Harbinger - Chapter 3

A city is engulfed in flames, the houses are falling, people are running, some in panic, others trying to put out the flames that are covering them. This is different from the recurring dream I've been having however, i'm not on the ground, instead i am witnessing the city's downfall from above, i look around but i don't see the figure anywhere. I look back towards the panicking people, and notice that they are humans, a smile appears on my face. I reach out with a hand, as if to grasp the very heart of the city, but before i can do anything else, an intense pain comes from my stomach.

I am jolted awake, clutching my stomach, and coughing up blood. I open my eyes and see a large boot kick me again, sending me rolling back. My body starts shaking.

“Come on you filthy slave, we don't have all day. Get up!” A harsh voice orders me.

Ah, they haven't killed me yet. Then i remember, Wan was caught as well. I struggle to get up, and look around, i see her standing in a corner, coughing up blood as well.

“Come one you two! Get moving!” The guards shouts.

I reach out and grabs Wan’s hand, and we proceed out of the tent we were in and follow the guard. I do my best not to look back at Wan, if it weren't for me, she wouldn’t have been caught up in this. Surely she must hate me now too.

The guards leads us to the center of the camp, it seems they set up a makeshift stage, however i don't see a noose, then i catch the Owner standing in the center, holding a large dagger. Ah, what a horrible way to die. The guards leads us to the stage, and we slowly approach the owner who is now beckoning us closer.

“Wan” I whisper. “I’m sorry, this is all my fault” I feel a small hand on my back.

“No, i decided to come too, i couldn't let you go on your own”

I hear warmth in her voice, i led her to her death, however, her voice has no shred of blame, instead, it’s a warm, calming voice, almost as if she’s saying it’s not my fault, but if it’s not my fault, then who’s is it? Ah, theses humans, no all humans, ever since i was born, every human who I've met has been a disgusting monster, yet, this demi human, who humans call a beast, has been the kindest being. She forgives me even for this, she’s a saint, and yet these humans would kill her for wanting freedom. I can't let them do that.

We arrive to the center of the stage, a crowd of slaves have gathered in front glaring at us with disgust, multiple guards are near the stage, their crossbows trained on us.

The owner beings to speak. “Attention all you lowly slaves, you are my property, never forget that! These two fools attempted to escape yesterday, and today, i will show all of you what happens if any of you have the same idea!”

“Please, Wait!” I beg the owner, getting down on my hands and knees. “I was the one responsible! I brought her along against her will, she is innocent!” I motion towards Wan. I close my eyes, praying to whichever god will listen, that her life be spared.

The owner let's out a laugh. “Hahaha, alright, seeing as you confessed, i shall show her some mercy.” The owner responds, making his way to Wan.

I let out a sigh and get back up, looking to Wan, giving her a smile. Even though i will die, she shouldn't have to suffer for my stupidity. I see the owner step behind her, and place one of his hands of her shoulder, holding an evil grin. Wan gives me a warm smile, then, before i could react, the owner uses his dagger and slices her throat open, blood spraying all around, covering her tattered rags, dying them red. I watch as the life leaves her eyes and her body drops, limp, to the ground.

Tears flow from my eyes as i rush to her, screaming her name. I shake her small body. “Wan! Wan! Please wake up! Please… please…” A mixture of sadness and anger swells from within my heart and i turn to the owner, glaring at him. I jumped towards him, screaming, trying to land a punch, however he simply kicks me to the ground.

“Hahaha, what's wrong? I told you the bitch would be granted a kindness, she didn't have to see her friend die!”

Why? Why did she have to die? She was so pure, if only i had been stronger, maybe i could have protected that purity. Lying on the ground, i try to crawl towards her lifeless body, the owner, simply walks to me, towering above with his dagger held high, ready to plunge it down and end my life. I close my eyes, readying myself for the strike to kill me, and put me out of this misery, but it doesn't come, instead, a large explosion erupts near where the guards were, sending the owner and I flying off the stage. I tumble to the ground, covering my face. I hear the sounds of screams, and swords clashing. I stay like this for a few seconds, then i slowly lift my head to see what's going on.

The guards are fighting about 30 strange beings, they seem humanoid, but have a pale, white skin. They are wearing a dark red armor. Black Horns protrude from their helmets, a thin, black tails can be seen from the backs, the ends pointed like an arrow. Some of the beings are hovering in the sky, with large, red wings, raining flame down on to the guards.

Realizing the danger, I make my way to a nearby tent to try to hide. As i enter, i notice two guards, cowering within, as soon as they spot me the pull out their swords and lunge at me, i cover my face and shut my eyes, expecting to be pierced by swords, instead, i hear the sound of steel clashing and open my eyes to see one of the strange beings intercepting the guards swords and pushing them back.

This being seems different, he's clearly much taller than the other beings, and instead of wings, there are 2 small nubs. He can barely fit in the small tent, he has large muscles, exposed by his light armor and holds and long, curved sword that glows red. He ignores me and focuses on the two guards, instantly killing one that charges at him, the guards body falling near me with a large gash across his shoulder. The remaining guard slowly steps back, quaking, and barely able to hold his sword up.

I decide not to stick around longer and turn around, but before i can make my escape, i see the owner, at the entrance to the tent, loading a crossbow bolt, anger in his eyes. My vision becomes clouded by anger. I grab a sword from the dead guard, and focus own the owner, who now is steadying his aim, but i notice he's not aiming at me, he doesn't even seem to have noticed me, he's aiming for the big being behind me who is focused on the shaking guard.

I leap in the bath of the crossbow as he pulls the trigger,. I feel a sharp pain on my left shoulder, blood running down my body, i grit my teeth and ignore the plead of my body to stop, and dash towards the confused owner, he doesn't have time to react. I leap and plunge the sword deep into his chest, knocking him to the ground. I begin to repeatedly stab him, all the while tears flow from my eyes, some of it is because of the crossbow bolt sticking out of my shoulder, but mostly because this bastard took Wan from me. I don't know how long i spent stabbing the bastard, i don't know how long i kept at it, but even after his screams subsided, i continued to pierce his body with my sword, each swing losing power as my body tires from all the swinging and blood loss.

I feel a large hand gently place itself on my shoulder, and a deep, gravely voice comes from behind me. 

“It's OK little one, he has died.”  He says.

I turn to face the figure and he calmly grabs the sword from me, and walks to the tent entrance. 

“Come, we need to treat that wound.”

Looking closer at him, i see battle scars covering his body, there is a thick, gray beard on his defined, wizened face. His hair has gone white, probably due to his age, and his voice, despite being rough, seems to have a calm, serene, feel to it, calming the rage that was burning inside of me. I struggle to get up, and using all my strength, I begin to make my out of the ten, but before I can leave, I feel a new pain, this one seems to be coming from my heart, as if something was trying to claw its way out. I scream, clutching my chest as the pain spreads through my body, a dark cloud begins to envelop me, it swirls around ominously,  and begins entering through my mouth, the large being sees me and run towards me, however, he is blown away be the fierce wind generated by the dark cloud. No longer able to stay conscious, i begin to pass out from the pain and blood loss. As i close my eyes, I see a small, dark, orb-like object. From it, a large black rose emerges, spreading its thorny roots throughout my conscious.

Before it fully takes over, the black mist that enters my body surrounds it, and pushing it back within the orb, covering it with red chains, and placing a strange lock on it. The i finally fall in to unconsciousness.