Chapter 18 -- Chaos and fear

AIO: My biggest chapter so far is Chapter 10 (5845 words) but since then I've been aiming for less than 1500 which is easier to fit in!

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The three continued.

Reach: "I think we're roughly heading in the right direction."

Thorn: ...

Tomo: ?

Reach: "Towards Ishi."

...

They walked through alleys. Taking more note of the Rynestone than usual.

Tomo glanced at the people they passed. Still not quite used to the varied scenery.

One person - maybe in their 20s, sat against a black building. They wore a light grey singlet and had chains around their wrists.

The person next to them was in a similar outfit, but hunched over.

And not moving.

Reach: ...

The person in the light grey singlet coughed. Their mouth dirty.

They had short brown hair, alike Tomo.

Tomo: ...

Tomo: "Are you..."

Tomo: "...A prisoner?"

Tomo stopped with gentle eyes.

Reach: ...

Tomo: "Or... A slave?"

The person's eyes were a mix of blue, green, and brown. It was hard to pick one clear colour.

????: "It..."

????: "...It doesn't matter."

...

They coughed, which turned into a sad laugh.

????: "I can't do what I want."

????: "Simple as that."

...

Tomo: ...

The person scratched their head in a frustrated manner.

????: "This kind of life makes you wish for the merciful release of death."

...

????: "But..."

????: "B-But somehow..."

...

...

????: "We still don't want to die."

The person sniffed.

Tomo: ...

Tomo felt their emotion.

Thorn and Reach less so - who shared a mutual thought.

'Not everyone can be saved.'

.

.

.

Reach crouched down and helped the person up.

Reach: "Can you walk?"

????: "Y-Yeah..."

The person stumbled for a moment before regaining their balance.

Their legs - feeble and weak.

They looked down at their motionless companion.

????: "Adrian... I..."

????: "I-I can still..."

...

????: "...Make it."

They began to sound inspiring.

????: "I'm... Okay."

????: "I'll find a way to get these off."

They shook their chains.

Reach: ...

They departed slowly, step-by-step.

????: "Don't worry about me. You live your lives."

...

????: "I’ll survive."

Tomo: ...

Tomo: "A-Are you sur-"

The person looked back and nodded.

Despi: "My name is Despi. Thank you for your concern."

They smiled.

Eyes of a victor.

Reach was glad.

Despi approached a corner.

Despi: "Haha."

Despi: "Goodb-"

CHUNK.

..

..

Their head was crushed.

Drip...

Drip..

Drip.

Thunk.

Their body fell to the floor.

Tomo: ?!!

Reach: That...

A sizeable man stood with wild, bright red hair.

Sharp teeth.

Splat.

With one hand he mangled what was left of the head and tossed it aside.

Thorn: ...

Tomo was angry.

Tomo: "Wh-Who the-"

Vork: "Hunt."

Vork sprung at Tomo with his bare hands.

Tomo: "W-"

Foosh.

Reach reappeared to the side with Tomo.

Vork was confused as his yellow pupils darted around.

Vork: Q... Quick...

...

BOOM.

The neighbouring two buildings exploded.

Thorn: ?

At least six invaders entered from each side - perhaps 13 in total.

A mix of different people. Some thin, some wide. Some with long hair, some without.

They all wore uniform brown armour and various brown weapons.

Vork: ??

Vork: "Fr-From... Away?"

Vork spoke in a deep voice.

Reach: ?

Reach: They're not from here?

The invaders seemed to be part of the same group or tribe.

But as implied from the explosions... They were no doubt hostile.

Tomo: Where did-

The wind suddenly felt like it stopped.

The day felt like it got darker.

Reach: ??

Step...

Step..

Step.

Someone entered wearing a loose cream shirt.

The shirt was in bad condition. Partially ripped.

A quiet yet unsettling...

Arrival.

.

..

...

Ishi: "What is... This?"

[Chapter 18 -- End]