Chapter 7: Those that refuse to die

The Kid’s life flashed before her eyes. With them her regret, bottled up till the brink of overfilling, all the things that the smile had hidden. It was to be her end, or at least that was what she thought.

The black blade stopped right in front of her face. Satisfied, the shadow withdrew the weapon into its small sheath.

But what of the young scout, who encountered a face that bred nightmare? It was quite a fright, but Carina soon realized the man was wearing the Knight Order’s insignia. Not as a trophy but in a set, he was a friendly.

From the forest came another older man, in the twilight of his years.

“What do you think you are doing?” He said in a threatening grunt.

“Having a bit of fun, the travel has been dreadfully boring.” The shadow replied. She then turned to the Kid still kneeling on the ground with her hand out. “Sorry about that.”

“How can she even stand up in that condition you dunce.” The old man said.

The person with a half a drooping face approached the girl. Judging from the equipment, he was a medic. The man took out some alcohol to disinfect the wound. “This would hurt a bit.” He said and poured the liquid over the stab wound.

The pain shot up, nearly knocking the Kid out cold. She replied, gritting her teeth. “Is that ‘a bit’ for you?”

“I was taught to say that. Just a small little lie.” He said, inspecting the wound.

“There’s nothing small about that one.” The girl replied.

Meanwhile, the old man was drilling into Carina about code words for identification purpose. After sufficient proof she was truly a scout, he pulled back. The young scout wondered who this person was, to know the most secret code, he must be a high ranking official. Then there was the question about that shadow.

“We have known each other for decades now and every time I thought you couldn’t sink any lower, you did it somehow.” The old man said in disgust. “Attacking a child like that.”

“Well, this ‘child’ here did this to me.” The shadow turned to show the gaping hole on her cheek which she shoved her tongue through, wiggling in the cool wind. “You have no idea how bad this hurt. I am in great agony.”

“Then act like it, at least I can take joy in knowing you are suffering.” The old man replied.

Meanwhile, the medic had cleaned up the wound, now to wrap it up. Before he could do it, the shadow swooped in and grabbed the bandage. She gazed at the Kid. “Consider this a gift from me for a good fight.” The woman then smear the blood on her cheek all over the pristine bandage, drenched it in blood.

Then, Carina could see the swirl within the shadow’s eyes, flaring up again. The hole on the cheek soon closed with a disgusting fleshy noise. After the short demonstration, the bloody bandaged was handed back to the medic. He simply looked at it then turned to the Kid.

“You fine with this?”

“Whatever, I don’t mind.” The girl answered in pain.

After the bloody bandage was applied, the old man decided it was time to move. “We made too much noise, thanks to a certain someone.” The young scout had reburied the supply and worked to erase most of the tracks. The old man was more experience in this matter, he wiped out all blood drops and even scrapped away the gunpowder traces.

Both the shadow and the medic offered to help the Kid moved but she decided to stick to Carina. The group moved out to the final Knight’s encampment still in operation.

“This place is fine!” The young scout exclaimed as they approached the barricades.

“We were attacked but managed to pull through.” The medic replied.

Many knights were slain but the others managed to rally themselves and slew the attackers. It was a victory but none of the survivors could breathe a sigh of relief. Their leaders and senior members were all slain in battle. Another attack was sure to come and they would surely crumble. Morale was at an all-time low. It did not help that the ‘reinforcement’ that arrived soon after consisted of only two people.

The old man summoned Carina and the Kid to a war tent of sort. There, the young scout was to brief him about the situation back at End Of The Line.

“So every other encampments were wiped out. Headquarter was also attacked.” The old man murmured. “The situation is worse than I thought.”

“Isn’t that always the case?” The Shadow said mockingly.

Carina watched the two with confusion. “Sir, if I may ask, who are you two really?”

“I am Warden Jaren.” The old man introduced himself. “And this is Executioner X.”

“Hello.” The shadow waved at them. “You can call me Daisy.”

“You can call her X.” The old man said.

“No, Daisy.” The shadow insisted, crossing her arms.

“You never had problem with X before.” The Warden was clearly annoyed.

“That was just a phrase.” The Executioner replied. “I mean, no one with any ounce of self-respect would call themselves X.”

“You applied for that name! So if you want to change to Daisy then apply to the higher up. Now, you are X, end of story!”

“Boo!”

The young scout watched, even more confused. Not that long ago, this shadow dawn on her like a storm, stabbing the Kid through the stomach. But now, seeing this bickering was not comedic in the slightest but rather unnerving. At any moment now, this pouting woman could go mad and slice them all up and it would not be out of character.

“I will call you Daisy.” Said the Kid merrily to the one that skewered her the night before. Or at least tried to, Carina could see her smile was not as bright as the day before

“That’s what I am talking about!” The shadow came over to the Kid’s side.

“Whatever.” The Warden ordered. “You go and give the camp a briefing.”

X complied and left the tent, pouting all the way. Jaren watched on with an uneasily look on his face. He then turned to the Kid.

“Be very careful, you seem to have attracted her attention.”

“What is this woman really?” The young scout asked.

Her question was not answered, all they received was another stern warning. The Warden mouth was seal tight. There was someone else who would know more, however. It took Carina back when she first met with Captain Meredith, when he mentioned an ‘executioner’ with great disgust.

Exiting the tent, the three ran into a council of sort. The encampment’s elected leaders were discussing something together. “So, we all agree to rendezvous with the main force?” Everyone there all nodded, saved for one, the medic standing at the back. He was part of the council but no one was paying any attention to the disfigured man.

The council head, the young knight Max Rockwell came to the Warden. “We have decided to abandoned this camp and go the End Of The Line.”

“Why are you even asking for my opinion.” Jaren replied. “I may be a high ranking officer but I am not your supervisor.”

Meanwhile, the other council members went their ways and told the others to pack up. The news seemed to breathe new life in the troops. Staying here any longer would spell their doom. Rallying under Captain Meredith was the preferable option.

“I am asking because I need you and X to go with us.” Rockwell explained himself. “We need you in case of an attack.”

The shadow rose up from behind the knight. “So you want me to babysit you guys eh.”

“It’s not like that, we just need help in case of…” Rockwell frustratingly replied.

“Don’t worry honey boo boo, mommy will pack you some diapers.” X looked down on him condescendingly, she was a head taller than the knight.

“Are you trying to provoke me?” Rockwell said, gritting his teeth.

The shadow hunched down, face to face with the knight. She then burst out laughing hysterically. “And what give you that idea, boy! You are not worth my time.”

Not willing to take any more insults, Rockwell immediately reached for the sword. But before he could even grip on the hilt, the black blade was drawn, cutting through steel armour, parting his arm clean off.

“AHHHHHHHH.” Screaming out in pain, Rockwell clutched his wound. He looked up to find a blade right in his throat.

X, however, was not even looking at him. The shadow eyes were fixed on the barrel pointing right at her head. The Warden was taken aback, he did not even see the Kid drew her weapon. The girl held the revolver with a finger ready at the trigger, there was no more smile and cheer.

“Let him go.” She said.

“Alright, alright.” X complied, sheathing the black blade.

The knights stood and watched in horror, only one stepped up to pick up the arm. The medic came over to Rockwell’s side. “Come on, let’s disinfect that wound. Don’t worry, the cut is clean, the arm could be reattach.”

The Warden went and try to defuse the situation. Many of the knights were rightfully angry, but no one wanted to mess with X. Unlike the hulking abominations who could use eldritch power through studying and being taught the unknown, an acolyte was one chosen by the deity. Unless one was a Hunter, fighting someone like X was a death sentence.

The Kid holstered her gun in silence. She was used to treating everyone with a friendly smile, a simple lesson imparted by her mother. But now, against someone like this, the girl did not know what to do.

Finally finishing with the packing, the encampment was abandoned. The remaining knights marched on, hoping to reach any hint of safety.

Carina and the Kid went forward to scout ahead.

They would not be able to find the ghost, stalking the group every move. He bided his time, shuffling a bullet through his fingers. Lives would be lost today, spilled upon the meadow.