Chapter 8

Through the Burning City

-Andrew-

We ran from the alleyway as fast as our small legs could carry us, fear giving us both a burst of energy. We slowed to a jog as we approached the first intersection, legs already cramping from our sudden sprint. My breath was ragged, not from exertion but from fear, creating wisps of fog in the cool night air. Cold was the furthest thing from my mind as my blood pumped rapidly in response to the adrenaline. I turned towards the corner of the store at the end of the street, dragging James to the wall and peeking my head around to get a good look of the other side of the building. Destruction filled my view, smoke and flames lighting half the street, but no one seemed to be in the area. The now familiar sharp smell of smoke and sulfur continued to assault my nostrils. I turned my head back up the street and saw more of the same death; bodies laying lifeless all throughout. Shapes and figures of all sizes rested everywhere like dropped toys. I turned to James, filled with determination.

“I know mom and dad always say I’m not your parent, but you have to do what I tell you now James.”

James, wide-eyed and terrified did not respond. I could tell he was staring at the bodies strewn across the stone and gravel street. Taking his lack of response as agreement and wanting to get him away from the scary view, I reached down and grabbed hold of his arm once more.

“We’re going to run across the street to the corner of that other building as fast as we can. When we get to the other side don’t look back; just keep following me.”

Again, James continued to stare up the street in front of us, not acknowledging anything I had to say. I tightened my lips and took one last look up the street before sprinting as fast as I could, James in tow until we reached the corner of the building across from us. We continued, following any clear path that lay before us without stopping. Large beams of broken wood and piles of cracked and broken stone and brick blocked our path so often that we had to zig zag down every street, changing directions. We were careful to avoid and road where sounds of fighting drifted.

Other than the cries, screams, and sounds of fighting nearby there were no signs of other fleeing people. Finally, as if waking from a deep sleep, James pulled on my arm causing me to hold fast.

“Andy I’m tired. I don’t want to run anymore.” James complained.

“I know, but if we stop running someone will find us.” I replied, looking around the empty shops nearby.

I knew we couldn’t keep this up for long, as I was not the best athlete. I paused at the next intersection, eyeing a large dark building with its front door open. I grabbed James’s arm once more and sprinted towards the open door as fast as I could. Shouts of alarm drew my attention towards the street we ran from. Looking over my shoulder I spotted large dark shapes fighting and yelling. A large ball of fire erupted from the group of figures and illuminated the entire street. Small green creatures with evil looking weapons surrounded men covered in metal, firing an endless stream of arrows into them. More of those large ugly giants were smashing their way through the crowd of green creatures to get to the group armored men. I didn’t have to keep watching to know the armored men stood no chance of winning.

We reached the open door as I pulled James through, continuing to run past the broken glass and overturned racks. Long empty planks of wood lined the walls of the room, holding up all sorts of random items that I couldn’t make out as I looked for a place for us to hide. From the entrance of the room, all the way to the back, stood racks upon racks of what looked like dresses and long shirts. On some of the shelves against the wall were more folded pieces of cloth I couldn’t make out. We ran through the room until we came to a counter in the far back that attached to the wall and opened up on the other side. I moved James around the end of the counter and sat down, bringing him with me.

“We’re ok.” I said, breathlessly as I patted James’s arm.

James nodded and I took a moment to look around the room, ready to duck back beneath the counter if anything scary walked past the front door. I looked closely as the racks in front of the counter at what looked like expensive bath robes. Other racks of clothes held weird looking clothes of all colors, all the way to the front of the store. A thick stagnant musty smell cut through the now faint smell of smoke, reminding me of the Goodwill stores we would sometimes visit near our house. Near the counter, along the wall, rested rows of long pieces of wood with shiny stones resting at the tips of some. A grouping of strange looking hats sat in a pile nearby, some looking worn and others looking new and pointed.

A bright series of lights illuminated the store, giving me a view of down the street from the corner window. The armored men continued to fight, joined by some figures wearing robes and waving large and small wands in the air. Figures stood on some of the buildings, shooting arrows down into the horde of monsters, causing angry screams of agony. Lightning racing across the road caught my eye, sending sparks as each of the dozens of individual zig zagging shards of light jumped from stone to stone until they all met at one of the robed figures holding his staff of wood high in the air. Large flashes of light snaked across the sky and arced down to the figure’s raised wooden staff followed by explosions in the groups of ugly creatures all around him. The building shook with the force of the shockwave, causing dust to shake loose from the shelves above us and more racks of clothing to fall over.

The smaller creatures began to run in all directions, as my mouth opened in surprise at the strange power the robed figure displayed. A large collective cheer rose up in the distance as the group of people began to attack the gray giants that did not flee. Groups of strange creatures ran by the store entrance and continued past, still too dark to make out. I quickly ducked back behind the counter and looked to James who had begun staring off into space again. I called out to him, more nervous by the lack of questions and complaints.

“James are you ok?” I whispered

James sat quietly staring at the shelves behind the counter. I leaned in front of James and saw fresh tears making their way through the newly settled dust and caked grime on his face. I was scared and I knew James understood even less of what was going on than I did. My mind raced for ways to hep him and an idea sprang into my head.

“James listen, do you know those games dad and mom always play? Do you remember some of the ones I used to play?”

James replied with a soft nod of his head.

“I really think this is just one of the online games they play. I've played alot of similar games, though this one feels real.”

“It’s not a game!” James said, raising his voice slightly.

“I know it doesn’t feel like a game.” I said, calmingly. “But I really think mom and dad are letting us all play this one to teach us a lesson.”

“Like when mom tells us to go ahead and touch the stove because we won’t do it again?”

“Yes! Yes, just like that! Maybe mom and dad finally let us play because you guys always sneak out of your rooms to watch them at night. I hear dad complaining about it all the time.”

“I don’t like this game. I don’t want to play anymore. How do we stop?” James asked, pleadingly.

“I don’t know how to quit, but I do know we can be brave and show them we aren’t as scared as they think we’d be. You don’t want them to say they told us so do you?”

“No.” James said, sniffling as he wiped the tears from his cheeks.

“Maybe this is their way of seeing if we are old enough to play with them from now on.”

James didn’t respond, but looked at me for the first time since leaving the alleyway. His eyebrows furrowed and a look of determination set across his face.

“How do you know it’s a game?”

My mind raced, thinking of possible believable solutions other than our class choice. My attention moved to the slowly flashing bag icon on the bottom of my vision. A bag appeared showing a bulbous piece of wood, a pot, sleeping bag and a dull gray rock. I stared at the piece of wood, confused as to what to do next.

Wooden Cudgel

Rarity: Common

Dmg: 3

Discription: A simple blunt weapon

I reached in front of my eyes, attempting to grab the weapon and my fingers met nothing but air. Frustrated, I thought about how to take the wooden stick from the invisible bag and I felt a heavy weight appear suddenly in my right hand. I thought about being able to see what was in my hand and the inventory disappeared, revealing the wooden cudgel now gripped in my right hand. James’s eyes widened and mouth opened in awe. I spent the next few minutes explaining the process to him.

“I have tiny swords!” James announced excitedly, holding up dual six-inch knives in his meaty fists. “This is a game! How do we win?!”

“We win by staying alive and finding mom and dad. We only get one life and have to be careful not to lose, or they won’t let us play with them anymore.” I proclaimed, as awestruck as James seemed.

“Ok. I’m not scared, Andy.” James said, a little more sure of himself than before.

Slightly relieved, I poked my head above the countertop to get a view of the street once more, noticing James’s head appearing next to mine. I smiled lightly for the first time, feeling like I was able to do something really important as a big brother and thinking mom and dad would be proud. Loud steady noises drew our attention to the empty frame where the glass of the window used to be at the front of the store. A row of armored men and women passed by the empty window, followed by another row, then another. Clothes swayed on the racks left standing from the vibration caused by the steady thumping of armored feet down the stone road.

“Look, James!” I whispered, excitedly. “I think they are wearing armor. See? This isn’t so bad; they look like good guys.”

“Woooow!” James replied slightly more excited than I expected, causing me to worry if I made a mistake by telling him this was a game.

I stared at the last row of armored people passing by the window and felt a stirring of emotion; similar to seeing a police officer breaking up a fight.

You have gained a new ability: Sense

I gasped, startled at the sight of a new message appearing in my eyesight. Understanding dawned across my face as I began to realize this was like a game, of sorts. While I didn’t entirely understand what was going on, I felt slightly calmer knowing I wasn’t completely lost. Another loud cry of cheers rose up as the rows of armored soldiers drew nearer to the group from earlier, drawing my attention back to the street. Sounds of fighting resumed and I watched as the large group of soldiers push the ugly looking creatures back steadily.

A fierce sense of dread overcame me, much stronger than when the gray giant found us, which I didn’t think possible. A large spidery black shadow moved silently in front of the window just outside of the shop. More movement caught my eye as the shadowed figure turned back and pointed towards the fight. A roar of angry sounds shook my ear drums as dozens of different shaped shadows ran towards the fighting; the same direction the soldiers went moments ago. A whirlwind of fire raced towards the shadows, lighting the entire street. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw the large spidery shape illuminated for the first time.

A large black spider sat just outside of the store, 8 hairy legs bent in different directions as if to leap toward the fighting. My eyes were drawn up the legs of the spider to the bulbous body, where the torso of a woman connected to it. The woman’s skin was as black as night, covered in even darker armor. In one hand rested a fanged corded piece of leather that looked like a whip; in the other a horrifying jagged dark red sword. The spider lady pointed her sword toward the fighting, cracking the whip in her other hand just out of my line of sight. A loud harsh scream erupted as another gray giant staggered past the spider lady, toward the fighting.

Dozens of smaller creatures raced past, screaming at the top of their lungs, weapons drawn. I reached out, grabbing James’s shoulder as I ducked quickly, pulling him with me. James stared at me with an innocent curiosity and a strange lack of fear as I placed a shaking finger to my lips, signaling him to not speak. After several long moments of what seemed like an eternity, the overwhelming sense of dread lifted. I chanced a peak over the counter and saw the outside of the shop clear once more. Sighing, I signaled to James that it was safe to look again.

Cries of agony and anger radiated through the empty streets, supplying me with a steady feeling of fear. I began to lose hope as I could no longer make out any of the shapes of the soldiers that were there only a moment ago. Movement just outside caught my eye again as two smaller shapes paused just beyond the broken window. A sense of danger creeped through my chest as the smell of two-day old food wafted in through the front of the empty, overpowering the stagnant musty smell.

“I am tired. All whips and orders!” One of the shapes said.

“There no whips if you listen!” The other replied.

“Ssshhh! Not loud!”

“Ssshhh you!”

“No more! Curse the Chieftain and his masters! Pekx does as Pekx wants and Pekx wants food!”

The shadowed figure turned and leapt through the empty window frame, causing me to duck down for fear of being seen. I looked to my left and every muscle in my body tensed, chest tightening in fear as the place where James was supposed to be was now empty. Not daring even a whisper, I moved my head quickly, looking for any sign of my brother.

“Fool! Yer nose broken! There no food here!” The shape outside the window called.

“Who fool?! Yeeer nose broken! Pekx smells food.

“Yer food when Drider finds you hiding! Okig go with others to kill ugly humans! Okig not coward!” The small dark shape hissed.

“You die first to weakest baby human!” The small creature in the shop hissed back.

Footsteps drew closer as racks were loudly pushed out of the way, soft clinks and thunks as racks covered in clothing hit the floor. The creature stopped just beyond the counter and time seemed to slow as all the only sounds were now my own heartbeat racing in my ears.

“I smeeeeell yooou!” A raspy voice said just above my head.