=Girl=

* He’s a bit late......*

I paced around, struggling to keep my hands form fidgeting. Awaiting the news of his return.

My lover, and the man I was convinced was my soul mate, Vaus.My heart skipped a beat simply thinking of him. I straightened out imaginary wrinkles in my dress, once again checking myself in the mirror.

Met with the exact same sight that I had seen in last couple of checks. The same slightly pale complexion, prone to sunburn. The same hazel eyed gaze attached to a heart shaped faced, framed by golden locks.

I combed my hair with my hands, checking and checking again for any imperfections only to move my inspection onto another aspect of my appearance, not leaving anything out of place.

But of course this wasn’t enough to distract me from my real worry.

The Revenant that had escaped.

Not one person hadn’t known about it’s escape and the child monster that had freed it. of course the part about the child monster had been met with suspicion by all who hadn’t seen it themselves.

A rumor had even been spread that the Wraith, the one who had gotten closest to the child refused to come out of his room, even to eat.

People had remained suspicious of it until the news that four Wraiths were coming as back-up. That had certainly allayed the suspicion to an extent, after all they would not send four if it was just a single Revenant.

They’ve even had some full color poster’s of him made and have been hanging them around town. From the poster’s he looked to be only around 10 cycles old with black hair and  dark cerulean eyes.

With the Revenant and the “possessed child”, as some call him, many refuse to leave their homes for anything but the shortest excursions, even fewer willing to venture outside the cities boundaries, even with the increase in the guards activities.

You’d think that Revenants wouldn’t scare people as much, as they are always around, somewhere. Fortunately for our little town though, that somewhere is usually around bigger cities, places with larger populations.

Their were even a couple of stores, apothecaries for example, that were paying good money for others to go out and gather items for them, inside and outside the city boundaries, thats just how scared some people are.

The brave few willing to take up the jobs had taken to going out in groups, which was what Vaus had done. Although I stilled worried, after all, it was common sense that no ordinary man could fight a Revenant, unless of course they used infused armor. Even then though it would still take a group.

I don’t know why he’s going out, risking himself like that for a bit more money. He by no means needs the extra money enough to risk his life for it. He does after all a job as an apprentice at the tanneries.

*Is he maybe trying to save up for something? Hmm, I'm curious but he insists on being so secretive about it.*

I took a glance outside the window, looking at the sunless sky.

*He said he would be back before nightfall. Yet he still has yet to return and the sky’s have been dark for awhile now.......*

Dark thoughts started to surface.

*No, he’s fine, he has to be. After all no one from his group has returned and I doubt none of them would be able to escape should something have befallen them. I’ll go wait at the towns outskirts for him, to give him a scolding for being so late.*

I moved quickly, grabbing a white shawl from my dresser to keep back the cold of the night, making my way out of my room into the connecting kitchen that had a door that led to outside, grateful that my parents were already asleep. Shivering at the sudden exposure to the cold air I shut the door behind an set off at a brisk pace down the empty streets.

Usually it was not advisable to for a young women such as myself to go out at night, but with the increase in patrols, specially nightly ones, crime, or whatever passes for a crime in a small town like Garten has drastically reduced. Not to mention that the few criminals our small town holds likely have also taken to staying inside with the Revenant and Possessed Child about, likely the wise thing to do.

Taking all of that into consideration I’d decided that it would be safe enough. The actual odds of the running into Revenant also had to be relatively low, especially in town, I’d have imagined it would escape into the forest for safety.

After all, even if the local Wraith was inactive the town did posses a couple sets of infused armor, enough to even the field with the Revenant. Something that it would be well aware of after being captured as it had been.

Feeling a change under my feet I glanced downward, noticing that the fitted cobblestone pathways of the city had ended, dumping me onto a dirt path that went the last few hundred paces to the towns outskirt.

Frowning and bemoaning at the dirt that would be sure to dirty my shoes I continued on until I reached the edge. Rubbing my hands at a desperate attempt to keep the cold away..

*Perhaps this was a tad rash......*

Glancing into the inky darkness of the night I couldn’t help but regret my decision a bit. Worry though for Vaus kept me stubbornly rooted to the spot, waiting, twisting the ends of my shawl.  

Long enough for the moon to start it’s descent as I listen the moans and shrieks of the wind as it blows through the forest.

*Wait, a was that......*

I strained my hearing, listening for the sounds again, and they sound again mere seconds from the first.

*People?*

A third time. Louder now.

*Is someone hurt?*

I stood there, fidgeting with my shawl once again.

*s-shouldn’t I go help them?*

Still I hesitated, thinking of the Revenant and the possessed child. Even if the possibility of it being them was low.....

*What if it’s Vaus?*

That single stray thought alone was enough to get me moving. i ran towards the source, almost sprinting. Even if it’s was only a random thought with no evidence behind it the mere possibility of it threw me into action.

Closer and closer, low hanging branches whipping me as I ran by until finally I burst through the shrubbery into a clearing and sa-

Immediately I threw my weight backwards,  face a furious shade of red. I back pedaled trying to get away, only to be stopped dead by a mass behind me. Startled I inhaled deeply, readying a scream, only to feel a hand clap over my mouth. I struggled vainly, trying to escape the arms that held me.

“Shhhh, Clarice its me! Vaus!”

Hearing my own name and recognizing his whispering voice I immediately calmed down. Once I had though I turned right on him.

“Why ar-”

He put his fingers up to my lips, his green eyes flashing with amusement, making a shh gesture with his own. Hooking his thumb in the direction of the clearing I had just been in, causing me to blush fiercely, grateful that he  couldn’t see it in the dark.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Taking my hand he led me over to a second clearing that had previously been concealed behind the dense thicket about 50 paces away. I  Watched his brown medium length hair sway behind him.

Suddenly he stopped, turning to face me, his eyes stern.

“What exactly, are you doing out here?

“I-I was worried about you, you said you would be back by nightfall!” He gave a sigh and scratched his cheek, softening his eyes a bit.

“Yes I realize we’re running a bit late and I’m sorry about that. That though, is still no reason for you to be out here, ain’t safe for a girl.” Again the stern look.

“I-I’m s-sorry.”

A second sigh.

“It warms my heart that you worry ‘bout me so much...... but please, don’t go out alone during the night, even if their ain’t any Revenants about. Then I can’t help but worry”

He drew me in for a hug, running his hand through my hair. I couldn’t help but blush again, thinking of what I had seen in the clearing. After a moment he ended the embrace, pulling me towards the clearing.

Entering it I could see I could see a few around in it and around the edges gathering herbs and other items, likely the group Vaus had come out with. One of the men that was close to the shrubbery we had entered the clearing from gave a snort.

“And what flower exactly did you pick her from?” A man to his right gave a chortled.

“Was more’n likely pickin her flower.”

That got a laugh from anyone within earshot, leaving me flushed for the third time.

“Stuff it Gand, she followed me out here, was worried about me.” The first man who had spoked looked up again giving me a look.

“Aye, I can understand that. Why don’t you walk ‘er back. Don’t worry about the pay, you’ll get your cut.” Vaus gave a grateful nod.

“Thanks Yave, that would be-”

Abruptly a scream resounded through the forest, freezing everyone in their tracks. Yave who was looking behind, suddenly paled. He started to scrabble to backwards, trying to get away from something.

Before I can turn around to see what it was I feel the a soft breeze, without warning Yave shots backwards crashing into a tree, a resounding crunch sounding throughout the clearing. In his place now stood a monster. A mass of bubbling and seething flesh, that took the shape of a man.

The Revenant

Nobody moved, fearing to attract it’s attention as Yave had. The Revenant stalked towards his unmoving body, grabbing him and dragging him across the clearing, crushed in face open for all to see.

Puke started to feel its way up through my stomach, before it could make it’s way up Vaus slowly yet urgently placed a hand over my mouth, forcing me to swallow the bile.

We all stood and watched as it tore his Yave’s corpse in half.

We stood and watched when he started to throw his entrails around like a kid playing with ribbons.

We all stood and watched as it took out each of his organs, inspecting each and every one carefully as if seeing them for the first time.

Vaus kept his hand over my mouth, forcing me time and time again to swallow my vomit as not to attract that things attention. I trembled.

*Is this where I die?*

*Is this where it all ends?*

*Before I’ve even turned sixteen cycles?*

Tears and snot ran down my face, sobs held back by only Vaus’ hand. My legs were weak, no longer able to support me with out Vaus’ help.

I saw a flicker of movement out the corner of my eye. Gand had shoved down another man near him and started to run, likely hoping the man would distract the Revenant long enough for his escape.

It didn’t work.

Like a switch somewhere in it’s twisted body had been switched it went berserk. Blurring to Gand, ripping him limb from limb faster than I could blink. It didn’t stop their, it went from person to person, delivering to them all the same fate.

Then it blurred towards me, far faster then I could track. I screamed in my mind begging for death to wait even a second longer before it claimed my soul. It answered my prayers. Twisting Vaus threw me to the side, away from him.

The Revenant struck.

Instead of ripping Vaus to pieces however it seemed to lose it’s vaguely human shape, turning into nothing more then a blob. Enclosing itself around him. I sat their uncomprehending as the blob continued to twitch and pulse, Vaus no longer in sight.

“Va...us?” I whispered

“Vaus.....?” I asked

“Vaus!” I pleaded

“VAUS!” I screamed now crawling towards the mass, headless of the blood that drenched the ground.

Reaching it I attacked it. Hitting it, scratching it, anything. It continued to ignore me unconcerned.

Beyond reason I screamed.

“VAUS! PLEASE, ANSWER ME VAUS!”

Feeling drained I slumped against it, no longer caring.

“Oh....hic......gods..ah....Vaus.....why....”

A feeling started to bloom within, something strange and unfamiliar.

Rage

I broke, started to tear off pieces of it, using my mouth even, it’s foul taste staining my tongue.

Strength

I felt it rush up in, pushing me to continue, to destroy what has taken from me. The Revenant recoiled, surprised by my new ferocity only for an instant though. Quickly it came back to itself smacking me across the clearing into a tree as you might a fly. Surprisingly the impact brought no pain, I got up ready to attack again.

Only to slump back against the trees, the my ferocity leaving me. The Revenant stalked over, snaking a single thread of flesh over to my body. The second it touched me my already tired state worsened, and indescribable feeling of just weariness seemed to overpower me. The world darkening around me.

*I guess my extra times up now.....*

*..............Va........us..................*

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...........................................................

.......................................

“Please........ please keep him company.”

==

I thought I did a really good job on this chapter, so give me that feedback! Help me inflate my ego even further!

Also, tell me if you like this length more then the one I usually do, if you guys absolutely want to have them this long then I'll do so. But the releases will take a bit longer to come out, so take your pick.

Thanks for reading!