Sasha sat under a large tree. The shade covered the lush grass around it and the breeze blew her red hair over her face. “The sun will set in an hour.” she thought as she brushed her hair from her face.

Setting the book she had been engulfed in down, Sasha shifted her feet and stood. Taking in the beautiful scenery, she took a long moment to take it in before returning to town. It was a mile walk back but she longed to stay, breathing in the cool air and watching the sun slowly dip down.

A few riders on the road going into Zulin raced along the dirt path and rushed inside. “They must be from one of the southern villages.” she guessed. They looked to be in a hurry and she wondered what was causing their hasty ride.

Grabbing her book, Sasha snached her hat from under a small stone she had used, keeping it from being blown away while she read. A strange feeling came over her as a dozen more riders raced into town, this time, they were soldiers.

On her walk back, the castle bells rang loudly, echoing across the land. “What’s going on?” she whispered as she picked up her pace.

More and more wagons and riders rushed past her while she walked on the edge of the road, stirring up dirt in the wind.

“What’s wrong?” she yelled to them.

Going at such speed, Sasha barely heard the reasons shouted back at her, “Their coming!”

A wagon rolled by her and a panic crept up her spine as they looked at her with worry and fear in their eyes. “Hurry child!” an older woman from the wagon said to her as they passed.

Sasha heard more bells and shouting from the town and then from people coming from the south. Dozens of people came over the hills in droves, increasing her anxiety.

“What is happening?” she frantically thought, then broke into a run, dropping her hat and book in the muddy road.

The ringing grew louder and louder as she entered the familary town. She had just passed Henry’s old house before coming in but the sight that met her filled her with terror.

Everyone was rushing about, pilling onto wagons or horses. People she knew shoved past her, ignoring her completely in their mission to leave Zulin. More and more people moved about making their way out toward the north gate.

Sasha had to get to her grandmother, that was the only thought that drove her. Running as fast as she could she made her way to her house, wishing her grandmother was well and would know what was happening.

“Sasha!” a voice yelled to her from across the road. “Mrs. Kebin!”

Sasha whipped her head to the side and locked eyes with Professor Gould. He hurried over to her, a panic on his face.

“Professor?” Sasha breathed. “What is going on?”

“We must leave.” he grabbed her hand, dragging her toward the castle. “There is no time!”

“No! No, I have to get my grandmother.” Sasha yanked her hand free.

“She is waiting for us!” he pleaded. “Come with me now!” he said forcefully. His voice was shaky and fear filled his eyes.

Sasha was stunned by his worried face and let him lead her. “Tell me what is happening, professor.” she nearly begged with a trembling voice.

People ran by them, knocking their hands loose and a few horses almost trampled her but Gould yanked her to the side before she was crushed. Two more wagons rushed by a moment later and hundreds of people started piling up, trying to get out of the town.

“The Thrak are coming.” his lips twitched. “Henry has been sending us updates on matters. They are the creatures Gus described in his history books. It turns out they are real.”

“I don’t understand.” Sasha once again was dragged by the arm in a run. “Where is Henry?”

“He is safe!” Gould shouted as a crowd formed making the area full of shouting, pushing and shoving. “That doesn’t matter right now. We have to get out of Zulin immediately.”

“Are we under attack?” Sasha yelled over the bustle of the crowd.

“The entire country is under attack.” Gould almost yelped in shock. “Ipoth… Yegon, have fallen. Qutreth is the only stronghold that remains in the south that is still standing and that is where the Vulkirian’s are living.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“That can’t be right.” Sasha shivered, chills running down her back. “How?”

“They came from below. Poured out of the mountains and right under our feet.” Gould replied. “They’re everywhere now.”

“We live between two mountains.” Sasha frowned.

“Exactly.” Gould’s voice cracked in panic again. “There wasn’t any warning till now because they chased down the scouts. Brez was the last town to fall, if the reports are true.”

“Sasha!” her grandmother waved to her from a carriage prepared by Gould.

“Sir.” the drive shifted nervously in his seat. “We must leave now!”

“I must get Gus.” Gould said. “If we leave him he is dead.”

“I’m here.” the old man walked from the castle, hands full of books and scrolls.

“Oh thank God.” Gould sighed in relief.

Sasha jumped into the carriage next to her grandmother who took her hand and shook it comfortingly. Turning to her, Sasha hugged her as her body shook in fear.

“Everything is going to be alright.” She embraced her granddaughter. “Don’t you worry, dear. You’ll see Henry again.”

She had read her mind, Sasha was worried she would never see him again and that they would not escape Zulin in time. Her hands were trembling and she focused on calming herself.

“Take these.” Gus said.

“Sir!” the driver shouted, seeing the road clearing as the crowd dissipated.

Waves of bodies pushed to the gate, shoving their way out and trampling some people in the process. The wagons and horses had already left them all behind and some turned their attention to the carriage that still remained.

Seeing this, Gould yanked the old man, making him drop his books and shoved him into the carriage. He leapt in a moment later and the driver immediately whipped the reins for the horses to move.

It was too late however, the crowd of people saw the opportunity to escape with them and started piling onto the carriage, overloading it.

Screams and shouts turned everyone’s attention behind them as the ground rumbled beneath them, causing the dirt to shift and shimmer from whatever was causing the ground to shake.

Hundreds of creatures flew around the corner, tackling a dozen humans and ripping them to shreds. A horde of monsters poured over the houses and buildings and rushed straight for them.

Panicked, the horses bolted forward, dislodging any who didn’t hold on, off the carriage and onto the ground. Sheer panic ensued as the people clamored to escape the oncoming horde of Thrak ready to devour them all.

Screams filled Zulin as Thrak invaded from the south of the city and rushed forward, unwavering in their desire to slaughter them.

People on the sides of the carriage clung on to dear life as the horses sprinted at full speed, leaving hundreds of people behind to their fate. Unfortunately, out of desperation, people didn’t get out of the way but rather jumped onto the horses and onto the sides of the carriage.

The wood holding the carriage together cracked and one horse tripped on people being crushed beneath them. The sudden weight of people and a single horse in front caused the entire carriage to jolt forward and flip to its side.

Screaming in terror, Sasha lifted her arms in the air, trying to break her fall. Her grandmother and Gould crashed into her, smashing her against the side and her face hit the dirt between the windows of the carriage.

“Move!” Gus yelped. “Get out now!”

Gould snatched Sasha and lifted her toward the opposite window as the carriage lay on its side. Quickly and unable to pause to examine sharp pains coming from her ribs and arm, Sasha bent down and grabbed Mrs. Kebin’s arm and heaved with all her might.

“No.” she screamed. “You go!” she poked Gould in the shoulder.

“But.”

“Now, son!” she yelled.

Gould hesitated for an instant before leaping up and pulling himself out before turning back around and reaching an arm down.

“Leave us!” Gus barked. “Leave us or we’ll all die.”

“No!” Sasha screamed, pushing Gould.

“Get her to safety.” her grandmother said with tears in her eyes.

Again, Gould hesitated for an instant, his face frowning in a painful realization he couldn’t save them and Sasha. Sasha felt his arm wrap around her waist and fling her off the carriage and jumped down next to her.

“Move it!” he ordered.

Tears streaming down her face, Sasha obeyed him and she glanced to the horde of Thrak closing the distance.

“This way!” he yelled.

The hundred people that weren’t able to leave the city in time slowed the wave of Thrak as they stopped to slaughter every human in sight before continuing forward. Gould ignored the carnage and led her through the gate and whipped to the side, leaping down into the gutters surrounding the town.

Sloshing through knee deep murky water, Sasha hadn’t the slightest idea where he was taking her but she trusted he knew where to go.

Glancing back again, Thrak rushed past the gates and into the surrounding grasslands pursuing other humans that were fleeing. Their attention was on the people out in the open, not on humans down in the gutters.

Gould grabbed the grates to the sewers that lead back under the castle. The stench was overwhelming but Sasha helped him lift the large metal bars.

The noise however, caught some of the Thrak’s attention. Panic enveloped her as they lunged for them, only meters away. Screaming in fear, Sasha rolled under the bars and into the stone tunnels.

Gould was lifting the bars when he started to slip under them. An instant later he was grabbed by the legs and yanked out, the bars closing behind him. He yelled in pain as he was slammed against the muddy walls outside.

With nothing to do, Sasha watched in horror as Gould’s arm was ripped off and his screams filled her with such terror she sat frozen, unable to move. His blood curdling screams of pain was cut short as his head was nearly engulfed in the jaws of the Thrak. Their teeth seemed to suck his head deeper into their mouth and a sickening crunch followed and his head imploded from the pressure.

Sitting in utter darkness, Sasha didn’t make a sound as the professor's body was torn apart.