《Tales From The White Gold Desert》Chapter 25
Advertisement
Ben kneeled by the torch, hands around it, trying to coax some life into it. His hands felt stiff in the iron cuffs. He could have asked Pritchett to use the sword and break the chain but swinging a sword in the dark would more likely end with Ben missing an arm instead of cuffs. Plus, all the noise might attract undue attention.
"That's not going to work," said Pritchett, standing by, arms wrapped around himself, shivering in the cold night. "Also I question the intelligence of lighting a fire while we're hiding."
"There's a risk to anything," said Ben. "Without light, we don't know where we're going and we're freezing. On the other hand, with it, we might get seen. Anyway, it doesn't matter, if they found out I escaped, they would have sounded an alarm by now."
"Plus, you can't light that thing. Forget it, let's just go."
"Yeah, alright." Ben picked up the torch and shoved it in his belt. They had decided to split the guard's weapons, with Ben getting the sword, due to inexperience with firearms. It didn't feel fair as he could hardly swing anything, manacles greatly inhibiting his movement. As for the guard, they ripped up a sleeve of the man's jacket, tied his hands behind his back, gagged him, and dumped him behind the nearest tree. It turned out more complicated than it seemed, operating almost blind in the dark.
"I still think we should've slit his throat," said Pritchett. "He might wake up and give the alarm."
"He might wake up and wiggle about until morning when there's a change of guard," said Ben. "Let's not take life when we don't have to."
"You are the worst soldier," Pritchett whispered. "And no more talk, I don't want to go get found out."
Although agreeing with that sentiment, Ben felt wrong for not vocalizing a retort. "I got threatened with death if I didn't join your little merry band."
On they went, stumbling through the dark, feeling their way around the trees, always alert at the sound of animals or mistakingly stepping over some mercenary in their sleeping bag. Mostly, they tripped over the tree roots and clumps of grass.
Advertisement
When they heard voices or any noise, they lay flat on the ground and waited for the peril to pass. They spent hours doing this, hearts pounding rapidly in their chests, awaiting capture with any second that passed.
By Ben's estimation, they must have been kept on the outskirts of the compound. While they may not be making very good progress, having to drop and hide every few feet, they should have been in the clear by now.
Although Pritchett was not complaining, Ben knew he had to be suffering from a lack of water and food just as he was. They had to escape soon. It was a small miracle that the alarm had not been sounded by now. And with that cursed thought, a trumpet blew in the distance behind them.
Just then, they noticed lights breaking the dark ahead of them. Pritchett's first instinct was to run westward, or since it was the middle of the night, where he thought west lay, but Ben grabbed him and dragged him down.
"You want to just lay down and die, Everett? Let me go." Pritchett spat out.
"Calm down," said Ben, a phrase infamous for inducing rage. "Look at the light ahead of us. That's not fire. It's much too strong, much too sharp. It's something else."
"Maybe it's lamplight," said Pritchett.
"I don't think so," Ben responded, pulling up the sleeves on his jacket, to show the blue writing glowing, with the wrapping twisting softly around his arms. "It's gotta be related. They only started doing anything major after we fought that monster hound. Only after I got that golden liquid thing on my arms when I stabbed it. And it's now reacting to whatever's ahead. I think it's a sign."
"I don't believe in signs and I hate magic. I'd rather make it on my own," said Pritchett but at that moment, the trumpets blasted again much closer this time, the sound bouncing on the trees, scaring the birds from their nighttime sleep. Accompanied by the flapping of winds and the annoyed screeches of birds, Pritchett grimaced and looked at Ben, nodding. "Might as well."
Advertisement
They followed the light, which turned out to be a bright yellow rune etched into the ground. It flashed, accompanied by a buzzing noise with each flash.
Barks and shouts were heard in the vicinity. The two men looked at each other, lit only the strange magical rune.
"I told you, magic is the worst," said Pritchett.
"Shut up and help me dig," said Ben, getting on the ground and clawing at the rune. "Look, it's giving way."
"You're just spreading dirt. We're going to die and you're spreading dirt around." Pritchett pointed the pistol every which way, the howling of the dogs and the shouts coming from everywhere around them. He stepped out of the small patch of light to get his eyes readjusted to the dark.
Closer and closer, Pritchett could now see them, shapes moving in the dark, their little blue eyes staring straight at him as they went. Next, he saw the torches and lamps of the mercenaries and he knew the game was up. Rifles boomed and he fell to the ground, praying that none of the bullets found him. They broke and scatted the ground around him.
Ben saw how close to death they were and began digging faster, the now broken rune flashing steadily, almost in a mocking manner. Ben stood and began kicking at the rune, yelling and cursing the magical writing.
"Waste of damn time," he said, emphasizing each kick with each word. "Come on, do something you blinking asshole. Do something, Pritchett, shoot back!" But Pritchett was on his back, eyes closed and hands covering his ears. Ben could hear him praying to his strange gods.
The dogs moved so fast it looked as if they flew above the ground, legs working like pistons in their efficiency. Ben's cuffed hands made it hard to be much help, but he grabbed Pritchett by an elbow and began dragging him away, seeing the furious wave of fangs and claws, and knowing the carnage that would follow. They were not far, now, not far at all, but Ben would try until his time was up.
With mere seconds to spare, Ben felt something had shifted. He looked around, desperate for salvation, and then he saw it.
The rune had stopped blinking but was now emanating a strong beam of light, running up into the heavens, or more accurately, a bit above the tree line. The ground itself began to dissolve around the magic writing, twisting and shifting into a spiral, defending the two men from their attackers. Then, with a sudden violent crack, the earth broke, and they fell through.
They fell down a slide of some sort, smooth enough to not harm them as they sped down towards an unknown purpose. Ben landed in a heap, with Pritchett not far behind. Again, the blinking rune appeared, this time splayed over an ashen grey stone door. The buzzing noise it made each time it appeared began to make Ben's ears ring.
Ben stood up, not wasting time, not knowing if his pursuers were only moments away, about to land on his head as they slid down. He stumbled and pressed his hand against the rune.
The door began to shake, the rune melting off its surface and dripping onto the floor, where it began to contort. It rolled into itself, growing pincers and a small outer shell, eventually shedding the golden color and taking the shape of a fiery red crab.
Ben stared at this display, flabbergasted. The door opened and the little crab ran through it, chattering as it went.
Without hesitation, Ben followed it, stepping across the threshold.
Advertisement
Demon Queen Rebirth: I Reincarnated As A Living Armor?!
Please make sure to check out my other novels, I am sure that you will like them!
8.18 1953Pyramid of Dreams
On a planet like no other, there lies a mystery unsolvable through the eons. The Voyager, a being of nigh-omnipotent power, stumbles on to this planet to discover that there is much more in the world that he did not know.Ancient forces asleep since time immemorial begin to awaken as the universe is once more plunged into chaos.Will the Voyager maintain his role of an observer or will he decide to take action, altering the course of all existence?
8 74The Late Night Walks By The Lake (Jason Voorhees X Reader) Short Story
You go to a party that your best friend set up. He lives in a summer home that you find that was built on a camp site. You were going to have a great time. OR where you?You soon find out that something happened when the camp was opened and running. A child drowned and a legend was created. You thought it was fun and games until something sinister happened.
8 215Destined Hearts
"You planned for this marriage to happen. I can't believe you trick your friend to run away so you can sway yourself into my life. Well, all your games has come to an end. You're just a gold digger, all you are after is my money. My conscience kept telling me before the wedding that you shouldn't be trusted but I was so foolish to think other wise. This is your end Ameera " he said with so much disgust. He was looking at me like I was a tramp. I don't even know what to think again, all this is so hard to take in. All in one day" That was not how it was, Amir. I didn't marry you for your money, I swear I was only trying to help Aisha. She--"" I don't want to hear a single word from your mouth, if not I will beat the shit out of you. You desperate gold digger " What? " Amir it me, your love. You can't do this to us Amir please" I held his shirt, before I know it I felt a hot slap on my face. He slapped me?. I look up at him in shock" you slapped me? " " I'll do worst than that" his eye is empty of sympathy, it's now filled with hatred, hatred just for me. He isn't my Amir anymore, he is a stranger. A stranger I don't even recognize. I fell on the floor and broke down all over again. I'm doom, this is the end. " I Amir sani Bula divorce you, ameera, once. Pack your things and leave my house" " NOOOOOO!!. please don't do this to me Amir. Think about our unborn child please "" what did you just say? "" I'm pregnant with your child" I nod at him for him to believe me. I took the results from my hand bag close to me and hand it over to him. " this is the result" he didn't take it " I don't want you to ever utter such nonsense to me again . I know what you're planning to do, you want to push your bastard child to me after the father didn't accept it right. You think I'm a fool? You can't trick me anymore Ameera. We are done "" Add this book to your library to find out more about it❤❤❤❤
8 106Otsutsuki Allen (Hiatus)
Il était un vrai dieu dans l'univers mais il s'ennuyait avec cette vie et il avait l'intention de se réincarner dans un autre univers. Avec la moitié de son pouvoir, il a construit un monde un homme qui lui a parlé et s'est réincarné avec des tricheurs. Bonjour, c'est ma première histoire et j'espère que vous l'aimez. My story is not in english and i've not intention for write in is not by hate the england is for my bad grammar for example this texte
8 103Baki the grappler(various) X reader
Yeet idk lmao this my first time writing a fanfic. I'm sorry if updates are slow, I'm a suffering college student and I work part-time so yeah I'll probs be really busy. Pls give lots of love to these stronk bois tho!👌
8 157