Stargazer Pt.6 (Bonus Chapter)

Yamin thought she knew these streets like the back of her hand, but anxiety kicked in when turns she used to make when going to school every day lead to dark corners and strange detours. With the ever present pursuit of little shadow goblins, the two of them worried that one wrong turn may be the end of the line.

“This doesn’t make sense. Why does it feel like the streets are completely different?” Yamin shivered.

“They are. I don’t live here, but it doesn't take a genius to know it shouldn’t look like this, no?” Marek said.

It wasn’t just that a few things had been shifted around, the very infrastructure was altering. Buildings were suddenly in spots where roads would have gone through, and entire structures went missing, replaced by pools of sludge. Not to mention a strange substance growing all over the walls like veins of black tar.

“I don’t know if we can make it to the church like this,” Marek questioned, noticing they’d passed by some landmarks several times. They’d likely been going in circles. "It might be safer to leave the town."

“We have to get to the church,” Yamin argued, pointing to the tips of the church’s spires. “See? It’s not that far now. I bet the priests are fighting off all these demon guys.”

Marek couldn’t argue that the church was a beacon for them to follow, but getting there was an entirely different issue if the streets were going to keep changing.

A wiring sound stung through the air.

A cord wrapped around Yamin’s leg, causing her to face plant. Then it started dragging her away.

“Help…” she was dazed from hitting her head. The cord around her leg was dragging her into the pool of sludge water it spawned from.

Marek quickly grabbed her and stomped on the cord until it released her. Then a second wire like strand appeared and tore his gun from its holster.

“Hey! Give that back!” he shouted, but the wire didn’t listen.

Marek may have managed to free Yamin, but suddenly the two cords of darkness loomed over them, one wielding Marek’s weapon.

BANG!

It fired off a shot!

Marek grabbed Yamin and tugged her out of the way.

BANG!

A second shot, but a miss.

Click!

The revolver was empty.

“Hah! I only keep five bullets in there!”

As if laughing at him, a gurgle came from the pool of sludge the wires originated from.

More wires appeared, clasping some sort of red glowing material that it loaded into the gun.

BRANG!

BRANG BRANG!

Black arrow like bullets erupted from the gun's barrel, striking the ground and causing shadows to dissolve anything it touched.

More wires rose up from the water now. They all wrapped their spindly strands around the gun, each pulling out a copy of it for themselves like magic.

“Uh…we should run!” Marek shouted.

Yamin had a wound on her leg and forehead. She seemed too dazed to run on her own, so he picked her up like a princess and bolted, just barely evading the dark bullets flying past his head.

The wires each started to slither onto the land, some of them had legs and were beginning to stand up once their feet touched solid ground. Others were still late to evolve, but were reaching that point quickly. Their slowness was a mercy.

Finally the two were back on a main street and it seemed largely untouched by this horrible event. A few cars were still parked on the side of the road, snow had yet to fully pile over them.

Yamin weakly pointed down toward the town square.

“If…we keep going that way, we can get to the church.”

Yamin seemed still dazed from hitting her head. Marek knew she’d need a doctor soon, or her condition might get worse.

He was torn at a crossroad. To his left he could continue down the street and head for the cathedral, potentially getting help from the priests. But to his right, just a few blocks down was his car. He’d be able to escape the city and bring back help.

As if answering for him, he turned to the church, only to find that it was no longer there. 

"Huh? Where'd it go?" he questioned, franticly turning all around to see if he'd been looking in the wrong direction. It should have been quite clear from here given its size.

"What do you mean?" Yamin pointed a shaky hand. "It's right there."

A building was indeed exactly where she said it was, but it certainly was no big church. What stood in its place seemed like a castle, one that had become warped and misshapen, like plastic in the sun.

This newly spawned landmark was impossible to believe, as moments ago an impressive cathedral once held that prominent spot.

"We're not going there." Marek said.

"Why not?" Yamin asked.

"Guh...can't you tell? That's not a cathedral anymore."

Her dizyness was starting to fade, but she still couldn't believe her eyes.

“No way…” she squinted. “I must be seeing things…”

“You’re not…” Marek assured her. “Is this the end?” Marek questioned under his breath, feeling up his empty holster.

Marek was ready to leave the world if things were going to end up like this all over. But his natural instincts to protect a young woman kicked in when he saw Yamin in his arms. He had no complicated feelings for her, they’d only just met, but this was a human being under the Crowns protection. As someone who worked in the government, it was his duty to serve and safeguard his people so they could serve their kingdom.

This renewed purpose gave him just enough jolt to run down the street, heading straight for his vehicle.

Marek ran far and fast, hoping his car was still parked on the side of the main road.

Little shadow goblins scampered out from every corner as he passed, quickly giving chase.

His car was in sight, giving him a feeling that things might just work out.

With haste he quickly placed Yamin into the right side seat and buckled her in. Then he slid over the hood of his car to get into the drivers seat. He winced out in fear a few times while trying to put the key in the ignition.

“Come on come on come on!”

Those shadow goblins surrounded the car, scratching and clawing at the metal to get in.

The car finally started, but something latched onto the trunk, not allowing it to move.

SCREEEE!

VROOOO!

The smell of burning rubber hit the air.

Marek looked back in his rear view mirror to see a massive shadow monster was gripping the trunk, forcing them to stay still.

“Sacré bleu!” he shouted, putting the car in reverse and slamming into the legs of the monster.

They were freed from the monsters grasp upon the hit.

Marek pressed his foot hard against the pedal. They blasted down the icy roadway, heading straight for the exit.

Massive obelisks of blackened brick rose up from the ground. Some sharp, other blunt, but both attempting to impede their progress. Marek’s quick reflexes was all that kept them from ending up in a crash.

After evading many things, they were finally free of the city and on a highway.

“We made it! Let’s get out of here!” Marek shouted.

“But…” Yamin’s mind was fading fast, she couldn’t keep herself awake much longer. “My home…”

An explosion triggered inside the engine. Blue light pulsed through the air vents.

“Oh, now what is this?”

Another explosion happened and the car was suddenly swallowed in white and blue light. It was too blinding for either of them to look at. The light seped in through the unsealed edges of the window, sparking energy bolts all through the car.

The blinding light faded just as soon as it appeared and the two were heading straight for a tree in a forest.

CRASH!

Both blacked out. It wouldn't be long before a fire mage rescued them. Then a little angel healed their wounds.