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 would set in a few hours, so she began to gather her things.

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 placing her book in a small basket she had brought. Sasha always enjoyed a small meal under this tree while reading, it was one of her favorite pastimes.

Atop the hill, she saw a few riders on the road race along the dirt path and rushed out of sight. “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 race down the road.

Grabbing her blanket off the grass, Sasha snatched her hat from under a small stone she had used to keep it from being blown away while she read. Folding the cloth into the basket, she began a brisk walk down the hill, with a skip in her step.

To her surprise, even more riders and even wagons shot down the road at top speed. A strange feeling came over her as more and more riders raced toward town. This time she noticed that they were soldiers.

The walk back would take her no more than fifteen minutes. She took a small path near the main road, covered in shade. A sense of fear crept up her spine and she quickened her pace.

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

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

“What’s wrong?” she yelled to them. “What’s happening?”

Going at such speed, Sasha barely heard the response being shouted back at her, “They’re coming!”

Another wagon with an elderly man and woman rolled by her and panic began to set in as they looked at her with worry and fear in their eyes. “Hurry child!” the woman sitting in her wain said to her as they passed.

Sasha heard more bells and shouting from the town as she drew closer. Turning her head, she looked back to the hill which she sat only minutes ago and saw dozens of people pouring over the crest in droves, increasing her anxiety.

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

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

Everyone was rushing about, piling onto wagons or horses. People she knew shoved past her, ignoring her completely. More and more people moved about, making their way out toward the north gate. Everyone was leaving.

After shoving past several groups of people, Sasha headed straight for her grandmother’s house.

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

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

“Professor?” Sasha breathed. “What is going on? Why is everyone leaving?”

“We have to go now.” his voice cracked as he grabbed her hand, dragging her toward the castle. “There is no time! Trust me.”

“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 the dead seriousness on his 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 filled the streets, fleeing Zulin.

Screams overshadowed the bells and both Gould and Sasha looked back to the south gate. High-pitched and unearthly howls echoed in her ears. She caught glimpses of small black forms weaving in and out of the houses and atop the roofs.

“The Thrak are coming.” his lips twitched. “There’s no more time.” he yanked on her arm again, picking up the pace. “We need to get out of here as fast as we can. Do not stop running!”

“I don’t understand.” Sasha’s lips began to tremble from fright. “Where is Henry?”

“He is safe!” Gould yelled as a crowd formed making the area full of shouting, pushing, and shoving. “Get out of the way!” he waved his arms violently, dispersing the people enough for them to slip through. “That doesn’t matter right now. We need to leave 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 both fallen. Everything south of the Qutreth river and the Brez sea is gone.'' The professor shoved another body to the side but kept a strong grip on her wrist. “No word has been coming out. Qutreth and Aslone are the only strongholds left standing in the west. I don’t know what’s happened to Shonax or Uqeon.”

“That can’t be right.” Sasha shivered, chills running down her back. “How? How are they doing this? What are they?”

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

“We live between two mountains.” Sasha almost sobbed.

“Exactly.” Gould’s voice cracked in panic again. “There wasn’t any warning till now. They chased down the scouts. Brez was the last town to be attacked before riders came straight here.”

Sasha heard her name being called in the distance and she jumped to get a better look ahead. “Grandmother?”

Professor Gould yanked her again and raced toward Mrs. Kebin.

“Sasha!” Mrs. Kebin waved to her from a carriage presumably prepared by Gould.

“Sir.” the driver shifted nervously in his seat. “We must leave now! I won’t wait any longer.”

“We aren’t leaving without Gus,” Gould said. “I won’t leave him to his fate.”

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

“Oh thank Hashem.” Gould sighed in relief. “Hurry you old fool!”

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

“Everything is going to be alright.” She embraced her tightly. “Don’t you worry, dear. You’ll see Henry again. I promise. Hashem will protect us.”

She had read her mind, Sasha was worried she would never see Henry 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 began to dissipate.

Waves of bodies pushed to the gate, shoving their way out and trampling 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 shook beneath them, causing the dirt to shift and shimmer from whatever was causing the noise.

Hundreds of black 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 the crowd of fleeing people.

A single Thrak, paused atop a house, its black wrinkled skin twitched as it set its sight on Sasha. Its deep red eyes seemed to flash as if honing in on its next victim.

The slicing fear at seeing those horrible eyes focus on her, burned into her memory. She would never forget those eyes.

Panicked, the horses bolted forward. Any who didn’t hold on were flung off the carriage and onto the ground. Utter chaos ensued as the people clamored to escape the oncoming horde 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 for 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. Any who clung to the sides were immediately crushed to death.

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.

A crushed body lay inches from her face and she pulled back in shock. Blood quickly soaked the dirt where she laid moments ago.

“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 the sharp pains coming from her ribs and arm, Sasha clambered out. Immediately bending back down, she reached for Mrs. Kebin’s outstretched arm and heaved with all her might.

Gould lifted but she fell back down.

“No,” she screamed. “You go!” she yanked her hand free of Sasha’s grip and turned to Gould. “Go without us. We will only slow you down.”

“No!” Sasha began to sob but noticed the ever-present threat. “I won’t leave you!”

Gould hesitated for an instant, then nodded his head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Now, son!” Gus yelled, agreeing with Mrs. Kebin’s orders.

Leaping up and pulling himself out, Gould landed awkwardly on the ground and grabbed Sasha’s waist, trying to drag her away.

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

“No!” Sasha screamed, working against Gould.

“Get her out of here.” her grandmother said with tears in her eyes.

Gould hesitated for an instant before redoubling his efforts to drag her away. Sasha felt his arm tighten around her waist and flung her off the carriage. He caught her awkwardly then set her down.

“Move it!” he ordered with such force, it scared her into action.

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

“This way!” he yelled, grabbing her hand again.

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 jumped into the sewer next to him.

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 a large bricked aqueduct. Their sewage came out at this point and the stench was overwhelming. Holding her breath and scrunching up her nose, she helped Gould heave the thick metal bars upward.

The noise, however, caught some of the Thrak’s attention. Panic enveloped her as they lunged for them, but sunk deep into the water. Their legs were stuck in the mud and human feces. Other Thrak noticed the watery manure trap and went further down the bank before jumping in. Screaming in fear, Sasha pushed under the bars and Gould groaned as he kept one arm up, holding the grate open. Using his free hand he shoved her backside, throwing her into the stone tunnels.

She immediately turned, reaching for the bars to give him a chance to climb in. But it was too late.

Gould was lifting the bars when one leg was flipped out from under him. His face cracked against the brick, breaking teeth, and was yanked back. The bars slammed closed. An instant later, several monstrous creatures leapt onto him, clawing at his flesh.

One went for his shoulder, tearing into the muscle and yanking off his right arm. He screamed in agony, flailing the rest of his limbs about in blind defense. For a moment, Gould and the Thrak disappeared beneath the murky water but reemerged a second later. Another dug its claws into his chest and yanked, pulling out ribs. Each bone was protruding from his chest and he let out another agonizing scream of pain.

The professor was shoved up against the bank, mud, and manure enveloping him. Their weight pushed him deeper into the soaked dirt and he still struggled to free himself but to no avail.

With nothing to do, Sasha watched in horror as his blood-curdling screams were cut short as his head was nearly engulfed in the jaws of the Thrak. Its teeth sucked his head deeper into its mouth shredding his face and a sickening crunch followed as his head imploded from the pressure.

Sitting in utter darkness, Sasha watched helplessly with tears streaming down her face. Not a sound escaped her mouth as Gould’s body was mutilated.