by K. R. Bowman
Jess yelled, “Now!”
Hundreds of arrows whistled through the air toward the horde of Nightlins. At the same time, the Nightlins sprinted toward us. As the first set of arrows left the bows, we immediately fitted another arrow and let them fly. Some of the arrows struck their intended targets while others seemed to disintegrate before they hit their mark as my arrow did. The Nightlins were on top of us before I could string another arrow. They crashed into us.
I remember hearing Jess yell then, there was a loud pop, and his Czar appeared, his energy melting into black feathers and scales like liquid poured from a glass. Jess swung up onto the back of the ferocious animal. The muscles bulged and moved effortlessly through his body. He looked like a black eagle on steroids, which began tearing into any black creature he could touch.
White streaks of light, as if it were electricity, erupted from the ground from all around me. Protectors formed their shields. The Hunters and their Czars took to the air. Watchers, Protectors, Hunters, and Czars yelled their battle cries and lunged at the creatures. Everything blurred. Some of the Protectors moved at super-speed, hacking and chopping at the Nightlins. Black fluid sprayed out in every direction.
I picked out Miranda, on her bright white Czar, leaping through the air toward a nasty looking Nightlin. Assuming it was Jess’s black Czar, took down another Nightlin. In a matter of seconds a Nightlin appeared before me. I arched an arrow, and it hit the creature between its eyes. It crumpled to the ground, and I pulled out my knife and stabbed it in the chest for good measure. My knife, Masada, glowed blue, the black blood running down the carved blade. The creature disintegrated. I looked to see if anyone else had witnessed its demise, but another Nightlin was on top of me.
This creature was bonier with long needle-like claws, which it tried to use on my face. I twisted away from it and dropped my bow to the ground. I grabbed for my sword, yanking it from the scabbard. The buzzing noise started in the front of my head right behind my eyes. I ran toward the creature. It reared as I got closer. Its claws sliced through the air coming toward my head. I ducked, sliding on my knees with my arms raised, bracing the sword. The sword cut through its middle. Black blood sprayed across my face. I hopped up and spun around for another attack, but the creature collapsed to the ground in two pieces. Its life fluids quickly spilled out of it onto the dirt path.
Realmers were scattered everywhere. Nightlins laid in heaps. I was standing closest to the main building. People and creatures fought below me. I took off at a sprint around the carnage of bodies toward the last survivors. I tried to search for my friends, but there was too much going on. I think I spotted Ashlen’s dark hair swirling around her, but she disappeared behind the others.
I jumped into the action, swinging my sword around at every black creature. I ran my sword through the things tearing off limbs and depositing their heads onto the dirt. I was soon covered in black oily blood. It stained my clothes and made my hair look brown.
A sound like a fog horn erupted from the top of the main building. I jerked my head up to the sound only to see hundreds of Nightlins flying through the air, circling the building. Czars of all shapes flew into the sky toward the Nightlins. They rammed against the dark creatures, but several of the birds plummeted to the ground. Screeching noises and caws could be heard at every moment.
Something sliced through my arm, bringing my attention back to the fight before me. I rolled without seeing where I was going. I rolled into a body. I stopped. The body had raven black hair. He looked like Stephen. My heart instantly seized, and I let out a sob. I reached out to touch him to see if it was really him, but I recoiled. I gripped my sword to my chest and turned toward the Nightlin that was climbing over bodies to get to me.
The buzzing started again in my head. I stood with the sword gripped so tightly in my hand that my fingers began to hurt and burn. My anger coursed through me, and I used it against the Nightlin. It cleared one of the bodies, jumping toward me. Its razor-sharp teeth gleamed in the moonlight, and spittle flew from its gaping mouth. Its long claws reached me first. They sliced my arm, but I dropped to the ground and swung my arm away from it. I leaned into the right, raising the sword up toward its chest. The sword hit its chest and embedded in the black flesh. The creature screamed a high-pitched wail. My body shook from the noise. It landed on top of me with either hand to each side of me. Its face was mere inches from mine. I could smell its distinct odor like raw sewage. The creature brought its face closer to mine, opening its jaws wide like it was about to take a huge bite out of me, then it stopped. It reared back, and a sword point appeared in its middle. Someone yanked the sword out, and the creature fell to the side, revealing Callum as my savior.
He had black goo all over him. It was caked on his clothes and dripped down his face. His hair was plastered to his head. Exhaustion was clearly written across his face and body. His sword hung loosely in his hand by his side. He held out his left hand to help me up. I grabbed his hand with my right, and he pulled with every muscle in his body straining. I bent down to pick my sword back up and turned to Callum.
He wiped some of the black blood from his eyes with his forearm, “Some of us are holed up in a building over here, follow me.”
He started jogging and leaping over the fallen. His sword was still held in his hand. He took a sharp right down a small alley between the buildings and stopped at a small door. He pushed the door open, and briskly pulled me inside. People talked, and some yelled. The room we had entered into was dark; I couldn’t make out any shape, but Callum seemed to know where to go. He took my hand and led me through the room and to another door. We walked through the doorway onto a scene of a huddled group of every kind of Realmer. Part of the far wall had been either pushed out or blown away. The Realmers had pushed tables and other things they could use as protection against the hole in the building. Now and then, a Nightlin’s claw or hand would try to grapple inside of the hole only to be burned or hacked. People would stand and fire arrows through the opening, striking whatever they sighted.
I moved to a corner where I could see out a small window. Nightlins were packed around the small building. I spotted the larger Nightlin leader in the middle of the group who towered above all the rest. Its broad boney chest glistened with blood; I hoped it was its own. Its attention seemed to swing around to where I was at the window. I stepped back, putting my face in the shadows. Its focus stayed transfixed on the window for several minutes before one of the creatures interrupted. It swung around to the beast hitting it. The smaller creature fell against the dirt and slithered away. It slowly turned back to the building. I retreated to stand next to Callum.
“What’s going on? Where are the girls and Harris?”
Callum looked down at his arm, which I had subconsciously wrapped my hand around. I released his arm quickly, rubbing the palm of my hand on my pants. I saw a smirk appear on his lips, but he instantly diminished it.
“We’re about to storm the gates.” He focused his gaze back to the action.
“Callum, where is everyone else?” I asked hesitantly.
He glanced at me, his mouth growing thin.
“Sloane, have some patience. We will find them.”
A noise broke through the fighting sounds, something that screeched like a horned owl. We collectively moved to the small opening in the wall so we could see out. The leader seemed to be yelling at the other Nightlins; they shrunk away from him. He yelled again, and they slowly gathered around him. He turned toward our small building, his shoulders rolling, and his teeth gleaming. His mouth opened like it was on a hinge, opening farther than any normal mouth. He screamed then sprinted toward us. He leapt through the air and hit the face of the building.
The building shook.
Dust and dirt fell from the ceiling. The opening began to crumble even more. The creature’s black arms and claws appeared through the opening. Everyone swiftly moved to block his entry. We rammed the tables and pieces of wood against the gap. The N
ightlins kept trying to tear through. The smaller Nightlins attacked whatever they could. Screeching and screams filled the night.
Callum pushed his way to the front. I scrambled behind him. He pushed against the boards, trying to lift the board to bar the way of the creatures. I was blocked from advancing toward Callum. A warm light interrupted the darkness. I tried to peer around everyone to see where the light was coming from, but all I could see were arms and heads.
The light grew brighter then, something burst into flames. Nightlins screeched. Fireballs were being thrown at the retreating Nightlins, eating them up. People started pushing me back. I stumbled and fell against the floor. Everyone moved around me so I could see what had caused the commotion.
A man stood by the opening of the structure we had used to block the hole. His back faced me. His head bent forward, looking at the ground. He lifted his hands like he was inspecting them. Flames moved across his fingers and hands as he moved each appendage.
The realmers around me stepped back. They appeared to be as surprised as I was. The man looked directly at me.
His eyes were pure white.
Fire engulfed his arms. It flickered and moved as it traveled across his skin and clothes. His clothes still looked intact. He glowed in warm colors of red and orange. He started to walk toward me. As he moved closer, the fire seemed to extinguish; his clothes and skin were becoming their natural color again. He knelt in front of me. The flames were last to leave from the tips of his fingers, but I had known who it was. Callum smiled. The only remnants of the fire shined through his eyes. The white dimmed to a soft yellow, but when he blinked, the fire left them, changing back to the deep, forest green color I had become accustomed to always find watching. He held his hand out to me. I looked at his hand then back at his face. Steam rose from his olive skin.
I slipped my hand into his, electricity ran up my arm, and he pulled me to my feet. His hand was slightly warmer than usual. I stood there watching him for several seconds.
“We need to figure out how we are going to get back to the main building,” a voice replied.
Callum turned his attention to the guy that had spoken. A guy I had seen a few times, but never learned his name. He was slightly taller than Callum but wiry.
“We can move from one building to the next until we reach the main one. We should separate into groups that way if the Nightlins do attack, then they won’t be able to get all of us.”
The guy nodded. I noticed some of the others putting their weapons back into their holders and tightening their armor.
Callum turned back to me. His voice lowered as he spoke, “You okay?”
My eyebrows rose, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
He studied the hole in the building, “I’m not sure what happened to the others.”
My heart dropped. “But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t okay?”
He shook his head, “No, it doesn’t. They are fighters like us,” his mouth lifted slightly.
People around us moved toward the small door. Jordan came over to speak to Callum, and they moved away from me. Watchers and Protectors brushed by me. Callum moved back to stand beside me; his fingers wrapped around my elbow. He gently pushed me toward the door. A group of three or four disappeared into the night. We waited in the dark for what felt like an hour. The small amount of light that I could see would appear whenever someone would enter or leave. The only sound was the steady opening and closing of the door.
I stood close to Callum. I was very aware of how close he was next to me. The top of my head came to his chin, so he watched everything going on over my head. We were mere inches away from each other. The light reflected in his eyes.
His arm tightened around me, and before I knew what had happened, his soft lips kissed mine. A tender second passed. It was over before I could react. I gasped. He turned to the door listening again to the noises outside. He squeezed me tighter to him.
My brain stopped for a moment. I was so happy and shocked all at once. My fingers had fisted his shirt, and I had to unlock them consciously.
I smiled, then whispered as each of my fingers released him, “Callum, what happened back there? You know, with you turning into flames?”
His gaze flicked down at me, then back to our surroundings, “I guess my abilities are progressing.” I could hear his excitement as he spoke. I couldn’t help but be excited with him.
“So, you now have an aptitude for fire? You’re like the Fantastic Four guy?”
He chuckled, “Well, I’m pretty sure I can’t fly, so I’m not completely like him.” As he spoke, yelling broke out from outside.
Callum rushed the door and carefully pushed it open. I tried to see, but several others had pushed in front of me. Through a small hole in the gathering of people, Nightlins had sprung onto some of the Realmers that had run out of our building. Callum rushed out, pulling out his sword, igniting his shield as he ran. We followed him.
The instant we ran out, the leader of the Nightlins jumped down from one of the buildings. We tried to move out of his way, but one person got in his way. The creature caught him up with his sharp claws. The man yelled and tried to swing his blade down into the creature’s face, but the thing took hold of one of his arms and legs. I could hear the wet crunching and popping sound of the man’s ligaments and muscles tearing. It happened so quickly that my mind decided not to make sense of the scene before me. The man was there in the creature’s grasp one moment, and then in the next, parts of him were thrown through the air.
We scattered and tried to take refuge behind some of the buildings. I lost sight of Callum. The Realmers were tearing into the Nightlins. The large Czars were joining forces and pouncing on a Nightlin ripping and clawing. Because the Czars were made from light and energy, they were nearly indestructible. They’re only weakness was the Hunters, weak humans compared to everything else. The Nightlins did their best to take out each Hunter.
I had my sword in my hand hanging by my side. I was standing in the middle of the fight watching everything around me. I didn’t see the Nightlin leader come for me.
I was suddenly on the ground, looking up into his empty eyes. Saliva fell on my cheek. He leaned down and breathed into my face. He smelled of rotting flesh. My heart thumped loudly in my chest, threatening to come out. I pushed with all my strength. My sword laid beside me. I reached out fruitlessly. My hand kept grabbing the dirt. I got my knees between our bodies, putting some distance between us. Masada rested in its holder against my thigh, and I grappled for it.
His claws dug into my shoulders, and I screamed in agony. I could feel him hit my bone. It felt like volts of electricity had been shot through my system.
My fingers grasped the handle of Masada, and I clumsily pulled him out. I shoved the blade into the creature’s abdomen. The blade lit up with the white-blue light. Light from the blade spread across and through the creature’s body. The Nightlin screamed, making my eardrums rattle. He leapt from me and ran through the foray.
I stayed lying on my back. Most of the smaller Nightlins had been killed or were in the process of being disposed of. Charred remains of Nightlins were scattered across the ground. People and animals were covered with the black oily blood of the Nightlins.
I propped up on my elbows and surveyed the damage. Three Realmers were gone. Dead. Several others were very much hurt and were going to need help soon. A handful were able to walk around and speak tangibly. I spotted Callum at the corner of one of the buildings. He had steam rising from him. He was helping someone to stand. He looked over at me. I gave a small wave and slowly sat up.
My shoulders were killing me. Blood oozed out of the openings. I gingerly tried to pull some of my shirt and armor away from the cuts, but it hurt like something awful. I was going to need stitches, morphine, and ice cream at some point.
“Here, let me help,” Callum knelt beside me with some water. He poured the water over the wounds, and it stung. I hit him.
“I’m sorry. I’m sor
ry, but it’ll help some.”
“Yeah, sure.” I glared at him. My sarcasm was ruined when I grimaced from pain.
“Come on. We’ve got to get moving.” He placed his hands under my arms and lifted me close.
I slipped because my feet weren’t cooperating fully. My head was also spinning from the pain that lanced through my shoulder. Images blurred.
“Slow down, wait a minute.” I took a breath and tried to get centered. My breaths came out shaky and shallow. I could still feel Callum’s hands on my waist and his chest against my back.
More screeching and screaming erupted through the night. This time the sounds seemed to be coming from the main building. Everyone tried to get the dead and injured into some of the buildings for shelter, while those that could walk and run started up the hill.
Callum stayed beside me.
“Alright, let’s go.” I grabbed my sword. I tucked Masada back into the holder. I started walking then, slowly jogged up the hill. Callum stuck by me the whole time, never saying a word. We stuck to the shadows and kept our eyes to the sky. I looked at every fallen person that we passed, hoping that it wasn’t Ashlen or Harris or Raleigh.
Every now and then, Aeroes and other Nightlins flew or weaved through the sky. They dove toward the rooftop, sometimes with someone clutched in their claws.
Of course, we didn’t stay on the main road, but it was difficult trying to find a way to get into the building without being seen. Callum found a small hidden door that was covered in shadows. He decided to try it first, in case he was going to have to kick it in or burn it with his new powers. He seemed pretty keen on burning.
He waited for a moment when the Nightlins were out of sight and raced for the door. He plastered himself against the building and edged toward the door. I guess it was locked because he started shoving heavily into it. He glanced over his shoulder at me and then pressed his palm to the door. His hand turned orange, with blue flames dancing across his skin, from the heat. I heard something pop, and he pushed once more. The door fell in, and Callum stumbled in after it. He disappeared because the room was pitch-black. He stuck his head back out and waved for me.
