Chapter 4: The Man in Black
We only manage to make a couple feet before a cloaked man comes around a house. He clothes are untouched, but his blade is already crimson red. From behind his hood, a deep, hearty laugh erupts. "It's too late." The man throws back his hood, revealing his face.
My body becomes numb. "It's... you! What...what!?" My mind is racing. What is he doing here? Wh-why? What do I do, what do I do!? A piercing shout breaks my panic.
"Lief!" Isa is holding her bow, ready to fire. "Calm yourself. This is not the time to panic."
She's right, I think to myself. I take a deep breath. This is it. This is my chance! I'm about to remove my bandages again, ready to grasp the cold iron blade that will finally end this bastards life, when I realize... My wounds were fully healed. I curse myself under my breath, I should've realized earlier! It was a rookie mistake that left me in the middle of a battleground, defenseless. I turn to Isa. "Isa! Shoot me, now!" I squint my eyes, waiting for the faint "Whoosh!" of her arrow to pass by, until suddenly I hear soft footsteps coming towards me. I open my eyes and- "Wham!" A fast slap to my cheek sends me tumbling onto my ass. Isa looks down at me, absolutely furious.
"Have you learned nothing!? We are not barbarians who have to rely on blood loss like some masochistic...masochistic... masochist! Look deep into yourself Lief, and you'll find the power you seek. Why do you fight? Is it to kill, to revel in the blood that you spilt yourself? If it is, tell me now so I can kill you myself." Isa releases a deep sigh. "But if it isnt, if there's the tiniest chance that you're fighting to keep the loved ones you still have alive, then tell me. And I will stand by your side forever Lief."
I take a deep breathe. I...I'm sorry Isa. I cant forgive him, I cant! He... he killed her! I can never, never forgive him. I take a step forward when the man suddenly snaps his fingers. A guard reveals himself. He's holding a black bag, only about three to four feet high. The bag is chained tightly all the way up, leaving only the top few inches open. The guard pushes the bag down nearby the mans feet, sending a cloud of dust billowing into everybodies faces.
As the dust settles, I see a small ribbon tied out of grass is resting at my feet.
"Elizabeth!" I clench my hands, but there's nothing I can do at this point. I have to find a way to get my weapon, fast! Or else...
"Mmm! Mmph!" The bag is squirming around. The scene is entirely quiet except for the small cries coming from the bag.
"You're... making too much noise!" The man in black raises his foot and slams it down towards the middle of the bag. A sharp cry erupts from the bag, but the noise slowly draws to just the occasional sob.
"You...you monster!" Isa's body is completely still, but I can almost hear her grinding her teeth down to a powder. "Lief... start running when I signal you, okay? I need you to grab Elizabeth and get out of here. I'll follow you later!" Isa whispers to me.
The man releases another one of his laughing fits, sending chills down my spine. "What are you whispering about over there, hmm? Could it be..? Have the rats figured out a plan? I'll tell you now, any moves from the either of you and the girl dies." He laughs again. I clench my teeth. Shut up! I want to end that stupid laugh, shut it out and erase it from this world! I want to erase you from this world, god damn it all!
The three of us are staring each other down. The sound of fighting around us is rising, but nobody pays any mind to it. I glance over at Isa. What signal is she going to use? I have to be observant, it can come at any time! I'm staring at Isa when I notice a faint tapping noise coming from her feet. Isa is tapping her feet against the ground. It's slow at first, but she starts tapping her faster and faster, until suddenly- Nothing.
"Now!" Isa shouts.
Isa rapidly fires a stream of arrows, some of them swinging off in random directions before resting in motion about 5 feet away from the man. I take the distraction to scramble towards Elizabeth. I'm only a couple feet away from her when the man snarls. "Fools. The lot of you." He takes a step forward towards Elizabeth when the arrows come crashing down atop of him. The arrows went from a slow, hovering speed into deadly missiles that were only a blur to the human eye. It looked as if there was no escape for the man, but he crouches down as a black aura swallows both him and the arrows. The aura slowly expands, black wisps of void seeming to reach out for any sign of life. All the while, nearby plants are withering away, the foundations of houses crumbling down as wooden supports crack.
"Lief! Hurry!" Isa is screaming at me, but everything seems silent as I stare at the wave of death approaching us. I look down and notice the ribbon resting at my feet. It's tattered, pieces torn off in the chaos of everything. Isa's words come back to me. What do I fight for? Is it to revel in the blood that I spilt myself...? Or something... more? The world comes crashing back to me. Screams, destruction, the entire place was reduced to the point where you couldn't even tell it had been a place of rest only moments ago. "Elizabeth!" I shout. The black void is just upon her now, ready to squeeze out the life out of her when suddenly everything retracts. In place of the void is the man in black, his sword raised by his side. He smirks. "I told you didn't I? I would kill her myself if you two tried anything." I shake my head. No! Not another one, I... I. Will. Not. Let her die! I scramble forward just in time to block the blow with my body. Time seems to slow as I raise my hands, hoping to block the blow, however futile it may seem. A pale ghost of a object is shaping itself around my hands. Just come now! If there's one moment I ever needed you, this freak of a power, it's now! Just let me protect at least one person, just one person from this madness! I grasp the blade firmly and deflect the incoming blow. "Clang!" Sparks fly as the two blades connected, sliding into each other slightly before exploding away.
"Lief! They have us surrounded!" Isa cries out to me. I look around to find a group of 5 or 6 men blocking the way behind us while the cloaked man stood in front us. I grab Elizabeth and head back towards Isa. In all the confusion, of course it would've been easy to cut us off! We have to find a way out of this, or else... Huh? The sounds of bodies crumpling to the floor crashes down from behind us. Isa and I turn. "Looks like you guys got yourself in a bit of a pickle huh?" Fearl is standing there, clothed in a black cloak, with his hood down. The bodies of the other guards lay motionless on the ground. "Don't worry, they're just unconscious. But we gotta leave now, before reinforcements come!" Fearl throws off his cloak, opting instead for his usual set of boxers. Before the dust even settles, the four of us ran off towards the back end of the village, where a large plain covered the land.
I look back at the man. He's smiling , but he hasn't moved a inch. One day, I swear to you. I'll get stronger, I'll come back and make you pay for everything you've done! His figure is getting smaller, but I can see him mouth out something to me. It couldn't have been possible, but it seemed as if his voice was whispering into my ear. "I'll be waiting for you. Know, you have caught the attention of Sotanaht of the Ender's."