The village of Suncrest had always been quiet and calm, nestled at the foot of The Great Dybala Mountain range that towered over The Great Forest which bordered the Suncrest village, my home. The trees that had been full of secrets, often whispered to those who listened. But now those trees were silent; and the only sounds were the sounds of ripping flesh and roaring flames both of which were silent compared to the screams of my loved ones.
I rushed through the village, still stumbling around, my hand tightly clenching the hand of my younger sister. Her emerald eyes were ablaze with fear, her usual cheerful and rounded features were gaunt and stretched, her hair was tangled with matted blood that had died her blond hair a sickly shade of crimson. She was six and clearly in shock, I was practically dragging her away from death...or so I thought.
"Stay close Mari," I told her, my voice hoarse from the smoke. I glanced at her tear-streaked face. Her fear was seeping into my bones. I was only 14-how would I find Father and Mother? Her fear was contagious, and I needed my mind clear, but I was a frightened child myself and as a result my pace quickened and a deeper sense of panic set in and my run became a frantic dash.
I rounded a corner and threw myself down the burning alleyway to avoid our armored pursuers. They had come without warning; those terrifying remorseless soldiers and their equally demonic King, the Tyrant king Damian. I'd heard stories of him and his love for slaughter and death, but I had presumed he was a fairy tale meant to keep me and the other children in line. A bogeyman.
But he was real and he came like a storm; suddenly and viciously. Their black banners and standards were held high with the dreaded golden serpent crest emblazoned on everything- from cloak to breastplate to shield. The sea of metal had engulfed the village in a matter of moments and the men of the village had no time to fight back. We were a village of farmers so our resistance was futile anyway. We were cut down like wheat before the scythe.
I crawled out of the alleyway still dragging Mari behind me. "Come on before they come back," I whispered over the sounds of death around us. She seemed more with it now. Her hand gripped mine harder and her movements became more alive and frantic rather than dull and doll like. We rushed towards our house, a small hut at the center of the village, but we were blocked by a towering, bloodstained figure. It was our father.
His large frame blocked the way, and he seemed to be blind. He swung his sickle at us. "Dad it's us," I yelped. He stopped. His face came into focus, his rigid and stern features a mask of pain and misery. His once long hair was singed and considerably shorter, his eyes were...well they were gone. His face a sea of crimson, he looked as if he was crying blood. "Take your sister and go. It's not safe. Get to the forest and protect your sister," my father told me his voice steady and calm. I went to reply however he'd already turned towards the sound of grinding steel. How he'd heard the noise over those terrible screams was beyond me. I turned away and fled knowing that I had to protect Mari at all costs.
We didn't get very far.
We barely made it to the outskirts of the village before soldiers emerged from behind the watch tower that lay in the corner of the village. The soldiers were dragging a woman behind them. They threw her to the floor in front of us. The woman had red hair and golden eyes. I didn't recognize her, but she seemed to recognize me. Her clothes were torn, and she was practically naked from the waist up. She was covered in a sickly red colour and tears fell from her face like a waterfall. The soldier in black armor raised his sword.
The sword was long and shaped like a sickle, its blade forming a hook of sharpened steel meant to tear human flesh instead of catch fish. The sword made a hissing sound as it whistled through the air in its lethally beautiful arc. It beheaded the woman in one swift movement, clearly well practised and routine.
I covered Mari's eyes as I backed up, eyes wide in fear and shock. My legs shook like a newborn lamb's. My mouth opened and closed, flapping like a fish. "More rats scurrying into the forest. Shame the cats are in the forest too," the soldier in black armour crowed, his blade glistening dangerously in the sunlight. "Stay away," I blurted out still backing away. The soldiers laughed maniacally and advanced slowly and lethargically, clearly in no hurry to end anything. "We have a brave little rat here," the one in black armour cooed, "What are you gonna do huh?" The soldier continued to walk me down laughing and jeering at me. I put my body between the soldier and my sister. Then I felt hands grip my arm. I turned only to have my sister wrenched from my grip by a different group of soldiers. We were surrounded and separated.
Mari screamed loudly kicking and screaming trying to loosen the man's grip. I rushed towards them only to be knocked down by the man in black. "Where are you going? We haven't had any fun yet." The man laughed again and raised his blade; he moved his blade in a sick dance as he cut me countless times. They were only small nicks, but it still hurt like hell. He raised his arm once again, this time his eyes glistened with murderous intent, and it was clear he was about to kill me. His arm dropped towards me, and I shut my eyes.
"ENOUGH!" A voice cut through the crowd that had gathered around us. The voice was strange and metallic yet authoritative and gravelly. The crowd split and a figure walked through.
The figure was of average height and had an average build. He didn't look like a warrior, but his presence spoke volumes of who he was. His presence seemed to expand with each step, its malicious energy sucking all the emotion from his surroundings. My blood ran cold and the blade that was about to take my life stopped inches from my neck.
"Bring the girl here," the man commanded. He had golden armor that seemed to be part of his body. It had a serpentine aspect to it and the face plate was that of a snake; just like a snake, the man seemed venomous. The figure reached out and took off his helmet. The man had red eyes and a hard angular face. He had blond hair and a large scar running down his cheek. He carried a kingly sort of energy but not a king of man. Rather the king of beasts.
"Yes, your majesty," the black armored man said nervously. He gestured for his companion to bring my sister to the man, the king. "Stop, don't hurt her," I begged attempting to rise. The black armored man kicked me hard in the chest and I went flying, pain blossoming from where his kick had connected. "Why should I spare a rat that can't pay me back," The king's voice was flat and emotionless, his eyes full of sick enjoyment. A chill ran down my spine. "I... I... I'll do what you ask just please spare her," I begged bowing low, almost slamming my head against the ash covered earth.
I glanced up and the king was smiling almost kindly almost. The king raised his arm revealing a small dagger. His hand fell faster than a guillotine and the blades target was my sister. My eyes widened and I let out a guttural roar that tore at my vocal cords. But my body was frozen and I watched the blade fall in slow motion. I saw her face contort in agony as the dagger rose and fell again and again. Finally, she fell still.
My face became wet, and the pain of the kick was replaced by an ache that ripped through my chest. Any resistance I was going to put up shattered in that moment. "You're a rat too and as your king, you should listen to me anyway. Know your place urchin. No one gets spared," The king said in that demonically emotionless voice. A smile had spread across his face and his eyes were alight with delight. "I love that face you rats make when they lose everything," he cackled, licking my sister's blood from his dagger. He walked towards me, and I didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't beg I just stared at the limp and broken girl that had been my sister. "Look at me boy," The king grabbed my chin forcing my eyes onto his face, "You'll join her soon" his voice was somewhat compassionate as he plunged something into my chest.
I couldn't feel any pain from it; the ache in my heart had overpowered everything. The king ripped the thing from my chest and turned away. He said something as he left, but I couldn't hear it. The soldiers left as well leaving me on my knees.
I reached for my sister but fell and ended up crawling towards her, the ash falling from the sky like grey snow. I managed to pull myself up and put her head in my lap. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry," I wailed caressing her face. Her once innocent and living face, oh god it was a mess. Blood decorated her lips like a sick form of makeup; her face was deathly pale, drained of all its blush and colour. I hugged her to my chest enveloping her, trying to squeeze life into her with my almost frozen body. My hot blood splashed against her face, and I did my best to wipe it off.
My eye lids grew heavy, my breath labored. "I'm so sorry Mari." My eyes closed, my strength dissipated and the void welcomed me with its tantalizing heat that warmed my freezing body. I too welcomed the void with open arms and my consciousness faded.
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