It was what he didn't hear that disturbed him from his dreamless sleep. Jiang Wei's eyes snapped open, alerted by the slight change that had jolted him awake. Head resting on the pillow, he waited for the haze to lift from his eyes.
They wandered about aimlessly around his chamber, struggling to make out the mahogany desk where he devoted hours to his studies along with the polished wardrobe and dresser. Books lied scattered open across the floor, a show of his endless research, their piles threatening to topple from any given movement. Wall scrolls covered the stone bricks, giving the room a fullness and less plain appearance.
The faint light that came through the window surprised him greatly, able to hear no more of the heavy downpour that he had grown accustomed to.
Dizzy with fatigue, he rose slowly from the warmth of his sheets, shivering. Memories of the night before seemed distant and fragmented as he struggled to remember, his mind still making it's sluggish transition from dream's fantasy to reality. The headache had eased, only now a dull pain, but still nagging Jiang Wei as he massaged his temples.
The crystalline sound of raindrops dripping off the castle roof and trees indicated the passing of the storm. No view of the sun or any shade of blue had become visible yet. The sky remained in grey although the cloud's dark shades had lightened slightly yet still appeared gloomy.
Rubbing at his eyes crusted with sleep, he sat himself up, feeling a dampness in the air as cold air billowed through the heavy curtains over the window.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry and irritated, feeling his saliva had become uncomfortably pasty in his mouth. An unusual smell hung in the air as he stretched but he casually disregarded the odor. With the rain finally gone, he expected for more unpleasant scents throughout the day. The rotting crops in the fields, wet garbage in the streets, human wastes. . .
He probably needed to oversee that these jobs would get done, now that life was returning back to normal. In fact, finally remembering last night, there was much he needed to do.
"Guess there's not much of a choice." He said as he stood up and started undoing his robe. With his mind now fully awake, he began with the complicated process of dressing himself. The kinks of his bones sounded as he slipped his slender frame easily into his clothes. Grabbing his jade armor, he began tying and snapping them in place around his toned body. He sat down to place his boots on quickly, their golden design pattern still caked under bits of mud.
His long and disheveled hair hung loosely at his waist, tangled in knots. Finishing putting on the last of his boots, he combed it with one hand, the other fumbling for the ribbon on his dresser. After tying his chestnut hair into it's usual high ponytail, he moved for his desk. The sound of papers rustling echoed in the small chamber as he searched to find the reports his men had delivered to him regarding last night.
From memory, he remembered the report informing him that the carriage had been removed from the road and the bodies–what was left of them–taken to the mortuary in the city. The soldiers neither heard nor saw any evidence in the area which connecting the attack to those in the village. But he knew thet the attackers had been there.
And I will tell them that once I find the report. . –if I can find these damn reports! Where in the hell did I place them?
His scrambling became more frantic as he looked harder, devastating the once neatly organized scrolls. The fact that his mind refused to focus on this one simple task only further frustrated him.
Finally he let the papers fall from his hand, an irritable sigh escaping him as anger further clouded his ability to concentrate. Rubbing his sore temples, he forced his still swollen eyes closed as an annoyed expression dominated over his face. He was too tired.
As he had predicted, he got little to less than no sleep last night. Every time he had felt himself drifting, images of that bloodied scene startled him awake again. He assumed he was able to get two hours of sleep at the most–hardly enough for the tasks that lied ahead of him.
He breathed in deeply, waiting for his anger to subside while resting himself on the wooden chair, neck craned as he placed both elbows on his knees.
Until Lord Ma Zun recovered, he still remained in charge–that fact giving him all the more reason he needed to keep composed. No matter how difficult.
Most likely Lord Cao Cao would want to know about this incident as well as the reason why Lord Ma Zun had neglected to answer his letters. Throughout the night, his mind had formulated the words he planned on using in his report. Yet he found himself unable to write, feeling even more of a fool as he realized just how ridiculous this whole situation appeared.
What could he say? That stray dogs attacked his lord, killed an elite group of bodyguards, destroyed a carriage, and ate the horse?
He could already imagine the laughter that would ensue in the throne room when the Wei emperor read it aloud. Such a humiliating ruin it would bring to the people Tian Shui.
No. Not dogs. More likely an enemy attack—yes, an ambush. A group of soldiers could easily topple a carriage, as well as kill Ma Zun's bodyguards if there were enough of them.
But then. .why did Lord Ma Zun say that dogs did it? The other voice stated calmly. And why would soldiers eat a horse–and what about the teeth marks on the bodies?
The more he thought, the more that dull pain in his head began to throb unbearably. He grimaced as he rubbed his forehead with two fingers while staring blankly ahead. What's the matter with me?
An ambush had gotten to Lord Ma Zun, it was as simple as that. Their rivals in both the Wu and Shu Kingdom after all had become overly confident after their naval victory at Chi Bi. What a more perfect opportunity for them to make a critical blow on the Wei army by psyching out their soldiers.
He wouldn't know for certain unless he got out of here but first he needed to check on Lord Ma Zun–make sure his condition had stabled. While he was out, he might as well eat something and take a walk around a bit. Anything would be more pleasant than having to stay here and breathe this horrible smell—
As quickly as the thought escaped him, he froze in place. The headache subsided momentarily as he raised his head from his hand, staring over his room curiously.
And then it came–a physical slap to his face as he suddenly recognized the lingering scent in the air from when he awoke earlier.
No. .not the same.
Jiang Wei frowned as he sniffed the air, a look of disgust crossing his face as his skin prickled all over. It smelled of rotting fruits, strong yet sickly sweet in it's own way. But there was something else. . .something that sent a burning nausea to the pit of his stomach, swallowing the emptiness inside as his muscles contracted painfully. What in the world?
The once indiscernible smell now became fully aware by the strategist as he shot up from his seat, concern now playing in his eyes. The all too sweet aroma in a short amount of time rose from unbearable to suffocating.
Holding his breath he moved for the window, pulling back the curtains as a rush of cool air hit his face. The remaining droplets of rain still fell, leaving behind a dampness in the air that captured the sickening stench–making it all the more nauseating. He breathed rapidly, forcing himself to eat the sweetness in the gulps of air he took. Warnings that his stomach would give constantly sounded in his mind but he bit his lip tightly down, the acid burning his throat.
His body took to coughing instead, moving painfully with each gag that erupted from his throat. Clutching the window's ledge he coughed again, sweat trickling down his forehead.He looked through watery eyes straight ahead as he forced himself to concentrate on something else—
–and immediately the cough became trapped in his throat that constricted. His hand automatically reached for the side of the wall in order to steady his legs as they faltered. Watching the image before him, Jiang Wei forgot the smell entirely.
"Oh no... "
He looked upon the scene of towering flames that had consumed nearly a quarter of the inner city. Smoke heavily covered most of the streets that echoed with the screaming of civilians. As his eyes focused more clearly, he managed to identify their distant silhouettes as they sped through the smoke—mothers with crying children in their arms—men with pails in hand as they tried putting out the hungry flames—soldier's assisting the fallen and panic—and dark figures he couldn't make out, staggering amongst the chaos, the only ones whose footsteps seemed unrushed.
He stood there, hands gripping to the window ledge tightly until his knuckles became white. He couldn't move though his mind screamed at him to do something–but what, what could he do–what was happening!
Get help! Help them! Hurry!
But no, his body refused to as he struggled to take in the burning ashes that floated through the air. Seconds passed like centuries as his chest began aching from the pounding of his heart. And finally his mind clicked, the pieces falling into place as with each cry came a new and more terrifying chill down his back.
The flames were unmistakable–Wu had come, come for their lives.
"Dammit!" Jiang Wei bolted for his trident, lifting the heavy weapon from its stand where he last placed it. Muttering incoherently, he threw the door to his room open—
–and a man lunged at him, pushing him to the floor and gripping hold of his shoulders as he pinned the young strategist down. The force knocked his trident from his hand, the sound of its skidding across the stone floor piercing Wei's ears more painfully than the blow received in his face. Mind reeling, Jiang Wei managed a successful kick to the gut and his attacker toppled to the ground, Wei now on top of him. Taking the advantage, Jiang Wei unsheathed the standard-issued knife given to all officers from his belt. His free hand gripped the neck of the struggling man underneath him. Ignoring the flailing arms and wriggling body, Wei raised the blade to attack, now able to get a clear view of the Wu attacker–
–and immediately his fingers loosened their grip, the weapon clattering nosily on the floor.
Jiang Wei froze as his heart leapt into his throat, his body suddenly overcome with an absolute horror as stared down at the face.
It was no Wu attacker. And the more he looked upon it, the more he wished for it to be.
The man had hardly no face left at all, the blackened parts of rotting flesh continued to roll off, revealing the bloodied tissue underneath. Puss leaked freely from one swollen moon eye, the other only a bleeding socket with strings of muscle hanging out. Wei's gut twisted painfully, the burning in his stomach nearly forcing him to release his grip and vomit.
And the smell from before. . .he now knew where it had come from.
The stench from the injured man overwhelmed Wei, clouding his senses as his muscles weakened, but he dared not let go.
The man's mouth remained open, revealing yellow teeth that gleamed in a mixture of blood and saliva. The moaning drowned out all thoughts as he watched the man's broken jaw still opening and closing relentlessly, snapping viciously at Wei's hand that still clung to his neck. He pried his eyes away from the ghastly creature, grabbing hold of the dagger he had dropped recently.
And with a cry he plunged the blade into the neck, a gurgled moan erupting from the man. The creature's strength weakened considerably, blood spurting from its mouth, spraying over Jiang Wei's face as he stumbled back. After one unearthly cry the body went limp, a pool of blood quick to form on the floor.
Jiang Wei's rapid breathing echoed in his ears, his chest heaving up and down as he stared at the corpse lying next to him. A trembling hand wiped the blood from his face, staring down at the red liquid as shock finally overcame him. What in the heavens was that?
His instincts screamed for him to run but he found himself warily crawling back over to the body; driven by what little logic remained in his panicked mind, he refused to accept what he saw and wanted a closer look. Inching slowly, he noticed the clothes on the body were not that of a soldier but plain and casual–like a simple farmer's.
With his fear settling, his mind began to grasp the situation more clearly, questions now racing through him.
What happened to this farmer? How did he end up like this? Why did he attack me?
A cry in the distance pulled him back to the situation at hand as he looked out the window to see the city still in havoc as the fire began spreading more rapidly. He stood back on weak legs as he scooped up his trident. A shiver went through him as he glanced back at the deformed face. Later. I'll figure this out later. He vowed to himself and quickly moved for the door.
A long mournful moan came from behind, filling his ears and stopping him dead in his tracks. No.
He spun around, hoping his ears had deceived him.
And he saw the corpse rising from the ground clumsily, the dagger still deep within its bleeding throat. No!
Blinded with panic he gripped his trident, holding the weapon defensively before him as the thing stood back up. "Stay back!" Jiang Wei ordered fiercely as the corpse turned toward him.
It's lips twitched endlessly as another terrible moan gurgled from its mouth, crimson liquid leaking out as it did. The glowing eyes held no pupils, but Jiang Wei was certain that the corpse could see him. .very certain.
"Who are you! Who sent you here!" He demanded, not knowing what emotion seemed stronger, to laugh or scream. Such a predicament as this seemed impossible to happen and yet the dead body was moving!
"Announce yourself!" But the corpse seemed only acquainted to the spine-chilling moans it kept uttering.
And finally it moved, its feet dragging on the floor as it limped toward him.
"I said stay back!" Jiang Wei screamed louder but to no avail, aside from the fact that the man's ears were eaten away, he showed no respone to the voice. Wei backed away, his arms shaking violently as he held the trident in front–the only barrier between him and that monster.
Its bone fingers reached for him, the moaning replaced by violent snarls as it barred its teeth.
Jiang Wei raised his trident and quickly sliced a clean gash within it's chest. The dead man staggered back, a grunt escaping him as he fell against the wall. Jiang Wei's sweaty palms were trembling uncontrollably as he stared, waiting for it to fall, knowing no one would ever be able to stand after—
It snarled this time, staggering upright, it's torn cleavage now exposing white gleaming bones.
Jiang Wei's eyes widened as he saw the monster coming for him, oblivious to the fresh wound as his guts spilled freely out from the large cut.
No no no–it's suppose to die! It's not suppose to stand! I killed it!
He blindly reached behind him, welcoming the cool metal surface of the doorknob upon his clammy palm and quickly turning the knob around. The creaking of the hinges sounded like sweet song as he stepped out into the hall, the corpse gaining speed at seeing its meal escaping. Quickly, Jiang Wei shut the door, the click of the lock reassured him at last; whatever it was, he doubted it could get through.
A pounding on the door behind him made Jiang Wei jump to the opposite wall of the hallway. A surprised gasp left him as he heard the incessant moaning from behind the thick wood. The banging became more violent as the door groaned in protest to the corpse's aggressiveness. Jiang Wei watched in despair, as he noticed the force causing the hinges to bend too far, threatening to break. It won't hold, he realized in agony as he backed away, and he didn't want to be there when that happened.
Jiang Wei ran down the hall, unable to escape the creature's echoed cries that seemed to follow him. No matter how hard he shielded his ears with his hands, the moaning continued.
He needed to find someone–anyone to help him before that monster got loose!
His rapid footsteps echoed throughout the spacious corridors as his eyes frantically looked around. He stumbled repeatedly; the thick darkness blinded him as he came to notice the wall torches that always illuminated a path of light no longer carried any flames.
His heart filled with more suspicious dread as he observed that all of the torches were out. No one had lit them this morning.
A spooked thought crossed his mind as he suddenly realized he hadn't seen or passed any servants during his run. In fact, he didn't remember seeing anyone at all.
Stopping, he looked down the deserted corridor, his blood running cold as a menace he was unaware of finally seemed to loom in the air along with that putrid stench. A suspenseful silence hung heavy around him, weighing down upon hisshaking body as his intuition warned him that it was too quiet.
Sweaty palms gripped his trident as he began taking cautious steps around a corner. As his sight adjusted to the pitch blackness that now dominated the castle, he began noticing things amiss from their natural order.
Small circular tables that once proudly held ornamental vases or exotic plants now lied overturned or broken on the floor. Imported statues of ivory or jade were only puzzled pieces of their once full form, their pedestals stands toppled over. His lonely footsteps carried him further down where he saw only more devastation–tapestries fallen from their rightful place on the wall, paintings crooked or missing, furniture piled awkwardly up against doors, and curtains shredded apart.
But still no soul in sight. Perhaps they'd gone to assist with the fires.
The hallway finally opened up into the grand stairwell and his body went numb. The chaos had reigned here as well. Weapons and shields littered the steps along with the awful stench of rotting flesh henever seemed to escape. Jiang Wei knelt down, pocketing a few daggers in his belt, having lost the other in the fight with that creature.
A million questions endlessly raced through his mind but he disregarded them for now; walking down the flights of stairs, he debated with himself on whether he should check the side rooms to see if anyone was still here in the castle, able to think more clearly as his panic eased.
But he unconsciously shook his head. His only priority was to get to the main entrance and outside. Though the inner city most likely still remained in flames, he had remembered seeing people–frightened and screaming–but people nonetheless. And he had also recognized some of his soldiers in the streets as well.
Once he reached them, perhaps then his questions might get answered as well as get assistance to incapacitate whatever had attacked him. Unless it had already gotten out, and now was running loose. . .
He struck the thought completely, refusing to let himself fall into terror's grip once more. Already he had let panic get the better of him back there, and he nearly escaped with his life. Again he shuddered, the mere remembrance sending him aghast, influencing his surroundings to take on a more sinister appearance.
That thing appeared like it wanted to hurt him–bite him–as he remembered it's jaw snapping constantly for him. But even with all the years of knowledge that he had obtained, the explanation to whyremained unknown. What did it feel to make it want to attack him?
The fact that this entire event had even taken place still seemed unreal to him, feeling himself trapped inside a prolonged nightmare that he waited to wake up from.
It wanted to attack me. . .bite me. . .bite. .
His feet hit the first floor, now standing in the grand entrance, stone columns reaching up towards the incredibly high ceiling, the majestic doors leading outside now only a few meters away.
Bite. .a bite. . .
The hairs on his neck rose, a numbing chill taking hold of his nerves. And then he broke into a run, veering right, towards the medical wing, completely forgetting about the doors leading outside.
Jiang Wei prayed a thousand prayers as he went passed the mess hall, oblivious to the food that lied scattered along with silverware and pieces of broken china, tables overturned with their benches.
He didn't notice how the meat bones had been picked clean while the rest of the food lied rotting. .or how a sick odor grew stronger as he ran down the tight circular staircase.
He didn't notice how the shadows seemed to move with him. .the bloodied hand prints that coated the walls with other shapely forms. . .or how intense the quiet had become.
He didn't see. Please be alive!
At all. Lord Ma Zun!
Until his hand touched that doorknob, turning the metal surface and opening the infirmary door–
—to see Ma Zun gone from his bed.
Jiang Wei lost all sensation within his body as his wide eyes noticed the pillow on the floor along with the wrinkled sheets, the mattress still impressed where his lord had slept. And the grief came like weights, chaining to his body as he fell to his knees. .he was too late.
That creature. . .it must've. . .no. .it couldn't be!
A faint sound came from the corner of the darkened room, but in the silence sounding louder than anything. The wet slapping of something moist and juicy continuously repeated. Squinted, he saw a figure hunched in the corner, bent over another indistinct form. A mix of hope and caution rose inside Jiang Wei as he stood himself up, careful to make no sound as he inched closer, weapon at the ready.
His eyes adjusted quickly to identify a man, wearing white garments and barefooted, the short hair hanging down over his face. The appearance sloppy but certainly recognizable.
For the first time Wei felt indescribable joy leap into his heart as a smile he couldn't control took over his lips, "Milord you are safe!" He breathed.
But as quickly as relief spread, the fear came rushing back to replace it. He felt a painful slap over every part of his skin, forcing him to reluctantly wake back up to this twisted reality.
It was Lord Ma Zun without a doubt, his face smeared with blood as his teeth held possessively onto a glistening dark mass that he swallowed instantly. His lord bent down again, ripping more of whatever he ate, this time something long and thin that he choked down, watery fluids running off what looked disturbingly like intestines.
Ma Zun's white eyes seemed to glow maliciously as his rotting fingers gripped onto whatever he ate, his thumb falling off in the process.
"Lord. . ?" His breath suddenly hitched in his throat as he looked upon the form he ate. . .an old man he recognized instantly. The doctor.
The doctor's corpse spasmed as the teeth sank into his now fully exposed gut, his rib caged crushed and the organs lying in a soup of blood. Not happening! Jiang Wei wake up! Wake up!
"Lord Ma Zun. . ."
Ma Zun's head jerked up at his voice, the hidden left side of his face now visible. And Jiang Wei stumbling back on the ground, seeing now that the side of his face was completely gone. The flesh had melted away, revealing the bleeding muscles that were still very alive as they twitch with Ma Zun's jaw.
His lord snarled out, the smell of fresh meat more appealing to him as he let out a moan. He crawled slowly over the doctor's corpse that, to Jiang Wei's horror, began jerking on its own until it too simply rose up.
Jiang Wei stared into their dead and vacant eyes as he scrambled backwards—unable to wipe that picture of Ma Zun eating. Eating? Do they. . .want to eat me! He didn't wait to find out.
His hands fumbled for a nearby table, pulling it to the ground to block the corpses' path. They tripped and fell on top of each other, but kept moving. He reached for the bed table, bottles crashing loudly as he toppled it on the floor, intercepting their path again.
But they still came. Run! Dammit–RUN!
Gripping his trident, he pulled himself quickly to his feet, remembering how the weapon was ineffective towards these invincible monsters. He stood powerless against them.
So he ran, his adrenaline pumping throughout his tired legs that bursted them with new energy. He slammed the door shut behind him, the sound coming as an explosion that tore through the quiet. But the quiet had soon disappeared.
Moaning, pitiful and lifeless moans reached his ears in a haunting symphony, thousands of them. He spun around and damned himself for doing so.
Bodies began staggering out from the darkness, having been drawn to the noise of the shutting door. Jiang Wei's throat closed, refusing for him to breathe as he stared at them in disbelief. Servants, cadets, soldiers, generals–faces he knew–were suddenly appearing from the shadows and crowding in the corridor. One crawled through a broken window followed by another, more of them appeared from the corner up ahead–eight–twelve–twenty–thirty–fifty now!
The shreds of clothing left on their decaying bodies stood as the only evidence of their once humanity. But even that began to rot along with their shriveled and crack skin that stank of death. Their eyes all held that same desire to kill..that same hunger.
He backed away, his trident now seeming worthless as he stared at their teeth snapping as they moaned out for him. The door to the infirmary suddenly gave way and fell to the ground, smashing a few of the dead underneath. Ma Zun and the doctor snarled viciously as they lied on top of the wood, their fingers bleeding and gnarled from beating on the door.
Something grabbed his ankle and Wei looked down to see a dead hand tightly grasping his boot, belonging to a corpse who had crawled unnoticed from behind. Hearing it moan, he struck his blade down, severing the arm and freeing himself. He felt their hot breath enter into the air, an indication that staying here any longer meant certain death. The exit! Get outside now!
With one final glance back he fled for his life.
He heard someone screaming as he evaded the undead, more and more appearing from where they hid. But feeling the burning in his throat, he realized that the only one screaming was him.