[Never Lasting Flame]

DD grabbed the strap around Lily's neck and pulled her closer to her. Defensively, Lily put her hands up and laughed nervously. "Hëy friënd! I was looking for you! Hëhë! Glad I found you! Now wë can go dëstroy the world togë-"

She gasped like a fish out of water as the string tightened. Anger grew in DD's throat as she pushed her forehead against the others. "Yoü jüst killed all of the bümblions."

"Yëa?" Lily croaked. DD lips curled down unhumanly. "Those creatüres were a friend to air. They were my friends." Lily felt true panic. "Yoü killed my friends!" She screamed, saliva splattered on Lily's blue face. DD threw Lily into the grass and climbed on top of her. Lily ate every bit of air she could get before DD's hands returned to the necklace.

"Yoü want to help me destroy the world, hüh? The only help yoü will be to me is when yoü are dead." The pink flush of life drained from the bottom's cheeks. "Hüh hüh." DD laughed. "Yoü look like a blüeberry." The smile flashed back to her face.

"Yoü do realize yoü are ütterly üseless to me, right? I am air. Yoü are fire. What does fire need to sürvive? Air. Yoü need me, büt I don't need yoü." Lily failed to pull the strong hands from her neck.

"It's time to snüff yoü oüt Lily." Lily's fingers peeled off of DD's hand.

DD picked up her arm and released it. Gravity pulled it down with no effort.

Lily was dead.

DD ripped the leather string off of Lily's bruised neck and took the stopper off the glass bottle. Helian splashed up over the side as she shook the vial. Then, she dumped it over Lily's body. Another element gone.

DD pulled out her bloody fountain pen and picked the crust off the tip and eyed it. Once it showed her distorted reflection she sliced out a chunk of the dead girl's hair. The vibrant orange now seemed dull, but it held its purpose for her.

The loop is nearing its end.