LAMENT OF PURGATORY (ASHWOOD CHRONICLES #1)

by Brandon Chandler

  Brianna grabbed Ethan by his hurt hand. “Come on we can’t let him get far ahead, he’s our only way home.”

  Ethan winced in pain as Brianna began to pull him along. “Why is he our only ticket back?” Ethan shouted, wiggling his hand free from Brianna. He came to a standstill waiting for Brianna to notice. Once she did, she too came to a halt.

  “He’s the one with the carcerem orbis. That orb is the key to opening the gate to this world.” She twirled to face Ethan. He babied his injured hand staring confusingly at her.

  She sighed with empathy. “S-Sorry, is it broken?”

  “No. It just hurts.”

  Ethan chuckled nervously as Brianna gently took hold of his hand once again. “Dominic’s right, I am useless here,” she said. “My magic comes from the life force of whatever world my body is attuned to.”

  Ethan tilted his head as he stared uncomprehendingly at Brianna.

  She sighed while glancing over her shoulder to see how far away Dominic had gotten. “Come on let’s catch up.” She released Ethan’s hand and together they followed Dominic.

  “How come I suddenly remember everything.”

  Brianna took a moment to gather her next choice of words. “The barrier I placed around your memories must have crumbled once we passed through this world’s gates.”

  Ethan rubbed his good hand across his face.

  “We wanted to protect you from...well from stuff like this,” Brianna said with stretched out arms while twirling around.

  Ethan looked in astonishment at the multitude of skyscraper size trees and was amazed at how the millions upon millions of tree leaves blocked his view of the sky above. However, he still could see numerous bursts of sun rays cutting through the tree’s canopy. They touched down onto the forest floor giving the woodlands a twilight appearance. Ethan took in a deep breath of the subtropical air.

  For a moment he listened to the woodland’s primitive noises and felt as if the unusual resonances gave the forest life.

  “Are we really in another world?”

  Brianna nodded promptly. “And it’s super dangerous for us to be here, especially since we are alive.”

  Ethan paused. “What do you mean since we’re alive?”

  “Prison worlds are reserved for souls not allowed to enter heaven due to committing unforgivable sins during their lifetime and for those who cannot be killed by normal measures. If a living person happens to die in a prison world they will be bound forever in that realm.”

  Ethan swallowed hard. “And Dominic holds the only key out of here?”

  With a solemn expression Brianna nodded, “I doubt he’ll let us use it to go home.”

  Ethan rubbed his hand as he felt a random flare of pain. “Then how do we get home?”

  “We locate the nearest warden estate,” she answered knowledgeably. “Think of it as an embassy, all prison worlds have one and that’s where we will find the warden. They can send us home.”

  Ethan stopped nursing his injured hand. “Are you sure they can do that?”

  “They have god like abilities,” Brianna retorted. “And can do whatever they want, but their godlike status doesn’t follow them when they travel to the living world. So, most wardens choose to remain in their respective domain.”

  She glanced at Ethan due to his sudden silence. He didn’t return the gaze but instead stared at the forest floor, his mind trying to process all the information Brianna had relayed to him.

  She looked ahead of her and saw that they were just a few steps away from Dominic. She doubted he had a clue where he was headed.

  “How do we find the warden?” Ethan finally said.

  Brianna’s eyes dropped, “No clue. But if I attune my body to this world, I’ll be able to access magic and can protect us till we find it.”

  Ethan crossed his arms, “you mention attuning your body before. What exactly does that mean?”

  “Look at it this way, my body is a cell phone and this world has Wi-Fi, but it’s protected by a password, once my body finds out the password, I will be allowed to access its internet aka life force.”

  Ethan’s eyes widen with excitement, “that’s freaking cool.”

  She smiled fondly, “can you watch over me while I prepare.”

  “Uh...sure,” Ethan said as Brianna sat upon the earth with her legs loosely crossed and both feet resting below the opposite thigh. She rested both hands on either of her knee’s and closed her eyes.

  “I wouldn’t stand too close if I were you,” came a voice from his right.

  Startled, Ethan let out a loud yelp. He was so focused on Brianna he hadn’t noticed Dominic standing next to him.

  He chuckled taking several steps backward, “bruh you should really move.”

  Ethan shrugged off the warning, Dominic was obviously toying with him.

  However-

  Seconds later a breeze began to pick up and danced around Brianna’s vicinity.

  The wind grew stronger with each passing moment before finally dispersing into every direction with a powerful gust that knocked Ethan onto his butt.

  Dominic chuckled from a safe distance.

  Ethan angrily glared at the laughing teen ready to lash out a verbal assault but stopped short once he heard a distant roar. It erupted from every corner of the forest, trailed by a persuasive squeal of mercy.

  Ethan’s body went rigid, “what was that?”

  Dominic put his middle finger to his lips, “shh.”

  Any other day Ethan would have challenged the crude gesture, but at this hour he was more concerned about how close the roar had sounded. Once the ear-splitting scream had reached its climax, loud demonic roars filled the air, shadowed by the forest impulsively falling soundless again.

  Ethan lifted his head skyward, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

  None of this is real.

  It’s all part of my over-hyper imagination.

  The sound of Dominic swearing under his breath caused Ethan to open his eyes. He looked towards the teen with a puzzled gaze.

  “Maybe you should go check that out,” he said in all seriousness. “It could be Kori in danger.”

  Ethan sneered as he took several steps backward raising his hands in defense, “why can’t you do it?”

  “I have to stay and protect Brianna,” he retorted with a duh tone. “Here I’ll even lend you, Jezebel.” He summoned the double-barrel handgun. “Be careful with my baby.”

  Dominic tossed the weapon at Ethan, who frantically juggled it from hand to hand before finally grasping it firmly.

  “Are you crazy?” he screamed. “It could have gone off.”

  “Relax,” Dominic said soothingly. “The safety is on.”

  Ethan huffed. “Even so, that was dangerous.”

  Dominic grinned. “But hey, at least you look like a badass with her in your hands.”

  Ethan gazed at the handgun admiring its platinum-plated craftsmanship and runic artwork that was etched into either side of the barrels and hand grips.

  He shook his head as he tried to contain himself from striking a pose.

  “Normal weapons can’t kill supernatural creatures, but Jezebel is enchanted and can kill anything.” Dominic said proudly.

  Ethan remained silent still marveling at the handgun.

  “But if you’re too much of a chicken poon to go save your sister I understand.”

  “No, I am brave,” Ethan whispered in a dazed like state. He huffed loudly. “I got this.”

  “The sound came from that way,” Dominic said with a mischievous smile.

  Ethan nodded and stormed off into the direction Dominic was pointing.

  “No, wait I was only kidding,” Dominic whispered sarcastically. “Come back,” he added as he made little effort to stop Ethan from marching further away from him.

  “Whelp he’s as good as dead.”

  THE FURTHER AWAY ETHAN walked, the more his bravery withered. He even thought about turning back, but the thought of Dominic
mocking him kept his stride going. With Dominic and Brianna no longer visible in the distance behind him, he became lost in his thoughts.

  How did I allow that asshole to talk me into this?

  As he continued, the woodland gave way to a clearing. Up ahead was a massive hedge wall coming into view. It stretched for miles in both directions blocking his path. Getting closer he took note that the wall was half the size of the enormous trees, which prompted him to ponder the idea of climbing the brownish-green bush to see what was on the other side. However, as he approached the shrubbery, he saw that it was interwoven in dark yellow briars as if it was barbed wire. Fixated on the strange plant, Ethan paid little attention to his surroundings until his foot was abruptly caught underneath a solid object. He tumbled forward landing face-first, Jezebel flew from his grip.

  For a second or two he laid still, allowing his mind to register what had happened. Then with a moan, he pushed himself onto his knees.

  “That hurt.”

  First, Ethan pulled off his glasses to examine them. Realizing they weren’t broken he placed them upon his face and proceeded to dust himself off. Next, he searched frantically for Jezebel. As his eyes fell upon the pistol he sighed with relief and grabbed the weapon.

  “What did I trip over?”

  Still, on his knees, Ethan scooted around and glared blankly at the corpse of a man that was missing a right arm. The body was almost devoid of skin and covered in bite and claw marks. Without eyelids the milky green eyes stared into the forest canopy while the lipless mouth hung open.

  There was a fresh trail of blood leading from the tall hedges and towards the area where the man’s arm used to be.

  His mind void of all thought, Ethan continued to stare at the body until he felt his panic kick into high gear. With a loud scream, Ethan scrambled to his feet. Aiming at the corpse he stood.

  Why is there a butchered body in the middle of a forest?

  Who did this to him?

  He took several steps backwards until he felt a wet snout press against the nape of his neck. He took in an impulsive gulp. From the corner of his eyes came movement.

  He slowly turned and became face to face with an anthropomorphic carnivore that had long lanky limbs and enlarged sickle-shaped claws on each appendage. Its back and tail were also plated with jagged edged spikes, while its lizard-like face was covered in blood.

  Ethan released a scream of pure fear, while the creature glared at him quizzically.

  Without skipping a beat, he turned and ran before his mind could comprehend the fact that he was moving. And of course, the predators gave chase. They were a split second behind him, springing onto and over the forest’s dense landscape, outpacing him easily. Ethan tripped over a fallen log, twisted and fell onto his back as one of the creatures leaped passed him swiping a talon hand through the air where his skull had been seconds ago.

  He rolled to his left, grabbed Jezebel and sprung to his feet. Ethan twisted around and took aim at the nearest creature. Two of them jumped simultaneously at him, thrusting their claws forward. He quickly jumped back, barely dodging the blow. Another of the creatures charged towards him while the other three regrouped. Hearing the snarls from the approaching beast behind him, Ethan swirled to see his pending target going airborne and then soaring towards him with its claws ready to slit his throat.

  Screaming, he took aim with closed eyes and attempted to squeeze the trigger. But the switch wouldn’t budge.

  “Oh crap!” he screamed.

  He opened his eyes to examine the gun but by then the creature was upon him. He stumbled, falling onto his butt and coincidentally dodged the monster’s narrow swing. His attacker landed inches in front of him. The other three quickly surrounded Ethan, snarling as they circled their prey like vultures.

  He fidgeted with the handgun, frantically searching for the safety switch. But it dematerialized from his grasp into a cloud of black smoke.

  “What the-”

  One of the creatures leaped at him.

  He squealed expecting horrible pain. Instead, he got the sound of gunfire and the creature dropping dead in between his legs. A pool of blood flowed from either side of its head.

  Ethan along with the remaining creatures glared at the grinning Dominic.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Ethan shouted.

  As if wanting revenge for their dead companion, the others charged.

  The first creature swung its deadly talons’ aiming for Dominic’s throat. Another lashed out at him with suicidal fury.

  Dominic effortlessly slipped past the ferocious swipes, and then placed the tip of his barrel underneath his target’s muzzle. A hole exploded through the top of the creature’s head and the next attacker screeched and came at Dominic. He swirled, firing once again. The bullet slammed through the neck of the beast, spewing blood. He then glared at the last existing beast. It released an ear-piercing wail and allowed bat-like wings to explode from his back. Crouching low the creature spread its wings to their full length.

  “We’re not done playing,” Dominic shouted as he fired rounds into his prey.

  Once Dominic had emptied the entire magazine, the creature joined its deceased companions amongst the forest floor.

  Ethan got to his feet staring frantically at the dead creatures. “Are they demons?” he asked unable to swerve his eyes away from the corpses.

  Jezebel puffed out of Dominic’s grasp. “Those definitely weren’t demons.” He said. “Demons decompose after being killed, and those things aren’t showing any signs of doing so and they don’t smell like sulfur.”

  With his curiosity getting the best of him Ethan asked, “then what are they?”

  Dominic shrugged; “Brianna might...” he trailed off as the ground around them trembled. “Great, now what,” he said summoning his handgun. He ejected the duo sided magazine. The ground quaked again but this time around, it was harder.

  “I hope you brought enough bullets to kill whatever that is.”

  Dominic chuckled examining the magazine. “Jezebel doesn’t require bullets. I usually store my own energy in cartridges and use them as rounds, but after my previous battles I’m a bit low on power.”

  Feeling the ground quiver and a roar vibrating throughout the atmosphere he re-equipped his handgun with the magazine then allowed it to vanish.

  “So, there is a good chance we might die,” Dominic said nonchalantly.

  At that moment an enormous bipedal lizard soared over the tall hedges. It landed several feet away from them, setting free a ferocious growl. It shared the same anatomy as the ones they encountered previously except for this one was bigger.

  A lot bigger.

  Towering over the boys it stood twenty stories in height.

  “Stand back nerd-boy, let me handle this.”

  Although he was terrified, Ethan’s annoyance with Dominic’s arrogance overpowered his fear.

  Dominic charged and jumped into the air; he drew back his right fist. As he plummeted towards the monster, it used its tail as a racket, walloping Dominic out of mid-air. He smacked onto the forest floor stirring up a cloud of dust. Small moans escaped from the haze, catching the attention of the massive beast. It then proceeded to pound Dominic by repeatedly stomping on him.

  In fight or flight mode Ethan watched in horror as cries from Dominic echoed around him.

  Maybe he finally lost all sense of reasoning, but Ethan chose fight and dove for a nearby stick. Once in his grasp, he charged the massive lizard, reeled back his weapon and swung with all his might while screaming like a banshee. The stick slammed against the creature’s leg snapping on contact.

  Though it did little to no damage, the effect was more than enough to garner the beast’s attention away from Dominic.

  It snarled and turned around, releasing a stream of saliva from its open mouth. Some even dripped onto Ethan. He winced in disgust as the nectar thick fluid ran down his hairline and onto his forehead.

  “Why are you
so angry?” he asked with a timid smile.

  Incapable of answering, the beast lunged in hopes of ensnaring Ethan in between the rolls of its sharp teeth. Ethan threw his arms and hands in front of his face screaming. His body suddenly vibrated as the sound of thunder boomed all around him once the words-

  “Fulgur Percutiens,” echoed from behind him.

  He dropped his arms and opened his eyes to see multiple branches of lightning whizzing past his face. Narrowly missing him, he stumbled sideways before catching his balance. The lightning blitzed into the monster causing it to become paralyzed in place, with electrical sparks escaping from its body. Its skin switched between being solid to translucent allowing Ethan to see the bone structure, along with veins and internal organs. It fell onto the ground deteriorating into Smokey ash.

  “Are you okay?”

  Wide eyed and mouth agape, Ethan spun around to face Brianna. She lowered a fourteen-inch wooden wand as it warped and twisted until it became a wooden ball no bigger than a toy marble, engraved in runic symbols.

  She shoved the wooden sphere into her pocket and smiled at him with kind eyes.

  “Are you okay?” she asked again.

  Ethan shook his head in disbelief. “You killed a dinosaur using a wand.”

  Brianna nodded. “Yeah, using a wand as a medium purifies magical energies, because using raw magic can become addictive and will corrupt the user’s sanity.”

  Ethan gripped either side of his head and began to pace mumbling incoherent words.

  He paused and stared at Brianna bright green eyes. “Your eyes weren’t that color before.”

  “What color are they now?” she asked.

  “They’re green,” with that said he began to pace once more.

  Brianna smiled. “Awesome...Where is Dominic?”

  Without stopping, Ethan gestured towards a crevice a few feet away from them.

  “That thing squished him.”

  Dominic abruptly rose to his feet. “Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  Dusting himself off, he rotated in the direction of Ethan. “What’s with four eyes?”

  “He’s traumatized,” Brianna snapped.