I am back! And I have not abandoned this story! If you thought, you have no faith in me! oo Anyway, here it is. Sorry it took me so long for it to update. You have allprobably forgotten and left...(sigh) but I will still keep going! This chapter is 20 pages long. Yes, it is. Does it really surprise you after my past long chapters?
This chapter is weird, and dumb, but I write it anyway.
I changed the name of the story too. Because I felt like it. :D
Read and enjoy, hope that it's alright.
Chapter 15- One Step Closer
THUD!
"…Ow…"
Shadow groaned from the sudden pain present at the back of his head. He winced as he brought a hand to the sore area, feeling a slight lump.
Great.
As he moved, he could feel softness underneath his body. Turning his head to the right, the hedgehog noticed brown earth, shooting green scattered across the ground in small patches, like green stars in a brown sky.
"That…was the oddest experience yet."
Shadow's ears perked up at Rika's voice who was sprawled like him on the ground to his left side. Her cloak in disarray, she groaned as she attempted to pick herself up. The hedgehog stood on his own two feet and held out his hand for the fox.
"You all right?" he asked.
"Yeah," Rika stated, taking the offered hand until she was level with him. "Falling for what may have been two hundred feet can really knock it out of ya."
"Funny."
"I wasn't trying to be."
Shadow turned away, already bored of the conversation. He examined their new surroundings, wondering what new place they had landed in.
A sigh left his body.
"Things just keep getting better and better."
The fox put her attention to the environment. She had to admit that Shadow was, once again, right.
They were literally in the middle of nowhere.
For as far as the eye can see, no landmarks could be detected. No buildings dotted the horizon, no trees sprouted from the earth. Not even any hills or mountains could be seen rising into the sky from miles away. Just a vast emptiness, like a never ending sea or desert.
The natural ground itself did not look very healthy. The soil had a gray tinge to it, and the sparse grass was wilted as if no water had ever nurtured its roots.
Feeling a tugging urge, Shadow raised his eyes to the sky. Toxic clouds completely shrouded its breadth, revealing the sun only in short intervals, which even then was a sickly yellow. No birds flew through the polluted air, and no animals walked on the land. Everything was bereft of life.
"What is this place?" Rika's voice echoed, hollow in the air.
Shadow bent to the ground and scooped up a clump of gray dirt in his hand. Wet and damp, he dropped the soil, bits of it still clinging to his glove. "Perhaps this is just another illusion," he spoke, standing up.
"Yes, maybe so," replied the fox, eyes hard. "Although it's not disappearing like the last time." A slight breeze billowed her cloak gently. She clasped the garment tight around her after she pulled the hood back over her head. "What do you suggest we do?"
Red and black quills swaying gently in the wind, Shadow looked past Rika. His eyes took on a note of confusion, then widened.
"We run."
"What?" Rika asked in puzzlement.
"We run, from that." Shadow pointed behind her at the small forms that slowly appeared on the horizon. All were in a line across, spanning almost half a mile. The mass gradually ran towards the two companions. The ground trembled from hundreds of marching feet.
Quickly, Shadow grabbed Rika's arm. "Come on! After all the weird things we've seen we're not taking any more chances."
Barely having any time to protest, Rika was pulled along with Shadow's rapid pace. The hedgehog promptly searched for any shelter that they could take cover in. But everything was so bare, not even a damn bush showed up!
As he looked for salvation, he noticed the ground before them drop off suddenly. Both Shadow and Rika stopped right before the edge, caught off guard by the strange topography. Both were on a higher level of land, similar to that of a steep hill. Looking below, they found the second plane of earth, only ten feet far.
"Look!" Rika pointed. The ten foot wall had an opening that led underneath the top level of land, hidden by hanging gray vines the same color of the earth that provided natural covering. One had to look closely to spot the secret cavern.
Dropping down, they ran inside the opening and closed the vines to make it seem a part of the natural dirt wall. Both waited quietly, the thunderous stomps from above steadily growing louder. Screams sailed the air mingling with threatening roars. They could both hear horrific yells and what sounded like the clod of horse's hooves. Soon it was right above them, little dirt clusters falling from the earthen ceiling. Through the dead vines, they could make out shapes landing on the lower ground from their jump. Shadow dared a risk, venturing toward the front of the cave with Rika following close behind. Parting a small fraction of the plants, they saw the inhabitants of this bare land.
Soldiers.
At least they looked like it.
Beings of every race clad in armor, swords clanging against their backs. They rode on ghastly horses with large iron-clad hooves and flaming eyes. Some were waving battle axes around, hollering terrible war cries. Neither Shadow nor Rika could tell which soldier was human or animal due to the metal covering their attributes so well.
More came next. Some running on their feet instead of riding horseback, wearing loose-fitting clothes that allowed for free and easy movement. Several had ecstatic smiles on their faces while others had a cruel grimace.
Humans, hedgehogs, felines, bats, foxes, a variety of species all running in the same direction.
Then Shadow and Rika's eyes landed on another discovery. There were people tied up on some of the horses, mouths gagged. Some were even dragged by the foot runners, held by their legs as they scraped across the ground.
Prisoners.
Both looked on and could see their frightened eyes. A few, they realized in deep disgust, hung limply by their bonds, eyes staring ahead, unseeing.
After an eternity, when it seemed the army would go on forever, the last of the ranks dwindled away into the distance. Shadow was about to leave the hiding place until one particular soldier landed right in front of the dirt cavern. The head turned around and caught sight of the two hideaways.
The soldier was a male wolf, aqua blue staining his white fur, immense height with trained muscles. He was clothed in the black armor, jagged spikes protruding from the arm and leg braces.
He started to reach for his weapon; a double-edged ax strapped to the waist. It hesitated, staring at the two who were ready to defend themselves. Clearly struggling within himself, he took a step back.
"It won't matter leaving a few survivors," he muttered to himself. After moments of deliberation, the wolf loped on ahead to catch up with his comrades.
Eventually, the entire army vanished.
A great stillness descended on them. Only their racing heartbeats making any sound.
"Whoa," Shadow whispered. "That's something you don't see every day."
Both hedgehog and fox left their hideout, more suspicious of the world around them.
Bare life, massive hordes of enemies; the place was starting to feel like a quiet hell.
"But what was with that wolf?" Rika's voice rang. "He didn't even attack us."
"For all we know, he may have left to tell his friends about us," Shadow curtly replied.
"So you're saying we should leave?" Rika asked, unaffected by the hedgehog's tone.
"Yes. That's probably our only option anyway. Hiding in the dark won't achieve anything."
As he spoke, something rose from the stillness, soft and quiet. Shadow wondered how he had been able to hear the cry. But apparently Rika had heard as well, for she looked around in search.
Another cry. Softer this time…
"He-help…"
Shadow saw a part of the ground move, thirty feet away. Both companions ran to the spot in quick haste.
Lying on the ground was a young female rabbit, her clothes old and ragged with unknown blotches staining her outfit. On her wrists and ankles were shackles chained together. Her movement caused the metal to clink sharply. A part of the fur and flesh had been rubbed off where the shackles held, perhaps by the rabbits struggle against her bonds. Her long ears bore numerous scars and hung limply from her head as if they were dead. Her face had horrid bruises, including one serrated cut that ran across her eyes, blinding that side. It was still fresh with blood.
"Please…help me…"
She had been dropped from the army's travel, perhaps her captor tired of hauling her and left the woman to her fate. Who knows how much she had gone through…?
Shadow and Rika spared no thought to falter.
"Come on," he said in a gentle manner as he and the fox bent downwards to pick up the suffering victim. She stretched out her hands to accept their aid, but then her eyes caught the faint glimmer of the crystal spheres, dangling by their necks.
"Wait! Your-!" She coughed, her body shuddering with each lung-hacking gasp.
"Careful. You shouldn't move," Rika warned, but the rabbit waved it aside and gazed at the two with her one remaining eye.
"Please…you must…stop…" Her voice was thick with a heavy accent.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Shadow questioned.
"He's…got them all. They will be trapped, even the ones who are working-," another hacking cough. "…Working for him. They're just lost."
Rika leaned forward. "Who do you mean?"
The rabbit took grating breaths. "…He's known…by the name…Kin… (cough, cough)…Kinslayer… (cough)."
Both Shadow and Rika raised eyebrows at the odd name. Sounded like some bad fantasy villain reject.
The rabbit noticed their looks and gave a tiny smile. "Yes…that's what he calls himself anyway." Her hand moved toward her chest and she started to breathe rapidly.
"Stop talking, you should rest," Shadow urged the woman.
"Even when we die, we can't get away," she whispered. "He will never let us go, unless…please, help us…help them…" Her breathing slowed, until it came to a complete stop.
She was not moving.
Shadow tried to check for a pulse. Even when he felt nothing, he continued looking for a beat. Aggravated, reluctantly, he gave up. "Damn, where's Krysta when you need her?"
Both stared silently at the still body.
"We…should probably bury her," Rika said in a quiet voice.
"Yeah…" The hedgehog turned his eyes back to the cave. "Perhaps in there."
Rika just nodded.
Shadow picked up the female rabbit in his arms carefully. She was surprisingly light. The woman must have been deprived of food for her fur was sallow and falling off and the body so thin. She seemed too young to have met this end. And judging by her wounds, he could only imagine what kind of torture she had undergone.
He had fought and killed most of his life, but had never gazed upon a dead body for longer than necessary, even less, held one before. It was almost haunting to dwell on the thought. He had only seen Death at his work, ready to snap the life thread while the victim struggled. Such as when the people and Maria had died on the ARK, he had seen Death close in on them.
But never after. Never when Death had left, taking his newfound soul to beyond, leaving the body hollow.
Shadow held the vessel in his arms and realized why she was so light. Her soul had escaped her body and now she was empty. He began to think that perhaps he should count himself blessed, never seeing Maria like this, empty and lifeless.
Rika walked by his side, trying to keep a straight face. She usually did not mind death; the death of demons and monsters, and all her repulsive enemies. They could all rot in the dirt to her liking, but seeing this woman unnerved her. This was different. Someone innocent had her life shortened.
The fox grew a bit envious of how Shadow was able to carry the rabbit in his arms with ease. Somehow, she just could not go near the body. Too much. It seemed just too much.
Both entered the dark cave, the smell of the earth strong. Shadow laid down the young rabbit on her back to the dirt floor, her face blank yet peaceful. Not sure what else to do, he nervously left the cave. Turning back, he saw Rika still standing over the woman. Her lips were moving, inaudible, eyes closed.
Was she praying? Shadow never took her for a religious person.
Done, Rika silently left the cave, joining Shadow outside on the bare land while she kept her eyes averted.
Both looked straight ahead, afraid to speak. All could be heard was the crying wind.
The atmosphere seemed different now.
Shadow dared to break the silence. "What did she mean by that?"
"By what?" Rika shifted her ice blue eyes to him.
"She said that even when they die, they couldn't get away. I don't understand."
The fox girl shrugged. "She was near death. People sometimes ramble on about things that have no meaning during…that stage."
"Maybe so," Shadow coincided. "But what about that name, Kinslayer?"
"Beats me. More likely some dictator that took over this place, which could explain the army."
"Hmm, it's just such an odd name…"
The wind increased in force, shifting loose soil into the air. Great shadows covered the ground, dimming an already dark land.
"What the-?" Rika said in a bothered tone.
Bulky shapes flew through the sky, majestic wings creating silhouettes on the earth. The outlines were unmistakable, a memory of a certain person rising into the present.
Neither needed to state the obvious.
Both looked up, proving what they already knew. Dragons.
Breathtaking creatures of myth, a vast sea traveled in hundreds of forms. When the sun could break the clouds, it glinted off a rainbow; red, violet, blue, yellow, green, white, and black. The awe-inspiring sight made Shadow and Rika stock-still. Draken was the only dragon they had seen; now they were suddenly bombarded with the entire race. Beautiful, but deadly. Roars floated over them from a great distance as they traveled in one direction. The same way where the dark army had been heading.
They were following them.
The reptilian creatures flapped their wings until most had already past the enraptured eyes of the two onlookers below. Neither breathed for that whole time and only sucked in the air once the beasts left.
"Damn," Shadow whispered. "It's like we're stuck in some fantasy world."
Rika removed her hood to gain a better view. "Just what is going on here?"
Shadow's crimson eyes gazed ahead with a penetrating stare. The massive army of soldiers, the immense dragons, the barren wasteland. He turned back to the cave where the young rabbit's body lay.
He did not know how he knew, nor why, but the answer just screamed at him to make itself known. After a while, he realized that it had been standing right in front of him.
He thought back to when they had been falling, falling down into the darkness, escaping from illusion of the past, back to reality.
Reality of the past. This was real, and this had happened long ago.
Learn from the past, the ever turning wheel of time.
"We're stuck in the middle of a war," Shadow stated. "There are massacres happening here, things that had already happened. We're trapped in a war in the past."
Rika stared at him, disbelieving. "Wait…what? That's not…possible!"
"After all that's happened to us, I believe that anything is possible," Shadow declared.
Rika heaved a deep sigh. "Alright, you have a point there. But what makes you so sure that we are actually in the past?"
The hedgehog crossed his arms. "The armor on those people, their swords and axes. This is more suited toward the middle ages since back home they only use guns for everything. I see no signs of technology. That woman's clothes are of a different era, more suiting toward the fourteenth century. And her accent convinces me of it even more."
Shadow's eyes were rigid, masking the tumult inside.
"Please…help us…help them…"
Sounding so much like her own wish.
Shadow looked to the dragons traveling the skies, aligned in a perfect V-formation. "One thing has me wondering."
"What?" Rika asked.
"Do you think that Draken is older than he looks?"
Puzzled at being asked such a random question, answered, "I don't know. Why do you ask?"
Shadow gave a wry smile. "Nothing, except I just saw Draken flying at the head of those reptiles." He gestured toward the dragons, an emerald mass leading them away.
Black smoke coiled around the fires like black serpents swimming among a sea of orange flames. As they flickered, it created the imagery of waving arms dancing wildly. The sound was polluted with the war cries and laughter of the soldiers, fusing with the screams of helpless innocents that ran for any means of shelter from the sword. The soldiers that rode on horseback swung around their weapons with deadly precision, lopping off heads to their liking, urging their steeds to trample on the bodies, living or dead, with their strong hooves. The ones that were on foot may have been more subjected to danger, but it was worth it since they acquired most of the loot. Breaking into their victims' homes, they stole any valuables catching their eye, including several young females deemed attractive. Hefting money and jewelry stuffed into sacks with one hand and dragging screaming and kicking women with the other, they would leave the dwelling that was then subjected to a rain of flaming arrows that destroyed a once valued home.
The people could do nothing but watch as their beloved town was stripped of its humble peace. Only the instinct to run from the horrid massacre. Few could escape, the soldiers had them surrounded, taking away their last hope.
Just when the invaders were ready to pat themselves on the back for another job well done, dark outlines shrouded over them. Unison of oaths broke out as the dragons descended upon them in swiftness. Half faced off against the soldiers while the other half tried to coax the fleeing victims to fly atop their backs so that they could be carried to safety. Only few hesitated for it was common knowledge of their land that the dragons were loyal and honest creatures and that none fell to his promises.
One particular dragon, gleaming emerald scales, reverted to his smaller form, standing on two legs and wings folded against his back, only half the height of the large horses. An arrogant soldier, a spotted weasel, took it to his head that the dragon was now weak. The rodent spurred his toward the reptile, waving around a broadsword, his white teeth gleaming. The dragon, showing no fear, unfurled his wings and flew towards the soldier. He swung his claws, ripping through the weasel's black armor like soft mud. The soldier fell off his horse, clattering to the burnt ground.
That was when the reptile opened his mouth, spewing out bright dragon fire. The weasel screamed in agony, until nothing but a charred heap remained of him.
The rest of the army hesitated at first, but soon came charging once they took control of themselves once more. The other dragons shifted forms and prepared for battle. Though they could have easily defeated the army had they stayed in their larger appearance, they feared that they may do more damage to the town people that were still scattered all over the place.
Not too far away, Shadow and Rika watched the bloody onslaught carry on. Both had followed the dragons, figuring that perhaps they may find an answer on how to escape the abysmal world. They were truly stunned at the battle unfolding before their eyes.
In one brief moment, Shadow imagined the soldiers carrying rifles instead of swords. The armor replaced by leather uniforms imprinted with the letters G.U.N. The thought disgusted him, realizing how massacres such as these happened anywhere.
"Help! Somebody help! Please!"
Both the fox and hedgehog turned towards the cry. A young human boy was trying to escape from a heavily built soldier, a gray rhinoceros hefting a ball and chain that swung in chaotic directions. Trying to escape, the boy tripped onto a large outcropping of rocks, scraping his knees and falling to the tainted earth. He watched in horror as the soldier aimed his weapon at the young one, mouth stretched in a leer.
"Somebody help me!"
The rhinoceros then immediately swerved to the side, flying for several feet until landed hard on the ground. Shadow stood in his place, fists clenched. Snarling, the rhino staggered back up, glaring at the hedgehog who had just kicked him aside.
"Who the hell are you?" the animal rumbled.
"Someone that can snap your neck," Shadow answered calmly.
Offended by the curt reply, the rhino charged towards this little black hedgehog, impatient to crush the bones under his feet.
Shadow curled into a spin dash, knocking against the burly soldier once more. Its weapon flew out of his large hands, as the animal managed to stay upright, fuming in rage and ready for another attempt.
"Too thick headed to know when to quit?" Shadow insulted, his ruby eyes expressing disdain.
The rhinoceros snorted, face turning red. "You rat! Do you know what I'm a part of?"
"Please, one grotesque creature such as you is enough."
The rhino thundered his feet toward Shadow, a livid roar emitting from his throat. "You won't be so arrogant once I deliver you to him!"
The young human boy, crouching on the ground, watched in fear as the horned animal advanced toward the hedgehog, who stood calmly with crossed arms. They were only a few inches apart now…
The boy closed her eyes. He heard a terrible cry and could only imagine what the soldier did to the other. Attentively allowing his eyelids to lift, he was surprised to find the rhinoceros lower half incased in what seemed to be solid ice. Turning his head, he saw a fox girl wrapped in darkness, her hands raised as a white substance flew from them. The rhino struggled in his bonds, all the time cursing in strong oaths.
"Nice one," Shadow complimented.
Rika gave a tiny smile of smug triumph. "Like that was any challenge."
"You worthless freaks! I swear when I break free I'll have your heads- oof!" The rhino soldier fell silent, his jaw breaking from Shadow's well aimed kick who was tired of hearing the idiot's empty threats.
The young boy, still crouching, watched the two figures in awe. Seeing them approach him, he scrambled back in fear.
"Hey kid, don't be afraid," the hedgehog comforted. "We're not going to hurt you."
The boy remained still, but made no move to come any closer. "Who…who are you?" His blue eyes were wide with confusion.
"My name is Shadow," replied the hedgehog.
"And I am Rika," the fox introduced.
"So you're not one of them?" The boy pointed to the unconscious rhino, held upright in his ice prison.
Shadow shook his head. "No, we're not. But tell us, what is going on here?" He gestured to the ravages of the town.
The boy's eyebrows shot up. "You mean you haven't heard?"
Almost embarrassed, the fox and hedgehog shook their heads.
"Where are you from? Everyone all over heard has of what he's doing. How Kinslayer's taking everybody."
Shadow and Rika exchanged looks. There was that name again.
"Who is he exactly?" Rika inquired the boy.
He shook his head. "No one's ever seen his face, at least none that ever comes back. He always sends out his army to gather more people."
Then the boy's voice took on a different, harder tone. "And then there are those that even join him, thinking to escape from that end he gives everyone. All are just rotten traitors. But we've tried everything to get away."
Shadow looked to the town, the houses broiled as mini-sized dragons took on the army. He turned back to the boy. "You're saying this person is gathering more people. For what?"
The child was about to answer, but then his face clouded with fear. "Look out!"
Shadow and Rika twisted around, finding a large ax swinging down on top of them. Both narrowly dodged out of the way, Rika grasping the boy far from the spot.
The weapon was wielded by a wolf, armor black and sinister looking. His aqua fur gleamed from the surrounding fires, and then did Shadow recognize the same wolf that had spared them back at the cave. The canine's muzzle pulled back in a snarl, revealing sharply jagged teeth, gleaming white. His eyes widened, he as well recognizing the pair.
"You!" he shouted. "Damn it, I didn't think you two were dumb enough to actually come here." He sighed in exasperation. "I should've just slaughtered you back at the caves, would've saved me much time and effort."
He lifted the large battle ax, sides slicked with fresh blood, its designs covered in grime.
God, who are these freaks?
Shadow was certainly getting tired of everyone trying to kill him.
The wolf threw back his arm for a hard swing with the ax, the hedgehog his target. Shadow sidled to the right, but then the canine guided the arc of his swing to the same direction.
Caught by surprise, he jumped away from the sharp blade. A fiery burn erupted in his left side suddenly. The hedgehog looked down and noticed a cut on his fur, just grazing the flesh. He had escaped just in time what would have been a much deeper and serious wound.
The wolf wasted no time and charged again, wielding the ax with obvious skill. Unlike the rhino soldier, he was using strategy and brains to fight instead of brute force.
Rika, getting the boy to a safe distance, struck the wolf soldier in the back, her boot making a large dent in the armor. He fell to the dirt, but only on his knees and glared at the pair who stood next to each other.
Shadow quickly rushed up to him, kicking the wolf's weapon aside, whirling in the air until it came with a landed with a plop on the earth. He struck the soldier's muzzle with a roundhouse punch, pushing him back down.
"Tell me," he demanded. "Why are you and your army friends here, killing these people?"
Fur bristled, the canine growled in anger. "You'll find out soon enough once I've-" He stopped, catching a white glimmer from Shadow's neck like that of a radiant sun. His face was in disbelief.
"Wh-where did you get that!" The wolf clambered to his feet, eyes rapt on the crystal.
Rika came forward, ready if the wolf attacked. Her blue crystal shone, also catching the wolf's gaze.
"And you?" He was visibly trembling. "I didn't think those were actually real, just some dumb fairy tale. But-"
Shadow and Rika were surprised. "Wait, what do you know about these things?" the fox insisted.
The wolf looked at them, the former rage and bloodlust leaving his face.
The sky was darkening, lightning coming in wicked flashes, accompanied with rolling thunder as that of marching feet. The canine soldier looked upward fearfully. No, they were taking too long. He was not happy with their progress.
Or maybe, the wolf thought, he knows about them. His gaze went to the two before him.
The other soldiers along with the people and dragons also realized what was going to happen. True horror covered their faces. Their worst fears were realized. Looting and killing halted in mid-progress, knowing what was to come.
Everyone would be taken, no matter who they were. He was known for making unpredictable decisions. In the end, all would be his, no matter what side they were on.
The leader of the army sitting astride his horse, gulped nervously, envisioning the horrid fore coming. He pulled on the reigns, shouting frantically.
"Everybody! Move out! Retreat! Retreat! Fall back now!"
The soldiers did not needed to be told twice. Already they were pushing any being, dead or alive, out of the way. Tripping over themselves for salvation, the townspeople ran as well, crying in endless despair. The dragons took to the air, shifting to their larger forms in their flight. Still, they tried to carry the victims away on their backs, but much faster and desperate this time.
Shadow and Rika turned their heads in confusion at the people and the apparent storm coming. Neither had any clue to what was going on. The wolf they had been combating with had fled the scene, his legs in long strides, leaving the battle ax behind.
The sky turned darker, lightning coming in angry and impatient flashes.
"What the hell?" Rika could only say.
"Jon! Jon!" A human woman shouted desperately from the distance, just heard above the din of lightning cymbals. "Jon!"
The boy looked up. "Mom!" he cried gratefully. He ran toward her but the ground suddenly split open, a dark crevasse just before his feet. The child yelped as he fell inside the abyss. Rika rushed forward, grabbing the child by the scruff of his shirt, hauling him back up.
The thunder increased in volume, the clouds rolling like black waves ready to overtake the mortals below.
As Rika carried the boy to a thankful mother, Shadow spotted a familiar green form in the distance. He ran up to it, finding the dragon, still in his smaller form, guiding the people to safety. He had stayed behind in the center of the town, searching for any more survivors.
The dragon turned to his fellow winged brethren. "Hurry! Take everyone out of here and don't stop until you are safe and far away!" The reptiles took flight, scales of red, blue, white, and so much more traveling the air with their passengers on board.
Shadow was closer now, the green dragon only a mere few feet away. "Draken!"
The dragon turned, seeing the black hedgehog run to him.
"Draken, what is going on?"
At first surprised, the reptile's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "No one but my own kind knows my name. So how can you have knowledge of it?"
Shadow waved that aside. "It doesn't matter! Just tell me what the hell is going on? I'm tired of guessing! Why is everyone just suddenly running away?"
Draken's face was in utter disbelief. "Are you dense? He's coming! He's going to take us for himself! You should be running away right now! Get out of here!"
And then the sky screamed.
A thousand voices resonating in high and low pitches. Voices pain filled and lost, tinged with sorrow. Reverberating in a loud and chilling symphony, reminding everyone below that nothing could save them.
Shadow clutched his ears from the discordant song of voices. Draken was the same way, his wings flapping wildly at the pain the screams gave. Everyone in the ruined town cried out, some stopping in their escape from the unholy voices of the sky. They begged for it to stop, to be spared. They had never done anything wrong…
Rika had been running towards Shadow after delivering the child, but was now on her knees, covering her ears. To her, the voices were saying something, a message that she could barely grasp. Some of it sounded too familiar and she tried to block it out, a sudden urge to tear her ears off so that she would never have to hear again.
The fox looked up and her face froze to a look of shock. She knew she must be dreaming. "Oh my…"
The voices stopped, but only to be replaced by something far worse.
"Shadow! Get out of there! Now!" she yelled, though her voice cracked.
Still recovering from the song of the voices, Shadow turned to Rika who was several feet behind them. Her eyes were transfixed to the sky.
He looked up, but no sound came from his throat.
A hand, large as a mountain, was descending slowly from the heavens. Lightning flashed across its palm, crackling with untold power. Claws extended from the fingertips, stained with dark crimson, like dried blood. In eager satisfaction it plowed downward to grasp its victims.
Shadow did not move, not even sure of what he was seeing. He only felt a strong impact push him backward, breaking him out of his trance.
"Move! Move!" Draken was shouting as he kept on pushing away the hedgehog.
He was not wasting any time. Immediately, Shadow ran, the jet shoes flaring to life as he skated across the floor. He grabbed Rika's arm and they both ran for their lives.
"Shadow," she said. "What is-?"
"I have no idea," Shadow replied. "But I really doubt we want to find out."
The hand came lower, its menacing form immersed on to the figures scurrying below like frightened rats. People screamed, cried for help, but they knew it was useless. The dragons flew with desperate speed born from adrenaline, roars breaking from their throats.
Shadow and Rika looked up once more to the sky, now witnessing the hand's true intent. Nails glistening red, it slowly curled into a fist, as if it wanted to savor the moment. Electricity sparked up and with an outbreak of motion, the hand struck the ground.
An earthquake with devastating magnitude spread, lurching the ground in frantic chaos. The earth split, fissures breaking across the surface in jagged streaks. Where the fist attacked, a large chasm was formed, its area as wide as that of the town. Darkness was all there inside the pit, too deep for light to ever penetrate. The houses fell into the chasm, lost to the world. People who were caught in the fist's path disappeared from sight while others slipped through the fissures, their death cries ringing in the air.
Shadow and Rika kept running, their instincts to survive overpowering everything. They watched in helplessness as the people fell through the darkness, eyes wide.
One fissure seemed to head straight for the pair. It got to Rika's feet, making her lose her balance. Before she fell, Shadow grabbed her hand and hoisted her into his arms. The hedgehog increased his speed, getting farther and farther away.
They were so close to safe haven from the destruction, just a little farther…
A snake-like substance wrapped around Shadow's body, stopping his getaway.
"What?" he shouted more annoyed than surprised.
A white tendril was enveloped around him and was lifting him up into the air, while another snatched Rika from his grasp. She screamed in indignation as she struggled against it.
Shadow experienced a moment of fear and panic, bounded up tightly by the tendril. He looked to the center of the destroyed town where the bindings were coming from.
The hand was no longer there, but there was something else. Its form was small and shrouded in darkness. Shadow swore he saw a flashing grin.
Draken was flying over the dark form, already transformed into his larger body. He released a spout of fire that enveloped the darkness, but the form remained unharmed once the flames cleared.
It looked up and Shadow could hear its voice so clearly, the figure might as well have been standing next to him.
"Now I will show you."
Wait, that voice. The ARK. The same one from the ARK who had almost taken Maria away!
The form raised its hands and thousands of dark beams arced through the sky. At lightning speed, each one struck its target perfectly. The dragons, each shot with the beam, cried out in pain and hurled below towards the open chasm. No dragon escaped it as each beam seemed locked on to their bodies. One by one each dropped like limp dolls, wings drooping lifeless, the people on their backs screaming as they fell. In a matter of seconds, every dragon was shot down, inert bodies disappearing into the dark pit below.
The only one left was Draken who watched in horror seeing his kind disappear from him forever. Shadow and Rika could see his face; utter despair and stark horror. The eyes then burned to rage as Draken gave a deafening roar, fire spouting from his gigantic maw. He flew towards the dark form, the battle roar a cry of rage and desolation.
But it did not matter. A white tendril appeared, wrapping itself around the dragon's girth. Draken screamed in pain, feeling a horrible burning inside him. Unable to take it, he shifted to his smaller avatar, sagging in his prison.
The dark form gave a low laugh. That had been a most fun experience. Now to get what he came for.
Shapes appeared from its back, taking on the profiles of bat-like wings, its length spread out enormously that it seemed to encompass the entire sky. White mists from below floated upwards toward the wings getting lost inside its darkness, absorbed.
A mist flowed past Shadow and Rika, allowing them to see what it was. A face stared back at them, eyes pleading, unable to get away. Then it was lost in the darkness of the wings, vanished from their view.
They looked almost like ghosts…
Then they knew. The pair shuddered at the thought.
These were souls, the essence of people.
Shadow looked to the ground, the live ones already far away and witnessing the event. He gazed to the chasm seeing the same mist rise up into the wings. Glancing at Rika, he saw the same shock on his face.
Then he recalled the words of the dying female, who lied back in the cave.
"Even when we die, we can't get away."
Then that means…He realized it now.
These people could not even have any peace. They were slaves, dead slaves. And he was taking them for his own.
The dark form then gazed at their direction, the shadows parting from it just a bit.
"Like what you see?"
Shadow felt such great rage, the same he had felt on the ARK. This creature was the same one, he had no doubt.
"What the hell are you?" he shouted, red eyes flaring.
The figure laughed. "You know my name. What else do you want?"
"What…are…you?" Shadow repeated, teeth gritted. He already knew that this was the Kinslayer everyone had talked about.
It smiled, yellow eyes glinting in perverse pleasure. The pupils were black slits, gruesome to look at.
"Once we join, you'll know."
Join? Shadow did not understand.
But Rika suddenly had a feeling. "No…you can't-"
"But I will, of course," it responded, voice silky smooth.
The wings stretched, flowing over the pair still tied up. The world disappeared, leaving them trapped in darkness. Though they could not see, they could feel the creature move closer. So close that Shadow could feel its hot breath on his face. He shivered at the horrible feeling. Rika experienced the same things, struggling in her bonds to break free. The invasion of space frightened her immensely.
They kept being pulled, farther and farther in, lost deep inside, a most repulsive touch over their bodies.
About to break…
"Stop!" Rika shouted. But they kept being pulled, until for a moment they saw this Kinslayer's face, clearly. It was gruesome one moment, then beautiful the next, shifting continually like ripples on water.
Blood is pouring…
To both it was strangely familiar, and a feeling rose up in them. Part wanted to stay away, but another begged to be pulled in and sleep in the darkness. Warm and close. Conflicting.
Closer to the edge…
Closer and closer, Shadow's mind went blank into a burning white. Invading, taking, hurting, no, no, no, no, no….no…no…no…
LET ME GO!
The white grew brighter and he screamed as it lighted up. Blue color entered his vision along with Rika's cry. The lights illuminated the darkness, burning it all away. The creature that was ready to take them brought his clawed hands to his face, shouting in pain as the intensity of the lights blinded his inhumane eyes. A wail of anger and disappointment calling, calling for them to return.
Room to breathe…
Shadow and Rika drifted away, blue and white wrapping around them.
Floating…falling…falling…
Blood is pouring…
And then nothing.
The wolf soldier gazed to the sky, one of the few soldiers to survive. He had watched the spectacle of blue and white lighting up the sky, distancing the darkness.
But there was nothing now, just a cloudless sky, gray and drab.
He had never believed until now, when he saw those lights. He was certain of nothing anymore, just the fact that he must obey if he wanted to be spared of that dreadful fate of forever being trapped within his master, his soul only a morsel for feeding, growing power.
Control…
He had to meet up with another army soon. But instead he stood there, gazing at the ruins and the dark chasm. A chill wind ruffled his fur.
He stayed there for a long time, wondering.
Perhaps it was imagination, but he thought he heard soft cries in the distance.
Hmm...yeah, it's weird. I will try to make the next chapter shorter and be here quicker. :) Hmm, reviews...