Ten warships surrounded the island, taller than any trees with bright white sails taut in the wind. It was hard to tell what warship fired first, but it began a chorus of booming cannon-fire. Smoke spewed from the lower decks, collecting until there was a dirty gun smoke haze obscuring the island. Forests of the island began to fall as great trees twisted and splintered from the unrelenting barrage.
The small coastal town suffered the same fate. Houses fell like paper to the Marine assault. Cobblestone streets transformed the twisted paths of rubble and rock. Panicked townsfolk filled the streets, making them all the more vulnerable to the Buster Call. People attempted to move carriages through the broken streets, while others abandoned their horses and wagons in the streets.
Bodies joined the rubble now, animals and men caught in the crossfire that still boomed steadily. The cannons were angry and would not withdraw so easily. Blood and grime coated the streets. making it even harder to maneuver among the bodies and rubble. Hopes of escape were shattered when the passenger ship exploded into thousands of wooden splinters.
Trees fell. Houses crumbled. Men died. The cannons didn't stop.
Mothers cried. Horses whinnied. Fires roared. The cannons didn't stop.
Smoke spewed. The island broke. All was silent. The cannons stopped.
Valentine's heart sank through his body. His eyes were glued to the smoldering rock that had been his home. He stood completely helpless before the raw destructive potential of the Marines. Not structure nor life remained of the place he had known for the first 18 years of his life.
What could a man do against such power, he found himself asking. Yet he knew the answer, it had been his fault. He had been warned of the Buster Call yet he didn't listen. It was him that brought an end to life on his home.
He felt cold tears on his cheeks yet his body still stood frozen in awe. Niramor's words haunted him and sang through his mind like a requiem for the island.
If you ever leave me, you'll destroy everything you've ever known, Valentine.
I have the Buster Call, don't force me to use it, Valentine.
You'll stay with me, won't you, Valentine?
Don't try to escape, Valentine.
Valentine clutched the bow to stay on his feet. The sweat of his palms felt more like blood. His vision blurred and his stomach retched.
"Son? Son, are you okay?" He heard a voice ask.
"I'm fine," Valentine said. He tried to focus on the speaker but saw only a headache-inducing blur. By the age of the voice and the authority it spoke with, it was a good guess he was talking to the captain of the small fishing vessel
"Well, then hold onto something. Whatever the hell just happened, we are getting out of here. Whatever the Marine's business here is, we want nothing to do with it. Pray they don't notice us."
Thanks for tuning into the first chapter of my new sweetheart, Blackheart! I have a ton planned for this so be sure to hop on for the ride! I'd love if you could leave a review letting me know what you though of the story, or follow and favourite to stay tuned for more updates!
New chapter every Thursday!