Side Curios: Julio A

1

Julio screamed, holding an unconscious Maya in his arms. The Indian woman wore thick clothing and a bundle of scarves, so frostbite would not be an issue for some time, but the blizzard was only getting stronger.

Looking around himself, Julio could probably leave the twelve expeditioners to freeze, they were already dead after all, their blood splattered beneath their bodies as if they were all dropped from a great height.

“Where the hell do we go…” Julio muttered as puffs of his breath smoked in front of his face. It was too damned cold. Was this how it ended?

What did it matter, he thought. We already failed.

Their mission was over. Their lives were over.

At least I got the money… Henrietta should get what I sent… Carlos will take care of everything…

Ironically, none of them would know it was Julio who made sure they got the money. Even if they somehow found out, why would they even believe it? What were the chances Julio would randomly win the lottery? He never even tried before. Of course, being chosen by fate was no different. That might as well have been the lottery.

Still, Julio had to do a bit of work for that first mission. He talked with the others about what they did, and aside from Ryota’s unfair disadvantage, his was probably the most difficult.

But it was nothing compared to this mission. Doomed the moment they set foot in this mountain. Wasted more than a month of planning… all for nothing.

Julio wondered if this world would get destroyed like it was with that Edward fellow. It was sad considering he and Maya already made a few local friends. He looked down at the girl sleeping in his arms.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed around him. At first, he thought the corpses of the expeditioners were infected by the blight of the old king. Nasty business, that was. But the sound, a piercing noise like birds screeching at each other, was coming from above.

When Julio looked up, the blizzard blotting most of the sky, he saw the figure of a man descending towards them. He held Maya tighter.

The man, pale skinned, white haired, and wearing a thin grey robe, seemed completely unperturbed by the blizzard or the cold. He looked at the corpses beneath him until his eyes settled on Julio and Maya. His expression softened.

Those eyes, Julio thought, they’re all… red.

Oh, shit. One of the immortals found them.