by C. Gold
“No!” Amira shouted, swaying from the aftereffects of her vision. “We have to go back to the village.” She took two steps away before realizing neither man was following. She turned around and placed her hands on her hips. “I saw it. If we go north we die.”
Maleko scowled and Makani looked unhappy but they reluctantly agreed. Amira quickly glance back at the corruption and saw the membranous surface stretch as a misshapen appendage struggled to break free. That was enough for her. She took off at a full run.
When Maleko caught up and took the lead, he changed direction to run parallel with the blighted area. He didn’t waste words explaining, but Amira figured he didn’t want to expose the villagers to anything that might be chasing them.
She couldn’t help the occasional glances over her shoulder. Once, Amira thought she saw something, but quickly put it down as her fears. She was in the back now, struggling to keep up as the men loped across the ground, making it look easy. Her own wheezing was embarrassing. I thought I was in shape. Guess not. They ran full out for about an hour before dropping to a more reasonable pace.
Two hours later, the forest ended abruptly and opened into rocky terrain which was covered in low-lying scrub grass and prickly plants. They had to slow down to avoid twisting an ankle on the uneven ground.
Amira was grateful for the slower pace. The sounds of rocks crunching underfoot grew hypnotic. The tink of a rock scattering from farther back shattered her trance, but when Amira looked over her shoulder she didn’t see anything. She clenched her staff tighter. This time I’m not making things up. They ran for another hour while Amira strained to hear or see whatever was following, but nothing else unusual happened.
When Maleko finally called for a rest break, Amira was more than ready. She flopped onto a large rock, utterly spent. With her head resting against the staff, Amira sucked in deep gulps of air. She was only mildly gratified to see the others breathing hard as well. Then she heard it again—a sharp rock striking against rock noise that was out of place. Amira whipped her head around but saw only small boulders and a few token spiny cacti. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck rose, and she knew they were being watched.
“Guys, I think something followed us,” Amira whispered.
As if the sound of her voice was a signal, a black blur leapt over a boulder right at her face.
She had just enough time to bring up the staff for a weak parry. The breeze from its passage brushed her cheek. When it landed, it crouched preparing for another strike. This time she could see it clearly. It was smaller than the blink cat and similar in shape except for the two stumpy arms growing from the shoulders with disturbingly human-like hands tipped with six inch claws. Amira froze in horror when she realized where the hands must have come from. The warrior that died when they were escaping!
The thing jumped for her chest.
The motion yanked Amira’s thoughts back to the present. She lunged sideways and swept her staff around to slam it in the back of the head.
It staggered, but shook off the blow and crouched.
Amira jabbed at it with her staff, forcing it to jump back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the others fighting off more of these terrible things. How many of them were there?
This time the thing charged her legs.
Instead of dodging, she planted the staff and flipped over the thing’s back. While it was momentarily confused, she rammed the staff’s end straight into the back of its neck.
It grabbed the staff with those terrible hands and struggled in eerie silence.
“Die!” she shouted, leaning against the staff to keep the beast pinned. A burst of flame shot out of the staff and engulfed it. The stench of cooked meat made her want to gag, but she held on until it was nothing but ash. What just happened? Amira finally pulled the staff up and stared at it with a mix of wonder and fear.
Shaking off the moment, she analyzed the other fights. Maleko was holding his own. The thing he faced didn’t have hands, but it had several tentacles spouting from its body. A thick, black sludge oozed from the many spear holes riddling its sides. While it wasn’t dead yet, it would be soon.
Makani was in trouble. He had a six legged creature pinned to a rock but its overly large head was eating away at the spear and would be freed in moments. Amira ran over to help. As she rammed the staff into the thing’s belly, she decided to try out the staff’s newfound ability. She cried out, “Die!” and felt relieved when the flames once again shot out of the staff and roasted the creature to ashes. Handy. Perhaps too handy. Is this why the Prime had the staff? Did she know it would be needed on these?
Maleko’s beast was slowing but still not dying. “Here,” Amira said as she rammed it with the staff and invoked the fire. All three watched in satisfaction as it turned to ash.
“More magic,” Maleko grumbled, but said nothing more. Amira took that as his silent approval of a weapon able to dispatch this new enemy. “Look for more,” he ordered.
A quick search revealed no more surprises. “Those were probably the only ones who could keep up,” Makani said. “I’m going to set a false trail. You should return and warn everyone.”
Maleko nodded his approval and began running straight west.
Amira lingered behind a moment and gripped Makani’s arm. “Stay safe.”
He grinned and patted her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
She punched him lightly and said, “You better,” before rushing to catch up to Maleko. Amira certainly hoped he’d be ok. She was growing quite fond of the scout.
They ran west for an hour. Maleko stopped them frequently to check for signs of pursuit before finally heading north. Because of the delays, it was well past sunset when they finally reentered the forest. Even with the magic lamp, it was too dark to run, so they settled for a walk. That suited Amira just fine. Her body was a lump of suffering. One finger was rubbed raw, her arms ached in protest each time she lifted the staff, her legs were stiffening, and her right heel had formed a blister. Leaning on the staff, she limped along and hoped the camp was close. The trail rations had worn off long ago turning her stomach into an empty, gnawing monster. She longed for roasted meat. The image in her mind was so real she could smell it. In fact, it was growing stronger.
Maleko called out in his native language and a male voice responded. Amira blinked away her exhaustion, saw him talking to another warrior, and realized they’d stepped into the camp. She could have sworn there was no sign of the camp just a step back. To test her theory, she took two steps back and sure enough, it vanished from sight. Ekewaka must have put up an illusion to hide it. She’d have to warn him about not hiding scents.
The proximity of food, warmth, and company energized Amira. She bounce-stepped back into camp and immediately headed for the nearest fire pit where six women were laughing and passing food around. Amira recognized two of the women. Nalani’s caretaker, Hani, made room for her to sit while Wikolia, a warrior woman Amira often sparred with, passed her a plate already heaping with juicy meat, vegetables, and a small piece of bread. After a brief prayer to their ancestors, the women dug in with gusto. Amira followed suite, quite happy to appease her growling belly.
When everyone finished, they took the dirty dishes to the river at the edge of camp and washed them. After helping to dry and put away everything, Amira asked Hani about Radcliff so she could check up on him. When the woman pointed south, Amira smiled her thanks and began picking her way through groups of people to find him. At least there were no tents to trip over—instead the Shae had unrolled woven mats to sleep on. She wondered what they would do if it rained.
Amira had to ask directions several times before she found Radcliff. He was sitting on the ground surrounded by a group of children throwing rocks in the air and letting them drop. Then she laughed—he was trying to teach them to juggle. She stood there watching in amused silence as he patiently guided each child through the basic steps for juggling three items. When one succeeded, he puffed u
p like a proud father.
Eventually the parents stopped by to collect their children. Soon only Nalani remained although it was pretty late.
“Where’s your father,” Amira asked.
“He’s patrolling,” she replied.
“But he was out all day.”
The girl shrugged but Amira could see the hurt in her eyes.
“He just wants to keep you safe,” Radcliff chimed in.
“I guess.”
“Hey,” he nudged her. “You can sleep next to me.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up.
“Really.”
She wasted no time and curled up next to him.
Amira’s body was tired but her mind began churning over the day’s events. She worried over Makani, she worried about those things finding the Shae. She worried about Radcliff. Finally she drifted off into a restless sleep.
The Shae drop everything they own and begin running as fast as they can, but the lopsided galloping of the abominations chasing them gain ground anyway. Ekewaka falls behind to cast illusions which help for a while, but then he trips—just the opening needed for one of the faster things to take him down. Maleko and his warriors rush in to help but it is too late. Now they too fight a hopeless battle—a few against far too many. Like a river of lava the corrupt thousands flow over them and advance. Radcliff thrusts out a hand and flames shoot out, engulfing hundreds. But that is a temporary stop gap. Another swarm sweeps in from the east into the middle of the fleeing villagers, taking out hundreds. Amira shouts and tries to help but a large tentacle holds her in place. “You’re mine,” it whispers in her mind. She can feel its ecstasy as each villager is consumed. It chortles in amusement when they lurch back upwards and turn on their friends and family. “Their life energy is delicious,” it purrs. Finally only Radcliff remains standing. He is completely surrounded by the horde. “He is now mine too!” the tentacle shouts in victory. Slowly Radcliff turns around and looks at her with solid black eyes. “Time to take this world,” says the not-Radcliff. His laugh is a sick and twisted sound that shatters what remains of Amira’s hope.
“No!” Amira sat up abruptly with her heart thumping wildly. Her hand had a white knuckled grip on the staff which she recalled setting off to the side before laying down. How odd.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
Amira jumped at the voice, her fright receding somewhat when she saw the familiar face. “You didn’t,” she croaked past a dried out throat.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Maleko whispered as he gently gathered a still sleeping Nalani in his arms.
She looked at him slack jawed. Since when was he empathetic? Unwilling to wake up either Nalani or Radcliff, she shook her head. What she needed most was time to process what she just saw. It couldn’t be a real vision, could it?
“I’m three fires that way.” Maleko pointed east. “If you need anything.”
She managed a small nod and watched him leave.
Lacking distractions, her mind latched onto the message from her vision. They were doomed if they kept on their present course without any changes. But it wasn’t supposed to end this way according to earlier visions. So what went wrong? Knowing she wouldn’t get any sleep now, Amira prepared to watch the sun rise and hopefully think of something that could save them.
CHAPTER 16
The Hunted
The man was rocking on an ocean under the sun when a tentacle shot out of the water and slapped against the side of the boat. He jolted upright in a panic and sank back down gratefully when he discovered the tentacle was just a dream. The motion however, was real and making him queasy.
The four men carrying him on a makeshift stretcher stopped and lowered it to the ground so he could get off. While he stood and stretched, they quickly rolled it up, tied it down and began running again.
“Radcliff!” a bundle of girl energy hurled into him.
He was shoved off-balance from the impact. I guess that’s me? Why can’t I remember my name, or this girl? She seems to know me well enough.
Once the girl was done giving him a tight hug, she pulled back and said, “You have to carry me.”
She stood there with such bold confidence, he couldn’t help but smile despite his worry. “I do, huh?”
But when he bent down to pick her up, she dodged away from his grasp and laughed. “No, silly. I go on your back.”
“Oh.” Have I done this before? Shaken, he knelt and let the girl climb up onto his shoulders. Holding her legs in place, he stood and looked around.
“I’m Nalani. You need to run that away.” She pointed in the direction the men ran. He could see many people jogging alongside them.
Radcliff sprinted to catch up. “So, why are we running?”
“Bad things are after us.”
“I see.” Not really. He didn’t remember that either. In fact, try as he might, he couldn’t remember anything.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” a man called out as they caught up to the group. He wore a multicolored tunic that looked like it was made up of intricate beadwork. “I’m Ekewaka.” His piercing eyes scanned Radcliff top to bottom before asking, “How is your head?”
Radcliff’s head was throbbing, but how did this man know? Ekewaka didn’t even wait for him to reply before he pulled him to a stop and pressed his hands against his forehead. Radcliff felt a cool wave of energy wash away the pain. “Thanks,” he said as soon as Ekewaka finished. What a difference the lack of pain made–it was like floating.
“Stand there a moment and let it take hold.” Ekewaka turned from Radcliff and faced the direction they had come from.
Radcliff watched the man, curious.
“He’s going to make magic,” Nalani confided in his ear.
“Hush,” Ekewaka said. “You don’t want me to mess this up now, do you?” he teased.
“No!” she said and plopped her chin on the top of Radcliff’s head.
Ekewaka stretched his arms out and began to hum. The air above the ground shimmered and rose like a curtain to stretch high above them and a long ways out to either side. When he stopped humming, he studied the shimmery air with a growing smile. “There, that should hold them back a little longer.” Then he stumbled and Radcliff slipped an arm around his waist to steady him.
“What did you do?” Radcliff asked.
“He hid us, didn’t you?” Nalani chimed in.
“Smart girl. Yes, I did.”
Although the man’s eyes still had a spark in them, dark circles had formed underneath, like he hadn’t gotten sleep in days. Radcliff wondered just how much energy he had expended putting up that wall. “You look tired.”
Ekewaka grunted in agreement. “I’m afraid I don’t have many more of those left in me. It’s not so much the putting up as it is the keeping it up across a distance.”
“Are you able to run?”
He grinned and chuckled. “The day I can’t run is the day I’m dead.”
Ekewaka wasn’t lying. He made running look effortless as they rejoined the group. There, Radcliff saw others, mostly women, carrying small children on their shoulders. Men carried spears and large rolls. Even the boys and girls had small bundles tied to their backs. All were so dusty they blended into the landscape. “How long have we been running?”
“This is the fourth day.”
“And you’ve been hiding everyone all this time?”
“Well, it was easy at first with the pull behinds.”
“Pull behinds?”
“Simple devices dragged behind a person to carry a burden. They also make great false trails.” Ekewaka’s impish grin transformed him from tired looking elder to young man. “Well over two thirds of the horde chasing us split away and are probably still running east.” His chuckle turned to a hacking cough.
“Do you need some water?”
“No, I’m fine.” Ekewaka waved him off. “We’ll stop to rest soon enough.”
As they ran, Nalani began singing. Th
ough he didn’t understand the words, the rhythm went well with Radcliff’s strides and he relaxed into the motion.
Nalani sang a couple of songs. When she ended the last one, she rapped on Radcliff’s head. “Sing along. I’ll teach you.”
Radcliff chuckled. “No, that’s quite alright. I need the air to breathe. Everyone is in really good shape.”
“You aren’t bad now. But you were as skinny as a newborn Shae sprout when you first arrived. And completely bald.” She rubbed her hands over his short stubbly hair.
“Was I now?” Yet another thing he couldn’t remember. “And how long ago did I arrive?”
“About two weeks. Now sing!” Nalani launched into a simple tune.
Radcliff hummed along which seemed to make the girl happy. She added hand clapping to the mix. When they finally stopped for a break, Radcliff was surprised at how much time had passed. Judging by the sun’s position overhead he estimated they’d been running for two hours. How can I know about time estimates and not remember my own name?
He had just put Nalani down and grabbed one of the dried meat strips being handed out when something filled with malice brushed up against his mind. At the same time Ekewaka cried out and dropped to his knees.
“Help!” Radcliff cried out as he rushed over.
Ekewaka’s hand trembled as he tried to wave Radcliff off. “I’ll be ok.”
Radcliff grabbed his arms and helped him up despite the man’s protests. “What happened?”
The elder’s face was ashen, and he leaned heavily against Radcliff. “The illusion is gone. We are exposed and I have no more energy to replace it.”
“Can someone else do it?”
“No. It is a rare gift.” Ekewaka was still wobbly but trying to stand on his own. “Most villages do without.”
