by J. Todd
Chapter Seven
Twelve men sat around a table staring at us. "What is the reason of this?" Snapped a voice from the air. No not the air, an intercom. Mother told me of them, from the days before. These were not the monsters in charge but they were still partially responsible. I raised my gore laden sword and ran into their midst. Leaping onto the table I swung my sword slaying the first of the twelve to die. I thrust and killed them all. I took the sins from the hurt and helpless and gave them to these men, these monsters through my sword. When the last fell dead I went to Arian's side.
"Who are you?" The voice asked coldly.
"I am the thorn in your side come infected." I answered. My white outfit shone brightly against the blood and gore. "I am the one who has slain your creatures time and again. I am here to finish the job." I yelled.
"You will never win. I can rebuild." Snarled the man on the intercom.
"No, you will not." I said. Arian looked at me. Sadness in his eyes for me, for the death I dealt out so casually. "Come out of your hiding place!" I ordered.
"I would if I were there." Laughed the man. "Fight your way out if you can."
"I will find you! You will die!" I shouted.
"Try." Then he was gone.
Arian and I ran to the door and began the descent to the lower levels again. We found still more monsters to kill on our way. All the men and women once trapped here, treated like monsters, followed Arian and me to the lowest level. I lead the way into the main room. There we found another beast. The creature was a parody of the once infamous and graceful dragons. This one was twisted like all monsters. One I had hoped never to see again. I had fought this thing once before. Neither had won that fight.
I would not now. "Arian." I hissed. "Take them to freedom." I ordered him. He looked at me carefully. He nodded and began to usher the men and women away. I thrust the sword into the floor. I then unslung my bow and nocked and arrow. I aimed and shot. It was deflected. The hide was still tough as nails. I again aimed another arrow. I would not miss. The creature had a soft spot just under the biggest chest scale.
I did not look to Arian to see if he got away. I shot again. This time it hit the mark. The creature screeched. I dropped my bow and grabbed my sword. I ran to the creature. I ran at it. I would use my speed to fight this creature. I thrust in low and watched as my sword bit deep into the flesh of the creature just under my arrow. The thing shoved me aside with one sweep of its massive claws. I hit a wall. I slid down, stunned. It came at me and I barely got my sword up enough to fend off the attack.
Arian was there so fast I didn't see him at first. He ran in like I did, at the creature, and thrust his knife into the same spot as the arrow. His shoved until the hilt was almost buried by the monster's flesh.
I rose and pulled a bag from my waist and threw it over the creature. I pulled at the string attached and it flew open scattering salt and sulfur over the creature. The creature cried out in pain and died melting away like slow melting ice.
Arian was at my side and helping me to stand. We walked out into the sunlight. It was dawn. The hours it must have taken to find the monster was out of our range for now was defeating to us. We have freed the city of monsters, but not the world. We found the men and women who have been changed like Arian in front of the factory. They had not fled the city, they had stayed. Even though the city's citizens had lurked along the edge of the street and threw rocks and rubbish at them they had stayed to see if Arian and I would come out.
We stepped out from the factory's shadow and emerged into the light of day. The crowd surrounding the changelings stopped as Arian and I stepped into the light. They backed away. I was not a monster and Arian looked like one and yet he went back in to save me. They were confused and scared. I straightened and looked at them and the changelings.
"We were once one people, differences made us stronger." I cried out, my voice hoarse but strong. "Then the corporation took over our freedom. They took lives from us, our courage, our hope, everything. I stand here next to one willing to fight with me. One I had saved and he in turn saved me. He saved me from myself, from my pain and from the monsters. He is my friend and my partner. He deserves your respect. He was once human like me, like you. So were these others." I gestured at the changelings. "You cannot know what these people have suffered, nor will you. We have saved you all the same fate. Be glad. We will leave and I will take these others from here with me. I will take them to Sanctuary." I leaned again on Arian and we lead the changelings away from the city.
Weeks we traveled. I healed quickly. I hunted food and took the changelings far to the north where my home was. I gave them the home. Arian and I stayed to train them to fight, to survive. We helped them build homes in the clearing where mine stood. We built defenses to hold out anything which wanted to attack, both men and monsters.
By spring there was a new member to our group. A baby was born of the changelings. Like them she had silver hair and eyes. Like them she was forever changed. I felt something pull at my heart.
One night Arian found me staring at the sky. "What is wrong?" He whispered to me. He never yelled, he never got louder than a whisper since that one day so long ago.
"I think the little girl will have a very hard road. I believe you must train her for it." I said. He nodded. I felt relieved and yet I felt terrible. I knew my path. I knew my road. That little changeling child needed Arian more than I did.
We went back to my cottage. Late in the night I left. This time I knew I would never come back.
