The Santoran Chronicles

by C. O. Amal

  “It’s very cold in here.” Robin said. Isaac nodded. “Do you think that they killed everyone?”

  “Yeah. At worse, they must have captured everyone.”

  “I can’t forgot the concentration camp we have found last month.” Robin said.

  “This time it will be lot worse for our people. They might be really angry about the tower in the south.”

  Both of them reached deep inside the cave and they looked around. It’s semi darkness in here and they could see sunlight seeping in, in a corner, through the cracks on the roof.

  Suddenly someone moved in the shadows. Isaac and Robin froze. They looked around.

  “We are not alone.” Robin said.

  Isaac looked everywhere, then he saw something moving in the darkness. Then they saw it clearly. A group of men and woman in partial clothes stepped into the light. All of them have bows and arrows trained at Robin and Isaac.

  “Shit. They are the Thibarians.” Robin said.

  “But, they are on the other side of this planet!”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 4

  “Stand down, people.” One of the Thibarian commanded and everyone lowered their bows. Isaac and Robin stared at the Thibarians with disbelief.

  Then one of the Thibarian came forward. “Who are you?”

  “I am Isaac, and this is Robin. We were running away from those things. We didn’t thought you guys would be here. We are extremely sorry if we disturbed you. We will go away as soon as we think it’s safe.”

  “You didn’t disturbed us.” The Thibarian said. He turned towards the other Thibarians. “They are good people. Don’t worry, friends.” The other Thibarians eased themselves. Then they went in their own way. “You can call me Ruby. Come on, I will show you around.”

  “How did you ended up here?” Isaac asked.

  “They destroyed our home, and our mother led us to this place. She told us that a war is coming, and we have to be ready for it.” Ruby said. “So, how many are there, like you?”

  “We were forty, now only two of us are left. I hope more might have survived.” Isaac said.

  Ruby led them to a little deep inside the cave. Now there is no roof and sunlight seeped in through the tree canopy above the cave. There is a thick growth of trees above the cave. And water dripped from several places.

  “We came here last month. Now this cave is our home.” Ruby said. All the Thibarians are doing regular works, and some of the Thibarians are standing here and there, guarding the place.

  “So how many are you here?” Robin asked.

  “There are four hundred of us here. There were more, but last month, when we were coming, a group of those hellish dogs came at us and killed many of us. Nevertheless we managed to kill several of those things.”

  “With bows and arrows?” Robin asked in surprise.

  “Yeah.”

  “How?” Robin asked.

  We used poison arrows. The bark of the Baba Troudy tree is a good source of poison. Just one drop of bark solution can kill you in seconds.”

  “I know that tree.” Robin said. “There are many in this place.”

  “Yeah. That makes this place a good hideout. We have all we need in here.”

  “How do you plan to attack them?” Isaac asked.

  “Well, we were told that we should help the resistance fighters. Although, we never ran into one of them.”

  “We are the resistance fighters.” Robin said.

  Isaac eyed Robin.

  “Is that true?” Ruby asked.

  “We were. Now we are nothing but rubble.” Isaac said lowering his voice.

  “Is there any way we could help you?” Ruby asked.

  Isaac for a moment fell in thoughts. “If we could salvage the weapons, we may have a chance.”

  “We could help.” Ruby said.

  “There could be those dogs out there.” Isaac said.

  “We are not afraid. I already told you about our poison arrows.”

  “Then, what are we waiting for. Let’s send them straight to hell.” Robin shouted. Ruby nodded. Excitement jolted through Isaac.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 5

  Ruby gave Isaac and Robin a light meal. Then Isaac and Robin slowly started a walk through the cave. The Thibarians have made this cave really a home. Some of the Thibarians are working hard to develop poison for the arrows. Looking at all this, Isaac slowly fell in thoughts. He remembered his old house, and his parents, and then he remembered the past events, before the whole world went to crap...

  * * * * *

  Chapter 6

  A.D. 2060, Somewhere in Planet Zera

  “Isaac, wake up, honey. It’s morning.”

  “I am coming, mom.”

  Isaac slowly removed the cover, and he stood up. He quickly went near the table and he picked up notebooks from the table. He put the notebooks in a back pack. Then he exited his room. He went straight to the wash room and he quickly began to brush his teeth.

  He washed his mouth and he slowly walked towards the kitchen. In the kitchen his mom is very busy preparing breakfast.

  “Where is dad?”

  “He went to feed the cows.” Mother quickly placed a plate of scrambled egg on the table. “Eat and then dress. Don will be here soon.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Well past seven thirty.”

  “Seven thirty?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh my, god. I need to take a bath.” Isaac stood up and he ran towards the bathroom.

  Mother looked at Isaac and she smiled.

  “Hurry, Isaac.” Mother yelled.

  Before long Isaac dressed and readied to go to college. He took the back pack and he threw it on his shoulders.

  “Mom, I am leaving.”

  “Okay, honey. Did Don came?”

  “No. It’s Eight fifteen. I will meet him on the way.”

  “Okay, stay safe.”

  Isaac quickly exited his house and he slowly walked through the house yard. He saw his dad doing some work with the hay. Isaac waved at his father and his father waved back. Isaac smiled and he continued his journey. Before long he entered into the road. For a moment he stared at his small house and the barn. Then he slowly walked away from the house.

  There are trees on both sides of the muddy road, and birds chirped from the trees. Water droplets of yesterday’s rain steadily dripped from trees. There aren’t many houses near the road. He passed a few houses and he stopped in front of a double story house.

  “Don?” Isaac called.

  A woman came outside. “Don left early.”

  “Okay.” Isaac slowly continued his walk. Suddenly rain clouds gathered in the sky and within minutes a rain started. Isaac hurriedly searched his back pack for umbrella, but he hadn’t took the umbrella.

  “Shit.” The rain got stronger, and a strong, violent wind blew towards him. He quickly ran towards Don’s house which is nearby.

  “Mrs John?” Isaac called from the veranda.”

  “What is it, Isaac?” Don’s mother came outside.

  “In any chance you have a spare umbrella? I forgot to take mine.”

  “Let me look.” Mrs John got inside the house. She then came back with a black umbrella. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks. I will return it to you in the evening.”

  “Okay.”

  Isaac quickly opened the umbrella and he stepped into the rain. He slowly started his walk. The wind continued to blow from different directions. He slowly walked since the road is slippery. Here and there puddles of rain water formed. Before long he saw the college far away. He is pretty late and there are no students on the road. He began to shiver, partly due to the fear of going late.

  Isaac hurriedly got inside the college yard. He ran rest of the way. But, surprisingly, the college and the surroundings are dead silent. It seems that nobody is inside the college. The strength of the rain slowly decreased. He entered inside the college through the already unl
ocked door and he ran through the hallway, to his class room. Then he noticed that he forgot to close the umbrella. He quickly closed the umbrella. Water steadily dripped from the umbrella. Then finally he entered inside his class room. But, again, surprisingly, the class room is empty.

  “Where the hell did everyone gone to? Guys I am not in a mood for jokes. Please come out.”

  No response. There are no signs of students or teachers in here. Isaac placed his back pack on the bench and he slowly got outside. He took the umbrella in his hand. Before long he started walking through the hallway. He walked towards the staff room. There also he found no signs of anyone.

  “Is everyone on leave?”

  Suddenly a sound of something being chopped came from outside. Isaac quickly went near the window and peered outside. Then he saw someone chopping something using a big knife on the back playground. This someone is the first person Isaac saw in this college today. So, Isaac quickly exited the college and he walked towards the playground. Thankfully the rain had stopped. He quickly reached the playground.

  “Hey, where is everybody?” Isaac called the man. The man slowly looked at Isaac. It’s then Isaac saw the man clearly. The man’s clothes are drenched in blood and on the ground lays the chopped up body of a girl. The man’s face is also filled with blood. Suddenly the man raised his knife and with a snarl he lunged at Isaac.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 7

  “Ahh ...” Isaac screamed and he bolted into a run. The man followed Isaac. Isaac ran inside the college and he closed the front door. Then he dead bolted the door. The man then began to pound on the door from outside. Isaac quickly ran away from the front door. Before long he got back to his class room. He took the back pack and he ran for the exit door.

  He quickly found a nearby exit door. He got outside and he ran for the college yard. Then he saw it. There are many dead bodies here and there on the side of the yard. All bodies are chopped from head to toe into smaller pieces. Panic and worry surged through Isaac. Before long he exited the college gate. Then he stopped running. He walked towards a higher ground and he peered at the college in front of him. The man he earlier saw is still pounding on the front door. There must be more than one killer, otherwise there wouldn’t be this much bodies.

  Isaac looked everywhere but he found no one else. He have no idea what to do. Who will help? His friends need help. Anyway, who will kill people like this?

  Suddenly the man who is pounding on the door turned towards Isaac. He stared at Isaac for some time, then he lunged towards Isaac.

  “Oh, god.”

  Isaac bolted into a run. He ran through the muddy road towards his home. There aren’t any houses nearby. And the nearest town is on the opposite direction. Right now, Isaac felt that his home would be the perfect place to hide. This guy must be a child killer. Rain water in the puddles splashed in both direction as Isaac ran over them. There are no pursuers yet, but he need to reach home faster. Before long he reached near Don’s house. Suddenly a scream came from that house.

  Isaac stopped for a moment and listened. It seems that Don is the one who is screaming. But, Mrs John said Don went to college earlier. Why would she lie? Isaac slowly walked towards Don’s house. It seems that the scream is coming from the backyard. Isaac got inside the house through the already unlocked door. He didn’t called anyone. Because, whatever happened at college must be happening here too.

  Before long he reached near the kitchen. He peered outside through the back window and found Don’s bloody dead body lying on the yard. Isaac have all the urge to scream. He covered his mouth with his hand and he held back his scream. He carefully peered outside and saw two men with bloody knives standing nearby Don’s body. His mother and father are also there, but they are not showing any sadness.

  “So, that Isaac kid went to college?” One of the men with bloody knife asked.

  “Yeah. He went to college. There may be more inside the college.” Mrs John said.

  Isaac couldn’t believe what he is hearing and seeing. He need to get back home. These guys are nuts and they said there is more in college. What is this more? Isaac quickly exited the house and he ran away from that house. He didn’t even tried to look back. They must be killing students. But the question is, why? Are they really nuts? He haven’t heard about this kind of murder for his whole life. This is something new. Before long he saw his house far away. He ran for the house.

  “Ahh ...” Suddenly a scream came from Isaac’s house.

  “Mom? No ...” It was his mother’s scream.

  “Ahh ...” Next came his father’s scream.

  “No, this can’t be right. They are killing everyone.” Isaac quickly reached his house. He ran for the barn. Before long he entered inside the barn and he hid behind a block of hay. The cows are very silent and there seemed to be no chickens nearby.

  “Come on, let’s head to college.” Someone said from just outside the barn. “There will be more in the college.”

  Isaac began to shiver from head to toe. He need help. Who will help him?

  * * * * *

  Chapter 8

  Tears uncontrollably oozed down from Isaac’s eyes. He listened to the sounds and found the killers’ footsteps moving away from his house. Then he discarded the cover of the hay and he went near the door. He peered outside and saw a few men moving towards the college’s direction. All of them have a long knife with them. When the men disappeared from Isaac’s eyesight, Isaac ran for his house.

  “Mom?”

  “Dad?”

  No response. He entered inside the house through the front door and he ran towards the kitchen. Then in the kitchen he stopped. He actually froze. On the floor lies his father and mother. Blood is still oozing down from their head and neck. There is a puddle of blood formed in a corner.

  “Mom? Dad?”

  Isaac crouched down near his parents and he broke into scream. “Why? God, why?”

  “I will tell you why, kid?” A distinct sound came from the living room. Isaac wiped away his tears using his hands and he stood up. Then he turned towards the sound. A man with bloody face came to view. He is carrying a bloody knife in his hands. “You all are infected by the plague. We are here to cleanse your soul.” The man smiled at Isaac.

  “You ... You won’t get away with this.” Isaac curled his fist into a ball and he propelled towards the man to punch him. But, the man was quick. He dodged the attack and he kicked at Isaac’s midsection. Isaac lost his footing and he fell down.

  “Don’t worry, kid. It will be quick. Join your parents in heaven, kid.” The man walked towards Isaac and he raised his knife. Isaac closed his eyes and he braced for the slash.

  Bang!

  “Ahh ...” The man screamed and he fell down. Isaac opened his eyes and saw a girl standing behind the man with a metal rod in her hands.

  “Robin?”

  “Isaac. Come on, let’s get out of here before they return.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 9

  Isaac and Robin didn’t spoke. They just ran and ran.

  “Where are we going?” Finally Isaac asked.

  “I don’t know. A forest might be a good place to start.”

  “Why forest?”

  “They are everywhere, Isaac. I went to north town, but that town was full of them. I barely escaped from there.”

  “How do you know I was in my home?”

  “I saw you running into your house. I knew it would be bad for you.”

  Isaac stopped running. Then Robin also stopped running. And they took a deep breath. “What is happening, Robin?”

  “I don’t know, Isaac. I thought I would be alone. Then I saw you. My mother tried to kill me. She succeeded in killing my brother.”

  “Jasper is dead?”

  “Yeah, worse. I don’t want to talk about it.” Robin became silent. Isaac nodded and they started running again.

  They passed many houses. All the houses are dead silent and in several houses
there are blood markings all over the veranda. There aren’t much houses in this area and each house is almost isolated from other houses. Before long they saw the forest landscape far away. And a few minutes later, the muddy road ended and they entered into a meadow. Isaac and Robin slowed down a little.