The mud sloshed beneath me as I writhed on the ground, clutching my stomach. I glanced to the tree that Lawrence had vanished into, then to the sound of pursuit behind me.

“Monica!” William’s voice called behind me.

Beams of light cut through the thick night as they scanned the trees until they land their white circles on me on the ground.

“I’m…” I coughed up a mouthful of blood, “I’m okay, William.”

“That bastard.”

My brother gripped the small dagger he had taken to wearing on his waist to help better protect himself from those who got too close whenever I wasn’t around.

“Where did he go?” A Marine demanded as he pulled the flashlight away from me and back to the trees. The beam caught the white peaks of the swelling river, and the slanted rain, but nothing more.

Oak, Janet, and Lawrence’s brother, Mark weren’t far behind these two.

“I didn’t see.” I lied as I pushed myself off the ground. I pretended to collapse onto my brother’s shoulder. He caught me, and I pressed my lips as close to his ears as possible. “He isn’t a traitor,” I whisper as low as possible. “I’ll explain everything later.”

“What?” He whispered back.

I responded with a simple nod as I pushed myself to my feet.

“Hey, listen,” I acted as if I were hurt more than I actually was as I stumbled toward Oak and Janet, “Lawrence was telling me something before he left and we have to go. Now.”

“What do you mean?” Shawn said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

I huffed as I move my shoulder to get his heavy hand off of me.

“It was almost like he was mocking me, telling me there’s nothing we can do about it.”

I add a pinch of panic into my voice. Those years of watching theater were paying off, it seems.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Something about an army amassing and getting ready to attack.”

The marines trailing behind Shawn, Janet, and Mark glance at one another.

“Did he say where?”

“Yes. Out of the bowling alley dive. He said something about it occurring in the next couple of days, we have to hurry and close it.”

“The level 70?” Mark says.

“Yes! Let’s go!” I push past him and run toward the road in a mad dash. William follows after me.

As I pass by the Marines, one of them pulls a walkie-talkie out of his pocket and places it to his mouth. I hear it click before he turns away from the group and whispers into it. I focus and can pick up the slight vibrations in the air coming from him as he whispers into it.

“The Sage has fled, I repeat the Sage has fled.”

“How certain are you of this?” William asked. He has gotten good at using his Haste spell on himself at all times so he could keep up with me.

I turned to him.

“100%.”

Shawn and Janet glanced at one another, then to Mark.

“I’ll go,” Mark said. “I have to make up for what my brother has done.”

“We’ll leave in an hour,” Shawn yelled out. His voice booming as loud as thunder, “Once we’re done here, we’ll hunt the traitor down.”

He’ll be long gone by then, gods willing.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

By the time we got back to the compound, the wounded Efrans were being led into the compound surrounded by men with rifles. Garcia and Ortega led the procession. If what Lawrence said was true, then those two were the real traitors; they were the ones who basically orchestrated the whole scene in front of the door. I try my best to quell my rage. I want to lash out at them at this moment, but I know if I tried that, my parents would die.

I scan the group of injured Efrans; Deers and Cats given human form. Every adult among them was bandaged with straps of cloth; a few had limbs missing, and each was emaciated. Among them were small children; deer with barely burgeoning antlers, and cats just now shedding the fluff of adolescence.

At the very back of this procession, I spot a Cat that gave off a frightening aura. Its gray, near-silver hair was slick with rain water, and its blue eyes darted everywhere around in amazement; It had both of its arms in bandages and plastered casts, and patches of bandages. I adjust my path ever so slightly so I would brush against it.

“Are you Night?” I ask.

The cat thing turns its head towards me and pins its pointed ears behind its head.

“Lawrence told me to tell you to betray him so that you all don’t have to live as prisoners anymore. Tell the people that you were forced to fight for him.”

A skeptical look cast over her face.

“He told me what was going on, and I believe him.”

The cat creature’s eyes scan me over as if looking me over for any sign of falsehood.

“I will not betray him...but I will pass your message on to the others. I do not wish to see them bound in chains again either.”

The cat thing's voice was strangely melodic; chirping and purring like an angry cat. I nod and leave quickly so that my time lingering near this thing wouldn’t draw suspicions. I see the cat thing lean into the ear of a nearby deer as I hurry into the compound. The basket hilt saber I had been using at that point was destroyed, thanks to Lawrence. I’ll have him repay me sometime later. My mind flashes back to the river, and my lips begin to buzz. Did I really do that? I can still feel the warmth…

I shake my head and the warmth moves from my lips to my cheeks. I hide my face as I push my way into the compound and hurry to my tent. I had ordered a new set of armor from Wilhelm earlier this month; a blue tunic made of a durable, fireproof cloth found within a temple on Efra, and a bit of chainmail made from an extremely light metal to go over the black serpent skin armor I wore. He said with the materials I provided he’d be able to make me a sword as well. They were set to be delivered today, but this mess with Lawrence happened as soon as William and I were on our way back to the compound from our dive closing expedition for the day. We cleared a section of Arville’s Main Street. Soon, all of the main streets in town would be completely cleared, and we’ll start on the residential areas around town, starting with the neighborhoods of the wealthiest people in town.

It’s a stupid strategy, but one that the top brass insists on going through. We should be clearing farmland and waterways first, and power stations, and supply lines. Not wealthy people’s property.