Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  James-ifor-ihis-ipart-isat-icurled-iup-ibehind-ia-ilarge-iwooden-icart-iparked-iin-ithe-ialleyway-ihe-ioccupied,-icurled-iup-iinto-ias-ismall-ia-ispace-ias-ipossible,-iand-itrying-ito-italk-ihimself-iout-iof-ibeing-iscared-icompletely-ishitless.

  Way-ito-igo,-iloser.-iYou-icould-ihave-ihad-ian-ieternity-iof-ibliss,-iand-iinstead-iyou're-ihere-iin-ia-ifiery-ihellscape-iabout-ito-itry-iand-irescue-ia-ilittle-igirl-ifrom-ibeing-iprobably-iraped-iand-idefinitely-imurdered,-igod-iknows-iin-iwhich-iorder,-iby-ia-igang-iof-iseven-ifoot-itall-ihyena-imonsters-ithat-ioutnumber-iyou-isix-ito-ione.-iOh,-iand-iyou're-ithe-iasshole-iwho-iconvinced-ithat-igirl-ito-iuse-iherself-ias-ibait-ito-ilure-ithem-iin,-iso-iif-ishe-iDOES-iget-imurder-raped,-ithat'll-ibe-iyour-ifault.-iGo-iyou.

  James-icouldn't-ihelp-iwonder-iif-ithere-iwas-iany-iway-ihe-icould-imaybe,-ijust-imaybe,-italk-iFrumpkin-iinto-iletting-ihim-iswitch-ioptions.-iHe-iwas-isuddenly-ihaving-ijust-ithe-iabsolute-iworst-ibuyer's-iremorse-iright-inow.

  Before-ihe-ihad-itime-ito-idwell-iany-ilonger,-ihowever,-ihe-iheard-ithe-ifaint-ipatter-iof-ismall-ifeet-igrow-icloser-iand-icloser,-iuntil-ia-imoment-ior-itwo-ilater-ihe-isaw-ithe-ismall-iform-iof-iMadeleine-irun-ipast,-ibreathing-iheavily.-iShe-iwas-ifollowed-iseveral-iseconds-ilater-iby-isound-iof-imuch-ilarger-ifeet-ipounding-ithe-iground,-iaccompanied-iby-iyelping-iand-ibarking-iand-isnapping.

  Rose-ilooked-iacross-ithe-ialleyway-iand-imade-ieye-icontact-iwith-ihim,-iraising-iher-ihand-iup,-isignalling-ifor-ihim-iget-iinto-iposition-ito-ihold-ihis-iplace.-iWith-ia-ideep-ibreath-iand-ia-igulp,-iJames-ipulled-ihimself-ito-ihis-ifeet,-iand-igripped-ihis-iaxe-itighter.

  The-ifirst-ignoll-iflew-ipast,-ithen-ithe-isecond,-ithen-ithird-iand-ifourth.-iThen-ithe-ififth.

  Rose-inodded-iacross-iat-ihim,-iand-iwithout-ianother-ihint-iof-iwarning,-idove-iout-iof-ithe-ialleyway-iand-idirectly-iinto-ithe-isixth,-iburying-iher-isword-icleanly-ibetween-iits-iribs-iand-ibearing-iit-iinto-ithe-iground.

  Welp,-ihere-igoes-inothing.

  With-ihis-ibest-iattempt-iat-ia-iwarcry,-iJames-irushed-iout-iof-ithe-ialleyway,-iand-idirectly-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-iremaining-isix-ignolls,-iwho-idrew-iup-ishort,-iseemingly-ijust-ias-iconfused-iby-ithis-iunfortunate-iturn-iof-ievents-ias-iJames-iwas-iterrified.

  "Heh...uh...-ih-hey-iguys!"-iJames-isqueaked.-iHe-ishifted-iinto-ihis-ibest-iattempt-iat-ia-ibattle-istance,-ibut-ihis-ihands-iwere-ishaking-iso-imuch-ithat-ihe-iwas-iwas-iafraid-ihe'd-idrop-ihis-iaxe-iif-itried-ito-imove.

  Behind-ihim,-ihe-iheard-ia-iyelping-iscreech-iof-ianother-ignoll,-ithen-iRose's-ivoice-ishouting-iat-ihim.

  "James,-iget-ithem!-iHurry!"-iShe-isaid,-iparrying-ione-iof-ithe-icreature's-iblows-iwith-ithe-iflat-iof-iher-iblade.-iJames-isaw-ithat-inot-ifar-ibeyond-iher,-ithe-iother-ignolls-iwho-ihad-irushed-ipast-ithem-ihad-iturned-iback-iaround-iand-iwere-iheading-iback-itowards-ithem.

  He-igulped-iand-iturned-iaround,-ijust-iin-itime-ito-isee-ian-iaxe-iswing-ifrom-ithe-inearest-ignoll-ion-ia-icollision-icourse-iwith-ihis-iface.-iBefore-ihe-icould-iconsciously-iprocess-iwhat-iwas-ihappening,-ihe-ifelt-ihis-iarm-iswing-iup,-ipivoting-ihis-iaxe-iin-ian-iarc-ias-ihe-itook-ia-istep-ibackwards,-iglancing-ithe-istrike-iharmlessly-iaway.

  Oh,-iright.-iHe-iknew-ihow-ito-ifight.-iWhy-idid-ihe-ikeep-iforgetting-ithat?

  The-irest-iof-ithe-ignolls-iwere-ion-ihim-iin-ian-iinstant,-idriving-iand-islashing-iwith-itheir-iweapons,-iand-iit-iwas-iall-iJames-icould-ido-ito-ikeep-ithem-ifrom-imaking-icontact-ias-ihe-islowly-igave-iground-iand-ipulled-ithem-ifurther-idown-ithe-istreet-iin-ithe-idirection-iof-iRose-iand-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-ignolls.

  -i

  ###-iChapter-i32-i--iFiguring-iIt-iOut

  After-iseveral-iseconds,-ione-iof-ithe-ignolls-iseemed-ito-ihave-ia-imoment-iof-ibrilliance,-iand-iwhile-iJames-iwas-iparrying-ia-iblow-ifrom-ione-iof-iits-ibrothers,-idove-ifor-iJames's-ilegs.

  James-itried-ito-ireact-iin-itime,-ibut-ieven-iwith-iall-iof-ihis-iFrumpkin-given-italent-ihe-icouldn't-ifully-imanage-ito-iget-iout-iof-ithe-iway-iof-ithe-itackle,-iand-iin-ihis-iefforts-ito-idodge-ibeing-itaken-ito-ithe-iground-imanaged-ito-iturn-idirectly-iinto-ia-iswinging-ignoll-iclub.

  His-ivision-iexploded-iinto-ia-isea-iof-istars,-iand-ihe-istumbled-ibackwards,-istill-itrying-idesperately-ito-iward-ioff-ithe-iflurry-iof-iblows-ibeing-iaimed-iat-ihim.

  ["You-igonna-ido-isomething?-iOr-iare-iyou-ijust-igonna-istand-ithere-iand-ilet-ithem-iswing-iat-iyou?"]-iFrumpkin-iasked,-ieating-isomething-ithat-isounded-isuspiciously-ilike-ipotato-ichips.

  "I'm-idoing-imy-ibest-iover-ihere!"-iJames-ithought,-iknocking-iaside-ianother-iaxe-iblow.

  ["No.-iNo-iyou-iare-inot."]-iFrumpkin-isaid-imatter-iof-ifactly,-iletting-ithe-iwords-ijust-ihang-iin-ithe-iair.

  "Well-iwhat-iam-iI-isupposed-ito-ido?!"-iJames-iasked,-ijust-ibarely-imanaging-ito-iavoid-ibeing-iskewered-iby-ia-ispear-itip.

  ["You-iknow-iwhat-iyou-iare-isupposed-ito-ido.-iYou-idid-iit-ievery-iday-iwith-iRose."]-iFrumpkin-isaid,-itaking-ianother-icrunchy-imouthful-iof-iwhatever-ihe-iwas-ieating.

  "That-iis-icompletely-idifferent!-iThat-iwas-ipractice!-iAnd-ithere-iwas-ionly-ione-iof-iher!"-iJames-isaid,-ijust-ibarely-iducking-ia-iswing-ithat-iwould-ihave-itaken-ihis-ihead-iclean-ioff.

  ["...Are-iyou-ialways-ithis-iwhiny?-iJust-ido-ithe-isame-ithing.-iSeriously,-iit'll-iwork.-iOr-iyou-iknow,-idon't.-iWhat-ido-iI-icare?"]-iFrumpkin-isaid.-i["I'm-ijust-itrying-ito-ihelp-iyou-iout-ihere,-ikid."]

  "You-iknow-iwhat?-iFine.-iWhatever-iyou-isay.-iBut-iif-iI-idie-ifrom-iyour-iadvice,-iI-iwant-ia-isecond-ichance."-iJames-isaid,-isidestepping-ianother-iswing.-i

  ["I'll-imake-iyou-ia-ideal,-ikid--iif-iyou-idie-ias-ia-idirect-iresult-iof-ifollowing-imy-iinstructions-iperfectly-iright-inow,-iI'll-ilet-iyou-itry-iagain.-iBut-ionly-ithis-ionce.-iSo-idon't-iget-iused-ito-iit."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  "Wait,-iseriously?"-iJames-iasked.

  ["Yes.-iFor-ithe-ilove-iof-ime,-ido-isomething-ibefore-iI-idie-iof-iboredom-iover-ihere."]

  Doing-iwhatever-ihe-icould-ito-isoothe-ihis-inerves,-iJames-iset-iabout-itrying-ito-ifigure-iout-ihow-ion-iearth-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-iconvince-ihimself-ihe-iwas-igood-ienough-ito-iwin-ithis-ifight.-iHe-ijust-ihad-ito-ibelieve-ihe-iwas-igood,-iand-ihe'd-ibe-igood,-iright?-iEven-ithough-ihe'd-ialready-idone-iit-ibefore,-ithe-iidea-ijust-ifelt-iinsanely-istupid-inow-ithat-ihe-iwas-iin-ia-ilife-ior-ideath-iscenario.

  But-iFrumpkin-ihad-ijust-iguaranteed-ithat-iif-ihe-iscrewed-iit-iup,-ihe'd-iget-ianother-ishot,-iright?-iSo-iwhat-idid-ihe-ihave-ito-ilose?

  He-iclosed-ihis-ieyes,-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath,-iand-isaid-i"Alright,-iwell,-ihere-igoes-inothing..."

  The-inext-iattack-iparried-iby-iinstinct-iharmlessly-ito-ithe-iside,-iand,-ichanneling-ithe-istate-iof-imind-ithat-ihe'd-ilearned-ito-iuse-iwhen-isparring-iwith-iRose,-ihe-ispun-iaround-ithe-ideflected-iattack,-iplanting-ihis-ifeet-iand-ibringing-ithe-iaxe-iup-iin-ia-iforceful-ichop-ithat-icaught-ithe-iattacking-ignoll-isquare-iunderneath-ithe-ichin.-iThe-iblade-icaught-ithe-icreature's-ifurred-imuzzle-iand-isang-iclean-ithrough-iwithout-iresistance,-isplitting-iits-iface-iclean-iin-ihalf-iwith-ia-igurgling-iwhimper-iand-ia-ispurt-iof-iblood.-iThe-ignoll-islumped-iinto-ia-ifurry-iheap-ias-ithe-iother-ifive,-iseemingly-ispurred-ion-iby-ithe-ideath-iof-itheir-icomrade,-ilaid-iinto-itheir-iattacks-iwith-irenewed-ivigor.

  He-ifelt-ia-isudden-irush-iof-iadrenaline-iat-ithe-iturn-iof-ievents,-iand-ithis-ifilled-ihim-iwith-imore-iconfidence,-iwhich-ihe-ichanneled.-iMaybe-ihe-icould-iactually-ido-ithis-iafter-iall.-iMaybe.-iHe-ididn't-ifeel-iTHAT-iconfident.-iNot-iyet,-ianyways.-i

  ###-iChapter-i33-i--iMaking-iProgress

  Strangely,-ithe-ifirst-iattack-iwas-iall-iit-itook-ifor-iJames-ito-istart-igetting-iin-ithe-iflow-iof-ithe-ifight.-iThe-irush-iof-ifive-iattackers-ikept-ihim-ion-ithe-idefensive-ifor-ithe-imajority-iof-ithe-inext-iseveral-imoments,-iuntil-ithe-ignoll-iwith-ithe-ispear-imanaged-ito-ioverextend-ihimself-iwith-ia-ithrust-iaimed-ifor-ithe-ispace-iwhere-iJames's-ichest-ihad-ibeen-ionly-ia-isplit-second-ibefore.

  Seizing-ithe-iopportunity,-iJames-iinstinctively-igrabbed-ithe-ignoll's-iwrist-iwith-ihis-ileft-ihand,-iand-iwith-ia-ipowerful-iblow-ifrom-ihis-iaxe,
-isevered-ithe-icreature's-iarm-iat-ithe-ishoulder.-iThe-ignoll-ishrieked-iand-igrabbed-iat-ithe-igushing-istump-iof-iits-ishoulder-iwith-iits-iother-ihand,-ibefore-icrumpling-ito-ithe-iground-iin-ia-ibloody-iheap.

  Realizing-ihe-inow-ihad-ia-ignoll-iarm-iin-ihis-ioff-ihand,-iJames-igot-ia-isudden-iinexplicable-iimpulse-ito-iscore-isome-istyle-ipoints,-iand-iwhen-ithe-inext-iattack-iflew-iat-ihis-ilegs,-ihe-ileapt-iover-ithe-iattacker's-iblade,-iand-ismashed-ithe-ignoll-isquare-iin-ithe-imouth-iwith-ithe-isevered-ilimb,-iknocking-ithe-icreature-istumbling-iseveral-ifeet-ioff-ito-ithe-iside.-iJames-irushed-ithe-idisoriented-ibeast,-iand-iwith-ia-isecond,-iresounding-iwet-ithud-istruck-ithe-icreature's-ihead-iwith-isuch-iforce-ithat-isomething-icracked,-iand-iit-islumped-ito-ithe-iground-iin-ia-itwitching-iheap,-iits-ineck-inow-isitting-iat-ian-iabnormal-iangle.-iThe-iarm,-ifor-iits-ipart,-iwas-ialso-iapparently-ibroke-iin-ithe-iprocess-ias-iwell,-iand-ihung-ilike-ia-ilimp,-ibloody-inoodle-iin-iJames's-ihand.

  He-idropped-iit-inon-chalantly,-iand-iturned-ito-iface-ithe-iother-ignolls.-iAlmost-iwithout-ihim-inoticing,-ithe-ifear-ithat-ihad-inearly-iimmobilized-ihim-ionly-ia-iminute-ibefore-iwas-ialmost-ientirely-igone.-iWell,-inot-igone,-ireally.-iHe-istill-ifelt-ithe-ipresence-iof-ifear-ieven-inow,-iwith-ihis-iheart-iracing-iand-istomach-iroiling,-ibut-ia-istrange-isense-iof-iself-assured-icalm-ifilled-ihim-inow,-ioverruling-ithat-ipanic-iin-ifavor-iof-ipractical-ifocus.

  Frumpkin-iwas-iright.-i

  ...God-idammit.

  He-iwas-inever-igoing-ito-ihear-ithe-iend-iof-ithis.

  As-ihe-iturned-ihis-ifocus-iback-ito-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iremaining-ifour-ignolls,-ihe-isaw-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithat-ithey-ihad-igone-ifrom-ipressing-ithe-iattack-ito-iseeming-iunsure-iof-iwhether-ito-icontinue-icoming-ifor-ihim,-ior-iturn-iand-iflee.-iSeeing-ian-iopportunity,-iJames-isprang-iforward,-irushing-iat-ithe-inearest-ione-iof-ithe-ifour-iand-ibringing-ihis-iaxe-iaround-iin-ia-iwide-iarc,-iattempting-ithe-icleave-ithe-ibeast-iin-ihalf.-iIt-iraised-ithe-iblade-iof-iits-icleaver-like-isword-iand-ibraced-ito-ideflect-ithe-iblow.

  James's-iaxe-istruck-ithe-icleaver-iblade,-iand-iwith-ia-iroaring-iscreech-icarved-istraight-ithrough-ithe-iblade-imetal-iand-isank-ihalfway-iinto-ithe-icreature's-iribcage-iuntil-iit-iburied-iitself-istuck-iin-iits-ispine.-iThe-ignoll-iexpired-iinstantly-iwith-ia-igurgle,-iand-iJames-iwent-ito-itry-iand-ipull-ithe-iaxe-iblade-ifrom-ithe-ignoll's-ibody.

  It-iwouldnt-ibudge.

  He-ipulled-iharder,-itwisting-iand-ijerking,-ibut-ito-ino-iavail.-iThe-idamn-ithing-iwas-istuck,-iand-iit-iwasn't-icoming-iout.

  Seeming-ito-inotice-ihis-isudden-idilemma,-ione-iof-ithe-iremaining-ignolls-ibegan-ito-icackle-iits-ihyena-ilaugh,-iand-iJames-ilooked-iup-ito-isee-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-iapproaching-ihim-inow,-ithe-ilooks-iof-iuncertainty-iand-ianxiety-ion-itheir-ifaces-ireplaced-iwith-inew-found-iconfidence-iat-ithis-iunexpected-iturn-iof-ievents.

  And-ijust-ilike-ithat,-ithe-ifear-ithat-ihis-inew-found-isense-iof-iconfidence-ihad-ibeen-imasking-ipoured-iback-iin,-iand-iJames-ifelt-ia-isudden,-ioverwhelming-isense-iof-idread-icrawl-iup-iinside-ihis-ihead.-iHe-ilet-igo-iof-ithe-iaxe-ihandle,-iputting-iup-ihis-ihands-iand-islowly-ibacking-iaway-ifrom-ithe-iapproaching-ignolls-ias-isnarled-iand-isnapped-iwith-iglee-iat-itheir-ipending-irevenge.

  "Hey,-iuhh....-iRose?"-iJames-icalled-iout,-i"Uh,-ia-ilittle-ihelp?"

  ###-iChapter-i34-i--iMagic-iMatters

  The-ignolls-icontinued-ito-iadvance-islowly-itowards-ihim,-isnarling-itheir-iteeth-iat-ihim-iin-iwicked-ismiles.

  James-iglanced-ibehind-ihim-ito-isee-ithat-iRose-iand-ithe-iother-ignolls-iwere-igone,-iwhich-iserved-ito-ionly-iincrease-ithe-iamount-iof-ipanic-ihe-iwas-ifeeling-iincrease-idramatically.-iWhere-ihad-ithey-igone?-iWas-ishe-iokay?-iHad-ithey-igotten-iher-itoo?-iWhat-iwas-ihe-igoing-ito-ido?-iThink,-iJames!-iTHINK!

  As-iif-ion-icue,-ihe-iremembered-ithe-ifirst-iwish-ihe-imade.

  Oh,-iright.-iYou're-ia-isorcerer,-idumbass.-iNow-imelt-itheir-ifaces-ioff-ior-isomething!

  James-istopped-imoving-ibackwards,-iand-icentered-ihimself-iagain,-ibringing-ihis-ihands-itogether-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-iand-iclosing-ihis-ieyes-ias-ihe-ifocused-ion-itrying-ito-ibring-ithe-iright-ispell-ito-imind.-iThe-iimage-iappeared-iin-ihis-imind's-ieye,-iand-ilike-iclockwork,-ithe-itrigger-iword-ifragments-ibegan-iappearing-iinto-ihis-imind-iin-ia-iflurry.-iHe-itried-ito-ibring-ithem-itogether-iinto-isome-isemblance-iof-iorder,-itrying-idesperately-ito-iremember-iwhich-itrigger-ipiece-istood-ifor-iwhich-ieffect-ias-ihe-iheard-ithe-ignolls-idrawing-icloser.-iHe'd-ihad-iso-imuch-ipractice-idoing-iit-iwith-iEleanor.-iWhy-idid-iit-ihave-ito-ibe-iso-imuch-iharder-inow?!

  Finally,-ijust-ias-ihe-iheard-ione-iof-ithe-ignolls-isnarl-iand-ithe-iscrape-iof-isomething-imetal,-ithe-icorrect-iword-ifragments-ifell-iinto-iplace-ias-ihe-iremembered-ithe-icorrect-icombination.

  "FILIPENDULOUS!"

  He-iopened-ihis-ieyes-iand-ithrew-ihis-ihands-iout-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-ijust-ias-ithe-iclosest-ignoll-iswung-iat-ihim.-iA-isudden-iburst-iof-ienergy-ishot-ifrom-ihis-ihands-iand-islammed-iinto-ithe-ignoll,-iknocking-iit-inearly-ia-idozen-ifeet-ibackwards-ias-ithe-ienergy-isurrounded-iit-iand-icoagulated-iinto-ihundreds-iof-ifeet-iof-isteel-icable-ibinding-ithe-ignoll's-ilegs-itogether,-iand-iits-iarms-ito-iits-isides,-icausing-iit-ito-idrop-ithe-iaxe-iin-iits-iclaw-ito-ithe-iground-iwith-ia-iclatter.-iThe-iother-itwo-ignolls-ifroze-iin-iplace,-itheir-inew-found-iconfidence-ihaving-isuddenly-ivanished-iin-ithe-iface-iof-ithis-inew-idevelopment.

  James-ilowered-ihis-ihands,-iand,-iseeing-ithe-iaxe-ion-ithe-iground-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-ibent-idown-iand-ipicked-iit-iup.-iHe-ileaned-iback-iup,-iand-ilooked-iat-ithe-itwo-istanding-ignolls,-iwho-iwere-iglancing-iback-iand-iforth-ibetween-ieach-iother-iand-ihim,-ideciding-iwhether-ior-inot-ito-itry-itheir-iluck-iany-ifurther.-iJames-itook-ianother-ideep-ibreath,-iand-ifelt-ihis-isense-iof-icalmness-istart-ito-ireturn-iagain.-iHe-icould-itake-itwo-iof-ithem.-iDefinitiely.-i

  He-iwas-isurprised-iby-ihis-isudden-iself-assurance.-iNot-ieven-ififteen-iseconds-iago-ihe'd-ibeen-ipanicking,-iand-ihere-ihe-iwas,-ifeeling-iperfectly-icapable-iof-ifacing-idown-itwo-iheavily-iarmed-imutant-ihyena-imen-iagain.-iThis-iwas-ialready-igetting-ia-ilot-ieasier.

  That-iwas,-ialso,-igoing-ito-itake-isome-igetting-iused-ito.

  James-igripped-ithe-ignoll-iaxe-iin-ihis-ihand-ia-ilittle-itighter,-iand-istarted-ito-iwalk-itowards-ithe-iother-itwo.

  No-isooner-ihad-ihe-itaken-ia-istep-itowards-ithem-ithan-ithe-ipair-iturned-iand-iran-iback-itowards-ithe-itown-isquare-ithey'd-icome-ifrom,-idropping-itheir-iweapons-iwith-ia-iclatter-ias-ithey-isprinted-iaway,-itheir-itails-iquite-iliterally-ibetween-itheir-ilegs.

  James-istopped,-iand-idropped-ithe-iaxe-iin-ihis-ihand.-iHe-ialmost-ifelt-idisappointed-ithat-ithey-idecided-ito-irun.-iAs-ihe-iwatched-ithem-irun-iinto-ithe-idistance,-iit-isuddenly-ioccurred-ito-ihim-ithat-ihe-ishould-iprobably-istop-ithem-ibefore-ithey-igot-iaway.

  He-icleared-ihis-imind,-iand-ienvisioned-ithe-ispell.-iFinding-ithe-icorrect-iword-ifragments-iwasn't-ihard.-iHe-ihad-ian-iabsolutely-ivivid-iimage-iof-ithe-ifirst-itime-ihe'd-icast-iit-ibefore.-i

  He-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath,-ithrew-iup-ihis-ihands,-idrew-ithem-itogether,-iand-ishouted-ithe-itrigger-iword-ihe'd-iprobably-inever-ibe-iable-ito-iforget.

  "RACHMANINOFF!"-i

  ###-iChapter-i35-i--iLooking-ifor-ithe-iOthers

  The-ired-orange-ifire-iroared-iout-iof-iJames's-ihands-iin-ia-itorrent,-igathering-iinto-ia-isphere-iof-iblazing-iheat-ias-iit-ihurtled-itowards-ithe-ibacks-iof-ithe-itwo-ifleeing-ignolls.-iWithin-ia-imoment,-iit-icollided-iwith-ithe-itwo-ishapes,-iexploding-ion-iimpact-iwith-ithe-inearest-iin-ia-ibright-iand-ideafening-iblast-ithat-inearly-iknocked-iJames-iover,-iand-iblew-idown-ilarge-ichunks-iof-ithe-icharred-ibuildings-iin-ithe-ishockwave.

  The-iflash-icleared-ialmost-iimmediately,-ileaving-ibehind-ionly-ia-ismall-iamount-iof-ismoke-iin-ithe-iair,-ias-iwell-ias-idust-iand-iash-ifrom-ithe-ibuildings.-iThe-inearest-ignoll-iwas-inowhere-ito-ibe-iseen-iin-ithe-isteaming-icrater-iof-ithe-ifireball's-iblast-iimpact.-iThe-isecond-ione-ihad-igone-ifrom-irunning-ito-iflopping-iaround-ion-ithe-iground-iin-ia-ishrieking-ipile,-iits-ientire-ibody
-iablaze-iwith-imagical-ifire.-iAfter-ia-imoment-ithe-icreature-igrew-iquiet-iand-istill,-ileaving-iJames-ialone-iwith-ithe-icorpses.

  The-ismell-iof-iburning-iflesh-iand-ifur-ihit-iJames's-inose-ilike-ia-ihammer,-iand-imade-ihim-igag.-iHe-ipulled-ihis-it-shirt-iup-iover-ihis-inose,-iand-iwalked-iback-iover-ito-ihis-iaxe,-iwhich-istill-isat-iburied-iin-ithe-ignoll-ihe-ileft-iit-iin,-ithe-ibeast's-iblood-istarting-ito-icongeal-iaround-ithe-iexposed-iblade-iand-iseep-iinto-ithe-icracks-iof-ithe-iscrollwork.-iPlanting-ihis-ifeet-ion-ieither-iside-iof-ithe-idead-icreature's-ibody,-ihe-igrabbed-ithe-ihandle-iof-ithe-iaxe-iwith-iboth-ihands-iand-ipulled-iand-ijerked-iuntil-ifinally-ithe-iweapon-ipopped-ifree-iwith-ia-imeaty-iwet-iplopping-isound.-iSomehow,-ithe-ismell-iof-ignoll-iguts-imanaged-ito-ibe-ieven-iworse-ithan-ithe-iprevious-ihorrible-ismell,-iand-iJames-idoubled-iover,-iwretching-ias-ihe-ithrew-ihis-iarm-iover-ihis-inose-iand-istumbled-iaway-ifrom-ithe-icorpse.

  The-ignoll-ihe'd-ibound-iin-isteel-icable-iwasn't-imoving-ieither.-iWhen-iJames-iinspected-iit,-ihe-ifound-iit-ijust-ias-ilifeless-ias-ithe-iothers.-iApparently-ihe'd-imanaged-ito-icrush-iit-ito-ideath-iwhen-ihe-ibound-iit-iup.-iOops.

  After-ipulling-ihimself-itogether-ifor-ia-imoment,-iJames-ilooked-iaround-ihis-isurroundings-ifor-iany-isign-iof-iRose-ior-ithe-iother-ignolls.-iThe-istreet-ihe-istood-iin-iwas-iempty-iof-imoving-ishapes.-iIn-iaddition-ito-ithe-isix-idead-ithat-ihe'd-itaken-icare-iof,-ithree-imore-ignoll-icorpses-ilay-ifurther-idown-iwhere-ihe'd-iseen-ihis-icompanion-ifighting-ipreviously,-ione-iof-iwhich-iconspicuously-ilacked-ia-ihead-ithat-iJames-ifor-ithe-ilife-iof-ihim-icould-inot-iseem-ito-ifind.-i

  As-ihe-iturned-ia-icorner-ion-ithe-inarrow-istreet,-ihe-istumbled-ionto-itwo-imore-ignoll-icorpses,-ione-iwith-ia-ifamiliar-looking-isword-isticking-iout-iof-iits-iskull,-iand-ia-ilarge-iswathe-iof-ifabric-ihe-irecognized-ifrom-iRose's-ishirt-iclenched-iin-iits-iclaw,-isoaked-iaround-ithe-iedges-iin-icrimson.