, he couldn't bring himself to pull her forward, which would undoubtedly cause her more pain.

"Riven... we can do it if..." Sky said reluctantly and moved forward.

"No! No... I got this. I'm sorry Muse but this is gonna hurt." Riven said to Sky and then Musa.

"Just a little right?" Musa said and tried to laugh.

"yeah, just a pinch." he said and gave a half-hearted smile and, as he pulled her forward, Musa Cried out one last time and then passed out.