Mevi followed quickly behind the leaders of the village that left with the surviors. The group of remnants dashed forward up the sloped metal pathway. Keeping her eyes keenly behind the group, Mevi monitored the progress of the slowest members of their escape. As the last dredges from within the village passed over the first height, and scattered onto the pathway to their freedom, one of the villagers stopped and surveyed the number of survivors fleeing from the doomed village. The individual stood only slightly taller than Mevi herself, but commanded some stern personality that made the fleeing survivors dart around them without pushing or shoving. When they determined the group had no late arrivals, they brought out a hollow metal cylinder with strange drilled holes. Taking the object in hand, and fastening it to a long wire, they spun the object quickly around their head. The object made a whirring noise similar to the hum of some electrical contraptions that were processing a great amount of information. The oddly electrical buzz almost hypnotized Mevi for the moments it spun around the individual’s head. Suddenly they loosed the object through the air, and it soared high into the dark clouds surrounding the desolate village. As it flew a shrill screech echoed from its travel through the air.
The individual, who was cloaked with heavy cloths and bandages covering most of their skin and body, turned and began rushing with the wild escape of the other survivors. Mevi thought the ritual some kind of signal, she had heard very little of the established plan beyond what Kalesi directly ordered her to do. Following close behind the slowest members of the survivors, the rush to escape continued up the metal slope until it crested atop an intersecting pipeway.
The group of survivors couldn’t be more than forty souls, and those that could escape were mostly the young and strong. Mevi saw most of the elderly or infirm stay behind to maintain the barricade. Likely they wouldn’t last long, even if the entire village had stayed behind to reinforce their ever shrinking wall. Mevi had to displace the thoughts that sprouted around the sacrifice so many were planning to make. She needed to do what she could, and protect those that needed it as some strange repayment to those that stayed behind. Thus as Mevi watched the escaping survivors, she kept a close eye on the slowest and youngest. Their pace struggled to keep up with the bulk of fleeing villagers, and if one fell or stumbled whoever was behind them would vault over the fallen body. Mevi took it upon herself to watch and usher the stragglers forward and back to their feet if they fell.
It didn’t take long for some complication to arise at the front of the group. After less than two minutes of running, the group had stopped to an uneasy idle. Those at the front were calling for someone, but the wind and murmur quieted all calls less than a shout. As the survivor’s eyes looked wearily around themselves, a stout woman pushed through the crowd and arrived to look sternly into Mevi’s eyes. The woman was shorter than Mevi, and demanded something from her. Not hearing their first statement, the woman repeated with frustration hanging over her words, “Girl, you and your associate promised safety. Where do we go, or do you plan to have us run to some place randomly?”
Mevi’s mind and memory danced around the question, she hardly remembered the path they took to reach the village and couldn’t imagine how to escape it safely, “We need to escape the fog. So we should find a path away from any old villages, I think. Kalesi, my mentor, promised to return to lead us after she helped with the last defense.”
The woman seemed annoyed, and looked around frustrated, “Girl, your master is probably dead if she chose to stay behind. There are old cities and villages in every direction, where will our “saviors” meet us?”
Mevi wasn’t told exactly how that would work, but refuted the idea that Kalesi would not return to her, “My mentor will return, and she said once we escape the fog we can signal for an evacuation. I think we should pick a direction, and try to ensure it mostly avoids where you remember large communities…”
The woman threw her hands in the air, “This is useless, you don’t know anything do you?”
Before Mevi could retort, the woman returned to the front and several other villagers began talking quietly to her. As they discussed what to do, many of the remaining survivors glared at Mevi, as if their plight was somehow her fault. Without Kalesi here, Mevi didn’t know how to proceed forward. So Mevi sank into the background and tried not to be noticed, and as the group began to rush forward again she followed behind the group. Only interacting with the scared peoples when they needed help up or forward to keep moving.
The entire situation was strange, and incredibly delicate. Mevi didn’t know where they were, or what exactly to do. She also got the sense that Kalesi wouldn't have much concrete advice for the group either. The noise they made in their escape across the metal pipeway echoed around them, and if they came too close to a group of Rusted they would almost certainly hear. At least that is if the Rusted could hear at all.
The survivors continued to path along the large pipe they had escaped to. It brought them away from the cliff edge, and this was hopefully good. From Mevi’s memory the Rusted were actively scaling the cliff not too far away, and anywhere away from their target would lead them to a safer place than where they currently were. Or at least that is what the group seemed to hope. As their progress continued, hope seemed to be in low supply. Most of the survivors had grim and vacant expressions as if they were already contemplating their own demise. Despite this, they seemed to make good progress along the pathway and the stragglers had only some small troubles keeping up.
As they continued on their path, a yell was heard near to the front. Suddenly the group of survivors were turning around, and pushing against Mevi. Those in the back didn’t understand what was happening, and were being trampled against the feet of the stronger who led from the front. Mevi pushed past and ducked around the bodies who rushed past her. Then she was exited past the horde of frightened bodies, and was suddenly in the front of the group.
Before Mevi there was a brief scene of carnage. A body laid still on the ground, and a partially destroyed pipe, that conjoined with their chosen road, opened with a gaping maw of rusted metal. From inside growling and clawing could be heard echoing out. Two stalwart men stood by the still body, and in front of them there was a crawling form of mutated death. What Mevi only assumed was a Rusted. The remains of some idea of a humanoid body, bones jutting out of its spine like twisted spikes. Its body inverting through the open hole in its back, their chest being pulled through the gaping rupture. What looked like vital organs spilled out and became hardened like some kind of chitinous material. The macabre display of gruesome mutation crawled along the ground, and seemed to have originated from the cracked pipe. A new claw pulled at the edge of the metal opening, and soon a second decaying body pulled itself out and onto the platform.
The two men held no weapons, and carefully watched the crawling body, and now kept their eye on the new entity who squirmed to its feet. The new participant quickly regained its balance and then threw itself towards one of the men. Collapsing on top of its chosen target. Then the crawling Rusted pulled itself forward with unnatural strength, leaped into the air onto the other man who was too distracted to see the sudden jump. The clawing and scratching from within the pipe echoed louder, as if whatever was inside became excited at the sounds of struggle. The two men fought against the writhing bodies, who threw themselves violently at their faces with fell claws and corrosive breath. One Rusted corpse spat red bile at its counterpart, who fought against its grip, and the man barely avoided being caked in the substance.
While the two struggled the group of survivors behind them continued to back up. Yells of panic and cries echoed as unease and fear set in. Mevi wanted to help, but couldn’t think of what to do. There were no obvious weapons she could use, and creating a current of pure air wouldn’t help. She didn’t even know if the creatures needed their eyesight so using light was not something she thought would be worth an attempt, especially if it risked blinding the struggling survivors. Then Mevi recalled a brief memory of pain. When she had attempted to charge Kalesi’s synthesizer device, she was overwhelmed by a sudden hurt that surged her senses without her command. She had shot out a bolt of electricity, albeit briefly. Her theory of weaponizing her Maige was the only viable option she could think of.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Mevi focused on her memory, and recalled the momentary surge of power, channeling her will into the Maige. Mevi conjured the image of a surge of electrical power blasting out like a projectile. With her mental image in place, she pointed her palm in the direction of one of the Rusted. Forcing whatever power she could form to take hold, Mevi channeled a bolt of energy that soared suddenly out of her palm and blasted into the surface of the metal pipe. Surprised by the sudden emission of power those in the front of the crowd silenced as the energy manifested. Mevi was surprised herself, such a potent effect forming so quickly. Yet Mevi had to refocus, two lives were at stake.
Mevi conjured her mental image of a streaking bolt, and focused her mind to strike the body of the Rusted while avoiding the still living. Aiming her thoughts at the Rusted who had crawled on the ground, Mevi channeled what willpower she had and fired a second blast. The congealed energy formed and struck true, slicing into the side of the Rusted who wrestled with the struggling man. The power cauterized the impact zone almost instantly, and sent shocking electrical arcs up the body of the Rusted that caused it to spasm and convuls. The man took the opportunity to throw the stunned Rusted away from himself. The body continued to spasm on the metal ground, and the rescued man took no time to kick the body off the edge of the pipeway. Mevi quickly refocused, ignoring the man after confirming he was saved. Channeling another blast of power, Mevi struck the final Rusted. The last Rusted violently spasmed, cringing into itself to form a pained ball of bone and flesh.
The two men pushed the final Rusted off the side, but the clawing from the pipe continued. As the group recovered in the small moment Mevi bought them, the collapsed corpse began to stir. An angry decaying welt formed on their shoulder, and it began to slowly grow as the skin curled onto itself and hardened. Before Mevi could intercept the developing Rusted, one of the cowering survivors strode out to kick the pained body, and with the new addition and the two men they tossed it over the side of the pipeway before it could fully develop.
The group was stunned by the display of strange power, but one of their number called out to run. Snapping back to reality, and noticing the growing noise from within the open pipe, the group began its flight anew. Spurred on by the sudden development of her own powers, Mevi followed the group as fast as she could muster. Several of their group seemed to slow, and urged Mevi to take point at the front. Mevi was hesitant, as her body ached from the manifestation of her Maige and she didn’t want to leave any from the group behind. As they ran some distance ahead, putting themselves away from the source of Rusted, Mevi felt the headache steadily approaching. Her physical strain of the rushed pace combined with the new use of her untempered power was causing her strain. Mevi began to slow down, and her hand instinctively went to her head as the throbbing pain erupted.
The group was surprised by the disability of their savior, and one stopped completely to speak to Mevi. Their words were muffled, as the headache blocked out most noise and attempts to speak, but mevi understood they were asking if she was alright. Mevi managed to squeak out soft words, “If I use this power too much, my body begins to hurt…” The person seemed to understand, and in some strange sequence of decisions one of the more fit men gathered Mevi into his arms.
Mevi was confused at their sudden appreciation of her, but allowed herself to be carried as she cautiously continued to watch their surroundings. As the group continued to run, Mevi regained herself completely, only being disabled for a minute or two, a fraction of her previous burnout. Mevi tried to negotiate to be let down, but the young man who carried her seemed content, and able, to continue the group’s pace with her still in his arms.
As the group continued, and Mevi was carried like some delicate weapon, their pace slowed then stopped completely. As Mevi was carried to the front, embarrassed at the eyes that watched her, she was allowed down. Placed at the front, Mevi could see before them. The pipe road led slightly down, and it intersected what looked like a collection of rusted buildings long since forgotten. One of the leaders who watched their path carefully turned to Mevi, the thick fabric that wrapped around every body part made it almost impossible to guess the gender or appearance of any beyond those that were most inhuman, or wearing less. The collection of cloth spoke to Mevi while pointing downward towards the old ruined settlement, “Miss, we need to enter through there. But we have no weapons…”
Mevi guessed what they were getting at, “You want me to go ahead just in case?”
A curt nod was her response, as another nearby voice called to her, “I’ll go with you Ma’am. I think a few of us might be able to help just in case.”
Mevi was embarrassed after being called ‘Ma’am’, but agreed. With three others following close behind, Mevi descended into the small ruined settlement. It was only a few buildings that were dangling precariously as an artificial intersection between two large pipe roads. The one they traveled suddenly turned downward, into the Depths, and the hanging settlement’s wire pathways promised a crossing to the opposite pipe road that continued a mostly straight path. Climbing up the precarious footholds, and arriving at the start of what once might have been ten small structures, Mevi carefully traveled into the settlement proper. Keeping her senses on edge, and watching carefully for any hint of movement, Mevi passed through the settlement without incident.
Mevi made her way to the opposite side of the settlement, and disembarked onto the next pipe roadway. At the base of the new pathway, what seemed to be the remains of a corpse sat silently. Cloth decayed and eaten away by the ambient erosion of billowing winds and metal. Only a decayed corpse, that was mostly bone without flesh, remained. The body seemed without spirit, and didn’t seem to be a Rusted, but the following survivors cautiously watched the corpse.
With the settlement cleared without incident, one of Mevi’s followers waved to the waiting group to signal them. The group cautiously delved into the ruined settlement. As they disembarked they cautiously stared at the decayed corpse, and Mevi stood at the base of the road to ensure the disembarking villager’s safety.
With their new path set, the group continued forward, and the man who previously carried Mevi offered his services again. He was quickly turned down, and Mevi continued on her own. They were making more progress than Mevi would have assumed they could, but she couldn't tell if it was in the right direction. As they continued on the new path, Mevi wondered how much longer it would be until Kalesi returned to her. Their path was straight, and very little branching directions were available to the large group of clumsy villagers. Hopefully Kalesi would be able to easily follow them, or that their group left some kind of trail Kalesi’s keen senses could find and track.
One of the villagers saw something, and it drew the rest’s attention. As Mevi fully caught up, and the group slowed to little more than a walk, Mevi could see what they directed attention to. The path they took had wrapped around and now allowed a vantage to see their village in the distance, at the edge of vision’s length the collection of buildings against the cliff face could be seen in the dark. The grim sight brought many spirits to gloom and sorrow. The village looked fully overwhelmed by shambling bodies at this point. The Rusted crawled and tore at every structure in search of new bodies to infect and swarm. From their distant vantage point, they could see what might’ve been some vestige of battle. Pressed against the cliff the shambling bodies swarmed around some kind of writhing machine. As the village watched, whatever was inside the metal frame of the machine was ripped out, and clawed to pieces. The attacking Rusted scattered and all evidence of rebellion was wiped clean. Another villager shouted for attention, and pointed at the cliff ledge they had used to escape. It was marred and crumbling, the climbable ledge mostly destroyed. The Rusted clawed at the lack of climbable surface and instead piled on top of each other slowly. From their pace it would only be a matter of minutes before they piled high enough to start trickling onto the pipe pathway that would inevitably lead in their direction.
The group paused for a somber moment, but quickly resumed their pace to cross the pipe roadway to escape what fate consumed their decrepit village. Mevi knew the collapsed ledge had to be Kalesi’s work, and reassured herself that Kalesi was soon on her way. As the group continued their trek into the dark pathways away from their village, the din of murmurs grew quieter and quieter. All talk and dread was silenced and any energy was refocused on their speed and traversal.
While hope was not growing as it should, the survivors did what they could to stave off the looming dread that was the memory of their village. As they passed through the darkness, the path they chose seemed to be a good one. As the group pressed on the air seemed to become less dense, and the dark less oppressive. The looming dark lessened and it spurred the group onwards with a new eagerness that they didn’t have before.
As the group of survivors continued, light slowly began peaking through like small stars that forced their way through the fog of dread. Openings in the shroud billowed gusts and brief winds around them. The air became more breathable and soon the soft wind, that Mevi had almost forgotten, lightly blew around them. The panicked and downtrodden had escaped, and the dark was less powerful here.
As the group started to slow, seeing themselves as free from the threat of the Rusted, an echoing laugh broke the silence. Its source came from ahead of them and was being carried on the wind that had once promised some amount of safety, the almost deranged cackle that Mevi recognized from only a few hours ago descended on them. As the confused stares and worried glances darted around the fog, an electrical ignition was heard. Mevi pushed past the crowd, and there stood a single shadowed figure, wielding a fell energy blade of crimson. Arcing electricity popped and singed the material and dust around it. Small angry explosions of electrical charge arcing through the air. The bandits had waited for them.