“You Okay?” Marona asked as she folded her dress underneath her and sat directly in front of Emil. His eyes hung low but slowly widened at the sight of her in front of him.
“Yeah, just thinking… got everything you need?”
“Yeah, I think so. Two daggers. One at the hip and another one hidden in my boot. It should be enough.”
“Good. We leave tomorrow,” Emil responded before closing his eyes once again.
“I have a question. Earlier, you said that the king was doing something and you were shocked that I didn’t catch what was going on. You said that you would tell me, but it wasn’t safe where we were. So what’s going on?”
Emil pressed his head against the stone wall before looking up at the ceiling overhead; bracing himself for a truth he himself had barely come to terms with.
“They’re hunting us.”
“Hunting… you?” Marona whispered silently to herself as she tried to process what she had just heard.
“Yes. Hunting us. It’s been like this for awhile now. The king has been hunting us down like wild animals, picking us off one by one. That’s why you see The Guard everywhere. That’s why the taxes have been through the roof. That’s why it’s been harder to find food. It’s the reason behind everything. He’s trying to flush us out.”
“Us?”
“People like me. People who are different… Abnormals.”
“Why?” Marona asked, faintly, still somewhat in disbelief.
“I’m sure he has his reasons… the most obvious one is that he is afraid of a rebellion. He’d rather have us on his side than trying to tear us down. Usually when they find you, depending on how high they rank you, they’ll make you an offer to join them. Legion. If you’re not worth their time, they’ll kill you without hesitation. Join or die. It’s the surefire way to ensure information doesn’t get out about what they’re doing.”
“Is that why you’ve been on the run?”
“Yeah. I’ve been running for as long as I can remember. I thought I did well, though. I settled down in a small village and made peace, but they found me. I was living with a family in Nerai. Good people. But then they took everything away from me. I was careless… selfish. And now they’re all dead. Every last one of them. They’re dead because of me.”
His eyes drifted downward at his feet as Marona sat speechless in front of him.
“How stupid was I to think that I could actually live a normal life? I killed all of those people.”
“Emil…”
“They want me, so that’s what they’ll get. I can’t run anymore. They won’t stop till they have me. I know that now.”
“What if they think you’re already dead? What then?”
“They don’t. They’re extremely good with tracking once you’re on their radar. They wouldn’t even consider it unless they found a body, and even then they have their ways. I took out one of their members and a fleet along with him. That’s not something you can just forget. It’s been three days now. They’re out there. I understand if you’re afraid. Just know that tomorrow I plan on killing them before they kill me.”
Chapter 7: A Fate Worse Than Death
That night, Emil stood guard outside the cave, watching for nearby threats. From the opening of the cave where he stood, he could see where his village once resided. The moon up above dimly lit the forest grounds. From where he stood, nothing was visible of what used to be the village. There was just a patch of darkness, devoid of any life. In a flash of rage, Emil swung his fist into the side of the cave’s wall.
Come on. Show me something. Anything.
He intently scanned the forest for any sign of life. He had been doing this for the past couple of hours, determined to find a pulse somewhere down below.
Nothing.
When morning came, he found himself against a stone by the opening of where he once hid.
He stood immediately, shaking off any sense of sluggishness he had before. The sun stung his eyes as he focused in on the horizon of the brightly shining star. The light that it bore was skewed, misrepresented by a thick ominous fog that hovered only slightly above the tree tops.
The hell?
Immediately, Emil doubled back to the cave and peered over to Marona who was still sleeping. Without a moment’s hesitation, he left her and pursued the fog that hung over the remnants of his village. Emil raced down the waterfall and deep into the forest, paying no head to the repercussions of his actions. If it was a trap, they’d get what they wanted, but they’d have to kill him first. Emil gracefully dodged the low hanging vines and branches as he ran through the forest, determined to find his answer. As he drew closer to where his village once stood, the fog became thicker, forcing him to slow to a crawl. His feet skidded across the terrain as he came to a sudden stop. His breaths came slow, but not forced. The air was denser inside the fog than anywhere else in the forest. Slowly, Emil walked in the direction of his home town; fully aware that what he was witnessing wasn’t nature’s doing.
Emil walked through the forest, unnerved, sword in hand, mentally prepared for the ambush that was sure to come. As he ventured deeper into the forest, the king’s men never came. Instead, on the outskirts of his home, a charred body hung loosely by the neck from a withered rope.
“Beth?”
There was no mistaking it. Her limp body was clothed the same as it was when he last saw her. Her frayed maroon dress eerily complemented the reddened flesh hanging from the exposed parts of her lifeless body. She damned the whole town, her people, and ultimately herself all for a few coins. The assorted pieces of gold were scattered beneath the leaves directly under the tree where her body silently swayed.
Damn…
Emil tried his best to leave her body where it hung, but it didn’t sit right with him. He drew his sword and cut through the rope that suspended her, allowing him to gently lay her against the base of the tree. His fingers ran lightly over her eyelids, finally putting her soul to rest.
Not too far from his position, the sound of a cracked branch echoed behind him. Immediately, Emil turned his head over his shoulder and saw a familiar silhouette running deep into the woods. A numbing chill gripped his body as he felt the blood in his body ice over.
“R...Ren?” He said softly to himself as he gazed deeper into the disorienting fog. “Ren!” Emil sprang to his feet and called once more before rushing in after her. “Ren! Ren! It’s me!” he yelled as he desperately tried to track her trail. “It’s not safe here! Where are you?! Ren!”
He stopped and searched the surrounding area for a sign, waiting for her response. “Taeo! Mom! We have to get out of here!”
“Emil, I’m scared!” he heard her voice faintly in the distance.
“Ren! I’m coming. I can’t see you. Stay put! I’ll come your way!” Emil paced himself in the direction of her voice until he found her waiting for him on a patch of charred earth. She stood alone, surrounded by the aftermath of the initial attack.
“Ren… are you ok? Where are the others?” he said as he slowly approached her. Before he could touch her, her body faded into a silver stream of dust that dissipated into the fog.
Legion.
Emil quickly twisted his body and grimaced at the sight of a figure solidifying behind him. Without hesitation, Emil lunged towards the silver specter, piercing through its heart with his crackling hand.
Ren?
The head of the being bore a spitting resemblance to Ren as it morphed into a more solid form. Taking advantage of Emil’s shock, the specter retaliated, seemingly un-phased by the crumbling crystal-like material that fell from the hole in its shattered chest. From its mouth, a sickle emerged and fired at Emil from point blank range, cutting him on the cheek.
“Gah!”
Emil winced in pain as the crystal spire drew blood as it traveled alongside his face. Using his free hand, Emil swiped clean through the neck of the crystallized figure, causing it to crumble immediately. The head of the figure rolled be
side him, its mouth still gaped open, bearing the face of the one he trusted most.
Illusions. Emil thought as he watched the head disintegrate into the ground.
His train of thought was halted by a swarm of footsteps encroaching on him from amidst the thickening fog. Emil readied himself, drawing his sword and sending a charge throughout his blade. From all directions he heard them. The constant pattering echoed in the void in which he stood. The grip on his blade loosened as he found himself leaning slightly to the side.
Wha-?
A sudden pulse ran through his body, momentarily immobilizing him. From the shadows, a crystal specter dived at Emil from above, aiming to incapacitate him in his moment of weakness.
Come on, move!
Anticipating the surprise attack, Emil twisted his body, narrowly dodging the set of silver tendrils that lunged at him. As the creature hit the forest floor, its tendrils shifted into a set of blades. Unable to land a counterattack, the beast leaped back into the cover of the gray mist, unharmed.
A shape shifter? He thought as he shakily fell to one knee, planting his sword into the earth for balance. His vision blurred as his unfocused gaze began to slowly be consumed by white. My head…
The footsteps circled him again, this time, louder. Emil sluggishly stood, disoriented by both the blinding haze and his unknown symptoms. He gripped his blade tight and drew it closer to his body.
Two…Three…Four?
It was impossible to determine their numbers with the fog masking their movements. From the haze, two specters sprang from both sides. Emil parried both of their attacks but was once again unable to capitalize on his opponent’s mishap. Another one landed behind him and swiped at his back.
“Ah!” Emil screamed as the blade tore through his flesh, the pain jerked him forward but his tenacity willed him to stay on his feet. Unrelenting, Emil turned and cleaved through his assailant’s face. Its disembodied carcass shattered and melded with the still, cold air.
As if fire was set to his back, Emil keeled over, stunned from the searing pain.
Tired already? The fun has only just begun. An unfamiliar voice echoed in his head, momentarily blocking the pain of his injuries. Her tone, soft, deviant, akin to that of a seductive whisper. From above, the same two specters dived in on Emil. He dodged, pushing off of the terrain, propelling himself backwards. Still suspended in mid-air, Emil chunked a pair of charged shuriken at his attackers, both missing considerably.
Oh, I think you made them angry. Better run, the voice sang.
As he flew through the air, Emil watched as the already grotesque beings shifted once again. Fragments of crystal broke off from their exoskeletons as they shrieked feverishly in ecstasy. Their bladed hands curved inward and downward, forming perfectly proportioned scythes. Their bodies dropped, altering their center of gravity, forcing them to hunch over. The excess crystal that had fallen off, re-adhered itself to the base of their legs, fortifying their would-be calves.
Emil landed shakily, barely sticking his footing. Poison? The ground beneath his feet shook unevenly even though the earth remained still. His body drooped, unresponsive to his commands.
Something like that, the unfamiliar voice answered with a sultry laugh, details are irrelevant at this point. All that matters is that you submit to me.
Chapter 8: Left Behind
Marona woke from the hard cave floor in a jut. With Emil nowhere to be seen, the worst of her fears had come to fruition. There was no use calling for him, she knew where he was. Hastily outfitting herself, she re-armed herself with her cross bow and assorted explosives. The two daggers that Emil had given her were already stowed away in their desired spots. From the mouth of the cave, she looked down at the tree tops, looking for any sign of the departed hero’s whereabouts.
There. He has to be there.
In the distance she spotted the cloud of fog that had descended over her uncle’s village and the surrounding area. Wasting no time, she began her descent from the waterfall; observant of any potential threats.
As she neared the demonic fog, she treaded with even more discretion. For as long as she could remember, she had not seen nor heard any traces of life. The forest was still; absent of the birds’ songs or the rustle of the leaves from the flowing wind. Her crossbow guided her as she walked, primed to fire at anything that proved itself a potential threat. For some time now she had been hearing something; a faint whisper calling for her, guiding her deeper into the forest. The voice was unfamiliar, subtle, and as if it were coming from within.
“Huh?” A twig broke not too far from where she stood. She quickly swiveled her body, directing her crossbow in the direction of the sudden sound.
“Who’s there?” Her breaths raced as she steadily strummed her fingers along the grip of her bow. “I heard you!” She remained still, waiting for an answer. But no one replied. “Hello?” she called out nervously as she gripped her bow tighter, her finger weighing heavily on the trigger. With her eyes looking down her sights, she approached the site of the foreign sound at a snail’s pace. In the dead silence, her heart beat boomed in her ears. Her face tinged with adrenaline as she found it within herself to speak once more. “E-Emil?” She pressed further on until she stood directly where the sound originated. With her bow leading the way, she scanned her surroundings, searching for any sign of life.
“Ma-rona, is that… you?” a frail voice echoed from the mist. Marona turned and peered deep into the haze. “Marona, it’s me!”
Uncle? She cautiously walked into the fog, unsure of what to believe. “Where are you?” she asked as she waved the bow around, in fear of ambush. “I can’t see anything in this fog.”
“Marona, just follow my voice.”
“Are you hurt?” Marona called out into the mist.
“My legs are, but I’ll live. I can’t make it too far on my own.”
“Okay, stay put. I’m coming for you,” Marona said as she scoped out her surroundings through the sights of her bow. There’s no way that he is alive. Emil said he saw him die with his own eyes. For some time she traveled until she saw a lame man in the distance hugging the forest floor.
“Ma-Marona… over here!” her uncle weakly cried out.
“Uncle!” Lowering her weapon, she ran closer to the grounded man. “Uncle! I can’t believe it’s you!” Her already clouded vision grew worse from the water welling in her eyes. “I-I thought you were dead!”
The specter that resembled her uncle reached out to her with an outstretched arm, beckoning her to come to its aid. As Marona came closer, the specter shifted its hidden arm into a blade, ready to incapacitate her at a moment’s notice. Before she was in striking distance, a figure dove in from the sky and shattered the specter, dispersing its shards throughout the area. From the cloud of smoke, a man emerged. He wore all black, his complexion only a few shades lighter. His clothing was frayed as if he had seen many hard times. The gold cross that hung from his wrist closely resembled the color of his short fine hair. Faint traces of black and purple energy crackled around him as he stood with a quiet strong stature.
“Are you the one who bears light?”
Chapter 9: Stained
“Like hell, I’ll submit to you!” Emil yelled as he stood, attempting to slice through the beast that lunged towards him. Before his blade connected, the specter vanished. Emil flinched at the after image that still traveled in the specter’s original path. He shielded himself with his sword as the image phased through him. Another illusion! Momentarily distracted, he left himself open to the beast’s true attack. Charging in at full speed, the specter lashed at Emil. The crystal scythe met his blade, halting the blow but knocking him off balance.
Damn it!
Before he could recover, another specter rushed in on him from his left side, connecting with a slice against his exposed ribs. Following up, the other specter launched him across the forest with a swift kick from its hind legs.
When Emil finally stopped traveling, his
body was up against the base of a tree, mangled from skidding across the terrain. He tried to move but his body wouldn’t respond. The paved trench carved out from his body was drizzled with his own blood. He struggled to keep his eyes open, knowing he would be gone if he were to close them even for a second. In the distance, he saw a silhouette of a woman walking between two specters, approaching slowly. As they neared, Emil tried once again to lift his body, but a jolt of pain streamed through him. Stay put, would you. I just want to talk. Against his will, his body fell numb in obedience to the voice that echoed inside his head. There, perfect. Now sit tight. Emil struggled to move but between the pain and the woman’s apparent control, his efforts were useless.
“Ah! There you are, Emil. Comfy?” Her crystal-like dress swayed as she walked closer to the wounded hero. It was both form fitting and mesmerizing. The silver shimmer that it gave off matched the complexion of her pale face and sleek features. “It’s amazing how you haven’t went under yet, considering what’s in your system. That’s quite the feat if I do say so myself.”
She looked to him for a response but Emil remained silent as he lay against the base of the tree, resisting the unknown substance that coursed through his veins.
“Oh, the strong, silent type huh?” She said mockingly as she came closer. “Are you even conscious…? Good. It’ll be easier that way. Like I said, I just want to talk a little, and maybe do a little remodeling on the inside. From what I saw, you and the king have a little bad blood between each other, but don’t worry. I can fix that.” The mysterious lady raised her right hand and examined her pointer finger as it extended and formed to a single point. Emil groggily raised his head and watched her as she moved closer, steadily trying his best to muster up his remaining strength.
“The king specifically said to leave you alive but to exercise extreme caution. From what I see, I don’t see much of a threat. And even if you are, after I’m done with you, you’ll be anything but that.” She attempted to touch him, but as she made contact, a jolt of energy ran through her body, causing her to pull back. The two beasts beside her began to growl at the hero as he lay dormant, eager to defend the one who struck their keeper.
The Dreamer and the Deceiver (The Last Light Book 1) Page 5
