Chapter 33 – One, Two, Someone Touched You

MELODY

Even though Melody was still at the compound and nowhere near the battle, she could still hear the fighting and explosions from here. Then she heard that awful roar that rattled the very walls.

Melody was pacing back and forth before she turned to Mitch who was keeping his eyes on the outside. “I better go check on Alice. I don’t want her to be scared.”

Mitch just nodded at Melody before he turned his attention back to the makeshift murder hole, he was using to spot any enemy units. He didn’t want any goblins sneaking by and attacking the compound when there were so few fighters present.

Though Mitch wanted to be out there, he knew how important it was to protect the civilians. Plus, deep down Mitch knew he wasn’t ready. Besides the fact he was still too low a level to tangle with most of the goblin enemies. He still couldn’t believe they had goblin clans fighting alongside them.

A few minutes later Mitch heard Melody scream in panic. He turned to see her running down the stairs. “What’s wrong ma’am?!”

“It’s Alice! She’s gone!” Melody exclaimed.

Mitch tried to calm the older woman down. “I’m sure she is around here somewhere. It’s not like she could’ve gotten very far. Everything is locked up tight.”

Just as Mitch said those words, they heard Alice’s voice coming from outside. “One, two, someone touched you. Three, four, make them hit the floor. Five, six, daddy says cut off their...”

Both Mitch and Melody looked at each other before they both turned their heads to look outside. Alice turned and waved at them before she went skipping into the bushes.

“How did she get out? I checked all the exits; they were locked up tight. Gio even doublechecked them just to be sure!” Mitch asked in confusion.

“I don’t care. I’m going after her! Open the door!” Melody said in a clear panic.

“I can’t do that Ma’am. It’s not safe out there right now.” Mitch replied as he stood in front of the door blocking her way.

“And is it any safer for a little helpless girl?! I’m going! So, you better open this door or so help me!” Melody exclaimed.

“Alright will you at least give me a second and I’ll see if Gio can take my place.” Mitch replied as he turned to leave.

“No time!” Melody said as she unlocked the door and took off after Alice.

“Crap! I’m gonna get in so much trouble for this! Jebediah is gonna kill me!” Mitch said as he locked the door and went to go find Gio.

MACK AND SARAH

“Come on! Move faster Sarah! We just won and daddy wants to celebrate in a way only you know how to do!” Mack said excitedly as he dragged Sarah further into the woods.

They had beaten those short green skinned monsters and he had gained a few levels from all those kills. The aftermath of the battle was still being sorted out. Mack had enough after he saw Laraaq turn into a giant flaming badger and take out a giant abomination. If that wasn’t bad enough, he saw that Shadowalker guy turn into a freaking dragon! No way did he want to be anywhere near those two while they sorted out the loot. He used the chaos of everything to sneak off the battlefield and go get Sarah.

Mack felt great and he wanted to celebrate. He reached the convoy without anyone stopping him. The vehicles were still lined up in rows. All the non-combatants were staying put, they were waiting for an all-clear signal.

Mack walked right up to the truck and grabbed his daughter. She was with Carol who gave him a puzzled look. “Is the fighting over? I haven’t received the all-clear signal from my son.”

They are wrapping up the battle, but I wanted to keep my daughter safe.” Mack explained.

When Carol protested, “We should wait for the all-clear signal if you are worried about your daughter.” Mack backhanded the old woman.

“Stupid old crone. Don’t get in my way when it comes to my kid!” Mack said before he took off with Sarah in tow.

Mack knew it was only a matter of time before that goody two-shoes Laraaq would start dictating how they were going to live.

“I thought I would play nice until I could take over this place. That was my original plan, but now that I know they are monsters, I am taking you away from here!” Mack explained to Sarah as he continued to pull her along.

“I don’t want to leave my sister. I want to see Christy!” Sarah said as she tried to pull her hand away. “Owe! Daddy, you’re hurting me.” Sarah winced in pain as Mack’s vice grip pulled her along.

“Come on. Keep up. Just a bit farther. We are going to celebrate my level gains and I want to make sure we aren’t interrupted.” Mack said as his heart raced.

———

CHRISTY

Christy was chasing after a few goblins that had run away at the roar of the giant dragon that showed up out of nowhere. Her biggest concern was the fact the goblins were heading to the convoy where her little sister was. “You bastards aren’t getting my little sister!” Christy yelled as she chased after them.

She was catching up to the three goblins left. Pulling out one of her throwing knives, Christy chucked it at the goblin farthest from her. The blade flew true.

THUNK!

Was the only sound that was heard as the blade sunk into the back of the goblin’s neck killing it instantly and dropping it to the forest floor.

Christy could see they were almost to the road where the rest of the convoy was stationed. She chucked another throwing knife at one of the two remaining goblins. The blade sliced open the goblin’s calf and it stumbled. Christy took the goblin’s head with her sword as she ran by.

“One of you monsters left. You can’t get away from me!” Christy roared as she gained on the last goblin.

Christy and the remaining goblin left the canopy of trees only a few seconds apart. When the goblin saw all the vehicles and humans, he realized he had made an error and was trapped. He dropped to his knees and prostrated himself. “I surrender. I surrender!”

As much as Christy wanted to kill the goblin, she flipped her blade around and smacked the goblin in the head with the hilt of her sword making the little goblin crumble the rest of the way to the ground unconscious.

Christy caught one of the young guys who were left as a feeble defense for the convoy. “Hey you. Grab some zip ties and bind this goblin until we can figure out what to do with him. I’m going to check on my sister.”

“Uh I think your dad already came and picked her up.” The guy said.

Those words drove a chill of terror down her spine.

“What?!” Christy exclaimed.

Just then Carol Burns stumbled as she tried to get up. “Mrs. Burns!” Christy cried out as she rushed over.

“What happened?! Are you okay?! Where is Sarah?!” Christy asked.

“I’ll be fine dearie. This old lady is a survivor.” Carol said.

Christy helped her back into the jeep seat. “Your father came running. He said the battle was wrapping up and he wanted to get his daughter. He had a weird look in his eyes, so it made me speak up. I told him we should wait. He backhanded me for my trouble and told me to mind my own business.” Carol explained.

Christy clinched her sword until her knuckles were white. ‘No more! I’ve stood by too long! This ends tonight, I don’t care if he is my father!’

“Are you okay dearie? What’s wrong?” Carol asked.

Christy ignored Carol and took off into the woods in pursuit of her sister and the man she once called father.

Carol saw her go and called out to the young man who was tying up the unconscious goblin. “Hand me the walkie talkie will you, dearie.”

The guy winced as the old woman scared him and he was trying to go unnoticed as he was tying up the unconscious goblin.

“Here you go.” The guy said as he handed her his walkie talkie.

“Laraaq. Come in Laraaq. This is Carol! Got an urgent S.O.S for you! Over!” Carol called through the radio.

SHADOWALKER, LARAAQ, AND CARL

“Laraaq! Come in Laraaq. This is Carol! Got an urgent S.O.S for you! Over!” Laraaq heard Carol’s voice call for him just as he gave his best friend a hug. The battle was over, and my best friend and I finally had a chance to greet each other properly, especially now that we both had pants on.

Carl had jumped up onto the platform. Carol’s voice was coming from the walkie-talkie in Carl’s hand.

Just then I received a call over my walkie talkie that was lying on the platform floor next to my ripped pants. “Umm. Mr. Shadowalker. This is Mitch. I’m chasing after Melody. Over.” The man sounded out of breath.

“Ha, ha, ha. Looks like we are both being called. No rest for the wicked.” I joked with Laraaq.

Laraaq grabbed the walkie talkie from Carl and replied. “Go ahead Carol. What’s up? Over.”

“Something is up with Mack. He seemed crazed. He took Sarah and hit me when I tried to stop him. I told Christy and she took off after them. Over.”

Carl, having overheard what Mack did, was instantly furious. “I’m going to kill that scum for hitting my mom!”

Laraaq nodded to Carl as he replied on the radio. “We will handle it, Carol. Over.”

While Laraaq was getting his call I was replying to mine. “What’s going on Mitch? Melody wouldn’t just take off. Over.”

“It-its Alice sir. She somehow got outside and took off into the woods. In a panic, Melody chased after her. I had to grab Gio to take my post before I followed in pursuit. Over.” Mitch explained.

“Whose Alice?” Laraaq asked.

“Long story.” I replied quickly before responding to Mitch.

“You did the right thing Mitch. I’ll find them. Call me if you find them before I do. Over.” I ordered.

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Laraaq and I looked at each other. Then I noticed the girl I thought I heard was named Christy. “Hey isn’t that her?” I said as I pointed.

“You go deal with that, while I go find Alice and Melody. Call me over the radio if you need any help. Good journey my friend.” I said as I latched my walkie-talkie onto my pants.

Laraaq nodded. “Same. Call me if you need anything. We can rendezvous at the compound. Good journey.”

“Good journey!” I replied before taking off.

LARAAQ, CHRISTY, & CARL

It didn’t take Laraaq and Carl long to catch up with Christy. “Christy stop!”

She halted for only a moment. “What?! No time. I have to find Mack and my sister!”

Laraaq noticed the panic in her voice. Rather than stop her Laraaq ran alongside her. “Why would that be problem? Isn’t he, her father?” As he said it, everything seemed to click.

Laraaq grabbed Christy and brought her up short. “Is he molesting you two?! Tell me!”

Tears started to flow down Christy’s face as she finally brought the truth to the forefront of her mind. She could barely get out the words. “He stopped a few years back with me... but Sarah...”

Christy cried into Laraaq’s chest, having finally told her dark secret. The rage that burned inside Laraaq ignited his core and his eyes started to glow as he lifted Christy’s chin. “If I had known earlier, I would’ve killed him already. He dies tonight! Understood!” Laraaq said the last part as he looked at Carl.

“Hey no argument here. I already planned on it after I heard he hit my mom.” Carl agreed.

Laraaq turned back to Christy. “You ready to save your sister?”

Christy nodded and the three of them took off in hot pursuit. If Laraaq found him he would make him suffer.

MACK & SARAH MEET ALICE

Mack found a secluded enough spot. “This will do. Now let’s celebrate.” The mask Mack wore around others fell away, and the depraved scum of the earth showed his true self.

Sarah shivered as she began to undress. She was not moving fast enough for him, so he backhanded her. “Look what you made me do to you! You know better than to keep me waiting!”

Mack pinned her down just as he heard some leaves rustling. He drew his blade and turned to see the cutest, most innocent little girl standing there. She was the most adorable thing he had ever seen. She wore a dress that made Mack’s mouth water at the thought of taking her innocence.

Alice smiled, waved, and asked, “Hi! I’m Alice. Do you want to play with me?”

Mack licked his lips. “Definitely. You both can play with me.”

Alice frowned. “I thought you wanted to play with me. I don’t want to play with her.”

Mack looked back at Sarah, then back to Alice. He stood up. “You’re right. She is getting a little too old for my tastes anyway. I’m sure you’ll be plenty fun on your own.”

Alice smiled again and clapped her hands. “Oh goodie!”

She then skipped over to Sarah and bent down to whisper in her ear. “Daddy says little girls like yourself shouldn’t watch or hear what happens next. Close your eyes and cover your ears okay.”

Alice then patted Sarah on the head and rustled her hair. “My new daddy gives me head pats and I love them. Don’t they feel great?”

Sarah nodded before she closed her eyes and covered her ears. For some reason this girl Alice made Sarah feel safe and that she could trust her.

“I’ll show you more than some pathetic head pats little girl. I’ll show you what only a man can show you.” Mack said as he reached for her.

Alice scowled. “Why did you have to go and insult my new daddy like that?”

A flash of moonlight flew between them before Mack lost complete control of his hands. He looked down to see what had happened to them. To his horror he watched as they separated from his body and slowly fell to the ground, blood started gushing out.

Mack screamed. “AHHHHHAAAA!!!!”

“You bitch! I’m going to make you pay!” Mack roared.

“Tsk, tsk. My imaginary friend doesn’t like bad language.” Alice said as a giant fist punched Mack in the face sending him sprawling.

Alice tapped the bloody blade to her chin as if she was contemplating something. “What game shall we play? You are an exceptionally bad one, soul as black as night.”

“Uh.” Mack said groggily. “I’m not playing with you, you’re a crazy bitch!”

Next thing Mack knew he was lifted off the ground and went flying into a tree so hard, it was knocked down.

“Tsk, tsk. I told you; my friend doesn’t like bad language. Besides you can’t back out once you say you want to play. Those are the rules of the game. Something tells me you have been exceptionally bad at following the rules.”

Alice snapped her fingers. “I know! We will play the gobble, gobble game! That’s a special one. I save that for the truly naughty ones.”

Mack tried to get up and run away but Alice moved quick like lightning and slashed the tendons in his legs. He collapsed and twitched.

Alice giggled. “He, he, he! Oh goodie, it looks like you at least know how to play the ‘fish’ game. That is always a fun one to start with.”

She then made several slashes, cutting away his clothes and digging her blades into his flesh.

Mack screamed again. “AHHHHH!”

“Don’t worry we will get to play forever and ever. You see my daddy taught me a spell that is so much fun to use. It makes it so we can play forever and ever, but first the gobble, gobble game!”

With a thought two giant hands grabbed Mack’s head and jaw. Both hands pulled, dislocating Mack’s jaw and causing the man to scream a primal guttural scream of pure agony and terror that could be heard throughout the forest.

“AHHHAAA!!!!!”

Alice then used her blades to separate the man’s genitalia from his body and shove them into his mouth.

“Eat up!” With that command the brute’s giant hands began to work Mack’s head and jaw to make the man chew and swallow.

The entire time Alice cut symbols into his flesh as she sang. “One, two, someone touched you. Three, four, make them hit the floor. Five, six, daddy says cut off their...”

She just finished cutting all the symbols into his flesh. Alcie stood over the now almost dead and mutilated body. She began to cast her Create Soul-Forged Minion spell when multiple people entered the clearing at almost the exact same time.

SHADOWALKER

I was the first to arrive a fraction before everyone else. I immediately took in the horrific scene before me.

A little girl, I assumed was Sarah from what he overheard from Laraaq’s radio call. Her lip was busted open, and it was clear she would have bruises. Sarah had her eyes closed and hands over her ears.

There was a giant brute of a man or skeleton in a large, brimmed hat and trench coat. As I tried to use my inspect ability, it glitched and all I got back was the word ‘golem’. ‘Huh? That was weird.’ I thought as I looked the brute of a man over.

He kind of reminded me of the creepy doll Alice carried around. He had positioned himself between Sarah and what I assumed was what was left of Mack. I say what was left as the body was rather mutilated. Based on positioning, my guess was the brute was either trying to shield her from the gruesome sight or protect her from Mack, probably a bit of both.

Alice had two blades that glowed ethereal green in the moonlight as they dripped with blood. Her hands, dress, and part of her face were covered in blood. Whatever spell she had just cast was making the symbols she had carved into Mack’s flesh glow a combination of ethereal green I somehow instinctually knew was Soul magic and black that reminded me of the Death magic spells Gr’ex taught me.

What was left of Mack continued to glow. He was missing his hands and genitalia, which sent a shiver down my spine.

My mind reeled as I processed what Alice had done.

I felt Gr’ex and Jek’jon both step into the small clearing right next to me. Their eyes practically bulged out of their sockets as they took it all in.

Laraaq, Christy, and Carl all stepped into view.

As everyone was taking in what they were seeing, Alice’s spell completed, and the body morphed and stretched until it was covered in some sort of skintight suit of armor. That was the trigger that made the rest of the scene register for Laraaq. The moment that happened, Laraaq summoned two Flame Spears.

Laraaq yelled, “KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!” As he threw the two Flame Spears right at Alice.

I immediately cast my Time Armor spell around Alice as I cried out. “WAIT!”

I shouldn’t have bothered. The giant golem stepped in front of Alice and lifted his trench coat which seemed to absorb the flame spears as they hit him.

Laraaq shouted. “You don’t understand! The system told me that any child under 15 should’ve been taken by the rapture. They only remain if they’re a monster! We have to kill it!”

Christy rushed over to her sister Sarah. Checking that Sarah was for the most part okay, Christy spoke up. “My sister is 13.”

This statement brought Laraaq up short. He had not seen anything bad with Sarah, but he knew what the system told him, and he would never forget those three evil kids that had murdered all those people.

Sarah jumped out of Christy’s arms and went to Alice. “Thank you for saving me.”

Christy walked slowly in front of the two girls. She could see Laraaq and Carl’s uncertainty. Both men wanted to bring as much firepower as they could to nuke this little area.

Christy spoke to Laraaq. “When this first all happened, I tried to find out why we were left to suffer after...” she looked at the now Soul-Forged minion that used to be her father. “After what he did to both of us.”

She sighed as tears started to form in her eyes. “You’re right that the system said there is a high chance they could be too far gone, but some are here because they don’t think they are worthy to be saved, or they just refused to go. I know I was angry, confused, and... and so much more.”

Christy bent down so she was eye level with Alice. “Thank you for doing what I couldn’t to save my sister and me.” She choked out the last part as tears ran down her face.

Sarah hugged her big sister and they both had a good cry.

Alice waved her hands, and the blades were gone along with all the blood on her. She put her hands on both their shoulders. “It’s okay. Daddy made me this way. He said I had to be a good girl and hunt down all those who hurt children so that one day there would be a world without such horrors in them.”

Alice then gave them both a big hug. Then she looked back at me. “My daddy sent me here to this time and place... I now know he wanted me to help him, and his friends make the world a better place.”

As she finished, she walked up to me, and I knelt to be at her eye level. “You remember don’t you daddy? The pain you felt when you were a child, what they did to you.”

I don’t know what came over me as I got a bit choked up as if the dam broke on the memories I suppressed for so long.

In that moment, I lost all care for Mack and what was done to him. If what she said was true, then I knew exactly how she felt about people like Mack. I felt it too, the raw anger at wanting to punish those who would dare to hurt children. It may not be the kind thing to do, or turning the other cheek, but this was the apocalypse, and I wasn’t going to play nice with scum like that.

“There he is.” Alice said as she looked into my eyes. I hadn’t realized it, but I had let go of my hold over my Dark Mantle ability. Laraaq thought it was cool and oddly enough so did Christy and Sarah.

Alice smiled. “Yep, there he is.”

Laraaq asked Alice, “There who is?”

Alice turned to him. “My daddy.” She said as she pointed to me. “He is my daddy. At first, I wasn’t sure it was him, as his power feels different, like he’s not whole.”

At that moment a memory came rushing to the forefront of my mind unbidden. It felt clearer than what I remembered when I went through it.

I was floating in an endless space of golden white. “You are not whole. You are fractured. I have set in motion what shall heal you and make you whole again. This I can do for the one who stands in between us all!”

When I came to the present Alice was smiling back at me only a few inches from me. “Yes, daddy you are not whole yet, but you will be. I wasn’t sure it was you at first, as you are so fractured now and missing much of yourself. However, I knew once you stopped holding back your power that it was you.”

Alice wrapped her arms around herself. “I love the feeling of your unleashed power, it’s like a warm blanket that wraps you up and comforts you.”

Gr’ex chuckled. “Ha! More like wraps you around and chokes you!”

I glared at Gr’ex and slightly focused my Dark Mantle in his direction. He whimpered.

Alice spoke up. “Don’t worry Uncle Gr’ex, I remember you too.” She then turned to Laraaq. “And you too Uncle Laraaq.”

Both Gr’ex and Laraaq looked confused.

Alice continued. “You both don’t exactly feel the same either, but I can tell it’s you. Daddy created me, forged me with the power to take the souls that should go to the Dark, and instead turn them into something we can use.”

“Are you saying I turned you into this?” I asked incredulously and about to kick my own butt if I had corrupted an innocent girl in such a way.

Alice laughed. “He, he, he, he! Silly daddy. No, you ‘Created’ me using Creation magic mixed with Soul, Mind, and Death magic. There are some others in there that you said I would learn eventually. You made me in this form to look this old so as to draw out the monsters hiding in plain sight.”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “You said you became the bridge to bring those back from oblivion, all those who lost all hope or had been corrupted by the Dark. You came back to save them and to give them a new path to walk.”

Alice then pointed to herself. “Those that refused salvation, or an alternative path, were left to me to reap. You told me when you created me that you and your friends had come upon a horrible scene where children had been brutally raped and murdered. It made you remember what was done to you when you were a child. In your sorrow and rage you brought me into being.”

Gr’ex couldn’t help it. “Of course! He would learn Creation magic at some point! Soul and Mind magic, why not. Unbelievable the luck and talent... can’t a goblin catch a break!”

Alice giggled. “He, he, he! Silly uncle. You said something similar many times on our adventures.”

Alice smiled as she turned her attention back to me. “You sent me back to this time and place.”

“Back?” I asked.

“Time magic silly daddy. I already sense it in your core.”

Gr’ex threw up his arms. “That’s it I quit! I’m going to become a farmer like Jek’jon wants!”

Jek’jon had a look of joy on his face. “Truly my friend? Oh, think of the wonders we will grow.”

Gr’ex grew more frustrated as his friend clearly didn’t pick up on his sarcasm. “Ahhhh! No, you idiot! I just meant...”

Alice leaned over and with her index finger bopped Gr’ex’s nose. “Silly uncle. You know you love daddy and that you are proud to stand beside him and Uncle Laraaq.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Gr’ex protested.

“You told me yourself.” Alice stated.

Gr’ex seemed flustered. “Well-well, maybe in the future, but not now, got it!” He said the last part as he crossed his arms.

Jek’jon spoke up as he patted his friend on the shoulder. “It’s okay my friend. You told me the same thing the other night. Over a jug of the Boom clan’s special brew.”

Gr’ex just pouted more.

Both Laraaq and I laughed at his antics. “Ha, ha, ha, ha! Leave it to Gr’ex to provide comic relief! It’s okay buddy I love you too.” I commented.

“Oh, is that why you keep him around?” Laraaq teased.

Alice laughed again. “He, he, he, he, he! Feels just like old times, like we are a family again.”

I wrapped the little girl in a hug as I picked her up. I don’t know what would’ve driven me to such a state in the future to create a being who was literally made to hunt down rapists and child molesters and take their souls from the Dark, but I would not deny that it was in my nature to do so. It was a fine line between justice and being a monster, but one that I would walk as long as I had my best friend, apparent daughter, and now new friends.

Turning to my allies, new friends, and family. “Come, it is time for us to go to our new home and celebrate!”